Water is crucial to our existence. Every system in our bodies requires water to perform its function, from flushing toxins and carrying nutrients to vital organs, to keeping moisture levels consistent in our throats.

In order to prevent dehydration and stay healthy, it is suggested we drink at least six 8oz. cups of water a day. However, with all of its benefits, water can also have an adverse effect on the appearance of our teeth.

Minerals in Water

All tap water has minerals that occur naturally. Organic minerals like calcium, magnesium, and sodium can be found in every water supply across the country, and are considered to be very beneficial. The addition of inorganic minerals during the purification process, however, can impact the appearance and color of your teeth, and stain them.

Fluoride in Drinking Water

The addition of fluoride to drinking water is conclusively linked to preventing tooth decay. A beneficial compound, fluoride is the 13th most abundant element in the earth’s soil. While it has many advantages, consumed in abundance while teeth are forming, fluoride can leave stripes on the teeth called fluorosis. These stripes cannot be removed permanently as they are under the tooth’s enamel, but options exist to diminish, or cover up this unsightly condition.

Treatments for Fluorosis

To even out the appearance of the teeth, tooth whitening procedures can be utilized by our dentists. While this method will help diminish the appearance of fluorosis, it cannot remove the stripes from your teeth. Another popular option is porcelain veneers, a wafer thin shell placed over the tooth to cover stains and other imperfections. The advantage of porcelain veneers is that they completely cover the affected teeth, providing a seamless, beautifully white smile. The doctors at Colonial Dental Group will work closely with you to find which procedures most suit your needs.

If you live in or around Chicago, Illinois and are interested in having the appearance of mineral stains minimized or covered up, please contact the experienced tooth whitening dentists at Colonial Dental Group for a free consultation to review the options you have available, and get on your way to a radiant, perfect smile.

The severe pain that comes from temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is often confused for a migraine, but there are differences in both the causes and the body's response to these forms of pain that need to be distinguished for a proper diagnosis. The neuromuscular dentists at Colonial Dental Group have years of experience and training to properly diagnose and treat TMD, and any symptom related to TMD should give you immediate cause to contact us for a consultation.

Differences in Causes and Symptoms

The exact cause of migraine headaches is not knows, but a number of factors are believed to contribute to them:

• Environmental factors
• Dietary habits, including alcohol consumption
• Inadequate sleep
• Extreme emotions

The symptoms of a migraine are:

• Throbbing pain that can engulf the entire cranium
• Nausea
• Sensitivity to light and sound

TMD, on the other hand, is caused by your jaw being misaligned due to:

• Accidents
• Disease
• Improper dental work
• Personal habits like grinding teeth

The symptoms of TMD are much more varied and can include headaches as well as:

• Pain in the jaw, neck, or shoulders
• Jaw lock
• Jaw clicking
• Ringing in the ears

If your headache is accompanied by any of the above symptoms, you may have TMD, and should see a neuromuscular dentist as soon as possible to diagnose and treat the root cause of problem, not just its symptoms.

If you live in the Chicago, Illinois area and are experiencing frequent headaches, please contact the experienced TMD dentists at Colonial Dental Group right away for a thorough examination and detection of possible TMD.

Phobia, from the Greek phobos, means "morbid fear," and as irrational as it may seem to others, a phobia is as real and intense to its sufferer as a rollercoaster ride. Dental phobias are often based on unpleasant or painful past experiences at a dental office.

Maybe a sensitive tooth was scrapped during a cleaning, or a numbing agent had not had time to sufficiently work before a procedure was preformed. Perhaps the fear is more general, like a fear of needles, medical equipment, or claustrophobia associated with sitting still in a chair.

No matter what the cause of your "morbid fear," the doctors at Colonial Dental Group are devoted to providing you with a comfortable, safe, and enjoyable experience.

How We Handle Dental Phobia

We work hard to make sure you are comfortable and relaxed from the moment you enter our office. Our friendly staff will ensure your ease prior to your appointment, and our doctors will work closely with you to address any questions or concerns you may have.

We utilize the latest in dental technology, making your procedure safe, quick, and painless. Additionally, we offer sedation dentistry for patients who are very uncomfortable with the dentist, but need or want dental work done. Combining our professionalism with innovation and compassion, we are able to successfully treat patients with even the most extreme dental phobias.

Whether you are in need of general dentistry, or want to perfect your smile through one of our many cosmetic dental procedures, we will work with you to make sure your visit is more comfortable than you ever imagined a trip to the dentist could be.

If you suffer from dental phobias in or around Chicago, Illinois, please contact the experienced sedation dentists at Colonial Dental Group today to find out more about how we can help you overcome your fears, to get you the smile you desire.

Proper oral hygiene, including regular visits to the dentist, is key to overall health. Small problems in oral health can cause larger, systemic issues if left untreated, and procrastinating until the problem becomes unbearable often means preventable damage has already been done.

For many Americans though, fear and anxiety about dental procedures can cause them to put regular visits to the dentists off until it’s too late and their dental health greatly suffers. Additionally, many people have aesthetic issues they would like to correct, but a similar fear keeps them away from achieving the smile they desire.

When fear keeps you from receiving the treatments you need and deserve, it is important to find a dentist who will work with you to help alleviate those fears, and offer solutions that enable you to get dental work done with minimal anxiety and fear.

