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Five Ways Your Cosmetic Dentist in Saugus Can Give you a Beautiful Smile
Get your smile ready for “no mask required” with a Smile Makeover by an experienced cosmetic dentist – Dr. Stephen Petinge, located in the North Boston community of Saugus, MA.
Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic an increasing number of patients have sought out the services of cosmetic dentists for a complete Smile Makeover. Whether because of missing teeth, dealing with discoloration or because of an uneven smile, cosmetic solutions offer the prospect of a more uniform, attractive, magazine-quality smile. Cosmetic dentists, like Dr. Stephen Petinge, are capable of employing a wide range of techniques to help people get that flawless smile. But it’s not only about a straight set of pearly whites. If you’d still like to make some changes to your smile now that you’ve dropped the mask, it’s not too late!
The word cosmetic might make you think that these dentists are only focused on enhancing your smile’s appearance. It’s certainly true that appearance is a big reason why patients seek out these services. The improved self-confidence and body image that comes from having an attractive smile cannot be understated! However, the benefits of working with a cosmetic dentist go far beyond superficial appearance. In fact, the work of a cosmetic dentist can help you save your teeth, fix aspects of your bite alignment that may cause excessive wear on your teeth, and could even dramatically improve your oral health by eliminating areas where food can get trapped and cause dental decay.
Here are a few of the ways in which a cosmetic dentist at our Saugus dental office can improve your oral health and your smile all at once.
1. Porcelain veneers
Your cosmetic dentist in Melrose may recommend porcelain veneers as a way to improve your smile. These are custom-made shells designed to cover the front of your teeth to improve their color and appearance. There are plastic veneers available as well, but porcelain is generally considered the best option for correcting defect in natural teeth.
Veneers are a long-lasting method of improving teeth with chips, spaces or strange shapes, and they also cover up unsightly stains. To make the veneer, the dentist will make a mold with your teeth and then create the veneer in the lab. You’ll need an appointment to get the mold made, then another appointment to get the veneer inserted, and to make sure it is a good fit.
2. Dental bonding
If you have an excessive amount of space in between teeth or have chipped, cracked or broken teeth, dental bonding can be an effective way of resolving this issue. Bonding materials can help to fill cavities or protect exposed roots, and can improve the appearance of your teeth. The bond will last for a few years, though it will eventually start to wear down and could be susceptible to chipping or staining. Bonding is a common cosmetic fix that’s great for restoring your ability to articulate while you talk.
3. Dental implants
Dental implants can be an effective long-term cosmetic solution, but they require more extensive procedures that can be costlier. Where bridges use nearby teeth to anchor replacement teeth, implants are surgically affixed to the jawbone. An implant is simply a post fixed into the jawbone where the tooth root used to be. A dental crown that looks like a natural tooth is then placed on top of the implant to finish off the replacement of the missing tooth.
These implants, installed by a specially trained cosmetic dentist, feature titanium fused to the jawbone, an abutment that goes over the part of the implant that comes out of the gums, and a crown that creates the tooth-like appearance. A couple implants can be a great, stable tooth replacement, though it might not be the most effective solution for more than just a couple of teeth.
4. Implanted dentures
Implanted dentures are a costly option, but are effective for replacing larger numbers of missing teeth and for doing a larger makeover of your smile. This solution is beneficial because it helps you retain bone density through osseointegration—when the bone fuses to the implant. Implant dentures are a scale solution for several missing teeth or degenerative dental problems. Also called all-on-four or all-on-six, the implant supported denture sits on four or six implanted posts. The denture then fits over the implanted posts and does so more firmly than regular dentures giving more power to your bite so the denture won’t slip the way traditional dentures often do.
These dentures make it much easier for you to chew food again and talk without affected articulation or enunciation. Plus, they’ll simply provide a much healthier looking and more attractive smile!
