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What’s involved in amalgam filling replacement?

February 15th, 2012

Years ago, patients who needed to have cavities filled were fitted with amalgam fillings that contained mercury in addition to other metals.

 

As the years pass, these patients may become dissatisfied with the noticeable dark fillings in their mouth. Some may be concerned about potential adverse effects of the mercury contained in the amalgam, or they may notice that an amalgam filling is damaged. In such cases, patients may seek help from a holistic dentist. 

In addition to replacing amalgam fillings, a holistic dentist can provide you with comprehensive dental care.

 

A holistic dentist can replace patients’ mercury-free fillings with a newer version made of composite materials that include glass and resin. In addition to eliminating the need for mercury in fillings, composites are tooth-colored, so they don’t detract from a patient’s smile.

 

Removing and replacing amalgam fillings is an effort that should be undertaken with great caution on the dentist’s part. It’s important to minimize the patient’s exposure to mercury vapors during the process of removing the fillings.

 

For that reason, it’s best to choose a dentist with experience in this procedure. You should also be sure that the dental office has the proper equipment in place to support the safe removal of amalgam fillings.

 

Specifically, the office’s treatment rooms should have an adequate ventilation system in combination with air purifiers to remove as much of the vaporized mercury as possible from the room’s atmosphere. This protects the safety of both the patient and the dental office staff.

 

Your dentist may also give you an alternate source of oxygen as a safeguard. A rubber dam can also be used as a barrier to keep fragments of the amalgam filling from entering the patient’s mouth.

 

After existing amalgam fillings have been removed, patients can chose composite materials to fill any future cavities. Not only does this limit the use of mercury in their mouths, it also helps to preserve more of the biological tooth material. Composite fillings require less drilling than their amalgam counterparts.

 

In addition to replacing amalgam fillings, a holistic dentist can provide you with comprehensive dental care. Contact the office of Dr. Philip R. Kozlow in Dallas and schedule an appointment to learn more about the specialty and what it offers to patients.

 

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Pregnancy and Your Dental Health

February 2nd, 2012

North Dallas dentistPregnant women often have a more serious focus on their own health to ensure a healthy baby, too. They’ll increase their intake of vitamins and improve their diets to provide a good nutritional base for the baby’s development in the uterus.

 

Regular appointments with an obstetrician obviously become a priority, but pregnant women should also follow up with a dentist as well to ensure a healthy pregnancy.

 

Patients are sometimes unaware that oral health can have an effect on pregnancy, but diseases of the mouth can cause problems for expectant mothers. For example, periodontal disease has been linked to pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy), pre-term births and low birth weight.

 

The hormonal changes associated with pregnancy can also fuel the growth of oral bacteria, leading to issues such as pregnancy gingivitis or oral tumors.

 

To prevent such negative outcomes, it’s important for pregnant women to seek care from a dentist.

 

For cleanings and other routine dental care, pregnant women need to be more precise than most patients about the timing of a visit to the dentist. Expectant mothers should avoid dental procedures during the first and third trimesters unless the issue is an emergency.  If possible, women should not get x-rays during pregnancy to prevent negative effects from the radiation.

 

Women who are considering getting pregnant should schedule a dental cleaning and examination so that any potential problems with the teeth or gums can be treated in advance of the pregnancy.

 

The dentist can also make recommendations for a home oral hygiene routine that will help protect the health of a pregnant woman and her fetus. Just as with any patient, twice daily brushing and daily flossing is essential, and the dentist may also suggest an antibacterial mouthwash as an additional precaution.

 

Your pregnancy is an exciting time, filled with many preparations to give your baby the best start possible. Be sure that a trip to the dentist—at the right time—is on your pre-baby to-do list!

 

Call our North Dallas office at 972-458-2464 to schedule your appointment.

 

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Dental Veneers: Something to Smile About

January 26th, 2012

One of our best assets is the smile we offer to friends, family, co-workers, and people we pass on the street or in the mall. But for many, that smile isn’t as big as we would like because of the embarrassment and self-consciousness due to the condition of our teeth. But that can quickly change thanks to a dental procedure known as veneers now offered by your Dallas dental provider.

