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Orem Guide To Plaque, Calculus, And Cavities

Posted on November 30, 2012September 28, 2013

Hi. We’re Dr. Hammond. Welcome to our Orem dental blog! We find that many of our patients in the Orem area get a couple of general dentistry terms mixed up. Today, I would like to clarify the differences between plaque, calculus, and cavities.

Plaque is a film that covers teeth – a sticky layer of bacteria. You can remove plaque through daily brushing and flossing. However, if it isn’t removed it can build up and harden into calculus.

Calculus, also known as tartar, is hardened plaque that also accumulates minerals from food and saliva. Regular check-ups and cleanings with your Orem dentist are necessary to remove tartar as well as hard-to-reach plaque.

Plaque and calculus are not cavities, but they can lead to cavities. A cavity is basically a hole in the tooth caused by decay. Because plaque and calculus contain bacteria, the bacteria release acids which accelerate tooth decay and eventually lead to more cavities.

A good rule of thumb for Orem family dentistry patients is this: Avoid plaque to avoid calculus and tartar to avoid tooth decay to avoid cavities. Got it?

I hope you’ve found this helpful, and if you’re in the Orem area and are in need of quality dental care, call our office at 801-374-0070 to schedule an appointment today.

Our friendly and professional staff would love to answer any questions you have about our services, including cosmetic dentistry, teeth whitening, and veneers.

Dr. Hammond
Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry
3575 N 100 E, Ste 200
Provo, Utah
801-374-0070
/about.htm

Orem Dental News: Regular Cleanings And Heart Health

Posted on November 2, 2012November 1, 2012

Visiting Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry near Orem for regular general dentistry check-ups and cleanings every six months can seem inconvenient and unnecessary at times, but you may benefit in ways you never imagined.

A recent study showed that people who had their teeth professionally cleaned at least once every two years were 24 percent less likely to have a heart attack, compared to those who skipped appointments.

While the study could simply confirm that those Orem people who dutifully schedule regular dental services and cleanings also practice healthy habits like exercising and eating right, there is additional evidence of a relationship between oral health and heart health.

Common problems like inflammation with gum disease are linked to hardening of the arteries and other tissue inflammations which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

Former American Heart Association President Ralph Sacco, MD, (who did not participate in the study mentioned previously) said:

‘Something as simple as having good dental hygiene – brushing, flossing, and having regular cleanings – may be good for your heart and brain health.’

While the study found that patients who schedule cleanings yearly reap the most health benefits, Dr. Hammond of Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry recommends coming in for check-ups and cleanings every six months to catch potential problems early, saving Orem family dentistry patients time and money. Regular dental cleanings also brighten and whiten teeth, making your smile look its best.

To schedule a deep cleaning with our friendly and professional dental hygienist at Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry, call 801-374-0070 today!

Dr. Hammond
Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry
3575 N 100 E, Ste 200
Provo, Utah 84604
801-374-0070
https://www.cosmeticdentistryutahcounty.com

Protecting Your Provo Athlete’s Teeth

Posted on October 26, 2012October 24, 2012

Do you have a son or daughter that plays Provo youth sports? Soccer, baseball, football, basketball and gymnastics can be very dangerous to your child’s teeth. Football is a violent contact sport, yet there is a relatively low rate of tooth injuries that occur in football as compared to other contact sports. Why? Football players are required to wear a mouth guard and a helmet.

Inexpensive athletic dental mouth guards are worth their weight in gold!

If your child participates in a contact sport in Provo and does not currently wear a tooth protection device, you may want to purchase an appropriately-sized mouth guard. They are available at most Provo area athletic supply stores.

At Hammond Aesthetic and General Dentistry in Provo, we care about your child’s health and safety. To discuss your child’s dental condition or to learn more about sports-related tooth injury prevention, call us at 801-374-0070. We have been keeping Provo smiles healthy since 1996. Our child-friendly staff pampers our youngest Provo family dentistry patients. Let us show you why we are not an ordinary Provo dental practice.

cosmetic dentistry
porcelain veneers
laser dentistry
sedation dentistry

Helping Your Smile Last a Lifetime

Hammond Aesthetic & Family Dentistry Tooth Tips For Traveling

Posted on October 19, 2012October 17, 2012

If you live in the Utah County area and are planning to take a vacation or business trip soon, I recommend you coordinate your dental care with your travel schedule. It’s always a good idea to have a checkup at your Utah County general dentistry practice prior to leaving on long vacations, especially if your trip is taking you to developing areas without good dental care options. This quick checkup will help you be sure that your mouth is ready to travel.

