Ancient Cosmetic Dentistry Techniques that Will Surprise You

Thanks to the wonders of Modern Cosmetic Dentistry in Chicago, you no longer have to resort to ancient cosmetic dental procedures that were less than pleasant.

Thousands of years ago, the Romans and Greeks would use urine to whiten their teeth, while other civilizations would mix pumice with vinegar to brighten their pearly whites.

Barbers started to get into the act back in 1130 when they began to assist with dental procedures. In 1210, Barbers formed a guild that consisted of dental hygienists and dental surgeons. Oral surgery performed by barbers was discontinued in the 1400’s but they still performed oral hygiene services including tooth whitening. Barbers would file down a patients tooth before coating it with acid. Of course, this method of tooth whitening worked quite well, but it eventually destroyed the tooth’s enamel.

Dental Implants are the second oldest form of cosmetic dentistry with oral surgery topping the list. According to your Cosmetic Dentist in Chicago, root form implants were used over 4000 years ago with the Chinese tapping pegs made from carved bamboo into the bone. Archaeologists have uncovered Ancient Egyptian mummies that have transplanted teeth made from precious metals, ivory and human teeth.

When Cosmetic Dentists tried to use human teeth for dental implants in the 1700s, they soon discovered that the body would reject any such implant almost immediately. Dentists decided to put metal into the tooth sockets to replace missing teeth, but unfortunately, that didn’t work too well either.

2,500 years ago, Native Americans were very sophisticated when it came to dentistry. The Mayans and other tribes in southern North America would go to early cosmetic dentists to have grooves and notches put into their teeth in order to show off semiprecious stones such as jade, obsidian and turquoise. According to anthropologist Jose Concepcion Jimenez, the men sported the fancy grills from all walks of life. Meant for decoration they did not mark any social class. In fact, the Red Queen, a Mayan mummy discovered in the Palenque Temple did not have any tooth decorations at all.

Thanks to your Cosmetic Dentist in Chicago you do not have to resort to such barbaric practices when it comes to a beautiful smile. Schedule a no obligation consultation today with Romo Dental.

Smoking and Oral Health

Most people are aware of the health problems that can occur if you smoke or chew tobacco, but your lungs and heart are not the only things that can be affected if you light up.

According to your Dentist in Chicago, Dr. Genaro Romo, smoking can have a lasting and distinctive impact on your oral health and can lead to some serious dental issues including, but not limited to: 

• Tooth discoloration
• Halitosis
• Salivary gland inflammation on the roof of your mouth
• Bone loss in your jaw
• Build up of tartar and plaque
• Increased risk of white patches, or leukoplakia on the inside of your mouth
• Gum disease
• Delayed healing after periodontal treatment or extractions
• Lower dental implant success rate
• Higher risk of oral cancer

Smoking, even with pipes and cigars, can lead to gum disease as it affects the soft tissue around your teeth. According to your Chicago Dentist, smoking will interfere with normal gum tissue cell function making you much more susceptible to infections. Smoking can also impair the blood flow to your gums.

Just like cigarettes, cigar and pipe smoking can cause dental problems. A study conducted by the American Dental Association, showed that cigar smokers experience bone loss and tooth loss at the same rate as cigarette smokers. Pipe smokers and cigar smokers are also susceptible to throat cancers even though they do not inhale.

If you chew tobacco, you are not safe either. Snuff contains at least 30 chemicals that can increase your risk of throat and oral cancer. Your Dentist in Chicago will tell you that chewing tobacco products contain more nicotine than cigarettes making it more difficult to quit. Most people have no idea that one can of chewing tobacco has as much, if not more, nicotine than sixty cigarettes. Smokeless tobacco will irritate your gum tissue. This causes your gums to pull away or recede. Once this occurs the exposed roots become more sensitive to irritants making drinking and eating uncomfortable.

If that isn’t enough, your Dr. Romo will tell you that flavors are added to some brands of chewing tobacco in order to improve the taste. Those flavors contain sugar that can drastically increase tooth decay. In fact, a study by the ADA has shown that those who chew tobacco are four times more likely to develop tooth decay.

Talk to your doctor about smoking cessation and don’t forget to schedule an appointment with the best Dentist in Chicago, Dr. Romo. 

Store Bought Mouth Guards Are Not Always the Best

If your kids are involved in sports, you know how important proper protection is, but knee and elbow pads are not the only things you need if your kids play contact sports.

Talk to your Romo Dental about mouth guards and night guards that cannot only be used for sports, but also sleeping if you or your family tends to grind their teeth during the night.

