Simply Smiles Dentistry, Glen Carbon – Briana Oller, DMD
Gentle Dental Care for Your Entire Family
When we get a toothache, most people automatically suspect a cavity, and that’s certainly a possibility. But there are other things that can also cause toothaches, so don’t jump to any conclusions. Before you tell your dentist you need a new filling, consider these other possible causes of your toothache. Gum Disease While cavities get a lot of attention when… Read More
A person’s palate (otherwise referred to as the roof of the mouth) might need to be expanded for a few different reasons. A palate expander is usually recommended early on in orthodontic treatment and it’s designed to do exactly what it sounds like: make the palate larger. Your child’s orthodontist might recommend a palate expander prior to braces, or they… Read More
Teeth shifting is exactly what it sounds like: it’s when your teeth move out of alignment and it can happen at any time of life. While our teeth move a certain amount throughout our lifespans, certain stressors can cause them to move more drastically than they otherwise might. Orthodontia Orthodontic treatment is probably the most obvious cause of teeth shifting…. Read More
Resorption occurs any time a part of the body gets absorbed into another part of the body. When we talk about tooth resorption, we generally mean the inflammation and loss of dentin (the inner tissue of the tooth) and cementum (the outer tissue of the tooth) due to absorption. Root resorption specifically refers to when the roots of a tooth… Read More
No one likes keeping foreign objects in their mouths for an extended period of time, but even inexpensive mouth guards can be molded into a perfect fit for your teeth so they take up as little space as possible, don’t impede breathing, and protect your teeth all at once! While most people think of football when they think of mouth… Read More
Whether it’s your wisdom teeth getting in the way of your other teeth and causing problems, or another tooth that has rotted beyond repair, here are five things you need to look out for when it comes to indications you might need to have a tooth pulled. Teeth Are Impacted or Crowded One of the most common causes for extracting… Read More
Some cynics say Valentine’s Day was invented by Hallmark, while others say it was by chocolate companies. Either way, the fact remains that a lot of cards and candy tend to get exchanged this month, but are your teeth paying the price? As sweet as these treats are, they often come with a hefty price you don’t end up paying… Read More
It’s the time of year where we all make resolutions to be better people and live better, healthier, more productive lives in the year to come. While diet and exercise often get the most attention when it comes to improving our health, our mouths play a huge role in our overall health and too often they get overlooked. So we… Read More
This can be trickier than it sounds, mostly because there is no legal requirement for companies to put the word “natural” on their labels. They can literally put anything in their product and still call it “natural,” so choosing a truly natural toothpaste requires a little more research on the part of the consumer. Here’s what you need to look… Read More
The temporomandibular joint (a.k.a. TMJ) is the joint right behind your cheek where your jaw connects to your skull. TMJ dysfunction (a.k.a. TMJ or TMJ syndrome) refers to problems with the joint, the symptoms of which can include anything from lockjaw to jaw pain to pain in the head, neck, and/or ears. Although TMJ dysfunction does not deal directly with… Read More
