2012 February | Poss Dental Designs

February 29, 2012

Smile Makeovers by Your Cosmetic Dentist in Nashville

A smile is a beautiful thing. It is sad, then, that so many individuals are embarrassed by their smiles. It may be due to poor dental hygiene or simple bad luck, but many individuals have smiles that they feel are simply less than perfect. If you feel this way about your smile, you may wish to visit a Nashville cosmetic dentist for a smile makeover. These makeovers can consist of many different procedures, from those that are basic to newer surgical alternatives. In the end, though, these procedures can help to give anyone the smile that they have always hoped to have.

As you might expect, many individuals visit a cosmetic dentist hoping for only the basics of a smile makeover. The most common procedure is a simple teeth whitening, a process that can not only brighten a smile but help to get rid of years of build up on teeth. Many individuals also take a further step by getting their teeth straightened, especially if they were not fortunate enough to have braces when they were younger. Though a longer process, this aspect of a smile makeover can help to give anyone a beautiful smile.

At the same time, there are many that undertake procedures that are a bit more unusual in the pursuit of a more beautiful smile. One increasingly popular aspect of smile makeovers is the use of veneers. These thin devices can be fit over the front of teeth, improving the look of those teeth that have suffered damage or extreme decay. Other clients seek out procedures like gum contouring, a process that can help individuals with uneven gum lines to even out their smile. Regardless of what is chosen, though, a full dental makeover can allow an individual to smile with ease in situations which may have once been embarrassing.

If you want a smile makeover, it is important to visit Dr. Stephen Poss, Nashville cosmetic dentist. He can not only perform the procedures that you wish to have performed, but they can help you to learn about new procedures that may help you to improve your smile. Whether you want a simple tooth whitening or you want to go so far as to have surgical gum contouring, there are dentists available that can help you to improve your smile. With a little work, you may feel far less embarrassed by sharing your happiness with the world around you.

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Do You Grind or Clench Your Teeth At Night? TMJ Treatment

Filed under: TMJ Treatment Nashville — Tags: cosmetic dentist nashville, cosmetic dentistry, Nashville Headache relief, TMJ Treatment — bdavis @ 4:29 pm

TMJ Treatment, Nashville and Brentwood TN

If you find yourself grinding or clenching your teeth often, you are not alone. In fact, millions of people are afflicted with this condition, which is also known as “bruxism.” Bruxism affects people of all ages – from children all the way up through mature adults. One of the unfortunate effects of bruxism is Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ), which can leave you in daily pain if left untreated.

In this article, we’ll explain more about how teeth clenching and grinding are connected to TMJ, and how you can find relief from the condition today.

How Does Teeth Grinding and Clenching Lead to TMJ?
People who are dealing with bruxism can be susceptible to clenching or grinding their teeth at any time, but it is a bit more common at night. In addition to generating considerable wear and tear on teeth over time, it also continuously stresses the jaw region of the face. Eventually, this repeated movement strains the jaw and leads to TMJ. So how do you know if you might have a case of TMJ?

To get a better idea of whether you have TMJ, take a look at the following common symptoms to see if they sound familiar to you:

Pain or soreness in your face
Pain or difficulty while chewing
Headache, migraine or earache
Discomfort in the neck or shoulders
Clicking or popping noises when you chew

People with TMJ typically experience some of the above symptoms, so if any of those sound familiar you should seek TMJ treatment from a dental professional today. Keep reading to find out how your dentist can save you from the pain and discomfort of TMJ.

How Can Your Dentist Offer TMJ Treatment?
When you visit your dentist to get TMJ treatment, you will be amazed at how much better you will feel over the following weeks, months and years. Dentists are specially trained to get right to the root of the problem using advanced diagnostic equipment. This technology enables them to see exactly where the jaw has been misaligned due to grinding or clenching of the teeth.

Once your dentist has located the areas of misalignment and determined how the jaw should be properly aligned, he or she will design a solution that directly addresses your unique alignment. This solution typically consists of an oral appliance resembling a mouth guard used in sports. This custom oral appliance gradually shifts your jaw into its correct alignment as you sleep and holds it still so you can’t clench or grind your teeth. Over a relatively short period of time, you will find that the pain and other symptoms become a distant memory.

Another thing your dentist can do is use restorative and cosmetic dentistry to repair any damage to your teeth that has been caused by the constant grinding and clenching. If you have endured that problem for a prolonged period of time, you might have cracks, chips or erosion that need to be addressed.

Take control over your TMJ problem today by contacting Dr. Poss. His years of experience treating TMJ will provide the solution you need in the shortest time possible.

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February 20, 2012

Safe Ways to Remove Metal Fillings

Filed under: Metal-Free Dentistry,Nashville Cosmetic Dentistry — Tags: nashville metal free dentistry, remove amalgam fillings in nashville, safe amalgam filling removal — bdavis @ 11:11 pm

We completely understand if the thought of carrying around potentially toxic substances in your body makes you a bit squeamish. Yet, this is exactly what is happening if you have metal fillings in your teeth. There has been much debate over the years about which negative health effects can be attributed to metal fillings, but many health professionals do agree that they pose harmful side effects for your body.

If your teeth contain metal fillings and you are concerned about the long-term health effects, your best option is to have them removed by a dentist who is certified in safe removal of amalgam fillings. In this article, we’ll explain why and how to protect yourself by getting rid of your old metal fillings.

Why remove metal fillings?
As we mentioned above, metal fillings – also known as amalgams – can be detrimental to your health over time. The amalgam contains silver, tin and zinc, but the material that health care professionals are really concerned about is mercury, which can compose as much as 50% of some fillings. Mercury is widely recognized as a metal that can harm the human body, and it is present in metal fillings and some metal and porcelain crowns.

Following, we have listed some of the numerous health conditions that have been at least partially blamed on amalgams. Although some of them are still the subject of debate, it will give you a good idea about why having your metal fillings removed is a wise health decision.

Neurological effects including Alzheimers’, Lou Gehrig’s disease, Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis
Respiratory problems
Vision problems
Cancer
Impaired fetal development
Impaired immune system
Problems with teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue

The right way to remove metal fillings
Removing metal fillings is a process that requires an intense focus on safety for both the patient and dentist. During removal, mercury particles can become airborne and they can enter the patient’s nose, mouth and lungs if the proper precautions aren’t taken. To make sure that you are undergoing the safest filling removal, you need to visit a dentist who adheres to the International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology (IAOMT) standards, which govern the safe removal of amalgam and other metals from the mouth.

When you have Dr. Poss remove your metal fillings, you will receive the highest level of safety. Our approach closely follows IAOMT standards and is centered around using the best practices available to ensure your well-being, including:

Administering an optional bio-compatibility test before the procedure to ensure that the replacement materials will be compatible with your body.
Using a rubber dam, aeration device and safety glasses during removal to protect the you from mercury particles.
Making sure you are breathing pure oxygen during the procedure while the materials are removed from your teeth.

Once your old fillings have been removed from your teeth, we replace them with metal-free materials that are safe for body. The new materials are durable and long-lasting, and they closely match the look and feel of the tooth.

Call Dr. Poss, cosmetic dentist, today to ensure that the materials used to fill your teeth are protecting both your teeth and the health of your entire body.

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1646 Westgate Circle | Suite 100 Brentwood, TN 37027

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