The key to a healthy set of teeth is proper dental hygiene. Brushing your teeth after every meal, flossing, and regularly visiting your dentist are just some of the most common practices of good dental hygiene.

In cleaning your teeth, both your toothpaste and your toothbrush play an important role. Its ability to help on removing plaque and/or clean the surface of the teeth may reduce the risks of gum diseases. But without the right tools, you might be doing even more harm than good.

For most people, choosing a toothbrush might often come down tao just the brand and/or the price. However, unknown to most people, there’s more to it than that. These are some important but overlooked factors that you have to consider when buying the right toothbrush.

1. Size – a good toothbrush must have a head that can easily access the surfaces of your teeth. Using a toothbrush with a bigger head may be too uncomfortable to use as it will be difficult for you to brush the hard-to-reach areas of your mouth. A half-inch or an inch long toothbrush head is ideal enough.
2. Bristles – There are three types of toothbrush bristles: soft, medium, and hard nylon. Soft-bristled toothbrush are the most commonly used by many people since it is the most gentle and most comfortable to use for their teeth. On the other hand, medium and hard nylon bristles are less preferred because it may cause damage to your gums, root surface, or the tooth enamel itself. Tip: Choose the bristles with rounded tips.
3. Experts’ Insights – Regardless if it is a commercial or a promotional campaign, a dentist knows what’s best for your teeth.
4. Brand – Never compromise quality for price. A 5-in-1 toothbrush sale from an unknown toothbrush brand may seem like a sweet deal. However, it may come from a manufacturer who doesn’t put as much priority into safety or efficacy. Going with reliable and well-known brands might be more expensive, but at least their products are guaranteed and dentist approved
5. Handle – One thing to consider as well is the handle of the toothbrush. Make sure that it fits comfortably in your hand as you use it.

Always keep in mind that you have to replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months. If you can’t remember when you last changed yours, it might be time to buy a new one.

And if you need more guidance on improving and maintaining your oral health, turn to Dr. Rowena Marzo of Marzo Dental Clinic. Call us now at (+632) 843 7125, (+632) 886 6498 or (+632) 819 6032.

Sources:

• WebMD – Choosing a Toothbrush
• WebMD – Healthy Mouth Guide
• Best Health Magazine

The post On Choosing the Right Toothbrush for You appeared first on Dr Rowena Marzo Esthetic and Dental Implants Makati.

More than the educational background, skills, and years of practice, the patient’s testimonials and the attitude towards the profession are the important factors that make up a good dentist.

Dr. Rowena Marzo of Marzo Dental Clinic, a premiere dentist in Makati, shared some of her insights on this matter.

Expertise

A dentist should not be limited on what he/she have read from a book or learned from the school. According to her, a good dentist must also be aware of the latest innovations and new advanced technologies being used in the dentistry. This is not just to improve their capabilities but also to give the best treatments for their patients.

In addition, a good dentist discusses his/her treatment plan that is suited to the patients’ needs and expectations. This is to avoid misunderstanding between the patient and the expert as well as to meet the necessities of the patient properly.

She further added that the quality of work and service are two very important requirements that will make a dentist reliable. Hence, patients’ satisfaction through testimonials, good reviews, and referrals are good indications that a dentist is doing really well on his/her practice.

What makes up a good dental clinic?

When asked about how a good dental clinic should look and feel like, Dr. Marzo emphasized the importance of a comfortable ambiance. “The ambiance of the clinic should not make you feel like you are about to have a surgery right away, rather, it should make you feel comfortable and at ease,” she said.

Moreover, having skilled dentists, a friendly and hospitable staff, and well-equipped facilities are the essentials on creating a conducive place for providing dental treatments.

The importance of trust to dentists

Talking about dental treatments, she was also asked about her opinion regarding those who are afraid of going to the dentist. Dr. Marzo thinks that this fear can be associated with mere traumatic experiences of these people in dental offices during their young age. “If their first visit involves teeth extraction, then they will associate pain with the dentist,” she further explained.

“That is why, we need to take our children to the dentist at the age of 2 years old, to familiarize them with the environment, and not only when they have toothache and in pain,” she added.