5. Teeth whitening
This is one of the most popular procedures you can have performed by a cosmetic dentist in Melrose, and the most purely “cosmetic” service you’ll find on this list. Over an extended period of time, teeth can become discolored or stained. This is especially common among people who drink a lot of coffee or tea, or people who smoke. Teeth bleaching is one of the simplest ways to begin improving the look of your teeth and can help freshen up your smile and give your face a brighter appearance.
Your dentist will create a custom regimen for you based on your whitening needs, and may even discuss how deep a shade of white you’d like as the end result. You may undergo in-office whitening, or be given a custom mouthpiece tray at home. At-home whitening often takes two to four weeks, while in-office whitening can occur in one or more visits of one to two hours.
Explore the opportunities of cosmetic dentistry
Interested in learning more about what a cosmetic dentist can do for you? Contact Dr. Petinge and his team at Petinge Dental to schedule an appointment. There are plenty of cosmetic dentistry options available to explore—finding the best one that works for you will improve oral health and give you the perfect smile you crave.
How Does Ultrasonic Tooth Scaler Treatment Bring On Sparkling Smiles?
Decades ago, dental professionals discovered that the primary cause leading to gum disease was biofilm. This is a bacterium that grows in the moist environment provided by the mouth. Dental specialists worked hard to develop effective ways of removing these harmful bacteria. Modern technology gave way to ultrasonic dental scaling. The ultrasonic dental scaler is used to remove the hard deposits on the surfaces of the teeth. How does the ultrasonic tooth cleaner work?
How the Ultrasonic Tooth Scaler Works to Protect Your Smile
The ultrasonic dental scaler used by Dr. Petinge helps improve the teeth cleaning experience in many ways. The cleaner involves using a tool designed to send ultrasonic vibrations to the teeth and gumlines. These vibrations remove calculus and tartar. Regular brushing and flossing help keep your teeth and smile looking great, but it cannot remove the tartar buildup. The vibrations sent by the scaler break the calculus deposits apart as the tip can oscillate up to 35,000 cycles per second. Water flows from the tip of the device to help wash away the debris as is removed from the teeth. The water also helps keep the device from overheating.
Benefits of Ultrasonic Scaling
The ultrasonic dental scaler is designed to achieve better penetration into periodontal pockets. The tips are shaped in a way that allows deeper penetration. That means a deeper, more thorough cleaning to ensure your teeth and your smile are preserved.
Reduces Treatment Time
When you compare the ultrasonic tooth cleaner with traditional scaling, it is much faster. That means less time spent at the Saugus Dental office. Dr. Petinge and the dental hygienist will educate you on how to maintain your clean teeth so that they remain free from plaque for longer.
More Effective
Using power instrumentation like the ultrasonic dental scaler is a much more effective method than traditional cleaning treatment. It’s designed to reach difficult spaces so your teeth are cleaned more thoroughly. That helps you keep your sparkling smile intact!
Elimination of Plaque
The ultrasonic dental scaler uses vibrations for removing plaque and tartar. It causes them to break away from the teeth. Plaque is totally eliminated using this cleaning method.
Less Trauma for Gum Tissue
Traditional dental scaling disturbed gum tissue while trying to manually remove plaque. Sharp-cut edges caused trauma to the tissue. Ultrasonic scaling doesn’t cause any trauma to gum tissue or sensitive areas of the mouth. The modern technique greatly reduced the chance of an injury.
More Comfortable for You
Traditional scaling could be quite uncomfortable. Ultrasonic scaling is very comfortable. You won’t be subjected to loud abrasive sounds or hear metal scraping during the scaling procedure.
How Ultrasonic Dental Scaling Saves You Money
By visiting Dr. Petinge for regular checkups and cleanings can help prevent cavities. They can also be discovered at an earlier stage so they are more easily treated effectively before doing more damage to your teeth. A small cavity can end up costing you quite a bit of money. If it’s left untreated, it can lead to the need for more intensive treatments like root canals, tooth loss, or infection management.
