Celina, TX Dentist Speaks about Sleep Apnea in Teens

Teen AsleepMany parents battle with their teenagers to get them to wake up earlier. Commonly, if left to their own devices, teens naturally gravitate to a stay-up-late/sleep-in-late schedule. Teenagers actually require 8 ½ to 9 ½ hours of sleep every night to function at full capacity. Many teens experience a huge sleep deficit, particularly during the school year. Your Celina, TX  dentist, Dr. Newton, explains why burning the midnight oil and sleeping through breakfast is attractive to teenagers, and why we should be aware of potential sleep apnea issues. (more…)

Trick-or-Treat from your Celina, TX Children’s Dentist

HalloweenKidsAre your little ghouls and goblins ready for a night of trick-or-treating and excitement tomorrow? Halloween is just a day away, and while children may see this holiday as a haven for their sweet tooth, many parents and dentists are concerned with the poor oral health that can come from indulging in too much sugar. Luckily, as with most enjoyable foods and drinks that may not be the best for our health, moderation is key. Your Celina, TX children’s dentist, Dr. Newton, will remind you of the steps you and your child should be taking to ensure that the occasional evening of candy binging can go off without a dental hitch.

Dental Hygiene Always

Schedules can certainly be hectic, especially as the holidays begin to ramp up. On a night like Halloween, kids stay out a little later, run out of time for homework, and might become wired from all of the candy and excitement. What goes up must come down, so every sugar-high will come crashing to the ground eventually. This may mean that your child conks out with their full costume (more…)

Celina Dentist Masters the Art of Gum Contouring

Smile Hand Under ChinGums provide the frame of your smile. They also seal and protect the sensitive roots of your teeth. You probably focus on someone’s teeth – their shape, their color – when they smile at you. When someone is born with uneven gums, or too much gum tissue, these smile characteristics are also liable to stand out. Fortunately, there is a cosmetic dental solution. Your Celina dentist, Dr. Newton, will explain why many patients opt for a procedure called gum contouring when they feel their gums don’t look quite right.

Excessive Gum Tissue

Too much gum tissue can be too much of a good thing. Having this as a part of your appearance will make their teeth look unusually small; almost child-like. You have probably seen someone cover their mouth when they smile, or try to open their mouth at the bare minimum when they reciprocate your grin. Smiles are a major part of social interactions, and being uncomfortable with yours can lower your quality of life. Statistics and research have proven that people with confident smiles tend to have more success on the job and in their relationships. If your main complaint is your excess gum tissue, gum contouring procedures can precisely remove what you don’t need and unveil a beautiful, well-proportioned smile. (more…)

Celina Dentist Explains Links between Teeth and Breast Cancer

Women All AgesOctober is an important month if you have been affected by breast cancer. This is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Pink ribbons have been brought to popularity by the Susan G. Komen Foundation to represent solidarity with breast cancer patients. Your Celina dentist, Dr. Newton, wants to show her support by educating you on the links between breast cancer and dental issues.

Gum Disease and Breast Cancer

From 1985 to 2001, the World Health Organization (WHO) researched periodontal (gum) disease in connection with breast cancer. Over 3000 participants from ages 30 to 40 were studied. A significantly (more…)

Celina Dentist Recommends Yoga for Better Sleep

YogaBedMost people find that vigorous exercise before sleep can be the equivalent of drinking a pot of coffee right before bed. Exercise is a fantastic practice that can generally help attain better sleep, but timing is imperative. A mind and body full of energy from a good workout will be hard pressed to drift off to sleep easily. However, light yoga before bed can give you the body benefits of a workout without the energy surge, and create an overall relaxation conducive to deep sleep. Celina dentist, Dr. Newton helps patients with sleep issues such as snoring and sleep apnea, and understands how important good, high-quality sleep is.

Breathing Deep; Sleeping Deep

Yoga centers on breathing. The meditative elements of yoga may include something as simple as sitting on your bed in a comfortable position with good posture, and breathing deeply, in and out. Some people find that repeating a mantra in (more…)

Dental Implants: The Most Life-Like Tooth Replacement says Prosper Dentist

Aging CoupleLife is just not the same without teeth. You can try to survive when dental loss befalls you, but what will your quality of life really be like if you have nothing to smile with, nothing to chew with, nothing to keep your jawbone dense and healthy. Teeth do more than just show others that your happy.  If you want to preserve your looks and the function of your teeth, you’ll want to consider replacement options. You do have several, but arguably, the most natural, tooth-like prospect would be dental implant retained dentures. Your Prosper dentist, Dr. Newton, would like to tell you more about what many people simply refer to as dental implants.