This is where trust and confidence of patients come into the picture. A good dentist should be trustworthy. Dr. Marzo believes that trust is the cornerstone of a successful patient-dentist relationship. By earning the trust of the patient, he/she will be able to eventually ease the patient’s fears before a dental procedure.

Furthermore, it will be easier for a patient to follow his/her dentist’s instructions and orders if he/she trusts the dental expert. Thus, this will lead to the success of the treatment.

Always know that a good dentist always provides the best and effective treatments for his/her patients and does not settle for less. A good dentist always ensures his/her patients that their trust will always end up with a smile.

Good thing that Marzo Dental Clinic do not just offer reliability and confidence to its patients but also a comfortable ambiance for acquiring best quality dental solutions.  Want to know about the expertise of Dr. Rowena Marzo? Book for a consultation with her and see what quality dental services really means. Keep smiling!

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In our previous article, we talked about two of the most common cosmetic dentistry procedures – teeth whitening and bonding. This time we will be discussing dental veneers and dental crowns.

As the cosmetic industry continues to become well-known, many more procedures are being developed. These procedures are now being applied in order to maintain a beautiful smile and relieve various oral health problems of everyone.

DENTAL VENEERS

Also known as porcelain veneers or dental porcelain laminates, veneers are wafer-thin, tooth-colored, and custom-made shells that are designed to cover the front of the teeth to improve its appearance. Veneers are indicated for discoloured teeth that might be an effect of intrinsic stains such as tetracycline stains.

This cosmetic dental procedure is also applicable for worn down, chipped or broken, misaligned or uneven, and irregularly shaped tooth. In addition, gap teeth can also be repaired using veneers.

These shells can be made from porcelain or resin composite materials. However, porcelain veneers replicate the light reflecting properties of the normal teeth. It does not stain and lasts longer. These are indirect restorations fabricated in the laboratory and cemented to the teeth. While composite veneers are bonded restorations on the facial surface of the teeth which requires conservative tooth reduction and are chair side restoration that can be completed in one appointment. These are minimal in cost as well.

Veneers have a lot of advantages such as providing a natural tooth appearance and it is a conservative alternative for its minimal tooth reduction.

Moreover, veneers can last between 7 to 15 years depending on how you are taking care of it through proper oral hygiene practices.

DENTAL CROWNS

Dental crowns are the fabricated artificial tooth that cemented on the natural tooth to help restore its shape and function for severely damaged, decayed, or aesthetically compromised teeth.

Among the various types of dental crowns are the all ceramic and porcelain crowns such as E.max and Zirconia crowns.

An E.max crown is a strong and durable type of all-ceramic crown that is made of monolithic lithium disilicate ceramic. It has a translucent color that matches the natural pigment of your teeth. In addition, E.max crowns do not include any metal alloy base so there will be no visible gray line around the gum line. E.max crown is recommended to restore discolored or stained teeth, crooked teeth, chipped or cracked teeth, and decayed teeth. It can restore individual teeth and can be used for a three-unit fixed bridge.

Made from its mineral namesake zirconia (scientifically known as Zirconium dioxide, one zirconium’s oxides), a Zirconia crown is also a popular type of all-ceramic crown that is applied to improve the appearance of a stained or disfigured tooth. This is durable, easy to wear and long lasting. Plus, it is safe to use as the risk of allergic reactions with Zirconia crowns are little to none compared to porcelain fused metal crowns. Zirconia crowns are extraordinarily tough and translucent enough to be similar to natural teeth. Zirconium crowns and bridges can withstand the biting pressure of the front teeth as well as back teeth grinding. So if you are a bruxer this is the choice of crown for you.

In addition, permanent crowns can last up to lifetime if properly taken care of.

If you are in need of crowns it is best for you to consult with the experts at Marzo Dental Clinic. Visit our clinic at Unit 1607 Medical Plaza, Amorsolo cor. Dela Rosa Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City or call us at (+632) 8437125, (+632) 8866498 or (+632) 8196032. Keep smiling!

Sources:

• http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/america-asks-12/cosmetic-dentistry?page=3
• http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/veneers#2
• https://www.smartdraw.com/dental-work/examples/dental-veneers-process/
• http://www.docshop.com/education/dental/cosmetic-dentistry/porcelain-veneers
• http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/dental-crowns#2
• http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/cosmetic-dentistry/bridges-and-crowns/article/what-are-dental-crowns-and-tooth-bridges
• http://jamiethedentist.com/dental-veneers/advantages-and-disadvantages

The post Your Introduction to Cosmetic Dentistry: Part 2 appeared first on Dr Rowena Marzo Esthetic and Dental Implants Makati.

