Custom oral appliances alleviate symptoms caused by a number of conditions, including bruxism, sleep apnea, TMD, and more. Your dentist can fabricate a mouth guard that fits snugly over your teeth, providing maximum protection and comfort. In this article, we’ll explore the value of a custom mouth guard and explore topics such as: Bruxism, or… Read more »
Metals in dentistry are used to create a variety of restorations, from fillings and crowns to bridges and dental implants. Not all metals are created equal. Some are biocompatible, which means they aren’t harmful to living tissue. In contrast, some metals can be detrimental to health over time. Here, we’ll explore some of the most… Read more »
Brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and flossing once a day are certainly important steps to keeping your smile beautiful, but it’s also important to schedule professional dental cleanings and checkups every six months. Our Lake Forest dentist Dr. James Fondriest wants you to know the benefits of regular dental preventative care examinations and how… Read more »
Cosmetic dental bonding is a simple and common way to improve the look of your front teeth. Bonding is typically used to close spaces between natural teeth, replace worn enamel, re-shape crooked or misaligned teeth, repair broken teeth, and cover stains that tooth whitening treatments cannot remove. While white fillings work well and look great,… Read more »
Your teeth are the most used parts of your body. Therefore, they need to be strong in order to accomplish their duties without being worn down or damaged. They also need to remain strong enough to repel harmful oral bacteria and food particles that could lead to tooth decay. Today, we take a look at what… Read more »
Are you a fiercely competitive person, when on a court, field, or in any other athletic arena? If so, you probably know how great it feels to net a win. Well, when it comes to having a winning smile, the great news is that there are super simple habits you can and should develop to… Read more »
Have you been suffering from dental problems, recently, with pain that is making it difficult to enjoy your meals or even snacks, lately? If so, you may have already considered the fact that you could be suffering from a dental problem, like a cavity or even a tooth infection. But have you considered the many… Read more »
When is the last time you had a dental checkup? Did you know that the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends visiting your dentist twice a year for regular dental checks? However, patients currently struggling with gum disease or prone to developing cavities may require more frequent dental visits. Why are dental checkups important? Your mouth… Read more »
Are you bound and determined to maintain good dental health? While you might know exactly how to lose weight or get in shape, do you sometimes feel confused by what really needs to happen to protect your oral health? Is mouthwash just a marketing gimmick, for instance? Do you still need to visit the dentist… Read more »
The saying goes that admitting you have a problem is half the battle. But when it comes to improving your smile, knowing you have a problem is of little consequence, if you’re still struggling to determine the best course of cosmetic treatment. Understanding what options are available to you, and how each can address different… Read more »
Doing dentistry with less drilling is good for you! It is no secret that many people dread going to the dentist. It takes courage and trust to allow someone to scrape and poke inside your mouth. And what if they find that you need a filling, or worse, a root canal? Many of today’s dentists… Read more »
Have you heard about the oil pulling craze? Basically, it’s using oil as a mouth wash. It may seem “out there” but swishing oil in your mouth for 20 seconds is beneficial to oral health. Research shows oil pulling can significantly reduce plaque, gingival bacteria, and aerobic microorganisms found in plaque. Sesame seed oil, sunflower,… Read more »
Diagnosing some dental conditions takes a little more detective work than others. For instance, a cavity’s presence can be betrayed by the visual signs of decay (i.e., internal tooth discoloration, a visible hole in your tooth, and/or a severe toothache). Gum disease is usually detected by inflamed, bleeding, and receding gums (to varying degrees, depending… Read more »
What are the risks of constant clenching? Your teeth resist stress every day by biting and chewing your food. For some people, that pressure is multiplied by constant clenching and grinding. The habit of clenching your teeth may not produce any symptoms. Or it in combination with bruxism may wear down your teeth enough to… Read more »
