Start With A Healthy Oral Hygiene Program

While good oral hygiene that includes regular brushing, flossing and visits for professional cleanings is important to keep teeth cleaner and whiter, it’s not usually enough for many of us. Daily assaults from red wine, tea, coffee and a number of other beverages and foods can leave our teeth stained and unattractive.

These kinds of stains aren’t always easy to remove by brushing alone, which leads people to choose tooth whitening. Those who are smokers will struggle even more to remove stains by brushing alone.

Risks of Tooth Whitening

Unfortunately, it’s not so simple to just get professional or at-home tooth whitening done and be problem-free. There are things that can go wrong and you need to do your research before choosing tooth whitening for a brighter smile. As tooth whitening continues to become more popular, the drive for new products can mean that we don’t find out about all the risks right away either.

Choosing the Best System

There are many kinds of tooth whitening procedures that can be used at the dentist or in the privacy of your own home. First and foremost, if you do choose professional whitening, make sure you go with a qualified dentist. Today, some of the people offering whitening are merely technicians and do not have the specialized training to understand dentistry or deal with some of the problems that can arise. 

Gum and Tooth Sensitivity

One of the shared problems no matter what system you choose – at-home or in-office – is that gums can become extremely sensitive from the chemicals that are used in tooth whitening products. If you tend to naturally have sensitive teeth already, you should be particularly cautious about the products you use to whiten your teeth. For this reason, a professional whitening procedure performed under a qualified dentist may be the best choice for you.

Those who have healthy teeth and don’t tend to experience tooth sensitivity to hot and cold drinks may fare well with an at-home kit. These are typically much cheaper than dentist whitening procedures, so they are often favored for this reason. You can also use a toothpaste that is specially formulated for sensitive teeth; it can be helpful while you undergo whitening and if you don’t already have sensitive teeth, it can help to prevent future issues from the whitening kit.

Some of the whitening kits used at home can also harm tooth enamel, so it is important to use one that is approved by your dentist and ideally carries a seal of approval from your national dental organization.

Burns to Gums

While uncommon, there is the potential for gum damage from both at-home or in-office whitening procedures. The newer laser whitening has also resulted in reports of gum problems. This, however, can be minimized by choosing a dentist who has significant experience in the field of cosmetic dentistry.

Whitening Restorative Substances

If you have fillings, you should know that tooth whitening typically won’t whiten these substances. Talk to your dentist about your best options for whitening if you have porcelain or other materials used for fillings or any other kind of restorative work in your mouth.

Making the Right Choice

Approach tooth whiteners with care and caution along with advice from a qualified dentist. This way, you can find the right one for you while minimizing risks and getting the beautiful white teeth that give the first impression you want.

For further information about this topic, or any other dental topic, contact Dr Slootsky at info@drslootsky.com, or call 954-972-1000

Porcelain Dental Crowns can be divided into three categories based upon the materials used.
Crowns can be:
1. all ceramic / porcelain,
2. zirconium framed
3. porcelain fused to metal.

Porcelain fused to Metal - Porcelain fused to metal crowns are very common and used as standard because they have been around for awhile and the product is known. This type of crown has porcelain baked on to high noble alloy shell.

All Porcelain Crowns - The ceramic/porcelain crown have no metal and depending upon the type of crown can be either cemented or bonded to the tooth. The most esthetic ceramic crown has greater depth of color and is opalescent. Here are the following types of all porcelain crowns:

• Procera
Procera is a milled ceramic on the inside with a more traditional porcelain baked onto the outside. One advantage of Procera is its exceptional strength. Another advantage of Procera is that it doesn’t have to be bonded to the tooth but can be cemented with ordinary crown and bridge cement, a technique familiar to all dentists.

• Empress
Empress is a type of all ceramic crown that is similar to a durable glass. To achieve a perfect fit, the Empress material is cast to the underlying tooth structure rather than baked, as other types porcelain crowns are. To achieve an appearance that is an exact match with your existing teeth, the outside surface of Empress crowns is baked. As such, the fit of an Empress crown is precise, while the outside surface contour, finish, and color are extremely durable.

For further information about this topic, or any other dental topic, contact Dr Slootsky at info@drslootsky.com, or call 954-972-1000.