 

Some of the dental deficiencies that can be resolved with dental veneers include:

  • Stained or discolored teeth
  • Misalignment
  • Crooked teeth or unsightly gaps or spaces between teeth
  • Chipped or broken teeth
  • Worn enamel
  • Wear and tear due to age

Veneers are a thin shell like covering usually made from porcelain that are made to match the shape and shade of your natural teeth. Your cosmetic dentist can aid you in determining exactly the look you wish to achieve by customizing your dental veneers to exact specifications. 

If you wish to brighten your smile, veneers can be placed on one or several teeth to give you the dazzling bright smile you’ve always wanted.

 

If you wish to brighten your smile, veneers can be placed on one or several teeth to give you the dazzling bright smile you’ve always wanted.

 

If you are unhappy with your smile due to stain or discoloration of your teeth from diet, medications, smoking or aging teeth, your cosmetic dentist can demonstrate how a couple short visits can enhance your smile.

 

For many who thought years of wearing braces was the only way to improve their smile, dental veneers can appear to straighten your teeth or close those gaps in a couple of weeks, not years.

 

Your cosmetic dentist will assess your particular situation to determine if you are a good candidate for dental veneers. Once through this process, you will consult with your cosmetic dentist to discuss the look you wish to achieve to determine how many veneers will be needed.

 

Once your veneers are ready and the big day has arrived for your new smile, your cosmetic dentist will remove a very small amount of enamel from the front of your teeth. The veneers are permanently applied to the front of your teeth, and since so little of your enamel is actually affected, this makes placing dental veneers a much less invasive dental procedure, with glorious results.

 

The care of your dental veneers involves the same good oral hygiene habits as your natural teeth which include flossing daily and brushing at least twice per day with toothpaste or gel. Twice annual visits to our dentist for professional cleaning and dental exams will keep your new stunning smile your best asset for many, many years. To schedule your regular check-up with Dr. Kozlow, call 972-458-2464.

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Why Would I Need a Porcelain Crown?

January 16th, 2012

porcelain crowns DallasBefore the accepted use of porcelain in dentistry, crowns were generally made of metal and often covered with different qualities of gold. Consequently, every time you opened your mouth, you announced to the world how much time you’ve spent at the dentist. But now, thanks to the availability of porcelain crowns in Dallas, the need for a crown is no longer a dreaded procedure.

 

A crown, also referred to as a “cap”, is basically just that. When a tooth suffers due to excessive dental decay or breaks down for any reason, but the base of the tooth is still viable, a dental crown is the optimum treatment because it caps or covers what is left of your tooth.

 

Your dentist will assess the need and determine exactly what type of crown is best for you. The beauty of porcelain crowns offers you exactly that feature … beauty. Imagine being able to smile broadly without showing gold or steely grey in your smile.

 

A porcelain crown can serve many purposes. Since a crown is made to totally encapsulate the balance of your existing tooth, a crown can strengthen a tooth weakened by decay or protect a tooth that is cracked.

 

Often a patient that has undergone a root canal requires a crown to complete treatment. For patients who have suffered tooth loss, a porcelain crown placed over a dental implant offers the closest thing to having your own tooth back. And porcelain allows your dentist to match the shade of your crown to your natural teeth making a crown virtually undetectable.

 

One other benefit to an all porcelain crown is relief for people who suffer from metal allergies.

 

It is important to note that areas of the mouth, like the back molars that sustain the heaviest chewing load, might be better treated with a ceramic or porcelain to metal crown. Although research on crowns made from all porcelain continues to find ways to make them stronger and more durable, they are presently more suitable for the teeth in the smile line.

 

Care of all dental crowns is the same. Good oral hygiene habits of flossing daily to help keep plaque from forming at the gum line and brushing a minimum of twice per day along with twice annual visits to our dentist for a professional cleaning and exam will keep your smile and crown dazzling for many years.

