There have recently been some people blogging about the benefits of using activated charcoal to whiten teeth. It is a black, powdery substance that has been used to treat accidental drug overdose in hospitals or poison control centers. So I was obviously a little surprised to hear people were touting its teeth whitening benefits. Let’s look a little deeper into what we do and don’t know about activated charcoal.
There has been some recent coverage of a student from the New Jersey Institute of Technology who used a 3D printer and laser scanner to create plastic aligners to improve his smile. It is the equivalent of do-it-yourself Invisalign. But is this a DIY project that is worth the risk?
There was a recent article in TIME magazine discussing how important and safe mouth wash is in your normal oral hygiene routine. Below we will discuss some of the benefits and limitations of different mouth rinse options.
A friend of mine recently sent me an article where the author was warning people against having their wisdom teeth removed. He cited all kinds of risks and the troubles he had during his experience. He even referred to having wisdom teeth being removed as a ‘scam.’ In light of this, I wanted to share some facts and myths about having wisdom teeth removed versus keeping them.
There are all kinds of products available that can whiten your teeth effectively. There are also a large number of materials that claim to whiten and brighten your teeth. So what is the most effective way and how important is it to whiten? We will try to answer some of those concerns or questions.
If you have dental insurance, then you have likely seen the phrase ‘Usual and Customary Rate’ (UCR). A dental insurance company will love to use this term, but what does it mean for you? Who determines this number? We want to help you understand where these numbers are derived and how it is applicable to you.
When you are in pain, you are desperate for a quick fix. You typically are looking for any medication or treatment that will alleviate the problem so you can function normally. With dental pain, it is common to think that an antibiotic will help solve the problem. There are times when it is right thing to do, but there are also circumstances where it could do you more harm than good.
Many people choose to carry dental insurance to offset the costs of semi-annual cleanings and just in case something major goes wrong. So what happens when something bad happens? Will your insurance help cover a procedure that gives the best long term result? Unfortunately, your insurance may have limitations on what procedures they believe they should help.
We all know that sugar is necessarily the healthiest things for us to eat. But like most things, if we use moderation we should be fine. However, we need to be aware that sugar and sweets affects your body in a number of ways. We will discuss how sugar can affect you in the short term and the long term.
Even though it is still in its early stages, there are researchers in the Netherlands developing an Antibacterial replacement tooth that can be 3-D printed. It would be made of a plastic infused with ammonium salts to combat unwanted bacteria. And even better, it could be made in the dental office.
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