Westside Dental Associates

Invisalign is a revolutionary orthodontic treatment that straightens teeth using customized, flexible, clear plastic aligners. The aligners need to be worn for a minimum of 20 to 22 hours per day to be as effective as possible and will gradually shift teeth into new, more ideal positions. If you have bruxism and are interested in undergoing Invisalign treatment, you may be wondering: Can I use Invisalign if I grind my teeth? Keep reading to find out if this is a suitable option for a straighter smile.

Dental implants are the best option for replacing missing teeth. They provide a natural look and can last for several decades or over a lifetime with proper care. However, some patients may need preparatory procedures before receiving implants to ensure that placement goes well. Continue reading to learn about these three preliminary procedures you may need to undergo before you get dental implants.

If you need a dental crown, you don’t have to worry about needing a replacement often. The customized cap is meant to provide a long-lasting solution. However, many factors affect the lifespan of restorations. Here’s how long you can expect your crown to last before needing a new one. 

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Other than when brushing and flossing, you probably don’t spend much time thinking about your teeth, unless you have a toothache. However, your teeth are pretty amazing. They do much more than just grind up food or influence the appearance of your smile. Here are 6 interesting facts you might not know about your pearly whites.

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Bruxism is the formal name for teeth grinding, and it’s remarkably common. Sleep bruxism in particular is very prevalent, occurring in around 13% of adults. If you’re one of them, it may be a good idea to understand how it can affect other aspects of your oral health.

For example, dental implants are one of the most common tooth replacement options, favored for their durability and realistic feel. If you have bruxism, however, that could potentially interfere with the dental implant procedure. If you’re wondering how, here’s a little bit more information about why that might be.

Yellow teeth don’t necessarily have any effect on your oral health, but many people would rather avoid them nonetheless. A shining smile makes a great impression and affords you confidence that can put everyone around you at ease.

However, getting a white smile is easier said than done. There are quite a few things that can yellow teeth if you aren’t careful; here are just a few of them, along with what you can do to prevent them from affecting your smile.

Dental emergencies such as severe toothaches can happen to anyone, and they usually strike when you’re not expecting them. While your dentist has multiple options for treating a wide variety of urgent dental problems, it’s obviously better if you can avoid emergency situations altogether. And while there’s no way to guarantee that you never encounter any dental emergencies, following these 5 tips can make them much less likely to occur.  

Whenever you’re suffering from a medical emergency, your instinct is likely to call an emergency room. But if you have an emergency that involves your teeth or gums, the ER may not be the best option for getting the care you need; generally speaking, when it comes to urgent oral health problems, it’s best to call your dentist instead. Here’s what you need to know to make sure your smile gets the care it needs when it counts the most.

Dental implants are famous for their incredible longevity and their ease of maintenance. They’re the tooth replacement option that feels most like a natural tooth, and taking care of one isn’t all that different from how you’d maintain the rest of your teeth. However, there is one notable exception: the way you floss will likely have to change. If you want to know how to floss a dental implant, and why you’ll have to make changes, here’s a guide that might help.

When the new year comes around, it’s great to commit to changing your life for the better. If there’s something that’s been bothering you or holding you back, now is the time to leave those things behind.

Most of the time, it’s not realistic to expect an overnight transformation. Cosmetic dentistry is the exception. Modern dentistry offers a myriad of procedures that can completely change the way your smile looks, often within a single appointment. If you’re interested in improving your smile, here are a few cosmetic dental procedures that could help.