There’s something about summer that makes it perfect for photos. After all, it’s the season of cookouts, swimming pools, and warm nights spent with friends and family — all occasions worthy of a few group shots. But what if you don’t like your smile? If you have damaged or discolored teeth, those photos can bring anxiety instead of fun.
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Are you fully satisfied with your oral health? If you’re like most people, you probably think there are some areas for improvement. According to a 2018 Delta Dental survey, 85% of Americans think oral health is very or extremely important to overall health.
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If you were to Google “dentist near me,” you’d probably find that a lot of dental practices like to add specialties to their name. Sometimes these names have meaning, and in other cases they may not. For example, the “family” in MJM Family & Cosmetic Dentistry lets customers know we work with patients of all ages, not just adults.
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If you’re being honest, there may be a difference between what you tell your dentist about how frequently you floss and how often you actually clean the spaces between your teeth. Some people want to avoid getting a stern talking-to from the dentist. In fact, an American Academy of Periodontology study found that 27% of people lie to their dentist about their flossing habits.
Flossing may seem like a lot of work, especially in the early morning or right before bed. But flossing is a key part of preventing periodontal disease, also known as gum disease. When left untreated, periodontitis can lead to bleeding gums, chewing problems, and even tooth loss. Catching gum disease in the early stages can help you save your smile.
Are you experiencing symptoms that you think may be related to gum disease? The team at MJM Family & Cosmetic Dentistry can help determine if your oral health needs a helping hand. Malcolm Murray, DDS, and Ranya Ghumrawi, DMD, work with you to create a custom plan to beat back gum disease. Our practice is proud to offer high-quality professional dental services and a comprehensive approach to healthy maintenance of your mouth, teeth, muscles, and aesthetics.
Flossing is so important because it helps remove plaque between teeth that your toothbrush bristles may miss. Plaque is a sticky film that forms from leftover food particles and your saliva. It’s composed mainly of bacteria but doesn’t pose any problems when it’s removed before it has a chance to harden.
Once plaque hardens, however, it turns into bacteria-filled tartar, which can cause inflammation and irritation to your gums. If the inflammation persists, it can form pockets between your teeth that fill with more plaque, tartar, and bacteria. This is when gum disease starts — if left untreated, infections can cause a loss of tissue and bone, resulting in tooth loss.
Gingivitis is a precursor to the more dangerous periodontal disease. Symptoms of gum disease and gingivitis include:
At MJM Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we aim to catch gum disease at the earliest stage possible with the help of in-depth screenings during appointments.
The more advanced the gum disease, the more complicated it is to treat. When periodontitis is caught early, as gingivitis, a good professional cleaning and proper home care — including regular flossing — can send gum disease packing. Low-level gum disease can be treated this way as well.
Once gum disease becomes more intense and reaches a moderate or high level, cleanings start to lose their effectiveness and scaling and root planing becomes necessary. During this in-depth procedure, your dentist eliminates tartar and plaque from underneath the gumline and on the surface of the tooth roots.
This decreases inflammation and allows your gums to reattach to your teeth. Our practice uses the advanced NV Soft Tissue Microlaser to remove bacteria and diseased tissue during the scaling and root planing treatment. This results in a much more comfortable procedure than the traditional scalpel method.
If you believe you may have gum disease or are concerned about your oral health, schedule a visit at MJM Family & Cosmetic Dentistry. Call or request an appointment at our Fairfax, Virginia, office today.
Technology is everywhere — our phones, cars, shopping experiences, and even the way we get food is touched by technology. New advancements and innovations are the reason that so many life-saving medicines and treatments have become widely available. Why wouldn’t technology help dentists? The best dental technology available can help our patients feel comfortable and help us to better assist you. Our team embraces the best and the latest dental technology, and we love guiding our patients on their path to good lifelong oral health.
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About 73% of people in the US think a person with a good smile is more trustworthy than someone with a nice car, outfit, or job. That says a lot about how Americans value a smile. If you’re like most people, you probably weren’t born with perfect teeth. Veneers are a quick and minimally invasive way to give you the smile you’ve always dreamt of.
From fixing crooked teeth to correcting alignment issues, veneers can dramatically improve your look. But the benefits of veneers extend beyond just cosmetic concerns. Malcolm Murry, DDS, and our expert team located in Fairfax, Virginia, are here to inform you of the noncosmetic reasons to get veneers.
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TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, which is the joint that connects your lower jaw to the bones on the sides of your face. The acronym TMJ is often used to refer to disorders of this joint or they may be called TMD for temporomandibular disorder. Either way, the temporomandibular joint’s proper function is critical to talking and chewing normally.
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You look in the mirror and can’t believe how flawless your teeth look after having them whitened. Professional whitening does miracles for your smile, but there’s one thought that always bugs you: How long will the results last?
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When a tooth falls out, it’s typical to first think about how it makes you look. How do you smile, knowing the gap in your teeth is quite likely to draw stares? But there is so much more to it than that. Having a missing tooth affects the health of your entire mouth. Ignoring that little problem of a missing tooth can lead to major dental problems later on.
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You know what to do if you have a high fever, chest pain, lacerations, and broken bones — they all scream emergency room. But knowing what qualifies as a dental emergency isn’t as easy to figure out. How do you know if it’s something that can wait until morning or the next available appointment, or if you need to see a dentist right away?
Drs. Malcolm Murray and Ranya Ghumrawi here at MJM Family and Cosmetic Dentistry guide you through the decision process and handle any dental emergency you might face. Whether you need to have a tooth repaired or restored, our team can give you the professional and compassionate care you deserve, whether you schedule an appointment or come in with an emergency.
Of course, the best way to approach dental emergencies is to prevent them altogether. Here are a few of the most common dental emergencies and tips on how to avoid them if possible.
The most obvious dental emergency is a broken tooth. Whether it’s only cracked, sustained a chip, or has been knocked clean out of your mouth, this constitutes a dental emergency. A chipped or cracked tooth likely means you’ve been hit in the face, so make sure to use an ice pack to reduce pain and swelling. If you’ve lost the tooth:
What you should do
How you could have prevented it
Normally, an infection doesn’t qualify as an emergency. But if you’ve let it go untreated for too long, it could get to that point, and you develop a very painful toothache. An infection lets you know it’s an emergency when it’s too painful to bite down and/or you see an abscess on your gums near the painful tooth.
What you should do
How you could have prevented it
If you’ve damaged your braces or dentures, you’ve likely been in some kind of accident. If necessary, seek medical treatment immediately for any cuts you may have in your mouth.
What you should do
How you could have prevented it
These are the most common dental emergencies, but life happens and so do accidents, so you may encounter a situation we haven’t listed here. If you’re unsure whether your pain calls for an emergency visit to our office, give us a call. We can help you decide what to do.
It’s a good idea to keep our phone number on speed dial so you’re prepared if and when an emergency happens.
If you’re not already one of our patients, we’d love to meet you. Call today to make a new patient appointment or schedule it online.