Natural and Realistic Replacement

Your teeth are more complicated than they may appear at first sight. There is much more going on below the gumline than the simple crown that you see when you smile, laugh, or speak. Sealed in by your gums is a lower region called dental pulp which is comprised of roots, nerves, and other important tissues that keep your teeth strong, healthy, and sufficiently (more…)

Celina Dentist Explains Gum Lifts

Smiling Young LadyOur gums play a major role in the appearance and quality of our smile. Some people refer to the presence of an excessive amount of gingival tissue as a “gummy smile.” For people with this particular dental issue, teeth can appear small, almost like they belong in the mouth of a child. When gums are uneven, teeth can appear to be crooked even when they’re not. A surprisingly minimally invasive procedure is available from your Celina dentist, Dr. Newton. Reduction of the amount of gingival tissue in your mouth, can make your teeth appear straight and normal in size. We call it a gum lift. (more…)

Celina Cosmetic Dentist Offers Two Types of Teeth Whitening

WhiteTeethTeeth whitening is an incredible cosmetic dental procedure. When you undergo professional teeth whitening, you’ll be amazed at how much younger it makes you look, and how much more confident you feel. There are plenty of over-the-counter whitening options, but most will offer limited results and can actually harm your teeth. When you want to opt for a white smile, your Celina cosmetic dentist, Dr. Newton, can help with two different teeth whitening options.

LumiBrite In-Office Whitening

LumiBrite is a teeth whitening procedure that can transform your teeth up to six shades (more…)

Posture and TMJ Related by Celina, TX Dentist

PostureTemporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) usually involves pain in the muscles and joints of your jaw every time your mouth opens and closes. The temporomandibular joint is the hinge that connects the temporal bone of your skull to the mandible (lower jaw). These joints allow movement by being flexible. When you chew, talk, or yawn, your temporomandibular joints are at work. If you suffer from TMD, many parts of daily life can be greatly affected by the discomfort you feel. Your Celina, TX dentist, Dr. Newton, will explain how standing up straight might actually help you lessen your TMD symptoms.

Jaw Pain and Posture

The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) suggests that if you are experiencing frequent headaches and lower jaw pain, you should take a look at your posture. Poor posture puts your spine in a position that can cause potential stress to the jaw joint. When you slouch, the lower jaw will shift forward in accommodation of that posture. This creates a misalignment of the upper and lower teeth, and backwards movement of the skull on the spinal column. The inflammation from temporomandibular joint disorder is then aggravated.

Stand Up Straight

AGD spokesperson Ludwig Leibsohn, DDS points out that many people don’t realize how much proper posture can affect their oral health. Patients with facial pain often have unbalanced posture that rearranged facial muscle positioning, according to Dr. Leibsohn. This can lead to grooves and bumps developing on the teeth, and causing misalignment in the bite. Oral appliances from your dentist can help realign the teeth and prevent further damage. However, standing up straight is a great preventive measure to avoid needing any TMD treatment in the first place.

Celina, TX Dentist Offers TMJ Relief

If you’re looking for a dentist that can help you with TMJ issues, visit your Celina, TX dentist. To schedule an appointment, call our 75009 dental office. Also, visit the website to view services, print patient forms, or see our smile gallery. We proudly serve new and existing patients in Prosper, Frisco, McKinney, Gunter, Pilot Point, Anna, and the surrounding areas.

Sedation Dentistry: A Part of History

History BooksSedation dentistry shines as one of the greatest innovations in recent years. The option to undergo dental work while sleeping comfortably makes all the difference for some patients. Multiple procedures can be done at one appointment, which saves time and reduces anxiety. Comfort in dentistry isn’t exactly a new concept, however. Celina dentist, Dr. Newton, provides a brief history of sedation in dentistry.

Why is Sedation Dentistry Important?

Close to 75% of adults in the United States admit to having some degree of dental fear. For a smaller, but still significant percentage, the fear runs deep enough to qualify as a phobia. When someone has a dental phobia, their anxiety is so severe that they will go to great lengths to avoid going to the dentist. Unfortunately, much of what causes the need for dental work involves infection. When issues like gum disease or tooth decay are allowed to spread, the treatment and reparations required become much more involved. This can lead to a vicious cycle where the anxious patient has even more reason to avoid the dentist. The amount of work necessary seems insurmountable.

Ether as an Early Anesthetic

The idea of sleeping through a visit to the dentist may seem completely new, but nitrous oxide has been used to relieve discomfort since the 1840s. Dr. William Morton, a dentist in Massachusetts, wanted to take sedation further, however. He experimented with ether to help avoid dental discomfort, and in 1846, the first tooth extraction under complete sedation was performed. (more…)