The Effects of Biting Your Nails

Known as onchophagia, the habit of nail biting is one of the so-called “nervous habits” that can be triggered by stress, excitement, or boredom. Approximately half of all kids between the ages of ten and 18 have been nail biters at one time or another. Experts say that about 30 percent of children and 15 percent of adults are nail biters, however most people stop chewing their nails by the time they turn 30. Here are four dental and general reasons to stop biting your nails: 1. It’s unsanitary: Your nails harbor bacteria and germs, and are almost twice as dirty as fingers. What’s more, swallowing dirty nails can lead to stomach problems. 2. It wears down your teeth: Gnawing your nails can put added stress on your pearly whites, which can lead to crooked teeth. 3. It can delay your orthodontic treatment: For those of our patients wearing braces, nail biting puts additional pressure on teeth and weakens roots. 4. It can cost you, literally: It has been estimated that up to $4,000 in extra dental bills can build up over a lifetime. The Drs. at www.metrodental.com and our team recommend the following to kick your nail biting habit: Keep your nails trimmed short; you’ll have less of a nail to bite. Coat your nails with a bitter-tasting nail polish. Ask us about obtaining a mouthguard, which can help prevent nail biting. Put a rubber band around your wrist and snap it whenever you get the urge to gnaw on your nails. Think about when and why you chew your nails. Whether you are nervous or just bored, understanding the triggers can help you find a solution and stop the habit. If you can’t stop, behavioral therapy may be an effective option to stop nail biting. Ask our team at www.metrodental.com for a recommendation.

Invisalign Teen is it worth Smiling About ?

Invisalign Teen is designed with today’s youth in mind. These clear, removable orthodontic aligners can straighten your teeth without the need for metal wires and brackets. Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign Teen aligners are comfortable, nearly invisible, and removable, which allows you to remove them as you eat your favorite foods and brush and floss your teeth. Invisalign Teen motivates teenagers to enjoy life without restrictions while promoting better overall dental care.

Key features of Invisalign Teen

Teenagers are constantly on the move and require special options when it comes to their braces. Invisalign Teen utilizes the same technology as Invisalign for adults; they consist of a series of clear plastic aligners that gradually move the teeth. Extra features designed especially for teens include:

• Blue wear-indicators on the aligners that gradually fade from blue to clear to help you, and our team, gauge wear time
• Aligners designed to compensate for the growth of molars and new teeth
• Customization to fit your mouth correctly and comfortably
• Removable and nearly transparent to ensure you can eat with freedom and smile with confidence
• Six free individual replacement aligners in the event that your aligners become misplaced or lost

Conditions improved by Invisalign Teen

Between 70 and 80 percent of adolescents in the United States require braces, according to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO). Invisalign Teen uses advanced technology to treat a broad range of orthodontic conditions. These include overbite, underbite, crossbite, widely-spaced teeth, and overly crowded teeth. Injuries and tooth and jaw problems may also require the use of braces to correct jaw and teeth alignment problems.

How does Invisalign Teen work?

Like any orthodontic treatment, Invisalign Teen requires a customized treatment plan created by the Orthodontist at Metro Square Dental Associates. Generally, each set of aligners is worn for approximately two weeks and removed when you brush, floss, eat, and drink. Your teeth will gradually move with the series of aligners, which typically ranges from 18 to 30 aligners in total. You’ll visit our Vernon Hills, IL  office every eight to ten weeks to check your progress and make any needed adjustments.

Invisalign Teen introduces a whole new way to make your smile straight without the unappealing look and hassle of traditional metal braces. This revolutionary method of correcting smiles is being used by teens everywhere, including right here at Metro Sqaure Dental Associates , to straighten their teeth with confidence.

Regular Cleanings Lead to Healthier Mouths and Bodies

The American Dental Association and dentists everywhere, including our own Drs. at Metro Square Dental Associates  recommend that you schedule an appointment every six months for a cleaning and checkup. Despite this universal recommendation from the experts, some people believe regular cleanings and checkups are unnecessary unless there is something wrong with your teeth—for example, a cavity or a toothache. In fact, coming in for a six-month checkup and cleaning is one of the most important things you can do for your oral health, as well as your overall health.

Why It’s Important to Visit Regularly

Numerous studies have shown that oral health is closely tied to the overall health of your whole body. In fact, having a healthy mouth can help the rest of your body stay in balance. On the other hand, an unhealthy mouth can cause all kinds of problems for you down the road.