Colonial Dental Group offers several options for sedation dentistry that allow you to feel more comfortable and relaxed. Levels of anxiety vary greatly for each person, and as such, we offer different kinds of sedation to make you comfortable:

• Oral sedation in the form of a pill
• Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, as a steady stream through a mask
• Twilight sedation through an IV

Sedation dentistry at Colonial Dental Group is safe, effective, and available to anyone who requests it.

If you live in the Chicago, Illinois area and are anxious about seeing a dentist, please contact the experienced sedation dentists at Colonial Dental Group to schedule an initial consultation to discuss your needs. We will work tirelessly to ensure you receive the procedures you need with the level of comfort you require.

All forms of medical practice acquire their fair share of myths throughout the ages. The science of dentistry is no safer from conspiracy theories and popular mythology than any other type of technology that continually advances and improves.

Dealing with common dental myths is important for a number of reasons, not the least of which is myths are powerful and can cause some people to neglect getting the care they need for their teeth. At Colonial Dental Group, we work hard to ensure every patient is comfortable and safe, using the most advanced technology and implemented the latest discoveries into our practice.

Common Dental Myths

• Amalgam causes mercury to leak into your bloodstream - This myth has been debunked by the Food and Drug Administration, the World Health Organization, the United States Public Health Service, and the National Institute of Health. At Colonial Dental Group, however, we use only porcelain fillings, eliminating any worries concerned with the potential health risks of amalgams.
• Frequent brushing can damage enamel - While it is true that frequent brushing with a hard toothbrush and abrasive toothpastes can damage enamel, the doctors at Colonial Dental Group recommend the use of soft bristled toothbrushes, and non-abrasive, ADA approved toothpastes. All studies indicate that there is no danger to the enamel of your teeth if you follow these simple suggestions.
• Chewing sugar-free gum is just as effective as brushing - Some studies indicate that chewing sugar-free gum after a meal helps activate saliva which has natural antiseptic qualities. Sugar-free gum cannot, however, remove plaque and bacteria that can cause tooth decay.
• If there is no visible problem with my teeth, I don't need to schedule an exam - Regular dental exams are vital for spotting and treating potential problems before they become severe. Oral cancers, periodontal disease, and tooth decay can go unnoticed until it's too late. Only an experienced dentist can correctly identify and treat oral problems before they become severe.
• Children's teeth are going to fall out anyway, there's no need to take them to the dentist. Instilling proper oral hygiene routines in your children will ensure a lifetime of oral health. Additionally, baby teeth not adequately tended to can fall out too early causing bite problems, and issues with permanent teeth.

If you live in or around Chicago, Illinois, and have stayed away from the dentist due to the fear or certainty associated with one of these dental myths, please contact the experienced dentists at Colonial Dental Group.

Keeping your natural teeth, or part of them at least, in your mouth is the main goal of dentistry. However, in some cases, a tooth may need to be extracted. Decay or trauma may cause some teeth to be damaged beyond the point where affixing a crown would be feasible. In these cases, the experienced dentists at Colonial Dental Group may deem it necessary to extract the tooth.

Tooth Extraction Process

The process for removing a tooth is quite simple. A local or general anesthetic will be administered depending on the location and extent of the damage. After you are sufficiently comfortable, the tooth will be gently removed and the healing process can begin.

After the extraction, pain relievers may be prescribed along with an oral hygiene routine to be completed until the socket is completely healed. After the socket is healed, our dental staff can discuss with you your options for replacing the missing tooth.

Solutions for Missing Teeth

There are many solutions for missing teeth. Depending on the location of the tooth, you may choose to just leave the tooth missing. If the missing tooth causes functional or aesthetic issues, you may want to consider one of our many options for replacing missing teeth. The two most common options are:

• Dentures - Dentures, both partial and full, are a nonsurgical alternative for missing teeth. With modern advancements in denture technology, these can provide a quick, easy, painless solution to restore function and beauty.
• Dental implants - Dental implants are artificial tooth roots secured into your jaw bone. Once the implant is in place, a dental crown is placed over the implant to provide a secure, reliable, natural looking tooth.

If you live in or around Chicago, Illinois, and are experiencing pain or discomfort from a decayed or damaged tooth, please contact the experienced dentists at Colonial Dental Group today to discuss your options.

In an ideal world, all dentistry would be preventative. A regular at-home oral hygiene routine coupled with semi-annual visits to the dentist for cleanings and exams should be all it takes to maintain a beautiful, radiant smile for years to come. Unfortunately, factors ranging from environmental to personal choices and even genetics play just as important a role in oral health.

Proper Oral Hygiene

Not enough can be said about a regular at-home oral hygiene routine. Brushing and flossing at least twice a day will help keep your teeth their healthiest. Lifestyle choices like tobacco and alcohol use, eating sugary foods, and consuming high-sugar beverages however, pit your daily routine against almost insurmountable enemies. No amount of brushing and flossing can remove the damage done by personal decisions that lead to oral health issues.

Regular checkups and professional cleanings are a vital weapon in your arsenal against oral diseases. X-rays and oral exams provided by a skilled, experienced dentist can be used to spot and treat potential problems before they become severe. Thorough cleanings that only a dentist can provide help teeth maintain their brilliance and luster while removing tartar, excess plaque, and bacteria that your daily routine may miss.

Making sure you include regular dental visits with your daily oral hygiene routine may not guarantee you never have issues with you teeth, mouth, or gums, but it is certainly a necessary step towards maintaining optimal oral health.

If you live in or around Chicago, Illinois, please contact the experienced oral hygiene professionals at Colonial Dental Group to schedule your cleaning and exam today. There's no time like the present to start ensuring excellent oral health for years to come.