Eliminates Bad Breath
Sometimes, bad breath is caused by the foods you eat. But more often tartar buildup is behind halitosis. Removing tartar buildup can often cure chronic bad breath. Brushing your tongue during your daily oral care routine can also help remove odor-causing bacteria.
Ready to Experience Ultrasonic Dental Scaling?
Is it time for your routine teeth cleaning? It’s important if you want to maintain your sparkling smile! Call Saugus Dental today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Petinge. Please contact us if you have any questions about the ultrasonic dental scaler.
What you need to know about fluoride treatment | Stephen Petinge, DMD
We hope that your oral health is a priority to you. If it is, you should learn about all the benefits you can get from Fluoride. To begin with, it’s one of the best overall options for helping fight tooth decay. However, over the last few years, there’s been some confusion about what fluoride is, who needs it, and if it is safe. Some erroneously support going to a fluoride free dentist. But Dr. Petinge, your trusted Saugus dentist offers this information to clear up the misinformation about how important fluoride is to dental health.
What is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a mineral. It’s found widely in nature and is also in some of the foods we consume. It’s the 13th most abundant mineral on the earth. You have probably heard about fluoride since it’s a common ingredient in toothpaste. Researchers back in the 1930s discovered that people who drank water that was fluoridated had a lot fewer cavities than those who didn’t.
Does Fluoride Help Your Teeth?
Demineralization is a term used for the loss of minerals caused by acids that attack tooth enamel. Demineralization unfortunately can lead to tooth decay. Fluoride helps to redeposit minerals on the enamel. This makes your teeth less vulnerable to plaque bacteria and acid.
Does Everyone Need Fluoride?
Many people think that just children need fluoride, but adults need it too. Research has shown that fluoride strengthens developing teeth but can also be beneficial for helping to reduce tooth decay in all ages.
Is Fluoride Safe to Use?
Nearly 70 percent of the US has fluoride added to their water. Its presence in drinking water has spawned over 3000 studies on fluoridation. The CDC has used research to conclude that fluoridation is one of the leading public health measures. The American Dental Association and the American Medical Association have both endorsed water fluoridation. Topical fluoride, like what you find in mouth rinse and toothpaste is deemed a safe and effective way to help prevent tooth decay.
What is a fluoride treatment?
When you come to our Saugus dental office for a Fluoride treatment, the dental hygienist will apply fluoride to your teeth using a swab or brush. You’ll have to wait about 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything. This allows the fluoride time to repair small, microscopic holes in tooth enamel. The fluoride is the same used in toothpaste and mouth rinses, but it is more concentrated and provides faster benefits. A fluoride treatment is a simple way to improve your teeth’s health and reduce the risk of cavities. In some cases, Dr. Petinge may prescribe fluoride supplements to be used for home treatment.
What are the benefits of a fluoride treatment?
If you choose to go to a fluoride free dentist, you may be missing out on many benefits. The preventive benefits of fluoride treatments include:
- Eliminate bacteria that cause decay which reduces cavities
- Makes developing teeth more resistant to decay by strengthening the enamel
- Repairs weakened enamel and help prevent future weakening by improving its ability to absorb minerals like phosphate and calcium
- It’s an affordable treatment that can help delay or prevent more extensive and costly dental work
- Helps prevent premature tooth loss and gum disease
- Help maintain baby teeth
There are many benefits associated with fluoride treatments. Talk to Dr. Petinge about your specific dental needs and how they can benefit you.
Contact Your Saugus Dental Team
When was your last fluoride treatment? A fluoride treatment is one of the most common preventative treatments offered. Call us today to schedule a visit. Dr. Petinge will be happy to discuss how a fluoride treatment can benefit you as well as your children.
How Dental Braces Can Bring on an Awesome Smile for You
If your Saugus dentist has recommended braces, there is a good reason for it. Dental braces are used to straighten your teeth and improve your smile. If your teeth are misaligned, talk to your cosmetic dentist in Saugus, MA about your concerns. Braces slowly move your teeth into proper alignment by using constant, gentle pressure. Here are a few ways dental braces help you achieve a great smile.
