http://drtrey.com/blog Just another WordPress weblog Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:33:59 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Dreams of tooth loss are very common. In general, teeth are symbols of our aggressiveness or "bite". Like the saying goes, " I can't get my teeth into that", which means I have little control over that particular situation. If you dream about losing your teeth in general, it is associated ... http://drtrey.com/blog/2012/01/what-happens-if-i-keep-on-having-dreams-about-losing-teeth/ Myth: Silver fillings are stronger than white fillings. Truth: Silver (amalgam) fillings can actually weaken the supporting structure over time. Because the amalgam compound isn't  physically bonded to the tooth, like white fillings are, the filling flexes against the enamel under the forces of biting pressure. The filling, over time, creates ... http://drtrey.com/blog/2011/11/dental-myth-10/ A 38 year old professional man came to my office asking me to enhance his smile. The fact that his hand covered his mouth during our initial meeting spoke volumes about his self-consciousness.  He confessed that his feelings about his smile were adversely affecting his social and business life. ... http://drtrey.com/blog/2011/09/before-after/ These are times in life when uncertainty gives us the opportunity to look beyond our own circumstances and address the needs of others. As the uncertainty of financial security looms large, it seems that everyone is affected, and is concerned about their futures. In the spirit of being of service ... http://drtrey.com/blog/2011/09/what-to-do-10-years-later-911/ Myth: If my gums recede around my teeth, the gums will eventually grow back. Truth: Getting "long in the tooth" is usually caused by one of 3 things --recession due to bone loss around the tooth from periodontal disease, mechanically from aggressive tooth brushing, and orthodontic treatment. Gums do not "grow ... http://drtrey.com/blog/2011/09/dental-myth-9/ Myth: Young children don't need to see a dentist unless they have a specific problem because it's too early to determine what is going on with their teeth and they can't tolerate it anyway. Truth: Infants as young as a year old should definitely be seen by a dentist if they ... http://drtrey.com/blog/2011/08/dental-myth-8/ Myth: Infections in my mouth can just be treated with antibiotics. Truth: Infections are a body's way of communicationg it is under attack. It's a bold "HELP ME!" Antibiotics can play a vital role in controlling the symptoms (pain, swelling, fever) and altering the course of healing by giving it the ... http://drtrey.com/blog/2011/08/dental-myth-7/ Myth: I have bad breath because of acid reflux. Listerine and Nexium are the only things that take care of it. Truth: Although there is evidence that excessive stomach acid may produce a release of undesirable and noxious gases that can be perceived as bad breath, the predominate case of bad ... http://drtrey.com/blog/2011/08/dental-myth-6/ Why are crooked teeth a problem? Teeth that aren't aligned create what dentists call "malocclusion" or "bad bite". Left untreated, malocclusion can lead to periodontal disease and create abnormal stresses on the teeth and jaws, which may lead to malfunctioning of the jaw joint, tooth fractures and premature wear. Straight, ... http://drtrey.com/blog/2011/06/why-are-crooked-a-problem/ Myth: If I have an infection, it only affects my mouth and nothing else. Truth: The mouth is in communication with the rest of the body. Infections of the mouth, when left untreated, have the capacity to affect the health of other organs--namely the heart, lungs, and pancreas. Furthermore, recent and ... http://drtrey.com/blog/2011/04/dental-myth-5/