More importantly, if you have any dental procedures scheduled before you leave, discuss it with your Utah County dentist. A large number of dental procedures are actually surgical procedures. This means that your body will need more time to heal than you may realize.

Also, if you’re leaving the Utah County area by plane, you should be aware that changes in the cabin pressure of the airplane may cause tooth pain or discomfort for patients who have just had oral surgery. In addition, make sure you are aware of any necessary follow-up appointments with your Utah County area dentist or orthodontist before you schedule a vacation.

We’re Dr. Hammond and we want Utah County residents to be informed about their dental care. Our practice offers:

cosmetic dentistry
sedation dentistry
porcelain veneers
Invisalign clear braces
general dentistry

If you are looking for general dental care or quality cosmetic dentistry in the Utah County area, please call us today and let our friendly and professional staff take care of you.

Dr. Hammond
Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry
3575 N 100 E, Ste 200
Provo, Utah
801-374-0070
https://www.cosmeticdentistryutahcounty.com

Energy Drink Warning For Orem

Posted on October 12, 2012October 9, 2012

Hello. We’re Dr. Hammond.

Welcome to our Orem general dentistry blog. Today’s topic is energy drinks and the damage they can cause to your teeth. We are seeing more and more Orem teens and adults with tooth enamel erosion caused by frequent consumption of sport drinks.

Most of these Orem family dentistry patients take good care of their teeth, brush and flush, and come into Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry for a twice-yearly exam and deep cleaning. But guess what? If you drink energy drinks regularly, your enamel can erode even if you practice immaculate oral hygiene.

Energy drinks like Red Bull, Rock Star, and Monster are a cocktail of powerful acids and other enamel-eroding substances. Most of them contain citric acid, fruit juices, loads of sugar, and a potent chemical that gives them their bright fluorescent color.

Perhaps, like myself, you have often noticed young people walking out of Orem convenience stores swigging 32-ounce energy drinks. I am concerned that Orem teens do not understand the serious dental consequences of frequent acid baths.

The following is from ABC Sports:

“Sports drinks are increasingly damaging the teeth of professional and recreational athletes, one of Australia’s top sports dentists has warned. Dr. Brett Dorney says he has witnessed a huge increase in dental erosion since the Sidney Olympics, when he was the event’s deputy director of dental services.”

Here is an excerpt from a recent CNN Story:

“Researchers at the University of Iowa’s College of Dentistry found the energy drinks and sports drinks eroded the enamel more than soda and fruit juices.”

We need to add the caveat that soda and fruit juices also contain acids that can damage teeth.

If your teeth have enamel erosion, whatever the cause, we can restore your smile with advanced cosmetic dentistry. Crowns, porcelain veneers, inlays and onlays can correct both structural and cosmetic problems.

Our phone number is 801-374-0070. If you are interested in re-designing your smile, come in for an exam and consultation. With cutting-edge cosmetic dentistry, we can repair acid-damaged teeth and dramatically increase your face value.

Is Malocclusion Causing Your Headache?

Posted on October 5, 2012October 1, 2012

Are you a Provo adult who suffers with chronic headaches? Have you tried Imitrex, diet adjustments, and chiropractic treatment? Perhaps the cause is not stress-induced tension, spine alignment or eyestrain. Maybe the culprit is right under your nose.

Bite misalignment or malocclusion is a common Provo problem that often goes undetected. Nature intended the front teeth to fit slightly forward from the lower teeth. With a perfect bite, the molars fit together like precision gears.

Malocclusion can cause headaches, tooth loosening, tooth fracture, and in extreme cases, difficulty chewing, speaking or breathing.

