{"id":109,"date":"2013-01-07T11:51:03","date_gmt":"2013-01-07T11:51:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/inovado2.mintithemes.com\/?page_id=109"},"modified":"2018-04-25T11:34:05","modified_gmt":"2018-04-25T11:34:05","slug":"faqs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/springhilldentalassociates.com\/faqs\/","title":{"rendered":"F.A.Q."},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"109\" class=\"elementor elementor-109 elementor-bc-flex-widget\" data-elementor-settings=\"[]\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-section-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1db17ad0 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1db17ad0\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3ca10a8e\" data-id=\"3ca10a8e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ea0cce6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2ea0cce6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">FAQ<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e57e5a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4e57e5a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Most frequent questions and answers<\/h5>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-756a7ced elementor-widget elementor-widget-toggle\" data-id=\"756a7ced\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"toggle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle\" role=\"tablist\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1961\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1961\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\" class=\"elementor-toggle-title\">What should I do if I have bad breath?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1961\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1961\"><p align=\"justify\">Bad breath (halitosis) can be an unpleasant and embarrassing condition.\u00a0 Many of us may not realize that we have bad breath, but everyone has it from time to time, especially in the morning.<\/p><p align=\"justify\">There are various reasons one may have bad breath, but in healthy people, the major reason is due to microbial deposits on the tongue, especially the back of the tongue.\u00a0 Some studies have shown that simply brushing the tongue reduced bad breath by as much as 70 percent.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1962\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1962\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\" class=\"elementor-toggle-title\">How often should I brush and floss?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1962\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1962\"><p align=\"justify\">Brushing and flossing help control the plaque and bacteria that cause dental disease.<\/p><p align=\"justify\">Plaque is a film of food debris, bacteria, and saliva that sticks to the teeth and gums.\u00a0 The bacteria in plaque convert certain food particles into acids that cause tooth decay.\u00a0 Also, if plaque is not removed, it turns into calculus (tartar).\u00a0 If plaque and calculus are not removed, they begin to destroy the gums and bone, causing periodontal (gum) disease.<\/p><p align=\"justify\">Plaque formation and growth is continuous and can only be controlled by regular brushing, flossing, and the use of other dental aids.<\/p><p align=\"justify\"><b>Toothbrushing<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 Brush your teeth\u00a0<b><i>at least twice a day<\/i><\/b>\u00a0(especially before going to bed at night) with an ADA approved soft bristle brush and toothpaste.<\/p><ul type=\"disc\"><li><div align=\"justify\">Brush at a 45 degree angle to the gums, gently using a small, circular motion, ensuring that you\u00a0<i>always<\/i>\u00a0feel the bristles\u00a0<i>on the gums<\/i>.<\/div><\/li><li><div align=\"justify\">Brush the outer, inner, and biting surfaces of each tooth.<\/div><\/li><li><div align=\"justify\">Use the tip of the brush head to clean the inside front teeth.<\/div><\/li><li><div align=\"justify\">Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.<\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1963\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1963\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\" class=\"elementor-toggle-title\">Are amalgam (silver) fillings safe?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1963\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1963\"><p>Over the years there has been some concern as to the safety of amalgam (silver) fillings. An amalgam is a blend of copper, silver, tin and zinc, bound by elemental mercury. Dentists have used this blended metal to fill teeth for more than 100 years. The controversy is due to claims that the exposure to the vapor and minute particles from the mercury can cause a variety of health problems.<\/p><p>According to the American Dental Association (ADA), up to 76% of dentists use silver containing mercury to fill teeth. The ADA also states that silver fillings are safe and that studies have failed to find any link between silver containing mercury and any medical disorder.<\/p><p>The general consensus is that amalgam (silver) fillings are safe. Along with the ADA\u2019s position, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization, the FDA, and others support the use of silver fillings as safe, durable, and cost effective. The U.S. Public Health Service says that the only reason not to use silver fillings is when a patient has an allergy to any component of this type of filling. The ADA has had fewer than 100 reported incidents of an allergy to components of silver fillings, and this is out of countless millions of silver fillings over the decades.