What is a veneer?

A veneer is a custom made thin "shell" or thin layer of a dental ceramic material (usually porcelain) used to replace the front, visible surface of the tooth. They are artistically and hand-crafted using a precise model of your mouth and teeth to achieve a natural look.

What can they do for me?

Veneers are the optimal choice for correcting small to medium gaps between teeth; slight rotations of teeth causing them to be misaligned; oddly shaped, chipped, or "short" teeth; as well as teeth that are discolored or unevenly colored. However, veneers have their limitations, too. They cannot correct bite issues, poor tooth position, or profile issues. It is also important to note that if you have this procedure, we will typically need to remove a small amount of enamel from your teeth to accommodate the veneer and produce dramatic improvements to your smile.

How long will they last?

While they can vary widely from person to person, porcelain veneers usually last from 7 to 20 years. Factors that impact this timeline include your oral hygiene habits, diet, lifestyle, as well as how well you protect your veneers during sleep and while playing sports.

Have more questions?

Contact Us today to discuss your questions or to schedule an appointment. You can also learn more about veneers by reading about Veneers in our Patient Education Library.

Researchers at the University of West Virginia did the study. They surveyed 79 people who needed an emergency tooth extraction at the oral surgery clinic. People were asked about their fear and pain before the extraction, during it and two weeks later.

Before having the tooth pulled, highly anxious people expected to feel more pain than those with low anxiety did.

Two weeks later, everyone in the study exaggerated how much pain they had felt during treatment, even subjects who did not report that they were anxious about the treatment. That is, they recalled feeling more pain during treatment than they said they did at the time. People with high levels of dental anxiety also recalled feeling more anxious than they said they were at the time.

The authors suggest that controlling anxiety levels before treatment may be helpful. This can be done with medications or behavioral strategies.

The study appears in the December 13 issue of the Journal of Dental Research.
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Source: INTELIHEALTH

• Paul Revere - known for his famous ride and his work as a silversmith, put ads in a Boston newspaper offering his services as a dentist. Revere , in fact, is the first person known to use dental forensics, to identify the body of a colonial colonel killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill by the bridge appliance he wore.
• Doc Holiday - helped Wyatt Earp win the OK Corral shootout.
• Thomas Welch - his company was the first to bottle grape juice.
• George Grant - invented the wooden golf tee.
• Zane Gray - wrote best selling Western Novels.
• William Morrison - invented the machine that makes cotton candy in 1897 and unveiled at the World's Fair in 1904 in St. Louis . He was called "Fairy Floss".
• Horace Wells - first dentist to use nitrous oxide "laughing gas" as an anesthestic for dental work in 1844.
• Grant Wood - artist of the famous painting "American Gothic". The stone-faced farmer was his dentist.
• George Washington - first President of the United States was the most famous dental patient of Dr. Greenwood. He had several sets of dentures that were made out of ivory. His teeth were not made out of wood!
  

If you have a dental related question, please post a comment or send an email through our Contact Us form. Once again our question comes from one of our Facebook Fans

Teeth whitening...

If you want to keep your mandible magical, there are plenty of options to keep those pearlies white.

• If your teeth are slightly discolored, you might be a good candidate for over the counter whitening products like strips or paint on materials.
• Bleaching trays, which you can get from your dentist, are an option to remove those deeper stains for whiter results. The tray holds the bleaching gel against the tooth and... It oxidizes much faster and you get a better result. Also, with some of the materials, you can see a difference in three or four days.
• There is also power or light-accelerated bleaching, sometimes referred to as laser bleaching. This is done by using light energy to accelerate the process of bleaching. This procedure is a bit more complicated and must be done in a dental office.
• And those toothpastes that claim to whiten, brighten and perk up your pucker? Beware, some of those products are not bleaching agents, they're abrasives, so they work by polishing off surface stains.

However... in answer to our question...the American Dental Association says there are no studies that have shown adverse effects from tooth whitening when properly administered, but warn that over use or abuse of any product can be harmful. The most common side effects for patients are sensitive gums.

