Q: What is a Turbyfill Denture?

A: Turbyfill dentures are prosthodontic dentures specially created to balance a patient’s occlusion (bite) and esthetics as well as accommodating the loss of bone and gum tissue.

Q: Are the Turbyfill Dentures just like regular dentures?

A: No. For denture wearers who have experienced bone and/or tissue degeneration with other types of dentures. Turbyfill is the answer. Many of the problems associated with common denture (loose or ill-fitting dentures) are well controlled with the Turbyfill Denture technique.

Q: Are Turbyfill Dentures comfortable?

A: The Turbyfill Denture technique captures a copy of your mouth while eating, chewing, and speaking with great accuracy. This makes them amazingly comfortable while enhancing the patent’s facial appearance.

Q: Will the Turbyfill Dentures change color over time?

A: No. The Turbyfill Denture is made with all-porcelain teeth, along with custom coloring for the denture base. (gums)

Q: Does a Turbyfill Denture require adhesive?

A: No. With a Turbyfill Denture, your days of adhesives are over. Turbyfill custom dentures do not require any adhesive, because the Turbyfill denture  captures a copy of your mouth with such accuracy, the adhesives many patients have come to depend on is not needed to keep them in place.

Q: How does my nutrition affect my dental health?

A: Dental health nutrition is inextricably linked to your teeth, especially when it comes to the development of tooth decay. Basically, this means what you eat can lead to cavities.. There are several aspects of nutrition and dental health to consider. 1) Foods that are starchy or high in sugar increase the risks of cavities. 2) Sticky foods (including raisins and dried fruits) can increase cavity risk because they adhere to your teeth. 3) Dairy  products like cheese help neutralize acid in the mouth, acting as a buffer between teeth and tooth decay. 4) Eating sweets, during meals may help reduce the risk of cavities because the increased saliva production helps neutralize and wash away destructive acids. Another good nutrition habit is eating legumes, nuts, and grains which contain antioxidants that increase blood flow, improving immunity and strengthening blood vessels. Bonus!

Q: What causes bad breath?

A: Many times bad breath is caused by bacteria in the mouth and on the tongue. Sometimes it can be an  indication of gum disease. Either way, your first stop to address persistent breath problems should be our office. If gum disease is present, it must be treated promptly to avoid tooth loss. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss among adults.

Possible causes for halitosis are:

• Tooth Decay
• Periodontal Disease
• Inadequate Oral Hygiene
• Odor-Causing Foods
• Use of  Tobacco Products
• Sinus or Respiratory Infection
• Continued Mouth Dryness
• Some Medical Disorders
• Some Medications

Dr.Shlafer can help you determine the cause of your bad breath, and a treatment  plan can be developed to combat this source of embarrassment.

Q: What is a Smile Analysis?

A: This is an examination that includes both subjective and objective criteria. Subjective criteria is based on the patients perception of their smile. Objective criteria includes measurements to quantify data. Any smile analysis should consider tooth shade, distribution of color, defects and discoloration of the tooth structure, crowding, spacing, visible fillings or dental crowns, shape and size of teeth and the amount of gum tissue shown when smiling. Once you and Dr. Shlafer determine the area of your smile you would like to improve, a treatment plan for reaching the goal will be discussed.

This plan may include teeth whitening, veneers, porcelain crowns, bonding, perhaps even orthodontics to straighten your teeth.  Prior to smile analysis, a thorough exam, including radiographs will be necessary to ensure there are no other pressing concerns, such as tooth decay, a bite imbalance or infection.  In many cases, Dr. Shlafer may take impressions of your teeth to create study models. These models can be used to help plan your dental treatment.

The most important thing you and Dr.Shlafer need before, during and after treatment,  is an open line of communication. This is especially  important,  ensuring  your expectations and the achievable results are consistent.

Q: What’s hot in cosmetic dentistry?

A: Think of cosmetic dentistry as “style for your smile.”  With today’s dental cosmetic procedures, you can add some sparkle to your smile with teeth whitening, conceal crooked teeth and even mask gaps between your teeth with veneers. But, don’t let that fool you—cosmetic dental procedures aren’t all about looks, investing in cosmetic dental work that fixes your teeth and bite will actually improve your dental health long term as well.

In the last 10 years technology has improved significantly, making it easier than ever fix crowded or crooked teeth, change the shade of your teeth and even reshape a gummy smile. Today, cosmetic dental procedures that may have once been considered a luxury are now considered staples–particularly teeth whitening, enamel shaping, and porcelain veneers.

Be sure to get the scoop on the latest trends and what can be done to change your smile!

