Est. 1998

BIOLOGIC | COSMETIC | FAMILY

Patient Education

TMJ

There are surprising number of people, whether they’re aware of it or not, who have at least some problems resulting from malocclusion, or a bad bite. Bite problems can range from minor ones involving only an improperly placed filling (easily corrected), to those caused by lost teeth, to genetic ones ( over crowding and jaw misalignment) involving most or all of y our teeth. If you have difficulty opening your jaw fully this could be

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Restorations

In dental lingo, a restoration refers to any material or device ( fixed or removable) that is used (1) to replace lost tooth structure and restore the tooth to function or (2) to replace a lost tooth.  There are many types of restorations, including fillings, crowns, bridges, partial dentures, and full dentures, all of which will be discussed below. Filling – A filling usually refers to a restoration that restores part of a tooth.  Types

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Teething

Many children have a hard time when it comes to tooth eruption,or teething, and some have a very, very hard time of it. Teething can be so traumatic and painful to your baby that you may think there’s something wrong, especially if you’re a first-time mom. But teething is a normal part of tooth development and growth. If your baby is irritable, has a slight fever, has congestion, and cries excessively for no apparent reason, you should

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Composite Teeth Veneers

Composite veneers, usually simply called composites, are bonded to the tooth in a totally different way than the porcelain or acrylic veneers.  Whereas the other veneers are like false fingernails placed on top of the real ones, the composite veneer is like fingernail polish that is painted on the nail. The same initial etching process takes place, but after the tooth has been roughened, the paste-like composite resin is applied directly to the tooth.  Then

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Preventing Periodontal Disease

There are two main stages of periodontal disease. The first is a disease of the gums, or gingivitis. The second is called periodontitis, which is a disease of the ligament and bone that hold your teeth in your jaws. Although these two forms of periodontal disease are the most serious forms of dental disease, they’ve never been given enough recognition by the public for the destruction they can cause.  Tooth decay wounds, but the real killer

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Tooth Decay Tacoma | The Inside Story & What’s Really Going On

Dental Disease is not an obscure and mysterious ailment.  You didn’t inherit dental disease from your parents.  Dental disease is not only a disease of the mouth but also a disease of the body. Any time part of your body becomes diseased, it stresses  your entire body’s immune system.  The stress can be most harmful when the disease is a chronic one, which is the form of dental disease from which most patients suffer. Dental

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Tooth Decay Tacoma | Why Early Treatment Matters

All tooth decay must be removed and the tooth repaired.  Every day you postpone treatment will end up costing you more money, more time, and more of your tooth. It would be great if filling a tooth meant  you only had to remove the decayed part.  unfortunately, that’s not the case. The decay, once it gets into the dentin, often spreads out in all directions.  Many times the decay will undermine the enamel that supports

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Replace Missing Teeth in Tacoma | Why It Matters

With time, if even one tooth is missing, the space may cause: — teeth in front of space to drift back creating spaces in between front teeth. — teeth behind space to tilt forward. — tooth above space to erupt down. Because these teeth drift out of position, several conditions may occur: — severe occusal (bite) problems that could lead to clicking of the jaw, headaches and jaw pain. — hard to clean areas are

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Stage 2 Periodontitis Tacoma | Advanced Gum Disease Care

If you have this type of periodontal disease, you are at the stage where the infection has broken through the first line of defense, the gums, and has begun to attack the ligaments and bone supporting the teeth.  This is the stage where bone loss occurs, causing the pocket, the space between the gum and the tooth, to deepen. Periodontitis, like gingivitis, occurs in different forms and can involve parts of, or all of, one

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Care After Tooth Extraction Tacoma – Recovery Tips

• Immediately following a tooth extraction, keep pressure on gauze until bleeding stops, 30-45 minutes. Repeat if necessary. If heavy bleeding continues, call your dentist. • Do not smoke, rinse your mouth vigorously, or drink through a straw for 24 hours. These activities will disturb the healing blood clot. • Do not suck on extraction site. • Immediately after a tooth is extracted, you may experience some discomfort and notice some swelling. • To reduce swelling, place

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Replace Missing Teeth in Tacoma | Restore Your Smile

If you want to restore your mouth to health and function, missing teeth must be replaced. (There are some exceptions, like wisdom teeth.)  If you don’t have them replaced you will be creating many problems. These range from a loss of chewing function, a bad bite, and possibly temporomandibular joint ( TMJ) problems, to the increased probability of decay and periodontal disease.  Your dentist will provide you with all the options regarding the best and

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Flossing in Tacoma | Why Daily Floss Matters

If you never had gum disease; if you have perfect dental restorations, no bad contacts, a healthy diet; if you understand all the hows, whys, and whens of oral hygiene and are faithful to your hygiene program — you may never need to floss. Only a few percent of the population fall into this category. Flossing removes food, breaks up plaque formations, cleans the teeth, and massages the gum.  All other parts of the teeth

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Partial Dentures in Tacoma | Restore Your Smile

A partial denture, commonly just referred to as a “partial”, is a removable appliance used to replace missing teeth. Along with implants, it’s the only choice left if you’ve lost all the back teeth on either or both sides of your jaw, upper or lower. Also, a partial can be used to replace missing teeth if you can’t afford a bridge. The main differences between a fixed bridge and a removable partial are:

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When to Brush Teeth in Tacoma | Top Timing Tips

Any time is a good time to brush, but some times are better times than others. The most crucial times are after eating and in the morning. Brushing immediately after eating, especially if the meal or snack contained processed food and refined sugar. By “immediately,” I mean as soon as possible, but absolutely within four to six hours after any meal. The damage caused by food left in your mouth is directly proportional to how long

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Dental Burns in Tacoma | Oral Burn Care Guide

Burns of the mouth are very common, and some can be serious enough to require immediate treatment. Generally, after the cause of the burn is removed or the affected area flushed with water(if the burn is caused by a chemical such as aspirin or Clorox), the wound will heal by itself, although it may be tender for a while. Hot food, hot liquids, or chemicals — Often you’ll be more aware of burns from heat

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Cosmetic Dentistry Tacoma | Enhance Your Smile Today

Cosmetic dentistry is pretty much what the name implies, dentistry that makes you look better. More accurately, cosmetic dentistry makes your teeth look better. Recently there have been tremendous advances in materials and techniques, and cosmetic dentistry has now become one of the most innovative and exciting fields of modern dentistry. Cosmetic dentistry can correct a variety of problems — some of which could have been prevented, and others that could not. For example: Many

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Wisdom Teeth Extraction Tacoma | Prevent Emergencies

Wisdom teeth aren’t really so smart. If they were, they wouldn’t be the number two cause of dental emergencies. Most wisdom teeth end up being extracted. The reason for this is they rarely come in properly. There are two main reasons for that. One: because we no longer eat the type of diet our ancestors ate, over time our jaws have become smaller, but we still have the same number of teeth trying to fit

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Periodontal Disease Tacoma | Gum & Bone Support Explained

Periodontal disease is an infected condition involving the gums and bone surrounding the teeth. The word “perio” means “support”. Hence indicating the condition affecting the hard and soft tissues “supporting the teeth”. Gingivitis versus periodontal disease: We all develop a layer of sticky white and yellow substance called “plaque” within minutes of tooth brushing. Throughout the day, this layer tends to get thicker. Routine tooth rushing and flossing keeps this layer to a minimum. When

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