Past Articles:

"RATE YOUR SMILE"
How would you rate your smile? Do you shy away from smiling when you are photographed? Are your teeth chipped, broken, or stained? Are you teeth overcrowded, or are there unsightly gaps between teeth? Would you feel more confident if your smile were improved?

These are all tough questions that only you can answer. If your honest responses to these questions reveal that your smile shows room for improvement, you owe it to yourself to schedule a consultation with the dentist, who can suggest ways to address problems with your teeth. You may be surprised at how easily and cost-effectively many dental and gum conditions may be corrected. It may even put a smile on your face!

At the office of Dr. Michael A. Kubiniec & Associates, we can give you a smile so beautiful, friends will comment on how young you look. A smile so alive, loved ones may smile more just because they're with you. A smile this brilliant opens hearts, closes deals and nurtures lifelong friendships.

We provide a full range of dental treatments, including preventative, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry. We promise every patient the most relaxing, stress-free dental visit possible. The dentist you choose makes all the difference in your smile. One dentist, and one phone call, really can make all the difference.

P.S. Tooth bonding is a simple procedure that can correct broken, chipped, gapped, rotated, and discolored teeth, usually in a single session.

"WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED!"
The dental restorations known as "inlays" and "onlays" are usually applied to back teeth that have endured significant damage due to decay. The difference between them is that an inlay fits within a prepared cavity while an onlay covers the tooth's entire biting surface and most of the cusps in addition to fitting within the prepared cavity. This added coverage affords the tooth more protection of whatever little tooth straucture remains. If an onlay is intended for a tooth that has undergone root canal therapy or a previous filling, the onlay's edges will rest on the tooth's entire outer circumference to protect it from further fracture. Most inlays and onlays are made of an allow of metals that ensures durability.

At the initial consultation the dentist will determine whether the tooth can be repaired using an inlay or onlay procedure or whether a more extensive treatment, such as a crown, is needed. Our family oriented practice encourages comprehensive complete care with emphasis on prevention through early detection.

P.S. Inlays and onlays can last for one to two decades, and longer.

"WHITENING DISCOLORED TEETH"
Professional tooth-whitening by the dentist is very effective at removing discoloration that results from eating and drinking certain foods and beverages. For instance, red wine, tea, coffee, and such foods as blueberries can leave stains that professional whitening can remove. The dentist can also whiten teeth that have become discolored due to smoking. On the other hand, tooth discoloration that results from radiation and chemotherapy treatments does not lend itself to professional whitening. Patients should also be aware that some medications used to treat malaria and bacterial infections (antibiotics), as well as some acne and rheumatoid arthritis treatments, can cause tooth discoloration that whitening agents cannot correct. Consult with your dentist if you have any questions.

P.S. If taken for extended periods, some high blood pressure medications, antihistamines, and anti-depressants may stain teeth.

"SLEEPLESSNESS AND SMOKING HURT GUMS"
When researchers recently undertook a study to identify the biggest risks for poor oral health, they found that smoking was the leading factor to be associated with the progression of periodontal (gum) disease. More than 41% of the study's subjects with progressive gum disease were smokers. After that, a lack of sleep was found to be the second highest risk factor. Study subjects who got seven to eight hours of sleep nighly had less gum disease than those who slept six hours or less per night. The study, which also took factors such as nutrition, stress, hours worked, and eating breakfast into account, found that high stress levels and daily alcohol consumption also significantly impacted periodontal disease progression.

Today's information column on the risks for poor oral health has been brought to you in the interest of better dental health. Good oral healthcare is important for your overall good health. When was the last time you had a comprehensive dental examination?

P.S. A shortage of sleep may impair the body's immune response, which may lead to higher levels of gum disease.

"SEALING TEETH'S FATE"
Parents are urged to have their children visit the dentist within six months of getting their first teeth and no later than their first birthdays. Early examinations are important for introducing parents and children to good hygiene habits, as well as for detecting decay. Everyone, including young children, need to floss because there is a buildup of bacteria-laden plaque around each tooth every 24 hours.

Another very effective means of preventing tooth decay involves coating the chewing surfaces of the back teeth with a plastic resin known as a "sealant." The six-year molars are usually the first to be treated with sealants, but any tooth with a food-trapping fissure or groove is a good candidate for sealant.

Applying the sealant is a simle and painless process. Sealants can protect the teeth from decay for up to 10 years, but they need to be checked for chipping or wearing at regular dental check-ups.

P.S. There are a number of flossing aids that make it easier for children to floss regularly and effectively.

"GUM DISEAES AND TONGUE CANCER"
Dentists may focus on the health of teeth, but the health of all oral tissues is also a concern. Therefore, it comes as big news to dentists and male patients alkike when a study showed that chronic gum disease could increase a man's risk for tongue cancer whether or not he smokes. Researchers think that periodontal viruses and bacteria may be toxic to surrounding cells and cause changes that pave the way for oral cancer. Inflammation may also play a role.

Because this association between periodontitis (gum disease) and tonge cancer is based on preliminary evidence, more research needs to be conducted to confirm the link. In the meantime, gum disease prevention is a worthy pursuit in and of itself. The best time to see your dentist is before you have a problem. You'll greatly reduce your risk for dental disease if you have regular checkups and practice meticulous home care.

"GETTING YOUR FILL"
Perhaps the simplest, least-expensive, and most efficient method of repairing chipped, broken, discolored, and misshapen teeth is bonding with composit resin. Cosmetic dental bonding utilizes a pliable, tooth-colored material that can be virtually spread like sculptor's clay into gaps and fissures. Once in place, the dentist cures the resin with a high-intensity light. The hardened, durable surface is then sculped to fit the tooth, after which it is polished.

All this takes one office visit, and there is no need to use anesthetics because the bonding procedure is virtually painless. Bonded teeth take on added structural strength, and the composite material will ast up to a dozen years. Bonding is a quick, cost-effective, smile enhancing solution to minor tooth imperfections.

Can we improve your smile? Today's technology, such as bonding provides a variety of options to address cosmetic concerns. We provide a full range of dental treatments, including preventative, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry. Our entire staff is dedicated to helping you look and feel better.