Consequences of Missing Teeth

Although tooth loss is typically associated with the elderly, missing teeth can occur in adults for a variety of reasons. Whether you’ve lost a tooth to decay, or injury, tooth loss can rob you of much more than the ability to chew and properly digest food. It can have serious social, psychological and emotional consequences as well. At Smiles of Cary in Cary, we don’t want you to experience the consequences of a toothless grin. This is why we offer a wide variety of restorative and cosmetic options to give you the smile you’ve always dreamed of.

The most obvious effect of missing teeth is aesthetic. When a tooth is lost, the facial muscles begin to sag, making you appear older than you are. Additionally, missing teeth will make it more difficult to chew and may even affect the way you speak. The more teeth a person is missing, the more challenging the task to replace them can become. It can also be costly. It is important to have regular dental visits with us to prolong the life of your teeth. 

If you have missing teeth, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.smilesofcary.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Charles Ferzli at Smiles of Cary in Cary, NC, call 919-462-3350. 

Canine Exposure

Occasionally, teeth need help so that they erupt properly. A common tooth that needs help is the canine tooth. Here at Smiles of Cary in Cary, NC, we can perform canine exposure for our patients so that their canines grow in healthy.

When a tooth is impacted, it cannot fully grow in; often becoming stuck. This often happens when there is not enough room in the mouth, commonly trapping canine teeth. They do not move past the bone and gum tissue that surrounds them. Impacted teeth can cause major pain and they can end up doing damage to the teeth that surround them. They can wear down on the teeth or make them more susceptible to injury due to the pressure they cause. In addition, they can create hard-to-reach areas that collect bacteria.

In our Cary, NC office, we can help an impacted canine tooth emerge correctly. First, we will make an incision in the gums where the canine tooth is impacted. We will then attach a brace to the tooth to gradually guide the tooth down into the right position.

Impacted canines can affect both your oral health and the appearance of your smile. It can also affect the way you eat. If you suspect your canine teeth are impacted, schedule an appointment with us. To schedule at Smiles of Cary in Cary, NC, call us at (919) 462-3350 or visit our website, www.smilesofcary.com. 

Crown Lengthening

Crown lengthening is a necessary periodontal procedure when there is not enough of the crown available to work on a tooth. In addition, it can be used cosmetically when there is excess gum tissue covering up some of the crown, making teeth appear short. We can perform crown lengthening here in our Cary, NC dental practice, Smiles of Cary.

A crown lengthening procedure is not actually adding tooth material; it instead removes gum tissue to expose more of the crown of a tooth. The crown part of the tooth is what shows outside the gums. Crown lengthening is needed in cases where there is decay under the gumline, or when a tooth needs a replacement crown, but there is not enough tooth above the gums to work with. Cosmetically, it can be used when a person has excess gum tissue. Often referred to as “gummy smile”, this condition makes the teeth appear shorter than they really are.

To start the procedure, incisions are made to the gums to allow them to be pulled back. In some cases, when the tooth needs to be worked on below the jaw bone, that will be removed to gain access to the tooth. The gums are then cleaned and stitched into place. Even if only one tooth needs to be worked on, several teeth in the area have the gums pulled back so they can heal in a natural-looking line.

To learn more about the crown lengthening procedure, be sure to visit our website. To schedule an appointment with Smiles of Cary in Cary, NC, call our office at (919) 462-3350 or visit our website, www.smilesofcary.com. 

Choosing Toothpaste to Meet Your Needs

When stepping foot into the oral hygiene aisle at the drugstore, our staff at Maiden Lane Dental understands that the selections of toothpaste can be overwhelming. Should you go for tartar control, fluoride, sensitive or whitening toothpaste? When it comes to choosing the toothpaste that is best for you, it’s important to consider your unique oral health needs. The best way to discover what those are is by scheduling an oral exam with Dr. Charles Ferzli at Smiles of Cary. In the meantime, here are some options to consider while browsing:

• Anti-cavity: This type of toothpaste contains fluoride. Fluoride plays an active role in preventing decay, and it actively strengthens tooth enamel.


• Anti-gingivitis: If you spit blood in the sink, this is an early sign of gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease. Anti-gingivitis toothpaste helps reduce oral bacteria and can be very effective at stopping gingivitis in its tracks.


