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Sherlock Holmes, that most famous of fictional detectives, observed clues, analyzed them, and used his powers of deduction to arrive at the solution to his cases.

Dr. Tavory and our team are skilled in deduction as well! By examining your teeth and gums during your regular checkup, important clues can be discovered about your dental health—and perhaps your overall health as well. What might be deduced when you come in for an exam?

• You Haven’t Been Flossing

Even with some last-minute catchup flossing, it’s not hard to tell if you’ve been regularly skipping the flossing portion of your daily dental care. Plaque that your toothbrush just can’t reach on its own will be noticeable between your teeth and around the gum line. Your gums might be inflamed, swollen or bleeding—early signs of the gum disease plaque causes when it’s not removed with careful flossing.

These symptoms could arise because you’re neglecting to floss at least once a day, or it could be that your flossing skills could simply use some fine-tuning. A refresher in flossing technique takes no time at all. Or, you might discuss whether a water flosser would be a good investment for healthier teeth and gums if, for any reason, you have difficulty flossing effectively.

• You Haven’t Been Sleeping Well

Even if your roommate or partner hasn’t told you that your teeth and jaws have been grinding away while you were not-so-soundly asleep, your dentist might be able to. Shorter, flattened teeth are a common symptom of bruxism, or tooth grinding. Your exam might reveal cracked enamel or broken cusps caused by the force you’re placing on them at night. This condition can also lead to larger jaw muscles and jaw pain.

Since these symptoms are also caused by sleep apnea, it’s a very good idea to find out what’s causing this dental stress. Treatments are available to make your sleep safer for your teeth and jaws—and more restful and healthier for you!

• You Should Talk to Your Doctor

Conditions that seem to have nothing to do with your oral health can cause dental symptoms, alerting your dentist to a medical condition which you might not be aware of. Pale gums or a swollen tongue could be symptoms of anemia. Erosion on the inside of the teeth can be caused by GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can lead to ulcers, loose teeth, and gum disease.

 If Dr. Tavory and our team suggest that you make an appointment with your doctor to find the medical cause of your dental symptoms, it’s essential to follow up.

• Are You Left-Handed?

So, getting back to our original question, can your dentist deduce that you’re left-handed?

Probably not! It’s been suggested that left-handed people brush their teeth more firmly on the left side, and right-handed people brush harder on the right. And it’s also been suggested that left-handers don’t brush the left side of the mouth as thoroughly, while right-handers neglect their dominant side.

But Dr. Tavory can still tell you some important facts about your hand-brush coordination just by observing the state of your enamel. If you’re brushing too firmly, your tooth surfaces could show erosion and wear. A soft-bristled brush and a lighter hand will get your teeth just as clean without the abrasion.

If you’re having trouble reaching areas because of dexterity issues, Dr. Tavory can point out the areas where plaque buildup reveals the spots you need to concentrate on. An electric toothbrush might be just the answer to making all the surfaces of your teeth equally accessible.

A dentist is an expert in observing, analyzing, and solving dental problems. When you keep to a regular schedule of exams and cleanings at our Boca Raton dental office, you’ll benefit from that expertise to discover oral health issues before they become more serious. That’s an easy and elegant solution to maintaining your dental health. In fact, it’s elementary!

Our team at Burke Orthodontics knows that there are many ways you can protect your pearly whites throughout your orthodontic treatment. If you follow the rules and brush your teeth twice a day, floss often, and protect your appliances from damage, you should have a successful treatment.

But did you know there’s another way to keep your teeth sparkling and healthy during your time wearing braces?

Fluoride, the mineral that helps you prevent cavities and tooth decay, can also help keep your teeth strong. Fluoride comes in two varieties: topical and systemic. Depending on your oral health or the recommendation of John Burke, you may be required to have a fluoride treatment every three, six, or 12 months. We may also prescribe a fluoride product such as a mouthwash, gel, or antibacterial rinse for at-home treatment to keep your teeth happy in between visits.

If you have any other questions about fluoride or your treatment, please don’t hesitate to give us a call!

One of the most appealing reasons to choose dental implants over options such as bridges, partial dentures, and complete dentures is the fact that they function like natural teeth. 

Unlike bridges and dentures, which sit above the gumline, implants are embedded in the jawbone, designed to look like and to work like a natural tooth:

• A cylinder or screw, usually made of bio-compatible titanium, is surgically implanted into the jawbone. After several months, the implant fuses with the bone, a process called “osseointegration.” 
• An abutment is secured inside the implanted piece. This abutment extends above the gumline and serves to connect the implant to a crown. 
• A dental implant crown customized to match surrounding teeth in shape and appearance is securely attached to the abutment.

