EMA Dental Blog

Most people wouldn’t function without a couple cups of strong coffee in the morning. And what’s relaxation after a hard day at work without a glass of wine with dinner? Unfortunately, these regular pleasures in life can leave your teeth stained and dull. So can healthy foods such as berries, juices, even spaghetti sauce!

Fortunately, the Refresh Whitening Spa at EMA Dental can brighten your smile for all the world to see. This is the second anniversary of the opening of the Refresh Whitening Spa and we want to make sure all of our patients know about their whitening options.

In-office vs. at-home whitening

The real difference between in-office and home whitening is the strength of the agents used to whiten your teeth. Because there isn’t any supervision and the potential for overuse exists, home gels have far lower concentrations of the bleaching agents. This, of course, requires more applications over a longer period of time than in-office whitening.

Both tooth-whitening options use peroxide-based bleaching agents. The gel we send you home with contains from 3% to 20% carbamide or hydrogen peroxide. Our in-office concentrations are from 15% to 43%, depending on the solution and on the amount of your staining. The difference between in-office and at-home whitening really comes down to how long the agent stays on your teeth.

In office

Whitening at our Refresh Whitening Spa can give you brighter teeth faster. Not only is the concentration of the bleaching solution stronger at the Spa, but we also use activators to intensify the whitening process. Since we are applying a stronger solution, we monitor your progress carefully during your in-office whitening.

At the Refresh Whitening Spa, we can brighten your teeth from three to eight shades. This depends on the causes of your staining and other factors.

At home

For our patients who opt for home whitening, we first make custom trays based upon impressions taken of your teeth. These trays hold the whitening gel that we give you to use at home. How long we instruct you to keep the trays with the peroxide gel on your teeth varies, again depending on the causes of staining and on your teeth.

Tired of your dingy, stained teeth? Call us at EMA at either our Longmeadow or Northhampton offices and let’s talk tooth whitening.

Most people know about dental implants. They are the best solution for a missing tooth or teeth, as, once in place, an implant behaves just like a natural tooth.

Most people don’t know that there are also mini dental implants. At EMA Dental, we are asked about the difference between the two and when use of mini implants makes sense.

Implant size

Both full and mini implants are made from titanium. Titanium is unique because it is a metal that is completely compatible with the human body. The implant is actually the screw that is inserted down into the hole formerly occupied by the tooth root. Once inserted, the jawbone then grows around the implant, fully integrating it into the jaw. Next a post is attached to the implant, and a crown onto that.

The difference between full and mini implants is the size and the top.

Full dental implants are 4-5mm in diameter. They are generally made of two pieces. There is the external screw that is inserted into the bone. Then there is the internal thread that allows various components to be torqued down and attached to the implant.

Mini dental implants are a solid one-piece screw, measuring less than 3mm in diameter. They feature a ball-shaped end that sticks out of the jawbone. Mini implants are often used as the support for dentures, which have a rubber O ring that is intended to fit around the protruding ball from the implant.

Comparing the two

Because mini implants are only about half as big as standard implants, they only provide half the support. Two implants would be necessary to create the same support of a single standard implant. Because they are smaller, mini implants also allow for less chewing force, and they don’t last as long due to stress on the jawbone.

Still, mini implants are great for securing dentures because of their small size and versatility with placement. The healing/integration time is shorter than full implants. And they cost about half as much.

If you’re considering replacing a tooth with an implant, let’s talk. Call either our Longmeadow or Northampton offices for an appointment.

At EMA Dental, we believe dental implants are far and away the best solution to replace missing or extensively damaged teeth. But in cases where the patient has lost the majority of his or her teeth, dentures are still a more affordable, easier path to take.

However, if we combine the two, we can get the rock solid anchoring of implants with the large number tooth replacement of dentures. We call them implant-retained dentures.

Dentures

When all the teeth in the patient’s mouth need replacing, dentures can return full functionality. They allow normal speaking and eating and, of course, present a perfect smile to the public.

Dentures are made from acrylic and porcelain and include upper and lower sets. And, while fitting dentures with the use of modern panoramic cameras is much more precise than it used to be, due to the nature of the gums dentures still can slip and move. What they need are anchor points.

Adding implants for stability

That’s where implants come in. Implants, by their very nature, provide the stability needed to keep dentures in place. Implants are basically titanium screws that are placed into the hole formerly occupied by the tooth root. The body then builds new bone and totally integrates the new implant. Once this process is complete, a post is attached to the implant and, in normal circumstances, an artificial tooth atop that post.

