Archive for the ‘Porcelain veneers’ Category

Crooked teeth in the front of the mouth can be embarrassing and difficult to keep clean.   A person’s smile is the first thing noticed by others when they first meet or talk to another.

Lower teeth crowding is a normal part of late growth process of the lower jaw.  As the lower jaw grows until the 40′s the lower teeth are crowded out because they are locked in by the upper teeth overlap.  We normally see crowding of persons in their adult hood.   Many people think this is due to the wisdom teeth putting pressure on all of the teeth.  This has been dis-proven in many studies.

The upper teeth can become crowded if the teeth are too large for the size of the jawbone.  The teeth will tend to go where they are pushed on.  This pressure is usually from the lips pushing in and the tongue pushing out.  If one of these is greater than the other the teeth will be pushed out and the stronger force will win.

Crooked teeth present a number of problems:

• Aesthetics-They look bad since the size of the teeth look altered as they are crowded into a smaller space than there is room for
• Gum disease-Teeth that are crooked are difficult to clean and therefore periodontal disease is more likely to take place in these difficult to keep clean areas.
• Cavities- Teeth that are crowded are difficult to keep clean and are more prone to decay.

So back the the question–How can i fix my crooked teeth in Macomb coutny-  There are a few options to consider:

1. Braces will most conservatively straighten them up.  By applying a constant force to straighten the crooked teeth and making the teeth thinner to fit into the smaller arc.  This is accomplished by “stripping” the enamel between the teeth.
2. Dental porcelain veneers- Are used to straighten the teeth.  The thin shells of porcelain work best on upper teeth considering that they can be made to widen the arch and giving a very attractive smile.
3. Bonding- If the lower teeth are stained they can have composite bonding on them since this only adds to the surface of the teeth.
4. Bleaching-This makes the teeth whiter and more attractive.

Call our Shelby dental office at (586)247-3500 for a free consultation appointment or visit our website at www.TheGentleDentist.com Our dental office is located in Shelby Township, Michigan – Macomb County.  We provide dental care to the communities of Shelby, Washington Twp., Macomb Township, Sterling Heights, Warren, Utica, Clinton Township, Rochester Hills and beyond.

Dr. Antolak excels in patient comfort and helps provide comprehensive treatment to their patients.  We provide Implant placement and restorations,  Cosmetic dentistry including bleaching, porcelain veneers and bonding and general dentistry for the family.  We are happy you have an interest in the dental practice and give us a call.

At our cosmetic and dental veneer office in Shelby Township, Michigan we help to change the way people view themselves and others.  By providing:

• tooth bleaching
• whitening
• cosmetic bonding
• porcelain veneers we can perfect your smile with cosmetic dentistry

Many of our clients are embarassed of the way their teeth look like before cosmetic dentistry and veneers.  They have a very difficult time smiling without protecting what people can see.  In fact, if you find  yourself taking the pictures more than being in front of the camera you may ask  yourself why?  Cosmetic dentistry will allow you to get in the pictures and smile confidently without embarrassment.

IF you are embarrassed with:

• the dark color of your teeth which looks like they are stained deeply
• the alignment of your teeth with a “snaggle tooth” appearance
• missing teeth that have been removed in the past
• stained fillings that show up when you smile
• dental decay which looks like holes in the mouth
• teeth that look absent when you smile because of their placement.

then you should give our Shelby Township, Macomb County Michigan Cosmetic dentistry office a call to Perfect your smile.

We provide all range of dental services at our office to give you a relaxed feeling in our cosmetic focused dental practice.  We can provide to you a free consultation to gather information about our relaxing cosmetic dental office.

As a new dental patient, we will take our time focusing on your needs and desires when it comes to a perfect smile makeover.   This is a subjective field and when it comes to beauty you are the best person to judge for yourself what you want to look like.   To really increase communication we take a series of digital photos of the smile, teeth and gums.

I will then take these photos and show you on our large monitors what is good and what requires treatment.  You, the patient are always in control.

Cosmetic dentistry is truly the way to perfect your smile. Be sure to visit our

Be sure to visit our .cosmetic dentistry page so that you can see the possibilities come alive for you.  Our website is www.TheGentleDentist.com and  you can visit us there or ask me a question.  Our address is 15055 22 Mile, Shelby Township, Michigan 48315 (Macomb County) and we can be contacted at (586)247-3500.

Ask the Gentle Dentist-Bulimia and its affect on oral and systemic health

And Burning mouth syndrome

Bulimia or Bulimia nervosa is a psychological eating disorder that usually affects women starting in the teen years and continuing into adulthood.  Bulimia is a condition where a person overeats with large quantities of food. They usually feel that they cannot stop eating or control what and how much they eat.  To compensate for their overeating and potential weight gain they will then purge by self induced vomiting.  Over exercising and the use of laxatives is also common to avoid weight gain.  These women usually have an inaccurate view of their bodies and are influenced by the gaunt look that is popular in fashion and culture.

This disorder can exist in a constant cycle from a few times per week to even daily. Common problems that bulimics face is gastric reflux (heart burn), esophagus inflammation, dehydration, constipation and oral trauma from sticking a finger down the throat.

The upper front teeth are severely worn down due to the fact that strong acid from the stomach passes across the teeth surface, eroding the enamel from the teeth.  The wear is caused mostly by tooth brushing after one of these episodes as it microscopically breaks down the fragile matrix in the enamel.  Teeth can appear very thin, uneven and tattered on the edges.  They may even appear dark on the edges where light shines through them.