The result is a tooth that looks and functions just like a natural tooth, with a secure implant acting as a root below the gumline attached to a realistic-looking crown above it. What does this unique design mean for you?

• Implants Are Secure

Because implants are rooted in your jaw, there is no need to worry about loose dental work or difficulties with pronunciation or eating. Dentures stay in place using a mild adhesive or suction, which attaches them to the gum ridge. Bridges are anchored to teeth on either side of the missing tooth or teeth. Implants, on the other hand, are anchored in the jawbone. The post of the implant fuses with the bone in your jaw, functioning just like the root of a natural tooth. 

Implants often are used to replace a single tooth, but if you have lost several teeth, you also have options. Implants are an effective way to hold bridges and dentures in place securely. Several posts are implanted in strategic locations. Once the posts have fused with the jawbone, the bridge or denture is secured to the posts. These appliances can be fixed in place or removable for easy cleaning. 

• Implants Maintain Bone Health

When you choose an implant, you are choosing an option which protects your natural bone health and facial appearance. When a tooth is lost, the jawbone beneath it can shrink over time. This process is called “resorption.” Bone loss can alter facial appearance, especially around the lips, cheeks, and profile. 

Why do we lose bone? The bone in our jaws stays healthy because the stimulation of chewing and biting encourages new bone cell production around the root. Without that stimulation, the jawbone doesn’t replace old bone cells as effectively, and gradually shrinks, even with a bridge or denture. Implants, on the other hand, provide the same stimulation to the bone that natural teeth and roots do, and bone cells regenerate just like they do with natural teeth.

• Implants Don’t Affect Surrounding Teeth

When you choose a fixed bridge to replace a missing tooth or teeth, the neighboring teeth must be shaped to hold the bridge attachment. This is done by removing some healthy tooth structure from each neighboring tooth. Retainer crowns are then placed on these teeth to hold the pontic, or replacement teeth, in position. 

Implants don’t require crowns or other anchoring mechanisms on surrounding teeth. What’s more, implants benefit the teeth around them by helping to preserve the shape and strength of the jawbone holding them in place. 

• Implants Last

Dentures and bridges can be a more cost-effective option initially, but they will need to be replaced every 5-10 years. Implants are the longest lasting tooth replacement. Many implants will last a lifetime. 

How to make sure your implant is successful? Look after your dental hygiene to prevent gum disease, a leading cause of tooth loss in adults. If you grind your teeth, talk to Dr. Tavory about a nightguard. Wear a mouthguard when you play sports. Avoid biting into hard foods like ice and hard candies. Don’t smoke. In other words, protect your implants just like you protect your organic teeth.

• Implants Look Natural

For many of us, the realistic appearance of dental implants is the deciding factor. 

Dental implants are designed to look just like your natural teeth. The crown which sits atop the implant post is carefully fabricated to match the size, shape, and color of your surrounding teeth. You can eat, speak, and smile confidently once again.

If you’re considering tooth replacement, talk to the team at Tavory Family Dentistry in Boca Raton about which options are best for you. You might discover that a dental implant is the natural choice!

You may have noticed that kids seem to be getting braces and other orthodontic care a lot earlier these days. There was a time, only a decade or two ago, when braces were mainly seen on teenagers, but that is beginning to change. If you’re wondering when to bring your child to our Frankfort, IL office for an orthodontic evaluation, the answer actually has several parts.

The Telltale Signs

If your child has a very crowded set of adult teeth coming in, or if the permanent front teeth came in very early, these are signs that your child should see John Burke, regardless of age.

The Dental Age

Barring signs of trouble or early adult teeth as mentioned above, the time that your child needs to be seen for initial orthodontic evaluation depends not so much upon your child’s actual age, but on what is known as a “dental age.”

The dental age of the patient might be entirely different from his or her actual chronological age; for example, an eight-year-old could have a dental age of 13. It is part of John Burke and our staff’s job to determine the dental age and then make appropriate recommendations for the resolution of orthodontic issues if they are emerging.

The Official Recommended Age

The American Association of Orthodontists officially recommends that kids should see an orthodontist for the first time between the ages of seven and nine. Even if the child does not have all his or her permanent teeth, the teeth growth pattern can usually be predicted quite effectively by an orthodontist.

This allows for a proactive response to emerging problems, and this is the reason that some younger children are now getting orthodontic devices earlier in life. If a young child has serious orthodontic issues emerging, John Burke can usually address the problems immediately and then follow up with another round of treatment when the child has all the adult teeth.