What is a Dental Sealant and Do I Really Need It?

What is a Dental Sealant?

Dental Sealants keep your teeth healthy

I'm sure you've heard people say that their dentist sealed their teeth to help prevent cavities, but what does that mean? Chances are they are probably talking about a dental sealant. A dental sealant is a clear or white, liquid-plastic material put on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. The sealant bonds into the depressions and grooves (pits and fissures) of teeth and protects them from tooth decay and cavities. Although children and teens usually use sealants, adults can use them, too.

Miami prosthodontist

 

Applying a dental sealant is a relatively simple procedure. To put in a sealant, your dentist or dental hygienist will place a cotton roll around your teeth to absorb saliva and prevent moisture from getting on the teeth. A sheet of rubber (rubber dam) may be used to isolate the teeth. Then the dentist will apply the solution that will glue the sealant to the tooth. After about a minute, he or she will rinse off the excess glue, dry your teeth, and put on the sealant. 

Miami prosthodontist

 

One type of sealant hardens very quickly through the use of a bright light. The other hardens more gradually. Sealants may wear down over a period of years. Your dentist should check them regularly and reapply them if needed. Overall, dental sealants are a good way to ensure your teeth are protected from decay and cavities.

If you're unhappy with your smile, then give us a call. We would love to work with you and make the smile you've always wanted become a reality. Give us a call at (305) 948-9102 and let us help you look and feel your best with a beautiful smile. Having a healthy, bright, beautiful smile enhances your appearance and allows you to smile with confidence. Thanks to the advances in modern cosmetic dentistry, we are able to improve your teeth and smile with quick, painless and surprisingly affordable treatments. We specialize in dental implants,dental bridges and crowns, porcelain veneers, cosmetic and restorative dentistry.

Don't wait! Call us today at (305) 948-9102 &visit our website http://www.CarrollDentistry.com
Best dentists in North Miami.
            Dentist in Miami, North Miami Dentist, Aventura Dentist

C A R ROLL   D E N T I S T R Y
Miami Prosthodontist  http://www.carrolldentistry.com
15801 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 200
North Miami Beach, Florida 33160(305) 948-9102

Improve Your Smile with Dental Veneers with Miami Dentist Dr. Carroll

Improve Your Smile with Veneers with Miami Dentist Dr. Carroll

Check out the difference that dental veneers can make.

If you're looking for a more perfect smile, then you might want to consider veneers. Popular among movie stars and other celebrities, veneers let you change the appearance of your teeth as dramatically as you want. Veneers let you brighten your teeth and straighten your smile - you can even change the size and shape of your teeth. Veneers can be either composite or porcelain. The veneer is actually a thin piece of porcelain or composite material about the size of a fingernail. Once the custom-made veneer is bonded onto the tooth, it becomes extremely strong. It also blends in with the remaining tooth structure so that it is unnoticeable to the naked-eye. Once in place, it looks, feels, and functions just like a regular tooth.

Veneers are a popular choice for total smile makeovers, letting a dentist change not just the color but also the size, shape, and straightness of your teeth. Veneers are often used for the same reasons as bonding - to lighten stains, close gaps and even alter crooked or malformed teeth. Both can be utilized to change the shape or color of a single tooth or if necessary to revamp the entire smile. Veneers are generally more durable and stain resistant than bonding.

If you have any questions about veneers, or if you're interested in a cosmetic
consultation, please call our office at 305-948-9102 or visit our website at www.CarrollDentistry.com

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Even though they are temporary, your child's baby teeth are important, and are still susceptible to cavities. Tooth decay in infants and toddlers is often referred to as Baby Bottle Tooth Decay, or Early Childhood Caries. Children need strong, healthy teeth to chew their food, speak and have a good-looking smile. Their first teeth also help make sure their adult teeth come in correctly. It’s important to start infants off with good oral care to help protect their teeth for decades to come.

What causes Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay most often occurs in the upper front teeth, but other teeth may also be affected.
There are many factors which can cause tooth decay. One common cause is the frequent, prolonged exposure of the baby’s teeth to drinks that contain sugar. Tooth decay can occur when the baby is put to bed with a bottle, or when a bottle is used as a pacifier for a fussy baby.
Tooth decay is a disease that can begin with cavity-causing bacteria being passed from the mother (or primary caregiver) to the infant. These bacteria are passed through the saliva. When the mother puts the baby’s feeding spoon in her mouth, or cleans a pacifier in her mouth, the bacteria can be passed to the baby.
If your infant or toddler does not receive an adequate amount of fluoride, they may also have an increased risk for tooth decay. The good news is that decay is preventable.

Preventing Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

• Try not to share saliva with the baby through common use of feeding spoons or licking pacifiers. After each feeding, wipe your child’s gums with a clean, damp gauze pad or washcloth.
• When your child’s teeth come in, brush them gently with a child-size toothbrush and a smear (or grain of rice sized amount) of fluoride toothpaste until the age of 3. 
• Brush the teeth with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste from the ages of 3 to 6.
• Supervise brushing until your child can be counted on to spit and not swallow toothpaste—usually not before he or she is 6 or 7.
• Place only formula, milk or breastmilk in bottles. Avoid filling the bottle with liquids such as sugar water, juice or soft drinks.
• Infants should finish their bedtime and naptime bottles before going to bed.
• If your child uses a pacifier, provide one that is clean—don’t dip it in sugar or honey.
• Encourage your child to drink from a cup by his/her first birthday.
• Encourage healthy eating habits.