But with implant-retained dentures at EMA Dental, we simply attach the full dentures to the implants, rather than placing a crown on top of them. The number of implants we will use depends on how much jawbone mass has been lost while your teeth have been missing. When teeth are missing for longer periods of time, the jawbone beneath them begins to deteriorate because it doesn’t get the stimulation from the tooth above. Usually, we recommend four implants on top and bottom for ultimate stability.

If you’re missing most of your teeth, or have badly damaged teeth, call our Longmeadow or Northhampton offices and let’s talk about implant-retained dentures.

Are there things that you hate about your smile? Every morning as you’re getting ready for work, there they are. Well, what if you gave your smile a mulligan of sorts? What if you gave it a smile makeover from EMA?

A smile makeover is the process of improving the appearance of your smile through one or more cosmetic procedures: dental veneers, composite bonding, tooth implants, and whitening.

So, what’s the difference between a smile makeover and a full mouth reconstruction? You choose to have a smile makeover for aesthetic reasons. You need to have full mouth reconstruction.

Things that we consider for a smile makeover

At EMA Dental, we take many things into consideration when planning a smile makeover — your facial appearance, skin tone, hair color, teeth (of course!), gum tissue, and lips. We then customize your makeover to what you need. Here are the areas we address.

Tooth color — Your teeth may be badly stained or very dull. You may want to mask silver or amalgam fillings. Your tooth whiteness should balance the tones of your face.

Alignment and spacing — Your teeth may be crooked, overlapping, or have gaps.

Balance — Uneven, chipped, or cracked teeth can be bonded to provide balance. A gummy smile can be re-contoured.

Fuller Cheeks, Lips, and Smile — An aging face can be rejuvenated with orthodontics or maxillofacial surgery.

Tooth length — Long teeth connote youth, and aging wears down the teeth. A gummy smile makes your teeth appear shorter, as well.

Smile line — Your smile line is an imaginary line that follows the edges of your upper teeth from side to side. This line should mirror the curve of your lower lip when you smile.

Tooth proportions — Your teeth should be proportional with each other. Most pleasing smiles present the two central front teeth as dominant and have a width-to length radio of 4 to 5.

These are the areas we consider when planning your smile makeover at EMA Dental. If you’re unhappy with your smile, let’s do something about it! Call us in our Longmeadow or Northhampton offices and let’s discuss a smile makeover.

It’s a sign of how effective Listerine television advertising has been — everyone has heard the word gingivitis. That’s because those TV commercials always say that the mouthwash helps prevent gingivitis. It’s a great word to scare people into buying Listerine because it sounds ominous, scary.

But if you asked anyone what gingivitis actually means, the percentage would be remarkably low. At EMA Dental, we like educated patients, so we’re going to give you a little primer on gingivitis.

And no, it’s not a dental condition that affects only red-haired people!

Gingivitis, the gums have it

“Gingivitis” sounds scary. Actually, its meaning is fairly benign — the term gingivitis simply means gum inflammation. And, just like your younger brother, plaque is the main irritant involved here. Plaque is the sticky film that forms on the teeth throughout the day consisting of bacteria, bacterial waste products, food residue, and saliva. This is an ongoing battle. When you brush and floss you remove the plaque. Then it starts to rebuild, only to be removed again when you brush.

“When you brush.” That’s key, because if you neglect your oral hygiene the plaque can develop beneath the gumline, where it is very irritating to your gums. If allowed to stay there, the plaque hardens into tartar, causing more persistent irritation. And this is where things get dicey. Because while the term “irritation” sounds innocent enough, if this irritation is allowed to continue and progress, it leads to gum disease, clinically known as periodontitis. And periodontitis is not a word you want to be associated with your gums!

What are signs of gingivitis?

It’s one thing to know what gingivitis is; it’s another thing to know when you have it. Gum irritation is easy to spot. Your gums should be pink all over. Any bright red patches show irritation. Your gums should also lie flat against the teeth; inflamed gums tend to recede and pull away from the teeth. Your gums will also be prone to bleeding and this shouldn’t normally happen if you’re using a soft toothbrush. Bleeding is a sign of inflammation. And finally, as in the commercials, your breath will reek. The commercials get this part right — your bad breath is caused by bacteria that is being left to its own devices by your poor oral hygiene.

Treatment

To keep your gums healthy and keep gingivitis at bay, it all starts with good home hygiene. But since your friends at EMA Dental can’t nag you while you’re at home brushing — “Hey, you still have 45 second more brushing to do!” — here’s how we treat gingivitis when we see it.