More Natural Smile
Dental braces straighten your teeth which results in a more natural smile. When your teeth are aligned properly, it improves your overall appearance and gives you a boost of self-confidence. You’ll naturally smile more when you have a smile you are happy with and proud of. Smiling helps boost your overall wellbeing and health.
Dental Braces Help Keep Your Teeth from Becoming Damaged
When teeth are misaligned, they can touch each other incorrectly. Eventually, this can cause chipping and wearing away of your teeth. For those who have a deep bite meaning your teeth tend to stick out, the front teeth often get chipped. If you have a crossbite, the back teeth are susceptible to fractures. Braces help protect from damage by improving your bite and your smile.
Braces Help Improve Your Dental Health and Preserve Your Smile
Many think that the sole purpose of braces is to straighten your teeth for cosmetic reasons. Of course, straight teeth are more attractive, but they are easier to clean. Braces help improve your oral hygiene routine by making it much easier to care for your teeth properly. Crooked or crowded teeth are difficult to clean. Crevices and crowded spots make great places for food particles, bacteria, and plaque to build up. These spaces also stain more quickly. Crowded teeth make it challenging to brush your teeth well and make it difficult to floss between teeth. People with crooked teeth are much more likely to have tooth decay and gum disease.
Braces Affect the Jaws
As braces realign your upper and lower teeth, it helps your jaws and lips be more proportionate to the rest of your face. As everything lines up properly, it balances out your bite which can also relieve jaw pain. When the TMJ or temporomandibular joint in the jaw is misaligned, it can cause headaches, ear pain, and jaw pain. Braces help align the teeth and bite and relieve pressure misalignment can put on the jaw.
Healthier Teeth and Gums
Properly aligned teeth break down food better which is essential for good digestion. Even though the stomach and gut play roles in the digestive process, it all starts in the mouth. Enzymes in the mouth begin to break down food as teeth grind it into smaller pieces. This aids the body in absorbing nutrients. Dental braces rightly align your bite so that your chewing capabilities are improved. By consuming a well-balanced diet, your body and teeth benefit from nutrients preserving your smile.
Contact Your Cosmetic Dentist in Saugus, MA
Investing in dental braces can provide you with a long-lasting beautiful smile and a host of other benefits including improving your self-esteem and self-confidence. Contact us today to schedule a consultation to learn more about how braces can help enhance your life and your smile.
How to Prevent Trauma to Your Teeth
Sometimes unforeseen circumstances happen, and mouth trauma occurs. Common trauma can include a broken, chipped, or cracked tooth, or a tooth that becomes dislodged or knocked out. Serious injuries may mean emergency dental care or an unplanned dental visit. Trauma can often involve more than your teeth and affect your lips, tongue, or cheeks. Sometimes preventive care can help prevent trauma to your teeth.
Tips for Preventing Tooth Injuries
Wear a Mouthguard
A mouthguard serves many purposes. When playing rigorous sports, kids and adults should wear mouthguards. They can help prevent tooth injuries. A night guard is worn at night to help to prevent tooth injuries for those who grind their teeth during sleep.
Wear Protective Sports Equipment
Some sports have more potential for causing facial or tooth trauma. Football, hockey, rugby, and baseball are rigorous enough that your teeth and face are in danger. You can protect your facial area by wearing a face cage and helmet. Sometimes face guards can be worn in conjunction with a helmet. Without the faceguard, a helmet also protects the head. Even though it might not protect mouth and tooth injuries, it can reduce concussions and other serious injuries.
Likewise, if you are skating or biking, wearing a helmet can be great preventive care. Depending on their design, they can help prevent facial injuries. But they can also save your life or prevent a serious head injury.
Avoid Some Foods
Chewing on hard objects like pencils or eating hard foods like ice or candy can cause damage to your teeth. There are a lot of tooth injuries that occur when someone eats hard foods like nuts. Chewing on hard objects can injure a tooth. Stopping these habits can help prevent tooth injuries.
