Wisdom teeth tend to begin to develop and show on x-rays in our early teens. And that’s the best time to start monitoring their growth to see if your wisdom teeth can stay, or if it’s better for them to be removed. While all wisdom teeth don’t necessarily have to be removed, and some people don’t ever get them, all of us at my dental office in Buckhead want our patients to know that if wisdom teeth removal is recommended, it’s for a good reason.

Sometimes, wisdom teeth are growing in just fine and there is no reason to discuss or consider removing them. In most cases, if your wisdom teeth are healthy, completely grown in, positioned correctly so as to not inhibit proper bite or neighboring teeth, and are able to be cleaned properly, they can stay right where they are. However, it’s more common that they will need to be removed, sometimes before they’re fully erupted, or even after.

Even if your wisdom teeth came in without a hitch, you may not necessarily get to keep them. In fact, one of the main reasons wisdom teeth need to come out even after they are fully erupted is that they are difficult to care for. Your wisdom teeth, which are typically the four molars way back in your mouth, are hard to reach with a toothbrush, and even harder to floss. This tends to cause an increase in the chance of gum disease and cavities in those “third molars.” If during your routine checkups with your Buckhead dentist any issues are noticed, removal may be recommended to reduce the risk of more cavities and infection later.

Another reason – the most common reason – why wisdom teeth need to be removed is because there isn’t enough room in your mouth. This can often be handled with an easy wisdom teeth removal before any teeth begin to erupt through the gums. However, if the procedure is delayed or avoided, the teeth can get trapped in the bone and become impacted. Once wisdom teeth are impacted, the surgery is a bit more complicated, but still easily managed.

Keeping up with your regularly scheduled appointments at my Buckhead dental office is an important step in monitoring your wisdom teeth and making sure that everything in your mouth is healthy, functioning correctly, and looking great. If you need someone to check out your wisdom teeth, or your smile as a whole, give us a call today.

Serving patients in Buckhead, Atlanta, and Sandy Springs.

There’s a lot of information that’s important for my patients to know. That’s why I try to educate them about their oral health at every visit. But there are some “VIPs,” or “very important points,” that I want to make sure everyone who visits my dental office in Buckhead understands, learns, and follows.

Nothing Looks Wrong, Nothing Feels Wrong, Everything’s Good, Right?

Wrong. It’s a common misconception that you can skip dental appointments if your teeth look good and nothing hurts. In fact, there are so many oral health problems that don’t hurt at all, or have any symptoms, but are really serious. One danger that could be lurking in your mouth without you even knowing it is oral cancer. This disease is so serious that every hour of every day, one person in the U.S. dies from it. While this is a scary fact, the disease doesn’t have to be so scary. If it’s caught early, it’s easily treatable. Another danger that doesn’t always cause pain is gum disease. These reasons, as well as others, is why regularly scheduled checkups at my Buckhead dental office is so important.

Keeping Your Mouth Healthy Keeps Your Body Healthy

A healthy mouth can literally mean that your body is healthy too. On the other hand, if you have dental problems or disease, your body can also suffer. Gum disease, for example, is directly linked to your overall health. In addition to causing tooth loss, gum disease has also been linked to heart disease, strokes, dementia, and a whole lot more. If caught in the early stage, gum disease can be treated and reversed. Daily brushing, flossing, and visiting your Buckhead dentist regularly is the best way to prevent gum disease and protect your mouth, and your body.

Your Gums Should Never Bleed

Many people think that it’s normal for gums to bleed while brushing or flossing. The truth is, healthy gums don’t bleed unless they’re damaged in an injury. Simply brushing and flossing should never cause your gums to bleed. If they do, it’s a sure sign that your mouth is trying to tell you something’s not right. Bleeding gums is a sign of gum disease, and should be a trigger to schedule an appointment as soon as you can. If an exam shows that you don’t have gum disease, your hygiene routine may be inadequate, and gum disease isn’t far away. In fact, research shows that healthy gums can become diseased gums within 24-36 hours of improper brushing or care.

We’ve only begun to touch on some of the “VIPs” that all of us at my Buckhead dental office want to make sure our patients know. We’re full of useful information that can help get and keep you healthy. If you have questions about your oral health, want to learn more about our “VIPs,” or need to schedule a checkup or treatment, give us a call today!

Serving patients in Buckhead, Atlanta, and Sandy Springs.

