Colonial Dental Group Cosmetic Dentistry Blog - Dooley, Lewis, and Quezada
Monday, October 27, 2008
Dental Implants
If you suffer from missing teeth, chances are you don't like to smile. There's no reason to go through life without smiling, so maybe it's time to consider dental implants. The procedure will take some time, but the end results are well worth the wait. Plus, the success rates of dental implants are one the highest of all dental procedures.
The process has a few steps and will take about six months from start to finish:
If you are one of the many people living in the Chicago area who are ashamed of your smile because you are missing teeth, please contact the Colonial Dental Group for a consultation. We provide dental implants to Chicago and surrounding areas. We can assess your particular case and develop a treatment plan that will work best for you and give you the results you desire.
The process has a few steps and will take about six months from start to finish:
- First, the dental implant posts will be surgically placed into your jawbone. Once placed, you will need to wait until your jawbone completely heals around the posts. This process will permanently fuse the posts into your bone and it takes about three to four months.
- Second, once your jawbone has healed, you will need to return to our office to have your temporary crowns placed. These temporary crowns are used to allow the gums to heal and reshape around the tooth. Typically this will take about two months.
- Finally, once your gums have healed, then you can return for your permanent crowns. After these crowns are placed, you are ready to show the world your new smile.
If you are one of the many people living in the Chicago area who are ashamed of your smile because you are missing teeth, please contact the Colonial Dental Group for a consultation. We provide dental implants to Chicago and surrounding areas. We can assess your particular case and develop a treatment plan that will work best for you and give you the results you desire.
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Monday, October 20, 2008
Why Pediatric Dentistry is Important
The pediatric dentist specializes in the specific dental needs of young people. From about six months to 12 years of age, children have a mouthful of deciduous or baby teeth. Like other teeth, these need to be cared for to prevent dental caries (tooth decay), the leading childhood ailment.
Unlike adults, young children cannot maintain their own dental hygiene; it is up to the parents to ensure that their baby teeth stay healthy. It is important for your child to visit a pediatric dentist by age one to establish a baseline for continuous oral health management.
Even the first baby tooth that erupts should be cleaned with a damp cloth after each feeding. At about age 5, many children are coordinated enough to start brushing their own teeth with close supervision. A diet of fresh foods is recommended, with plenty of fruits and vegetables, an few sweets or sodas. Developing a habit of brushing and flossing early in life will carry through their teenage and adult years, and ensure a lifetime of healthy smiles.
If you live in the Chicago area and would like to find out more about pediatric dentistry, please contact us at the Colonial Dental Group today to schedule an appointment.
Unlike adults, young children cannot maintain their own dental hygiene; it is up to the parents to ensure that their baby teeth stay healthy. It is important for your child to visit a pediatric dentist by age one to establish a baseline for continuous oral health management.
Even the first baby tooth that erupts should be cleaned with a damp cloth after each feeding. At about age 5, many children are coordinated enough to start brushing their own teeth with close supervision. A diet of fresh foods is recommended, with plenty of fruits and vegetables, an few sweets or sodas. Developing a habit of brushing and flossing early in life will carry through their teenage and adult years, and ensure a lifetime of healthy smiles.
If you live in the Chicago area and would like to find out more about pediatric dentistry, please contact us at the Colonial Dental Group today to schedule an appointment.
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Monday, October 13, 2008
Why do People Snore?
The person suffering most from snoring is typically not the person who snores, but their spouse. Snoring is caused by mild to severe obstruction of the airway during sleep. As we age, the skin, and muscles around the back of the throat become looser. When sleeping on our backs, they sag and rattle as air passes through, causing the noises we hear.
In some cases, this obstruction becomes severe enough to halt breathing, which is known as sleep apnea. Snoring is a common, but not exclusive, symptom of sleep apnea. A sleep study called a polysomnograph can be conducted to identify this potentially serious condition.
People who are overweight benefit from a weight loss regimen to reduce the amount of soft tissue that causes snoring. Treatment for snoring also includes simple steps such as sleeping on your side. This prevents the tongue from falling back into the throat, adding to the amount of tissue blocking the airway.
A dental appliance, called a mandibular advancement splint might be prescribed, or purchased over the counter. This splint slides the mandible forward slightly, pulling the tongue out of the way. In more severe cases of sleep apnea, a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine may be worn at night to ensure that ample air gets through any obstruction.