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What causes dulling and discoloration of teeth?

January 6th, 2012

A smile that is drab or unappealing due to stain or discoloration deserves a smile makeover. Your cosmetic dentist in Dallas has options that can give you a “wow” smile in as little as one hour.

There are many reasons why teeth become dull or stained:

  • Consumption of certain foods and beverages can stain teeth.
  • Certain medications can result in teeth stains.
  • Teeth become dull due to age as well as wear and tear.
  • Smoking and tobacco use can discolor teeth.
  • Trauma can cause teeth to appear bruised and darkened.
  • Over use of fluoride can create a condition called fluorosis which can result in uneven color and spots on teeth.

In-office teeth whitening can offer noticeable improvement in your smile in about one hour. Over the counter whitening pastes and kits can provide some benefit, but these processes can take days or even weeks before you derive any benefit from their use, and generally require consistent use to maintain their effect. 

With the availability of in-office whitening or dental veneers, a drab or dull smile can become dazzling once again.

 

The use of an in-office whitening procedure allows you to see your dull smile transform to dazzling with up to eight shades whiter teeth.

 

For a more permanent smile makeover, your cosmetic dentist might recommend dental veneers. Veneers are a very thin shell like covering that are made to match the shape and shade of your natural teeth, but are permanently placed on the front of your teeth.

 

Veneers are made of porcelain or composite resin, and can be applied to one or more teeth to cover up flaws such as discoloration. But veneers can also be the answer for chipped, cracked or misaligned teeth. Your cosmetic dentist will remove a very small amount of enamel from your teeth and then permanently apply the veneers.

 

Veneers are favored by cosmetic dentists as they allow for a total smile makeover, but the procedure is much less invasive than other cosmetic enhancements. You will consult with your cosmetic dentist to discuss the desired result, as veneers allow for the shape and brightness of your new smile to be determined by you.

 

With the availability of in-office whitening or dental veneers, a drab or dull smile can become dazzling once again. Once your dental makeover is complete, daily flossing and brushing at least twice per day with a toothpaste or gel, along with twice annual visits to your dentist for a professional cleaning and exam, will keep that dazzle for many, many years. Call 972-458-2464 today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Philip R. Kozlow.

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Healthy Dental Habits to Follow

December 29th, 2011

affordable dentistry DallasMost people would not think twice about seeing their physician annually for a check-up to make sure they are maintaining a healthy body. It is just as important to see your dentist twice per year to make sure you are maintaining healthy teeth and gums. See how affordable dentistry in Dallas TX can help you keep your teeth healthy, which will ultimately help keep your body the same.

 

Studies have shown that many serious health problems related to the heart could be minimized by taking better care of our teeth. Patients who suffer from periodontal disease are more at risk for heart related maladies. Diabetics are more prone to gum disease, which could lead to heart disease.

 

The foods we eat and how we take care of our mouths all contribute to our oral health. Your dentist advises a diet rich in healthy fruits and vegetables, nutritious snacks and minimal sugary foods and beverages will contribute to maintaining healthy teeth and gums.

 

But there are many more things we can do. Brushing teeth twice daily with a fluoridated toothpaste or gel is a great start. Flossing daily will help get to the harmful bacteria that collects at the gum line which forms plaque. Using an electric toothbrush will offer a couple of benefits. In addition to the actual brushing action of an electric toothbrush, the pressure exerted toward the teeth and gums will actually help to keep you from brushing too hard.

 

Brushing too hard can lead to premature gum recession as well as possibly lead to the breakdown of the enamel that protects our teeth. Most electric toothbrushes have a built in timer, so using an electric toothbrush might actually encourage the user to brush the recommended two minutes twice per day. Electric toothbrushes are available for any budget, but if you don’t opt for an electric toothbrush, at least switch to a new toothbrush at least every three months.

 

In addition to healthy teeth and gums, good oral hygiene habits will lead to fresh breath, and maybe less dental decay, which will ultimately save you time and money.