Provo invisible braces are an effective solution for most bite problems. Braces not only move teeth, they can also correct the position and function of the joints, muscles and bones in the jaw. In cases of extreme malocclusion, jaw surgery in Provo may be necessary.

Not all Provo area family dentists treat bite problems. At Hammond Aesthetic and General Dentistry we are able to examine your bite and let you know if you will need a specialist. For an affordable Provo dentistry consultation, call us at 801-374-0070.

Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry offers technologically-advanced dentistry in a friendly environment. We offer smile whitening, porcelain veneers, tooth-colored fillings and dental implants. To learn more about our dental philosophy and available procedures, see /about.htm.

Dr. Hammond are proud members of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

Modern Dentistry With No Oxen Hooves In Provo

Posted on September 7, 2012September 4, 2012

Hi, our names are Dr. Hammond and here at Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry, we have been providing excellent general dentistry care for the people of the Provo area since 1996.

One of the most crucial elements of good oral health is daily tooth brushing with an effective toothpaste. There is a wide variety of toothpastes available. I recommend you use one with fluoride and make sure it has the ADA seal. This ensures that the toothpaste has been tested, claims are being met, and the ingredients are correct.

Just because a toothpaste claims to have a ‘teeth whitening‘ agent doesn’t mean it has fluoride.

Toothpaste as we know it has only been in existence since the late 1800s. Fluoride was added in 1914. The earliest evidence of toothpaste or dental cream dates back to 3000-5000 BC. The Ancient Egyptians pulverized oxen hooves, egg shells, pumice, myrrh, and water creating one of the earliest forms of toothpaste.

The Greeks and Romans began adding crushed bones and bark to the mix. The taste most likely was hard to take. During this same time the people of China and India were using a similar paste, but adding flavorings, like ginseng and herbal mints making it a bit more palatable.

Provo toothpaste users have no excuse for not brushing their teeth daily with the toothpaste we have available today. If you do your part, we at Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry can provide cosmetic dentistry, porcelain veneers, family dentistry, and sedation dentistry.

The experienced staff at Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry want to help make all Provo area smiles whiter and brighter. Contact us today so we can answer any questions you may have about Provo tooth whitening, invisible braces, or cosmetic dentistry.

Healthy Teeth and Your Orem Diet

Posted on July 6, 2012October 30, 2015

Maintaining healthy teeth is an important concern for our local Orem residents. As your cosmetic dentist, it’s our job to help you understand how to care for your teeth and to keep them healthy. Everyone in the Orem knows that maintaining healthy teeth requires regular daily brushing and flossing. Regular visits to your local Orem family dentistry practice is also necessary to keep watch for cavities and to help you maintain proper dental hygiene. We often forget that maintaining a healthy diet can also be beneficial for the health of your teeth.

A Orem diet that includes foods that help your muscles and bones will also help you develop healthy gums and healthy teeth. Examples of local Orem foods to include in your diet include foods rich in vitamin B such as breads and cereals. Foods rich in vitamin C, usually fruits and vegetables, help improve the health of your gums. Zinc and magnesium are also good for the health of your teeth and are found in foods like lean beef, fish, and poultry.

All foods increase the production of saliva. Saliva is important to healthy teeth because it helps to maintain the pH balance in your mouth. Maintaining this balance helps keep your teeth and gums healthy. Foods high in fiber also encourage saliva production as does the chewing of sugar-free gum. Gum, however, can damage unhealthy teeth or pull out dental fillings, so always use caution when deciding whether to chew gum and which brand to chew.

Just as certain diet choices in the Orem area can be beneficial to the health of your teeth, others can be detrimental. Foods and drinks that are high in sugars are more likely to form the acids that attack your teeth and result in decay. And while table sugar is often associated with the formation of cavities, other sugars such as glucose, fructose, and maltose are also causes, and are often found in juices and sodas. Limiting the consumption of sugars to mealtimes lessens the amount of time your healthy teeth are exposed.

Making good diet choices and limiting between meal sugar consumption can improve the health of your teeth and gums.

If you would like to learn how to better care for your healthy teeth in the Orem area, contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry at 801-374-0070. We would love to hear from you. If you’ve been putting off visiting the dentist because of dental fear, ask us about sedation dentistry.

