Replacing missing teeth is important in maintaining strong oral health and reducing the risk of decay, disease and further tooth loss. While there are many restorative options available to replace missing teeth, only dental implants provide the strength and durability comparable to natural teeth.

Implants can be used in conjunction with crowns, bridges and dentures, depending on each patient’s individual needs. During the implant procedure, the small titanium cylinders are implanted into the jaw, provided that there is sufficient bone in the area to support it. If not enough bone is present, it may be grafted from another area. After implantation, there is a waiting period known as osseointegration, in which the implant anchor fuses with the bone to create a supportive base while a temporary crown or bridge is put in place.

After the healing period of three to six months, the temporary prosthetic is replaced with a permanent one, which allows for reliable, long-term restoration of missing teeth. Implants are cared for like regular teeth, requiring daily brushing and professional cleanings twice a year. They have a strong success rate and provide more strength and stability than crowns, bridges and dentures, as well as a reduce risk of damage to surrounding teeth.

Dental implants can be utilized for both cosmetic and functional benefit, allowing patients to restore a full, beautiful smile, while also reducing the risk of serious complications and allowing for normal speaking and eating habits. Dr. Ravin provides dental implants for many patients seeking restorative treatment and makes use of them frequently for their many advantages over other techniques.

A bright, white smile can help make a great first impression in both professional and personal situations. Maintaining such a smile can be difficult, since the color of our teeth can be affected by coffee, tea, smoking and other substances that we commonly eat or drink. Despite the number of whitening toothpastes and other home products available, none are as effective as professional bleaching treatment.

Bleaching often involves the creation of custom-made trays that help gradually whiten the smile over a certain period of time. More advanced treatments can dramatically whiten in a single treatment session, during which time patients can watch television or read a book if they desire. During these treatments, a whitening gel that contains hydrogen peroxide is applied to the teeth, which are then exposed to a special light that activates the hydrogen peroxide and provides significant, long-term results.

When performed by a skilled and experienced dentist, bleaching is a completely safe and highly effective treatment that can easily enhance your entire appearance by creating a beautiful smile. Dr. Ravin performs ZOOM! Whitening in his office, which is performed as a one-time treatment that takes less than an hour to perform. There is no downtime and nearly no side effects associated with bleaching, so it can be performed at your convenience.

Bleaching is most effective on natural teeth, healthy teeth that have become discolored as a result of natural or environmental factors. Some patients may experience mild irritation or sensitivity after treatment, but these side effects usually subside after treatment is completed. Please call us today to find out if bleaching performed by Dr. Ravin is right for you!

As one of the most popular beverages in the country, bottled water is preferred over tap water by many individuals for its taste, quality and on-the-go convenience. While it has been of environmental concern lately, bottled water may also affect your dental health, as it is lacking one important nutrient that tap water does have.

Fluoride is an element found naturally in tap water and other sources that protects teeth from tooth decay, as it prevents plaque from dissolving tooth enamel. When combined with a healthy diet and regular dental care, fluoride provides even more protection against decay. This element is especially important for children, whose developing teeth are at an increased risk for decay and need to build strength as the child grows.

In most cases, children and adults alike receive enough fluoride from tap water and their toothpaste, with no need for additional supplements. However, with the recent surge in bottled water, some people may not be receiving enough of this nutrient, and it is considered one of the factors that have led to an increase in cavities.

While you may opt for the benefits of bottled water, it is important to recognize the value of tap water and ensure that you receive a sufficient supply of fluoride in order to keep your teeth strong and healthy. Be sure to check your bottled water to see if it contains enough or any fluoride for effective protection against decay.

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, all children should have their first dental appointment by the time they reach a year old, although initial visits are usually recommended when your child is one to six months old, before the first teeth begin to come in.

Early and regular visits to the dentist help establish healthy dental habits early in life, so that your child can develop strong teeth that they will continue to care for throughout their lives. A regular schedule of visits throughout early childhood also prepares your child for a lifetime of professional cleaning.

The first visit is often very short, and involves evaluation of any existing teeth, as well as the jaw, gums and bite. During the first few visits, parents are encouraged to stay with their child during examination, often keeping the child on their lap while he or she is examined by the dentist. This helps calm any fears or anxieties your child may have about visiting a new person and office for the first time.

In addition to promoting healthy tooth care for your child, bringing your child to the dentist also helps parents develop techniques to reinstate these habits at home. It provides you with the opportunity to ask questions about your child’s oral health and how to properly care for their teeth. It also allows your dentist to develop dental records for your child at the earliest stages of tooth development, so that any future problems can be traced back.

Although early visits are recommended, x-rays are not usually needed until children reach the age of five or six, unless they have certain tooth or jaw abnormalities, such as cleft lip or palate, or baby bottle tooth decay. Your dentist will inform you of these and other recommended milestones for dental care during your child’s first visit.