One of the most important things we do at Metro Square Dental Associates  when you come in for cleanings is remove plaque that has collected on your teeth and around your gums. If left untreated, plaque build-up can cause inflammation and irritation around your gums, and lead to gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontal disease.

According to the American Academy of Periodontology, periodontal disease has been linked to increased risk for serious health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, inflammation, osteoporosis, and pregnancy complications.

Most oral health issues will begin with subtle changes before progressing into more serious conditions. If you visit us for regular checkups, we may be able to identify common indicators that could lead to larger issues down the road. If we only see you at our office every few years, it becomes more difficult to catch these conditions before they grow into bigger and more painful problems.

What happens at a dental checkup?

When you come in for your regular checkup, there are several things our dentists and hygienists may do, including:

• Take X-rays to determine the overall health of your teeth, jaw, bones, and the tissue surrounding your teeth, including a check for early signs of tooth decay, abnormal growths, cavities, and other damage that is not immediately visible
• Perform a thorough cleaning of your mouth and teeth to remove any excess plaque and tartar, then polish and floss your teeth
• Check for signs of gum disease or evidence of tooth decay
• Examine your bite, and look for broken or damaged teeth
• Identify any changes to your gums or teeth since your last visit
• Examine your head and neck for signs of oral health problems

Waiting to visit the  until you already have a problem, like a cavity, is like waiting to put gasoline in your car until after you run out and your vehicle is stalled on the side of the road. Once you have a problem, the ripple effect can cause you a lot of pain, take considerably more time, and cost a lot more money to fix than if you had come in for preventive care and cleanings every six months. Call the Drs. at Metro Square Dental Associates 847-680-7171 Vernon Hills, IL 

CEREC®: Are you a candidate? From Metro Square Dental Associates

If you’ve ever had a dental crown made, you know that the process can be time-consuming. Our team at Metro Square Dental is proud to offer a treatment that makes crowns, veneers, and bridges faster and simpler so that you can get back to enjoying life with just one visit.

Gone are the days when anesthetic was involved so that the crown can be placed. Also gone are the cumbersome, hassling steps needed to have an outside lab construct a crown.  With CEREC, Metro Square Dental Associate's Drs. can scan your tooth using a small infrared camera that fits inside your mouth and takes a picture of the area in question. The image is then transferred and displayed on a computer screen, where Metro Square Dental Associate's Drs. can use the computer to design the dental crown. The crown is then milled from a high-grade ceramic material, all while you wait and enjoy the sights and sounds of our office. Once the machine is done milling, Metro Square Dental Associate's Drs.  place the crown on the tooth and have you out the door quickly so that you can get back to enjoying life.

The reduced time involved with this procedure makes the CEREC system especially appealing for patients who lead busy lives. CEREC patients benefit from this treatment because they needn’t deal with the having their teeth numbed, nor are they required to wear a temporary crown or return to our office for a follow-up visit.

To learn more about CEREC technology or to schedule an appointment with the Metro Square Dental Associate's Drs. at our convenient Vernon Hills, IL  office, we invite you to give us a call today! We look forward to working with you! 847-680-7171

Quit Smoking to Save Your Smile

You’ve likely heard that smoking increases risk of lung cancer and emphysema. But did you realize that your cigarette habit also has an impact on your smile? Chronic smokers suffer from increased dental problems that make their smiles unsightly. Understanding how smoking affects your oral health may provide the momentum you need to kick the habit for good.

Cosmetic Changes Associated with Smoking

Cigarettes contain more than 600 ingredients that, when lit, create in excess of 4,000 chemicals. Of these chemicals, many are known carcinogens while others have been shown to have serious negative effects on health. The nicotine and tar in tobacco products are absorbed by the enamel of your teeth. The result is yellowed teeth that look unsightly; with heavy smoking, your teeth may eventually turn nearly brown in color.

The chemicals in cigarettes and cigars also cause your teeth to become less clean. Smoking is associated with a build-up of tartar and plaque on the surface of your teeth. Over time, this increases your risk of developing cavities and other oral health problems. Furthermore, pursing your lips while smoking leads to wrinkles around your mouth, which detracts from your smile.