 

But possibly the best thing we can do for our dental health, as well as our overall health, is to visit our dentist twice per year for a professional dental cleaning and exam. Just as you visit your doctor to make sure you are taking all the measures needed to keep your body healthy, dental visits are just as important for our overall good health.

 

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Laser Therapy to Treat Periodontal Disease

December 19th, 2011

Over the past several years, with the introduction of lasers in the dental office, dental technology has advanced providing treatment for periodontal disease that once seemed possible only in a futuristic movie. But laser dentistry in Dallas TX can demonstrate the advances that you may benefit from today. 

There are many advantages to laser dentistry over the use of traditional instruments.

 

The word laser often conjures up thoughts of a blue sabre swung by a futuristic character. But reality sometimes does imitate the movies, and now lasers are widely used by dentists to treat patients. A light does emanate from the laser during dental procedures requiring the use of safety glasses. Laser is actually an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. There are several types of lasers used in dentistry, and depending on your dental procedure, your dentist will engage a laser for work on hard tissue or soft tissue.

 

There are many advantages to laser dentistry over the use of traditional instruments. In treating periodontal disease, the use of lasers will kill harmful bacteria during the procedure. Bacteria and residual food particles not removed during daily hygiene brushing and flossing are a major contributor to the plaque build-up that causes periodontal disease. Plaque is removed and bacteria destroyed when using a laser with the added benefit of a reduction in treatment time as well.

 

The use of a laser allows for the re-generation of healthy tissue over using standard hand pieces. The precision available by use of a laser allows for minimizing damage to healthy surrounding tissue, and quite often this benefit will reduce the need for anesthetic.

 

But possibly one of the biggest advantages is blood vessels and nerve endings are sealed as the procedure is done with a laser, meaning there may be much less residual discomfort. And with the promise of reduced discomfort, abbreviated healing time and less time in the dental chair because the procedure takes less time using a laser, this translates to much less anxiety for the patient.

 

There are many other procedures that are improved by the use of a laser. Reshaping gum tissue or the need to remove tissue for biopsy can be performed more efficiently. And regular, daily cleanings may also be performed using this technology. Teeth whitening, dental fillings and many other procedures are now being enhanced with the use of laser technology.

 

Contact the office of Dr. Philip R. Kozlow at 972-458-2464 for a consultation to see how you may benefit from this exciting new form of treatment.

 

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What You Need to Know About TMJ Disorder

December 7th, 2011

Dallas dentistJaw pain, ear ache, a clicking noise in your jaw when chewing, grinding and clenching both during sleep and while awake – all of these issues may often be attributed to TMJ Disorder. But research has shown that many of these symptoms do not necessarily mean you are suffering from TMJ Disorder. A visit with Dr. Philip R. Kozlow, your Dallas dentist, can offer solutions and relief if you are experiencing any of these problems.

 

TMJ Disorder can be difficult to diagnose. There is no one symptom to point to a definitive diagnosis. TMJ is the abbreviated term for temporomandibular joint disorder. This joint is located in front of the ear just above the jaw. Any pain or inflammation in this area might lead one to believe they have TMJ disorder. But there are so many things that can cause discomfort in the TMJ.

 

This joint enables the chewing motion of both up and down and side to side. There are many bones and muscles that work in conjunction with this joint. Headaches, neck pain, ear infections and numerous other ailments can be attributed to abnormalities of the TMJ. But all of these symptoms may not be resolved with one particular treatment.

 

Grinding and clenching is often attributed to stress and often the treatment is to employ the use of a mouth guard. If grinding and clenching is due to TMJ disorder, the treatment may be the same.

 

However, an ear ache or head ache might very well be due to problems not related to the TMJ. Usually an over the counter medication can offer relief for the common neck or headaches whether or not related to TMJ. But an ear ache due to an infection from a cold or sinus virus might require an antibiotic to prevent a more serious problem like a burst ear drum, and is totally not related to TMJ.

