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It’s no secret that the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak is causing people a lot of stress – but that stress is showing in some surprising ways.  One of the most unexpected side effects is a rise in bruxism, or teeth-grinding, when people sleep. 

Staying calm during the outbreak is a good idea in general, but it could help you protect your teeth too!

What is Bruxism?

Bruxism is a general term for people clenching their jaws when they sleep, causing their teeth to grind together throughout the night.  Since this means several hours of force on the teeth, every night, this can quickly do a lot of damage to the teeth!

There are a lot of possible causes of bruxism, and not all of them have been fully researched.  Stress was long believed to be a major factor causing teeth-grinding, but that seems to have been demonstrated in the last year.  Here at our practice, and at other New Jersey dentists we’ve talked to, there have been far more people showing signs of bruxism than in the past.

It certainly seems to be linked to stress over COVID-19, and other stresses in the world today.

How Can Bruxism Be Prevented?

Generally speaking, the best cure is to de-stress.  As any holistic dentist knows, too much stress is terrible for the body in so many ways.  It raises blood pressure and puts people at more risk of heart disease or strokes.  It takes a mental toil as well, making people more irritable or prone to make bad judgement calls.

Plus, as discussed, it can damage your teeth as well.

If a patient can’t find ways to de-stress, dental specialists do have ways of reducing the harm caused by bruxism.  The most common solution is using mouth guards.  These are small pieces of plastic, custom molded to a person’s teeth, which they wear at night.  The guard adds a protective barrier that prevents the teeth from directly coming into contact with each other.

In more severe cases, medical intervention may be necessary.  For example, some patients may receive shots of botox into the muscles surrounding their jaw, to loosen those muscles and prevent clenching at night.

If you’ve been waking up in the morning feeling like your teeth hurt or finding tiny bits of tooth material in your mouth, you may be suffering from bruxism.  Contact your local New Jersey dentist for an appointment for further evaluation.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and that’s a topic everyone should be aware of. As a holistic dental practice, we’re concerned about our patients’ whole-body health, not just oral health. Breast cancer is a major threat to women – and men – around the world, and we want to do our part to raise awareness of the problem.
In many ways, this year’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month is more important than most. Due to all the disruption from COVID-19 and various lockdowns around the world, a lot of people weren’t getting proper checkups and examinations in the past year. It’s likely some of them have already missed early warning signs of breast cancer, which would have been caught if they’d been able to go to their regular wellness appointments.

Why Is Breast Cancer Awareness So Important?
Breast cancer is by far the most common type of cancer. Estimates are that as many as 1 in 8 (12.5%) of women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives. It’s expected that over 280,000 new cases will be diagnosed in America in 2021. By comparison, the next most-common type of cancer – colon cancer – will have less than half as many diagnoses.

Also, unlike some types of cancer which are caused by harmful behaviors, such as how smoking can cause lung cancer, breast cancer can strike almost anyone. Certain factors, such as family history, seem to play into a person’s susceptibility, but by and large, if a person develops breast cancer it’s through no fault of their own.

Breast cancer can also be fatal. Overall, it’s the second most fatal type of cancer among women, with approximately 1 in 39 women dying from it each year. However, survivability is closely tied to how early the cancer is detected. Most people who die of breast cancer actually die because the cancer spread from their breasts into their lymph nodes, or to other parts of their body. If breast cancer is detected early and has not spread, the odds of surviving are over 99% in the first five years.

This is why women should regularly receive check-ups and perform self-tests looking for lumps. The earlier breast cancer is detected, the more likely it is to be treatable. So, if you’ve been staying home and avoiding regular wellness checks, please visit your doctor. It truly could save your life.

Are you missing one or more teeth?  Don’t feel bad – tooth loss is incredibly common!  In fact, statistically,  some people will have lost a dozen teeth by the time they’re fifty.  Even adults in their 30s and 40s have about a 2/3 chance of having lost at least one tooth.

However, you should not let tooth loss continue.  There are numerous options for restoring lost teeth and – all things being equal – getting dental implants is usually the best option.  Here are just a few reasons you should look into dental implants, if you need to replace some teeth.

Five Benefits To Dental Implants Over Other Options

1 – Implants are easy to care for

Implants look, act, and feel exactly like your natural teeth.  They’re permanently set in your jaw, and can last for decades.  This also means they require no special care beyond standard brushing and flossing.  You don’t have to clean them separately like dentures, for example.

Plus, they’ll never get cavities!

2 – You don’t have to make dietary changes

One of the biggest problems with dentures and other removable false teeth is that they can require significant changes to what you eat, and how you eat.  Not so with implants!  You’ll be able to enjoy all the same foods you currently do, with no lifestyle changes needed.

3 – Implants are indistinguishable from natural teeth

If you have implants placed by a qualified dentist, no one will even know they’re false.  They can be molded and colored to match your other teeth.  It’s just like having your original teeth back.

4 – Talk normally 

Having missing teeth, as well as dentures, can impact how you speak.  People who get dentures often have to “re-learn” how to talk with them.  Getting implants skips over this hassle, and the embarrassment that might come with it.

