6 Things You Might Hate About Your Smile
Do an online search for quotes about smiles, and you won’t be disappointed. “A smile is the prettiest thing you can wear.” “Use your smile to change the world, don’t use the world to change your smile.” Or how about, “A warm smile is the universal language of kindness”? There is no shortage to the list of quotes that you can find about smiles. And it is no wonder, after all, as a smile can say a lot about a person.
A smile serves as a greeting, making others feel welcome. A smile can help stop tears, and a smile can help make that first impression. Unfortunately, not everyone is happy with their smile, as you well know. Whatever the reason is that you don’t like your smile, we can help you correct it.
Your smile is essential for other reasons too. Smiling makes us feel attractive, and it elevates our mood and releases stress. Taking the time to smile every day can have long-lasting effects on our physical and emotional well-being. Often, however, some impediments can keep us from feeling confident in our smile.
1. Stained teeth? We’ll make them white again.
If you feel like your teeth are discolored, then chances are you don’t flash your smile all that often. At Bentz Dental Implants & Prosthodontics Center, one of the first things that we suggest you do if you have stained teeth is to stop or reduce eating staining foods. Developing a consistent approach to brushing and flossing is helpful, and we also advise regular dental cleanings. But sometimes, this isn’t enough. For those tough stains, we often recommend professional teeth whitening or veneers.
2. Missing teeth? We’ll replace them.
If you are missing teeth, the most common way to correct the situation is through dental implants. There are two types of dental implants: endosteal and subperiosteal. We place endosteal implants in the jawbone and these implants are made of titanium. We place subperiosteal implants under the gum, and they are used in more extreme cases when there is not enough healthy, natural jawbone to hold the implants. Other patients might require alternative procedures such as a sinus lift, bone augmentation, or ridge expansion. At Bentz, we specialize in all of these procedures and help correct your missing teeth, bringing you the smile you deserve with affordable dental implants.
If you already have dentures but are interested in a more permanent replacement, All-on-4 dental implants might be a better option for you. Traditional dentures don’t support the regeneration of bone, which can cause the shape of your face to change significantly over time. When we use All-on-4 dental implants to attach a full dental restoration, we can provide you with the cosmetic solution you’ve been seeking. Your All-on-4 dentures can be fitted the same day that we place your implants. This means you’ll be back in front of the mirror admiring your new smile in no time.
3. Odd tooth shape? We have a crown for that.
At Bentz, we often suggest crowns to our patients who have concerns about their tooth’s shape. Crowns are a prosthodontic treatment frequently used for teeth that have broken or worn down or for teeth damaged due to tooth decay. In other cases, crowns can be used to cover teeth that have an odd shape. A crown cements over your existing tooth to fully cover the tooth above your gum line.
Crowns are made of porcelain or metal, and sometimes both. Many of our patients prefer porcelain crowns, which we craft to match the other teeth in your mouth. Further, porcelain crowns are quite strong and can withstand daily chewing and biting.
4. Experiencing gum pain? We can take your pain away.
If you are experiencing gum pain, it is no wonder that you don’t feel like smiling. If your gums ache, try rinsing your mouth with warm, salt water. Use a soft or extra-soft bristled toothbrush, and use an over-the-counter painkiller to treat the pain. Then schedule an appointment to get your gum pain checked out, even if it goes away.
Gum pain is sometimes caused by gum disease such as gingivitis or periodontitis. In most cases, we start with a deep cleaning. Gum pain is always something to be concerned about. The sooner you seek treatment, the better the odds that it can be treated simply.
5. Mouth pain making you frown? Let us help you turn that frown upside down.
If you are experiencing mouth pain, this can be a sign of many different health concerns. Over 90% of systemic illnesses have some sort of oral manifestation. If you are experiencing pain in your gums, we suggest you back up and read the previous section in this blog article. If, on the other hand, you are experiencing pain on the roof of your mouth, inside your cheeks, in the back of your mouth, or on your tongue, you may be experiencing canker sores, cold sores, oral thrush, or oral lichen planus. Mouth pain can also be an early indicator of Squamous papilloma or oral cancer. Mouth pain is not something that you should ignore.
If you are experiencing mouth pain and are in the Philadelphia area, contact us to schedule an appointment. If you are not in the Philadelphia area, we encourage you to reach out to a dental provider or medical practitioner near you. Early action is positively correlated with successful remedies that can help you get back to smiling sooner.
6. Jaw pain? Grinding? Teeth out of alignment? You may have TMD.
As with mouth and gum pain, jaw pain is no fun and is sure to keep you from smiling. Americans all over the country suffer from facial pain, neck pain, and headaches. In many cases, this is due to TMD, or temporomandibular joint disorder. Your temporomandibular joints (commonly referred to as TMJ) are what connect your skull and lower jawbone.
As we all tend to speak, chew, swallow, and yawn throughout the day, pain in your jaw can restrict movement and be altogether unpleasant. If you have TMD and seek TMJ pain relief, we will often suggest a nightguard to reduce the pressure placed on your jaw. We may also offer a variety of home techniques that can help you to be more comfortable. However, TMD is often the result of stress. As such, we encourage our patients to seek out ways to lower the stress levels in their life.
Our staff at Bentz Dental Implants & Prosthodontics Center take great pride in helping patients feel comfortable, safe, and welcome. Our goal is to help you bring out your smile. And once we treat your dental affliction, we guarantee you’ll be back in front of the mirror relishing your new smile.