Wear Seat Belts and Use Car Seats
Wearing a seatbelt could save your life or the life of your loved one should you be in an automobile accident. They can also help prevent injuries to the jaw, face, and nose. Even minor accidents can lead to serious injuries. Small children can be spared serious injuries by being restrained in an approved car seat that is properly fastened into the vehicle.
Wear a Hard Hat on the Job
If you work behind a desk, this may not apply to you. However, if you work in an industrial area or construction area a hard hat can protect you from potential accidents. They are required in some work zones.
Supervise Young Children
Young children are very susceptible to injuring their teeth. Supervising them when they engage in risky activities can help prevent many injuries. When babies begin walking, make sure they don’t have objects in their hands that could cause damage to their teeth or mouth if they were to fall. A toy or even a sippy cup can cause injury to a tooth. Many small children slip in the bathtub and injure a tooth or their mouth. Installing safety gates can keep them out of areas too dangerous for them to play in. Padding on sharp corners on furniture can help protect small children from mouth trauma. Taking preventive measures can help prevent tooth injury for small children.
Let us help YOU!
Wearing mouth guards and other types of protective gear, supervising small children, and wearing seatbelts can go a long way when it comes to preventing mouth trauma and injuries. If you do need emergency dental care, or injure your mouth or a tooth, please call our offices. Let us help you take care of your family’s mouth and teeth.
Trauma to the teeth and mouth can turn very serious. Here are a few tips from Stephen Petinge, DMD to help you prevent mouth trauma.
Five Reasons to Never Miss an Appointment with Your Saugus Dentist
Who doesn’t have a busy schedule these days? It is easy to think you can skip that next dental appointment with your Saugus dental professionals and save some time. It is even easier to consider skipping appointments when you deal with any level of dental anxiety. You may think you are saving lots of time by missing a routine appointment with your Saugus dentist. The truth is, it can cost you a lot more in the long run. A lot!
Generally, you need to see your Saugus dental professional two to three times per year for regular checkups and cleanings. This can help prevent numerous other problems you may not think about until they appear. Let’s take a look at the top five reasons you need to keep your routine dental appointments.
Win the Battle Against Plaque, Tartar, and Cavities
Even when you diligently brush and floss your teeth, areas of the mouth can be missed. Those little areas provide the perfect place for plaque to build up. Once it has solidified, it turns to tartar and it’s difficult to remove without help from a professional. Regular dental cleanings by your Saugus dentist help prevent tartar from eroding the teeth and causing cavities. Cavities don’t usually appear without any warning signs. Regular cleanings can get rid of plaque and tartar before they become destructive. A dental cleaning is less expensive than a filling. So, you don’t want to miss your appointment!
Keep Bad Habits in Check
When you have poor oral habits, your oral health is negatively impacted. Sometimes, you may not even realize your bad habits are causing you issues, or potential problems. Clenching your jaw, chewing ice, grinding your teeth, and biting your nails are just a few examples. If you eat hard, sticky sweets, drink too much wine or caffeinated drinks, or brush your teeth incorrectly, you may be harming your teeth and risking your oral health. During regular checkups with your Saugus dentist, your mouth is examined for any damage caused by unhealthy habits. You may not realize they are causing your damage. Routine visits help keep your oral health in the best shape possible.
Prevent Gum Disease
Gingivitis is often the first sign of gum disease. Poor oral hygiene can lead to bleeding and swelling gums. If the dentist catches gingivitis early enough it is treatable and curable. However, if it is allowed to progress, it becomes periodontitis and can result in the loss of teeth or bone. This can be painful and uncomfortable. In advanced stages, gum disease requires intensive treatment and oftentimes surgery to correct. Keeping your routine six-month checkups with your Saugus dentist can help detect gum disease in its early stages while it is easily treatable.