5 – Prevent bone deterioration

This is maybe the best reason of all to get implants.  Your body “expects” to have teeth set in your jawbone, and if teeth are missing, that can cause the bones themselves to deteriorate.  This can make it easier to have other dental-related problems, such as teeth shifting out of alignment.  In severe cases, this bone deterioration can even change the shape of your face!

Dentures won’t prevent this deterioration, but implants will.  They’re the best way to prevent any unwanted changes to your skull, jaw, or face.

So if you’re missing teeth, don’t delay – contact Princeton Center for Dental Aesthetics & Implants, 609-924-1414.

Almost half of adults aged 30 or older have experienced some form of gum disease according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The risk increases with age with just over 70% of adults aged 65 and older facing this condition. Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease or periodontitis, can progress from minor discomfort to full-blown tooth loss.

Gum disease haunts every dental patient because of its common occurrence and subtle presentation. Thankfully, dentists have many tools in their arsenal to identify and combat it in its various stages.

To start, there are different types of gum disease ranging from early onset, known as gingivitis, to late-stage infections such as necrotizing periodontal disease. The treatment provided depends on the stage of disease progression as well as the level of damage that has occurred to the teeth and gumline.

The first line of defense once gum disease has been diagnosed is a nonsurgical procedure known as scaling and root planing (SRP). In effect, the dentist or dental hygienist removes plaque and bacteria from below the gumline, where a toothbrush cannot reach. Sometimes a local anesthetic is administered to ensure the patient’s comfort during the process. Once SRP is completed, the dentist will determine whether further treatment is necessary.

 If the gum disease has progressed to severe periodontitis, other treatments may be used to aid in the healing process of the gums and preserve the teeth. For example, a periodontal pocket reduction or flap surgery may need to occur after SRP to make sure that bacteria is prevented from inhabiting the deep pocket area of the gums.  The gum tissue is retracted, bacteria is removed, and the gum tissue can successfully reattach to the bone. Gum grafts can also be applied to help remedy exposed roots that result from prolonged disease.

So, can gum disease be cured? Cured is a loaded term that implies an end to the threat of disease. In the case of gum disease, it is helpful to think of it as an ongoing battle. The interventions discussed above can assuage or even eliminate gum disease from a patient, but these treatments offer no guarantee of permanent prevention. Recurrence is always a possibility. When caught early, however, gum disease is manageable.

No discussion of gum disease would be complete without a word on prevention. Like many preventable health issues, gum disease can be avoided by using the same tried and true methods touted by healthcare professionals for ages. Brush and floss. Avoid sugary foods. And, see your dentist regularly. Thriving dental health results from a series of good habits, smart choices, and a watchful eye.

Call Princeton Dental for Aesthetics & Implants to schedule an appointment to evaluate whether gum disease should be treated, 609-924-1414.

When you think about the way your smile looks, you probably think mostly about your teeth: Are they white and healthy-looking? Free of chips or cracks? Straight and evenly spaced? But your gums also influence the way your smile looks. If your gums extend too far down the surfaces of your teeth (a so-called gummy smile), your teeth may appear too small in proportion to the rest of your mouth and other facial features.

 On the other hand, if your gums rest very high on your teeth, they may appear overly large – and in some cases, the tooth roots may be exposed to decay-causing bacteria, making you more prone to developing gum disease.

Most people know about all the ways they can improve the appearance of their teeth: professional whitening treatments, veneers, bonding, Invisalign or crowns, for instance. But many people don’t know they can also change the way their gums look with a state-of-the-art procedure called gum contouring.

What is gum contouring?

Sometimes called gum reshaping, gum contouring removes or adds gum tissue to your natural gum line, resulting in a more pleasing ratio and better symmetry for your smile. A gum contouring procedure can be performed on its own, or it can be combined with other cosmetic dental procedures for a complete smile makeover.

What happens during a gum contouring procedure?

Before a gum contouring procedure, your gums will be carefully assessed to identify the best ways to reshape your gum line for the optimal aesthetic effects. If your gum line is too shallow, your dentist will remove a small amount of gum tissue from another area of your mouth – often your palate (the roof of your mouth) – and attach it to the gum line using very tiny sutures (stitches). As the area heals, the grafted gum tissue will grow in place, providing not only more pleasing contours, but also helping to protect the lower portion of your teeth, providing a strong barrier against decay-causing bacteria.
If your gums extend too far down your tooth, your dentist will carefully remove a small amount of gum tissue, creating a natural-looking curve that exposes more of your natural tooth while enhancing its appearance. Excess gum tissue may be removed using a special incising instrument, or in some cases, it may be removed using a laser.

Is gum contouring painful?

Most gum contouring procedures are performed using a type of dental sedation. The type of sedation will depend on the extent of your procedure and other factors. Some patients prefer local anesthesia with an oral sedative to help them relax, while others may be good candidates for deeper sedation using an IV. Sometimes called “sleep dentistry,” deep sedation allows you to doze throughout your procedure, and you’ll have no memory of the procedure once it’s complete. Our practice uses advanced pain management techniques to ensure you stay comfortable throughout your procedure.

