Kathy Lam, DDS Blog

If you’re missing one or more teeth that were once located next to each other, a dental bridge might be the best way to replace them. This restoration is named this way because it literally bridges the gap between teeth. As beneficial as bridges are, there are a few things that can prevent them from reaching their five to seven-year expected lifespan. Read on to learn about three things that commonly lead to dental bridge failure as well as a few tips to help you prevent them.

Society views a bright smile with youth, confidence, and success; however, teeth come in many shades and tones. Not to mention, they change color over time. If you’re embarrassed by yellow teeth, you don’t have to hide your smile. Here are the most common causes of stained teeth and how you can combat discoloration.

(more…)

If your dentist recommends root canal therapy for your tooth, it might sound scary at first. After all, it’s often made out to be the worst dental treatment possible. Sometimes you’ll hear sarcastic statements like, “That sounds about as pleasant as a root canal.” So, it wouldn’t be surprising if you’re asking yourself, “Are root canals painful?”

The truth is that root canals don’t involve any significant pain, at least when performed rightly. Read on to see for yourself!

Imagine if, before the root canal therapy you’d scheduled with your dentist, your toothache mysteriously vanished. Should you cancel your dental treatment since the offending ache is gone?

In short, the answer is “no.” Even if a toothache disappears, you may still need root canal therapy for other reasons. For those wanting to know what those reasons could be, here is a guide to why toothaches go away and how root canals can apply regardless.

Does your attention turn to a small gap between your teeth when looking in the mirror? Maybe your smile is almost perfect, except for slight overlapping? You know braces can help, but are minor alignment issues worth the time and money? You don’t have to commit to metal braces or clear aligners to fix your smile. You might be a candidate for instant orthodontics. Here’s how you can get a straight smile in just a few weeks.

(more…)

If you’re missing teeth, dental implants are an excellent way to fill in your smile and regain at least 80% of your bite power. They can be used to replace any number of pearly whites to prevent jawbone deterioration and give your smile a healthier, more uniform appearance. Since implants often serve both a restorative and a cosmetic purpose, you may be wondering if they can stain like your natural teeth. Read on to learn if dental implants can become discolored as well as ways to fix or prevent this.

Basketball is a common pastime in our neck of the woods, especially this time of year – but unfortunately, contact sports like basketball, hockey, and other rough and tumble activities can put your healthy teeth at risk of injury. 

If you have suffered a chipped or broken tooth while out on the court or maybe even just from chowing down on your favorite food as a spectator at a game, your dentist may recommend a dental crown to repair the structure of the tooth. With advanced technology, that crown can be expertly shaded to match the rest of your teeth for a truly flawless appearance. Keep reading to learn how color matching works! 

We all want to put our best foot forward, and having a healthy, attractive smile is a big part of looking great. If you have had a large cavity or chipped/cracked tooth repaired with a dental crown, you may have noticed a visible tell that gives away the fact that you have had dental work – a black line around the base of the dental crown. It’s a common occurrence with a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown, but there is a solution. 

You may have eaten rice cakes that taste like cardboard to lose weight. To get “his hair” back, your buddy shelled out big bucks for that toupee that makes him look like “Uncle Rico” from Napoleon Dynamite. To quit smoking, your brother started vaping, and now he’s addicted to that.

To make a positive change in your life, it’s not set in stone you must endure a negative experience along the way. Take teeth whitening, for example. Can it cause teeth sensitivity? Sure, but you don’t have to put up with that for a smile upgrade.

Keep reading to learn the common causes of teeth sensitivity after a whitening treatment and what you can do to prevent it!

The practice of teeth whitening is no new kid on the block regarding dental practices. In fact, it didn’t appear in 2011, or 1911, or even 11 AD!

This may be one of the oldest dental practices that still exists today. It is interesting that, although modern humans may not have that much in common with ancient cultures, they all seem to share more visual appreciation for whiter teeth.

Here’s a look at how some humans of the past pursued whiter teeth so you can see just how far the technology has come.