Dr. Ravin provides specialized care for young patients while also taking into account the concerns of parents. He evaluates and treats issues often affecting young children in a gentle and caring manner. When planning your child’s first dental visit, consider Dr. Ravin and his friendly and experienced staff to educate your child on the importance of healthy oral habits.

Many people are unhappy with the appearance of their teeth and, as a result, feel uncomfortable smiling and suffer from low self-confidence. Fortunately, there are numerous cosmetic treatments available to alter or restore the appearance of the teeth to help patients achieve the smile of their dreams.

While you may think that cosmetic dentistry services are only for the rich and famous, most of our cosmetic treatments are performed on patients just like yourself who were tired of dealing with missing, crooked, cracked or discolored teeth. These treatments can range from an at-home whitening kit to repairing a single tooth to reconstructing an entire mouth.

A beautiful smile can reflect a good first impression, which is important for professional and personal encounters throughout your life. More and more people are now choosing to undergo cosmetic dental treatments to secure a more confident and memorable first impression.

Cosmetic treatments performed by an experienced dentist can alter the length, shape, position and color of the targeted teeth through a series of minimally invasive procedures. Some of the most common include bonding to fill in gaps or change the color of the teeth, crowns or bridges to replace missing or damaged teeth, and veneers to customize the appearance of the teeth with shells that are placed over the front of the existing teeth.

Most of these treatments are affordable, and all are considered safe procedures that can significantly improve the appearance of your smile with no major risks. Each patient’s treatment will vary depending on the current condition of their smile and their individual goals.

Some of Dr. Ravin’s brilliant cosmetic work can be viewed in his Case of the Month studies, as well as in the Smile Gallery on this website.

Dr. Ravin recently appeared on Better Connecticut to showcase the unique cosmetic work he performed on one of his patients.  John Hill drank only bottled water for several years while working overseas, keeping him from receiving sufficient amounts of fluoride, a substance often found in tap water that helps prevent decay. To compensate for this shortage, John took fluoride supplements but ended up taking too much, which resulted in his teeth turning a yellowish-brown color.

The discolored teeth affected John’s self-confidence and forced him to avoid smiling for years, that is until he visited Dr. Ravin.

To correct John’s discolored teeth, Dr. Ravin applied crowns to the teeth and also improved the gum line for straighter, more even teeth. The result was beautiful, bright teeth that John is now proud to show off! His confidence has been restored and he happily smiles everywhere he goes.

To learn more about how Dr. Ravin transformed John’s smile, watch the video below.

Greetings friends, patients, colleagues and relatives:

I hope that you enjoyed the January edition of “Dental Bytes,” my initial attempt to reach out to all of you in cyberspace. Though I alluded to flossing last month by saying that my blog “will not contain our usual pleas that you brush, floss and gargle after meals,” I changed my mind.

DENTAL BYTES

ALL About Flossing

Do you really need to floss? Yes! Floss removes plaque and debris that adhere to the teeth and gums in between the teeth, polishes tooth surfaces and controls bad breath. Plaque is a sticky layer of material containing bacteria that accumulates on teeth, including places where toothbrushes can’t reach. This can lead to gum disease. When you floss daily, you increase your chance of keeping your teeth for a lifetime and decrease your chance of getting gum disease.

Why should I floss?

Flossing is the single most important weapon against plaque, perhaps more important than the toothbrush. A toothbrush cleans the tops and sides of your teeth. Dental floss cleans between them. Though Water Picks have benefits, floss is the best choice.  Many people just don’t spend enough time flossing and many have never been taught to floss properly. When you visit us, we will be happy to instruct you.

Which type of floss should I use?

Dental floss comes in many forms: waxed and unwaxed, wide and regular. Waxed floss is easier to slide between tight teeth or tight restorations; however, the unwaxed floss makes a squeaking sound to let you know your teeth are clean. Bonded unwaxed floss does not fray as easily as regular unwaxed floss, but does tear more than waxed floss. Wide floss, or dental tape, may be helpful for people with a lot of bridgework. Tapes are usually recommended when the spaces between teeth are wide. Whether they are flavored or unflavored, they all clean and remove plaque about the same.

How should I floss?

There are two flossing methods: the spool method and the loop method. The spool method is suited for those with greater manual dexterity. Take an 18-inch piece of floss and wind the bulk of the floss lightly around the middle finger. (Don’t cut off your finger’s circulation!) Wind the rest of the floss similarly around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger takes up the floss as it becomes soiled or frayed. Maneuver the floss between teeth with your index fingers and thumbs. Don’t pull it down hard against your gums or you will hurt them. Don’t rub it side to side as if you’re shining shoes. Bring the floss up and down several times, forming a “C” shape around the tooth and being sure to go below the gum line.

The loop method is suited for children or adults with less nimble hands, poor muscular coordination or arthritis. Take an 18-inch piece of floss and make it into a circle. Tie it securely with three knots. Place all of the fingers, except the thumb, within the loop. Use your index fingers to guide the floss through the lower teeth, and use your thumbs to guide the floss through the upper teeth, going below the gum line and forming a “C” on the side of the tooth.

