Juno Beach Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry Archives - Page 6 of 8

Another Cause of Decay and How It Can Be Treated

September 27, 2013

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: Dr. Duane E. Keuning, Dr. Greg K. Riley, Juno Beach, Juno Beach Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Tequesta, tooth-colored fillings — Greg Riley @ 6:49 pm

tooth-colored fillings In our previous post, we talked about what effect acid reflux can have on your smile. Today, we’d like to highlight a more common cause of decay and other oral health problems.

In most cases, tooth decay is caused by the way certain kinds of bacteria react to food, especially foods high in sugar. These bacteria react by producing acid, which encourages the growth of new bacteria and then more acid. As bacteria accumulate, a harmful, acidic environment is created. This is how decay occurs.

But that’s just the beginning. If not cleared away by brushing and flossing, bacteria eventually becomes plaque, which can irritate the gums and cause gum disease. When untreated, gum disease can eventually cause pockets to develop between teeth and gums. It’s also known to be the primary cause of tooth loss in adults.

Thankfully, the doctors at Juno Beach Restorative & Aesthetic can help with tooth-colored fillings, plus crowns, inlays, and onlays. We can also provide periodontal care and offer tips on how to maintain good oral health in between visits.

Regular visits are important for more than just offering general and restorative services—they’re also about prevention. We don’t want to just treat common oral health problems; we want to prevent them as much as possible, too.

Is it time for your next visit to Juno Beach & Restorative Aesthetic. Call our Juno Beach dental office today for an appointment. Dr. Keuning and Dr. Riley serve patients from North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Tequesta, and Jupiter.

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What Can Acid Reflux Do To Your Smile?

September 13, 2013

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: acid reflux, Dr. Duane E. Keuning, Dr. Greg K. Riley, general dentistry, Juno Beach, Juno Beach Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Tequesta — Greg Riley @ 6:47 pm

Occasional heartburn is common. What’s less common is experiencing heartburn two, three, or more times a week, though it happens.

If you experience heartburn this frequently, it could be a sign of acid reflux disease. Other symptoms of acid reflux disease include:

Burping or bloating
Nausea
Regurgitation
Hiccups
Narrowing of the esophagus
Weight loss
Sore throat, wheezing, hoarseness, or dry cough
Black/bloody stools or bloody vomiting

But were you aware that acid reflex can also have an impact on your oral health? That’s because, when a patient experiences acid reflux, some amount of acid leaks from the stomach to the esophagus. If this acid ends up coming into contact with a patient’s teeth, it can damage the patient’s protective tooth enamel, exposing the sensitive layer of dentin underneath.

Signs your teeth may have been damaged by stomach acid include:

Sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods and drinks
Thin or shortened teeth
Pain or irritation
Sharp-edged teeth

At Juno Beach Restorative & Aesthetic Dentistry, Dr. Duane Keuning and Dr. Greg Riley offer a combination of general and restorative services to help patients overcome decay and reclaim optimal oral health. We serve patients from North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Tequesta, and Jupiter. Call us today!

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What Makes Crowns, Inlays, and Onlays So Different?

August 23, 2013

Filed under: Restorative Dentistry — Tags: crowns, Dr. Duane E. Keuning, Dr. Greg K. Riley, inlays, Juno Beach, Juno Beach Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry, onlays, restorative dentistry — Greg Riley @ 7:14 am

crowns For a tooth that’s badly damaged or decayed, sometimes the best treatment option is a crown. A crown covers an entire tooth, protecting it from further damage, but leaving it and the root underneath in place for the benefit of your oral health. With the proper care, crowns can last for years and restore your smile’s appearance and functionality.

But as great as crowns are, not every patient needs something quite as dramatic. At the same time, though, maybe you need more than just a simple filling to reclaim optimal oral health.

That’s where inlays and onlays come in.

Inlays and onlays are similar to crowns, in that they’re made of porcelain, but they don’t cover your entire tooth the way a crown does. You might say they’re halfway between a crown and a filling then. Inlays are made to repair the part of the tooth that runs between its cusps, which are the bumps on top of a tooth. Onlays, on the other hand, are designed to replace one or more cusps.

Are you worried you might need advanced care with a crown, an inlay, or an onlay? Call Juno Beach Restorative & Aesthetic Dentistry today for an appointment with Dr. Keuning or Dr. Riley. We’re proud to offer excellent cosmetic and restorative care to Juno Beach, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, and Tequesta.

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Entering the Home Stretch of 2013

August 9, 2013

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: Dr. Duane E. Keuning, Dr. Greg K. Riley, general dentistry, Juno Beach, Juno Beach Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Tequesta — Greg Riley @ 2:14 pm

fall For patients who visited Dr. Keuning or Dr. Riley back in January or February, now is the perfect time to schedule your second visit with our Juno Beach team. Not only is August the eighth month of the year, it’s a sign that we’re entering the home stretch of 2013.Within the next month, children will be going back to school, and not long after that, the holiday season will be on everyone’s mind.

All of which means your life is about to get busier. Make time for your next checkup and cleaning now, while you have it available.

During every checkup and cleaning, Dr. Keuning and Dr. Riley look for some of the most common oral health issues a patient can face. That includes the obvious, like gum disease and tooth decay, but it also involve neuromuscular problems and oral cancer. It’s only through having a thorough understanding of your current needs that an effective diagnosis can be made.

If we find any reason to suggest extra care, you can look forward to excellent cosmetic and restorative care from our Juno Beach dental team. With our years of experience, our education, and our continued eagerness to learn, we’re helping patients achieve healthy smiles and a better sense of wellbeing.

To schedule your next appointment with Juno Beach Restorative & Aesthetic Dentistry, call us today. We’re happy to serve patients from Juno Beach, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, and Tequesta.

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What You Should Know About Diabetes and Gum Disease

July 31, 2013

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: diabetes, Dr. Duane E. Keuning, Dr. Greg K. Riley, general dentistry, gum disease, gum disease therapy, Juno Beach, Juno Beach Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Tequesta — Greg Riley @ 7:19 am

As we’ve mentioned on this blog before, gum disease doesn’t just affect your oral health—it’s also been linked to a wide array of health problems in the rest of the body, and that includes diabetes.

For a while, researchers weren’t sure what the exact nature of that relationship was, but we have a better understanding of it today. It turns out the relationship goes two ways. Gum disease raises the body’s blood sugar levels, increasing the risk of diabetic complications. Meanwhile, because of how diabetes affects blood sugar levels, diabetics have an increased risk of developing the disease in the first place.

All of which means that if you have diabetes, seeing Dr. Duane Keuning or Dr. Greg Riley twice a year for checkups is important—and not just if you have diabetes. Every patient can benefit from seeing a dentist twice a year. That’s because a majority of Americans have some form of gum disease, even if it’s very mild.

During your visit with our Juno Beach dental team, we can offer you home care tips to keep in mind, or we can put together a more advanced therapy plan if we need to. Some of the most common treatments for gum disease include scaling, root planing, antibiotics, and surgery.

Are you a diabetic with concerns about gum disease? Call Juno Beach Restorative & Aesthetic Dentistry today for an appointment with Dr. Riley or Dr. Keuning. We offer effective cosmetic and restorative care to Juno Beach, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Tequesta, and Jupiter.

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Decrease Your Risk for Cavities by Knowing the Risk Factors

July 25, 2013

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: cavities, Dr. Duane E. Keuning, Dr. Greg K. Riley, general dentistry, Juno Beach, Juno Beach Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Tequesta — Greg Riley @ 3:17 pm

general dentistry Not everyone has the same level of risk when it comes to developing cavities. Knowing what risk factors are associated with them can help you protect your smile and improve your oral health. That’s what today’s post is all about. If you have any questions afterwards, feel free to call Juno Beach Restorative & Aesthetic Dentistry to let us know.

Having a cavity already increases your risk of developing new cavities

If you think you might have a cavity, or a doctor has diagnosed one, have it treated as soon as possible with a filling or crown. This will help you support your oral health and prevent the spread of decay

Watch what you eat

Foods and drinks that are sugary or acidic will increase your risk of decay by spurring the production of bacteria and acid in your mouth. This, in turn, can weaken your tooth enamel and lead to cavities.

Poor oral hygiene

Are you brushing and flossing enough? We recommend brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing once a day. This will protect your smile from the acid and bacteria that comes from sugary or acidic foods and drinks. Getting enough fluoride is especially important because it helps to strengthen your enamel.

Poorly done fillings or crowns

When a filling or crown isn’t done the way it should be, your smile may be especially vulnerable to bacteria, as you may have bacteria deposits in a hard-to-brush area. Give our Juno Beach office a call if you’ve had a negative experience with another doctor.

Family history

Sometimes a patient’s increased risk of cavities is due to genetics, but in other cases, it may just be that good oral health habits weren’t taught at home. Remember to brush and floss regularly, and make an antibacterial or fluoride mouthwash a regular part of your regimen.

Not seeing your dentist enough

Dr. Duane Keuning and Dr. Greg Riley recommend coming in for regular visits twice a year. Why? So we can watch for changes in your smile. Cavities need to be treated as soon as possible, and with a visit every six months, we can provide early care that will help you support your oral and overall health.

Do you need to schedule your next visit with Dr. Keuning or Dr. Riley? Give us a call today. Our Juno Beach dental office is happy to provide general, cosmetic, and restorative care to patients from North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Tequesta, and surrounding areas.

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The History of Dental Implants

July 16, 2013

Filed under: Implant Dentistry,Restorative Dentistry — Tags: dental implants, implant dentistry, Juno Beach, Juno Beach Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, restorative dentistry, Tequesta — Greg Riley @ 7:23 am

In , we talked about the history of teeth whitening. Today, we’d like to focus on another popular service—dental implants.

As with whitening, people have always been looking for a way to replace missing teeth. Scientists have found evidence that the Mayans implanted tooth-shaped shells into the jaw 1,300 years ago to replace missing teeth. Going back even further, the Romans may have used cast-iron, while the Egyptians used gold wires. Other materials that have been used throughout history include rubber, ivory, copper, semi-precious stones, and oxen bone.

And then there are dental implants as we now know them. These date from around 1965. Scientist Per-Ingvar Brånemark discovered that titanium would fuse with bone tissue, leading eventually to the placement of the first dental implant in a human skull.

Why are modern-day dental implants so effective? Because they mimic nature’s design, with a crown on top and a titanium root underneath to act as a prosthetic root. What’s more, they’re versatile enough to replace a single tooth or a full row of teeth.

Not every patient is a candidate for dental implants, though. To find out if dental implants might be right for you, call Juno Beach Restorative & Aesthetic Dentistry for a consultation. During your visit with us, Dr. Greg Riley and Dr. Duane Keuning will help you decide if dental implants will help you meet your needs, or if another service might be better.

We’re proud to provide cosmetic and restorative care to Juno Beach, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, and Tequesta.

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Patients Have Always Wanted a Whiter Smile

July 2, 2013

Filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry — Tags: cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Duane E. Keuning, Dr. Greg K. Riley, Juno Beach, Juno Beach Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, teeth whitening, Tequesta — Greg Riley @ 8:22 pm

teeth whitening results2 We think of teeth whitening as something that only patients today are worried about. But the truth is that people have been looking for whitening solutions since as far back as ancient Egypt, around 4,000 years ago. Back then, wine vinegar and ground pumice stone were mixed together and brushed on with sticks to achieve a more dazzling look. The whiter your teeth, the more well-off you were perceived to be.