During the warm summer months, there are tons of yummy foods available for us to snack on – fresh fruit, delicious salads, and mouthwatering barbeque. But not all of these foods are healthy for your teeth. At my Buckhead dental office, we’d like to talk about smile-friendly summer snacks. As we all know, limiting the amount of sugary foods and drinks we consume is important for dental health. In the summertime, many people are quick to turn to soda, sweet tea, and sports drinks to quench their thirst. While most of these can succeed at making us less thirsty, they can also contribute to tooth damage. Instead of choosing all the sugary options available, opting for water is a smarter decision that your smile will thank you for. If you must have a soda or sports drink, try drinking it with a straw to limit how much of the liquid gets on your teeth. Another popular beverage of choice during the summer is iced coffee. Regular morning coffee drinkers tend to drink more iced coffee when the weather is hot. The problem is that iced coffee isn’t typically just enjoyed in the morning, but rather throughout the day. By doing this, you’re increasing the amount of time your teeth are exposed to the sugar and acid, and allowing the opportunity for more damage to occur as well as staining. Even though citrus foods are delicious, they aren’t the best snacking choices for a strong and healthy smile. Fruits like oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and limes are extremely acidic. The acid in these foods can damage tooth enamel which can eventually lead to decay and cavities. A good way to avoid this damage is to rinse with water after eating an acidic fruit. The water will neutralize that acid and it won’t have a chance to harm your teeth. One last smile-damaging snack of summer is barbeque. This doesn’t mean you have to completely avoid all cookouts this year, it just means that all of us at my dental office in Buckhead encourage you to moderate the amount of barbeque you eat, specifically the sauce. Barbeque sauce is acidic, and as we’ve already covered above, acid is bad for your teeth. Not only that, the dyes used in many sauces can cause discoloration. So instead of loading up on sugary drinks and barbeque sauce this summer, make more smile-conscious choices like fresh vegetables, water, and calcium-rich cheese. Also remember to rinse with water after eating fruits that are extremely acidic.  Not only will your summer snacks taste great, it will make your dentist in Buckhead, and your smile, happy. Serving patients in Buckhead, Atlanta and Sandy Springs.

When people sleep in the same room, there’s always a chance that someone will not get a good night’s sleep. Whether it’s because one of the individuals steals the blankets, or the other one is a loud snorer, co-sleeping can sometimes be less than ideal. However, with all of the possible causes of a restless night, only one can actually kill you. At my dental office in Buckhead, we want to create awareness for one of the scariest disorders that can haunt our sleep: Sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a term used to describe what happens when an individual stops breathing, sometimes several times, during the night. Often confused with simple snoring, sleep apnea is a dangerous disorder that can lead to some pretty scary health problems. Unfortunately, it is often times not sufferers who realize they have this disorder, it’s the person they share a room or bed with.

Sleep apnea has been linked to:

• High blood pressure
• Stroke
• Heart Attack
• Car accidents caused by drowsy driving
• Diabetes
• Depression
• And much more

While sleep apnea has a strong correlation with obesity, even some fit individuals can experience it. Sleep apnea occurs when the soft tissues in the back of the throat collapse, making it difficult for an adequate supply of air to get through. This often causes the sleeper to awake suddenly, gasping or choking for air. What’s even scarier is that this can happen multiple times a night and can cause people to stop breathing completely, sometimes for a few minutes at a time.

Some other common symptoms of sleep apnea besides snoring can include excessive daytime sleepiness and even unintentionally falling asleep during the day, feeling as if you never get enough sleep, waking up choking or gasping for breath, and chronic fatigue. All of these symptoms don’t need to be present to indicate sleep apnea and only a sleep study can officially diagnose the disorder.

Once your disorder is diagnosed, there are a few treatment options available. From a CPAP, which is a mask that’s worn during sleep and forces air into the nose or mouth, to a mouthpiece worn at bedtime to keep the airway open, at my Buckhead dental office, we urge anyone who has any symptoms of sleep apnea to undergo evaluation and follow the treatment that’s right for them. Don’t settle for sleeping with a killer; get checked and start treatment as soon as you can.

Serving patients in Buckhead, Atlanta and Sandy Springs.

When you’re on vacation, the last thing you want to deal with is a dental emergency. They can be painful, and, sometimes, just a pain. There are several ways you can help prevent a dental issue while on vacation, but if one does happen, my dental office in Buckhead has some tips you can try so that you can stop worrying about your smile, and start getting back to relaxing.

Before starting out on your vacation, begin thinking about some of the snacks you may encounter while you’re relaxing poolside or during movie nights. By avoiding some common dangerous foods for your smile, your chance of a dental emergency decreases. Keep the popcorn away, leave the sticky sweets at home (or even better, at the store), and let your ice chips keep your drink cold but don’t crunch them. Simply making wise food choices can keep your smile in its best shape for vacation, and for life.