• Desensitizing: If you’ve ever bit into an ice cream cone and felt a sharp pain in your tooth’s nerve, this type of toothpaste will provide relief by blocking the tooth’s pain signal to the nerve.


• Tartar-control: This toothpaste does exact what it says, however, the best way to remove tartar is by scheduling a professional dental cleaning with one of our doctors.


• Whitening: This toothpaste contains chemicals that are able to help maintain the natural color of your teeth.

If you have questions about dental health or oral care, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.smilesofcary.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Charles Ferzli at Smiles of Cary in Cary, NC, call 919-462-3350. 

Invisalign

Invisalign

Here at Smiles of Cary, we offer you experience, advanced technology, and the latest Invisalign braces treatments to give you a more comfortable, faster straight smile without having to wear traditional metal braces. You can see results in as little as 12 months. If you are looking for straighter, more beautiful teeth, you might want to consider Invisalign.

What is Invisalign?

Our Cary, NC dentist, Dr. Charles Ferzli, B.Sc., D.D.S., DABCP, DABCP-CDSM, creates a series of clear plastic aligners that move your teeth gradually. These aligners are generated through a computer program and are custom-fit for your mouth and teeth. Invisalign clear braces are recommended if you have mild to moderate crowding or spacing. They are comfortable and easy to wear and virtually unnoticeable'.

Why Choose Invisalign Braces?

You don't just get invisible aligners either; you also get removable aligners so you can eat and drink whatever you want and brush and floss as normal. There are no metal brackets or wires filling your mouth, which means fewer visits to Dr. Ferzli. You can even take a peek at your own virtual treatment plan before you begin treatment to see what your teeth will look like after treatment.

Give our Cary, NC dental office a call at 919-462-3350 to set up your initial consultation with Dr. Ferzli to have your questions answered. Within 12 months of choosing Invisalign braces, you can be proud of your brand new smile. Contact us today to see if you are a good candidate for Invisalign braces.

www.smilesofcary.com

Choosing the Right Mouthwash

Mouthwash or rinses are used for a variety of reasons: to freshen breath, to help prevent or control tooth decay, to reduce plaque, to prevent or reduce gingivitis, to reduce the speed that tartar forms on the teeth, or to produce a combination of these effects.  Mouthwash has a few beneficial properties and Dr. Charles Ferzli of Smiles of Cary would like to explain some of them.

• Antimicrobial agents act directly on oral bacteria to help reduce plaque, decrease the severity of gingivitis and control bad breath.


• Fluoride helps reduce tiny lesions (tooth decay) on tooth enamel and make teeth more resistant to decay.


• Astringent salts can serve as temporary deodorizers that mask bad breath.


• Odor neutralizers act by chemically inactivating odor causing compounds.

If you have questions about dental health or oral care, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visitwww.smilesofcary.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Charles Ferzli at Smiles of Cary in Cary, NC, call 919-462-3350. 

Importance of a Maintaining a Healthy Mouth

If you maintain an excellent oral hygiene routine, it results in a mouth that looks and smells healthy. This means your teeth are clean and free of debris, your gums are pink and do not hurt or bleed when you brush or floss, and bad breath is not a constant problem. At Smiles of Cary in Cary, NC Dr. Charles Ferzli and his team of hygienists take pride in teaching proper oral hygiene techniques to patients. Additionally, they will point out areas of your mouth that may require extra attention while brushing and flossing at home.  

Taking good care of your mouth – teeth and gums – does more than help ensure you have a bright, white, smile. The mouth is the doorway to our body and its first line of defense. It performs essential functions than any other part of the body. Good oral hygiene and oral health can improve your overall health, reducing the risk of serious disease and perhaps even preserving your memory in your golden years. When your mouth is unhealthy, your body will feel the effects in many ways and your health in general, will suffer. In between regular visits to the dentist, you should be brushing thoroughly twice a day, flossing daily, eating a balanced diet and limiting snacks between meals, as well as using dental products that are approved by the American Dental Association (ADA).

If you have questions about dental health or oral care, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.smilesofcary.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Charles Ferzli at Smiles of Cary in Cary, NC, call 919-462-3350.