What You Need to Know About Dental Crowns

If you are considering getting a dental crown because your dentist mentioned it or you are already sure that this is something you want, well, it's important to know all you can about them. If you are indeed considering this procedure, do not worry, this is a common deal. It will only improve your oral integrity and health.

So what is a dental crown? A dental crown is a piece that a dentist will use to cover a tooth that has been broken, cracked, or part of your tooth is missing. The crown will cover the damaged tooth so your tooth is restored back to its original shape, size, strength, and appearance. Once the crown is placed (they are cemented into place), the crown will completely cover the structure of the tooth and improve the tooth.

How do you know when you should get a crown? As we mentioned, you should get a crown when your tooth is cracked, broken, or is missing part of the tooth and the remaining tooth cannot support a filling. You can also get a crown if your tooth is decayed. If you have a cracked tooth, you can have the tooth saved if it is treated and crowned ASAP. After the crown is cemented into place, it is permanently in place and made stationary as it covers the tooth.

If you are in the Chicago area and are looking for a dentist who does crowns and bridges, the contact Rubino Dentistry. We are a Chicagoland dental office located here in Park Ridge. As a Park Ridge dentist, Dr. Rubino and Dr. Wnek have great experience with crowns and bridges.

Teeth Whitening FAQs

Having white teeth is a dream for many people who struggle to get them; sometimes, brushing, flossing, and mouthwashes do not make the teeth white, or at least as white as we'd like. So what can you do? Teeth whitening solutions either from your dentist or from a kit.

Here are some FAQs of teeth whitening. 

• Does teeth whitening harm enamel? Teeth whitening does not cause any permanent damage to enamel. 
• Does it cause permanent sensitivity? Having sensitive teeth from whitening is indeed a side-effect but if it does happen, it will go away within a few days of the whitening, often a day or two. You will return to your state of sensitivity you had before getting the whitening. 
• Am I able to whiten my teeth? For the most part, anyone can whiten their teeth; however, you will want to have your dentist give you the green light because everyone is different. You might not be a candidate or may require less whitening treatments than others. 
• How long do the effects last? If you get your teeth whitened by your dentist, then the effects will often last between six months and a couple years. If you do it yourself with an at-home kit, the results last much shorter. 
• How much does it cost? This depends on where you go. If you do an at-home kit, then you will likely spend around $20 but if you do professional, it can cost as much at $1000, sometimes as low as $300-$600. 
• Does it affect dental work like crowns, fillings, or vaneers? Getting your teeth whitened will not affect things like porcelain vaneers or any crown work; it can temporarily reduce the strength of the bond between enamel and composite restorations like fillings. 

If you are in the Chicago area and want to discuss teeth whitening, then contact Rubino Dentistry. We are a Chicagoland dental office and offer great whitening services. As a Park Ridge dentist, I see patients of all ages. 

Tooth Enamel FAQs

Have you heard of tooth enamel? Chances are that you have, if not, then you just did! Do you know much about tooth enamel? Many people do not, if you don't, you're about to! 

What is tooth enamel? Enamel, essentially, is the hard stuff on the outside of your teeth that protects your teeth. Tooth enamel is one of the hardest and highly mineralized substances of our bodies. It makes sense that the enamel has to be so strong since we eat and drink so many things throughout our lives and we even use our teeth as tools, like to hold a pencil. We pass a lot of sugars and other things, even bacteria, over our teeth so their protection has to be incredibly strong. 

Tooth enamel is one of the four tissues that make up our teeth. The three other parts of your teeth are the dentin (yellow stuff), the cementum, and then the pulp (the inner most part of the tooth, like its heart); the tissues of the teeth go in that order from out to in. When you see someone's teeth, you are looking at their enamel, unless they have lost their enamel, which case you'd be looking at decreased enamel and likely some dentin. 