It is well-known that tooth decay is initiated by bacteria digesting sugar and producing an acid. We can modify the tooth by making it stronger with fluoride varnish, and treat small areas of decay or abrasion with mineralization paste. Or, we can modify the sugar with diet and substitute sugar with xylitol products, such as Spry Dental Defense System® gum and mints purchased at Whole Foods Market®, or Dr. John’s Candies®. But how can we modify the bacteria? Antibiotics are effective once there is a gum abscess and much of the supporting structure of the tooth is destroyed, but that just puts out the fire. Today “fire insurance” is available for the mouth! Full Story

Link To Breast Cancer And Oral Health

It has been well publicized that there is a growing link between oral health and medical health. Gum inflammation is a marker for generalized inflammation in the entire body. When your gums are chronically inflamed, you are more susceptible to problems with diabetes, heart attacks, pregnancy complications, and recently even Alzheimer’s disease! Blood work confirms that certain inflammation markers, such as HbA1c, and C-reactive protein actually can decrease when your gum infection is under control, which in turn, improves your medical prognosis for diabetes and heart disease. Recently, a link between periodontal disease and pancreatic cancer was discovered due to higher levels of oral bacteria producing higher levels of nitrosamines. But what about breast cancer? Full Story

The Difference Between Fellows And Masters

The Fellowship and Mastership designations are two of the most rigorous continuing dental education programs today. A general dentist who is a “Fellow” in the Academy of General Dentistry (FAGD) has been recognized by other general dentists as a leader and example to other dentists of the importance of quality continuing dental education to patient care. A general dentist who has earned the designation “Master” of the Academy of General Dentistry (MAGD) has completed a structured and demanding set of requirements involving all the dental disciplines. Full Story

What is a laser and how does it work?

A laser is an instrument that produces a very narrow, intense beam of light energy. When laser light comes in contact with tissue, it causes a reaction. The light produced by the laser can remove, vaporize, or shape tissue.

Are lasers used in dentistry?

Yes, lasers have been used in dentistry since 1990. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has determined that lasers can be used as a safe and effective treatment for a wide range of dental procedures. Lasers are often used in conjunction with other dental instruments.

How are lasers used in dentistry?

Dental lasers can be used to:

• correct speech problems caused by a tongue-tie, which prevents normal tongue movement.
• uncover partially erupted wisdom teeth.
• remove decay from a cavity and prepare the tooth for a new filling.
• remove muscle pulls, as seen in orthodontic patients.
• manage gum tissue during impressions for crowns.
• remove swollen tissues caused by medications.
• perform biopsy procedures.
• remove inflamed gum tissues and reduce the amount of bacteria within a periodontal pocket.
• remove or reshape excess gum and bone tissues during crown lengthening procedures.
• treat abscessed gums and infections in root canals.
• reduce the discomfort of canker and cold sores.
• activate whitening chemicals that are used to lighten teeth.

What are the benefits of using dental lasers?

There are several advantages. Dentists may not need to use a drill or administer anesthesia, allowing the patient to enjoy a more relaxed dental experience. Laser procedures can be more precise. Also, lasers can reduce symptoms and healing times associated with traditional therapies; reduce the amount of bacteria in both diseased gum tissue and in tooth cavities; and control bleeding during surgery.

Are dental lasers safe?

If the dental laser is used according to accepted practices by a trained practitioner, then it is at least as safe as other dental instruments. However, just as you wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from prolonged exposure to the sun, when your dentist performs a laser procedure, you will be asked to wear special eyeglasses to protect your eyes from the laser.

How can I be sure my dentist is properly trained to use a laser?

Ask your dentist questions about the extent of his or her laser education and training. Make sure that your dentist has participated in educational courses and received training by the manufacturer. Many dental schools, dental associations, and the Academy of Laser Dentistry (ALD) offer dental laser education. The ALD is the profession’s independent source for current dental laser education and credentialing.

How will I know if treatment with a dental laser is an option for me?

Ask your dentist. Although the laser is a very useful dental instrument, it is not appropriate for every dental procedure.

For further information about this topic, or any other dental topic, contact Dr Slootsky at info@drslootsky.com, or call 954-972-1000

Published with permission by the Academy of General Dentistry. © Copyright 2010 by the Academy of General Dentistry. All rights reserved

Ft Lauderdale dental crown and bridge before

Ft Lauderdale dental crown and bridge after

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Temporomandubular Joint Disorder (TMJ)

Headaches, itching, blurred vision, dizziness, are just a few of the symptoms that may relate to this hard to diagnose but highly treatable dysfunction.

Intra Oral Images

Lets you see exactly what we see, so you can be better informed when discussing treatment options.

Plasma Arc Light

Plasma is used to cure or harden bonding materials as well as activate peroxide used in our office tooth whitening procedure. The advantage is little or no discomfort while greatly expediting treatment.

Periodontics