Oral Cancer Screening
At routine exams, dentists perform screenings to determine if you are showing any signs of oral cancer. If they notice symptoms, you may be referred to a specialist. When it is caught early enough, the progression of the disease is easier to stop. The sooner you get treatment, the easier it is to treat.
Avoid other Health Problems
There is a strong link between your oral hygiene habits and your overall well-being. Your teeth influence most other systems in your body including the digestive, respiratory, reproductive, and circulatory systems. Many serious diseases begin in the mouth. Poor oral hygiene habits can allow a buildup of bacteria that can make its way into other parts of the body via the bloodstream. Making sure your teeth are well cared for can help reduce the risk of infection and inflammation. By reducing the risk of inflammation and infection, you decrease your risk for developing conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
Schedule Your Visit with Your Saugus Dentist
A trip to the dentist every six months can save you money, time, and your teeth. Checkups with Dr. Petinge ensure your teeth, gums, and mouth are in good shape and that you are not at risk for serious oral health problems. Contact us today to schedule your next exam.
What Causes Canker Sores?
Most adults will have a canker sore eventually. These small, painful mouth ulcers show up inside the cheek or lip, on the gum line, or under the tongue. They may appear alone or show up in groups. For many, canker sores are recurrent. Even though they are painful, they usually go away on their own in a week or two.
Are canker sores the same as cold sores?
A cold sore and a canker sore are not the same things. Cold sores are caused by the herpes virus. They are contagious. However, a canker sore is not contagious. Cold sores also appear on the lips or outside of the mouth. On the other hand, canker sores occur on the soft tissues inside the mouth and are not caused by a virus.
What causes a canker sore?
It is difficult to tell exactly what causes canker sores, but hereditary factors, stress, and injury are the most likely causes. In most cases, there is no way to determine the cause. However, for those who have them frequently, it can often be attributed to one of these causes.
Vitamin Deficiency
Canker sores seem to be more likely when there is a deficiency of vitamin B-12. This deficiency can be caused by not consuming enough fruits and vegetables. This is more likely in kids who have an aversion to them. Some studies have also indicated that canker sores can be triggered or caused by the lack of folic acid, iron, or zinc.
Stress or Injury
If the tissue in the mouth is injured, it can lead to a canker sore. It might be something as simple as hard brushing that causes tissue damage leading to the sores. Dentures or braces can rub soft tissue leading to the development of a sore. They are also often caused by accidentally biting the inside of the cheek or lip.
Acidic Foods
Citrus fruits, high in nutritional value, also have a lot of acid. Highly acidic fruits can cause or worsen a canker sore. In general, fruits like lemons, pineapples, or oranges may not directly be the cause. But if an area of tissue is already stressed, the area may react adversely to the acid and cause a sore to appear. When a canker sore is present, it’s best to avoid acidic foods like apples, figs, strawberries, and tomatoes.
Weakened Immune System
Having a weak immune system can make you more prone to sickness, infections, and canker sores. It is difficult to correlate the effect of a weak immune system with the development of canker sores. However, it is likely that when the immune system is not working up to par it will not be able to prevent or repair them quickly. It is also highly likely that gastrointestinal problems and other diseases may contribute to their development.
Can I prevent canker sores?
Dr. Stephen Petinge, DMD, offers a few tips for preventing canker sores. While it may not be possible to avoid them altogether, these tips may be helpful for reducing their frequency.
- Avoid chewing gum as it can irritate the mouth’s tissue.
- Avoid foods that may irritate the inside of the mouth, including spicy foods, citrus fruits, and acidic vegetables.
- Brush your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
- Brush after each meal and floss daily.
Talk to Your Saugus, MA Dentist About Preventing Canker Sores
Most of the time, canker sores go away in a week or so without any treatment. However, in some cases, you will want to schedule an appointment with Dr. Petinge. If the sores are unusually large, recurrent, or don’t heal on their own within two weeks, it’s a good idea to schedule a dental exam. If you are concerned about your dental health or canker sores, contact us today to make an appointment.
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