How to Get Rid of a Tooth InfectionA tooth infection can endanger your oral health and your general health. Caused by a buildup of bacteria that affects the nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues inside the tooth’s pulp, a tooth infection can result from severe decay, an untreated cavity, a fracture in the enamel, or even just poor oral hygiene routines. Some of the symptoms of a… Continue Reading
Does Smoking Affect Dental Implants?Our dentists believe that smoking just before dental implants are placed, and anytime after the procedure, can have a significantly negative effect on a variety of levels. In addition to increasing the risk of infection, smoking may dramatically slow the rate of healing after surgery. Plus, research has shown that there are high implant failure rates among individuals who smoke…. Continue Reading
What to Eat After Teeth WhiteningAfter a professional teeth whitening treatment, you’ll naturally want to keep the results of your whiter, brighter smile going for as long as possible. While the effects of teeth whitening won’t be permanent, they can last for extensive periods as long as you take a few precautions, particularly when it comes to the food and beverages you consume after you’ve… Continue Reading
How to Fix a Chipped ToothEven the smallest chip in a tooth can have a noticeable effect on the appearance of your smile. These very common dental conditions can result from traumatic impact, falls, or trying to open a bottle or a package with your teeth. Thankfully, Dr. Dean Lodding and our experienced team of dentists offer numerous treatments that can address chipped teeth and… Continue Reading
How Many Dental Implants Will I Need for My Implant Denture?An implant denture essentially offers patients a hybrid version of dental implants and custom dentures, reaping the benefits of both of these advanced treatments to provide exemplary missing teeth replacement results. Implant dentures do not require a dental implant for each missing tooth; instead, only a select number of implants will be necessary, and these implants will work to provide… Continue Reading
Restoration Reality Check with your Elgin dentist: Avoiding Replacement Could Cost YouOne of the questions we get asked frequently is: Why do I need to replace my filling (or crown)? I thought it would last forever? As much as we would love to be able to promise that to you, we can’t. Even with the highest quality materials and techniques, which of course Dr. Lodding uses, fillings and/or crowns (also called… Continue Reading
Help Your Kids Play It Safe This Spring With a Sports Mouth GuardSpring sports season is here! Are your athletes ready to play it safe? True or false: Youth football and hockey players have the highest number of dental‐related facial injuries. False. Mouth guards have been mandatory for football, ice hockey, and lacrosse for decades, so the number of facial injuries in these sports has declined dramatically. The majority of mouth injuries… Continue Reading
How We Put Your Dental Fears to Rest at Smile for Life DentalLet’s be real here: We know that visiting the dentist can be something that makes many patients nervous. Research shows that 20% of individuals who experience severe anxiety will only go to the dentist if absolutely necessary. However, regular dental checkups are vital not only because they keep your teeth and gums healthy, but they can also help protect and… Continue Reading
The Whole Unconventional Truth about DentistryWhat do your parents and your Elgin dentist have in common? a) They both are expert health-care providers. b) They both are surprisingly cool and modern. c) They both love you dearly and want what’s best for you. Depending on the type of parents you have, all 3 answers could be right. However, we’ll be politically correct and bet our… Continue Reading
The Summer Super-Mom’s Top 5 Tips!Summer is a often a wonderful season spent enjoying the company of friends and family in the sun. Of course, those of us with kids know how busy it can be as well. To help those mothers and parents out there stay on their game and make this summer the best ever, we asked the Super-Mom for some help. Here… Continue Reading