Tooth enamel is strong but it is not impenetrable. It can be broken and even removed, this is called enamel erosion. There are several things that can contribute to enamel erosion: not taking care of your teeth, eating and drinking foods and beverages with lots of acid (the acid weakens the enamel and then it can be brushed away), chewing on things like pencils and pens can crack the enamel, and quick exposure to hot and cold beverages and food (taking a bite of hot pizza and then a drink of a cold beverage causes quick expansion and shrinkage of enamel; this puts stress on it and can crack it, same for vice versa- cold then hot).

 Exposure to acid on the enamel can be intrinsic (inside the body) or extrinsic (outside the body). Those who experience intrinsic exposure typically suffer from gastric reflux or persistent vomiting. Extrinsic can be soda, citrus juices and foods, alcohol, etc. 

You can help minimize the exposure by limiting your consumption of these acidic foods and drinks. Also developing a good oral hygiene practice by brushing for 2 minutes, flossing, and rinsing with a mouthwash. Also, using a toothpaste that is meant to restrengthen enamel will do wonders. 

If you have any questions, then contact Rubino Dentistry. We are a dental practice in Chicagoland. As a Park Ridge dental office, we see people of all ages and see plenty of enamel erosion.  

Effects of Soda on Your Teeth

Soda, or pop, can be a tasty beverage, especially when we pair it with a hot day or our favorite food. However, just because it tastes good does not mean that it is something we can indulge in anytime we want, the truth is that pop can be harmful for your teeth.

No matter what you call the beverage, the drink has the same effect on your pearly whites. Soft drinks have proven themselves to be a good source of tooth decay, which can impact people of any age, not just the elderly. The sugar and acid in the soft drinks can be a cause of softening tooth enamel, w
hich can lead to cavities and sensitive teeth. Drinking soft drinks, along with a poor oral hygiene habit, you can experience some poor oral health.

Statistics from 2013 say that nearly 80 percent of youth, children and teens, consume at least one soft drink a day (that can be cans, bottles, cups, etc). Some reports have mentioned that some teens drink as much as 12 pops a day.

What can you do to help resolve the consumption of so much pop?

• Swap the soft drinks for other beverages like water, 100% juice, milk, etc. Go for things that are more natural and have less sugar and acid. If you are a parent, then you can partake in this venture as well, encourage your kids to do it as well. If you are drinking more natural, teeth friendly beverages, then your teeth will look and feel a lot better. 
• Rinse your mouth with water. If you enjoy a soft drink now and then, that is fine. However, after you finish, try rinsing your mouth out with some water to rid your mouth of the sugars that try to attach to your teeth. Also, this will rinse out the acid that can have long exposures on your teeth. 
• Brush your teeth with toothpaste that contains fluoride and use an oral rinse. The fluoride in your toothpaste (and possibly even the rinse) will help strengthen the enamel and reduce chances of cavities. 
• Get fluoride applied to your teeth by your dentist. If you stop at your dentist's office, they can apply fluoride to your teeth in the form of gel, foam, or rinse. 

If you have any questions, then contact Rubino Dentistry - a Park Ridge dentist. As a dentist in Chicagoland, I see a lot of patients and we make sure each patient gets quality care and attention. We rarely make our patients wait for their appointment. 

Basic Dental Terminology

A lot of the words that we use to describe teeth and the mouth as dentists are much more complicated than the ones that are used by non-dentists. So what are some of these words that make up dental terminology?

• Human dentition: this means the teeth that are located in the lower and upper jaws. So, when you hear or read this word, it basically means all your teeth. 
• Maxillae: this is the upper jaw. 
• Maxillary teeth: these teeth are part of the maxillae that are the arch, so they are in the front. 
• Mandible: this is the lower jaw. 
• Mandibular teeth: These teeth are located on the lower jaw. 
• Primary dentition: this is the first group of teeth we get as humans. They are commonly called "baby teeth" and there are 20 of them. 
• Permanent dentition: this is the second group of teeth we get as humans. They are commonly called our "adult teeth" and there are 32 of them. 
• Posterior: this is the area that is towards the back of the mouth. 
• Anterior: this is the area towards the front of the mouth. 
• Mesial: this is the middle, or midline. 
• Distal: This is away from the midline of your mouth. 
• Buccal: This is the cheek area of your mouth. 
• Lingual: This is the tongue area. 
• Facial: This is the area that is on your cheek or lip side of your mouth. 
• Palatal: This is the tongue side of your maxillary teeth. 
• Occlusal: This is the area of the mouth that are the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. 
• Incisal: This is the area of the mouth that are the biting surfaces of your front teeth. 

