What Happens if I Stop Wearing My Retainers?Your retainers play a crucial role in keeping your teeth aligned after orthodontic treatment. When you stop wearing them, your teeth may gradually shift back to their original positions, a process known as relapse. This can lead to crowding, gaps, or other alignment issues, undoing the time and investment you put into achieving your ideal smile. Orthodontic compliance is key… Continue Reading
What Causes Short and Worn Teeth?Short or worn teeth can impact the appearance of your smile and the health of your bite, making them a concern for many people. But what causes teeth to wear down or appear shorter over time? Below, our Elgin cosmetic dentist—Dr. Dean Lodding—explains common causes as well as treatment options to restore smile aesthetics. One of the main culprits of… Continue Reading
Can Tooth Enamel Grow Back?Tooth enamel is the hard, protective outer layer of your teeth that guards against decay and damage. Unfortunately, once enamel wears away, it doesn’t grow back. This is because enamel lacks living cells, making it impossible for the body to repair or regenerate it naturally. However, while lost enamel cannot be restored, there are several ways to address the damage… Continue Reading
Health Benefits of Full Mouth Dental ImplantsFull mouth dental implants can be a transformative solution for rehabilitating a mouth that has suffered from significant tooth loss and dental damage. By surgically anchoring durable titanium posts to the jawbone that act as the “roots” and placing custom crowns on top as the restorative “teeth,” dental implants produce results that can mimic the form, function, and feel of… Continue Reading
How to Prevent Bone Loss After Tooth ExtractionThe jawbone not only securely holds the roots of a tooth in place, but is also dependent on healthy teeth to stimulate bone cells. When teeth are extracted or lost, bone tissue in that area recedes since the tooth roots are gone and are no longer able to enhance jawbone density. Bone deterioration after tooth loss can be a very… Continue Reading
How Can I Remove Staining from Bonded Teeth?One of the benefits of cosmetic dental bonding is the treatment’s ability to blend in seamlessly with surrounding teeth for a natural appearance. However, if a bonded tooth becomes stained, this can reduce the quality of the results and require an adjunctive solution to restore a natural look. Although bonded teeth are polished upon application, they are still susceptible to… Continue Reading
Dental Care During PregnancyPregnancy can be a joyous but overwhelming time in a person’s life, and good dental care is rarely the first thing on an expectant mother’s mind. However, being mindful of your oral health is actually an important part of safeguarding the overall health of both you and your baby. Dr. Dean Lodding is an Elgin-based family and cosmetic dentist with… Continue Reading
When Does a Tooth Need to Be Extracted?While we typically do whatever we can to preserve as much of your natural tooth structure as possible, in some cases, extraction is actually the best option for your health and comfort. Our Elgin dentists offer a range of dental care procedures designed to meet your specific needs. For patients experiencing pain or who have severe damage or decay, root… Continue Reading
How Can I Maintain the Results of My Smile Makeover?A smile makeover is a completely customizable, multi-faceted treatment that can transform your smile and provide you with confidence for the future. However, patients sometimes wonder about how to ensure the longevity of their smile makeover results. In order to get the most out of your treatment, there are several things to keep in mind. First, it’s imperative that patients… Continue Reading
Is There a Way to Straighten Teeth Without Braces?While traditional braces can often efficiently straighten teeth, not everyone is interested in getting them—often because they don’t want noticeable brackets or wires disrupting their smile aesthetics. This is a totally understandable viewpoint, and one we hear frequently at Smile For Life Dental. In many cases, we can often accommodate a patient’s wishes for straighter teeth using porcelain veneers instead…. Continue Reading