 

If you suffer from neck, jaw, head or ear discomfort and you cannot pinpoint the cause, or if you know you clench or grind your teeth, a visit to Dr. Kozlow might provide answers to your questions and a solution for relief. To learn more and to schedule your consultation, please call the office of Dr. Kozlow at 972-458-2464 today.

 

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What is biological dentistry?

November 28th, 2011

Biological dentistry is recognized as a more holistic approach to treatment, compared to traditional dentistry. By blending clinical practices, documented scientific knowledge, traditional natural healing, Dr. Philip R. Kozlow, your biological dentist serving Dallas, can provide dental care that is healthy for your entire body.

 

Biological dentistry incorporates a wide range of healing methods such as homeopathy, acupuncture, and physical therapy to promote general wellness. Nutrition and the use of herbs, as well as modern sciences including neural therapy, hematology, and immunology are also important tools that may be utilized by your dentist to provide the most appropriate treatment for you.

 

Your mouth is an undeniable part of your body. The health of your mouth and the substances that are placed into the mouth can have either a positive or negative effect on the rest of the body. When substances are introduced that are not compatible with your body, a tremendous amount of stress is placed on the immune system. Biological dentistry focuses on avoiding any treatment or therapy that causes a disturbance to the immune system.

 

The biological dentist focuses on the biology of dentistry. They ask the question, “How will dental treatment affect your life?” These dentists strive to improve the quality of your life, while reducing inflammation, and toxins. Identifying and avoiding dental materials that contain known toxins, and choosing restorative materials that are most compatible with your body can help to achieve this goal.

 

Isolation and removal of toxins may include the use of air and water filters, selecting mercury free dental materials, and seeking alternatives to fluoride and latex. For patients with existing amalgam or mercury fillings, the biological dentist will practice extreme caution. The mercury fillings may be carefully sectioned and removed from the mouth in a process that produces a minimal amount of dust or vapor. Your dentist may also recommend the use of a rubber dam during the removal process and a mask or other ventilation apparatus.

 

As part of the biological dental philosophy, minimally invasive dentistry, including digital x-rays, conservative restorations, and air abrasion can all be employed to produce healthy results while protecting the immune system.

 

To learn more about how biological dentistry can enhance your life and health, call the office of Dr. Kozlow to schedule your appointment today.

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The Unique Dental Needs of Children

November 16th, 2011

North Dallas dentistRecognizing the importance of children’s dental health, our North Dallas dentist is committed to educating both children and adults on the road to a healthy dental lifestyle. Although brushing and flossing may be considered basic aspects of dental homecare, there are many factors that can make children’s plaque control more challenging.

 

Mixed dentition, a term identifying the period in childhood where there are both baby teeth and adult teeth visible in the mouth, can certainly make for more difficult plaque control. During this period of time, there may be loose teeth, missing teeth, newly erupted teeth, crowding, and spacing. It will be especially important to pay close attention to the many new places where plaque may accumulate.

 

Historically, cavities have been identified as one of childhood’s most common diseases. An affinity towards cavity-causing foods and drinks such as sweets and juices, frequent snacks, and other carbohydrates should be closely monitored. For improved dental health, as well as overall health, children should be guided toward healthier diets rich in fruits, fresh vegetables, and plenty of water. Even after consuming the natural sugars found in fruits, juices, and milk, brushing and flossing are important for neutralizing harmful plaque acids.

 

It is important to remember that children tend to learn by example. Adopting the Tell/Show/Do method has been shown to work well to reinforce positive healthy habits. Telling your child how and why they should focus on healthy habits, showing them proper homecare techniques, and allowing them to practice these techniques on a daily basis can help to establish good dental habits.

 

Early dental visits are necessary for introducing children to the dental office, dentist, and staff and setting a pattern for routine treatment rather than wait until pain becomes a factor. Teaching children that a visit to the dental office is a positive experience rather than painful association can be critical to their future dental habits.

 

To get your child started on the pathway to a lifetime of good dental health, call 972-458-2464 and schedule an appointment to meet Dr. Philip R Kozlow today.

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