Oakton Dentistry by Design Blog

We’re all familiar with the embarrassment of having bad breath, whether it’s first thing in the morning or in a business meeting after having a salad with onions at lunch. You may have heard that you should avoid chewing sugary gum to prevent cavities, so you pop a mint into your mouth, instead. Unfortunately, this could also be harming your teeth. There are other options, like sugar-free gum, that can take care of stinky breath without the risk. Keep reading to learn more!

Invisalign has become a popular alternative to traditional braces because you can get the same great results much more discretely. The aligners fit snuggly over your teeth to gently push them into their ideal placements. They’re made of clear plastic and are much less visibly noticeable than bulky metal brackets.

Some foods and drinks can leave them in less-than-ideal condition, however, and coffee is one of them. That’s bad news for patients who enjoy their daily cup of joe! Keep reading to learn why indulging in your favorite beverage might not be such a great idea with Invisalign, and what you can do to reduce potential problems.

Teeth are meant to last for a lifetime, but 23 million Americans have experienced complete tooth loss. 90% of adults with no teeth choose dentures to rebuild their smiles. It’s best to replace your lost teeth as soon as possible to keep your mouth and body healthy. However, life can get busy and they are associated with a hefty price tag. If you’ve been putting off replacing your teeth, it’s never too late to complete your smile, but there are a few things you should know.

(more…)

No matter what industry you’re in – from healthcare to entertainment – you could benefit from clear aligner treatment. However, there are certain professions where your smile is front and center. Since your grin is one of the first features people notice about you and it helps form the first impression you make, it’s not hard to see how it plays a role in your career. With this in mind, keep reading to learn five careers where Invisalign can benefit your professional success, as well as the benefits clear aligner treatment offers busy professionals.

If you’ve been looking into getting teeth whitening, you’ve probably heard a lot about how incredible it can be. Within a single appointment, a dentist can give you a smile up to eight shades whiter than it was before!

Those results can also last for years if you take care of them. One of the most vulnerable points for your teeth whitening treatment is just after you get it, so it’s worth watching what you eat in the days immediately after you see your dentist. Here’s why that is and what foods would be best for you to avoid. 

The world of orthodontics changed when Invisalign was released in 1997. It offered patients an alternative to bulky metal braces by using clear, smooth aligners made from plastic to move their teeth into a more ideal position over several months or years. Since these trays are clear, they are a more discreet way to straighten crooked pearly whites. But what if they become stained? Continue reading to learn what can stain aligners as well as how to prevent this from happening.

If you’re ready to replace your missing teeth with the next best thing to your own, dental implants are an excellent investment. They have over a 95% success rate and are proven to last for decades with the right care. Although dental implant failure is rare, there’s one thing that can significantly increase your risk of complications. Smoking can affect your immune system’s ability to heal and fight infections. Kicking the habit can be challenging, but here’s what you need to know about smoking and dental implants. 

(more…)

If you’re missing teeth, you know just how difficult it can be to complete daily tasks, like chewing your food, speaking clearly, and smiling with confidence. Fortunately, just because you’re missing teeth doesn’t mean that you need to go the rest of your life without them. Dental implants have amazing benefits that you can’t find anywhere else. With the help of a skilled dentist, preferably with a ConeBeam scanner, you can get your smile back! Here’s why this piece of technology is so helpful.

Menopause occurs for most women when they are in their late 40s or 50s. It is characterized by a decline in reproductive hormones. If you go a whole year without menstruating or start having hot flashes, these may be signs that you are going through menopause. This is a natural part of getting older, but do hormonal changes affect your ability to undergo dental procedures? If you have missing teeth, will you be able to have dental implants placed? Continue reading to learn if going through menopause disqualifies you from getting dental implants.

Did you recently lose one of your permanent teeth? Whether your knocked-out tooth happened as the result of a sports-related accident or by other means, it can be pretty alarming. Your initial reaction may be to panic, but it’s important to stay calm and work through the necessary steps to prevent additional damage. Read on to learn about the five steps you should follow if you knocked out a tooth until you can see your emergency dentist.