Sleepless in Chicago? Please contact the Colonial Dental Group today to schedule an initial consultation.
In some cases, this obstruction becomes severe enough to halt breathing, which is known as sleep apnea. Snoring is a common, but not exclusive, symptom of sleep apnea. A sleep study called a polysomnograph can be conducted to identify this potentially serious condition.
People who are overweight benefit from a weight loss regimen to reduce the amount of soft tissue that causes snoring. Treatment for snoring also includes simple steps such as sleeping on your side. This prevents the tongue from falling back into the throat, adding to the amount of tissue blocking the airway.
A dental appliance, called a mandibular advancement splint might be prescribed, or purchased over the counter. This splint slides the mandible forward slightly, pulling the tongue out of the way. In more severe cases of sleep apnea, a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine may be worn at night to ensure that ample air gets through any obstruction.
Sleepless in Chicago? Please contact the Colonial Dental Group today to schedule an initial consultation.
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Monday, October 6, 2008
What is Periodontitis?
Periodontics is a branch of dentistry that treats gum disease. A periodontist completes three post-graduate years of training followed by a residency and the accreditation process.
The tooth roots are anchored in the jawbone. The gums enclose the teeth, helping to protect them from decay. When gum tissue is not cared for with daily brushing and flossing, the bacteria in the mouth spread and multiply, excreting acid waste products which eat into tooth enamel. We call these excretions and the bacteria making them plaque. You can feel it as a rough film on the teeth. When plaque is left there too long, it hardens into tartar, which cannot be brushed or flossed away.
Two stages of gum disease
1. Gingivitis
When tartar is left for too long, it becomes infected, causes redness, swelling, and bleeding of the gums, and you have the first stage of gum disease.
2. Periodontitis
If gingivitis is not corrected by professional cleaning - removing the tartar and clearing bacteria out of the tooth pockets (little areas between the gums and teeth), it will progress to the second stage of gum disease, known as periodontitis.
It may become chronic. The gums recede, enlarging the tiny pockets around each tooth. This creates more space for bacteria to thrive in. They increase their numbers and enlarge the pockets even more. The infection invades the teeth, gums, and jawbone. Since the gums bleed now, the bacteria can enter the bloodstream and travel to other parts of the body, where they can cause heart problems and other infections.
Receding gums allow teeth to loosen and even fall out. Toothache would be rampant for a while, as the tooth nerves are decayed. After they die, the pain will stop, but not the infection. As the gums weaken and shrivel, the tooth can become loose and even fall out.
Prevention is the solution
Adults, children and teenagers are all at risk. If you practice good daily dental hygiene and teach your children to do that too, you will save everyone much pain expense, and dental disaster. Please contact us to set up a consultation, and if you have questions, we will be glad to answer them.
The tooth roots are anchored in the jawbone. The gums enclose the teeth, helping to protect them from decay. When gum tissue is not cared for with daily brushing and flossing, the bacteria in the mouth spread and multiply, excreting acid waste products which eat into tooth enamel. We call these excretions and the bacteria making them plaque. You can feel it as a rough film on the teeth. When plaque is left there too long, it hardens into tartar, which cannot be brushed or flossed away.
Two stages of gum disease
1. Gingivitis
When tartar is left for too long, it becomes infected, causes redness, swelling, and bleeding of the gums, and you have the first stage of gum disease.
2. Periodontitis
If gingivitis is not corrected by professional cleaning - removing the tartar and clearing bacteria out of the tooth pockets (little areas between the gums and teeth), it will progress to the second stage of gum disease, known as periodontitis.
It may become chronic. The gums recede, enlarging the tiny pockets around each tooth. This creates more space for bacteria to thrive in. They increase their numbers and enlarge the pockets even more. The infection invades the teeth, gums, and jawbone. Since the gums bleed now, the bacteria can enter the bloodstream and travel to other parts of the body, where they can cause heart problems and other infections.
Receding gums allow teeth to loosen and even fall out. Toothache would be rampant for a while, as the tooth nerves are decayed. After they die, the pain will stop, but not the infection. As the gums weaken and shrivel, the tooth can become loose and even fall out.
Prevention is the solution
Adults, children and teenagers are all at risk. If you practice good daily dental hygiene and teach your children to do that too, you will save everyone much pain expense, and dental disaster. Please contact us to set up a consultation, and if you have questions, we will be glad to answer them.
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1775 Glenview Rd.
Suite 107
Glenview, Illinois 60025-2969
