How to Treat Infected Gums: A Guide to Healthier SmilesGum issues are incredibly common, affecting nearly half of adults at some point in their lives. If you’ve noticed red, swollen, or bleeding gums, you may be dealing with a gum infection, such as gingivitis or periodontitis. At Smile For Life Dental in Elgin, Dr. Dean Lodding provides advanced gum disease treatments to restore gum health and prevent complications. Identifying… Continue Reading
What Are the Health Benefits of Cosmetic Dentistry?Cosmetic dentistry treatments are often associated with enhancing the appearance of your smile, but they can also offer significant health benefits for many patients. At Smile For Life Dental in Elgin, Dr. Dean Lodding offers advanced treatments that are designed to help patients love their smiles and enhance their oral systemic health outcomes. One of the primary advantages associated with… Continue Reading
Health Benefits of Orthodontic TreatmentOrthodontic treatments like Invisalign® are designed to straighten the teeth, but they can offer patients more than just a beautiful smile; improved tooth and bite alignment also entails several significant health benefits that can enhance overall well-being. Below, our Elgin dentist explores the ways in which orthodontics can help enhance health and quality of life. Firstly, properly aligned teeth are… 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
Is Vaping Bad For My Teeth?In recent years, vaping has surged in popularity as an alternative to traditional smoking, touted as a “safer” option. However, questions are being raised about the potential impact on oral health. Is vaping bad for your teeth, and what could it mean for your overall dental and oral systemic health? Our Elgin dentist, Dr. Dean Lodding, co-founded the American Academy… 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
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
How Can I Improve the Appearance of a Single Stained Tooth?Stains on the teeth are a common—but nonetheless frustrating—concern. Many factors can contribute to discoloration, including certain foods and drinks (such as coffee, berries, and wine), tobacco use, some medications (such as tetracycline), and poor oral hygiene. In order to address teeth stains, individuals often turn to over-the-counter teeth whitening remedies. However, these are rarely as effective as professional whitening,… 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
Dental Emergencies During the Coronavirus/COVID-19 PandemicThe team at Smile for Life Dental want to be here for you in cases of a dental emergency during this unprecedented and challenging time. While our office is currently closed for routine procedures and other elective dental care options, our dentists are on standby for dental emergencies and can treat patients who are suffering from concerns that require immediate… Continue Reading