Crown Lengthening

Do you feel like you have a “gummy” smile? In other words, are your teeth covered by excess gum tissue? We at Martin Urban, DDS are committed to helping our patients feel confident and happy with their smiles. We are excited to offer crown lengthening to bring out the fullness of your teeth!

The crown lengthening procedure involves reshaping your gum line as well as the bone around the affected tooth or teeth, creating a more balanced gum to tooth ratio. The great thing about crown lengthening is that it can be performed on as many or as little affected teeth there are in the patient’s mouth. One tooth with excess gum tissue can be reshaped or a whole gum line can be reshaped, depending on the patient.

In addition to your smile becoming more aesthetically pleasing, crown lengthening also improves the overall health of your gums. The edge of the restoration is sturdy enough to withstand brushing and flossing to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. 

Not sure if this procedure is right for you? We are happy to address any concerns or answer any questions that you have! Martin Urban, DDS is located at 976 Main St. in Waltham, MA 02453. For more information about our crown lengthening procedure or to schedule an appointment, you can visit martinurbandds.com or call 508-425-9640.

 

Tips for a Tooth-Friendly Halloween

Sweet, sticky candy is everywhere this time of year, and people are naturally having a harder time maintaining their oral health. While the rest of the holiday season isn’t as candy-oriented as Halloween, it does abound with sweets and present similar challenges. We’re particularly concerned with fighting gum disease here at the Massachusetts dental offices of Dr. Martin Urban, and we have many patients who want to preserve their prosthetic teeth. Therefore, we thought we’d provide a guide to a tooth-friendly Halloween.

Implants are strong structures. They integrate with a patient’s jaw bone structure and artificial crowns are cemented onto them. But patients with dentures and partial crowns should still exercise reasonable caution about eating sticky candy. Better options include chewy sweets, such as those made with peanut butter or chocolate. These foods still have high sugar content, but even foods with low amounts of sugar or complex sugars will fuel decay if they are allowed to linger in the mouth for too long. Patients should quickly dislodge food debris by brushing and flossing shortly after meals. They should also limit their time eating candy to meals, when they will be producing a large amount of saliva. Sugary drinks such as apple cider are also an oral health hazard, so patients should be drinking plenty of water to wash away sugary residue.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Martin Urban, call 508-425-9640 or visit us at Martin Urban DDS.

 

Asthma and Oral Health

If you suffer from asthma, you may be at heightened risk for developing gum disease. We at the dental offices of Dr. Martin Urban have helped a lot of people to manage dry mouth and resulting symptoms such as tooth decay, gum recession, and bad breath. To assist asthma patients with their preventive care, we wanted to explain why it is so important for them to take steps to prevent dry mouth-related damage.

People who have difficulty breathing through their noses often resort to breathing through their mouths, particularly when asleep. This is a problem for oral health because saliva does more than wash away sugary food debris. It also neutralizes acid that is produced by bacteria, regurgitated from the stomach, or in drinks such as soda and citrus juices. Furthermore, saliva contains enzymes that kill disease-causing bacteria and fungus.

Mouth-breathing is not the only reason people with asthma may experience higher levels of dry mouth. A reduction in saliva flow is also a common medication side effect. Patients should not stop using medication without a doctor’s recommendation, but they should ask about alternatives. They may stimulate saliva production by chewing sugar-free gum or using a prescription-strength throat moisturizer. Patients should also be aware that inhaler medication may contain sugars that will fuel bacteria growth, so they should brush their teeth after using it.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Martin Urban, call 508-425-9640 or visit us at Martin Urban DDS.

 

Causes of Bad Breath

Bad breath, or halitosis, isn’t just embarrassing. If it chronically recurs, it could be a sign of poor health. We’re very concerned with any sign of oral health problems at the dental office of Dr. Martin Urban, and we want our patients to understand why halitosis is something they should take seriously.

Poor hygiene is the most common reasons for halitosis. Bacteria can hide between the teeth, behind the back molars, and in the papillae of the tongue. Proper hygiene requires thorough flossing, brushing for two minutes twice a day, and use of a tongue scraper. People are particularly vulnerable to bacteria build-up on their tongue when nasal discharge is dripping onto it. If they have dry mouth, they are deprived of the antimicrobial enzymes saliva contains and will have a harder time ridding their mouths of food debris.

Dry mouth is a common side effect of medications, including ones for mood disorders and ADHD and those which are given as part of cancer treatment. While patients should not change their medications on their own, they should ask their doctor about alternatives if dry mouth is contributing to caries or gum recession People should also pay especially close attention to their breath if they have diabetes, since diabetes-induced hardening of blood vessels harms gum health. It is also possible for bad breath to be caused by acid reflux, which would eventually erode enamel. Patients can somewhat mitigate all of these by drinking more water and getting fluoride topical treatments.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Martin Urban, call 508-425-9640 or visit us at Martin Urban DDS.

 

White Spot Lesions

Have you ever noticed odd, chalky white spots on your teeth? Those are signs that enamel is under attack from acid, and if the white spot persists, it means the tooth is in danger of developing a cavity. Dr. Martin Urban’s dental office specializes in restorations and treating gum disease, but we also value prevention and want our patients to recognize early symptoms of tooth decay.

Before enamel is lost entirely, it will weaken and lose some of its comprising minerals. This is when it will appear chalky white. The acid causing the demineralization could be a result of acid reflux disease, but in these cases the chalky discoloration will form a distinctive pattern on the upper back molars. More often, the acid is coming from infectious bacteria, which secrete it as a by-product of metabolizing sugar. The longer sugar remains on the teeth, the more of it bacteria will be able to consume and the more acid they will produce.

