What is Dentin
The dentin contains a large numbers of pores or tubes that run from the outside of the tooth to the nerve in the center. When the dentin is exposed, these tubes can be stimulated by changes in temperature or certain foods.

How Do You Know If You Have Tooth Sensitivity
The best way to find out why a tooth is sensitive is to have your family dentist examine you. They can look for the signs of dentin exposure and even run tests to determine what the true cause of the sensitivity is. Your cause of the sensitivity may be due to abrasion or erosion, or the gums have receded, causing the roots to be exposed.

What Can You Do?
If your sensitivity is due to a cavity, a restoration can be placed. Also, if it is due to gum disease, the dental professional can perform a thorough cleaning of the area.

There are a number of dental treatments available, and a good family dentist, like Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa, can help you find what works for you depending on your situation. Always seek a dental professional’s help – do not try to diagnose this problem yourself because it may be more serious.

In the past, people found their dentist by simply choosing them from a phone book or solely based on insurance coverage. Today, there are many options. The search for the right dentist might take a bit of work but the results include better health and progress toward the perfect smile—making it all worthwhile.

The best way to find a reputable general dentist is really by referral from a friend or family member. They can tell you the good and the bad, and then you can make the final determination. However, what if you don’t get an informative answer from people? Maybe you’ve moved recently to a new neighborhood? Perhaps, like many Americans, you’ve simply put off going to the dentist for so long that you don’t know where to start.

For starters, finding the best dentist for you is really on individual and family preferences. In the end, it’s a personal choice. Your friend’s dentist may not have the personality or bedside manners that you or your children prefer. Nevertheless, asking your neighbor for a referral of a family dentist is an ideal place to start your search. Then visit the doctor and ask questions.

Aside from asking people you know, the internet is a great source of information. There are a myriad of dental sites and directories. A dentist’s website can tell you a lot about their practice from the type of insurance they take, to the doctor’s background, to the type of procedures to even what the waiting room looks like. They may even have a testimonials with recommendations from people and businesses.

If you are in the Plymouth area, visit our dental office at Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa. We offer an array of dental treatments including cosmetic dental work. If you have questions you can call and email us too.

It’s true — many of our past ancestors just accepted the idea that they would have no teeth in their later years. Some of us may even remember seeing teeth floating around in a glass by the bed or when fake teeth could not be located.

Today, adults in their 50s and 60s don’t have to accept bad or no teeth as they age. Advanced cosmetic dentistry has made it possible for most aging adults to keep their own teeth for a lifetime. On top of this, aging teeth can still look beautiful and healthy as well.

Should you consider cosmetic dentistry?

• You don’t have to live with stained, crooked or missing teeth or receding gum lines anymore. Treatments to consider include porcelain crowns, acrylic veneers, advanced whitening, and bonding procedures and implants.
• Start with healthy teeth and gums. More research shows that unhealthy teeth can lead to certain diseases, including heart disease and even Alzheimer’s.
• Decayed or rotten teeth not only look bad but can result in an unhealthy body in later years.
• It is true that you can stall aging for a while with face lifts, Botox and hair coloring, but these don’t last forever. However, if you take care of your teeth, it can last you for the rest of your life.

If you want to keep you youth, look at your teeth. A great healthy white smile–and the confidence that comes with it–is priceless. You will also look like you found the fountain of youth too!

• The type of toothbrush IS important. There are many types of toothbrushes, but you should use a soft-bristled toothbrush to reach every surface of each tooth. If the bristles on your toothbrush are bent or frayed, it is time to buy a new one. If you have been sick, make sure you replace your toothbrush after you become well and also every three months.
• Most toothpaste has fluoride but some don’t. Choose toothpaste with fluoride. This can reduce tooth decay by as much as 40 percent.
• Take the time to brush your teeth properly. Position the brush at a 45-degree angle where your gums and teeth meet. Gently move the brush in a circular motion using short, gentle strokes. To clean the inside surfaces of the upper and lower front teeth, hold the brush vertically. Spend at least three minutes brushing.
• You MUST floss. Brushing is not enough. Gently insert floss between teeth using a back-and-forth motion. Do not force the floss or snap it into place. Curve the floss into a C-shape against one tooth and then the other. Get a recommendation from your dentist on the best type of floss – they may even have some samples!