Treatment for bulimia consists of psychological therapy to help these people get over the habit and to create a better self image of themselves.

If they are in therapy we as dentists want to also stop the effect it has on the teeth.  I have made thin plastic trays like bleaching trays that go over the teeth.  The patient fills them with fluoridate to remineralize the teeth.  Porcelain dental veneers also help to rebuild the areas that have the erosion of enamel.

Bulimics are very quiet and discrete in what they do, but if you notice that the one you love seems to overeat and then dismiss themselves from the meal you might be direct and lovingly confront them.  Tell them that you noticed a change in their behavior and that you have concerns about their health.  The affected individual needs to know they are loved and matter.

A well informed and observant dentist can see the effects from constant purging when examining the teeth.  If you are making an appointment for the teenager you suspect to may be wise to discretely give the dentist a heads up to take notice if there are any changes in the appearance of the upper front teeth.  Many times the message is received more openly if it comes from a dentist or dental hygienist rather than from a family member. I have diagnosed a few young women who had this disorder and the way we handled it was critically important to letting the patient know the damage they are doing to their bodies and teeth and that they matter.  It really takes a lot of time to effectively talk to a practicing bulimic and not have them get defensive, yet get the message across.

If you suspect that your wife or daughter is practicing this, you can give me a call to discuss the situation.  We can be the objective observer and direct their treatment accordingly.  We have a psychologist we work with to help treat the bulimia.  Our phone number is 586-247-3500 or you can email me privately at DrAntolak@TheGentleDentist.com.

Question: I have had a burning tongue for the last 6 months or so and don’t know what to do about it.  I am a 60 year old female and wonder what it caused from.   Could you please provide some information for me to treat this irritating and painful situation

Answer: If you have a perfectly normal looking tongue, but as the day wears on, the burning sometimes seems to progress. You may even experience some tastes that have no apparent cause. If you are having these mysterious and irritating sensations, you may be suffering from burning tongue syndrome, also known as burning mouth.

Causes and Possible Solutions

Although burning tongue is not a common condition, sufferers are generally older women. Only about four or five percent of American adults suffer from it. It’s not known exactly what causes the condition, although there are many factors. In some cases, more than one cause may be at work.

Sometimes the cause is as simple as irritation from various sources. One culprit may be your toothpaste or mouth rinse. To test this, switch toothpastes to a plain fluoride toothpaste, without any tartar-control or tooth-whitening ingredients. Also, stop using any mouth rinses except plain water or salt water. If you wear dentures or other oral appliances, they may be irritating to mouth tissues and contributing to burning mouth. If you suspect this, let us know right away so we can check them out and adjust them as necessary. Another source of irritation is acidic drinks, like soda pop, citrus, and tomato beverages. Try eliminating them from your diet, and see if your symptoms improve.

Certain hormone-related conditions can also be causes. Fluctuating hormone levels during menopause can lead to burning mouth, and the high blood sugar levels that occur with diabetes can also be irritating to oral tissues. Managing these conditions can sometimes help relieve burning mouth symptoms.

Another thing to consider is medications that you may have begun taking at about the time your symptoms began. Some drugs can cause burning tongue as a side effect.  Blood pressure medications,  antidepressants and diuretics can cause dry mouth, which can lead to a burning sensation. Talking with your physician about changing medications may do the trick.

There is some speculation that burning mouth syndrome is caused by damage or irritation to the nerves that control taste and sensation on the tongue and mouth. Some medications for controlling the nervous system, such as antidepressants, anticonvulsants, or pain medications, can help. Your physician may be able to prescribe these for you after a thorough exam.

Some people have experienced relief by rinsing their mouths with water and capsaicin (sometimes called capsicum). Capsaicin is the ingredient that makes hot peppers hot, and it’s used in pain-relief creams meant for treating nerve and muscle pain. You can try mixing about one part hot sauce with two or three parts water, rinsing your mouth with the mixture, and then spitting it out. Start by doing this every two or three hours for the first day or two, then tapering off to once or twice a day. Rinsing with this mixture will probably cause a burning sensation, and it’s thought that this burning temporarily interferes with the body chemicals that transmit pain messages. If you try this, though, be very careful. Once you get out the hot sauce and start working with it, don’t touch your nose or eyes until you’ve spit the mixture out and washed your hands thoroughly. Also, some people are sensitive to capsaicin, so if the burning is severe, stop using it immediately.

There are some other coping methods that may bring relief. If you drink alcoholic products or smoke, try to stop because these both irritate and dry out oral tissues. Avoid cinnamon and mint products. Chewing sugar-free gum or sucking on sugar-free candies or ice chips might also help. Vitamin deficiencies can be a contributing factor, so try taking a multivitamin supplement if you’re not doing that already.

If you’re suffering from burning in your mouth, let us know. We’ll want to check your mouth for sores, irritations, or other conditions that might be causing the pain. In some cases, we may want to work with your physician in determining the best course of treatment for you.

Dr. Antolak can be reached at DrAntolak@TheGentleDentist.com or call the office at (586)247-3500. If you have any questions that you would like answered you can do it also by writing at Ask The Dentist  15055 22 Mile #2, Shelby Twp. Michigan  48315 (Macomb County)