For more information on teeth whitening from the American Dental Association click here or you can see what the ADA has to say about over the counter whitening products here.

If you have a dental related question, please post a comment or send an email through our Contact Us form. Once again our question comes from one of our Facebook Fans.

What can you do to strengthen your teeth and gums?

Your teeth and gums are important, and perhaps undervalued, parts of your body. With age, tooth decay and gum disease become increasingly common. However, it is possible to prevent and even reverse a decline in oral hygiene by following a series of simple steps. Strengthening the teeth and gums can be done without the need for specialist equipment and requires only small changes in your daily routine.

• Brush your teeth regularly. Brushing three times a day, once after each meal, will prevent plaque build up, which is an important part of preventing damage to the teeth and gums in the first place. Floss at least once a day, which removes bits of food from between your teeth.
• Avoid foods and drinks that are harmful to your teeth, such as those high in sugar or acid. Although natural sugars, such as those found in fruit and vegetables, are good, those which are made from refined sugars, such as those found in candy or colas, are harmful. By avoiding these you will prevent your teeth and gums from experiencing further damage.
• Manage your diet and include foods that promote growth in teeth and gums. Yogurt, cheese and milk contain calcium, which helps teeth become stronger. Grapefruit has also been shown to improve the health of gums, although wait 30 minutes after eating grapefruit before brushing teeth. Kiwis, limes and cranberry also kill oral bacteria, which helps to strengthen teeth and gums and freshen breath.
• Prescription fluoride such as Fluorodex can be used to strengthen teeth. MI Paste can also be used to rebuild teeth enamel, as it contains high levels of calcium. Xyltol ( a natural sweetener) is also available in a variety of over-the-counter products and helps to fight harmful bacteria.
• Visit us on a regular basis, and consult with your hygienist or Dr. Zimmerman if you are concerned about the weakness of your teeth or gums. If you have especially susceptible teeth or gums, you may want to visit more regularly and your hygienist and Dr. Zimmerman will be able to recommend the best course of action for you.

If you have any questions about what else you can do to keep your mouth healthy and your teeth last a lifetime, ask us at your next dental appointment or by posting your question in the comments section below.

If you have a dental related question, please post a comment or send an email through our Contact Us form. Today's question comes from one of our Facebook Fans.

Waxed floss vs. cloth floss...which is considered better?

Dental floss comes in many forms: waxed and unwaxed, woven "cloth", flavored and unflavored, wide and regular. Wide floss, or dental tape, may be helpful for people with a lot of bridgework. They all clean and remove plaque. Waxed floss might be 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.

The type of floss we give to you at your dental appointment is the woven variety. We prefer this floss because it removes more plaque due to its texture. The important part is that you floss daily, so if you are more comfortable with a different type of floss let us know. Also, if you have questions about how to floss, ask us at your next dental appointment.

If you have a dental related question, please post a comment or send an email through our Contact Us form. Today's question comes from one of our FaceBook friends.

"When/If your filling falls out, how long can you go before it needs to be refilled? (an old filling fell out, and I've been working extra hard to keep my tooth clean... because there's not enough time in the day. Plus, my ins. will only cover it once a year!)"

Fillings, and crowns sometimes loosen and fall out. This is rarely an emergency, but it can be painful because the exposed tooth tissue is often sensitive to pressure, air or hot and cold temperatures. In some cases, a filling or crown may come loose because decay has developed underneath it. The decay can cause the tooth to change shape and as a result, the crown of filling no longer fits the tooth properly.

You may be eating, or biting on something hard when you discover that a filling or a crown has become lose or fallen out. You may feel the lost filling or crown in your mouth.

If it's a crown, put it in a safe place and make an appointment to see Dr. Zimmerman as soon as you can. You don't want to wait too long because the tooth will be weak and could be damaged more if it is not protected by the crown. Also, when a crown is missing for a long time, your teeth may move. If this happens your crown may no longer fit.

