The TDA currently has more than 7,700 members and consists of 26 core dental societies that are grouped into four divisions across Texas. The Board of Directors, which serves as the executive body of the Association, consists of sixteen voting and six non-voting members. Dr. Neal is running for the Northeast Division director position, and if he wins it, he will serve on the Board of Directors in different positions for the next three years. Also a member of the Board, he will have the opportunity to review and act upon all recommendations for policy changes from the Association’s 20 different councils.

The caucus will be held in San Antonio on May 7, 2010 during the TDA’s 140th annual meeting.

Dr. Neal currently serves as the President of the North Texas Dental Society, which covers Cooke, Collin, Denton, Fannin, Grayson, Hunt, Kaufman, Rains and Rockwall Counties.

Porcelain dental veneers are thin strips of porcelain that are bonded over the front surfaces of your teeth to improve either their shape or color or protect any damaged surfaces. Whereas crowns cover your entire tooth, porcelain veneers only fit on the front of your teeth. Veneers can also be used to straighten teeth and better align them, further enhancing your smile’s cosmetic appearance. Porcelain veneers can either be permanent or non-permanent, depending on what you need them for.

Veneers are made individually for each patient and customized to ensure a natural and attractive appearance. A dentist will take a few custom impressions of your teeth to not only construct the dental veneers to fit the individual tooth but also to take the surrounding teeth into consideration for proper proportions and bonding. This way, the veneers will fit your smile perfectly.

For those who already have dental crowns, porcelain veneers could provide a more natural and nicer appearance. Since the veneers are thin ceramic shells, light passes through them and then is reflected by the teeth. The effect appears natural and often adds a brightness to the teeth.

Not only is the process simple, but it is safe and rather inexpensive. If you think porcelain veneers are right for you, please contact our office today so we can discuss improving your smile with porcelain veneers. If you are indeed a candidate, we know you will be pleased with the result.

Image courtesy of County Dental

GSK explained that Poli-Grip is safe to use if you use it as directed on its labels, but they have found that some users apply more of the cream than necessary and even use it more than once a day to help make their dentures fit correctly. To help protect these consumers from potential zinc risks, GSK has decided to pull the zinc-laden products completely.

Zinc is an important part of our everyday diet, but recent studies have found that a large intake of denture adhesives with zinc over many years can lead to developing neurological symptoms including numbness, tingling, weakness in the arms and legs, difficulties walking, and anemia or other blood problems. There is no formal recall at this time, but GSK is solely responsible for all recall measures.

If you continue to use these Poli-Grip products, you are highly advised to only use the denture cream as directed or switch to other zinc-free Poli-Grip products such as Poli-Grip Original, Comfort Strips or Powder. However, if you have any difficulty in securing a comfortable fit with your dentures, you should contact our office to assess your poorly fitting dentures.

Periodontal Disease Symptoms
The symptoms of gum disease are very apparent and if you notice any of the following, you should contact your dentist immediately. These symptoms include bleeding gums while brushing, loose teeth, bad breath no matter what you try, and/or pus discharges around your teeth.

Gingivitis
As mentioned earlier, gingivitis is the first stage of periodontal disease. It is not painful, so it is easy to overlook or ignore, but during this stage, the gums are swollen and often bleed very easily. Oral hygienists can quickly spot and treat gingivitis at your teeth cleaning visits.

Periodontitis
If you ignore your gingivitis, it will most likely become periodontitis, a very serious form of periodontal disease. Bacteria will damage the tissues in and around your teeth and create what are called “periodontal pockets.” Infections will then surface in between your gums and teeth, inflicting further damage in the bone and gums. Unless a dentist quickly interferes at this point, you will lose those teeth.

There are three types of periodontitis: chronic periodontitis, aggressive periodontitis, and necrotizing periodontal disease.

Periodontal Disease Treatment
In the very early stages of gum disease, you can treat it quickly by regularly brushing and flossing your teeth. If it becomes more serious, only a dentist can treat it. The dentist will rigorously clean your teeth with a process called scaling, and if necessary, will prescribe antibiotics to clear up any infections. If your disease is extremely advanced, you may require periodontal surgery.

Preventing Periodontal Disease
You can easily prevent gum disease by brushing twice a day every day and flossing once a day every day. You should also keep regular teeth cleaning appointments with your dentist twice a year to help remove any tartar plaque build-up. Smoking or chewing tobacco also greatly increases your risk for contracting gum disease.

Just a little bit of prevention will go a long way toward averting not only periodontal disease but also costly procedures. If you think you might have signs of periodontal disease, contact our office as soon as possible so we can start treatment immediately and prevent any irreversible damage.

Baking Soda One tried and true method to remove stains from your teeth is baking soda. Mix a little baking soda with water and—for better results—a bit of hydrogen peroxide. Scoop some of the paste onto your toothbrush and brush your teeth.

Apples, Carrots, Celery and Pears Try to eat plenty of each. These fruits and vegetables allow saliva to move more freely and in larger amounts in your mouth than other foods, and saliva is already your body’s natural method to clean stains from your teeth. Saliva also deactivates any lingering acids in your mouth, which helps prevent tooth decay. Chewing gum also has similar effects, but before you rush out and chew plenty of gum, make sure that the gum is sugar-free, or you’ll cause more problems than you’ll prevent.

Watch What You Drink Some beverages can stain your teeth. The most famous culprits are wine, coffee, and grape juice. To help minimize their staining effects, try to rinse your mouth with water after drinking them.

Quit Smoking In addition to the numerous other health risks tobacco imposes, smoking enhances tooth decay, causes bad breath, increases the risk for oral (mouth) cancer and stains your teeth. If you don’t smoke, then don’t start.

Brush and Floss Surely you’ve heard your dentist tell you this a thousand times, but it is incredibly important to consistently brush and floss your teeth. You should brush twice a day and floss once a day, every day. If you lapse in this practice for days at a time, it will not matter what other treatments you try; you will have yellow, stained teeth.

If you are concerned about keeping your teeth white, feel free to contact our office to discuss home treatments or possibly cosmetic dental procedures to get your smile its absolute whitest.