Tuesday 24 September 2013

The Orthodontist in Silver Spring Explains the Benefits of Dental Implants

In this article, the key benefits of dental implants are explained and some comparisons drawn up between them and conventional teeth replacement techniques.

Since the discovery of titanium’s biocompatibility in the early 1950’s by Swedish orthopedic surgeon, Professor Per-Ingvar BrÃ¥nemark, dental implants have been regarded as the best and most comprehensive solution to missing teeth. It was, in fact, this discovery that led to the conception of the field of dental implantology, the popularity of which exploded in the 1980’s. Today, orthodontists in Silver Spring and the world over recommend this incredible technology to anyone in need of new teeth. Let’s take a look at their benefits.

Maryland Dental Implants and Smile Aesthetics


Orthodontists Silver Spring
“One of the first things that people worry about when they lose one or more of their natural teeth is how it affects their smile. Naturally, they also worry about what kind of aesthetics a replacement tooth will offer them,” says an orthodontist in Silver Spring. “Dental implants are used to provide fixed support for either a ceramic tooth crown or a prosthetic dental bridge, the latter in cases where an entire dental arch is being replaced. The restorations supported by dental implants are expertly fabricated from materials that mimic the optical and functional properties of real teeth, so you can rest assured that the aesthetic outcomes of any dental implant treatment will be very good and very natural.”

Maryland Dental Implants and Bite Function


“The materials from which dental bridges and crowns are made are able to support a very strong and close to natural bite strength. In fact, dental implants enable you to eat a much greater and healthier variety of foods than traditional removable dentures,” say Maryland dental implants specialists. “This helps our older patients to get the nutrition they need in order to remain strong and healthy. It can even help to extend life expectancy!”

Maryland Dental Implants: Non-Removable and Comfortable


Maryland Dental Implants
“Dental implants are placed permanently in the mouth and function very similarly to your natural teeth. This means that they cannot be removed and won’t shift around or fall out like removable dentures tend to. As a result, implants feel far more natural and comfortable to patients,” says an orthodontist in Silver Spring. “Additionally, they don’t require healthy teeth to be sacrificed in order to provide support for the replacement tooth, as is the case with conventional dental bridges. Dental implants are free standing, just like your natural teeth are and this spares the neighboring teeth.”

Maryland Dental Implants: Long Lasting Solution


Dental implants boast a longer lifespan than any other tooth replacement technique. Where conventional bridges last 10 to 12 years, implants can last 20 to 30 years if not longer. “The better care you take of your new teeth, the longer they are likely to last you,” says an orthodontist in Silver Spring. “In fact, many patients have had their implants for 40 years and they’re still going strong! Dental implants don’t tend to require frequent restoration and replacement like traditional removable dentures do.”

Maryland Dental Implants: Promoting Jawbone Health


“One of the key benefits of dental implants is that they help to keep the underlying jawbone stimulated and in doing so, prevent the atrophy that can lead to a weakened bite and premature aging,” explains a Maryland dental implants specialist. “This is why we recommend implants to patients over and above the conventional approaches to replacing missing teeth: dentures and conventional bridges.”

Sunday 22 September 2013

Dentists in Silver Spring MD: The Ten Most Common Toothbrushing Mistakes, PART 3

This three-part article series explains the 10 mistakes people commonly make when brushing their teeth or choosing the appropriate healthcare appliances.

Welcome to the final installment of our three-part article series on the 10 most common toothbrushing mistakes patients tend to make. In our previous two articles, we spoke to dentists in Silver Spring MD who cautioned us against the following common brushing errors:

  1. Choosing the wrong size toothbrush,
  2. Using hard-bristled toothbrushes,
  3. Not brushing for long enough (two minutes is the recommended time)
  4. Not brushing frequently enough (three times a day is optimal)
  5. Brushing too hard,
  6. Brushing too frequently,
  7. Using the wrong technique
  8. Starting at the same point every time,
  9. Neglecting the inner tooth surfaces.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the three final common toothbrushing errors!

