Thanks to advances in dental technology, a visit to the dentist doesn’t have to be the ordeal that it once was. The dentists of today can do more things than their predecessors could, and the procedures are generally less painful and more successful than they used to be.

Dental x-rays have been in use for a long time, but today they are a more accurate diagnostic tool than ever before. Periodic x-rays can spot problems before they occur and minimize the amount of dental work that is needed.

Other exciting advances in this field have to do with laser dentistry. Today’s low-powered dental lasers can perform work of amazing delicacy with little or no discomfort.

Some patients suffer from an excessive amount of gun tissue which causes the look known as a “gummy smile.” Soft tissue laser can be used to reshape this tissue so that it recedes from the tooth, exposing healthy tooth surface. This corrects the gummy smile and promotes healthier teeth and gums in the long run.

A similar problem sometime occurs with patients who wear dentures. When dentures fit badly, there are often folds of gum tissue that come up over the denture surface. Soft tissue laser treatment is a good remedy for this, as it allows the reshaping of the gum and removal of excess gum tissue.

Another advancement that has improved the experience of many dental patients in CEREC or Ceramic Reconstruction. This procedure allows dental reconstruction work to be done in one visit instead of two as in older techniques. The old method required a preparatory visit and a second visit to perform the procedure. With CEREC, the area to be repaired is examined and a computer creates the exact specifications of any pieces needed to repair it. These pieces are made on the spot using tooth-colored ceramic and attached immediately, completing the procedure in a single visit.

Patients who remember unpleasant visits to the dentist as children are in for a nice surprise today. The experience is quicker, easier and more certain of success than ever before.

Tags: dental technology, Dentistry, Dentures, Manus Dental, Oral Health, Oral Hygiene

Dental inlays and onlays are used in cases where the biting surface of the tooth has been damaged. In these procedures, a piece of material is sculpted to reconstruct the upper part of the tooth and repair chipped or cracked parts. Gold has traditionally been the material of choice for this and is still used extensively, but ceramics and plastic resins have also gained popularity in recent years.

The difference in an inlay and an onlay is in the area that is covered. An inlay covers the inner part of the tooth’s biting surface, the part between the cusps. An onlay is used to repair more extensive tooth damage, and includes one or more of the cusps.

Getting an inlay or onlay requires two visits to the dentist. In the first visit, the dentist examines the tooth and determines the shape and dimensions of the piece needed to make the repair. These specifications are sent to a lab where the piece is made, after which the second visit takes place and the piece is applied using a plastic cement.

Inlays and onlays have a good track record and offer some advantages over traditional metal fillings. While old-style fillings sometimes showed dark, unsightly areas, inlays and onlays do not. They are often on parts of the tooth that are not seen, and they are made of tooth-colored material that is not noticeable. Because of this, the tooth simply looks normal and healthy.

This procedure can be used to make old, discolored teeth look white and new again. When skillfully applied, the artificial material is indistinguishable from the real tooth. While this is strictly an esthetic consideration, it can be important to the patient’s self-image. People who may have been afraid to smile for years can suddenly do so again. Using inlays or onlays also has a health advantage in many cases, since damaged teeth and old fillings are an invitation to infection and decay.

Whether it is done for appearance or for the health of the tooth, using inlays or onlays is a good, safe procedure with significant advantages.

Tags: Dental Inlays and Onlays, Dentist, Genera Dentist, Illinois, Manus Dental, Oral Health, Restorative Dentistry

While most people are aware that crooked teeth can lead to an unpleasant appearance, many are not aware that they can also produce health problems. When teeth are not aligned properly, they are more prone to cavities and decay. Although this by itself is unfortunate enough, such decay can also lead to other health problems. In fact, researchers have now found that teeth decay can also result in health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and systemic infection.

Furthermore, research has also found that there is an association between premature labor and low birth weight in women with gum disease. Crooked teeth and resulting gum disease and also result in bone loss and loss of the teeth. Alignment problems and bite issues can result in stress and wear on the teeth, which can also make them more prone to nerve damage, fracture and tooth loss.

There is also the matter of the lack of self-confidence and self-esteem that many people with crooked teeth experience. This can result in problems in relationships and career advancement. Individuals with crooked teeth may be ashamed and therefore reluctant to smile. Consequently, they may feel unhappy and emotionally disconnected.

For adults who have lived with crooked teeth all their lives and think the only solution available to them is braces, it is important to know that there is now another option available. Invisalign is a type of dental device that is used to straighten teeth in a completely inconspicuous manner. These clear braces can be used by both adolescents as well as adults to obtain a straighter, more beautiful smile.

There are numerous advantages to Invisalign braces, including the fact that they generally cannot be noticed by others. In addition, these clear braces can be removed when eating and then easily inserted once again. Invisalign braces can be easily used by patients of practically any age. They offer an affordable and easy solution for people who have always desired straighter teeth, but who wished to avoid the stigma and discomfort of traditional metal braces. You can obtain more information about Invisalign clear braces at www.manusdental.com.

Tags: Chicago, Family Dentist, Invisalign, Manus Dental, Orthodontics

If you have a gap between your teeth, you may be embarrassed about your smile or even have discomfort in your mouth. If this is the case, you may want to consider cosmetic dentistry to correct your teeth and create the smile you have always wanted.

Corrective Techniques

The most popular method of correcting tooth gaps is dental veneers. Porcelain veneers can be applied to the existing tooth and create a smile that is very natural looking. With this technique the tooth is prepared and a thin porcelain shell is placed on the tooth and bonded to it. Porcelain has the appearance that is closest to natural teeth and often, people will not even know that you have had a corrective dental procedure. Porcelain veneers usually take three dental visits to complete.

Another method of correcting dental problems with teeth is bonding. Dental bonding can be completed in one visit. With this approach, the tooth is prepared and a plastic material is placed on the tooth and sculpted into the desired shape. Then it is bonded and hardened with an intensive light. While this approach takes less time than porcelain veneers, the resin material used is more subject to stains.

Painful Conditions

It is not uncommon for problems with your teeth to be uncomfortable and even painful. Teeth that are chipped or misaligned can cause problems with jaw alignment and make it painful to chew and sometimes even to talk.

Cosmetic dental restoration can help you gain a beautiful smile and it can also go a long way to relieving pain you may experience from problem teeth. Once your teeth are correctly aligned, you will find it easier to eat, chew and talk.

Boost Your Self Confidence

Restorative dentistry can also be a great boost to your self confidence. With a beautiful smile, you will no longer need to be embarrassed to show when you are happy or excited. You will find that your self esteem improved and you will find it easier to smile naturally. You may even discover that you become more outgoing and you develop new friendships unexpectedly.

If you are interested in improving your smile and correcting problem teeth, call or visit us today. We are always happy to answer questions and get you the best dental service for your needs.

Tags: Cosmetic Dentistry Chicago, Dental Implant, Dentistry, Family Dentist, Gaps in Teeth, Oral Health, Restorative Dentistry

The very idea of a root canal can make your anxiety skyrocket and make you wonder what you have in store for your future if you’re a candidate for the procedure. On average, 17 million teeth in a single year are restored and saved using the procedure.

A root canal removes any diseased pulp on the inside of the tooth and then a dentist fills the roots with nickel titanium after hollowing it out. To prevent the tooth from needing to get pulled due to damage to the sensitive dental pulp, which consists of lymph tissue and blood vessels along with nerve tissue, a root canal may be in order. A root canal requires all of this debris on the inside of the tooth to be completely removed, including the infection and bacteria, so it can be cleaned and shaped.

Look for signs and symptoms that may indicate you’re a candidate for a root canal such as pain ranging in severity from minimal to severe, discoloration of the tooth and swelling or irritation of the gum tissue surrounding that specific tooth. The pain can be incredibly painful due to failed attempts at restoration such as fillings, which actually allow additional bacteria to get into the sensitive area. Other problems, such as a chip or crack in a tooth due to injury, may also require you to get a root canal performed.

If a root canal is unable to be successfully performed to save the tooth from extraction and you don’t want to be left with a gap in your mouth, you may be able to get a dental bridge or dental implant so no one else is able to notice the change in your smile. If you suspect that you may have a dental issue that currently requires a root canal or may need one in the close future, it’s best to get it evaluated as soon as possible to minimize the damage and make your best effort to save the tooth.

