Harrisonburg Family & Cosmetic Dentistry Blog

Often enough, it’s easy to act passively during dentist appointments. Rather than learn about your oral health, you might want to zone out and let your dentist do all the work. After all, they know more about healthy teeth and gums than you do, right? However, this attitude would likely lower the quality of your checkup. Dentists might not give you the care you need unless you address your questions and concerns. Luckily, your Harrisonburg practice can keep that from happening. Read on to learn four questions to ask during your next dental exam.

Of the estimated 35 million Americans that are missing all of their teeth, around 90% of them turn towards dentures as a solution for replacing their lost pearly whites. And dentures have a lot to offer; they won’t just restore the beauty of your smile, but they’ll also allow you to eat, speak, and smile normally once more. That said, your dentures can only function properly if they fit properly! Ill-fitting dentures can be quite problematic and lead to a slew of different oral health problems. Keep reading to learn more about four of these complications.

It’s estimated that nearly 70% of US adults between the ages of 35 to 44 are missing at least one of their teeth! That said, missing teeth is a serious problem and certainly not something you should just brush off; but what should you do if you find yourself with missing teeth? There are many different treatment options, including things like dentures and dental implants. But can these options also ensure the preservation of your jawbone? Keep reading to learn more about dentures and dental implants, and why the latter can even help to prevent bone loss.

After living with an excruciating toothache or suffering a blow to the mouth, you’re more than ready to get rid of the decay and have your tooth back. After getting a procedure like a root canal to repair your smile, your dentist will have you fitted for a custom crown or other restoration to protect the tooth and complete your smile. Though traditional impressions can be used to do this, they aren’t the only option. Read on to learn how digital impressions can result in a better-fitting dental restoration.

In the United States, 50,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer each year. Your dentist performs an oral cancer screening at your biannual dental visits to keep an eye out for symptoms so they can administer prompt care. To learn more about this condition, read on for information on the different stages, what you can do to lessen your chances of developing it, and how to treat it.

Think you’re “too old” to achieve the smile of your dreams? Think again! Whether you’re interested in straightening your teeth or brightening your smile, your age shouldn’t stop you from visiting your cosmetic dentist. In fact, there are several smile-enhancing treatments that are ideal whether you’re 35, 55, or 75. To learn what they are, read on!

You might be surprised to learn that teeth whitening has been around for thousands of years. After all, people today tend to associate it with Hollywood stars, models, and anyone else seeking a photogenic smile. It’s enough to think that earlier ages would’ve been too focused on survival to care about the issue.

Still, the pursuit of a gleaming smile is as old as humanity. To prove it, here’s a brief history of teeth whitening that spans the practice’s origins up to its present techniques.

The higher your blood pressure is the greater your chances of having health issues are, so maintaining a healthy level is crucial. All your body’s important organs, such as your brain and heart, receive nutrients and oxygen through your blood flow. High blood pressure is very common with more than three million cases per year in the U.S. According to a 2021 report in the journal Hypertension, severe gum disease can make an otherwise healthy person significantly more likely to develop high blood pressure. Keep reading to learn from your dentist in Harrisonburg how you can protect yourself from this dangerous combination.

During a standard dental appointment, you get your teeth cleaned, your mouth examined, and then you’re out of the chair until the next time. However, you’re missing an important aspect of the visit – learning! By asking questions, you can gain a better understanding of your smile and how to better take care of it in the future. After all, who better to learn about oral health from than your dentist in Harrisonburg? Here are some questions you should be asking during your next appointment.

Nowadays you can replace your teeth conveniently with comfortable and natural looking dentures, but it wasn’t always like that. Before there were the advanced replacement teeth you see today, there were the more barbaric methods of gaining your smile back. Read on to learn the evolution of dentures throughout history and where we are now!