Black lines around the edge of older crowns are a common problem that I see. They are almost never a problem initially with a crown but can show up after several years. Black lines are almost always preceded by some slight amount of gum recession. Your gums usually recede slightly over the course of your […]
There is a pretty common misconception out there that when your wisdom teeth start to come in they push your other teeth forward leading to crowding of your front teeth. Many dentists and oral surgeons believed this for years and recommended removing your wisdom teeth to protect against this. Quite a few long term studies […]
Ready to learn the truth about fluoride? Your dentist, doctor (medical or homeopathic), or next door neighbor likely don’t know as much about it as they claim to. I’m going to cut through all the misinformation out there and give you the real story, based on the most current scientific evidence. Why Is The Truth […]
Many people wonder if it is possible to fix a cavity without doing a filling. As with many things in dentistry, the answer is a big “It depends”. The good news is that there are some situations where a cavity is somewhat reversible. The bad news is that the solution isn’t so simple as just […]
I get asked some version of this question all the time! It usually goes, “Hey Doc, my tooth doesn’t hurt. Why would I get a filling if I’m not having a problem?” Let’s compare it to another type of health problem. Let’s say your physician tells you that you have early stage heart disease. How […]
There is a certain class of osteoporosis medications known as bisphosphonates that have been linked with a rare but very serious side effect known as osteonecrosis of the jaw. To understand why this happens, you first need to know a little about how bones work and what these medications do. How Bones Work Most people […]
Do you or someone you know have a gummy smile? Wondering what causes it or whether there can be anything done to fix it? We’re going to cover everything you need to know! First, a “gummy smile” isn’t really a technical term and doesn’t have any one specific definition. Most dentists consider a smile “gummy” […]
A relatively common complaint I hear from some of my patients is that they have a developed a metallic taste in their mouth. This taste can best be described as the same taste you’d get by sucking on some coins. Most come to me wondering if there is something badly wrong. They’ve heard all the […]
Most parents want to give their kids the best possible start in life. Did you know that one way you can do this, is to keep your own mouth healthy? You might think, what does the health of my mouth have to do with my child’s health? When your mouth is unhealthy, whether from cavities […]
During certain times of the year, I start seeing a lot of patients who are having a vague toothache around their upper back teeth. Sometimes, they do have an actual toothache but in many other cases they have what is known as a “sinus toothache”. To understand why this happens you first have to understand […]