<\/p><p>Although studies indicate that there are no measurable health risks to patients who have silver fillings, we do know that mercury is a toxic material when we are exposed at high, unsafe levels. For instance, we have been warned to limit the consumption of certain types of fish that carry high levels of mercury in them. However, with respect to amalgam fillings, the ADA maintains that when the mercury combines with the other components of the filling, it becomes an inactive substance that is safe.<\/p><p>There are numerous options to silver fillings, including composite (tooth-colored), porcelain, and gold fillings. We encourage you to discuss these options with your dentist so you can determine which is the best option for you.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1964\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1964\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\" class=\"elementor-toggle-title\">How often should I have a dental exam and cleaning?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1964\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1964\"><p align=\"justify\">You should have your teeth checked and cleaned\u00a0<b><i>at least twice a year<\/i><\/b>, though your dentist or dental hygienist may recommend more frequent visits.<\/p><p align=\"justify\">Regular dental exams and cleaning visits are essential in preventing dental problems and maintaining the health of your teeth and gums.\u00a0 At these visits, your teeth are cleaned and checked for cavities. \u00a0Additionally, there are many other things that are checked and monitored to help detect, prevent, and maintain your dental health.\u00a0 These include:<\/p><ul><li><div align=\"justify\"><b><i>Medical history review:\u00a0<\/i><\/b>Knowing the status of any current medical conditions, new medications, and illnesses, gives us insight to your overall health and also your dental health.<\/div><\/li><li><div align=\"justify\"><b><i>Examination of diagnostic x-rays (radiographs):\u00a0<\/i><\/b>Essential for detection of decay, tumors, cysts, and bone loss.\u00a0 X-rays also help determine tooth and root positions.<\/div><\/li><li><div align=\"justify\"><b><i>Oral cancer screening:\u00a0<\/i><\/b>Check the face, neck, lips, tongue, throat, tissues, and gums for any signs of oral cancer.<\/div><\/li><li><div align=\"justify\"><b><i>Gum disease evaluation:\u00a0<\/i><\/b>Check the gums and bone around the teeth for any signs of periodontal disease.<\/div><\/li><li><div align=\"justify\"><b><i>Examination of tooth decay:\u00a0<\/i><\/b>All tooth surfaces will be checked for decay with special dental instruments.<\/div><\/li><li><div align=\"justify\"><b><i>Examination of existing restorations:\u00a0<\/i><\/b>Check current fillings, crowns, etc.<\/div><\/li><li><div align=\"justify\"><b><i>Removal of calculus (tartar)<\/i><\/b><b>:\u00a0<\/b>Calculus is hardened plaque that has been left on the tooth for sometime and is now firmly attached to the tooth surface.\u00a0 Calculus forms above and below the gum line, and can only be removed with special dental instruments.<\/div><\/li><li><div align=\"justify\"><b><i>Removal of plaque:\u00a0<\/i><\/b>Plaque is a sticky, almost invisible film that forms on the teeth.\u00a0 It is a growing colony of living bacteria, food debris, and saliva.\u00a0 The bacteria produce toxins (poisons) that inflame the gums.\u00a0 This inflammation is the start of periodontal disease!<\/div><\/li><li><div align=\"justify\"><em><strong>Teeth polishing<\/strong><strong>:<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0Removes stain and plaque that is not otherwise removed during toothbrushing and scaling.<\/div><\/li><li><div align=\"justify\"><strong><em>Oral hygiene recommendations<\/em><em>:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Review and recommend oral hygiene aids as needed (electric dental toothbrushes, special cleaning aids, fluorides, rinses, etc.).<\/div><\/li><li><div align=\"justify\"><em><strong>Review dietary habits<\/strong><strong>:<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0Your eating habits play a very important role in your dental health.<\/div><\/li><\/ul><p align=\"justify\">As you can see, a good dental exam and cleaning involves quite a lot more than just checking for cavities and polishing your teeth.\u00a0 We are committed to providing you with the best possible care, and to do so will require regular check-ups and cleanings.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1965\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1965\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\" class=\"elementor-toggle-title\">How can I tell if I have gingivitis or periodontist (gum disease)? <\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1965\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1965\"><p align=\"justify\">Four out of five people have periodontal disease and don\u2019t know it!\u00a0 Most people are not aware of it because the disease is usually painless in the early stages.\u00a0 Unlike tooth decay, which often causes discomfort, it is possible to have periodontal disease without noticeable symptoms.\u00a0 Having regular dental check-ups and periodontal examinations are very important and will help detect if periodontal problems exist.<\/p><p align=\"justify\">Periodontal disease begins when plaque, a sticky, colorless, film of bacteria, food debris, and saliva, is left on the teeth and gums.\u00a0 The bacteria produce toxins (acids) that inflame the gums and slowly destroy the bone.\u00a0 Brushing and flossing regularly and properly will ensure that plaque is not left behind to do its damage.<\/p><p align=\"justify\">Other than poor oral hygiene, there are several other factors that may increase the risk of developing periodontal disease:<\/p><ul type=\"disc\"><li><div align=\"justify\"><b>Smoking or chewing tobacco<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 Tobacco users are more likely than nonusers to form plaque and tartar on their teeth.<\/div><\/li><\/ul><ul type=\"disc\"><li><div align=\"justify\"><b>Certain tooth or appliance conditions<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 Bridges that no longer fit properly, crowded teeth, or defective fillings that may trap plaque and bacteria.<\/div><\/li><\/ul><ul type=\"disc\"><li><div align=\"justify\"><b>Many medications<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 Steroids, cancer therapy drugs, blood pressure meds, oral contraceptives.\u00a0 Some medications have side affects that reduce saliva, making the mouth dry and plaque easier to adhere to the teeth and gums.<\/div><\/li><\/ul><ul type=\"disc\"><li><div align=\"justify\"><b>Pregnancy, oral contraceptives, and puberty<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 Can cause changes in hormone levels, causing gum tissue to become more sensitive to bacteria toxins.<\/div><\/li><\/ul><ul type=\"disc\"><li><div align=\"justify\"><b>Systemic diseases<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 Diabetes, blood cell disorders, HIV \/ AIDS, etc.<\/div><\/li><\/ul><ul type=\"disc\"><li><div align=\"justify\"><b>Genetics may play role<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 Some patients may be predisposed to a more aggressive type of periodontitis.\u00a0 Patients with a family history of tooth loss should pay particular attention to their gums.<\/div><\/li><\/ul><p align=\"justify\"><b>Signs and Symptoms of Periodontal Disease<\/b><\/p><ul type=\"disc\"><li><div align=\"justify\"><b>Red and puffy gums<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 Gums should never be red or swollen.<\/div><\/li><\/ul><ul type=\"disc\"><li><div align=\"justify\"><b>Bleeding gums<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 Gums should never bleed, even when you brush vigorously or use dental floss.<\/div><\/li><\/ul><ul type=\"disc\"><li><div align=\"justify\"><b>Persistent bad breath<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 Caused by bacteria in the mouth.<\/div><\/li><\/ul><ul type=\"disc\"><li><div align=\"justify\"><b>New spacing between teeth<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 Caused by bone loss.<\/div><\/li><\/ul><ul type=\"disc\"><li><div align=\"justify\"><b>Loose teeth<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 Also caused by bone loss or weakened periodontal fibers (fibers that support the tooth to the bone).<\/div><\/li><\/ul><ul type=\"disc\"><li><div align=\"justify\"><b>Pus around the teeth and gums<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 Sign that there is an infection present.<\/div><\/li><\/ul><ul type=\"disc\"><li><div align=\"justify\"><b>Receding gums<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 Loss of gum around a tooth.<\/div><\/li><\/ul><ul type=\"disc\"><li><div align=\"justify\"><b>Tenderness or Discomfort<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 Plaque, calculus, and bacteria irritate the gums and teeth.<\/div><\/li><\/ul><p align=\"justify\">Good oral hygiene, a balanced diet, and regular dental visits can help reduce your risk of developing periodontal disease.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1966\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"6\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1966\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\" class=\"elementor-toggle-title\">Why is it important to use Dental floss?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1966\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"6\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1966\"><p align=\"justify\">Brushing our teeth removes food particles, plaque, and bacteria from all tooth surfaces,\u00a0<b><i>except<\/i><\/b>\u00a0in between the teeth.\u00a0 Unfortunately, our toothbrush can\u2019t reach these areas that are highly susceptible to decay and periodontal (gum) disease.<\/p><p align=\"justify\">Daily flossing is the best way to clean between the teeth and under the gumline.\u00a0 Flossing not only helps clean these spaces, it disrupts plaque colonies from building up, preventing damage to the gums, teeth, and bone.<\/p><p align=\"justify\">Plaque is a sticky, almost invisible film that forms on the teeth.\u00a0 It is a growing colony of living bacteria, food debris, and saliva.\u00a0 The bacteria produce toxins (acids) that cause cavities and irritate and inflame the gums.\u00a0 Also, when plaque is not removed above and below the gumline, it hardens and turns into calculus (tartar).\u00a0 This will further irritate and inflame the gums and also slowly destroy the bone.\u00a0 This is the beginning of periodontal disease.<\/p><p align=\"justify\"><b>How to floss properly:<\/b><\/p><ul type=\"disc\"><li><div align=\"justify\">Take 12-16 inches (30-40cm) of dental floss and wrap it around your middle fingers, leaving about 2 inches (5cm) of floss between the hands.<\/div><\/li><li><div align=\"justify\">Using your thumbs and forefingers to guide the floss, gently insert the floss between teeth using a sawing motion.<\/div><\/li><li><div align=\"justify\">Curve the floss into a \u201cC\u201d shape around each tooth and under the gumline. \u00a0Gently move the floss up and down, cleaning the side of each tooth.<\/div><\/li><\/ul><p align=\"justify\">Floss holders are recommended if you have difficulty using conventional floss.<\/p><p align=\"justify\"><i>Daily flossing will help you keep a healthy, beautiful smile for life!<\/i><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1967\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"7\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1967\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\" class=\"elementor-toggle-title\">How can cosmetic dentistry help improve the appearance of my smile?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1967\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"7\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1967\"><p>If you\u2019re feeling somewhat self-conscious about your teeth, or just want to improve your smile, cosmetic dental treatments may be the answer to a more beautiful, confident smile.<\/p><p>Cosmetic dentistry has become very popular in the last several years, not only due to the many advances in cosmetic dental procedures and materials available today, but also because patients are becoming more and more focused on improving their overall health.\u00a0 This includes dental prevention and having a healthier, whiter, more radiant smile.<\/p><p>There are many cosmetic dental procedures available to improve your teeth and enhance your smile.\u00a0 Depending on your particular needs, cosmetic dental treatments can change your smile dramatically, from restoring a single tooth to having a full mouth make-over.\u00a0 Ask your dentist how you can improve the health and beauty of your smile with cosmetic dentistry.<\/p><p><b>Cosmetic Procedures:<\/b><\/p><p><b>Teeth Whitening:\u00a0<\/b>Bleaching lightens teeth that have been stained or discolored by age, food, drink, and smoking.\u00a0 Teeth darkened as a result of injury or taking certain medications can also be bleached, but the effectiveness depends on the degree of staining present.<\/p><p><b>Composite (tooth-colored) Fillings:\u00a0<\/b>Also known as \u201cbonding\u201d, composite fillings are now widely used instead of amalgam (silver) fillings to repair teeth with cavities, and also to replace old defective fillings. \u00a0Tooth-colored fillings are also used to repair chipped, broken, or discolored teeth. \u00a0This type of filling is also very useful to fill in gaps and to protect sensitive, exposed root surfaces caused by gum recession.<\/p><p><b>Porcelain Veneers:\u00a0<\/b>Veneers are thin custom-made, tooth-colored shells that are bonded onto the fronts of teeth to create a beautiful individual smile.\u00a0 They can help restore or camouflage damaged, discolored, poorly shaped, or misaligned teeth.\u00a0 Unlike crowns, veneers require minimal tooth structure to be removed from the surface of the tooth.<\/p><p><b>Porcelain Crowns (caps):<\/b>\u00a0A\u00a0crown is a tooth-colored, custom-made covering that encases the entire tooth surface restoring it to its original shape and size.\u00a0 Crowns protect and strengthen teeth that cannot be restored with fillings or other types of restorations. \u00a0They are ideal for teeth that have large, fractured or broken fillings and also for those that are badly decayed.<\/p><p><b>Dental Implants:<\/b>\u00a0Dental implants are artificial roots that are surgically placed into the jaw to replace one or more missing teeth.\u00a0 Porcelain crowns, bridges, and dentures can be made specifically to fit and attach to implants, giving a patient a strong, stable, and durable solution to removable dental appliances.<\/p><p><b>Orthodontics:\u00a0<\/b>Less visible and more effective brackets and wires are making straightening teeth with orthodontics much more appealing to adult patients. \u00a0Also, in some cases, teeth may be straightened with custom-made, clear, removable aligners that require no braces.<\/p><p><i>Thanks to the advances in modern dentistry, cosmetic treatments can make a difference in making your smile shine!<\/i><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1968\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"8\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1968\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\" class=\"elementor-toggle-title\">What are porcelain veneers and how can they improve my smile?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1968\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"8\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1968\"><p>Porcelain veneers are very thin shells of tooth-shaped porcelain that are individually crafted to cover the fronts of teeth.\u00a0 They are very durable and will not stain, making them a very popular solution for those seeking to restore or enhance the beauty of their smile.<\/p><p><b>Veneers may be used to restore or correct the following dental conditions:<\/b><\/p><ul type=\"disc\"><li>Severely discolored or stained teeth<\/li><li>Unwanted or uneven spaces<\/li><li>Worn or chipped teeth<\/li><li>Slight tooth crowding<\/li><li>Misshapen teeth<\/li><li>Teeth that are too small or large<\/li><\/ul><p>Getting veneers usually requires two visits.\u00a0 Veneers are created from an impression (mold) of your teeth that is then sent to a professional dental laboratory where each veneer is custom-made (for shape and color) for your individual smile.<\/p><p>With little or no anesthesia, teeth are prepared by lightly buffing and shaping the front surface of the teeth to allow for the small thickness of veneers.\u00a0 The veneers are carefully fitted and bonded onto the tooth surface with special bonding cements and occasionally a specialized light may be used to harden and set the bond.<\/p><p>Veneers are an excellent dental treatment that can dramatically improve your teeth and give you a natural, beautiful smile.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1969\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"9\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1969\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\" class=\"elementor-toggle-title\">What can I do about stained or discolored teeth?