Dental Implant Solutions Restore Beautiful Smiles

For a beautiful, strong, natural-looking smile, consider dental implants when replacing missing or aging restorations. Implants offer permanence and stability, and they securely anchor replacement teeth to effectively stop jawbone loss. Another benefit? They prevent the sunken look that inevitably accompanies an edentulous (toothless) smile.

With dental implants, aka teeth in one day, you can have a healthier smile that looks and feels very natural, because dental implants alleviate bite problems, allow you to chew and speak unhindered, and preserve the structure of your smile.

Your overall joy of life can be enhanced by replacement teeth that look, feel, and function just like normal teeth. We can discuss whether implants are right for you. Call us today to book your consultation at Rubino Dentistry, a Park Ridge cosmetic dentist office.

Interesting and Fun Facts About Your Teeth

Our teeth do a lot for us, I mean a lot. They create wonderful smiles (which are often the first thing people notice about us), they allow us to eat food, which gives us nutrition so we can keep living, they help us talk so we can communicate (that's how we build relationships, work, etc.), and the list doesn't stop there. The bottom line is that our teeth are incredibly important. Do you know a lot about your teeth? Well, either way, this blog post is for you.

1. On average, people have 32 teeth in the mouth; this includes your eight incisors, four canines, eight premolars, twelve molars, and four wisdom teeth. Now, that 32 will go down if you don't have your wisdom teeth and/or if you lose any teeth. 
2. Over the course of your lifetime, you will develop two whole sets of teeth. As we all know, the first set of teeth are our baby teeth which come in when we are infants and last until our preteen days, perhaps a few years before or after. Usually, they begin to fall out at 6 or 7 years old. By the time you reach 20-21 years old, you have all your teeth for your second set of teeth,  known as your adult teeth. 
3. Believe it or not, China has a national holiday dedicated to teeth. Every September 20th, the Chinese celebrate "Love Your Teeth Day" across China. 
4. Back in Victorian times of the 1800s in England, people who had false teeth would eat before going out in public. They would do this to prevent getting embarrassed if their false teeth would fall out while eating; their teeth were not as quality as false teeth are today, like dental implants. 
5. In Ancient China, they did not have quality dentists like we do today to relieve dental pain; what they would do to heal painful teeth was write prayers for pain relief and wrap them around the teeth. 
6. In many ancient countries, they would use pliers to remove teeth. And no, that was not with anesthetic. 
7. Gotta love your donkey! In the Middle Ages in Germany, they would kiss donkeys in order to relieve any toothaches they had.
8. Toothpaste has only been around for about a hundred years; before that was invented, people would use a special concoction to clean their teeth that consisted of chalk, ash, lemon juice, honey, and tobacco to clean teeth. 
9. Keeping your toothbrush within 5 feet of your toilet can cause it to become contaminated by toilet germs. 
10. About forty percent of people in the US who are ages 65 and over do not have all their teeth anymore.

Now you have an expanded knowledge of your teeth and can feel confident in your smile. If you want your smile to remain beautiful or if you want a beautiful smile, then contact your local dentist. If you are in Chicagoland, then contact Rubino Dentistry. As a Park Ridge dentist, I serve people from all over Chicagoland. 

The Effects of Smoking on Teeth

We have all heard about how smoking is bad for us to some extent; it is mentioned quite a bit in school health classes and we even see ads in magazines, newspapers, on billboards, TV, and radio. However, do we know the details of the effects of smoking on teeth? All of the effects the habit can have on teeth? Let's find out.

If you decide to smoke, then you should look at this complete list of the effects of smoking on your oral health:

• Foul smelling breath
• Discoloration of teeth- predominantly yellow
• The salivary gland on the roof of your mouth can become inflamed (swollen & irritated)
• An increase in the buildup of plaque (and even tartar) on your teeth
• An increase in the loss of bone in your jaw
• A higher risk of leukoplakia, or, white patches in your mouth. 
• A higher risk of contracting gum disease, this can lead to tooth loss
• A longer healing time and process following tooth extraction, periodontal treatments, and oral surgery
• A decreased success rate for dental implants
• A higher risk for developing oral cancer

So we mentioned gum disease, or gingivitis, and one may wonder how you can get that due to smoking. 

Well, when smoking, the tobacco affects the ligaments in your mouth that attach your teeth to the bone. When you smoke, it can even impact the function of the gum tissue cells. When your gum tissue cells are not able to function properly, it makes your mouth more susceptible to infections and other dangers. 

In case you are wondering what kind of tobacco can impact your oral health, it includes cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. 

No, smokeless tobacco does not exempt you from these dangers. 

If you have questions or would like to schedule an appointment, then contact Rubino Dentistry - a dentist in Park Ridge.

Dental Tips for Diabetes

Taking proper care of your teeth is something that some people leave behind and they try to do the minimum. This does not result in having great teeth. This especially does not result in having great teeth when you are living with diabetes. Believe it or not, diabetes can have an impact on your oral health.

While having diabetes does not make having a healthy mouth impossible, it does make those who have diabetes work a bit more to have a healthy mouth. So what can you do? Here are a few tips about how it impacts you and how you can deal with it.

How it impacts you:

• People who have diabetes are at more risk for getting oral infections, such as gum disease. Gum What gum disease does is it attacks the gums and the bone underneath and can ruin them; if this happens then your teeth struggle to stay in place and you can have pain while chewing. If your gum disease progresses and becomes serious, then it can cause you to lose your teeth. Another effect of gum disease is that it can make it harder to control blood sugar levels. 
• Another problem diabetes can have on oral health is that it can cause dry mouth. Dry mouth is when you do not have enough saliva in your mouth. 
• A third complication can be thrush. What is thrush? This is when the blood sugar in your saliva increases and paired with dry mouth, white patches form which is the fungal infection called Thrush. 

What you can do:

• Manage your blood sugar levels. 
• Brush, floss, mouthwash day and night, every day. 
• Make regular dentist appointments. 
• Notify your dentist of your diabetes. 
• Notify your dentist of ill-fitting dentures or sore gums. 
• Do not smoke. 

As a dentist in Park Ridge, Rubino Dentistry can help you. Along with general cleanings, Rubino Dentistry can handle teeth in one day and dental implants. If you are looking for a dentist near Park Ridge, then contact Rubino! 

Fearful of the Dentist? You're Not Alone

If you are someone who dreads going to the dentist, even as an adult, don't worry because you are not alone. Your fear of the dentist is legitimate, we all have fears of things; we all tend to have fears of going to a doctor of any kind because our health is so valuable and any fixes needed are often pricey. We worry that we will find some big problem with something about our body, we all do it to some extent.

I wish the dentist was an exception to this fear but I know believing that would be a fallacy. However, fearing going to the dentist does not have to prevent you from going to the dentist. There are some steps one can take to minimize the fear, at least enough to enable going to the dentist and getting proper care of your mouth.

1. Finding the right dentist. There are so many dentists in the country, thousands perhaps. Finding the right dentist for you does not have to be like finding the needle in the haystack (sorry for the cliché). But it is true. As a dentist in Park Ridge Illinois, I get a lot of customers from the community but there are a couple that are from a bit farther than a 5-10 minute drive so it is common to want a dentist even if they are a bit of a drive. Don't just settle for a dentist, choose a dentist. The right dentist for you who knows you beyond just your teeth should help reduce your fear. 
2. If your fear is real bad, then sedation could be an option for you. There are several ways to get sedated for your dentist appointments. There are pills your dentist can give you, nitrous oxide (laughing gas), novocaine, etc. The laughing gas and novocaine are usually used for more serious procedures but talk to your dentist, perhaps they can work something out for general appointments. 
3. Take baby steps. Don't worry about scheduling the whole deal for your first visit. Schedule some general appointments like cleanings and see how those go. Perhaps all you need is a good experience to introduce you to the dentist or to move forward from a bad past experience. My Park Ridge dental office does a few different services and so we let you schedule things when you can. 
4. For children, bringing a toy or something of comfort will help the fear as well. Many children have a favorite toy, especially a toy or something that is comforting to them. Hey, if you're an adult and have to bring something to calm you in the waiting room, go for it. 
5. Breathing exercises will help too. You know, deep breath through your nose and exhale via your mouth or nose? Finding a peaceful place in your mind will help. Just don't fall asleep, dentists kind of need patients to be awake for most things. 
1. Having a positive mindset will do great things. 
6. Bring a buddy. Need a friend or loved one to join you on your visit? Pick em up! There is no shame in bringing some support. For all anyone knows, they needed a ride, you needed a ride, whatever. 

If you are looking for a dentist, specifically a dentist in Park Ridge then give us a call! 847-825-1002. We would love to help you, even if you are fearful of the dentist. 

We are a park ridge dentist office, located near Chicago. We do teeth in one day and dental implants. We don't make you wait for your appointment. Go ahead and contact us. 

When Should I See a Dentist? -- FAQ Dental Question

Some people love going to the dentist and some people hate going to the dentist. Generally, people do not like it; we get it, this is not something you jump at the opportunity to do. However, there are times when you should absolutely go to the dentist. If you experience one of the following situations, please, go to a dentist.

