Dr. Huda Harairy, Author at Dr. Sunny Medical Centre

How to Get Most out of Your Dental Crown?

Tooth decay has become a common dental problem, and dental crown provides the easiest solution to restore the appearance of your smile as well as provide strength to the teeth damaged or weakened because of fillings or root canal treatment. Dental crown has become a popular choice as they appear almost as your other natural teeth.

If taken proper care the dental crown can be used for up to 15 years and their durability depends on how well they are taken care of. Just like you take care of your natural teeth, you need to take care of the crowns by brushing and flossing teeth at least twice every day.

There are several other factors that will help you to prolong the life of your precious crowns including:

If you have sensitivity issues, you need to avoid temperature extremes in your food intake. For example avoid having extremely chilled beverages that can hurt your teeth.
If you have a habit of teeth grinding in your sleep make sure to use mouth guards. The habit can have adverse effects on your crown as well as other teeth. As a precaution use mouth guard that looks like a retainer and makes sure that your upper teeth and lower teeth do not come in contact while you are sleeping.
Another factor that is crucial for your crown’s prolonged life is regular visit to the dentist. Do not skip your appointments with the dentist. Your dentist can identify if there are any problems with your crown before it gets worse.
If your dental crown doesn’t fit properly, have it adjusted immediately. In case you feel your newly fitted crown is longer or shorter, go back to your dentist and get it adjusted. Avoid biting on harder food items such as nuts. The bite may cause crown to come loose, exposing the tooth to infection and injury.

Importance of dental fluoride in caries prevention

Dental caries are caused when the caries causing bacteria come in contact with carbohydrates such as sugar on the tooth surface over the time. One of the most effective ways to prevent dental caries is by promoting re-mineralization and slowing down of demineralization. To achieve this fluoride has become an indispensable ingredient.

Fluoride is a natural mineral that strengthens teeth enamel and prevents tooth decay. Several experts opine that using fluoride is the best way to prevent caries. In children younger than 6 years, fluoride is incorporated into the enamel of the permanent teeth making the teeth resistant to the attack of bacteria and acids present in few food & beverages consumed by them.

Sources of Fluoride

Use of fluoride from multiple sources can stop damage of teeth. Fluoride is present in small amounts in water and it can be found in foods such as fish, eggs and meat. Manufactured source of fluoride include toothpaste, mouth rinse, professionally applied products and supplements. Major source of fluoride include:

Groundwater: Naturally occurring groundwater contains fluoride, but the concentration varies. Some areas may contain dangerously high levels of fluoride; this may lead to serious health problems.

Fluoride supplements: Fluoride supplements are available as drops or tablets and are generally recommended for children over 6 months of age who have high risk of developing cavities and live in areas with non-fluoridated water supplies.

Dental care products: Fluoride is added to a number of dental care products such as mouthwash and toothpaste.

Certain foods: A few food articles may be processed using fluoridated water or may absorb fluoride from the soil. Tea leaves, especially old ones may contain fluoride in higher amount than other foods.

Like many other nutrients, fluoride is safe and effective when used and consumed inappropriate amounts. It can prevent caries but ingesting it in large amounts may lead to serious health problems.

Ways Veneers can Improve Your Smile

Do you envy the smile of your favorite superstar? The perfectly aligned and pearly white smile can be yours with the magical dental veneers. The thin veneers mostly made of porcelain are custom-made to match your natural teeth and can correct a number of flaws. Intrigued? Keep reading to know the ways dental veneers can enhance your beautiful smile.

Covers gaps, straightens misaligned teeth: Rather than going for costly dental treatments or dental procedures that are time consuming to cover the gaps in your smile or get a straighter smile, you can simply opt for porcelain veneers to remedy these problems.
Hides stains and discoloration: As we know there are several factors that may cause our teeth to lose its natural shine and turn yellow over the time. Certain stains caused by drinking too much caffeine or use of tobacco can be removed by professional teeth whitening. But if the stains are caused by using certain medications or trauma, you need veneers to get back your perfect smile. Dental veneers will do the job instantly for you.
Protecting the enamel: The outer layer of your teeth is known as the enamel, and it is an extremely strong protective coat. It wears off over the time due to different reasons including ageing, abrasive brushing or having food that is high in acidic content. The thinning of the enamel can cause further tooth decay. To avoid this, your dentist can suggest the use of dental veneers as an extra protective layer.
Hide Imperfections: If you are tired of hiding a chipped or cracked tooth behind a closed lip smile, you should opt for dental veneers. Besides enhancing your smile, veneers will also help prevent any further tooth decay or damage.
Say goodbye to gummy smile: Do you want to show more teeth and less gum while you smile, getting veneers can help. Dental veneers are custom made according to your requirement and desired smile.

So if you want a flawless smile that is as good as your celebrity crush and think dental veneers can help, book an appointment at the nearest dental clinic now.

5 Reasons To Stop Skipping Your Dental Exam

A lot of people visit the dentist only if they experience severe tooth ache or other oral problems. Fixing a regular dental examination appointment can save you from a lot of trouble by detecting changes in your teeth or gums that could be an indication of severe health issues.