More Serious Dental Conditions

In addition to having unsightly teeth, smoking can cause serious health conditions. Because of the carcinogens in cigarettes, smoking is associated with an increased risk of oral cancer, which can be deadly. Smokers are also more likely to develop gum disease, which can lead to tooth loss. You may experience an increased loss of bone within your jaw, which will cause significant problems later in life.

Treatment for Smoking-Related Oral Health Problems

Metro Square  Dental will tell you that the best defense against smoking-related oral health problems is to ditch your nicotine habit. By decreasing the amount of nicotine and other chemicals you consume, you can decrease your risk of oral cancer and gum disease. Remember to mention your smoking habit when you’re at our Vernon Hill, IL office. We frequently treat smokers and can recommend smoking cessation programs to help you quit. Dr.Jeffrey Cohen can also advise you about whitening treatments and gum disease prevention activities that ensure you’ll have a beautiful smile for years to come.

Who benefits from Invisalign®?

One problem with trying to answer the question as to who benefits from Invisalign is that the simple answer is “almost everyone.” The see-through, almost invisible aligners for straightening teeth are specifically molded to fit each individual’s mouth. Unlike conventional braces, they can be removed when eating and when cleaning the teeth. Because they use less force in straightening teeth than metal braces, the risk of harm to teeth is lessened.

Benefits to adults

Traditional braces are associated with children and teenagers. Many adults want to have their teeth straightened but cannot decide which is worse: having crooked teeth or wearing metal braces. They also worry about having to change their diet by not being able to eat the foods they normally enjoy.

If you are an adult considering braces, our team at Metro Square Dental will tell you Invisalign aligners will give you the best of all worlds. Your teeth will be straightened with virtually invisible braces. You can remove your aligners when you eat so you can enjoy any food you normally would consume. You do not have to worry about embarrassing yourself by getting food stuck in your braces. You simply clean your teeth normally after eating and replace your aligners. If there is a special occasion during which you do not want to have any braces at all, you can remove the aligners for a few hours without causing any damage.

Benefits to teenagers

Our team knows  that teenagers are often involved in contact sports or gymnastics. Others find that having metal in their mouth interferes with their ability to play a musical instrument. Traditional metal braces contain wires and brackets that can cause damage to the mouth and gums; this is not a risk with Invisalign aligners.

For sports that require players to wear mouthguards, the expense of specially constructed mouthguards to fit over braces is avoided. The aligners can be removed during sports activity, and a normal mouthguard is worn. Teenagers who play musical instruments simply remove the aligners when practicing or playing in the band or orchestra.

Teenagers often feel they are too busy to spend time and trouble flossing teeth between the wires and brackets of traditional braces. Since the Invisalign aligners are removable, brushing and flossing are simpler and more likely to be performed.

For more information about Invisalign or Invisalign Teen, or to schedule an initial consultation call Metrodental.com at 847-680-7171

Popular Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures to Consider for Your Smile

Your dentist is an excellent resource for your oral health, but he can also help you discover cosmetic procedures that will give you the sparking and beautiful smile you deserve. There is a wide range of cosmetic dentistry procedures available, and many of them can be completed in a single visit to the dentist’s office. Below, you will find an introduction to some of the most popular procedures that might be right for your unique smile.

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain is an excellent material for cosmetic tooth enhancements, because it is durable, stain-proof, and easily customizable. Porcelain veneers are thin, tooth-shaped overlays that bond directly to the surface of the teeth to correct poor tooth spacing, discoloration of the enamel, or chipped teeth. One or several veneers may be needed to achieve the effects you are looking for in your treatment.

Crowns

Dental crowns are used to cap dental implants, preserve the structure of a broken tooth, or complete a root canal procedure. In the past, the dental crown procedure took several office visits to complete, but now most dental crown treatments can be completed using CEREC same-day restoration technology. CEREC uses digital tooth impressions to create custom tooth restorations made from versatile, beautiful porcelain that will blend seamlessly into your smile.

Invisalign

If you have crooked teeth, a misaligned bite, or gaps between the teeth, you may have chronic oral health issues in addition to aesthetic dissatisfaction with your smile. Invisalign can correct these problems without the discomfort of unattractive metal brackets and wires so that you can undergo orthodontic treatment at any age.



To see if you are a candidate for these and other cosmetic dentistry procedures, contact Dr. Jeffrey T. Cohen  DDS today by calling (847) 680-7171. Dr. Cohen offers a wide range of dental services to Vernon Hills residents, from general cleanings and checkups to advanced and complex procedures such as dental implants.