Oral Health offers guidance on brushing, flossing, and preventing dental issues to help maintain healthy teeth and gums for a brighter smile.

Overview Many people feel uneasy about professional dental cleanings. Between the poking, unfamiliar sounds, and occasional jaw soreness, it’s understandable why some are anxious. For most patients, however, a cleaning is straightforward and comfortable. Being familiar with each step of the appointment can reduce anxiety and help you appreciate the clean, fresh outcome. (img by […]

If your wisdom teeth are impacted, both home treatments and medical care can ease discomfort. In certain situations, surgical extraction may be necessary to remove the wisdom teeth. (img by Advanced Dental Clinic) Wisdom teeth are a third set of molars located at the very rear of the mouth. Typically between ages 17 and 25, […]

Overview Retainers generally fall into two categories: removable and permanent. Your orthodontist will advise which option suits you best based on the reason you had braces and any unique dental concerns. Some people receive just one kind, while others may be fitted with a removable retainer for the upper arch and a permanent one for […]

Permanent or fixed retainers consist of a metal wire bonded to the surfaces of your teeth. Typically the wire is either smooth and solid or braided, and it’s attached and contoured to your bite to prevent teeth from shifting or becoming misaligned. Permanent retainers are commonly advised by orthodontists following braces to stop teeth from […]

(Luis Alvarez / Getty Images) Dental appointments are commonly postponed because of other commitments. While this is understandable, it’s not ideal. If you haven’t had a professional cleaning in years, plaque and hardened tartar can accumulate extensively. When that buildup is significant, it becomes difficult for a dentist to properly inspect the hard and soft […]

Tooth loss is very widespread. Research suggests that 69 percent of adults aged 35 to 44 have lost at least one permanent tooth. By the time people reach 74, roughly one in four Americans have lost all their adult teeth. Replacing a lost tooth is important to keep neighboring teeth from shifting. Replacement teeth also […]

If you’re missing one or more teeth, a dentist can close the space using a dental bridge. A dental bridge consists of a replacement tooth (pontic) that’s supported by the natural teeth adjacent to the gap. While pontics can be fabricated from several materials such as gold, they are most commonly crafted from porcelain to […]