Dr. Guy Spinner

When they're embarrassed about their smile, young people aren't very different from adults in the way they act. Nor are they much different when they are proud of their smile. More children and teenagers are having cosmetic dentistry as the adult population is becoming more aware of the advantages of having it.

The way society views a person is almost absolutely based on first impressions. Even when time is taken to get to know someone's personality, initial appearances can still remain foremost in the minds of those we have set out to impress. This is true in social groups of any age bracket.

The result is that parents are allowing and encouraging their children to have smile-enhancing procedures from tooth straightening to tooth whitening. They know that their child's self-esteem and acceptance among peers is predominantly controlled by appearances. It is therefore important to many parents to be sure their children and adolescents are given maximum assistance in developing their self-confidence, starting at a relatively early age.

Some cosmetic dental procedures should not be done while the child is still developing and maturing. But many can be used to improve a young person's dental appearance. Braces, one of the standard dental treatments available for young people, are now less obvious and more comfortable to wear than in past years. Dental bonding for repair of a damaged tooth, porcelain fillings rather than gray metal fillings, some adjustments to the bite – pediatric cosmetic dentistry is becoming almost as regular as a six month professional cleaning.

Please contact Smile Solutions today if you would like to know more about the procedures we can offer to children and teens. We can help you determine which procedures would best now, and when others might be possible later.

C-Reactive Protein

Researchers have published in the New England Journal of Medicine that elevated levels of C-Reactive Protein increase the risk for cardiovascular disease. Elevated C- Reactive Protein levels are a stronger predictor of heart attacks than elevated levels of cholesterol. It is now recommended that C-Reative Protein and cholesterol screening are used for accurate risk assessment of cardiovascular disease.

A study published in the Journal of Periodontology reported that inflammatory effects from periodontal disease, a chronic bacterial infection of the gums, cause oral bacteria by-products and these by-products enter the bloodstream and trigger the liver to make proteins such as C-Reative Protein that inflame arteries and promote blood clot formation, which can lead to heart attacks or strokes. The American Heart Association and the Centers of Disease Control now recommend that Americans have their C-Reative Protein levels tested as part of their regular physical.

Oral Irrigators
Hydro Floss

What is an oral irrigator?
The concept of oral irrigators is to shoot a stream of pulsating water out of a nozzle or tip. Irrigators are effective at removing food debris, germs, and bacteria, which remain in areas that cannot be properly cleaned by brushing and flossing alone.

What is the difference in the Hydro Floss and another oral irrigator?
According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology (May 1993; 20: 314-317) titled “The Effect of Oral Irrigation with a Magnetic Treatment Device on Plaque and Calculus,” the group using an irrigator with a magnetic device showed a 44% greater reduction in calculus volume (p<0.0005) and a 42% greater reduction in area (p<0.0001) over the group using an unmagnetized irrigator. Exactly what does that mean? It means that when tested against an unmagnetized irrigator, the Hydro Floss is almost TWICE as effective.

But I use a Super Sonic Electric Toothbrush; do I still need an oral irrigator?
Yes! As good as some electric toothbrushes may be, they are still toothbrushes. They may clean the areas that they can reach much better than manual brushes, however, there are areas on the teeth, which no toothbrush, manual or electric, can clean. These are the areas most likely to cause problems.

URGENT NOTICE
Oral health in America: A report of the Surgeon General of the United States
“Periodontal (gum) disease affects 75% of adults and has been linked to numerous life-threatening illnesses, including heart and lung disease, stroke, diabetes, anemia, hemophilia, oral cancer, kidney disease, and low-birth weight and premature births.”
That’s 3 out of every 4 adults!
It is very important to see your Dentist at least twice a year, brush and floss, and use the Hydro Floss oral irrigator daily, for your oral health and overall health.

Where can I get a Hydro Floss?
Hydro Floss is available through your dentist, and also through a limited number of specialty catalogs or directly from H.F.I.

Today's cosmetic dentists, like Dr. Spinner of Westhampton, New York are not focused only on the oral health of their clients. They also put energy and creativity into the attractiveness and appeal of a person's smile.