Q: Is milk important for an adult?

A: So many of our patients ask about the role of milk and it’s relationship to the adult diet. In order to answer this question, consider the following facts for yourself:

• Milk is an excellent and relatively inexpensive source of protein, vitamins and other nutrients.
• Adults can and do benefit strongly from milk’s nutrients, and since all supermarkets carry lactose free milk–there is really no excuse.
• Children need the nutrients in milk. Whole milk is recommended for children under the age of 2 and low fat products after that age.
• Raw milk being healthier is a myth since it can be contaminated to a far greater degree with bacteria. Pasteurization is a necessity.
• There is no connection between milk and mucus formation, therefore, it is not necessary to stop drinking milk in cases of a cold.
• Two percent low-fat milk is not really low in fat, but is really 20% fat by weight, while whole milk is approximately 35%.
• The best way to consume milk and other dairy products but avoid the fat, would be to drink skim or 1% milk,  low-fat cottage cheese, or non-fat yogurt.

Q:  Bottled water verses tap water–which is healthier for your teeth?

A:  Bottled water has certainly become popular in recent years, partly due to convenience, along with some concerns over the purity of tap water and a general coolness factor in carrying a designer water bottle with you. Bottled water comes in several varieties; artesian well, mineral , sparkling, flavored and spring water. While tap water undergoes a purification process which removes taste and odors, this may not sound as appealing.

Fluoride is a compound that is added to most tap water supplies, toothpastes and mouth rinses to reduce cavities. Fluoride becomes incorporated in our teeth as they develop and helps make them more resistant to tooth decay. Mass water fluoridation is the most cost-effective measure available to reduce the incidence of tooth decay.

Most bottled water does not contain fluoride. (if it does, it will be listed on the label–also watch for added sugar in the flavored waters) Drinking bottled water can increase the risk of cavities in some people. It is recommended that you use a fluoridated toothpaste and mouth-rinse. You may want to talk to me about adding a fluoride supplement to your diet, especially if  you have noticed an increase in cavities that correlates with when you started drinking bottled water.

It’s never to late to improve your dental health!

Q: My teeth are sensitive, what’s causing it?

A: Teeth can be sensitive for many reasons:

• PRESSURE——sensitivity to chewing pressure can be caused by, clenching/grinding/decay/abscess/or a cracked tooth.
• SWEETS———-sensitivity to sweet foods is usually caused by decay.
• HOT/COLD———–sensitivity to temperature usually indicates, decay/abscess/worn teeth/ or receding gums. It is not unusual for a recent dental restoration to be sensitive to temperature for a short period of time, if it persists you need to contact Dr.Shlafer.
• BLEACHING———-bleaching can also temporarily cause sensitivity during treatment, this usually disappears in a few days.
• TOOTHACHE——–sensitivity due to a dental problem will worsen with time and become a toothache. A toothache is not like a headache, it won’t just go away in time, even if the pain subsides, it still needs to be addressed.  As time passes the problem that is causing the pain will just get worse, as will the pain, and simple treatment may not longer be possible. It’s always best to contact the office at the first sign of a problem.

Q: Do I really need bone grafting with my implant procedure?

 A: When teeth are missing, your body resorbs the bone that used to support those teeth. If you later want to replace those teeth with dental implants, you may need to have bone grafting performed. There is an additional cost involved, however, if you try to shortcut this process you may end up with dental implants that are not adequately supported and will then the implant will fail.

The bone graft will need time to heal and knit together with your jaw bone. Once it has healed, your dental implants can be placed. There is an additional healing time needed before the implant can reliably used to support a crown.

Q: Who is a dental implant candidate?

A: To be a dental implant candidate, you need to be in good general health and missing some teeth. You also need to be motivated to take care of the implant after you get it. Most people with missing teeth qualify. In order for dental implants to be placed into your jawbone, there needs to be enough bone present. If you are lacking enough bone there are grafting procedures that can sometimes help.

There are some health conditions that could contraindicate having a successful implant. Here are some of the most common health conditions that could pose a problem:

Certain chronic diseases such as diabetes, hemophilia or immune-deficiency disorders may cause you to be at high risk for an implant failure. You may be susceptible to infections around the fixtures. The amount of risk would depend on the severity of your problem.

Smoking increases the risk of failure. Studies have shown that a smoker is 2 1/2 times more likely to have an implant fail than a non-smoker. Clearly, the more you smoke, the more likely you would be to have a problem.

It is not advisable to have an implant while you are pregnant.

Alcohol and substance abuse not only causes health problems that could compromise treatment, but may affect your motivation to care for your implants after treatment.