If you’ve sustained an injury to the face or mouth, habitually grind your teeth, or cracked or fractured a tooth from trauma or for any other reason, it might immediately become sensitive. The toothache can warn you that your tooth is in danger and prompt you to seek appropriate treatment. However, not all tooth cracks… Read more »
Excessive and uneven gum tissue might not be a concern to you unless you actually have the cosmetic problem. Often referred to as a “gummy” smile, the cosmetic problem causes your smile to appear off due to excessive gum tissue overlap that obscures your teeth and gums. One result of a gummy smile: You may… Read more »
Has your dentist or hygienist ever really shown you how to floss? Daily brushing and flossing keeps your teeth and gums clear of the food and bacteria that breeds gum disease and tooth decay. Following the American Dental Association’s recommendation of brushing at least twice a day and flossing once a day is crucial for good… Read more »
A scientific team from the Athlone Institute of Technology in Ireland has suggested that tooth decay prevention could be added to the list of coconut oil’s benefits. In the ongoing effort to understand, treat, and hopefully defeat some of our most ominous oral health issues, the team from Ireland hopes to be able to incorporate… Read more »
A prehistoric tooth containing traces of beeswax used as cavity filler has sent a ripple of excitement throughout the history of dentistry. The tooth was discovered as part of a human mandible—or jawbone—in Slovenia near Trieste. There is very little evidence of prehistoric dentistry, thus any finding of this nature is of extreme significance. In… Read more »
When was the last time you sat down to enjoy a meal, without fear that your denture would shift about uncomfortably as you tried to chew? What about smiling? Does it feel like ages since you actually smiled confidently, without feeling concerned that your friends or family would fixate on your incomplete smile? If so,… Read more »
While the American Dental Association (ADA) continues to endorse the use of amalgam fillings, there has been widespread debate on their use since the 1800s. Because amalgam fillings contain inorganic mercury, some non scientific studies link them with mercury poisoning, which can cause serious problems with the brain and nervous system. Symptoms include memory loss,… Read more »
Achieving your dream of a beautiful smile can be a daunting challenge to some. The challenge comes in picking the right cosmetic expert, making the right treatment choices, and most importantly, overcoming the emotional stress. Finding a dentist that will work with you makes things easier. Going through a collaborative cosmetic dentistry process is the… Read more »
Which is better, a dental bridge vs implant? The importance of replacing missing teeth cannot be overstated. Each of your teeth has a specific function. When one tooth is lost, the other teeth begin to sustain this loss by shifting. This shifting can lead to a misaligned bite, also called malocclusion. Malocclusion can cause a… Read more »
Some of the most popular products available today are energy drinks. These energy drinks damage teeth. It comes as no surprise that Americans love the stuff. Between 30 and 50% of teens alone consume them. The contents of these drinks promise long-lasting energy boosts through caffeine, sugar, and herbal ingredients. The effectiveness and safety of… Read more »
The tongue is one of the most overlooked parts of the mouth. You have probably been told many times not to neglect brushing your tongue when you clean your teeth. Despite being frequently forgotten, your tongue is very important. The tongue has three major functions. It assists with chewing food and pronouncing words properly along… Read more »
Did you know that sports drinks are dangerous? Dr. James Fondriest encourages his patients to live an active lifestyle with plenty of cardiovascular exercise. Many of us are concerned about staying hydrated throughout the day and sports drinks are a common choice for maintaining a healthy level of hydration. Although beneficial ingredients in sports drinks like… Read more »
Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. Your smile (or lack thereof) shows whether you are a happy or more subdued person. It can also provide information such as: if you are an extreme-sports athlete (chipped teeth), if you are a wine or coffee drinker (stained teeth), or if you’ve… Read more »
Though Dr. James Fondriest is a skilled cosmetic dentist, he also provides high quality general dentistry. Each patient is important to him, so he spends time focusing on every detail of their dental health and chooses the most conservative dental treatment possible. He also makes patients feel welcomed, relaxed, and comfortable while they are in… Read more »