Your smile says a lot about who you are and is often the very first impression someone will take in and remember about you. Both porcelain and bonding can enhance your smile and give long-lasting restorations. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Appearance
Porcelain more closely resembles tooth enamel. It is partially translucent, which means they are able to reflect the light the same way your own teeth do. Bonding, on the other hand, is opaque and does not reflect light. This may give less of a natural appearance to the treated teeth. Overall, porcelain remains the most natural in its appearance and is often the best choice for this reason.

Stain-resistance - Porcelain has the glass-like property of stain-resistance, whereas bonding will gradually stain as our natural teeth do.

Cost -The cost of porcelain is higher than it is for bonding.

Convenience - Porcelain needs two visits to be completed whereas bonding can be done in one.

Durability - Porcelain is extremely durable and if you care for you teeth as you should, with daily brushing and flossing to prevent bacteria from getting up under the porcelain crown or down below the gums to the tooth’s root, your porcelain restorations will last fifteen or twenty years, or more.

Bonding is less durable, but with that good daily hygiene, should last about ten years.

For more help in deciding whether porcelain or bonding is best for you, please contact Dr. Spinner's cosmetic dentistry office today for a personal consultation.

Dental Implants
Why Replace Missing Teeth?

Usually when you lose a tooth, it is best for your oral health to have it replaced. Missing teeth can affect your “bite” as well as your ability to speak and chew. Their loss can increase the burden on your remaining teeth and can cause muscle pain in your jaws and headaches.

If you are considering dental implants, your mouth will be examined thoroughly and your dental and medical history will be reviewed to ensure that dental implants are appropriate for you. Dental x-rays and, frequently, panoramic (or complete) x-rays of your jaws will be taken to evaluate your jawbone to determine if it will accommodate implants. Occasionally more detailed information is required and can be provided by special x-rays. They will help determine if additional tests or procedures are needed to place your implants properly.

The best way to describe a dental implant is to compare it to a real tooth. A natural tooth consists of a root and a crown. The part of the tooth that you see and eat with is called the crown. Beneath the crown is the root, which anchors the tooth through the gum tissue to the jawbone. When you lose a tooth, you lose both the root and the crown. To replace a tooth, we first have to replace the root. Essentially, a dental implant is a new root. This titanium root is fitted into a socket that is created in your jaw, replacing the lost root of your natural tooth. Once the implant has been placed, the bone around the implant will need to heal for up to six months. When this initial phase of healing is completed, a support called an abutment will be placed on the implant itself and then a new crown will be placed on top.

Oral Cancer
Preventive Care

A visit to your dentist can be a lifesaver! Ask your dentist about the preventable disease that kills more people nationwide than either skin cancer or cervical cancer.
Fortunately, most oral “sores” or “lesions” are not harmful. But a small number are dangerous, and if not identified early, they may progress to a more advanced stage. The GOOD NEWS. When oral cancer is detected early by your dentist, it can be completely cured.

An oral lesion may be a persistant sore or irritation, a small, flat, red or white patch, or a growth, lump, thickening, rough spot, crust or irritated area. It is often painless, and you may not be aware of it. Because many oral lesions are flat, very small, or in an area of your mouth that you cannot see, they can often only be detected during a periodic oral examination by your dentist.

Oral cancer is a devastating disease when detected in its later stages. Late stage treatment usually involves major facial surgery with only half of such patients surviving past five years. Therefore, it is important to see your dentist regularly so that dangerous oral lesions can be detected at an early, curable stage.

If clothes make the man, why are so many men electing to have cosmetic dentistry these days? A great appearance includes much more than the latest clothing styles.

The simple truth is that no matter who you are, what you wear, how much you make, or what you drive, the first and lasting impression you will give anyone is of your smile. Shouldn’t you do everything in your power to make it a winner?

In today’s world of cosmetic dentistry, more and more men are coming forward to have work done on their teeth to improve their appearance.

Regardless of gender, everyone feels better about themselves and carries themselves with more pride when they can show off a bright, attractive smile with a mouth full of healthy looking teeth.

Whether you have a chipped or broken tooth, or your teeth have become more yellowed than you would like them to be, or a gap or two in the front teeth gives you a small-mischievous-boy look, please contact Dr. Spinner’s cosmetic dentistry office today and find out how we can improve your smile.