Common Mistake # 8: Not Rinsing Your Mouth Afterwards

Dentists Silver Spring MD
“You should rinse your toothbrush thoroughly after every use or else you risk leaving bacteria and food debris on the bristles,” says a Silver Spring cosmetic dentist. “Then, the next time you use your toothbrush, you can put all that bacteria back in your mouth. This is not to mention that old, dried toothpaste. Rinse thoroughly and always replace your toothbrush after a bout of flu or any other viral infection.”

Common Mistake # 9: Not Giving Your Toothbrush a Chance to Dry

“You should absolutely never leave your toothbrush lying around in a puddle of moisture,” warn dentists in Silver Spring MD. “Your toothbrush should be left somewhere it is able to dry out in between uses. A moist toothbrush provides bacteria with an excellent environment in which to proliferate.”

“This is why those toothbrush caps are actually a bad idea, even though they are supposed to keep your brush hygienic. They don’t allow evaporation to take place, which keeps the bristles moist, thus encouraging bacterial activity. Once you’re done with your toothbrush, shake off any excess water and leave it in an aired cabinet, preferably in a glass standing up. This will give it the best possible chance of drying, while being sheltered from any biofilm that might settle on it during the course of the day.”

Silver Spring Cosmetic Dentist

Common Mistake # 10: Holding Onto an Old Toothbrush

“You should be changing your toothbrush every three to four months, or at least that’s what the American Dental Association recommends,” say Silver Spring cosmetic dentists. “Actually, the bristles of your toothbrush will provide you with a more adequate understanding of when it’s time to go shopping again! In order to be most effective in keeping your teeth, gums and tongue clean, the bristles of your toothbrush should be straight. Once they start bending and becoming frayed, you should get a new toothbrush.”

“If your toothbrushes tend to become frayed really quickly, you are probably brushing too hard and should try to ease up on the pressure. Your toothbrushes (and your teeth) will last longer,” say dentists in Silver Spring MD. “Some newer, nifty brands come with color indicators that will tell you when it’s time to get a new brush.”

A Final Note

Frequent and thorough brushing is integral to maintaining a high standard of oral health and hygiene. By avoiding the 10 common toothbrushing mistakes and taking the advice laid out in this three-part article series, you can get the very most out of the time you spend caring for your teeth. And healthy teeth make a beautiful smile!

Wednesday 11 September 2013

Cosmetic Dentist in Silver Spring: The Ten Most Common Toothbrushing Mistakes, PART 2

This three-part article series explains the 10 mistakes people commonly make when brushing their teeth or choosing the appropriate healthcare appliances.


Welcome back to our three-part article series on the 10 most common toothbrushing mistakes patients tend to make. In our previous article, the first installment of the series, we spoke to a cosmetic dentist in Silver Spring, who warned us about the following brushing errors:

1) Choosing the wrong size toothbrush,
2) Using hard-bristled toothbrushes,
3) Not brushing for long enough (two minutes is the recommended time)
4) Not brushing frequently enough (three times a day is optimal)

We’ve still got another seven to cover, so without further ado...

Cosmetic Dentist Silver Spring

Common Mistake # 4: Brushing Too Hard or Too Frequently

Too much of a good thing can actually be bad for you! While frequent brushing is crucial in maintaining good oral health, brushing too frequently can be bad for your teeth,” says a dental implants specialist in Maryland. “By brushing too often - more than four times a day - you can actually cause recession of the gum line and the hastened erosion of your dental enamel. This can expose the tooth root and the softer, more vulnerable dentine underneath the enamel, which puts you at a greater risk of cavities and tooth decay. It’s much better to brush thoroughly for two minutes two to three times a day. If you are particularly finicky about oral hygiene, try use an anti-bacterial mouthwash instead of brushing more than three times a day.”

Common Mistake # 5: Using the Wrong Technique

“Brushing technique is crucial,” the cosmetic dentist in Silver Spring. “You should align your toothbrush bristles at a 45 degree angle to your gum line and brush using short, soft strokes. Long, vigorous strokes can actually irritate the gums and lead to abrasions. Also, don’t use horizontal strokes; brush circularly or vertically. Last, but not least, make sure you brush both the inner, outer and top tooth surfaces as well as your tongue! The tongue is full of little hiding places for bacteria and is just as prone to accumulating plaque as your teeth and gums.”

