SmileCentre Blog

If you are looking for a great New Year’s Resolution, consider a commitment to optimizing your oral health routine. Maybe you brush twice a day. Maybe you floss. Maybe you visit our office for routine cleanings, but there is always room for improvement. Here are some easy ways to begin improving your oral health that can have a profound impact on the look, feel, and strength of your smile.

Brush More Frequently

Brushing twice a day is acceptable, but not optimal. Consider instead brushing your teeth after every meal and snack. It is typically a good idea to allow 30 minutes to pass between consuming food or drink and brushing your teeth. This gives enamel that may have been softened time to harden back up before the teeth are brushed.…

Dental implants are the most reliable and longest-lasting option for replacing missing teeth. In fact, with proper care, dental implants can last for a lifetime, providing full restoration of bite strength and tension while preventing structural changes to the jaw.

Once inserted into the jaw, dental implants undergo a process called osseointegration during which they are accepted as new tooth roots. This unique method of securing dental implants allows for some of their most impressive benefits, four of the biggest being:

• Preservation of Facial Shape. Because they replace missing tooth roots,…

Bruxism, more commonly known as jaw clenching or teeth grinding, is a fairly common condition. Particularly when under stress, clenching the jaw or grinding the teeth is a natural reaction for many people and, by and large, it’s not terribly concerning. However, when the issue becomes persistent or begins to occur while you are sleeping, it is important to discuss your options with one of our experienced and caring dentists.

Problems Associated with Bruxism

While occasional teeth clenching is often of little concern, when the behavior becomes common, serious oral health issues can follow. Bruxism can result in tooth fracture, chips, and cracks, all of which can…

Who’s the Switch Witch? She’s a good witch who visits your home on Halloween night to swap all your children’s candy treats with a toy, book, or similar gift. Why consider this newer tradition? To help protect your children’s teeth from the tooth sensitivity and decay that can be caused by too much sugar.

First conceived by a mother of two looking for ways to protect her children’s teeth, the Switch Witch has since become a beloved tradition across the country that has been endorsed by countless parents and dentists alike.

What are the Worst Halloween Offenders?

Halloween is a time filled with sugary treats. Complete abstention isn’t necessary, but there are a few candies and treats that…

Tooth staining is one of the most common cosmetic dental concerns. Fortunately, it is also one of the easiest to address. However, the type of tooth stains you are dealing with will play a role in the best treatment option.

Extrinsic Staining

Extrinsic tooth stains are those that occur on the outside of a tooth’s enamel. Common causes of these types of stains include foods and beverages, oral hygiene habits, and lifestyle choices such as tobacco use. Because they are topical, extrinsic tooth stains often respond very well to a combination of enhanced oral hygiene and professional tooth whitening.

At The Smile Centre, we are pleased to offer in-office…

The first day of school in Sarasota County is just around the corner. Do you remember when your child’s last general dental visit occurred? If it’s been longer than six months, now is a great time to call one of our offices and schedule a routine cleaning and examination, to help ensure your child starts the year right – with a healthy, strong, and beautiful smile.

The Importance of Routine Dental Care

Routine dental care is essential for optimal oral health – and the habits developed in childhood can set the foundation for a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

Coming to our office every six months serves several purposes, not…

A smile is a warm, friendly greeting to all you meet. We smile when we’re happy, when we’re laughing, and experiencing joy. The opportunity to again share our smiles with each other is a wonderful thing! If you have been thinking about rejuvenating your teeth this year, porcelain veneers may be the right option for these reasons:

Look great on Zoom. Video meetings have given us all an up-close-and-personal look at our own smiles. You may be noticing stains, yellowing, gaps, and other imperfections that you’d like to correct. Veneers conceal all of these flaws and others by providing a new tooth surface. Veneers can often be used as a standalone treatment or as part of a smile makeover.

Get results tailored to your desired outcome and your face. One of the amazing qualities of veneers is versatility. We can style veneers to create…

If you have severely damaged or missing teeth, you are probably wondering if a dental bridge can help replace your smile. While dental crowns can help protect individual teeth from damage, dental bridges are ideal for those who have large gaps in between teeth. However, there are other benefits to having a dental bridge placed. In fact, dental bridges can also be used to help:

• Restore your speech. When you have missing teeth, it can be difficult to form certain sounds like “sh” or “ch.” This results in changes in pronunciation over time. By removing the gaps…

When you receive your dental crowns, you will want to make them last as long as possible. While some crowns may be more durable than your natural teeth, they are still susceptible to damage if not treated properly. By caring for your dental crowns, you can ensure that your results last decades. Here are some tips for taking care of your new smile.

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene

Even if you have dental crowns, you will still need to take care of your teeth. Bacteria can get stuck underneath your crowns, potentially leading to an infection. In general, it is best to brush your teeth twice daily and floss at…

If you need to replace more than one tooth, you are probably wondering if you need a dental bridge rather than implants. While implants tend to be longer lasting, they are not ideal for everyone, especially those who are at an increased risk of infection or implant failure. As an alternative, a dental bridge can replace multiple teeth at once while keeping the risk of complications at a minimum. Here are four signs that a dental bridge may be a better option for you…