What you can do

• If you can reach the sensitive area, apply a little clove oil with a cotton swab. It works well to dull tooth pain. You can buy clove oil in pharmacies and also in the spice aisle of many supermarkets.
• If you have the crown, you may be able to slip it back over the tooth. Before you do that, it's important to clean the inside of the crown as best you can. To hold it in place temporarily, coat the inner surface of the crown with tooth "cement," which you can buy in the dental section of your pharmacy. There are several temporary cements available. Some need to be mixed; others come ready to use. You also can use denture adhesive or even petroleum jelly if nothing else is available. These aren't permanent solutions, but they will help to hold the crown in place until you can see your dentist. You should not use any household glues to hold the crown in place. These products are not safe to put in your mouth and can damage the tooth and crown.
• If you've lost the filling or crown, you can use over-the-counter dental cement to cover the tooth surface. This will help to protect and seal the area until you're able to see Dr. Zimmerman, and can make you more comfortable.

What Dr. Zimmerman Will Do

• If the tooth is structurally sound and the crown still fits properly, Dr. Zimmerman will clean the area and then replace the crown.
• If the tooth has been affected by decay, Dr. Zimmerman will need to prepare the tooth again by removing the decay and then making a new filling or crown to replace the old one.
• If you don't have insurance coverage right now or the waiting period has not been met on your insurance there may be temporary procedures Dr. Zimmerman could do until your insurance starts; such as temporary fillings or temporary crowns. Though these procedures may not be covered by your insurance either they may be less costly then a permanent solution however, keep in mind, they are only meant to last a short time.

For the most part, it is best to see Dr. Zimmerman right away. However, if you are unsure, just give us a call.

^{Disclaimer: Dr. Zimmerman does NOT recommend and has no knowledge of the reliability of any temporary dental products mentioned in this article except the products used in his office by him}

People often have questions about their teeth and we hope to answer some of those questions with this new series. If you have a dental related question, please post a comment or send an email through our Contact Us form. Our first question comes from one of our FaceBook friends.

When should my child first see a dentist?

The timing of the first visit to the dentist is a little controversial. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry states that children should see a dentist when they get their first tooth and not later than 1 year of age. In contrast, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, unless your child has risk factors for having problems with his teeth, such as sleeping with a cup or bottle, teeth staining, thumb sucking, etc., the first visit to the dentist should be by around the third birthday.

However, an early visit to the dentist is a good way for parents to learn proper oral hygiene for their children including avoiding nighttime bottles or cups of formula or juice, proper tooth brushing, and a diet that promotes good dental health. We recommend seeing children as soon as they are old enough to sit in the dental chair and hold their mouth open. However, even children younger then that are welcome to sit on their parents lap, for a short time, in the room at their parent's teeth cleaning appoinment. This helps your child become used to Dr. Zimmerman and our hygienists, as well as, help make thier first dental appoinment feel familiar.

The initial appointment in our office will include different things depending on the reason your child is seeing us and if it is their very first dental appointment. It is our desire to that your child's first dental appointment is fun, and bringing your child to us BEFORE they have trouble with their teeth makes this possible.

In our office, the initial "check-up" appointment will include an introduction to the dental chair, which will give your child a "ride" up and down, Mr. Squirt, who squirts water, Mr. Vacuum who slurps up the water Mr. Squirt squirts, our spinning rubber toothbrush which polishes each of your child's teeth, and our special camera that can take pictures of teeth. After the introductions are done, we will paint clear but yummy flavored fluoride on each of the teeth and your child will meet Dr. Zimmerman who will "count" their teeth, and make sure there are no cavity bugs on them. When we are all finished, your child will get to pick out a little prize and get an awesome cookie coupon for the local cookie shop here in Woodland. If your child's teeth are cavity free, they will become a member of our "No Cavity Club" and have a chance to win another prize in our monthly drawing for that month. If they win they will receive a free $10.00 video rental gift card and get their picture in the local newspaper.

All of us, at Dr. Zimmerman's, understand how important it is for you to find the knowledge and care that helps you keep your child healthy. Send us a message or give us a call with any questions you may have.