-Dr. Chris Hammond

Toothbrush Wars in Orem

Posted on June 22, 2012

It may surprise you to know that some Orem people have very strong opinions about which type of toothbrush is the best: manual or electric. Is there really one that is clearly better? Most Orem cosmetic dentists will tell you that all toothbrushes, when used correctly, are effective in removing plaque and that choosing which kind you like is really up to you.

Today in the Orem family dentistry blog we want to give you some extra information about toothbrushes to help you decide which kind is right for you or your child.

Cost and convenience should be considered. Some Orem people argue that even though electric toothbrushes cost more, you’ll save on dental bills. However, there are no definitive studies to back up this claim.

Manual toothbrushes are easy to find, whereas not all drugstores in the Orem area carry all types of electric toothbrushes. This can be difficult when buying replacement heads. People who travel may find that a smaller, manual toothbrush is easier to pack (and you don’t have to remember batteries).

The pressure you put on your gums with either type of toothbrush is important. Some Orem residents say that it’s difficult to know how much pressure they use with electric toothbrushes, while others say that because of the quick electrical movements, they tend to be more gentle on their gums than when they use manual brushes. You may want to try them both to see what your brushing style is and discuss it with your Orem cosmetic dentist.

Special consideration should be taken for people with arthritis. Most area dentists advise their elderly and arthritic patients to use electric toothbrushes when their manual dexterity is diminished. As for children, once they are old enough, an electric toothbrush may be preferable, but safety should always be the first concern for parents. Also, all dentists in Orem and the surrounding areas will remind you to look for the ADA seal on any dental product you buy.

Whichever type of toothbrush you choose, make sure you get soft bristles and replace it every three to four months.

We’re Drs. Hammond and we want to thank you for visiting our Orem dental blog.

If you are looking for dental care, tooth whitening, or cosmetic dentistry in or around Orem, give us a call at 801-374-0070.

The Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry Guide To Dry Mouth

Posted on March 23, 2012

Many folks in our Utah County community experience dry mouth occasionally. Some develop dry mouth in social situations or when they are under a lot of stress. Sporadic or infrequent dry mouth is usually not a problem. Constant dry mouth, or xerostomia, is not only irritating, it can lead to severe health problems.

Utah County people should not take their saliva for granted. Your saliva plays a very important role in maintaining your health. One of its roles is to help digest your food. The moment food enters your mouth, saliva starts breaking it down so your body can metabolize it. If you don’t produce enough saliva to perform this task your body may not be getting important nutrients needed to stay healthy.

Saliva also functions as a disinfectant by cleansing the mouth of leftover food, bacteria, and fungi. This helps prevent tooth decay and infections. Many Utah County dental services patients don’t realize that many of the foods we eat are very acidic and our saliva helps counteract those acids in our mouths.

We are Drs. Hammond and we, along with our staff at Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry, have been treating xerostomia since 1996. We recommend cutting back on caffeine in such drinks as cola, coffee, and tea. Not only do these beverages stain and discolor your teeth, the caffeine can contribute to dry mouth. We also recommend drinking water throughout the day to make sure you are adequately hydrated.

Tobacco and alcohol can also contribute to dry mouth. Consult your Utah County physician if you are taking medication that is causing your dry mouth.

Dry mouth is not a natural part of aging, so call Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry today and schedule an appointment if your dry mouth is getting worse as you grow older: 801-374-0070.

Looking for a gentle family dentistry professional who focuses on preventative dentistry or a skilled cosmetic dentist adept at smile design? We invite you to come visit our practice at 3575 N 100 E, Ste 200, Provo, UT. Our team of dental professionals at Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry make sure you have a pleasant experience whether you visit us for a cleaning and exam or complete cosmetic dental makeover.

Our dental menu includes teeth whitening, dental crowns and bridges, veneers, clear braces, inlays/onlays, cosmetic dental bonding, and sedation dentistry.

A beautiful smile starts with healthy teeth.

Drs. Hammond
Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry
3575 N 100 E, Ste 200
Provo, Utah
801-374-0070
/about.htm

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