Weston Dentist: Dentures

Dentures

What are Dentures?

Dentures are customized oral appliances which replace missing teeth. They are made of acrylic or resin, and may sometimes include metal. Dentures fit around your existing teeth or gums, and can be used for everything your original missing teeth were!

Why would I want Dentures?

Missing teeth can make eating or talking more difficult. They can also leave cosmetically ugly gaps in your smile. Dentures allow you to eat and talk normally, and nobody will be able to tell that you are missing teeth!

What are the different types of Dentures?

There are several different types of dentures. Complete dentures are used for people that are missing all (or most of) their teeth. Partial dentures are more useful for those who still have some original teeth left.

Dentures can also be prepared immediately after any teeth are removed. These temporary dentures, allow you to never have to go without teeth.

What do I have to do to get Dentures?

At our Weston dentist office getting dentures requires several appointments over a time-span of approximately one month. The first step is to take an impression and measure the jaws to determine what shape and size the dentures will need to be. There will then be several appointments to try on a trial version and make any necessary adjustments to color, shape, or size. Finally, there will be a final fitting and adjustment with your completed dentures.

If you have questions about dentures or any general dentistry topic, give our dental office a call and our staff will be happy to help. Read more:

Weston dentist : Weston dentistry : Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Wisdom Teeth and Wisdom Teeth Extractions

What are Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth refer to the third molars, the very back teeth in the mouth. These teeth generally appear between the ages of 17 and 25. Although it is typical to have 4 wisdom teeth, some adults have fewer and in rare cases it is possible to have extra, supernumerary wisdom teeth. Unfortunately, there is frequently not enough room in the mouth for wisdom teeth, and they usually have to be removed. Only a small number minority of adults are able to keep healthy wisdom teeth throughout their entire adult lives.

What can go wrong with wisdom teeth?

As there is often not enough room in the mouth for wisdom teeth, a variety of things can go wrong – in which case, the tooth is deemed to be “impacted”. The tooth is often packed tightly against either a flap of gum or another tooth. Food can accumulate in these crevices, but is often extremely difficult to remove since it is difficult to fit in a toothbrush or to floss in the enclosed space. This can lead to an increased risk of gum disease and tooth decay with impacted wisdom teeth.

Stephen J. Pyle DDS family dentistry is focused on the overall maintenance of your family’s oral hygiene and dental health including wisdom teeth. We recommend regular check-ups that can prevent the onset of oral health issues before symptoms appear.

What is the treatment for an impacted wisdom tooth?

Since wisdom teeth are not necessary, impacted wisdom teeth are extracted. In fact, it is common to remove even non-impacted wisdom teeth to prevent any chance of them becoming impacted later. The difficulty of the procedure depends on the particular wisdom tooth and its level of impaction. Some wisdom teeth can be easily removed in our Weston dental office while others require a visit to a specialist. Dr. Pyle will be able to refer you to one of the many top area specialists he has established relationships with.

Successful preventative dentistry is at the heart of what we practice. We would rather see you for frequent check-ups and cleanings to reduce the need for expensive and difficult procedures in the future. Read more:

  

General Dentistry : Davie : Horse Riding : Mouth Guard

Horse Riders at Risk for Serious Dental Injuries

General dentistry in Davie can often be presented with challenges not found in other South Florida communities. Davie is a western themed town of 90,000 that holds over 200 professional rodeos a year, has over a dozen stables and offers up riding trails scattered across the city.

In short, the people of Davie love their horses.

At our Weston dentist office we see our fair share of sports related dental issues like cracked teeth, broken teeth, gum injuries and loose teeth usually all the result of playing a contact sport without a mouth guard. It turns out that horse riding can result in the same dental injuries as a contact sport.

Horse Riding among the Most Injury Prone Sports

While there isn't the same volume of data regarding injuries related to horse riding as other more popular sports, one study described horse riding as "the highest risk of injury in an individual sport is associated with horse riding, as a result of falls or kicks."

To avoid falls and kicks, or at least minimize the damage from those events horse riders should use a custom mouth guard when riding.

In our general dentistry practice, we make them for both kids and adults. A custom fitted mouth guard not only protects the teeth but it also assists in holding the jaw in place preventing dislocations.

A strap can be attached to the mouth guard which can then be attached to the strap on the helmet allowing the guard to be easily available. They are inexpensive, are available quickly and offer great protection for such a simple device. If your child is the horse rider, and particularly if that child has braces, you absolutely want them wearing a mouth guard when they are atop a horse.

If you have questions about mouth guards or any general dentistry topic, give our dental office a call and our staff will be happy to help. Read more: 

Weston Dentist : dieting and Oral Health

Dieting and Oral Health

Many Americans resolve to live healthier lives and lose weight. However, they do not often consider the impact of dieting on their oral health.  Many diets either lack essential nutrients, or require a drink or supplement that is highly acidic or sugary.

Acidic foods and drinks attack both the enamel and the underlying dentin, which leads to tooth damage and if left untreated, could result in the need for a root canal or extraction. Sugary drinks or foods promote the growth of bacteria, which can lead to the same thing.

Diet sodas may be healthier in terms of calories, but they are no better in terms of acids. Sodas contain large amounts of citric and phosphoric acids, which can eat millions of holes in your enamel each time you drink one. Sports drinks and energy drinks are no healthier – they share the same flavor enhancing and preservative acids that are often used in sodas. In fact, energy drinks tend to be worse than sports drinks and many diet sodas.  Many sports drinks and diet supplements have a pH value of around 3 – in comparison, water has a pH value of 7, while battery acid has a pH value of 1. This means that with time and continued use, these ‘healthy’ alternatives will actually eat through your teeth!