It was in the 20th century when Cosmetic Dentistry began its golden age. It became an important factor on achieving the ideas of keeping a beautiful, white, and healthy set of teeth as well as for replacing lost or damaged teeth through creating natural-looking replacements and/or specialized restorative materials.

Since then, dental experts continued to develop more cosmetic procedures that are intended to solve various dental problems. These became common to many dental clinics because aside from the aesthetic purpose of these treatments, these also provide comfort and relief to many patients.

Here are some of the most common cosmetic dentistry techniques that you have to know:

Teeth Whitening

Stained or discoloured teeth? Not a problem anymore. Restore your pearl-white teeth and bring back that bright smile through teeth whitening!

Most people don’t know that their diet and their vices, like smoking cigarettes, can actually affect the health of their teeth. Coffee, tea, and red wine have chromogens which can discolor the outer part of your tooth or the enamel itself.

One of the most common teeth whitening procedures is professional bleaching. This normally involves your dentist putting a rubber shield or gel on your gums to protect them during the process. A whitening product will then be applied to your teeth using a special mould which fits like a mouth guard.

Hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide are the common active ingredients of this whitening product. As this substance breaks down, the oxygen gets into the enamel make the tooth color lighter.

Meanwhile, there is also another chairside whitening procedure called Laser Whitening that only takes 30 minutes to finish. In this procedure, a bleaching material is applied to the teeth and activated by Biolase. It is also a less sensitive procedure as compared to other teeth whitening procedure and can guarantee an 8 to 12 shades lighter teeth as compared to its original shade.

Bonding

Repairing decayed teeth or tooth with abrasions as well as chipped or cracked teeth.

Direct composite bonding  

This procedure uses a tooth-colored restorative material (may it be a resin or a durable plastic material) on the surface of the tooth that experiences discoloration, decay, or abrasion. This can either change the tooth shape or make your teeth look longer and close the spaces in between. In addition, it can also protect the portion of the exposed tooth’s root when the gums have sloped backwards.

The dentist then chooses the right shade of the restorative material that suits the color of your original teeth. The tooth surface will then be roughened and conditioned through a specialized liquid to help the bonding material work for the affected tooth.

The said restorative material will be applied, moulded, and smoothed to the needed shape and will eventually be hardened through a blue, light, or laser. Your dentist will polish it afterwards through trimming and shaping it to match the surface’s gloss of the other tooth. This process may last up to 30 to 60 minutes per tooth.

Dental bonding is also a chairside and one of the most affordable cosmetic dental procedures.

It is highly recommended that you visit your dentist regularly to prevent tooth decay, gum problems and to maintain good oral hygiene. Dental experts can help you determine what treatment need depending on your dental needs.

After all, these cosmetic dental procedures are all intended to maintain your pearly white teeth. That’s why it’s very important also to choose the right dentist for solving your dental problem, hence, Dr. Rowena Marzo of Marzo Dental Clinic is here to give you the best quality dental services. Book for an appointment now!

Tune in for the Part 2 of this interesting topic on our website!

Sources:

• Lakeway Cosmetic Dentistry
• WebMD – Cosmetic Dentistry
• Mouth Healthy
• Oral Health Foundation
• Marzo Dental Clinic
• Web MD – Dental Bonding
• Star Teeth Whitening
• Consumer Guide to Dentistry

The post Your Introduction to Cosmetic Dentistry: Part 1 appeared first on Dr Rowena Marzo Esthetic and Dental Implants Makati.

Nobody wants to lose teeth. Sure, it’s part of growing up. You grow milk teeth, you lose them, a set of permanent ones take their place. But when these break, you’ll be left with a void that only dentures can take. But if you can afford something more lasting than dentures, say, dental implants, why not?

Dental implants involve surgery, obviously, and before you can proceed with that, a couple of things are needed to be taken care of, such as considering the condition of your mouth, if it can handle dental implants.