How often should I floss?

You should floss at least once a day to give your teeth a good flossing, and should spend at least two or three minutes each time you floss.

What are floss holders?

You may prefer a pre-threaded flosser or floss holder, which often looks like a little hacksaw. Flossers are handy for people with limited dexterity, for those who are just beginning to floss or for caretakers who are flossing someone else’s teeth.

Is it safe to use toothpicks?

In a pinch, toothpicks are effective at removing food between teeth, but for daily cleaning of plaque between teeth, floss is recommended. When you use a toothpick, don’t press too hard, as you can break off the end and lodge it in your gums.

Do I need a Water Pick (irrigating device)?

Don’t use water picks as a substitute for brushing and flossing. Water Picks can be effective around orthodontic braces, which retain food in areas where a toothbrush cannot reach. However, they do not remove plaque.  We may recommend a Water Pick for patients with gum disease.

What we eat plays a major role in the health of our teeth, as certain foods, such as soda and candy, can damage tooth enamel and eventually lead to decay. We learn about the effects of these foods at a young age and are taught to consume them sparingly to help prevent cavities and keep ourselves healthy.

However, certain foods and habits that are not as widely discussed can also have a negative impact on the enamel of your teeth. While soda is considered highly damaging, essentially any canned beverage, whether carbonated or not, is also extremely damaging to your teeth. Some foods that may not seems as toxic, such as ice cream, pickles and yogurt, have low acidic values that can harm the teeth if consumed too often. Even fruits and vegetables can lead to tooth decay.

It’s practically impossible to avoid all of the different foods that can lead to tooth decay, but fortunately there are ways to still maintain oral health. Eating a balanced diet ensures that your teeth will receive the nutrients they need, and sweets are acceptable as long as they are only consumed sporadically. When eating sugary foods, it is best to do so in a timely manner, as consuming it over an extended period of time also prolongs your teeth’s exposure to the sugar.

Carbohydrates can be damaging as well, so it is best to eat them as part of a meal instead of alone. The other types of food in your meal will neutralize the acid in the mouth and help to prevent decay. Drinking plenty of water helps keep the mouth moist and helps consume food better as well.

In addition to these preventive techniques, it is important for everyone to brush their teeth twice a day and to see their dentist on a regular basis to stop decay from building up and to treat any cavities as soon as they are detected.

While regular and proper oral care is important to maintaining a healthy and beautiful smile, it also plays an essential role in a person’s overall health and quality of life.  A healthy mouth can help reduce a patient’s risk of certain heart and digestive conditions, in addition to protecting against decay, gingivitis, gum disease, oral cancer and more.

Dental conditions such as periodontal (gum) disease have been linked to stroke, heart disease and low birth weight in babies.  In fact, many systemic diseases are caused by an infection, sometimes originating in the gums.  These infections can severely affect major organs in the body and lead to diseases such as osteoporosis or bacterial endocarditis.

Many serious conditions can be first detected through an oral exam, making regular visits to the dentist valuable to your overall health.  Patients should see their dentist twice a year to keep the teeth clean and detect any potential problems before they spread to other areas of the body.

During a regular oral exam, your dentist can detect potential problems through warning signs like swollen or bleeding gums, mouth ulcers, dry mouth and more.  These symptoms can indicate early signs of diabetes, leukemia, cancer, kidney disease and more.

Practicing good oral hygiene at home is also essential in keeping patients healthy.  Brushing twice a day, flossing once a day and receiving regular professional cleanings, patients can help prevent infection and disease, and maintain their quality of life.

It is especially important for patients with an increased risk of heart disease to regularly visit their dentist for cleanings and to screen for any potential problems.  Early detection of nearly any condition can help improve the success rate of treatment.   Patients should also let their dentist know of any oral or general health issues you may be experiencing.

For patients who dread visiting the dentist, realizing the importance of a healthy mouth often provides strong motivation to make regular appointments and help protect your teeth from serious conditions that can significantly affect your health and overall quality of life.

To learn more about the value of your oral health, call today to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced dentists.

Welcome to the web log (blog) for the Hospital Dental Group, located in Hartford, Connecticut. We will present, on this blog, what we consider to be the case of the month along with any specials we may have at the practice and articles we think would be of interest to you.

The goal of this practice is to provide the best possible dental care through quality, compassion and knowledge.

Our entire staff operates as a team, taking great pride in each member’s training and capabilities. We want you to have the same confidence that we do and to let us serve you, our patient. Hospital Dental Group is committed to providing superior dental care not only because we are professionals who are concerned for the well-being of our patients but because our patients should expect nothing less.

Please feel free to provide us with comments and/or suggestions about any dental subject for which you would like more information.

Thank you for visiting. Please make sure you enter for a chance to win a Free Teeth Whitening Treatment.