Dental veneers can be used by dentist to either improve the appearance of a tooth or to restore it if it is damaged.  Here are some dental problems where a dental veneers are useful.

1) To improve the appearance of darken teeth where previous teeth whitening treatments failed.

2) To restore teeth that are moderately worn out. (Note: severely worn teeth should be repaired with a dental crown)

3) To restore fractured teeth

4) To close spaces between teeth

5) To arrange the appearance of slightly misaligned teeth

For both 4 and 5 it is recommended to consider orthodontics services first.   However talk to your dentist and discuss the correct coarse of dental care treatment for you.

Composite fillings are tooth-colored plastic and glass mixture used to restore decayed teeth. Composites are also used for cosmetic improvements of the smile by changing the color of the teeth or reshaping disfigured teeth. Cost for Composite filling can vary but they are normally up to two times the price of silver fillings.  However, most dental insurance plan provide coverages for composite fillings making them more affordable.

According to a study in the February 2007 issue of the Journal of Periodontology, smoking can harm the integrity of dental implants and cause them to fail more often than in a nonsmoker.

Researchers from University of Murcia in Spain investigated if smoking impacts the ability of a dental implant to succeed. They found that smoking is a risk factor with regard to tooth loss and dental implant failure.

It is not really the gum that is helping to remove dental plaque from your teeth when you chew it. However, by chewing gum after eating it can help stimulate and produce saliva.  One role saliva plays n your mouth is to partially clean your mouth following a meal.  Therefore chewing on gum can stimulate your mouth’s saliva to be constantly produced.  This will help remove some of the food debris, and some of the dental plaque that has been created after you have eaten.

However some plaque can be consistent and sticks to teeth and saliva by itself can not remove it.  It is only by brushing and flossing thoroughly that you can make sure you have removed the dental plaque from around your teeth  in order to prevent tooth decay

There really is no set amount of times you should see a dentist.  It advise at least twice a year, however talk to your dentist about how often you should visit.  If you are a  person who has a history of cavities or crown and bridge work, or are wearing braces, you should visit the dentist more often. People, such as diabetics or smokers, have a higher risk of gum disease than the general population, so they also should visit the dentist more often. People with suppressed immune systems also are more likely to have dental problems. Examples include people who are infected with HIV or are receiving cancer treatment. More frequent visits for these groups are important to maintain good oral health.

Many studies over the years have showed their is a link between Periodontal disease and over all health care.  These studies suggests that people with periodontal disease are at higher risk for developing heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory disease. By having good oral health habits, it will reduce the risk of periodontal disease.

Dental Bonding is a process where a tooth colored substance is applied to the affected teeth. The dentist is able to shape the bonding material to fit the contour of the tooth, filling in the gap.

According to a recent study it suggest that not enough dentist are using dental sealants to help protect back teeth.  Temple University’s dental school researchers who did the study, surveyed 595 general dentists and 176 pediatric dentists. The dentist were asked about whether they would use sealants on teeth with different signs of early decay. They also were asked how they felt about using sealants in different groups of people.

In 2008 the ADA endorsed the use of sealants n teeth with the earliest stages of decay. In these stages, a molar or premolar is discolored on its chewing surface, but there is no cavity in the tooth yet. Research has shown that sealing teeth like this can prevent cavities. However the new survey found that many dentist do not either know about the ADA panel’s advise or the dentist that do know do not agree with it.  It also show that Pediatric dentist were more likely to follow the recommendations then general dentist. This study appears in the September issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association.

Oral health care is important in order to maintain good oral health you need to have good daily habits. Seeing a dentist regularly helps however you are still in the best position to notice any changes going on in your mouth.   Your dentist still only sees you a few times a year, but you can examine your mouth weekly to look for any changes that might be of concern.

Things you should look out for would include:  Swollen gums, Bleeding Gums, Chipped teeth, Discolored Teeth, and Sores on your gums cheeks or tongue. If you see any of these signs or have notice any change out of the norm talk to your dentist and have it check out.

Think about what you are eating. Did you know that every time you eat, bits of food can become lodged in-between and around your teeth. Food provides fuel for the bacteria in plaque. The bacteria produce acid, and each time you eat food containing sugars or starches, your teeth are exposed to these acids for 20 minutes or more.

