For years, mouthguards were used in contact sports like football, boxing and hockey, but seldom in other sports. That has begun to change in recent years, a change welcomed by the American Dental Association. There are three main types of mouthguards: boil and bite, custom made and ready to use. The ADA has two different councils that encourage proper use of mouthguards and offers a seal of approval. To earn that seal, a mouth guard must scientifically prove its safety and effectiveness. Requirements to earn ADA

If you need a root canal, it is best to get the procedure done right away and not allow the problem to get worse by putting it off. However, some people may not even know they need the procedure. Being aware of the causes of the problem, the symptoms, and what can be done about it are important for prevention and early response that may prevent an emergency. Why You Might Need a Root Canal Root canal procedures are usually necessary when the soft tissue inside

During the holidays, we are repeatedly tempted with sticky caramels, chewy cookies, seasonal hard candies and more. Would you know what to do if when biting into your favorite treat, your filling came out? A lost filling is rarely convenient. Now you may be wondering what you should do. Until you can see your dentist, you’d need to keep the area as clean as you can. Trapped food and bacteria can accelerate tooth decay and make it more difficult to restore your tooth. Here’s what you should

What are Wisdom Teeth? Wisdom teeth are the molars located in the very back of the mouth that don’t begin growing until at least the age of 16. There are four of these teeth in total, two situated at the top of the mouth and two situated at its bottom. They typically take a few years to fully grow in, although some people never get their wisdom teeth. When is Wisdom Teeth Extraction Necessary? The following issues may indicate you should consider wisdom teeth removal:

Crown lengthening is a surgical procedure in which gum tissue and sometimes bone is removed to expose more of a tooth. It is often performed when a tooth that needs to be fixed doesn’t stick out enough from the gums to support a filling or crown. A crown lengthening procedure is often necessary when a tooth breaks at the gum line, but it may also be performed if a significantly decayed tooth loses a crown or filling. In other cases, a crown can be lengthened

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM EVERYONE HERE AT CASTLEBURY! This is truly my favorite time of year, especially when it works out to be a low-key Christmas like this year. We’ll be home for Christmas, and we look forward to another cozy holiday together. We will spend New Year’s in McCall with my wife’s family, where we will celebrate the passing of another year and look back on all of our accomplishments in 2016. We started 2016 off by beginning the slow transition of our family sports

You visit your dentist’s office once or twice a year for a cleaning because you know it’s important, but did you know that visiting your dentist does more than protect your mouth? Surprisingly, dentists can be the first line of defense in identifying signs of serious diseases. Read on to discover the symptoms dentists are trained to watch for and the variety of diseases they can detect. Heart Disease If you have loose teeth and gums with lots of inflammation, you most likely have gum

Pregnancy causes major changes to a woman’s body and health. These same hormonal changes can also cause concern for the health of your teeth. Many women are able to get through a full-term pregnancy without dental issues. However, pregnancy can cause old issues to get worse and cause new issues to pop up. During pregnancy, it is important to get regular dental check-ups and make an appointment with a dentist if any issues arise. The following are a few important issues to watch for. Pregnancy

When you are sick with the cold or the flu, your entire body may feel sore, including your teeth. Sinus inflammation is the primary cause of most illness related tooth pain. The upper molars on both sides of the mouth are positioned directly underneath the maxillary sinuses. The nerves of the teeth are extremely sensitive to any type of pain or pressure. When the sinuses are full and causing pressure, or when there is inflammation of the lining of the sinuses, this will often cause

The desire to achieve a whiter, brighter smile has been long been plagued by DIY methods to accomplish this goal, some of which are more detrimental than good. It’s important to research trends as they pique your interest and talk to a professional if necessary. One such recent, popular teeth whitening trend involves using activated charcoal. Consumers purchase activated charcoal caps from their local market and combine them into a paste before brushing with the mixture. After leaving it on for 3-5 minutes, they then wash