Which introduces us to Sinus Augmentation.

It is a surgical dental procedure that is done when the bone height in the upper jaw is not enough or the sinuses are too close to the jaw to make way for dental implants.

It involves adding a bone to your upper jaw in the area of your molars and premolars – between your jaw and the maxillary sinuses located on either side of your nose.

However, to make a room for the bone, the sinus membrane should be moved upward or lifted – hence the name, Sinus Lift Augmentation – and is an integral part of getting dental implants.

Open Technique or Window Type Sinus Lift Procedure

There are two ways to do sinus augmentation: open technique or window type sinus lift procedure and close technique lift procedure.

With the open technique sinus lift procedure, your dentist examines the x-ray anatomy of your jaw and sinus. In some cases, a Computed Tomography (CT) scans must be done measure the height and width of the existing bone accurately as well as assess the health of the sinus.

A bone, either from your own body (autogenous bone), a bone from a cadaver (allogeneic bone) or bone from a cow (xenograft) will be used for this procedure. If you opt to use your autogenous bone, a bone from other areas of your mouth or a bone from your hip or tibia (located beneath your knee) will be used.

Your surgeon or dentist will then cut the gum tissue where your back teeth used to be and will be raised to expose the bone and a small and oval window will be cut on it.

According to the Colgate Oral Care Center, there is a membrane on the other window that separates your sinus from your jaw. This membrane is gently pushed up and away from your jaw after exposing the bone.

The granules of the bone-graft material will then be packed in the space inside the sinus. Take note that the amount of bone that will be used may vary depending on the case.

The tissue will be closed through stitching after placing the bone grafts. In four to nine months, only then will the dental implants after the sinus lifts to let the bone grafts mesh with your bone.

Close Technique Sinus Lift Procedure

The close technique sinus lift involves pushing the sinus upward and placing an artificial bone or a packing material right into the space where the tooth was. Within months, the artificial bone will be replaced by the growing bone material of the host.

To insert the artificial bone into the sinus, several small holes will be created to make way for the growth of new bones. Since this procedure is done under local anesthesia, very little pain will be felt by the patient.

The only difference between open technique lift procedure and close technique is where to make the opening. With the open technique, the opening of the sinus will be done above the missing teeth. The close technique, on the other hand, makes the opening on the location of the lost tooth.

Aside from getting dental implants, Sinus Lift Augmentation is also done when:

• There is not enough bone for the implants to be placed because of tooth loss in the upper jaw
• Tooth loss caused by periodontal or gum disease
• The bone might have been absorbed back into the body so there’s not enough bone left for the implant
• There can be an instance where the maxillary sinus is too close to the upper jaw for implants to be placed or located

Sinus lift is indeed one of the most crucial yet most effective ways of improving one’s health. Nonetheless, you must always make sure that you got the best dentist to consult with, just like Dr. Rowena Marzo of Marzo Dental Clinic who is here to provide you the best dental services and give you more reasons to smile! Book for a consultation now!

Source:

Colgate Oral Care Center

Dr. Jerry Kohen Dental Center – Israel

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According to the World Health Organization, there are about 60 – 90% of school children and nearly 100% of adults that have dental cavities. In addition, 15-20% of middle-aged adults (35-44 years old) suffer from severe periodontal or gum diseases. This leads to a notion that oral health problems is becoming worse worldwide. Good thing, it’s not too late to act upon this problem. How can we solve this? It’s very simple – promote the importance of proper oral health.

Various common oral diseases can actually be prevented if we take good care of our oral health properly. Take note, brushing your teeth once or twice a day does not mean you won’t acquire oral health problems, but it’s a practice of proper hygiene everyone should observe.

To give you a specific idea, here’s a list of the most common oral health disorders and how to prevent them.