Radiographic, or X-ray, examinations provide Dr. Zimmerman with an important tool that shows the condition of your teeth, its roots, jaw placement and the overall composition of your facial bones. X-rays can help Dr. Zimmerman determine the presence or degree of periodontal (gum) disease, abscesses and many abnormal growths, such as cysts and tumors. X-rays also can show the exact location of impacted and unerupted teeth. They can pinpoint the location of cavities and other signs of disease that may not be possible to detect through a visual examination.

What is my schedule?

Your radiographic schedule is based on Dr. Zimmerman's assessment of your individual needs, including , whether you're a new patient or a follow-up patient, adult or child, as well as the ADA's recommendation. In most cases, new patients require a full set of mouth X-rays to evaluate oral health status, including any underlying signs of gum disease, and for future comparison. Follow-up patients may require X-rays to monitor their gum condition or their chance of tooth decay.

Concerned about radiation exposure?

Dental X-rays require exposure to very low levels of radiation, which makes the risk of potentially harmful effects very small. We are all sensitive to our patients' concerns about exposure to radiation. Dr. Zimmerman has been trained to prescribe X-rays when they are appropriate and and each of his staff assigned to take X-rays has been trained and licensed to do so. By using state-of-the-art technology and by staying knowledgeable about recent advances, Dr. Zimmerman and his staff know which techniques, procedures and X-ray films can minimize your exposure to radiation.

Need more information?

If you have further questions on how Dr. Zimmerman determines the need for X-rays, just give our office a call at (530) 661-1155.

^{Source: Academy of General Denitistry Know your teeth Oct 2008}

The cooling temperatures outside remind us that the end of the year is fast approaching. So what does this have to do with your benefits?

• Most insurance companies base their plans on a calendar year so any benefits that have not been used by the end of the year are lost.
• Insurance benefits are Use It or Lose It, so now is the perfect time to get any needed dental treatment done.
• Your dental insurance policy allows for a certain dollar amount of coverage to be provided each year. If your maximum coverage benefit is not used during the year, you lose those benefits, because unused coverage does not carry over to the next year.
• Although treatment is never dictated by an insurance policy, our experience has shown that careful planning can often maximize benefits. Most dental plans allow teeth cleanings two times a year.
• If you are due for a cleaning, have dental treatment pending or if you feel you may need treatment that hasn't been planned yet and you haven't maxed out your insurance benefits for the year, we encourage you to schedule an appointment before the end of the year.
• You may also participate in a Flexible Spending or Health Savings Account. In most cases, any money left in these accounts at the end of the year is forfeited. These are benefits you have paid for!

If you have questions about what insurance you have remaining for the year or what treatment has been recommended, please contact Tina or Christina. They are always happy to help with scheduling or benefit questions.

Call us today at (530) 661-1155 to schedule your next appointment and take full advantage of your remaining dental insurance or flex spending benefits.

Even though these rules may not apply to dental insurance companies, we have heard from Delta Dental that there is a possibility that they will extend dependent coverage to the age of 26 if their clients decide that's what they want.

The new mandated extension of dependent child eligibility to age 26 under The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) will be implemented for group Delta Dental plans when requested by clients who decide to extend coverage for dependent children in a manner similar to what they are required to do for their major medical coverage.

Federal mandates do not require Delta Dental to automatically increase the dependent age limit for dental plans. However, at the client's request, they will implement changes to dependent eligibility with a revised dental benefits contract.

To be sure, we suggest you contact your benefits person and/or your dental insurance company.

_{Source: Delta Dental fyi 2010 fall}

^{Disclaimer: This information was provided to us from Delta Dental of California. We have not separately verified it's legality.}

The medical term is apthous ulcers and they're round or oval painful ulcers that appear on the tongue, inner lips, inside of cheeks, or palate of the mouth. Up to 40 percent of people have experienced canker sores. So why have the remaining 60 percent never had them? We don't know.

Canker sores are more common in young people and occur more frequently in white people, non-smokers, women and people with high socioeconomic status. Why? We don't know. What we do know is that they aren't contagious and aren't caused by the herpes virus. (For a summery about the difference between canker sores and cold sores go to our Online Dental Education Library by clicking here.)

