Turning Leaf Dental Blog

Cosmetic dentistry can transform your smile and boost your confidence, but many people hesitate to explore it because of common myths and misconceptions. These myths can make cosmetic treatments seem unnecessary, ineffective, or out of reach. The truth is that cosmetic dentistry is more accessible, safe, and beneficial than most people realize.

Let’s bust some of the most common myths about cosmetic dentistry.

The concept of improving your smile may seem like a relatively new one, but the truth is that cosmetic dentistry has been around for centuries. In fact, the earliest known procedures date back to 700 BC, when the Etruscans first started using ivory, human teeth, and bone to create the first set of dentures. Here’s a closer look at the fascinating history of this elective branch of oral health!

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a common condition that affects the gums and the bone supporting the teeth. It ranges from mild inflammation (gingivitis) to severe damage (periodontitis), which can lead to tooth loss if left untreated. For people with advanced gum disease, tooth extraction may sometimes be necessary. But this raises an important question: Will gum disease go away once the teeth are removed? While extracting teeth affected by gum disease can help manage certain symptoms, it doesn’t automatically eliminate the underlying infection or the potential for ongoing oral health issues.

Dental insurance can be difficult to navigate for a number of reasons. Every plan is different, making the only way to determine whether yours will cover a certain procedure or type of visit virtually impossible to find out unless you call them directly. Read on to help you better navigate your benefits when visiting an emergency dentist in Boston so you don’t receive any surprised bills in the mail!

With your braces finally off, you likely feel pretty good about your smile. That’s only natural – your once-crooked teeth now look beautifully straight! Still, you may want to know whether you can brighten your newly aligned grin; improving its color is the next natural step. The good news is that your Boston dentist will gladly address this question. To that end, here’s a summary of why (and how) you can get teeth whitening after braces.

One of the first things that people notice about you is the quality of your smile, and if your teeth are more yellow or brown than pearly white, you might not make a good impression. Stained enamel can leave you feeling so self-conscious that you try to remain tight-lipped rather than laugh or spend time with others.

Although teeth whitening can be helpful in many circumstances, some blemishes don’t respond as well to bleaching and might require alternative cosmetic solution. Continue reading to learn 3 types of discoloration and how to treat them!

Are you frustrated by stubborn stains on your teeth that you can’t seem to brush away? Dental discoloration can make you feel self-conscious about how you look or anxious about being judged by others.

You might feel tempted to try to brighten your grin with over-the-counter products, but many patients who have tried have been disappointed by the lack of results. Continue reading to learn 3 reasons to consult your dentist before whitening your teeth instead!

It isn’t hard to see that today’s dental implants look amazing and lifelike. After all, they wouldn’t be very popular otherwise; patients would just get something else. The real question to ask is a different one: Are dental implants safe? Having said that, your Boston implant dentist is here with an answer. Read on to learn why dental implants are safe, how their surgery is low-risk, and ways to make them safer.

Whether you’re a kid or grownup, cavities are awful! Most kids—about 67 percent—have at least one before they turn 19 years old, and tooth decay is the most common childhood condition in the world. Cavities penetrating to a tooth’s nerve can be extremely painful, hindering your ability to eat, focus, and talk, so the thought of removing the source entirely can sound appealing.

The idea of not having dental pain ever again seems ideal, and with dental implants, you come remarkably close to having a natural set of teeth without the real thing. But do these prosthetics decay too? Will you get cavities if you don’t carefully maintain them? What should you do to keep your implants working? Keep reading to find out!

When you think of treatments like BOTOX and filler, you likely primarily think of them as treatments for women. While women are more likely to partake in these services, BOTOX injections and fillers for men are becoming increasingly popular. Continue reading to learn more about these services and why more men are choosing them.