As uncomfortable as that might sound though, it doesn’t compare to the ancient Romans did. They used their own urine! That practice was eventually abandoned, and who can blame them?

Moving through history a little more, patients often went to barbers for dental care. During that era, most dental problems were treated by pulling teeth. They did provide care for teeth whitening, though. To whiten teeth, they would use metal files on the patient’s teeth and then apply nitric acid to get rid of stains. This was not only uncomfortable but also didn’t do any favors for the protective layer of enamel on the teeth on the patient’s teeth. Teeth with a damaged layer of enamel are more vulnerable to decay.

Today, dentists like Dr. Duane Keuning and Dr. Greg Riley use professional whitening systems that are designed to create whiter smiles without negatively affecting oral health.

To find out how contemporary teeth whitening works, call Juno Beach Restorative & Aesthetic Dentistry for a consultation. We can explain how teeth whitening works and what you can expect from your care. Juno Beach Restorative & Aesthetic serves patients from Juno Beach, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Tequesta, and beyond.

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Stress, Inflammation, and Your Oral Health

June 18, 2013

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: Dr. Duane E. Keuning, Dr. Greg K. Riley, gum disease, Juno Beach, Juno Beach Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, periodontal therapy, Tequesta — Greg Riley @ 7:43 am

periodontal therapy As we mentioned in our last post, oral and overall health are tied together in ways most patients never think about. That also extends to the topic of inflammation and stress.

As a society, we seem more stressed now than ever before. For some that’s because of finances while for others it comes from pressure of always being connected through one social media platform or another. But wherever your stress comes, it’s having an impact on your body, including your oral health.

Inflammation if part of the body’s immune response. When it works the way it should, it can be beneficial. Someone who is under a lot of stress, though, may find that his or her body can’t regulate stress properly. That’s when inflammation—which is one of the many symptoms of gum disease—can almost become like a weapon the body uses against itself. In fact, the ADG reported in 2012 that there is indeed a connection between stress and dental health, with the immune system contributing.

What does this mean for patients of Juno Beach Restorative and Aesthetic?

Just as with the hormone situation, it means that regular appointments are important. During a regular visit, Dr. Keuning or Dr. Riley will carefully examine your teeth and gums to look for signs of inflammation or decay. If anything is found, a treatment plan can be put together immediately.

Is it time to schedule your next appointment with our Juno Beach team? Call us today to reserve an appointment. We serve patients from Juno Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Tequesta, and beyond.

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Hormones Levels and Your Oral Health

June 4, 2013

Oral Health small Your oral and overall health are much more connected than most people realize. For example, gum disease doesn’t just have an impact on your smile’s wellbeing; it’s also been connected to other health problems, like heart disease, diabetes, stroke, Alzheimer’s and preterm birth.

But even patients who were aware of this connection might not have realized there’s also a connection between oral health and hormone levels. In that case, the truth is surprising. As it turns out, the rise or fall of hormone levels in the body has an effect on one’s vulnerability to gum disease. Women will experience this more than men because of the hormone changes they experience throughout life. Some of the biggest cases include puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. But those aren’t the only times when hormone levels will change. Women taking birth control may be more susceptible, as are women who are about to begin their period.

So, what does that mean for patients of Juno Beach Restorative and Aesthetic?

It means that regular exams and checkups should be a priority. The whole point of regular visits is to catch gum disease before it has a chance to become more serious. During your visit, if Dr. Keuning or Dr. Riley finds anything, a treatment plan can be put together immediately.

Are you a woman who is pregnant or taking birth control? Let us know, and be sure you make regular care a priority. Also, remember to brush at least twice a day, floss once, and rinse with a fluoride or antibacterial mouthwash.

Call us today to schedule your next appointment. Dr. Keuning and Dr. Riley serve patients from Juno Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Tequesta, and beyond.

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