July 2016

Our mission at Carefree Smile is to help you achieve your optimal oral health and smile.  To that end, many of the treatments that we provide to our patients are preventative treatments, to help reduce the future likelihood of dental disease or dental problems.  At our dental practice in North Scottsdale, we treat children as well as adults.  Oftentimes, fluoride is readily accepted by patients as a valuable treatment for children, but many adults are unaware of the strong benefits that fluoride varnish provides for their dentition.

Do you have a bony growth on your jaw bone?

Bony growths on either the mandible or hard palate are known as tori or torus if there is only one.  Mandibular tori are bony growths typically found on the inside of both sides of the mandible.  A maxillary torus is a bony growth found on the hard palate.

Tori are fairly common, are more likely found in females, and are more likely in the upper jaw than the lower jaw.  Genetics play a large part in the development of tori, as well as local stresses such as clenching and grinding.

What are dental veneers?

Veneers are one of the top requested cosmetic procedures that we provide to our patients here in Scottsdale, Cave Creek, and Carefree.  A veneer is typically made out of very thin porcelain or ceramic and is essentially a shell that is bonded over the front face and chewing edge of a tooth.

Is there a “best” way to whiten your teeth?  The answer to this question has a lot to do with the current condition of your teeth, their shade, and the sources of discoloration.  As always, we recommend a consultation at our dental practice Carefree Smile.  We offer cosmetic and general dentistry procedures and serve communities in Carefree, Cave Creek, and Scottsdale, Arizona.  There are a few types of whitening products that Dr. Swainhart recommends: whitening toothpaste, whitening strips, Zoom!® whitening, and KöR® whitening or bleaching trays.