Some diseases cause canker sores to grow together and form larger ulcerations. People with AIDS, Bechets disease and even ulcerative colitis can experience large canker sores that can respond to immune suppressive drugs.

Other things that may contribute to canker sores are:

• Injuries to the mouth, as seen frequently by contact sports players. Accidentally biting the inside of the cheek/lip may also result in a canker sore.
• Spicy and/or acidic foods often produce a canker sore as a response to the irritation these spices and acids create in the mouth.
• The use of chewing (smokeless) tobacco will often cause a canker sore to develop in the area of the mouth where the tobacco is held, due to the irritating chemicals found in the addictive product.
• Poor-fitting, complete or partial dentures may cause canker sores in the area of the mouth where the denture may rubbing on the tissue. The development of a canker sore is often one of the first signs that indicate the need for a denture reline or adjustment by your dentist.
• Orthodontic brackets, bands, and various other orthodontic attachments will often cause canker sores to develop in area of the mouth where there is constant friction on the oral tissues. This is common when orthodontic treatment first begins and may occur after each subsequent adjustments, throughout each stage of treatment.
• Allergies to metals such as nickel may become evident in the mouth of a person wearing orthodontic devices necessary to move the teeth. Canker sores may begin to appear adjacent to the metal attachments. This is often referred to as contact dermatitis.
• Emotional stress has been identified as a possible trigger that may cause the development of canker sores.
• Bacteria responsible for peptic ulcers known as Helicobacter pylori, has been linked to canker sore occurrence.
• Vitamin deficiencies, specifically vitamin B12, foliate (folic acid), and iron, may trigger canker sore development.
• Hormonal changes, notably during menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause, have been linked to canker sores.
• Canker sores often run in families. Genetics may be a factor for many canker sore sufferers.
• Allergic reactions and sensitivities to certain foods may cause a canker sore to develop.

See a doctor immediately if your canker sores:

1. Become unusually larger than normal.
2. Are extremely painful, interfering with eating, drinking, and talking.
3. Begin to appear more frequently than normal.
4. Do not heal after 14 days.
5. Are accompanied by a high fever.
6. Appear to become infected.

For information on a variety of dental health topics go to our Online Dental Education Library .

^{Sources:
A.D.A.M.: "Canker Sores"
Beyond Allergy: "Allergies to Metal in the Mouth" May 8, 2007.
Toni Brayer, MD: "Everything Health" Sept 6, 2010
About.com: "Dental Care"}

Here are some ways to be careful:

• Avoid treats that are crunchy such as nuts, chewy such as caramel, or sticky like taffy or extremely hard like peanut brittle. These kinds of treats can compromise crowns, pull out fillings, break teeth, cause damage to other types of dental work.
• Don't finish off your ice filled drink by chewing on the ice.
• Make sure after you eat, that you thoroughly brush and floss. Make time for it!
• If you have your regularly scheduled dental appointment during this time... don't miss it.
• And, if you experience pain or injury to your teeth make time to call us, so we can take care of it before it ruins your holidays.

We are here for you, so don't let dental emergencies ruin your holiday fun!

• Cereal grains - This category of grains includes crops like rice, corn, barley, wheat and oats. Cereals are a great source of magnesium, which aids in jaw and tooth enamel formation.
• Dairy products like milk and cheese - Milk products are known for being a significant source of calcium, which strengthens bones. This includes the enamel on the outside of your teeth.
• Foods high in protein - Protein contains phosphorous, which is a key player in strengthening your teeth and jaw structure. Try meat, eggs, nuts, or beans.
• Citrus - Citrus fruits such as oranges, limes and lemons are full of vitamin C. This vitamin does not directly build bone strength, but it helps the cells involved in tooth formation and strengthening.
• Fish - Fish contains vitamin D, which helps the body absorb and properly use the calcium it receives. Few foods naturally contain the vitamin, so another good source is frequent sunlight.

Eating these foods can help strengthen your teeth. However, no matter how many vitamins and minerals you consume on a daily basis, there is no substitute for seeing us on a regular basis!