Is the cost of gum contouring covered by insurance?

That depends on your insurance coverage and whether your procedure is considered cosmetic or medical. The difference: Cosmetic gum contouring is performed strictly to improve the way your smile looks; medical gum contouring procedures are performed to improve the health of your teeth and gums – specifically, to help prevent gum disease and infection of the lower portions of the teeth and the roots.

Ready to learn more?

Gum contouring can dramatically improve the appearance of your smile so you feel more attractive and more confident. To find out more about gum contouring and if it’s a good choice for you, call Princeton Center for Dental Aesthetics & Implants at 609-924-1414 and schedule a consultation appointment today.

More and more people choose a simpler, cleaner lifestyle by selecting alternative medicine, varied holistic providers, yoga, organic foods, better fabrics for clothing, and, natural cosmetics. They focus on positive relationships and try to practice honesty and integrity. So, in this context, seeking cosmetic dental enhancements could seem hypocritical and vain. The reality is that the benefits of aesthetic dental procedures run deeper than the appearance alone.

The mouth is a key factor in the way we communicate. An optimistic appearance and smile, along with positive words, contribute to the success of our relationships, both at work and in private life.

The smile has an important role on how we perceive others and ourselves. A beautiful, healthy smile opens the world up to us and creates positive energy. When people dislike their own smile, they find it difficult to be authentic and embrace their community. Many people, including children and the elderly who may feel uncomfortable with their teeth, can become highly self-conscious, shy or nervous about smiling or talking too much. So, restoring one’s healthy smile can have an incredible psychological impact. That said, many of the so-called cosmetic procedures do have an overall oral health benefit: straightening crooked teeth will enable improved cleaning, superior gum health, less jaw pain, less staining and better, sustainable maintenance. Replacing missing teeth and restoring the integrity of a full smile offers better lip support, increases chewing efficiency and stops the shifting of other teeth.

Holistic Dental care means healthy and improved Lifestyle
Cosmetic dental procedures can be extremely minimal. For example, a one-time tooth whitening session, before a wedding or a job interview, has proven so many times to stimulate the patient’s motivation to take better care of his/her teeth from that point forward. It encourages them to brush better, floss and watch their diet more carefully to ensure that they maintain that beautiful result.

Other procedures can range from porcelain veneers and crowns to clear orthodontics and implants. Individual patients have various needs and a dentist with a good understanding of aesthetics and function, and the holistic implication of choosing a method over another or selecting materials with low reactivity, will be able to apply the appropriate treatment. The smile is one of the most distinct human attributes and it’s something that should be carried throughout life.

Since braces are often implemented at an early age, the thought of getting braces as an adult can cause some people to cringe. Invisalign ® provides a subtle solution that actually works with a comprehensive treatment plan that keeps you on the path to a healthy smile.

 What is Invisalign®?
Invisalign® uses custom-shaped aligners made from a polyurethane resin to help straighten your teeth. These aligners are worn daily for 20-22 hours; they need to be taken out before eating and cleaned regularly. Every two weeks you’ll receive a new aligner with a slightly altered shape. When you’ve finished your alignment plan, Invisalign’s Vivera ® retainers will be worn  to keep your newly straighten teeth in place.

 Invisalign ® vs Braces
Braces and Invisalign ® are very different procedures. Here are some advantages of using Invisalign instead of braces:

Pros: Minimal discomfort, invisible aligners look discreet, aligners can be removed to eat and clean, no food restrictions, up to 50% faster with AcceleDent. 

Cons: Patient compliance is essential to optimal results. Invisalign is not recommended for severve cases.  

 On the other hand, here are a few things to remember about traditional Braces:

Traditional Metal Braces
When people hear the word braces, this is the kind they most often picture in their head. Today’s modern brackets are much smaller and less noticeable than the “metal-mouth” braces that were commonly seen in the past.

Pros: Least expensive type, allow kids to be creative in choosing different colored bands

Cons: Most noticeable type of braces

Ceramic Braces
Ceramic braces are the same size and shape as metal braces. The only difference is they have tooth-colored or clear brackets that blend in to teeth instead of bright vibrant colors. Some even use tooth-colored wires to be even less obvious.

Pros: Less noticeable than traditional braces, moves teeth much faster than plastic aligners like Invisalign

Cons: More expensive than the traditional kind, brackets can easily stain if proper care is not taken

Click Here if Interested in exploring Invisalign and get a $1000 Credit 

What is the right choice for you?
Each Invisalign® product is designed to be used by every kind of patient. They carry no side effects and are completely safe to use. Each set of aligners is carefully crafted keeping the patient’s teeth in mind to provide uniquely customized service. Ultimately, in choosing the right orthodontic method, it comes down to personal choice, budget, and, your dentists’ professional opinion.

 For more than 30 years, Princeton Center for Dental Aesthetics and Implants has been providing high-quality dental care in the central New Jersey area. Call 609-924-1414 to learn more about how Invisalign ® can give you a beautiful smile.