If you have been searching for the best dentist for you and your family, why not visit our office, Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa. Our Plymouth family dentistry offers general dentistry for your entire family plus cosmetic treatments to get your teeth in tip-top-shape. You can even make an appointment online!

Women are more aware of their appearance for interviews and make sure their smile looks healthy and clean. In fact, men are less likely to visit the dentist than their female counterparts, which means their smiles are a bit on the “yuck” side. People look at the mouth often, and a healthy smiles shows their potential hire is confident and can take care of things.

Why are men avoiding dental visits?

Men don’t see a need to go to the dentist because of time or the pure “hassle” of it. Some just don’t have a dentist and maybe a bit on the lazy side to find one. However, studies are showing the economy is helping more men get into the dental chair . . . for cosmetic dental work.

Teeth bleaching, veneers and bonding are requested often by men because they notice the positive effects from a colleague’s nicer smile and learn the winning smile moves them up in the business world. And, we all know that moving up means more money.

With downsizing, lay-offs and company closings all across the country in every industry, men and women need to do anything they can to get a competitive edge. This may mean losing weight and getting better teeth. Employers are pickier these days and considering appearance, whether they admit it or not, as a big factor.

Although men are still avoiding the drill or the check-ups. However, the cosmetic dental treatments that they are appealed to are encouraging men to take care of the teeth a bit better.

If you need to improve your smile for an upcoming job or just need to see the dentist for a routine cleaning, visit our office at Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa. We are a Plymouth cosmetic dentistry that offers cosmetic dental treatments including teeth whitening. We’ll make sure to get your smile “interview” ready.

With a society focused on physical appearance, it is natural to want nice, white teeth that look healthy. In fact, we all know that healthy looking teeth are a big confidence booster. However, during stressful periods, people sometimes make hasty or wrong decisions. So, what should someone seeking possible dentures do?

If you are considering dentures, you should seek counsel from an honest, passionate, and educated general dentist who may also be an expert in the area of cosmetic dentistry. He or she can advise you of the pros and cons of dentures versus saving your natural teeth.

The Process

• Before getting dentures, you need to have a full examination, a full set of X-rays, and a lengthy examination. But, just because you get dentures doesn’t mean all your dental problems are over. There is a common list of problems associated with full dentures.
• Due to the hard piece of plastic pressed against your delicate gum tissue, you will feel pain
• You will find that your dentures will get loose as the bone and gum underneath shrinks and realigns.
• Be aware of a clacking noise, which can be embarrassing to some people.
• If you are a food lover, dentures may affect the way food taste since your palate is covered by the upper denture.
• You may develop sores in your mouth.
• Dentures often look artificial.
• Your face looks older without them in.

In this age, keeping your natural teeth as long as possible with more cleanings and careful examination by your dentist and hygienist is certainly the way to go. If tooth loss occurs, permanent bridges or dental implants are a more natural option as they are most similar to your original teeth.

Visit an experienced cosmetic dentist, like Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa. We are a Plymouth cosmetic dentistry that can guide you in the right direction in regards to you dental treatments. We strive to make your smile healthy and beautiful.

What are they?

Here’s a list of the top foods to eat for white, healthy teeth.

• 1. Green Tea has a well-deserved reputation for providing many benefits. With teeth, green tea offers up natural antioxidant compounds that prevent plaque from accumulating, therefore reducing the risk of cavities and bad breath.
• 2. Anything dairy is low in acidity and sugar making them great choices to quench your thirst or have as a healthy snack. This is good news for both tooth erosion and tooth decay.
• 3. Fruit is great for your teeth especially when eaten in whole, raw form. It keeps down plaque and massages your gums.
• 4.All kinds of vegetables are another good idea if you are trying to build a good foundation for your teeth. Broccoli, carrots, sweet potato and pumpkin are rich in Vitamin A – great for your teeth.
• 5.Oh, the stinky onion – yes onions — are rich in powerful anti-bacterial sulphur compounds, which kill the bacteria that harm your teeth and gums.
• 6. Celery is another great friend of the dentist. Eat it raw and it will not only massage your gums, but clean your teeth. This is a natural toothbrush.
• 7. Sesame seeds, which are best combined with bread and rolls, dissolve plaque and help build tooth enamel. The tasty seeds are also rich in calcium, which will keep your teeth and jawbone healthy.
• 8. Water is great for your health and teeth! Drink more of it.

Visit us at Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa for the best dental care. You can even make appointments online.