Now, you may not be a dentist in Park Ridge like me but at least now you know some basic dental terminology. 

Common Oral Diseases

Oral diseases can be rather bothersome and preventable. For most of them, they are caused or at least enabled by the lack of proper oral care. So what are some of the common oral diseases?

Note: these are not in order of most common to least or vice versa.

The first one is gingivitis. You may also know this by the name, "gum disease" and it is one of the most common diseases for people to get. Some common risk factors for gingivitis include: general illness, poor/lack of dental hygiene, pregnancy, and uncontrolled diabetes. Gingivitis is a form of periodontal disease and is an inflammation and infection of the gums and oral tissues. It can harm the support of your teeth such as the gums, ligaments, and sockets. It comes from plaque deposits that have been around a while.

Another common disease is the next stage of gum disease, periodontitis. This is the inflammation and infection of the teeth ligaments and the bones that support the teeth. It can reach this stage by not treating gingivitis or delaying in treating it for too long. This can result in the loss of teeth and that can require dental implants if the jaw is still in good enough condition, or, if it is not, then you will need dentures.

One of the bigger diseases you can get is oral cancer. This often forms in the lips or the tongue but can also happen in the cheek lining, floor of the mouth, gums, or roof of the mouth. Typically, oral cancers are called squamous cell carcinomas. This cancer can spread rather quickly. Common causes of it are tobacco (especially chewing tobacco) and excessive alcohol consumption; other causes include: chronic irritation from things like rough teeth, dentures, etc, HPV, medications that weaken the immune system, and poor dental health.

One that sounds rather unpleasant is trench mouth. What is it? It is a rather painful infection caused by bacteria that creates swelling and ulcers in the gums. Why is it called that? Well, it was rather common for soldiers to get when fighting in the trenches of World War I. Common causes include: emotional stress, poor dental hygiene, poor nutrition, smoking (and chewing tobacco), and oral infections. This disease tends to affect people between the ages of 15-35.

A fifth common oral disease are mouth ulcers. Just like ulcers in your digestive system, these are sores or open lesions, except they are in the mouth. Common causes and risk factors include: canker sores, Gingivostomatitis, herpes simplex, Leukoplakia (do not confuse with leukemia), oral cancer, oral lichen plans, and oral thrush.

If you have any questions, then contact Rubino Dentistry - a Park Ridge dentist. 

Why Should You Floss?

Flossing is another part of your oral health routine, however, it is not the small role player that many people think it is; flossing is actually one of the biggest things you can do for your smile. So why should you floss?

Flossing and brushing do more good for your teeth than only brushing. See, when you brush your teeth, you are removing all the plaque from the top and two sides of your teeth, however, if you do not floss, then you are missing the other two sides (that are between your teeth) as well as your tooth below the gum line). Toothbrushes have a hard time reaching in between your teeth and can't reach below your gum line very well either, this is where floss helps you a ton. If you skip your flossing, you are skipping a significant portion of your mouth when it's all added up.

Flossing protects your gums as well. When we eat food, they can leave behind food particles and also sugars on our teeth that are attractive to bacteria. If these things make their way to below the gum line, they can cause some damage to the root of the tooth and the tissue connecting the tooth to the jaw. What can happen is that these things form plaque which can turn into tartar and that can be what really causes some issues for your gums; it can lead to gingivitis.

If you floss regularly, it can end up saving you money because it can prevent the need for future medical procedures for your mouth, such as root canals and tooth extraction. It can even help prevent other diseases as well; the plaque and tartar that forms can lead to other deceases like Heart Disease.

If you have questions or want to schedule a visit, then contact Rubino Dentistry. We are a Park Ridge dental office located on South Prospect Ave, near Cumberland in Park Ridge. We are walking distance from the train station.