• Halitosis or bad breath is one of the most common oral health problems. Gum diseases, cavities, oral cancer, dry mouth, and tongue bacteria are just some of the causes of bad breath. You have to take note that this problem does not only concern you but also the people around you. Nonetheless, you can easily prevent having bad breath, aside from brushing and flossing twice a day, by consulting your dental hygienist or dentist on a regular basis.
• Cavities or tooth decay is the second most common disease in United States next to colds. It occurs when a sticky substance on our teeth called plaque combines with sugars or other starches from the food we eat. This unlikely combination creates acid that attacks the tooth enamel itself causing it to decay. Practicing proper oral hygiene as well as eating healthy food and avoiding food and drinks that are high in sugar are the best way to fight this oral health disorder.
• Periodontal or gum diseases is one of the main causes of tooth loss among adults. The two major stages of gum disease are gingivitis and periodontitis. Hence, a regular dental check up with your trusted dentist, like Dr. Rowena Marzo, is highly recommended to prevent occurrence of any gum disease. Having your regular visit to the dentist makes you more aware of your current condition and what are the periodontal treatments needed in order to maintain your good oral health.
• Mouth sores like canker sores, fever blisters, cold sores, ulcers, and thrush. According to VeryWell.com, unless a mouth sore lasts more than two weeks, it is usually nothing to worry about and will disappear on its own.
• Oral cancer is the most serious and deadly oral disease that can actually affect millions of people. There are over 300,000 new cases of oral cancer diagnosed every year, worldwide. This alarming figure should not be ignored and needs to be prioritized as one of the major health concerns of this generation. However, this disease that affects the mouth, lips, or throat is highly curable if diagnosed and treated as early as possible. Early signs of this disease includes white or red patches in the mouth, thickening of the mouth or swelling of the jaws. If you are experiencing these symptoms, it is better to consult your dentist immediately.

Oral health problems are not just the concern of those who are already suffering from these but also everyone. Every person in the world is at risk of having oral disorders so these should be a major health concern that needs to be prioritized.

By means of having proper oral hygiene and consulting your dentist regularly, you can at least lessen or, better yet, prevent having such diseases. Marzo Dental Clinic offers various optimum and affordable oral health care services to make sure that you got a healthy mouth and a beautiful smile.

Come to our clinic and leave with a smile. Book for a consultation with our experts now!

Source:

Very Well

The post The Most Common Dental Problems and How to Avoid Them appeared first on Dr Rowena Marzo Esthetic and Dental Implants Makati.

Tooth loss is still a major problem for many people nowadays, be it caused by tooth decay, gingivitis, other oral diseases, or injury. Dental bridges and dentures are the most common way of treating tooth loss, but as dental care procedures improve, there is a new and more effective way of putting that beautiful smile back – through dental implants.

According to WebMD, dental implants are replacement tooth roots. These implants can give a stronger foundation for your fixed or removable replacement teeth that matches your natural teeth.

Among the benefits of having dental implants to aid tooth loss is having an improved appearance. With your new implanted teeth, you will feel more comfortable and confident about yourself. And since these were designed to fuse with your bone so they look more natural and permanent, you can say goodbye to missing teeth problems from now on and boost your self-esteem.

Meanwhile, you have to know that your speech can be affected when you lose your teeth. You may notice that those who have missing teeth are actually mumbling and slurring their words or are sometimes mispronouncing some common consonant sounds like the letter “S”. Through dental implants, you will be free of these mishaps and speak better than the way you used to.

Dental implants also give better comfort than putting dentures. While the latter can slip from your mouth in no time, implants are fixed to its place so you will not be bothered. Hence, it makes eating easier for you.

When you have dentures or missing teeth, eating can be a little bit hard for you cannot properly chew your food, thus, also affecting the digestion process. These implants acts as your natural teeth so it will allow you to eat with confidence and without pain.

An improved oral health can also be attained if missing teeth will be aided right away through a dental implant. This procedure does not require altering of a nearby teeth in order to support its function, rather, it functions individually and allows easier access in between teeth for a better oral hygiene.

Moreover, the durability and convenience that dental implants can offer is remarkable. If these are properly taken care of, these can actually last for a lifetime. And since taking care of these implants is just the same as how you keep your natural teeth clean, this can never be a problem, unless you have really poor hygiene.

Also through dental implants, you can break away from the embarrassing inconvenience of putting your dentures in and out or applying messy adhesives to keep them intact.

However, even if this dental treatment is easy to maintain, you still have to visit your dentist regularly to make sure that your oral health is properly maintained. Looking for the best dentist in the city? Then visit Dr. Rowena Marzo of Marzo Dental Clinic and see her excellence as she provide the best dental care services in the country.

Source: WebMD

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