Are You Tongue-Tied?

Most of us think of tongue-tie as a situation we find ourselves in when we are too excited to speak. Actually, tongue-tie is the non-medical term for a relatively common physical condition that limits the use of the tongue, ankyloglossia.

Before we are born, a strong cord of tissue that guides development of mouth structures is positioned in the center of the mouth. It is called a frenulum or frenum. After birth, the lingual frenulum continues to guide the position of incoming teeth. As we grow, it recedes and thins.  This frenulum is visible and easily felt if you look in the mirror under your tongue. In some children, the frenulum is especially tight or fails to recede and may cause tongue mobility problems.

The tongue is one of the most important muscles for speech and swallowing. For this reason having tongue-tie can lead to eating or speech problems, which may be serious in some individuals.

A new baby with a too tight frenulum can have trouble sucking and may have poor weight gain.  While the tongue is remarkably able to compensate and many children have no speech impediments due to tongue-tie, others do. The following associated characteristics are common:

• V-shaped notch at the tip of the tongue
• Inability to stick out the tongue past the upper gums
• Inability to touch the roof of the mouth
• Difficulty moving the tongue from side to side

For older children with tongue-tie, appearance can be affected by persistent dental problems such as a gap between the bottom two front teeth.

Tongue-tie surgery is a simple procedure and there are normally no complications. In most cases the procedure can be done without anesthesia when using a diode laser. This eliminates the need for incisions or stitches and has a faster comfortable healing for the patient. While frenulectomy is relatively simple, it can yield big results. Parents should consider that this surgery often yields more benefit than is obvious by restoring ease of speech and self-esteem.

For other dental information visit DrTav.com

Dental Lasers for Canker Sores = A Miracle!

Have you ever had a canker sore? The official term for them is an apthous ulcer. If you’ve ever had one you know how painful a canker sore can be and how unbearable it feels to wait for them to heal. It could be a week to two week wait! Dental lasers are an amazing answer to the suffering that has been associated with canker sores.

If you don’t know what a canker sore (apthous ulcer) is, let me explain. A canker sore is a small shallow ulcer that appears in the mouth on the palate, tongue, gums or inside cheeks. A cancer sore is an open sore with a red inflamed border with a yellowish or grayish color inside. Pain that affects quality of life is the obvious characteristic of these sores. When the ulcer is white or grayish, the ulcer will be extremely painful and the affected lip may swell. The pain makes it difficult to talk, speak, drink and eat. 

Apthous ulcers can affect people of any age. The frequency of aphthous ulcers is reported to be more in females as compared to males. These sores aren’t contagious. They usually begin with a tingling or burning sensation at the site of the future canker sore. In a few days, they often progress to form a red spot or bump, followed by an open ulcer.

The exact cause of canker sores is unknown but citrus fruits, physical trauma like biting a cheek, braces, stress, lack of sleep, sudden weight loss, food allergies, immune system reactions and deficiencies in Vitamin B12, iron, and folic acid may contribute to their development.

In the past, treatment included anesthetic mouth washes and various ointments that basically make you feel like your head is going to go through the roof, they hurt so much to use.

Thank God for dental lasers. It truly is a miracle that a dental laser used for 30 – 45 seconds, can relieve the pain that canker sores cause. The dental laser doesn’t even touch the lesion! It is literally waved like a magic wand over the lesion. After the dental laser is moved over the lesion, the stinging, burning pain is gone! I can personally attest to the miraculous dental laser for treating canker sores!  What a relief!!

For other dental information visit DrTav.com

Increase Confidence With Dental Mini Implants

Are you embarrassed by your smile? Have you given up your favorite foods because you can’t chew properly due to missing teeth?  Are you embarrassed to socialize? Well, fear no more, dental mini implants are the newest, pain-free solution.

In expert hands, dental mini implants are like your third set of teeth; they look and feel natural, their chewing strength is nearly as good as your own adult teeth, and best of all no one will know the difference.