Liquid diets are also of concern to dental health

Those that rely solely on a meal replacement drink are often damaging as these also have a very high acidic content, and there is no other food to help neutralize the acids.

If you do drink sodas, limit soda intake. It is also better to drink a soda all at once, and then wash it down with food or water – this limits the amount of time that the sticky, acidic residue has on your teeth. Drinking a soda over a long period of time allows the residue to continue to eat through your enamel, even when you are not actually drinking the soda.

Flavored waters are often touted as a healthier alternative to sodas and sports drinks. However, many of the flavors and additives in these waters are very high in acidity – although they are better for your teeth than sodas, they can still cause significant decay.

Call your family dentist in Weston, FL for more information on all of your Oral Health. Read more:

Kids dentistry Weston : Child dentistry : Dental Office

Kids Dentistry Weston – Getting Your Kid Ready for that First Visit

Kids' dentistry can be a challenge for parents particularly that impression forming first dental exam. It's almost as much about child psychology as it is about dental health. At our Weston dentist office we have a method to handle kids as young as 3 years old but we need the parent's assistance to get the most out of it.

How you prepare your child for their first visit goes a long way in determining if the child will continue dental care later in life. Our suggestion is that you schedule an appointment for yourself and bring your child with you. Make a big deal out of having good looking teeth. When the child arrives s/he will find friendly people who make them feel comfortable and offer games, TV and blankets while you have your appointment.

When it's time for that first exam, (their turn at the dentist just like Mommy or Daddy) explain that the dentist is going to "count their teeth" and use a tooth brush to touch each tooth and count them off.

Kid's Dentistry – The Start of a Lifetime Health Habit

Making that first exam an easy experience creates the mindset for later visits. Dr. Pyle is exceptionally experienced with kids in dentist chairs but he will be a stranger the first time.

If you have a question regarding how to best prepare your kid, Dr. Pyle will take the time to explain the best strategies and give you a crash course in child oral health. Read More:

Cosmetic Dentistry : Weston : Teeth Whitening : Restorative

In Weston, Cosmetic Dentistry is About More Than a Great Smile

Cosmetic dentistry is probably the most misunderstood dental term among our Weston patients. Most believe that cosmetic dentistry is strictly about a beautiful appearance and not about dental health. The fact is cosmetic dentistry is finding its way into many restorative procedures.

The advances made in cosmetic dentistry materials and technology easily translate to procedures like fillings and crowns which are considered core restorative services.

For example there is now a material that is the same color of the tooth that can be used in fillings. Traditional silver fillings work fine of course but they announce their presence every time you open your mouth. The new material is just as durable as silver and is nearly invisible. Which would you prefer?

Broken or chipped teeth are not only unattractive but they degrade the ability to properly chew food and in some cases, to speak correctly. Porcelain veneers are a viable alternative to traditional crowns. These veneers are thin, durable porcelain tooth shaped shells that can be easily be bonded to the front of the tooth giving it a healthy "whole" appearance.

There are many other examples where "cosmetic dentistry" techniques and material can be applied to what many patients consider "normal" dentistry.

Cosmetic Dentistry Provides More than Just a Beautiful Smile

We explained above how cosmetic dentistry is a key element of basic dental care. But for almost every patient who takes advantage of our cosmetic services there is an increase in personal confidence and self-image. Those two characteristics can have a huge impact on a person's work, relationships with others and even family life.

Dr. Pyle has been practicing cosmetic dentistry for over 25 years. If you have any questions feel free to call us for our opinion. Read more:

Cosmetic Dentistry : Davie : Fillings : Veneers : Inlay

In Davie, Cosmetic Dentistry is About More Than a Great Appearance

Many of our patients in Davie think cosmetic dentistry is strictly for improving appearances and as such should be considered "optional" in their dental health program. The fact of the matter though is that cosmetic dentistry is about much more than a perfect smile and that "cosmetic" materials and procedures have found their way into "general dentistry."  

While it is obvious that cosmetic dentistry can take a good smile and turn it into a gleaming great smile it also is used to repair painful damaged teeth and unsightly dental problems

Three Cosmetic Dentistry Services that Repair, Strengthen and Even Straighten Damaged Teeth

At Dr. Stephen J. Pyle's dental practice in Weston we offer a full line of "cosmetic dentistry" services and often use them to restore general dentistry issues like cracked or broken teeth and teeth that are slightly out of align.

Here are three examples of how cosmetic dentistry offers our patients far more value than just a pretty smile.

• Porcelain veneers. Cracked teeth or chipped teeth are teeth that are not as strong as they should be and that are susceptible to further damage.
• Tooth colored fillings. Composite fillings now take the place of the shiny silver fillings for small and medium cavities and will appear as a natural part of your tooth while performing the same function as the old metal filling.
• Porcelain restorations. When a tooth needs an inlay or overlay porcelain can be chemically bonded to the tooth strengthening it and restoring a natural, healthy look.

There are many other applications of cosmetic dentistry for "everyday" dental problems. If you have questions on how cosmetic dentistry can help you, give us a call and schedule an appointment with Dr. Pyle. Read More: