The wisdom teeth are the last permanent molars to emerge from the gums. This can occur as early as age 17 or as late as 21. Though some teens and young adults experience a completely normal tooth eruption with ideally aligned molars that pose no health threat, this is not the case for everyone.
We strive each week to provide our fellow BLOG followers with information about important dental topics, treatments that we offer, and other technologies that could benefit your over all well-being!
So many people would think that a woman as attractive and funny as Sofia Vergara surely planned to be a model and actress from the get-go. However, Sofia's first career choice actually was to be a dentist! The famous TV star was only two semesters shy of finishing a dental degree in her native Columbia when she decided to trade dental school for a career in television.
Recently, multiple studies have concluded that people with sleep apnea, a disorder that causes snoring, fatigue, and dangerous gaps in breathing at night due to throat muscles collapsing, are five time more likely to develop cancer. In fact, one of the studies found that people with the most severe forms of sleep apnea had a 65 percent greater risk of developing cancer of any kind!
Gingivitis is an early stage of gum disease that results when bacteria in your mouth cause inflammation and tenderness in your gums. This is a very common condition, and you can treat it effectively if you are aggressive. Otherwise, it could develop into more advanced gum disease, or periodontitis, and you could lose one or more teeth.
September is the month that the dental community focuses on increasing the awareness about gum health and periodontal disease! With the fast pace that we all live under, many people are too busy to even recognize the first warning signs of gingivitis, the early stage of periodontal disease. Early recognition and action are the most important steps to healthy gums, and ultimately a healthy body as well. Studies are published every year linking oral health, including the gums, to the health of other areas of the body, such as your heart. Since one of the most important steps to improving the care of your gums is recognizing the warning signs, check out the following list:
Now that summer is fading into fall, we always find it interesting to find out how our patients spent the summer! Whether you visited our nation's capital, went on a camping trip, or just stayed around our great state of Oklahoma and relaxed, we really want to know how you spent this summer. Sharing your experiences or ideas can help spark others in their future adventures or vacations! So please take the time and share your summertime plans here or on our FB page!
From the clinical perspective, dentistry is similar around the world. Dentists, go to school, obtain a license, and work hard to prevent and treat tooth decay, gum disease, oral infections, throat or oral cancer, tooth loss, and other conditions that might limit a person's ability to smile, bite, chew, or speak. The quality of dental care, however, and availability for dental services varies between nations.
During the recent decade between 2000 and 2010, the amount of adults who regularly visited their dentist declined, according to research released by the American Dental Association's Health Policy Center. In fact, the same research found that the percentage of adults who had regular checkups every six months declined from 41 percent in 2003 to 37 percent in 2010. The largest decline in dental care occurred in the 35- to -49-year-old age group. That's down from 43 percent in 2003 to just 38 percent in 2010.
Grinding is a very common problem due to the extreme stress that most individuals deal with these days! Although most people think that Hollywood stars and super models are exempt from everyday stresses, Chrissy Teigen found herself experiencing the long-term effects of years of grinding while on a recent film shoot in Bangkok.
Looking back at childhood photos, you may notice picture after picture of yourself with a mouthful of shiny white teeth. When you look in the mirror today, you wonder what happened to that beautiful smile? Many adults struggle with tooth discoloration and find it embarrassing to show off their teeth in a smile. Once you identify the cause of your tooth discoloration, there are treatment options that can restore your teeth and your confidence.
According the the British tabloid The Daily Mail, Prince William had to pay a late-night visit to a discreet dentist and have a chipped front tooth repaired after part of it was fractured while attending a friend's wedding. While these types of dental problems are quite common, thankfully, many do not result in significant pain or discomfort. And the first thing to always remember is to stay calm!
In our continuing efforts to provide the highest quality of dental health care available to our patients, we regularly screen our patients for oral cancer. The fact is, every hour of every day in North America, someone dies of oral cancer, which is the sixth most commonly diagnosed form of the disease. Although the five-year survival rate is only 50 percent, and oral cancer is one of the few cancers whose survival rate has not improved, early detection is the key!
Sure, you brush your teeth and floss regularly, so you might think you're off the hook when it comes to the dental chair. However, it's just as important for adults to get regular dental exams as it it for kids. Cavities are common among adults, with 92% of people aged 18 to 64 having had cavities in their permanent teeth, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.
February marks another National Children's Dental Health Month, which has been sponsored by the American Dental Association for the past 67 years in order to raise awareness about the importance of children's oral health. During the month of February, the ADA encourages all parents and caregivers to help children develop good dental habits at an early age. Regular dental visits can help children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.
Nobody likes bad breath, and although it can sometimes be difficult to tell if you have it, it is always better to practice good oral health than risk a smelly mouth. There are many ways to reduce or eliminate bad breath, some are definitely more effective and longer lasting than others. Check out ways to do so below.
Many smokers believe that chewing tobacco is a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes. This simply isn't the case! In fact, smokeless tobacco can cause serious health concerns.
Especially with the start of each new year, dieting seems to top the resolutions list. Cutting carbs and sugar are the first dietary items that join the forbidden list. And, it goes without saying that everyone realizes that pop and sugary drinks like the popular coffee shop fraps would not make the top recommended drinks to prevent tooth decay. However, there doesn't seem to be much thought taken to the effects of dieting or even just your regular diet has on your teeth. While most people focus on healthy eating habits in order to reduce their waistline, the same dietary choices can also help to ensure that your teeth stay strong and cavity-free as well.