Good looks, especially white teeth, for events and interviews are important for the stars of film and music . . . and even professional athletes. With white, shiny teeth, they can intermingle well with others and show them that they have grace, sociability and beauty. In fact, if they had yellow teeth, they would be on the gossip magazines as a celebrity who doesn’t know anything about dental hygiene.

With all the movie starts getting their teeth whitened, this treatment is not a trend that will go away. Celebrities are making sure to get their teeth whitened products to look good, but this procedure actually helps them become more confident about the way they look – something they need in the competitive culture they live in.

What is teeth whitening? Also referred to as teeth bleaching, it refers to different cosmetic dentistry procedures for individuals, such as Hollywood celebrities, who simply want to have whiter teeth and look good. Tooth whitening also sends the message, even in Hollywood, that looking great does not mean trying to just be a beauty to everybody with fashion and makeup. It can start with the way we take care of our teeth. With celebrities getting teeth whitening, it helps their fans understand that this is something they can do because the treatment is available from a dentist near them.

Of course, teeth whitening products are widely offered online and in local stores. Just be careful when you purchase teeth whitening products. You cannot compromise your safety, right? Thus, consulting with your cosmetic dentist would be the best thing to do prior to purchasing over-the-counter teeth whiteners which can cause sensitivity and other issues.

So want to look like a million bucks plus promote healthy teeth? Make that smile bigger through cosmetic teeth whitening. You don’t have to be a star to feel and look like one.

Visit us at Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa. We offer many types of cosmetic dental treatments including professional teeth whitening from our SmileSpa! You can even make an appointment online.

Facts On Wisdom Teeth

First, several factors need to be considered when evaluating wisdom teeth: The condition of the second molar, the presence of gum disease, the age of the patient and the risk of dental crowding are all things to consider. . .

Adults have 32 teeth in their mouth, which includes the second molars, located immediately in front of the wisdom teeth. When evaluating wisdom teeth, it is important to evaluate the health of the second molars to make sure they are not compromised by the position of the wisdom teeth.

Many people don’t realize that wisdom teeth can grow in a variety of positions: Sometimes they grow straight up like the rest of the teeth, but other times they will grow sideways or toward the second molars, causing some major space issues. All this needs to be looked at closely before the consideration of removal takes place.

Growing Older and Wisdom Teeth

More and more studies have shown that older adults have a higher risk of having a periodontal defect on the second molar when wisdom teeth are present. Also, the incidence of cavities on wisdom teeth also increases with age. As far as complications after surgery, the risks of post-op complications and recovery time both increase with age, especially in patients 25 years of age and older.

On the other hand, early removal of wisdom teeth, basically when the roots are hardly there, has been shown to result in very predictable and successful outcomes, with hardly any gum pockets, dry sockets, nerve injury or infections developing post-operations. It seems to the case that early removal of wisdom teeth is much better for the patient.

Talk with the dentist and staff at Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa if you think your wisdom teeth are erupting. We can give you an idea what to expect. Visit us online!

Here are some trivia for your weekend!

Did you know that. . .

• George Washington had several dentures made of hippopotamus, cow, walrus teeth and elephant’s tusks!
• A $250,000 mechanical mouth developed by dental researchers can duplicate a year’s worth of chewing in 24 hours and take four bites per second!
• Tooth decay remains the most prevalent disease in the United States – the cold is the first.
• Athletic mouth guards have been credited with preventing many sports injuries each year. The total number of orthodontic patients has doubled since the 1970s.
• Cheese is good for your teeth! Certain cheeses, including aged cheddar, Swiss and Monterey Jack, have been found to prevent tooth decay.
• In the past, dentures were common wedding gifts in the British Isles because many people expected to eventually lose all their teeth and hurried the process along by having them extracted at an early age.
• Chinese medical books have indicated potential value in the prevention and treatment of tooth decay and gum disease with herbs – about 60 of them. These herbs may be added to toothpaste and mouthwashes in this country in the future.
• American’s best-known author of western novels, Zane Gray, was a dentist before becoming a writer.
• As crazy as it may be, there is a name for the soreness that results when you burn your mouth on melted mozzarella- it’s called “pizza palate”.
• Americans spent $322 billion on health care in 1982, and of that amount, dental care expenditures totaled $19.5 billion- only 6 percent of the nation’s total health care bill.

If you are looking for a family dentist, consider coming to our dental office, Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa. You can even make an appointment online.