The regular dental check-ups are equally imperative as brushing or flossing your teeth every day. Keeping a track of your dental exam can save you from the pain of undergoing complicated and expensive procedures that could be avoided if detected early. Going for a regular dental exam, even if you are not facing any dental issue may have several benefits including:

Preserve your Perfect Smile: Brushing your teeth daily is an extremely important part of maintaining a good oral hygiene but that alone cannot ensure that your teeth are healthy. You may develop tooth decay without even experiencing any symptom. A thorough check-up by your dentist can reveal a cavity on the interior surface of your teeth and timely measure like using dental fillers, to treat it can help in preserving your teeth as well as your smile.
Identify Potential Health Risks: You may not realize but sometimes mouth ulcers, bad breath, dry mouth or swollen gums could be a sign of an underlying health issue and can be recognized by your dentist. Regular visit to your dentist can lower your risk of overlooking a chronic health condition.
Keep your Gums Healthy: By examining the firmness and recession of your gums the dentist can detect early stages of a common gum disease known as gingivitis. Your dentist uses a special tool that can measure the space between each tooth and your gum line. If the depth exceeds 4mm it can be an early warning sign of the disease. If treated early on it can save you from a lot of distress.
Deep Cleaning: While you visit your dentist for a regular check-up they will provide you with a preventive cleaning using mildly abrasive toothpaste and high powered tooth brush. It will give you a deep cleaning that can’t be achieved while brushing at home. It will also help you whiter teeth as the cleaning helps in removing plaque and tartar that can dull your outer enamel.
Detecting Oral Cancer: Regular dental visits are a way to ensure early detection of oral cancer. Early detection can help in the successful treatment of various kinds of oral cancers. Your dentist may find red or white patches or any other unexplained growth that might have missed your attention, by a painless visual examination.

Don’t wait any longer, take charge of your oral health and book an appointment at Sunny Dental Clinic today. Our experienced dental professionals are ready to help you keep your smile healthy and beautiful.

Teeth Whitening is the Quickest Way to Look Years Younger

You might find a new anti-aging product every time you visit a shopping mall, from a wide range of anti-wrinkle creams to special serums that claim to help in reversing the signs of aging. However, just taking care of your skin will not prove to be helpful if you want to look younger than your actual age. It might come as a surprise to many but your dull or yellow smile can make you look older.

Various studies and research proved that whiter smiles are immediately considered as criteria of youthfulness. You might be curious to know how to go back in time and achieve a pearly white smile to look and feel your best. There may be various reason that might be causing your teeth to turn dull and yellow including:

Staining can be one of the major culprit, and could be caused due to various reasons like having too much coffee or soda. Smoking and chewing tobacco also causes stains.
Aging is the most obvious reason. With time our enamel that makes our teeth look luminous, wears off exposing the dentin that turns yellow with age.

How to Get Whiter Teeth?

Having a proper oral care routine can be beneficial for many people. Regular brushing and flossing teeth are essential. You can speak with a dentist near you about how to improve your oral hygiene.

Though you may be thinking of getting a teeth whitening kit at home but they don’t offer the best results. You need professional teeth whitening solutions offered by the dentist, to look younger and smile more often.

Zoom Teeth Whitening

It is a laser whitening service considered to be safe, effective and quick. It uses a blue LED light-activated gel, Amorphous Calcium Phospate (ACP) and fluoride to soothe and protect teeth. . The advanced dentistry can help you get rid of the stains and lighten your teeth up to eight shades.

How Veneers Can Brighten Your Smile and Boost Your Confidence?

Are the gaps between your teeth, severe stains or chipped teeth hampering your beautiful smile? You can get rid of all the above mentioned dental problems by opting for porcelain veneers and claim back your perfect smile.

Dental veneers are thin shells made of porcelain that are directly attached to the front of a patient’s teeth. Each veneer perfectly fits over your natural teeth as they are custom made for you. If taken proper care veneers can last for around 15-20 years. In case they wear off, you can easily replace them with a new set. Though it can be made out of other materials, dentists usually prefer porcelain due to its color and durability.

Not everyone is born with a perfect set of teeth and veneers have been popularly used in cosmetic dentistry to resolve a number of imperfections and enhance your smile. Several adult patients who are unhappy with the appearance of their smile make an ideal case to get veneers. Veneers can brighten your smile in the following ways:

Whiter Smile makes a Brighter Smile

The color of your teeth may change as you age as well as several other factors may cause teeth to lose the natural whiteness. Though teeth whitening can be a simple fix for this problem but if the dental stains are caused to certain medications, teeth whitening products may not be helpful. In such cases veneers can be your go to option.

Cover Chipped Teeth

Chipped teeth can have a direct impact on your confidence and self-esteem. If you have cracks or chips in your teeth, besides helping aesthetically veneers can also add an extra layer of protection and avoid further damage.

Straighten your Teeth

If you want a straighter smile without having to undergo a major cosmetic treatment or undergoing the pain and hassle of getting braces, veneers may be just for you. It will make your teeth appear more aligned.
If you feel veneers are a good fit for you, contact a dentist near you.

Benefits of a Dental Bridge

Are you looking for an effective way to replace your missing teeth? If so, a dental bridge can be the fastest and easiest choice. A dental bridge consists of two crowns known as abutment teeth or implants on either side of the gap in mouth, in addition to a pontic (false tooth) that joins the two crowns.

The material used to construct the false teeth may vary in each case. Widely-popular materials are usually metals such as gold, silver or porcelain. Besides aesthetic purpose dental bridges also have several functional benefits. Let’s have a look at some of the main advantages:

Smile & Speak with Confidence

Do you feel shy while smiling for a photograph because of a missing tooth? A dental bridge is the easiest option to restore your confidence as well as your smile.
Losing multiple teeth can lead to difficulty in speaking. Dental bridges can get rid of difficulty in pronouncing certain words.

Makes Chewing Easy

After losing a tooth or multiple teeth chewing certain types of food can be uncomfortable and challenging. Another important benefit of getting a dental bridge procedure done is it improves your ability to chew.

Easy to Maintain

Dentures need to be removed for cleaning whereas dental bridges can be cleaned by brushing just like your natural teeth.

Prevents Drifting
When you fill in gaps in your smile with a restorative procedure like a dental bridge, it helps in preventing adjacent teeth from moving into the space of the missing tooth.

Keeps Jawline in Shape

Tooth loss can even result into jawline weakening because it is the tooth roots that stimulate bone cells present in the jawbone. In absence of the stimulation jawbone starts deteriorating causing further tooth decay and changes in facial structure. To prevent it is important to make sure that area of gums where tooth is missing is stimulated this is where dental bridges help.

5 Reasons to Stop Skipping your Dental Examination

Preserve your Perfect Smile: Brushing your teeth daily is an extremely important part of maintaining a good oral hygiene but that alone cannot ensure that your teeth are healthy. You may develop tooth decay without even experiencing any symptom. A thorough check-up by your dentist can reveal a cavity on the interior surface of your teeth and timely measure like using dental fillers, to treat it can help in preserving your teeth as well as your smile.
Identify Potential Health Risks: You may not realize but sometimes mouth ulcers, bad breath, dry mouth or swollen gums could be a sign of an underlying health issue and can be recognized by your dentist. Regular visit to your dentist can lower your risk of overlooking a chronic health condition.
Keep your Gums Healthy: By examining the firmness and recession of your gums the dentist can detect early stages of a common gum disease known as gingivitis. Your dentist uses a special tool that can measure the space between each tooth and your gum line. If the depth exceeds 4mm it can be an early warning sign of the disease. If treated early on it can save you from a lot of distress.
Deep Cleaning: While you visit your dentist for a regular check-up they will provide you with a preventive cleaning using mildly abrasive toothpaste and high powered tooth brush. It will give you a deep cleaning that can’t be achieved while brushing at home. It will also help you whiter teeth as the cleaning helps in removing plaque and tartar that can dull your outer enamel.
Detecting Oral Cancer: Regular dental visits are a way to ensure early detection of oral cancer. Early detection can help in the successful treatment of various kinds of oral cancers. Your dentist may find red or white patches or any other unexplained growth that might have missed your attention, by a painless visual examination.

So, what are you waiting for, call up your nearest dental clinic and book an appointment to keep all oral problems at bay.

Six Common Causes of Teeth Stains

Do you ever feel that your teeth are not as white as you want them to be? Staining may be the main culprit and various factors including ageing, lifestyle choices may be contributing to it. In this blog, let us discuss six possible causes that may be stopping you from getting the perfect smile you always desired.

Poor Dental Hygiene

Poor dental hygiene is one of the basic reasons of staining. Failing to brush and not flossing teeth on a daily basis can cause bacteria and pigmented food particles to build up in the film of protein that covers the tooth enamel that can cause staining.

Certain Food & Beverage

Certain food products and beverages can cause stains on your teeth. Coffee, tea, wine, soda and some juices that you often crave for can dull the whiteness of your teeth due to their high acidic nature.

Use of Tobacco

Smoking can cause damage to the dental enamel. The presence of tar in tobacco products leaves a dark brown residue on the surface of teeth that doesn’t even go after brushing several times. Not just yellowing or staining, chewing tobacco or smoking can cause several other oral health issues.

Aging

Our tooth enamel wears down as we age, it exposes the next layer of tooth known as dentin. As dentin turns yellow in color over the years due to several factors, our teeth also start appearing yellowish.

Trauma

Falling from a certain height can damage a permanent tooth, internal bleeding caused due to the injury can result into discoloration. It is common in children but can affect people of all ages.

Certain Medications and Illness

Metabolic diseases, calcium deficiency, liver diseases, rickets and celiac disease can distress the tooth enamel, leading to changes in color of your teeth. Similarly, medications including antipsychotic drugs, antidepressants, drugs used to control high blood pressure also contribute to discoloration.

Some oral rinses containing chlorhexdine or cetylpyridinium chloride can also cause tooth stains. Chemotherapy and radiation could also discolor teeth.

If you want to get rid of these stains, visit a dentist near you for regular cleaning. It can help in the appearance of stains and bring your beautiful smile back.

Author: Dr. Huda Harairy