When your child’s first tooth appears, talk to your dentist about scheduling the first dental visit. Treat the first dental visit as you would a well-baby checkup with the child’s physician. Remember: starting early is the key to a lifetime of good dental health.


Carroll Dentistry is a multi-generational practice that seamlessly merges hard earned wisdom from years of practice with next generation technology and innovation. Led by dynamic father-son team of Drs. Lewis and David Carroll, patients benefit from incomparable personalized care, cutting edge treatments and time tested expertise of highly trained specialists. For more information visit us at www.carrolldentistry.com or call our office at (305)948-9102

Dentures

Dentures

Dentures are removable appliances that can replace missing teeth and help restore your smile. If you’ve lost all of your natural teeth, whether from gum disease, tooth decay or injury, replacing missing teeth will benefit your appearance and your health. That’s because dentures make it easier to eat and speak better than you could without teeth—things that people often take for granted.
When you lose all of your teeth, facial muscles can sag, making you look older. Dentures can help fill out the appearance of your face and profile. They can be made to closely resemble your natural teeth so that your appearance does not change much. Dentures may even improve the look of your smile.

Types of dentures:

• Conventional. This full removable denture is made and placed in your mouth after the remaining teeth are removed and tissues have healed, which may take several months. 
• Immediate. This removable denture is inserted on the same day that the remaining teeth are removed. Your dentist will take measurements and make models of your jaw during a preliminary visit. You don’t have to be without teeth during the healing period, but may need to have the denture relined or remade after your jaw has healed. 
• Overdenture. Sometimes some of your teeth can be saved to preserve your jawbone and provide stability and support for the denture. An overdenture fits over a small number of remaining natural teeth after they have been prepared by your dentist. Implants can serve the same function, too.

New dentures may feel awkward for a few weeks until you become accustomed to them. The dentures may feel loose while the muscles of your cheek and tongue learn to keep them in place. It is not unusual to experience minor irritation or soreness. You may find that saliva flow temporarily increases. As your mouth becomes accustomed to the dentures, these problems should go away. Follow-up appointments with the dentist are generally needed after a denture is inserted so the fit can be checked and adjusted. If any problem persists, particularly irritation or soreness, be sure to consult your dentist.
Even if you wear full dentures, you still have to practice good dental hygiene. Brush your gums, tongue and roof of your mouth every morning with a soft-bristled brush before you insert your dentures to stimulate circulation in your tissues and help remove plaque.

Like your teeth, your dentures should be brushed daily to remove food particles and plaque. Brushing also can help keep the teeth from staining. 

• Rinse your dentures before brushing to remove any loose food or debris. 
• Use a soft bristle toothbrush and a non-abrasive cleanser to gently brush all the surfaces of the dentures so they don't get scratched.
• When brushing, clean your mouth thoroughly—including your gums, cheeks, roof of your mouth and tongue to remove any plaque. This can help reduce the risk of oral irritation and bad breath. 
• When you’re not wearing your dentures, put them in a safe place covered in water to keep them from warping.
• Occasionally, denture wearers may use adhesives. Adhesives come in many forms: creams, powders, pads/wafers, strips or liquids. If you use one of these products, read the instructions, and use them exactly as directed. Your dentist can recommend appropriate cleansers and adhesives.

If you have any questions about your dentures, or if they stop fitting well or become damaged, contact your dentist. Be sure to schedule regular dental checkups, too. The dentist will examine your mouth to see if your dentures continue to fit properly.

Carroll Dentistry is a multi-generational practice that seamlessly merges hard earned wisdom from years of practice with next generation technology and innovation. Led by dynamic father-son team of Drs. Lewis and David Carroll, patients benefit from incomparable personalized care, cutting edge treatments and time tested expertise of highly trained specialists. For more information visit us at www.Carrolldentistry.com or to make an appointment call us at 305.948.9102

Miami Dentist Discusses The Causes of Bad Breath (Halitosis)

We have all been on the receiving end of halitosis (bad breath) and it's no fun. While bad breath might be a symptom of some other disorder, it most likely stems from
dental decay and periodontitis. It's more than just socially awkward - it's a serious threat to your oral health.

Periodontitis is a disease affecting gums and bone that support the teeth, and it is

caused by inadequate brushing and flossing. In this disease, the irritated gums pull
away from the teeth and form pockets between the teeth and the gums. These pockets fill with bacteria and pus which give off a foul odor.
 
Patients with bad breath should be referred for a complete dental evaluation. If gum disease and/or dental decay is diagnosed, it can be treated readily. The patient will no longer have an infection in his or her mouth, and will no longer have the embarrassment of bad breath.

There's no need to live with bad breath, and no reason to neglect your dental health. If you have questions regarding halitosis, please call our office or visit our website at http://www.carrolldentistry.com

 
 

C A R R O L L   D E N T I S T R Y
15801 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 200
North Miami Beach, Florida 33160
Phone: 305.948.9102 | Fax: 305.940.4801