Our patient Sandy came in to our office looking for an attractive, functional tooth replacement solution. Sandy lost a tooth in an accident, and she quickly discovered that she didn’t look or feel her best with a gaping hole in her smile. Sandy had heard about dental implants, so she scheduled an appointment with our Bloomingdale dental implant dentists to discuss her treatment options.

She already knew that dental implants were surgically imbedded in the jawbone—so they looked and felt like natural teeth. But she worried that they would be difficult to take care of. Would she have to follow some kind of difficult, detailed cleaning routine in order to care for her replacement tooth?

We explained to Sandy that caring for a dental implant is in many ways just like caring for your natural teeth. Patients need to brush and floss regularly, and maintain a schedule of semi-annual professional dental cleanings. Additionally, patients with dental implants should avoid these behaviors:

Dental grinding and clenching

Many patients grind or clench their teeth due to stress or a misaligned bite. You may not even realize that you’re grinding and clenching because you do it while asleep. If you notice that your jaw and teeth are sore upon waking, you may be suffering from this common condition.

Chewing hard candy and ice

Did you know that chomping on hard candies or ice can actually cause micro-cracks in your dental restorations? Over time these cracks can lead to discoloration and weakened dental restorations. Before you undergo dental implant treatment, try to minimize this harmful habit.

Dental implants closely mimic natural teeth, so they are fairly easy to care for. Along with regular dental hygiene, try to avoid grinding your teeth and chewing on hard candies/ice to extend the life of your dental implant. Give our Bloomingdale dental implant dentists a call for more information or to schedule an appointment—630-994-5174.

Our patient Jane came into our office because she wanted to rejuvenate her smile before the holidays. She knew that with a round of holiday parties and family get-togethers ahead of her, she would be in plenty of pictures. Because her teeth were looking dark and somewhat stained, she wasn’t particularly excited about displaying her smile for the world to see.  

Our Bloomingdale cosmetic dentists explained to Jane that she might benefit from teeth bleaching options. Teeth bleach treatments—commonly called teeth whitening treatments—whiten teeth beyond their natural shades. These treatments are available in both home and professional formulations.

So What’s the Difference?

Home whitening treatments are generally gels that are applied to the teeth with a mouthpiece or a strip holding the solution in place. These products have a small concentration of peroxide in them. Consequently, they take weeks or months to work, and they are less effective than professional options. Home whitening treatments are generally less expensive than professional products.

Professional teeth whitening is administered in-office by a dentist. These products have a higher concentration of peroxide, so they can lighten teeth several shades in just one or two appointments. Because your dentist monitors your teeth whitening, he or she can more closely control your results and also help you prevent tooth or gum sensitivity.

Give our Bloomingdale cosmetic dentists a call at (630) 994-5174 to learn more about teeth whitening treatments or to schedule an appointment. We’re here to help you get a smile you’ll love to show off!