Friday 29 January 2016

6 Habits That Harm Your Teeth (And How to Break Them): Brushing Too Hard

The habit: Brushing for two minutes twice a day is one of the best habits you can get into. Just make sure you’re not trying too hard. “Brushing with a hard toothbrush, or brushing too hard, can damage teeth and irritate gums,” says Dr. Matthew Messina.

The solution: Use a soft toothbrush with the ADA Seal of Acceptance at the proper pressure. “Don’t think ‘scrub.’  Think ‘massage,’” he says. “Save the hard toothbrush for cleaning the grout in the bathroom tile.”

To read the entire article please visit MouthHealthy.org

Lifetime Family Dentistry
Elena Bielawski, DDS, FICOI, FMIII
66 Maple Avenue
Collinsville, CT 06019
(860) 605-2075
LifetimeFamilyDentistryCT.com 

Do White Teeth Mean Healthy Teeth?

Learn what the American Dental Association's answer is to the question: "Do White Teeth Mean Healthy Teeth?".


Tuesday 26 January 2016

General Dentistry

The Importance of Hygiene Visits

We emphasize that keeping your teeth clean is important to overall health. Regular brushing does not always clean hard-to-reach places, especially in the back teeth. When plaque hardens into tartar, only a professional cleaning can remove this from the surface of your teeth. It is important to have this removed at regular intervals to avoid developing gum disease. Gum disease has been linked to more serious health conditions like diabetes and heart problems, so please make an appointment to keep your teeth their cleanest!

Lifetime Family Dentistry
Elena Bielawski, DDS, FICOI, FMIII
66 Maple Avenue
Collinsville, CT 06019
(860) 605-2075
LifetimeFamilyDentistryCT.com 

Friday 22 January 2016

6 Habits That Harm Your Teeth (And How to Break Them): Grinding and Clenching

The habit: “This can cause chipping or cracking of the teeth, as well as muscle tenderness or joint pain,” Dr. Messina says. “You might also feel like you can’t open your mouth wide or chew with pain.”

The solution: “Relaxation exercises and staying aware makes a difference,” he says. A nighttime mouthguard can also help. “You’ll have less tooth damage, less pain and muscle soreness and better sleep.”

To read the entire article please visit MouthHealthy.org

Sensitive Teeth

Learn what the American Dental Association has to say about sensitive teeth.


Tuesday 19 January 2016

Microscope-Enhanced Dentistry

Dental Microscope

To See or Not to See – Why Microscope-Enhanced Dentistry Is at the Core of Our Practice

From the very beginning, Dr. Bielawski's practice has focused on three key philosophies: prevention, early diagnosis, and minimally invasive intervention whenever possible. To achieve her goals, she has always relied upon the best technology available, whether delivering all-porcelain restorations to patients, using a laser in diagnosing tooth decay early, or removing soft tissue lesions. But she says the most important tool in her technological arsenal, by far, is the dental operating microscope. Less than 1% of all dentists are currently utilizing surgical microscopes in their offices.

"I consider it to be the most valuable piece of technology. This equipment has truly transformed the way I practice dentistry in ways I never imagined. The microscope gives me increased precision and a higher level of confidence.
  • A tiny spot of decay is caught early before it becomes a full-fledged cavity.
  • All decay is removed during treatment.
  • I am able to see a tiny crevice before it becomes a full crack.
  • Microscopic precision means beautiful cosmetic results.
All of these enable me to provide a much higher standard of care. When I use a laser, the microscope is very helpful in better observing laser-tissue interactions. Most importantly, however, the microscope enables me to better diagnose problems early, while they are small, and effectively communicate these problems to patients. Small problems are often much easier, far less invasive to treat, and less costly to the patient then their larger counterparts."

Dr. Bielawski has far greater magnification than dentists who only use dental loupes (magnification glasses) or who don't use any magnification at all. These loupes provide limited levels of magnification compared to microscope-enhanced dentistry, which uses a surgical microscope similar to those used by medical specialists or surgeons. This significantly enhanced magnification level translates into higher quality care for our patients. We can see teeth and gums at different levels of magnification from 2 to 18 times normal size by just turning the knob. Without the microscope, it's easy to miss small problems. These can then turn into far bigger problems that require extensive, costly treatment. Small problems are often much easier to address, require less invasive care, and are far less costly to the patient. More healthy tooth structure can be preserved, and tooth strength is significantly increased. Even better? Patients benefit from less postoperative discomfort, faster healing, and better results.

Friday 15 January 2016

Tuesday 12 January 2016

Dental Gum Disease

Gum Disease Can Mean Tooth Loss

The major cause of tooth loss is gum disease. Common signs are bleeding gums from brushing or flossing and shifting or loose teeth. There may not be either of these symptoms until the problem is advanced, but the sooner treatment begins the better. If you wait too long, surgery may be necessary; otherwise, there are nonsurgical methods that work quite well to reverse this infection. 

Lifetime Family Dentistry
Elena Bielawski, DDS, FICOI, FMIII
66 Maple Avenue
Collinsville, CT 06019
(860) 605-2075
LifetimeFamilyDentistryCT.com 

Tuesday 5 January 2016

Healthy gums could lead to a healthy heart

The association between gum diseases and heart disease is not a secret anymore. It has always raised a question in my mind if maintaining good oral health can help me achieve good overall health. Well, the answer is “yes.” Maintaining good oral health can save us from spending thousands of dollars on preventing heart diseases. We can say that proper brushing and flossing can help us maintain a healthy heart. According to the American Academy of Periodontolgy, people with gum diseases are twice as likely to develop coronary artery disease, one of the leading causes of heart attacks.

Atherosclerosis also known as “hardening of arterial wall” is one of the major etiological factors of heart disease. This occurs due to deposition of plaque (formed by accumulation of fat and other blood substances on the arterial wall). This can eventually clog the artery leading to complete blockage of coronary arteries precipitating into stroke.

To read the entire article written by Swati Yadav, please visit ASDABlog.com