How Cracked Tooth Syndrome Affects You

By Arthur Kezian

If you've got tiny fractures in your teeth, you're dealing with something called Cracked Tooth Syndrome. So, how does this change your life?

1.      It causes pain when you're eating

This is the most telling symptom of Cracked Tooth Syndrome -- the pain only occurs when you're eating. Sometimes, it can cause a severe toothache. But, unlike other dental problems, the pain from cracked tooth syndrome will go away when you stop eating. 

However, you won't necessarily experience pain during every meal.  You may only feel pain when you bite into certain foods.  You may even develop tooth sensitivities to hot and cold foods.

2.      It can be difficult to diagnose

Because the pain from Cracked Tooth Syndrome can be so random, it can be difficult to diagnose.  You and your Los Angeles dentist will have to figure out exactly when the pain occurs and narrow down the causes from there.

Adding to the challenge -- in many cases, the fractures associated with Cracked Tooth Syndrome are too small to show up in an x-ray.  Instead, a dentist will have to use special tools to locate the fractures.  It's not a painful or lengthy process, but it is a little more tedious than just snapping an x-ray.

3.      It can be made worse by bad habits

Some instances of Cracked Tooth Syndrome can't be ignored.  If you eat a lot of crunchy foods, you might develop fractures in your bottom molars -- where most of the chewing is done.  Or, if you have a filling in one of your teeth, it can make the entire tooth weaker -- leaving you more susceptible to developing fractures.  Even misaligned teeth can lead to fractures, because uneven bite pressure is being put on each tooth.

However, there are some things you can do to make your Cracked Tooth Syndrome worse.  If you grind your teeth, clench your teeth, chew on ice, or chew on pens, your odds of developing fractures -- or making existing fractures worse -- go up.

4.      It requires quick treatment

As with any dental problem, the sooner you can take care of it, the better.  The longer you put pressure on these fractures, the worse they can get.  And, as you might expect, the worse they are, the more painful they can be.

Unfortunately, if your fractures are severe enough -- like if they go all the way to the roots of your teeth -- your dentist may not be able to fix them.  Instead, he may have to replace the affected teeth with dental implants.

In most cases, though, you can solve the problem with porcelain crowns.  By covering each affected tooth with a crown, your dentist can prevent further damage from happening.

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777 

-N.S.

Take Advantage of Technology with These 3 Dental Advancements

By Arthur Kezian

Back in 700 BC, someone managed to create a set of dentures out of ivory.  Ever since, people have been on the hunt for a cosmetic dentist that could get rid of any imperfections that keep them from having the perfect smile!

In the nearly 3,000 years that have passed since that first set of dentures, we have seen countless new cosmetic dentistry tools and techniques.  These 3 are relatively new, but they'll make it easy for your cosmetic dentist to give you a smile that's perfect!

1.      Dental veneers

In Los Angeles, the pressure to look perfect can be intense.  If you're insecure about your smile, a good dentist can eliminate your worries with some veneers.

What are they?

The dental veneers in Los Angeles are made out of porcelain or resin.  They're very thin sheets, to be exact, that get applied right to the front of your teeth.  That way, your cosmetic dentist can cover up gaps in your teeth, make crooked teeth appear straighter, or even make your teeth look longer.  Plus, the materials that are used to make dental veneers ensure that you'll instantly get a brighter, whiter smile!

2.      Dental Porcelain Crowns

If your teeth need more than just a "cover up", your cosmetic dentist might fit you for porcelain crowns.

What are they?

Similar to the crowns of old, they slide right over each tooth like a little cap and are held in place with special cement.  But instead of being made out of metal, today's crowns are made out of porcelain.  That way, you wind up with a whiter smile, instead of a mouth full of metal!

Because they cover your entire tooth, dental porcelain crowns can actually strengthen broken or damaged teeth.  They can also go over titanium dental implants, so that you get a mouth full of pearly whites -- without having to wear dentures!

3.      Custom porcelain shading

A good cosmetic dentist understands that tooth color is not a one-size-fits-all process.  The right shade will depend on your skin tone and the shade of your existing teeth that aren't getting covered up with porcelain.

Luckily, it's easy for your cosmetic dentist to come up with a shade that works perfectly -- thanks to new custom porcelain shading techniques!  Today, creating the perfect shade is as easy as mixing some chemicals together.  That way, you'll never have to worry about your teeth looking fake or uneven.  Instead, you'll have the bright, healthy smile you've always dreamed of!

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777 

-N.S. 

6 Consequences of Not Calling Emergency Dentist

By Arthur Kezian

If you've been dealing with a nagging mouth ache or a painful tooth -- and doing everything you can to avoid a trip to your emergency dentist's office in the process -- you're putting your entire smile in danger. 

Here's what can happen if you wait too long to see an emergency dental professional:

1.        Nerve damage

It doesn't take much for even a minor tooth problem to turn into full-blown nerve damage.  Even if you're not in blinding pain, you need an emergency dentist to assess the situation.  That way, you don't have to worry about minor problems turning into major ones!

2.        Permanent tooth damage

If your oxygen supply got cut off long enough, you'd expect to suffer some kind of permanent damage right?  Well, your teeth are no different!  After all, your teeth are living things that are attached to tissues and blood vessels that keep them strong and healthy.  The longer your tooth has to go without full access to its tissues and blood vessels, the higher its chances of developing permanent damages.

3.        A tooth that can't go back in your mouth

If one of your teeth gets knocked out, you've got to take immediate action to keep it from dying.  In order to make sure that a dentist will be able to fix your tooth and put it back in your mouth, you'll have to place the tooth in a cup of milk until your dentist can take care of it.  If you wait too long, the tooth can die -- meaning you'll have to get an implant instead.

4.        An infection that spreads

Even relatively minor tooth injuries can turn into nasty infections.  If you don't let your dentist tackle the problem ASAP, that infection can spread to other parts of your body -- leaving you feeling yucky all over.

5.        More extensive damage

If you crack your tooth out at lunch, you might think that you can just keep eating and call your dentist later.  However, each of those bites can lead to worse damage -- like a tooth that breaks completely.

6.        Increased pain

Lots of dental emergencies start off as a dull ache that you can't seem to get rid of.  As minor as it may seem, it's important to remember that dental pain doesn't just go away all by itself.  The longer you wait to let a dentist take a look, the worse your pain is going to get!

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777 

-N.S.