Mouth guards are made from flexible plastic designed to be worn over your teeth and can be custom made by your Hispanic Dentist, or found in major sporting good stores. However, according to Dr. Romo, those store bought mouth guards could cause more damage as they are bulky, not made to fit, and provide little if any protection. In fact, most Chicago Dentists do not recommend using stock mouth guards.

Boil and bite is another type of mouth guard that you can purchase from your local sporting goods store, and just may give a better fit than standard mouth guards may. Easy to use, you just place your mouth guard in warm water, place it inside your mouth, and shape it around your teeth.

When it comes to sports guards and mouth guards, your Chicago Dentist recommends that you schedule and appointment for a custom fitted sports guard or mouth guard.

During your scheduled appointment, Dr. Romo and his professional team will fit you with a mouth guard by making an impression. Each custom fitted sports guard is designed especially for you and is made to fit. Once the lab has received your impression, a specially fitted mouth guard will be molded over the top of your impression. Custom made sports guards and mouth guards may cost a bit more, but the extra money is well worth it for protection and comfort. Check with your insurance company and your Dentist in Chicago as your policy might cover the use of sports guards and mouth guards.  

When you make an appointment for a sports guard or mouth guard fitting, Dr. Roma will suggest the best option for your particular needs. Your dentist will choose a product that will not restrict your speech or breathing, is easy to clean, and most importantly, durable.

Accidents happen, and if you want to avoid potential disaster when it comes to your kid’s teeth, schedule an appointment for a new sports guard or mouth guard with your Chicago Dentist, Dr. Romo. 

Push Your Fears Aside with Romo Dental

Being afraid of your Dentist in Chicago isn’t just for kids. Teens, adults, and even senior citizens have a genuine fear when it comes to sprawling out in the dentist’s chair. However, with the advancement of dentistry in the 21^st century and Romo Dental, you can put your fears aside and relax.

Avoiding that toothache because you cannot tolerate that dentist drill will only make things worse. If you had gone in for a filling, which is virtually painless, when you first noticed the cavity, you would not have to endure a root canal. Scheduling regular appointments with your dentist is vital if you want to have healthy teeth and gums.

Even folks who endure the drill, regular cleanings, and deep cleanings have had to overcome their fear of the dentist, but thanks to the friendly team of professionals from Romo Dental, patients leave the office pain free and grinning from ear to ear.

If your fear of the dentist has more to do with your bank account than actual physical pain, talk to the knowledgeable staff from Romo Dental who will be able to help you decide on the best payment options for your particular needs. Of course, should a dental emergency arise and you are unable to cover the costs on the spot, Romo Dental may be able to work with you making suitable payment arrangements providing the lines of communication are left open.

With the latest technologies and friendly and knowledgeable staff, you will feel confident knowing that you can trust Romo Dental to help you overcome your fear of the dentist.

Sometimes all it takes is a gentle hand and a kind word to make you feel right at home, and that is exactly what you will get when you see Chicago’s friendliest and most well-equipped dentist in Chicago.

Push your fears aside and schedule that long overdue appointment with the best Dentist in Chicago, Dr. Romo. Open six days a week for your convenience, you will finally be able to relax and maybe even enjoy your dental appointments. 

Give Your Mouth a Clean Bill of Health with Romo Dental

If the holidays wrecked havoc with your waistline, all of those goodies that you enjoyed for the past two months probably haven’t done much good for your teeth either. You may think you are doing yourself a favor by heading to the gym everyday starting tomorrow, but what about your teeth and gums.

Start the New Year off with a check up with your Chicago Dentist, Dr. Romo. You may think you were extra cautious after those rich meals by brushing a few extra times a day, but if you didn’t rinse after enjoying Grandma Ester’s rich Christmas fudge you could be asking for trouble. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Romo and get the all clear. Your teeth and gums are directly connected to the rest of your body and if you do not practice good oral hygiene, including regular checkups with your dentist, your immune system could be affected.

Poor oral hygiene is responsible for all kinds of health problems including respiratory issues and diabetes. Skipping brushing and flossing in favor of the pillow may be tempting, but it could also be the reason for your new cavities with the addition of periodontal disease. Skipping your regular checkups is more harmful than you think.

Having healthy teeth and gums starts with brushing and flossing. Buy a good toothbrush and don’t be afraid of the electric ones. You can go online and buy a new electric toothbrush, or better yet, ask Dr. Romo when you see him for your check-up. Don’t forget to floss once a day and remember to brush in the morning and before you go to bed.

Call or schedule an appointment online with your Dentist in Chicago and get a clean bill of health when it comes to your teeth and gums. If there are issues, you will be ahead of the game and ready to enjoy the foods that you did and a healthier smile before you got that tasty toothache. 