• If you get your tooth knocked out. As a dentist near Park Ridge I see people come into my office with a missing tooth. This happens more than you would think. If you do have a tooth knocked out, there are a few things you should do. Remember, immediately go to a dentist if you loose a tooth. 
• The first thing is find the tooth, if you can. If you cannot find the tooth, then obviously still go to the dentist but your resolution will have to be different than simply putting the tooth back in. If you do find the tooth, there is a chance the dentist can put the tooth back in. 
• Should you find the tooth, hold the tooth by the chewing end, the white part of the tooth that is normally seen in your mouth; do not hold the tooth by the root since this will damage the root and minimize the chances of successful reinsertion. 
• Keep the tooth moistened. You can keep the tooth moistened by sticking the tooth back in the spot where it was removed, placing it between your cheek and your gums, or placing the tooth in milk. 
• Keep the tooth clean as well. If the tooth has become dirty, gently rinse the tooth in some water. 
• If the tooth cannot be pushed back in, it is possible to get dental implants that look completely natural and fit with your mouth. 
• If you break or chip your tooth. This can happen from anything so just try to be careful. The degree of which a tooth can break or chip can vary so there are different ways the dentist will treat this one. If you can find the piece of the tooth, then put it in a damp cloth. You should schedule an appointment with a dentist as soon as you can. This is not quite as serious as losing an entire tooth but is still a big deal and can be quite uncomfortable. 
• Getting a tooth moved out of position. Sometimes, you're doing something and you get hit in the mouth; while the hit did not knock out your tooth entirely, it can shift your tooth. If this happens, schedule an appointment with a dentist as soon as you can. If this happens:
• You can try to push the tooth back into position but do so gently. Do not force the tooth back into position or you can injury the spot further. 
• Try to keep the tooth in place by applying pressure to it; perhaps the easiest way to do this is to bite down on the tooth but if you prefer to use a finger, that works too. 
• If you have toothache or pain. These are not emergencies but still can be rather uncomfortable. If you have severe pain, then schedule an appointment with a dentist in Park Ridge immediately. Look for other symptoms as well such as:
• Swelling or redness
• Bleeding or puss leakage
• Tenderness
• Fever
• Jaw pain. Again, this is most likely not an emergency but is still something that you should have checked out by a dentist. 

Bottom line, if you have something painful or questionable going on in your mouth, make an appointment with a dentist. Your mouth is not something you should be neglecting. If you are in Chicagoland, then contact Rubino Dentistry, a Park Ridge dentist. 

5 Easy To Follow Dental Tips

Keeping our teeth healthy is always something that we struggle with as people, well, most people. For some reason, a lot of people think that teeth are going to be perfect no matter

what or at least that taking serious care of teeth is an option. Well, it's not. If you do not take care of your teeth you can be in a world of trouble as you age. Here are five tips for you to follow that are simple and do not require you to buy any expensive dental tools. 

1. Brush your teeth twice a day, at least. Brushing your teeth twice a day is the minimum you should brush your teeth, if you can, brush them three times. This process is the minimum requirement in taking proper care of your teeth. As you probably know, brushing your teeth removes the plaque from your teeth and keeps that junk from forming cavities. This process also helps remove food caught in your teeth; which if that stuff is left in your teeth, it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and that's just no good. 
2. Avoid smoking. If you have taken any health classes, you will know that smoking causes your teeth to be yellow and causes you to get bad breath. Smoking (cigarettes, cigars, pipes, any tobacco) can increase the chances of oral cancer. Obviously, the more you smoke, the greater the chances are of developing oral cancer. This tip also applies to chewing tobacco. So no, that is not a loophole. If you have a smoking addiction, see that you can break it; it will not be easy but it will help your oral health in the long run. 
3. Eat & Drink good things. Eating things with a lot of sugar, such as candy & desserts is easy because they are just so darn tasty but the reality is that they leave sugar and other things on your teeth that can be bad if you do not take proper care of your teeth. This also applies to things like soda and coffee. While they are good tasting, they are not good for your teeth. If you have to drink those things, try to use straws. Also, you can eat desserts, just don't do too much and still try to avoid eating things that leave junk all over your teeth like taffy, sucking candy, gummy things, etc. Try to drink water and tea since they help keep junk off of your teeth. If the drink or food has acid in it, just be careful and don't let the acid bathe your teeth. 
4. Floss, floss, floss. Can I emphasize that enough? Flossing is not something you should dismiss. Get that stuff out and use it. It helps catch all the things, including plaque, that bury themselves in between your teeth. If traditional flossing is too difficult, then you have a couple options: get floss picks that already have the floss taught on a pick OR you can get tools such as WaterPiks that shoot water around your mouth and do the same effect as flossing. 
5. Get your fluoride on. Use toothpastes, etc that have the fluoride since that helps keep your teeth strong; you need to keep your teeth strong against cavities. 

As a dentist in Park Ridge, Rubino Dentistry is all about helping people take care of their teeth. There has never been a broader range of dental services in Park Ridge, IL, a patient can choose from. Our commitment to providing our patients with the latest, proven dental services and our desire to personalize each visit sets us apart from most dental practices. Your comfort, time, and understanding of your oral health needs frame our recommendations and each visit to our office.