A white spot can turn into a cavity in the span of a month. Patients should take them as a sign they need to do more brushing, although not so hard that they damage their gum tissue. They may want to try extra-fluoridated toothpaste and improving their technique. We can help a patient to determine whether a white spot is being caused by an active infection. We also do deep cleanings to remove plaque from the gum pockets, where patients are unable to see it.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Martin Urban, call 508-425-9640 or visit us at Martin Urban DDS.

 

Sealants

Our staff at Dr. Martin Urban, DDS advises our younger patients to get sealants to protect their molars. Sealants are a plastic coating on the chewing surfaces of the molar to prevent tooth decay. Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among children despite being preventable. It can be difficult for children to brush their molars effectively because of their location.  Sealants help to keep their molars clean and healthy for when their permanent molars come in.

Sealants are applied with a liquid adhesive that is painted right on your tooth. The liquid then hardens and creates a barrier between your tooth and any plaque or bacteria that can be damaging to your teeth. After sealants are applied, they last for about 10 years and can be replaced when necessary.

It is important to protect your children’s molars at a young age so their permanent teeth develop smoothly and are healthy.

If you have any questions or concerns, please give us a call. To learn more about the treatment provided at the dental practice of Dr. Martin Urban, DDS, visit www.martinurbandds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Martin Urban, DDS in Boston, MA, call 508-425-9640 

Dental Phobia

At Dr. Martin Urban, DDS we want our patients who suffer from Dental Phobia to have a good experience at the dentist.  Studies have shown that about 9% to 15% of people avoid going to the dentist every year due to dental phobia. It is important to get your teeth cleaned twice a year to maintain good dental hygiene. Patients who suffer from dental phobia have a greater chance of developing gum disease and tooth decay.

To make patients feel more comfortable before their visit, our staff will discuss any concerns or fears you may have.  Some signs that you might have dental phobia include tense or nervousness, sleepless nights before the dentist, and the thought of the dentist makes you feel sick.

We encourage our patients to ask us questions before your appointment so we can make you feel more comfortable. Your concerns are our number one priority and we are happy to discuss what can help to ease your fears.

If you have any questions or concerns, please give us a call. To learn more about the treatment provided at the dental practice of Dr. Martin Urban, DDS, visit www.martinurbandds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Martin Urban, DDS in Boston, MA, call 508-425-9640. 

Wisdom Teeth Removal

At Dr. Martin Urban, DDS we often extract wisdom teeth when they begin to protrude through your gums. In rare cases, wisdom teeth will grow in naturally and are properly aligned.

For most patients, wisdom teeth are misaligned and grow in on an angle, which can cause dental crowding or damage to the jawbone or nerves. If your wisdom teeth only partially erupt through your gums, more bacteria can develop on them. We encourage our patients to have their wisdom teeth removed when this happens otherwise you are at a greater risk of tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease.

Any wisdom teeth that are causing pain or infections need to be removed immediately to prevent your teeth from being damaged. After your wisdom teeth are removed, you will be limited to soft foods for a couple of days until the swelling goes down.

If you have any questions or concerns about your wisdom teeth, please give us a call. To learn more about the treatment provided at the dental practice of Dr. Martin Urban, DDS, visit www.martinurbandds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Martin Urban, DDS in Boston, MA, call 508-425-9640.

Soda And Your Teeth

Soda is becoming increasingly harmful to teeth and to enamel. With the average person drinking around 16 ounces a day, the chances of acids and sugar becoming damaging to teeth is high. With high numbers of acid and sugar in soda and sports drinks, keeping your teeth clean becomes extremely difficult.

Water is always the best thing to drink for your oral health. It not only helps to keep your body healthy, but cleans your teeth and gums with every sip! Avoiding acidic drinks has proven positive effects that go beyond teeth and help your body be as healthy as possible. Many people look for caffiene at some point in the day, whether it’s from sodas or an energy drink, but finding an alternative such as tea, water, or juice will go a long way for your oral hygiene.

At Martin Urban DDS we recommend patients limit their soda consumption as much as possible and rinse their mouth out with water while brushing your teeth. It is also recommended you stop in to get a cleaning and help preserve those pearly whites.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Martin Urban, call 508-425-9640 or visit us at Martin Urban DDS.

Basic Dental Instruments

We provide advanced dental and periodontal restorations at the office of Dr. Martin Urban, but we want our patients to feel fully included in all our decisions. Many people suffering from severe tooth or gum decay feel apprehensive about visiting the dentist. They may feel a sense of helplessness born of an inability to describe what is happening; in which case we think it would be good for them to learn some of the language we use to describe our basic instruments.

When patients go to any kind of dentist, they can expect a hygienist to clean their teeth. The two tools the hygienist uses most are the handheld mirror and the explorer. The explorer, which can also be called a probe, is the wand with metal hooks on either end. The hooks come in different shapes for different tasks. Some are used to inspect the hardness of enamel and the cleanliness of the gum pockets. The explorer is also used to break apart hardened calculus, which is removed with a suction hose called an evacuator. This is the tube hygienists ask patients to close their lips around.

Sometimes, a dental extraction is necessary. Prior to removing a tooth, the patient will be numbed with local anesthetic delivered through a syringe. Inducing full unconsciousness is usually not necessary. A flattened spoon called an elevator will be slid between the tooth and the gum pocket and used to loosen it by rocking it back and forth. It can then be removed with reverse-action forceps.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Martin Urban, call 508-425-9640 or visit us at Martin Urban DDS.