Common Mistake # 6: Beginning at the Same Brushing Point Every Time

Dental Implants Maryland
“People tend to begin brushing well and then end up getting lazy or losing patience. So, if you usually start at a particular point in your mouth, chances are it’ll get a thorough clean while the rest of your mouth gets neglected,” explain the experts of dental implants in Maryland. “We can actually see this differential cleaning in the health of patients’ teeth. Starting in a different location every time ensures that all quadrants of your mouth get an equal cleaning.”

Common Mistake # 7: Neglecting to Brush the Inner Surfaces of Your Teeth

“When brushing your teeth, it’s crucial that you spend as much time cleaning the outer surfaces as you do the inner surfaces. Just because the outer surfaces are the ones people see when you smile doesn’t mean that you should neglect the inner surfaces that press against the tongue,” says the cosmetic dentist in Silver Spring. “This area is the one that is most commonly neglected by patients and this neglect is evident to us in the amount of plaque that builds up there in between visits.”

Stay Tuned for Part 3

To read more about the common toothbrushing mistakes Silver Spring residents make, stay tuned for the final installment of this three-part article series.

Thursday 5 September 2013

Dentist in Silver Spring: The Ten Most Common Toothbrushing Mistakes, PART 1

This three-part article series explains the 10 mistakes people commonly make when brushing their teeth or choosing the appropriate healthcare appliances.

You’ve been brushing your teeth since you can remember and have been doing so twice a day (hopefully) every day ever since. You should know how to brush your teeth, right? Well, according to the dentist in Silver Spring, it’s fairly obvious that people just aren’t brushing their teeth correctly! If they were, problems such as cavities, tooth decay and gum infections wouldn’t be as common as they are. In this three-part article series, we spoke to a qualified and experienced dentist about the dental health of Silver Spring and how this can be improved by avoiding 10 common toothbrushing mistakes.

Common Mistake # 1: Using the Wrong Toothbrush

Dental Health Of Silver Spring

“For every individual, there is a toothbrush that will best fit their mouth,” explains a dentist in Silver Spring. “So, when you are shopping for a toothbrush, try to match the size of its head to your mouth so that it’s able to reach every square inch, including behind your back teeth. You should never have to strain in order to clean every tooth and if you are, the head of your toothbrush is probably too big."

 “Additionally, you should opt for a toothbrush with a comfortable handle - perhaps with a rubber grip. If you struggle to hold your toothbrush when brushing, your control will be poor and you’ll likely stop short of the recommended two minutes,” says the Silver Spring dentist. “Whether you choose an electric or manual toothbrush is entirely up to you - one isn’t better than the other if you use them correctly.”

Common Mistake # 2: Choosing the Wrong Bristles

Just a brief perusal of the oral hygiene department of any grocery store reveals a staggering variety of toothbrushes that come in just about every shape, size and color. Even the bristles are cut differently – some toothbrushes come with straight bristles and others with angled bristles... some with a combination! What’s better?

“Again, what’s more important is how a patient uses their toothbrush rather than what shape or style the bristles have been cut in,” explains the dentist in Silver Spring. “Also, stay away from hard bristled brushes as these can actually contribute to the hastened erosion of your dental enamel. They can also irritate the gums and cause their recession from the crowns of the teeth, revealing the sensitive root underneath.”

Common Mistake # 3: Not Brushing Long Enough or Often Enough

Dentist in Silver Spring

You should be brushing your teeth at least twice a day and preferably three. The dental health of Silver Spring could be much improved simply by increasing the length of time we brush for and how frequently. The longer the period of time between brushes, the more time bacteria is given to multiply. This leads to a build-up of plaque and a longer exposure of your teeth to the acids bacteria produce. Frequent brushing removes plaque and neutralizes the PH of the mouth, keeping your teeth clean and healthy.

“Unfortunately, most people only brush for a fraction of the recommended time. Dedicate 30 seconds of brushing time to each quadrant of the mouth and be certain to scrub each and every tooth (but not too hard),” advises the dentist in Silver Spring. “If you are easily bored, try brushing your teeth while watching TV or reading a magazine article!"

Stay Tuned for Part 2

To read more about the common toothbrushing mistakes Silver Spring residents make, stay tuned for the second installment of this three-part article series.