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1969\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"9\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1969\"><p>Since teeth whitening has now become the\u00a0<i>number one<\/i>\u00a0aesthetic concern of many patients, there are many products and methods available to achieve a brighter smile.<\/p><p>Professional teeth whitening (or bleaching) is a simple, non-invasive dental treatment used to change the color of natural tooth enamel, and is an ideal way to enhance the beauty of your smile.\u00a0 Over-the-counter products are also available, but they are much less effective than professional treatments and may not be approved by the American Dental Association (ADA).<\/p><p>As we age, the outer layer of tooth enamel wears away, eventually revealing a darker or yellow shade.\u00a0 The color of our teeth also comes from the inside of the tooth, which may become darker over time.\u00a0 Smoking, drinking coffee, tea, and wine may also contribute to tooth discoloration, making our teeth yellow and dull.\u00a0 Sometimes, teeth can become discolored from taking certain medications as a child, such as tetracycline.\u00a0 Excessive fluoridation (fluorosis) during tooth development can also cause teeth to become discolored.<\/p><p>It\u2019s important to have your teeth evaluated by your dentist to determine if you\u2019re a good candidate for bleaching.\u00a0 Occasionally, tetracycline and fluorosis stains are difficult to bleach and your dentist may offer other options, such as veneers or crowns to cover up such stains.\u00a0 Since teeth whitening only works on natural tooth enamel, it is also important to evaluate replacement of any old fillings, crowns, etc. before bleaching begins.\u00a0 Once the bleaching is done, your dentist can match the new restorations to the shade of the newly whitened teeth.<\/p><p>Since teeth whitening is not permanent, a touch-up may be needed every several years to keep your smile looking bright.<\/p><p><b>The most widely used professional teeth whitening systems:<\/b><\/p><p><b>Home teeth whitening systems:\u00a0<\/b>At-home products usually come in a gel form that is placed in a custom-fitted mouthguard (tray), created from a mold of your teeth.\u00a0 The trays are worn either twice a day for approximately 30 minutes, or overnight while you sleep.\u00a0 It usually takes several weeks to achieve the desired results depending on the degree of staining and the desired level of whitening.<\/p><p><b>In office teeth whitening:\u00a0<\/b>This treatment is done in the dental office and you will see results immediately.\u00a0 It may require more than one visit, with each visit lasting 30 to 60 minutes.\u00a0 While your gums are protected, a bleaching solution is applied to the teeth.\u00a0 A special light may be used to enhance the action of the agent while the teeth are whitened.<\/p><p>Some patients may experience tooth sensitivity after having their teeth whitened.\u00a0 This sensation is temporary and subsides shortly after you complete the bleaching process, usually within a few days to one week.<\/p><p><b>Teeth whitening can be very effective and can give you a brighter, whiter, more confident smile!<\/b><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-36efc80 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"36efc80\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8374ff7\" data-id=\"8374ff7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-66d743f elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-global elementor-global-4130 elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"66d743f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"\/contact\/\" class=\"elementor-button-link elementor-button elementor-size-sm elementor-animation-grow\" role=\"button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon elementor-align-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-calendar\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Schedule Your Appointment<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FAQ Most frequent questions and answers What should I do if I have bad breath? Bad breath (halitosis) can be an unpleasant and embarrassing condition.\u00a0 Many of us may not realize that we have bad breath, but everyone has it from time to time, especially in the morning. There are various reasons one may have &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/springhilldentalassociates.com\/faqs\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">F.A.Q.<\/span> Read More \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/springhilldentalassociates.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/109"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/springhilldentalassociates.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/springhilldentalassociates.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/springhilldentalassociates.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/springhilldentalassociates.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=109"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/springhilldentalassociates.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/109\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3766,"href":"https:\/\/springhilldentalassociates.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/109\/revisions\/3766"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/springhilldentalassociates.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=109"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}