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By Amy Norton NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Apr 19 - Older adults who get thorough dental cleanings may be somewhat less likely to suffer acute myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke than their peers who are less careful about oral hygiene, a new study hints. The study, of nearly 22,000 Taiwanese adults age 50 and older, found that those who'd had a professional tooth scaling in the past year were less likely to have a cardiovascular event over the next seven years. The findings, reported online Read more...

Smile Saver How much do you really know about gum disease? Take our quiz and see. Please call Dr. Jeffrey Fester in Roswell, GA, 770.587.4202 to schedule a free consultation. Read more...

Take this quiz and see what kind of smile you have - click the image below Call Dr. Jeffrey Fester in Roswell, GA, 770.587.4202 to schedule a free consultation and learn what he can do for your smile. Read more...

Why Should I Whiten My Teeth? Maybe you've always wanted a beautiful white smile. Or your teeth have yellowed over time. Or you're not happy with the staining that results from drinking coffee, tea or cola. Whatever your reason for wanting whiter teeth, you're not alone. Just like we all have different hair and skin color, people also have different tooth color. Some teeth are more yellow than others, while others yellow with aging. Your natural tooth color can also be affected by many factors. Surface Read more...

How Do I Know What Shade My Teeth Are? There's no one standard system in the dental field to measure and determine tooth color. Nor is there an exact answer to how white your teeth can become-every person's situation is unique. One commonly used reference tool, however, is a shade guide. One of the more common shade guides divides tooth color into four basic shade ranges: A (reddish brown) B (reddish yellow) C (gray) D (reddish gray) Within each range are different Read more...

How Does Tooth Whitening Work? There are many ways to whiten your teeth — from whitening toothpastes and other products that can remove many surface stains for very little cost, to light-activated whitening techniques in a dentist's office that cost up to $1,000 and can produce dramatic results. All whitening techniques work in one of two ways: Bleaching removes both deep & surface stains.Bleaching procedures change your natural tooth color, usually anywhere from five to seven shades Read more...

Am I a Candidate for Tooth Whitening? Almost anyone whose permanent teeth have come in can qualify for tooth whitening. Your dentist will be able to assess your oral health and recommend the whitening method that's best for you. Depending on the type and severity of the staining, he or she may suggest one or more of the following treatments: A professional cleaning to remove external staining caused by food and tobacco Use of a whitening toothpaste to help remove surface stains between Read more...

Fluoride Supplementation: The Ongoing Debate Diane L. Markowitz, DMD, PhD Fluoride: Striking a Balance Along with vaccination, control of infectious diseases, and motor vehicle safety, adding fluoride to US drinking water is considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century.[1] Fluoride was first added to water in 1945, a measure that was followed by a dramatic 50%-70% decline in the incidence of decayed, missing, or filled teeth (DMFT) in the United States.[2] Read more...

New Treatments For Cold Sores If you suffer from cold sores, you are not alone. Nearly 70% of Americans ages 12 and older test positive for herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), the virus that causes cold sores. At least 20% of patients with HSV experience recurring cold sores. HSV-1 is transmitted by direct contact with infected skin or saliva. A primary infection usually occurs during childhood and causes a fever, sore gums, sore throat and swollen or tender glands in the neck. After that, Read more...