• Prophylactic cleaning
  This is a fancy sounding term for your regular twice-yearly cleanings at EMA. Why twice a year? That generally is the time it takes to start forming tartar and other issues that lead to decay. During these cleanings and checkups, not only will those problem areas receive a thorough cleaning, but we will also point them out to you for more attentive care at home.
• Scaling
  If you have a fair amount of tartar built up under your gumline, we will scrape it off with dental tools. This is called scaling. Why? Because “scraping with dental tools” sounds pedestrian. Depending how much we have to do, we may give you a local anesthesia.
• Root planing
  In root planing, any tiny grooves or pits are removed from the tooth roots to make it easier for the gums to adhere and stop receding. This is done in multiple appointments with local anesthesia.

So, there you have it. You’re an expert at gingivitis, and you didn’t even have to study! The best defense is a good offense of good home hygiene. If you have any questions about what you’re doing, or to schedule your next regular checkup, call us at EMA Dental in our Longmeadow or Northamptom offices.

You know you should brush for two minutes and floss every day. But you also know you should get new tires… And you should clean the gutters… And you should stain the deck… And stop eating bacon-wrapped pork rinds!

Instead, you take your teeth for granted. You rarely floss, brush haphazardly, open bottles with your teeth, chew ice, and don’t even schedule regular cleanings and checkups. Most people pay more heed to the little oil change sticker on the windshield than they do to getting their teeth “serviced.”

But if you take care of your teeth, they’ll take care of you for the rest of your life. Can you really say that about your car? Your teeth deserve some R-E-S-P-E-C-T, as Aretha would say.

At EMA Dental, we believe the best offense is a good defense. So, let’s have a little refresher course in the basics of good home dental hygiene.

Brushing

• Putting in your time now will save you a lot of time in a dentist’s chair later.
• Use a soft-bristled brush. You may think a firmer brush would clean better, but they actually make your gums recede.
• You should spend two minutes. If you want to break that down, think 30 minutes per quarter.
• Brush two or three times daily.
• Start in the back of each quarter and work your way forward in an overlapping circular pattern.
• Hit the inside of the teeth, the molar tops, the outsides, the gumline, the roof, and tongue.
• Don’t be too firm because you can wear down your enamel.
• When your bristles start to fan out, it’s time for a new toothbrush.

Flossing

• Floss once daily.
• Use around 18 inches of floss. Wrap it around either your index or middle finger leaving a two-inch span between them.
• Proper flossing takes about one minute.
• Hit both sides of every tooth, going down just below the gumline.
• Waxed, unwaxed, flavored, plain? Makes no difference, but if cinnamon makes you actually floss, then go for it!
• Ribbon, tape, regular floss, floss picks. They’re all good.
• Flossing can cause a little bit of bleeding, especially if you’ve missed a few days, but that will go away with regular flossing.

Look, you passed Dental Hygiene 101. That was easy, huh? But there is one last piece of the hygiene routine — scheduling twice-yearly visits to your pals at EMA Dental. Beyond removing plaque and tartar and making your teeth sparkle, these visits are the time for us to find early signs of decay or gum disease before they become real problems. Call our Longmeadow or Northampton offices to schedule your next checkup, and do it BEFORE you get your oil changed, will ya!

From getting fluoride trays at school when we were young to crazy John Birch Society members saying that fluoride in the water supply was a Communist conspiracy, everyone has heard of fluoride. And most people have an idea that the stuff if good for your teeth.

Well, since we’re all about healthy teeth at EMA Dental, here is some information about just how fluoride protects your teeth and the role it plays in battling tooth decay.

One of your mouth’s minerals

Minerals play a big part in the health of your teeth. Minerals are continually added to and lost from a tooth’s enamel layer through two processes, demineralization and remineralization. Demineralization is the problem. Minerals are lost from a tooth’s enamel layer when acids, formed from the bacteria in plaque and sugars in the mouth, attack the enamel. Fortunately, when you eat foods and drink water, minerals such as fluoride, calcium, and phosphate remineralize the teeth. Therein lies the ongoing battle — too much demineralization without remineralization results in tooth decay.

Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in many foods and water. It helps prevent tooth decay by making the tooth enamel more resistant to those acids from bacteria and sugars in the mouth. Fluoride also has the cool effect of reversing early cases of decay. For kids under 6, fluoride becomes incorporated into the development of permanent teeth. This makes the teeth resistant to the assault of acids to demineralize the teeth. Fluoride also speeds remineralization and disrupts acid production in the mouth.

Not just for kids

It was thought that only children benefit from fluoride, but new research shows that topical fluoride from toothpastes, mouth rinses, and fluoride treatments are important to help adult teeth fight decay. For children, it’s long been known that children between 6 months and 16 years need fluoride to help build their teeth.

Fluoride treatments at EMA Dental

So, now you know that fluoride is one of your mouth’s best friends. We provide fluoride treatments at EMA Dental to give our patients a more concentrated occasional fluoride application. We apply fluoride topically at each appointment of our younger patients. Call either our Longmeadow or Northhampton offices for your next appointment.