Once your new dental mini implants are fitted into your mouth properly, you will have the confidence to eat whatever you want, smile constantly and never have to worry about glue or slipping dentures. The use of mini implants will make the procedure easier than traditional implants. Dental mini implants are made up of a special titanium material that is secured into your jawbone while you sleep. Titanium and its alloys are preferably chosen for dental mini implants because they are biocompatible and are corrosion-resistant. Another material that can be used is Zirconium alloy.

Dental mini implants are a perfect solution to an embarrassing situation. There’s no more daily maintenance to them than regular teeth - just brush your teeth as you normally do. They are natural looking, the procedure is pain free with the use of sedation dentistry, and afterwards, you’ll soon forget you even have them. But you won’t forget the confidence and self-esteem they give you. The only thing you’ll wonder about is what took you so long to make the decision.

Because dental mini implants don’t change your facial features, your friends won’t notice a thing other than your smile, your great appetite, and outgoing personality.  No longer will you have to worry about dentures falling out or being embarrassed by a “loose” mouth.  Chew, laugh, talk with confidence and never be concerned in public again.  Dental mini implants give you the confidence you need to get on with your life.

For information about dental mini implants in New Jersey or other dental topics visit DrTav.com

Hygiene For Dental Mini Implants

Regular visits to your dentist are important for everyone, but especially for those patients with dental mini implants. Implants are a valulable investment in your future; getting the best return on that investment requires a partnership with your dental care provider. Professional dental hygiene is the best way to achieve this.

As with any advanced dental procedure, the first few months often require close attention. Dental mini implant placement is no different.  It is recommended that you have your teeth cleaned every three months during the first year. Your dental specialist is the best place for this. In year two and beyond, professional cleaning should be done every three to six months. The reason for such attention to the dental mini implants is that the gum tissue surrounding an implant requires specialized care to maintain optimal health and provide a lasting protective bond with the replacement teeth.

A comprehensive cleaning plan is the best way to insure it. In addition to the regular cleaning, your dental mini implant dentist may also remove the implant crown every few years for more intensive cleaning. They will then reattach the crown all during the same appointment without any delay.

Regular cleaning should be a part of everyone's dental healthcare. Removing plaque, tartar, and hardened food particles help prevent decay and gum disease. 

Studies show that a destructive bacterial infection can compromise not only your oral health, but your overall health as well. Good dental care means good health care.  For more information about the connection between your mouth and your body, click on the "Free Reports" link to receive a copy of  the Mouth to Body Link at DrTav.com

Your dental mini implants will look great and last a lifetime with regular attention to your oral health.

For information about other dental topics visit DrTav.com 

Sleep Dentistry and Dental Mini Implants

Do you avoid the dentist? Do you need to get those dental mini implants but are afraid to go because of what you think will be alot of pain and anxiety? Relax, sleep dentistry and a trained professional can change your life for the better with a light sedative.

Sleep dentistry is usually provided as conscious sedation, which uses oral medication to help you sleep during dental procedures such as the process for insertion of dental mini implants. There is no anxiety and little or no memory of the treatment. The patient is not completely under - they are more like in a dreamlike state or sleeping. During the process, a trained professional, known as a Sedation Dentist, monitors the patient. Sleep dentistry allows the dentist to do alot of dental work during one appointment, helping the overall treatment move along more quickly.

After an initial consultation with a sedation dentist, you'll be given medication to start the sleep dentistry process.  Most important, you'll be relaxed and anxiety free. While you're in the chair, the sleep dentist and sleep dentistry team monitors you closely. You will fall asleep or you'll enjoy a soothing mental and emotional "distance" from goings on.

The next thing you'll know will be your sleep dentist telling you the procedure is complete and it's time to go home.

Sleep dentistry is very useful for longer procedures or for procedures patients may be apprehensive about. Dental mini implants are a very gentle procedure, but some people may have concerns over a perceived level of discomfort. To alleviate these concerns , qualified professionals will recommend sleep dentistry. The patient won't feel anything, won't remember anything, and in many cases can wake up with their new smile supported by dental mini implants.

Sleep dentistry is safer than intravenous sedation with no nauseous after effects. As a result, patients wake feeling great with no pain, no anxiety, and no memory of the procedure - just a perfect smile.