Tags: Dental Bridge, Dental Implant, Family Dentist, Manus Dental, Restorative Dentistry, Root Canal

Periodontal disease is an infection to the gums which can destroy the bone and soft tissue that surrounds teeth. Most people who are diagnosed with this disease do not practice good oral hygiene.

Signs and Symptoms

The following signs and symptoms are commonly associated with periodontal disease:

• Gums that are tender, swollen, red and receding (pulling away from teeth)
• Spaces between teeth
• Bad breath or a foul taste
• Teeth that are loosened
• Changes to positioning of teeth
• Signs of pus on gums and teeth

Prevention of Periodontal Disease

The best way to prevent periodontal disease is to practice good oral hygiene. This includes brushing teeth and gums on a daily to remove plaque buildup. Daily flossing is another way to remove plaque and bacteria from teeth and gums.

In addition to at-home care, people should have regular visits to the dentist. Typical visits should occur every six months to receive cleanings. These cleanings by a dental hygienist or dentist can remove additional plaque and bacteria that brushing at home does not.

Nonsurgical Periodontal Treatments

Scaling is a procedure that removes bacteria from the surface beneath the gums.

Root planing smoothes the surfaces to discourage further tartar buildup.

Some dental professionals may use topical or oral antibiotics to control bacteria that cause an infection. These antibiotics come in many forms, including rinses and gels.

Surgical Periodontal Treatments

Flap or pocket reduction surgery is an advanced scaling and planing procedure. Through tiny gum incisions, tissue is pulled back to expose roots for a more thorough cleaning.

Tissue grafts is a procedure to replace damaged tissue from receding gum lines. The surgeon removes tissue from the roof of the patient’s mouth and attaches it to the damaged area.

A bone graft is usually performed when periodontal disease results in destruction to the bone that surrounds teeth. This often helps to prevent tooth loss and allows bone to grow back in the damaged area.

An extension of the bone graft procedure is tissue regeneration. A specially designed material is placed between the bone and tooth. This material prevents unwanted particles from entering the area as it heals.

Tags: Chicago Dentists, Manus Dental, Oral Health, Oral Hygiene, Periodonal Infection, Periodontal Disease, Periodontal Gum Care, Plaque Removal, Regular Cleanings

Good family dentistry practices do more than just take care of their patient’s teeth when care is needed. A good doctor will give the people who come to see him information on how they can need his services less often. Everyone knows that brushing and flossing can prevent tooth decay. To this end, most dentists will give their patients a toothbrush. Our practices strives to do more than that. We want to help our younger patients avoid the need for braces and help our older patients keep their teeth as long as they can. Our office offers regulars screenings. We can also help patients with special needs. Just inform the doctor before hand if you have diabetes or other conditions which require special care on the part of our doctors.

People of all ages need a good dentist. An infant whose first teeth comes in needs a dentist to check how they are growing. A child whose adult teeth have come in may need braces to make sure the teeth come in straight and not crooked. Working age adults need dentists to pull their wisdom teeth, check for cavities and perform regular cleanings. When a person reaches retirement age and starts to lose his teeth, he still needs the services of a dentist to make his dentures. A good family dentist can provide all of this. Family dentistry practices work with people of all age groups in order to bring you the best possible care.

Finding a family dentistry practice does not have to be a challenge. We understand that not every doctor will work for every patient. Several doctors work at our practice. Call us and we will help you find which one of our dentists works for you.

Tags: Brookfield, Chicago, Chicago Dentists, Family Dentist, Family Dentistry, Manus Dental

Dental cleanings should be scheduled regularly – twice a year, at least, though some patients may require additional visits between every two to six months, depending on their dental health – to avoid the build-up of plaque and various other potential problems, including periodontal inflammation or the development of tooth decay.

While many consider them an expensive nuisance, the truth is that regular dental cleanings are incredibly important to your long-term dental health, financially prudent in terms of the amount of money they could save you in the long term, and quick, painless appointments from which it is easy to quickly move on.

Perhaps most importantly, if you can stick to a regular schedule of dental cleanings, your long-term costs for dental care will be markedly reduced, and you’ll stick to quick, painless cleanings instead of the more involved, potentially uncomfortable procedures that will be required if you develop a serious dental health issue. Your best course for fiscal and oral health is to commit yourself to scheduling regular dental cleanings.

