The Laser Dental Group

Need help whitening your teeth? Want to quit smoking? Trying to lose weight? There's a chewing gum for all of that and more. New types of chewing gum are introduced all the time, but did you ever wonder how it managed to gain such a grip on consumers? Believe it or not, people have had a love affair with gum for thousands of years. From humble beginnings to hundreds of varietis, here's a look at how chewing gum rose to become the powerhouse product it is today.  How it Originated Long before William Wrigley Jr. made a name for chewing gum, ancient civilizations were tapping into trees and other sources of resin and chewing on soft rubbery substances both for enjoyment and medicinal purposes.  Evidence indicates prehistoric Europeans would chew on birch bark tar quite possibly to help relieve toothaches, while Aztecs and Mayans would turn to gum from the chicle tree to appease their thirst or hunger. In North America, Native Americans favored spruce tree resin and it b...

Take notes, tired parents! If you've all but emptied your bag of tricks to get your little one to brush and floss regularly, there are still a few more cards you can put up your sleeve to help keep smiles cavity-free. Give these sneaky (yet proven) dental hacks a try to preserve your child's oral health: 1. Have teeth coated with dental sealant. Typically used to prevent tooth decay in permanent teeth, it is now being used more and more by pediatric dentists to protect precious baby teeth as well. In as little as a few minutes, a thin, durable barrier can be applied to the pitted surfaces of your child's teeth to keep harmful bacteria from doing lasting damage. Since sealant is invisible to the unpracticed eye, your child won't even notice it's there. 2. Do another round of brushing when your child is asleep. It can take time for your child to adopt good dental habits, but it doesn't take long for plaque to do a number on teeth and gums. On days you ...

Have a dental appointment scheduled sometime soon? Sit back, relax and get ready to open your mouth – but not just to have it examined! Taking your smile to the next level involves more than just a routine checkup and cleaning; for truly noticeable changes, you'll need to start off by having an in-depth chat with your dentist. Make the most out of your next visit by asking these important questions: 1. What more could I be doing to help preserve my oral health? You'd be surprised by the information your dentist can glean by looking inside your mouth. Damaged enamel, for instance, can point to an overly acidic diet, and/or unnecessary pressure on your teeth. Gingivitis and tartar can indicate improper brushing or flossing. Even your breath can speak volumes; a foul odor can signify decay, dry mouth or an underlying health condition. Whatever your dentist discovers, have him or her spell it out, along with helpful tips and recommendations, of course. Walking away with a pla...

It can freshen up your breath faster than brushing, but does mouthwash really make a big difference when it comes to your oral health? You may be surprised to find that looks-or in this case, smells-can be deceiving! Oral rinses are not created equal, and if you're not careful, some can actually be more harmful than helpful.  Find out whether your go-to for gargling is doing you any good, or if another mouthwash makes sense for you. Therapeutic vs Cosmetic Mouthwashes Most mouthwashes claim to eliminate bad breath, but how they go about doing this can differ significantly.  In general, over-the-counter oral rinses fall into two categories: "Therapeutic" Mouthwashes Comprised of various anti-microbial agents, these mouthwashes have plaque fighting properties that can give your oral hygiene an added boost by inhibiting the growth of oral bacteria.  Oftentimes, they may be further enhanced with fluoride to help combat tooth decay.  Therapeutic mouthwashes prove...

It's undeniable that fluoride has played a major role in the decline of dental cavities in the United States.  However what isn't so clear to many parents is whether or not fluoride treatments are safe and/or beneficial for children. After all, children receive fluoride on a regular basis from many different types of foods and even water.  Through these sources alone, minerals lost due to plaque, bacteria and sugars are  remineralized on teeth. So, is an additional fluoride treatment at the dentists necessary and if so, at what age are the treatments most beneficial? Read on to find out. Why You Should Consider Fluoride Treatments For Your Child While it's true that fluoride found in foods and water can replace lost minerals, it sometimes isn't enough to strengthen teeth and protect against cavities.  In fact, if you don't consume enough natural fluoride, demineralization will occur much more quickly than remineralization, leaving enamel at risk and causin...

How are you doing with your New Year's resolutions?  Are you still watching your diet?  Keep in mind, having  a sugar-free label does not make a product tooth-friendly. Sugar-free beverages and candies can be as damaging as those containing sugar. The studies found that the majority of soft drinks and sports drinks led to softening of dental enamel - the outer layer of the tooth - by between a third and a half. Researchers at the Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), based at the University of Melbourne, Australia, tested 23 different types of sugar-free drinks - including soft drinks and sports drinks - and found those that contain acidic additives and those with low pH levels cause measurable damage to tooth enamel, even if they have no sugar. While most people are probably aware of the link between sugar and tooth decay, what is perhaps less well understood is the nature of that link, and why drinks that are acidic - whether they contain sugar or not - ...

It has been a very event filled year here at The Laser Dental Group.    Congratulations go to Dr. Ivy Hwang who recently completed a two year program at NYU and received her Fellowship to the ICOC, International Congress of Oral Implantologists .    Dr. Michael Saba has started his course study in Implantology.   Dr. Peter Louie just completed a series of advanced course studies in bone grafting and Dental implant placement. Our entire office has started a yearlong Practice Management program and that has helped us improve the operations within the two practices. Our E4D or Cad/Cam Technology has also been upgraded, and we can now start and finish a crown in 2 hours which is much faster than the 3 hours it took us prior to the upgrade.   On the digital radiography which we have incorporated since 2000, has also been upgraded. You have heard of High Definition television, so now we have high definition X-ray sensors . This improvement allows u...