Another way to help keep dental problems away is to see your Buckhead dentist before you leave. A checkup is a great way to make sure your teeth are healthy and that there are no potential problems waiting to ruin your vacation. Before you head out on your well-deserved vacation, make an appointment with my dental office in Buckhead. Once we’ve completed the exam and wished you bon voyage, remember to watch what you eat while you’re away.

Serving patients in Buckhead, Atlanta and Sandy Springs.

We’ve all heard of some good urban legends throughout our years – alligators in the sewers anyone? What makes an urban legend a classic is when it’s believable. But at my dental office in Buckhead, we don’t really like those urban legends about dentistry – especially when they scare our patients. So we’re here to expose the truth behind some common dental urban legends.

One of the more well-known legends is that if you leave a tooth in a glass of Coca-Cola overnight, it will be totally dissolved by morning. While soda can be detrimental to your teeth if consumed habitually, a cup of Cola won’t do that kind of damage overnight. It does, however, contain acid and could stain or cause enamel to wear away.

Here’s another myth that hurts the feelings of our team members at my Buckhead dental office. Some years ago, people tried to blame tooth sensitivity on too many professional cleanings and “scrapings.” This is not only silly, it can be detrimental your oral health if believed. Tooth sensitivity can be often caused by brushing with too hard of a brush, eating too many acidic foods, gum disease, or tooth grinding. To keep sensitivity away, we recommend regular cleanings with your dentist in Buckhead to ensure that all dangerous plaque buildup is removed, your gums are still healthy, and that your smile is strong and not prone to sensitivity.

A dangerous misconception relates to baby teeth. Many people think that baby teeth aren’t important, so it really doesn’t matter if they fall out before they’re ready or get cavities. The truth is, it’s crucial that baby teeth stay healthy and in place until they naturally fall out. Baby teeth are place holders for permanent teeth, and by keeping them healthy and secure, adult teeth will erupt as nature intended and extensive dental problems later on can be avoided.

There are plenty of other legends and myths that we simply don’t have room to cover here. If you’re interested in learning more about what’s actually true and what’s just as true as the alligators in the sewer, call my dental office in Buckhead. We’ll set the record straight and get your teeth sparkling clean.

Serving patients in Buckhead, Atlanta and Sandy Springs.

Are you a chronic teeth grinder? Not really sure if you are or not? It’s not surprising: of the roughly 30 million people that grind their teeth out there, very few realize that they grind. A common reason could be that teeth grinding or clenching is often done either while sleeping or subconsciously throughout the day. And while it may not seem like a big problem, at my dental office in Buckhead, we consider tooth grinding a huge issue. Here’s why.

Tooth grinding, or bruxism, can cause severe damage to your teeth and your mouth. Broken restorations and fillings, damaged teeth, lost enamel, and tooth sensitivity are only some of the problems associated with severe bruxism. Chronic tooth grinding or clenching can also lead to more serious problems like jaw dysfunction or temporomandibular disorder (TMD). This is what makes visiting your Buckhead dentist so important if you’re experiencing symptoms of being a bruxer.

Symptoms of chronic tooth grinding or clenching include:

• Contractions and/or soreness of the jaw muscles
• Pain in the jaw joint
• A grinding sound at night as described by your bedmate
• Pain in the face
• Headaches
• Damaged or broken teeth

There are also signs of grinding and clenching that are less likely for you do be aware of because they don’t cause pain and are more subtle.  These include:

• Wearing of your teeth
• Changes to the bone and gum support around your teeth
• Craze lines or cracks in your teeth
• Slight movement of your teeth when grinding

Whether you are experiencing pain and headaches or are curious if you have any other signs of grinding your teeth, call our Buckhead office for help.  At our dental office in Buckhead, we’ll complete a thorough exam, talk about what you’re experiencing, check your bite, and take x-rays of your jaw and mouth. An in-depth exam will allow us to see exactly what’s going on, determine how severe your bruxism is, and decide on the best way to treat it.

Whatever your unique needs may be, my Buckhead dental office can help diagnose your condition and determine the best treatment for you. The pain and other effects associated with tooth grinding doesn’t need to be chronic. Give us a call today. It’s the first step to a better, pain-free smile.

Many people walk to the fridge, pull out a can, and pop open the tab of a quenching can of diet soda when they’re thirsty. It’s better for you because it’s diet and there is no sugar in it, right? While you’re correct in the fact that there’s no sugar, it’s not necessarily better for you. At my dental office in Buckhead, we want everyone to be aware that diet soda can be detrimental to your teeth.