Dentures have been around since the 7^th century BC when the Etruscans in northern Italy made partial dentures out of human or animal teeth fastened together with gold bands. The Romans expanded on the practice. Wooden full dentures were invented in Japan in the early 16^th century. Probably the most famous denture wearer was George Washington, whose famous chompers were made with ivory from hippos and elephants, gold rivets, spiral springs, and real human teeth.

Surprisingly, one quarter of the U.S. population over 65 years of age have lost most or all of their natural teeth. Many of those people, unfortunately, have learned to live without teeth, with the corresponding damage to their ability to eat certain foods, to speak clearly, and to their social life and overall self-esteem.

But it doesn’t have to be that way — dentures, whether full or partial, can give you back a beautiful, functional smile. At EMA Dental, we offer full dentures, partial dentures, and implant-retained dentures. Although fully replacing teeth with implants is preferable, dentures can surely be a cost-effective alternative.

Benefits of dentures

Expertly designed, well-fit dentures from EMA Dental can have a dramatic impact on your quality of life. Dentures can:

• Improve your ability to chew and bite properly and make it easier to eat a healthy diet rich in crunchy fruits and vegetables.
• Help you look more youthful with the restoration of your gums, teeth, and jawbone.
• Improve your self-esteem. You can smile and laugh without feeling embarrassed about the way you look.
• Make it easier to communicate and speak clearly.

Partial or full

If you have at least one remaining tooth in the upper and lower jaw, partial dentures will probably be your best option. With partial dentures, crowns are put on top of the remaining natural teeth, serving as anchors for the artificial teeth in between. Partial dentures fill the spaces created by the missing teeth and also prevent the remaining teeth from moving into those open spaces. Partial dentures can be removable or permanent, depending on the number of remaining teeth.

Full dentures replace all of your teeth. Any remaining badly damaged or decayed teeth are removed and then various impressions are taken to use when constructing the dentures, which can take about two months. Full dentures are held in place through pressure provided by the tongue and cheeks, and suction. Adhesive can be used to add stability. That’s why it’s important to have your dentures constructed and fit very precisely.

Implants + dentures

Denture technology is moving toward using dental implants to anchor dentures. Implants are titanium posts that are inserted into the former tooth sockets. The jawbone is allowed to grow back around the implants, making them similar to natural tooth roots. The dentures attach to those implants, which are placed at various necessary support positions in the upper and lower jaw. Implant-supported dentures have several advantages:

• Dentures don’t move, rub, and cause irritation because they are anchored in place by the implants.
• The dentures don’t slip when speaking, biting, or chewing.
• Because they don’t slip, food debris doesn’t get stuck under the dentures while eating.
• The risk for bone loss is reduced, as implants maintain the normal downward pressure that stimulates the jawbone.
• Lower jaw dentures are more stable compared to traditional prosthetics.

See, now you’re a denture expert. If you’re missing an assortment of teeth, one of these denture options from EMA may be the way to go. Call either our Longmeadow or Northhampton office to schedule an appointment for us to take a look and discuss your options.

Most people have heard of a crown, but they don’t really know what they are, beyond something Prince Harry will one day wear!

At EMA Dental, we use crowns to repair teeth that are damaged and to anchor bridges onto adjacent healthy teeth. A crown is a cap placed over the part of the tooth that sits above the gum line. They can be made of either metal alloy or porcelain.

Reasons to have a crown

Crowns can have a wide variety of uses. The most common are:

• If a tooth is deeply cracked or worn
• If a tooth has a very large cavity
• If a tooth has a root canal procedure
• If a tooth is abnormally small, oddly shaped, or very discolored

How are crowns placed?

Fitting and placing a crown usually takes two appointments. During your first appointment, we remove any decay or other area of the tooth that is not savable. In cases where a tooth has extensive decay, it can’t be simply filled because the filling will occupy too large an area and won’t have the strength necessary for long-term chewing and biting. A crown is needed.

To prepare your tooth for a crown, once we have removed any decay or damage, we shave off some of the healthy portion of the tooth. This is necessary to make room for the crown to be fitted atop the tooth. Then we take dental impressions and send them off to the lab for the fabrication of your crown. While the crown is being made, we fit you with a temporary crown.

When your crown is finished, you return and we check the fit. Then the crown is permanently cemented onto your tooth. Any final shaping and polishing is done, and you’re good to go.

So, give that damaged or decayed tooth the royal treatment — have the pros at EMA Dental put a crown on it. Call either our Longmeadow or Northhampton offices to schedule your appointment.