Oral and maxillofacial pathology is one of the nine specialized fields of dentistry recognized by the American Dental Association. In generalized terms, oral and maxillofacial pathologists (OMPs) work to identify, treat, and gain a better understanding of diseases that affect the mouth, the jaw, and the surrounding structures like the salivary glands and the TMJs… Read more »
Month: March 2014
A Genuine Look at Artificial Teeth
False teeth. The phrase doesn’t exactly inspire much excitement (especially if you still have a mouthful of healthy, natural dentition). For people who have lost some or all of their teeth to decay, gum disease, or injury, false teeth mean all the difference in the world. False teeth, or dental prosthetics as they’re known clinically,… Read more »
6 Reasons Why Implant Dentures are Worth It
If you’re sick of your dentures slipping out of place when you laugh . . . If you can’t get through a meal without having to reset your dentures after nearly every bite . . . If you miss how it felt to have stable, healthy-looking, functional teeth . . . You might want to… Read more »
Are Diabetics More Susceptible to Tooth Loss?
According to the 2010 Diabetes Report Card issued by the Centers for Disease Control, 8.9% of all adults in California have been diagnosed with diabetes. Another 8% will be diagnosed with prediabetes (the precursor to diabetes) over the next year. In addition to a slew of systemic health problems, diabetes can also lead to poor… Read more »
How the Location of a Missing Tooth Impacts Your Oral Health
Let’s get the harsh truth out of the way first: unless you’re still young enough to believe in the tooth fairy, losing a tooth is a serious problem. No matter whether you lose a molar or an incisor, one tooth or several teeth, a lack of proper dentition will have a negative impact on your… Read more »
So, It’s Been a While Since Your Last Dental Visit . . .
Dentists and hygienists hear it all the time: “It’s been . . . since my last trip to the dentist.” Often muttered with an air of embarrassment or stated outright with a sense of mild defiance, many people avoid visiting the dentist, sometimes for years. Some people avoid the dentist because they feel nervous or… Read more »
Is it a Dental Emergency or Can it Wait?
Once the shock of an injury has passed, it’s best to remember that not all dental emergencies are created equally. Some dental emergencies demand immediate (or as immediate as possible) treatment in order to save a tooth or prevent the spread of infection. Other dental emergencies, while potentially embarrassing or annoying, don’t necessarily warrant an… Read more »
What to Expect Before, During, and After IV Sedation
Patients with moderate or severe dental fear or anxiety, patients with physical or neurological disabilities that make receiving dental care difficult, and those undergoing complex treatment plans make good candidates for intravenous (IV) sedation. This type of sedation dentistry delivers anti-anxiety medication directly to your bloodstream through a very small needle. Although IV sedation does… Read more »
3 Techniques for Reducing Anxiety at the Dentist’s Office
It’s perfectly normal to feel nervous before a dental appointment. Maybe you feel a bit anxious because you don’t know what’s going to happen, because you’re afraid of what the dentist might discover, or because you find the sights and sounds of the dentist office unsettling. Rather than let your nerves get the best of… Read more »
Why are Some People Afraid of the Dentist?
If you’re like most people, you may not exactly look forward to visiting the dentist, but it also doesn’t cause you any overwhelming distress either. However, there is a smaller but significant portion of the U.S. population that has such negative emotions associated with the dentist that they avoid receiving dental care until a problem… Read more »