In fact, excessive consumption of diet soda can cause damage to your smile similar to the damage caused by methamphetamine or cocaine. All of them have high levels of acid, and acid can cause damage to tooth enamel. With the loss of tooth enamel, smiles are at greater risk for developing cavities, discoloration, sensitivity, and other damage like cracked or broken teeth. By keeping up on regular appointments with your Buckhead dentist, you’re able to better protect your smile from the damaging effects of dangerous acid.

Even if you do maintain a healthy at-home hygiene routine and keep up with visits to my Buckhead dental office, you’re still at risk for an unhealthy smile if you drink a lot of soda.

The similarity between diet soda drinkers and illegal drug abusers was found in a study published in a 2013 edition of the Academy of General Dentistry journal, General Dentistry. The study took volunteers with different backgrounds of former cocaine use, methamphetamine abuse, and excessive diet soda drinkers and examined the damage of their teeth. The results of the study showed strong similarities in their oral health.

If you’re overdue for a dental checkup, or if you’re addicted to soda, already have damage caused by soda, or even damage caused by a past drug use, call my dental office in Buckhead. We’ll conduct an in-depth exam, get to know you, and work with you to get your smile healthy and looking great.

Cancer is a scary word and a diagnosis none of us want to hear. But if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer, seeing your dentist in Buckhead before starting chemotherapy is a crucial step toward a successful treatment.

While chemotherapy helps treat cancer, it also causes several side effects to the rest of your body, including your mouth. In fact, some of the oral health problems associated with chemotherapy can actually cause a delay or stop in treatment. Clearly, when you’re dealing with something as serious as cancer, it’s never ideal to stop treatment. This is why I recommend visiting my dental office in Buckhead at least one month prior to beginning chemotherapy.

How Does Chemotherapy Affect Your Mouth?

Since chemotherapy kills cancer cells, it’s often the treatment of choice. However, it can also cause harm to normal cells in the body and mouth. Side effects in the mouth can be serious and can include pain; difficulty talking, eating, and swallowing; dry mouth; or burning and swelling of the tongue. You’re also more likely to get an infection in your gums or in the moist lining of your mouth. When undergoing cancer treatment, any infection can be extremely dangerous.

How Does Seeing a Dentist Help?

Your dentist in Buckhead is an important part of your cancer treatment and can help keep dangerous side effects away. Often times, the oral side effects from cancer treatment occur in unhealthy mouths, and while not all side effects can be avoided, the healthier your mouth is the more likely the side effects can be avoided and treatment can continue as planned. Ideally, it’s best to schedule an appointment at my Buckhead dental office one month before cancer treatment begins.

When you visit, my team and I will perform an in-depth exam, clean your teeth, and take care of any mouth problems we may find. We’ll also discuss the best way for you to care for your mouth at home to prevent side effects.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with cancer please give my dental office in Buckhead a call as soon as you can. Our mission is to provide compassionate, quality care to allow for the most successful treatment possible.

Pregnancy is such a joyous time in life. Your family is growing, you’re going to be parents, and you’ve never been more excited. You always make sure to schedule and keep your doctor appointments for the care and health of both yourself and your baby. Are you scheduling and keeping your dental appointments as well?

Keeping up with your oral health at my Buckhead dental office during your pregnancy is not only beneficial for your health, it’s also beneficial for your baby. The American Academy of Periodontology encourages moms to see their dentist as early in pregnancy as possible. And I have to agree.

If you are experiencing vomiting with morning sickness, it is important that you brush your teeth more frequently to prevent stomach acid from damaging your tooth enamel. But that’s not all.

According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, changes during pregnancy, especially hormonal changes, can exacerbate oral health issues. For example, almost half of all pregnancies are plagued by the dangers of pregnancy gingivitis. Concerns about this oral health issue are greatly lessened when monitored by your Buckhead dentist, and the gingivitis usually subsides shortly after giving birth. However, if visits to my Buckhead dental office are avoided, and treatment is not received when needed, pregnancy gingivitis can progress into a more serious problem and even a potentially scary situation for the baby.

If pregnancy gingivitis is left untreated and progresses into periodontitis, an advanced form of gum disease, it could lead to preterm labor and a low birth-weight baby– both serious pregnancy complications. In fact, mothers who have periodontal disease are seven times more likely to have preterm labor.

Regular dental care is important all the time, and even more so during pregnancy. Maintaining visits at my dental office in Buckhead is not only safe for expecting moms, it’s encouraged for the oral health of moms-to-be, the health of the baby, and a safe pregnancy.