Running Away from a Root Canal is Downright Dangerous

When the word, “Root Canal,” is uttered most people shudder with fear, but according to the Best Dentist in Chicago, root canals sound much worse than they actually are.

A root canal, also called endodontic therapy or root canal therapy, is something that becomes necessary if a cavity becomes too large for a filling and the decay travels all the way down to the pulp of the tooth. This usually occurs when people neglect their teeth and let things go a little bit too far. Other possible causes for root canal therapy include tooth trauma and nerve damage.

Once the pulp of your tooth becomes damaged, your Chicago Dentist may recommend a root canal. If left untreated a dangerous and painful abscess could form. Abscesses are dangerous because the infection can spread to your jawbone, or other parts of your body.

If the abscess is allowed to spread through your blood vessels, it could lead to a brain abscess, which could send you straight to the hospital. Tooth abscesses can also affect your sinuses. If the dental abscess reaches your heart, you could be asking for trouble as it could lead to bacterial endocarditis. All of these issues are serious, but quite possibly the most dangerous is a condition called Ludwig’s Angina. This potentially deadly infection affects the lower jaw and face. If this happens, it is imperative that you see your Chicago Dentist immediately as Ludwig’s Angina can cause suffocation and even death.

Of course, not all cavities will lead to abscesses, especially if you schedule regular check-ups with Romo Dental. Other ways to avoid tooth decay and possible abscesses include brushing twice and flossing once a day.

You might need a root canal if you suffer from: 

• Throbbing pain when you chew
• Red and swollen gums
• A horrible, sometimes salty taste
• Swelling
• Fever
• A bump in your mouth that is red or swollen
• A tooth that is sore and tender when touched 

Over time, that infection will spread and if you do not schedule an appointment with your dentist, your jawbone could eventually dissolve. If this occurs, it may be necessary to remove the tooth.  

In order to determine if a root canal is necessary your dentist will look for signs of infection. Dr. Romo may also tap your tooth or apply cold or heat to check for infection or abscess.

If an abscess is indicated treatment will begin as soon as possible with Dr. Romo giving you antibiotics in order to kill the infection. Depending on the severity of the situation your Dentist in Chicago may perform a root canal or extract the tooth.

Even if you are not experiencing symptoms, you could have tooth decay, and the best way to avoid a root canal is to schedule an appointment with Romo Dental.

Is Your Breath Ready for Holiday Parties?

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but if you suffer from bad breath those holiday party invitations could be few and far between.

According to your Dentist in Chicago and the AMA, or American Dental Association, more than 50 percent of Americans have some form of bad breath, clinically known as halitosis, with 25 percent suffering from chronic bad breath. However, not all bad breath is caused from bad oral hygiene. When you schedule an appointment with the Best Hispanic Dentist in Chicago, you can get to the root of your bad breath for the last time.

During your check up, one of the team from Romo Dental in Chicago will check the pockets in your gums for bacteria. If food particles, tartar, and plaque are present, your halitosis could be due to gingivitis or the more advanced periodontal disease. 

If either is detected, your dentist will either go ahead and treat you with a scaling and root planing procedure or schedule another appointment for a deep cleaning. Romo Dental will also make sure that your restorations are still in place as cracked fillings can be covering up tooth decay, which is another cause of bad breath. While you are sitting in the dentist chair, make sure that you ask about brushing and flossing. Even though you may brush once and floss twice a day you may not be doing it right.  

The only way to get rid of bad breath is to see your Chicago Dentist who will be able to determine whether your halitosis is caused by your teeth and gums or something else all together.

Some of the other causes of your bad breath could be related to the food and drink that you enjoy. If you consume too much garlic or like to add extra onions to your enchiladas, you could be asking for trouble. Other foods that may be the cause of your problem include your favorite Aunt Rosa’s salsa, overly sugary foods, or starchy products that can get stuck in-between your teeth. Sticky and fibrous foods like meat, popcorn, sticky candies, caramel, mango, and pineapple fuel the bacteria in your mouth and will cause bad breath. However, according to your dentist rinsing your mouth, brushing and flossing after enjoying these foods can help keep halitosis at bay.  

Other causes of bad breath could include colds. If your nasal passageways and lungs are loaded with green or yellow mucus, you could be scaring everyone away each time you cough.

The best way to find out what is causing your bad breath is to schedule an appointment with the best Dentist in Chicago, Romo Dental. After all, those holiday parties only come around once a year, and if you want to be included, it is important to have fresh breath.