These repeated acid attacks can break down the enamel surface of your teeth, leading to a cavity. If you must snack, brush your teeth or chew sugarless gum afterward.   Also if you are not having a balanced diet you may not getting enough minerals and vitamins which can affect your oral health, as well as your general health care.

Gaps in between teeth can occur in the back (between molars) as well between front teeth. It is however the gaps that are in the front, that tend to be the most common concern for people. Often for appearance’s sake people tend to want gaps that are within the smile to be closed.

Dentist have a few ways to correct or fix gaps between teeth, such as: veneers, composite filling/bonding, and braces. Your dentist will be able to go over the options with you and pick the best corse of treatment

Did you know that studies indicate that gingivitis is nearly a universal finding in children and adolescents. However, advanced forms of periodontal disease are more rare in children than adults, but can it can occur.

Generally speaking many people fear what they do not fully understand in addition when it come to dental anxiety many people dislike the thought of any pain. While there are some dentist that specialize in treating patients with dental fears many family or general dentist can still help address dental fears.

Talk to the dentist ahead of time make sure to book your dental appointment with enough time given so that you and your dentist can talk and go over any questions about your dental treatment in order to help reduce your anxiety about the dental care needed.  Also with advancement in dental technology there is very little pain associated with most dental services. However if you do feel any pain just let your dentist know so he or she can address right away.

Understanding your own dental health needs is important in order to have the best dental care.  However it is also just as important when buying dental insurance so that you can get the best dental insurance plan that best fits your dental health needs.   When shopping for dental insurance make a check list of things you want in a dental insurance plan.

Do you want to stay with a dental provider?  If so then you should know before shopping for a dental insurance which plans they are a provider of.  There is no point in reviewing dental HMO Insurance plans or any dental discounts plans if your dentist is not a provider of those types of plans.  Since under these types of plans there is no outside network coverages or benefits.

Write down your dental care needs?  Before shopping for dental insurance have an idea what you think your dental needs are.  If you know you need crown work done, buying a dental plan that has long term waiting periods may not work out very well. Like wise if you know you need $3000.00 plus in dental work buying a plan with a $1000.00 annual max limitation may not make the best sense. Take your time read each dental insurance plan to make sure that what you are buying will best fit your dental needs

Research in the prevention of tooth decay goes on. At the Athlone Institute of Technology in Ireland,  researchers reported at the Society for General Microbiology’s autumn conference at the University of Warwick, England.  According to the study done Coconut oil, a natural antibiotic when digested, destroys the bacteria that cause tooth decay. They added that the antibiotic component in digested coconut oil could be added to dental care products.

Eating healthy is good for your body and your teeth. Eating too much of the wrong kinds of foods is not only bad for your body, it’s also bad for your oral health. With the coming of the New Year it is a great chance to indulge in a diet rich in vitamins, minerals and fresh produce, a diet which can also help to prevent gum disease.

Another reason to dust off your running gear or walking boots.  Many people many know that physical workout is good for resulting into total health in the form of  health of heart, and controlling accumulation of fats and other matters such as cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, and so on.  However, you may be surprised  to learn exercise  is good for the health of our teeth as well. It has been found that regular body movements are important for good oral health. People who have a proper BMI, i.e. body-mass index, who perform workouts on a consecutive basis and take a nutritious meal are less likely to suffer from gum problems as found out by researches.

Along side with proper dental hygiene (brushing and flossing daily) It is important to make and keep dental check ups every six months more if there is evidence of gum problems or for pregnant women and those suffering from bone loss.

In the past pregnant women may have been discouraged from seeing a dentist during pregnancy, now however it is strongly recommended for pregnant women to scale and plane the roots of teeth to eliminate some gum disease.

The norm is that a person should see a dentist as least twice a year for their dental health checkups and cleanings.  More often if advise by their dentist.  Dental insurance helps promote proper health care by offering preventive dental services free to very low cost. The odd are higher that if you have current dental insurance you will keep your twice a year dental health checkups compared to when you do not have current dental insurance.