There's More to Dentistry Than Meets the Tooth

Continuing research shows that health issues as varied as headaches and breathing problems may be related to abnormal alignments of the bones of the face and jaw. The good news is, more general dentists are learning how to detect and address these problems through orthodontics, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).  Dentists properly trained in orthodontic and temporomandibular disorder therapy can often alleviate facial disharmony without surgery through the use of orthodontic appliances.  > > >

What is Burning Mouth Syndrome?

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a common, but complex problem that causes patients to experience a burning or scalding pain on the lips and tongue (and sometimes throughout the mouth). There are often no visible signs of irritation, and the cause of the syndrome may be caused by various factors, ranging from the onset of menopause to psychological dysfunctions to vitamin deficiencies. BMS may affect up to five percent of Americans and usually occurs in people over age 60. Though members of both sexes are susceptible to BMS, it occurs more frequently in older women (between 18 and 33 percent of post-menopausal women are estimated to have BMS). The syndrome is also called glossodynia (tongue pain) and stomatodynia (mouth pain). BMS is not a form of nor can cause cancer.  > > >

Swimmers Risk Stained Smiles, Chipped Teeth

Competitive swimmers may be at risk for developing yellowish-brown or dark-brown stains on their teeth, reports the AGD, an organization of general dentists dedicated to continuing dental education.  Athlete swimmers, who often swim laps more than six hours a week, expose their teeth to large amounts of chemically treated water. Pool water contains chemical additives like antimicrobials, which give the water a higher pH than saliva, causing salivary proteins to break down quickly and form organic deposits on swimmer's teeth.  > > >

FAQs: Orthodontics

Orthodontics is a special discipline of dentistry concerned with aligning the teeth and jaws to improve one’s smile and oral health. A dentist usually recommends braces to improve the patient’s physical “orofacial” appearance. Through orthodontic treatment, problems like crooked or crowded teeth, overbites or under bites, incorrect jaw position, and disorders of the jaw joints are corrected.  > > >