For information about other dental topics visit DrTav.com

What Is The Cost Of Dental Mini Implants?

There is a great difference between the cost of traditional implants and dental mini implants. The cost of dental implants depends on many factors, including the type of implantation and which teeth are affected, the dentist performing the procedure and the location of their office, and the dental implant material used.

In general, the price differential between traditional and mini implants can be as great as four times the cost. Individual implants of the traditional approach can range from $1,000 to $5,000 each, depending on a number of factors including those above. Some dentists will charge more for back teeth than for those in the front of the mouth. In some cases, depending on the extent of the damage to the jaw, there may be a need for a bone graft in order to have a sufficient foundation into which the implant can be placed. Not all dentists are equipped and/or trained to do that. Therefore, when an oral surgeon or periodontist is required, the cost will go up.

The cost of full-mouth reconstructive dental implants can range from $24,000 to $100,000 or more partly because there are a wide variety of ways to address the missing teeth, depending on what the current conditions are. In contrast, the cost of dental mini implants ranges from $600 to $1,200 per implant. The dental mini implant is a great alternative for people who have been wearing dentures and now want stable teeth. The cost of dental mini implants and a denture per arch ranges from approximately $5,000 to $10,000. This represents a savings that can be as much as 25% of full-mouth reconstruction with traditional dental implants and fixed bridgework (crowned teeth).

The savings with dental mini implants result from the fact that usually the missing teeth are replaced with removable bridges (dentures of some kind), and the dental mini implants are about 25% of the cost of traditional dental implants.

As the materials chosen for the implants themselves also affect the cost, the crown material has a similar impact. Plastic, as opposed to porcelain to gold crowns are less expensive, and are often a wise choice with dental mini implants because plastic teeth put less force on the implants than porcelain to gold crowns.

The reduced cost for dental mini implants means that a person who has been suffering with a denture can spend approximately $5,000 to $10,000 for each jaw they have restored. For about 20% of the cost of traditional implants, that person can have four dental mini implants placed into the bone and have a denture snap into position and be able to function comfortably again without any embarrassment or difficulty eating and speaking because of their loose dentures.

For information about dental mini implants and other dental topics visit DrTav.com

Dentures Vs. Dental Mini Implants

     For adults with missing teeth, the decision to repair the problem is usually an easy one. However, which solution to choose may not be. Whether to have dentures made or dental mini implants inserted can sometimes boil down to price and the perceived ease of the installation procedure. The truth is the difference between dentures and dental implants is like night and day.

     To begin with, dentures have no anchors in the mouth. They are attached on top with adhesives and suction formed by the plate at the top of the mouth, and for bottom dentures there is no suction. In either case, movement by the facial and mouth muscles – lips and cheeks on one side and the tongue on the other – is inevitable. They will and do slip and slide while chewing, talking or making any kind of mouth movement.

     Because of the physical presence in the mouth, dentures often affect the taste of food, thereby lessening the enjoyment. In fact, many foods cannot be eaten by denture wearers, such as apples, pizza, salad, corn on the cob, steak, peanut butter and jelly, bagels, carrots, subs.

     Something as simple as a sneeze, a cough or a laugh can actually cause the dentures to fall out of your mouth. Such results can be very embarrassing in social situations and keep some people from going out in public.

     On the other hand, dental mini implants feel like real teeth. They act and look like real teeth and let people speak and eat with real confidence.

     Dental mini implants can end a denture wearer’s suffering in one day. With proper homecare, implants and dental mini implants can last a lifetime. Because mini implants maintain the jawbone, the facial features won’t change, which only adds to one’s self-confidence.

     With dental mini implants, an individual won’t have to forgo the foods they love. Instead of having to rely on soft foods, they can eat whatever they want. Dental mini implants allow a person to eat a well balanced diet thereby improving their nutrition. In fact, studies have shown people with dental implants, dental mini implants or their natural teeth live 10 years longer than people with dentures.

     So what are you waiting for? Call a dental mini implant specialist today and then plan your next picnic!

     For information about other dental topics visit DrTav.com