Perhaps the highlight of dental cleanings is the range of treatment a patient receives, as well as the range of resulting long-term benefits. At a cleaning, a patient may receive many types of treatment, depending on the dental professional in question and the patient’s needs, but cleanings often include supra gingival scaling to remove plaque and tartar, tooth polishing, debridement of tartar beneath the gum and periodontal charting. In addition to these treatments, however, a longer-term benefit to patients is often the education they receive from dental professionals while at a cleaning; patients can receive instruction on the proper technique for brushing and flossing, nutritional advice if necessary, and further recommendations regarding personal oral hygiene and home care. This aforementioned information can provide the foundation for patients to maintain their dental health consistently over the years, thereby eliminating the need for additional dental procedures and saving the patient money in the process.

Tags: Dental Cleaning, Dentist, Family Dentist Chicago, Manus Dental, Regular Cleanings

Sore gums and bleeding gums are often a sign of gum disease. Other signs of gum disease include persistent bad breath, loose teeth, painful chewing, receding gums and sensitive teeth. Mild gum disease is called gingivitis, and if this condition is not treated it can turn into the more serious version of gum disease, called periodontitis, which involves the teeth pulling away from the gums and forming pockets which can become infected. The structures that hold the teeth in place can then deteriorate, causing your teeth to need to be pulled out.

Gum disease can do more than just increase your risk for problems with your teeth. Gum disease may also increase your risk for other health conditions. These include type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Pregnant women with gum disease may also be at an increased risk for giving birth to babies that have low birth weights.

The American Academy of Periodontology found that as many as 75 percent of people in America suffer from some form of gum disease. People of any age can get gum disease, but in general most people don’t begin to show signs of this condition until they reach their 30s or 40s. Teenagers that have gum disease usually have only reached the gingivitis stage. It is rare for them to have the more serious periodontitis. Smoking, medications that reduce your saliva, diabetes and other medical conditions, genetics and the hormonal changes that occur in women all can make you more susceptible to gum disease.

Bacteria can build up to form plaque, and a buildup of plaque causes gum disease. This means you need to take care to keep your gums and teeth healthy by brushing your teeth at least twice a day, flossing regularly to clean where your toothbrush can’t reach and visiting your dentist twice a year for professional cleanings and to get any dental problems treated.

Tags: Brookfield, Chicago, Dental Cleaning, Manus Dental, Periodontal Disease, Periodontal Gum Care, Sore Gums

Before the invention of dental implants, dentists would use dentures or bridges to replace a lost tooth. Dentures cause irreversible bone loss in the jaw. They can also change a person’s natural bite. Bridges require that healthy teeth are filed down and crowned to support the device. Dental implants, on the other hand, not only prevent bone loss, but they do not affect surrounding teeth.

Tooth loss can occur for a number of reasons, including decay, gum disease, injury and genetics. The loss of a tooth can be very traumatic for an individual; however, dentistry has come a long way in tooth replacement. Dental implants are quickly becoming a popular choice in single or multiple tooth replacement.

A patient receiving a dental implant will require a series of dental appointments. At the first appointment, a hole is drilled into the jaw bone, and the titanium implant screw is placed. Most patients report minor discomfort. The screw is then allowed to heal in the bone, a process called osseointegration. This takes several months.

After the healing period is completed, the patient will return to the dentist for a temporary crown. The gum is able to heal around the temporary crown. Finally, a permanent crown will be placed on the screw. With proper care, a dental implant can last indefinitely.

Dental implants have a very high success rate, with 90% for upper implants and 95% for lower. Implant failure is usually attributed to a problem with the screw being accepted by the jaw bone. While a dental implant will not decay, the gum around the tooth is still susceptible to gum disease, which can lead to implant failure. Those who smoke may have a higher risk of the implant not being successful.

A dental implant looks the most like a natural tooth, making it ideal for a person who is self-conscious about their appearance. It is a strong and durable choice for those needing tooth replacement. They are the most functional and longest lasting form of tooth replacement currently available.

Tags: Brookfield, Chicago Dentists, Dental Implant, Implant Dentistry, Manus Dental, Missing teeth