When you hear the word “cosmetic” what comes to mind? Cosmetic surgery, cosmetics, cosmeticians? What about cosmetic dentistry? Over the last hundred years, the perception of dental care has shifted from being considered a vanity to being considered necessary. Less than 30 years ago, orthodontics were still considered cosmetic surgery. Today, dental practitioners are making the move from thinking of cosmetic dentistry as unnecessary to believing that all dental care should be cosmetic. At Giamberardino Dental Care, we believe that repairing our patients’ dental function is only half the battle. We strive to ensure that every patient receives a smile that looks and feels naturally beautiful. If you want to find out more about cosmetic dentistry or any other dental services from your Medford, MA dentist, Dr. Anthony Giamberardino, call to schedule a cosmetic evaluation and consultation today.
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What is Cosmetic Dentistry?
August 5, 2015
Dental bridges vs. Dental Implants, Medford, What’s Right for You?
Dental bridges are tried and tested. The first dental bridge was used 1000s of years ago as jewelry! In 700 BCE, the Etruscans adorned their teeth and filled in gaps with precious metals to display their wealth. Many people think that dental implants are a relatively new smile restoration option by comparison, but actually the Mayans who lived only 100 years later used sea shells, jade, and other human or animal teeth for restoration. Despite the rudimentary methods, these implant procedures were actually quite successful. Skulls discovered in recent years show that these materials fused with the bone, and the bond has lasted long after the patient’s death. So, how’s a modern patient to choose? Dr. Anthony Giamberardino and his Medford, MA team are here to help you choose the restoration method that’s right for you, but first, we recommend finding out more about each treatment. Call to schedule a tooth replacement evaluation and consultation today.
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Superior General Dentist, Medford, MA
July 20, 2015
A century ago, poor oral hygiene among Americans joining the military during WWI was considered a national security risk. Less than 10% of people in the United States owned a toothbrush, and even fewer purchased toothpaste (a snake oil type product peddled by door to door salesman). Today, more people own smartphones than toothbrushes. It was clear in 1914 and it remains clear today, a stronger emphasis on preventive dentistry could help keep people healthy, save them time and money, and allow them to keep their smile for a lifetime. A study started in 2006 by the Centers for Disease Control and prevention showed that in less than a decade the percentage of North Americans over the age of 60 who needed dentures has decreased from 31 to 25%, and this seems to be a growing trend. Preventive dentistry is responsible for increased numbers of adults who can retain their smile for life. Preventive dentistry including regular dental checkups can help you keep natural smile. Call to schedule a six month checkup with Dr. Anthony Giamberadino in Medford, MA, or to ask about our new patient specials.
Why Six Month Checkups?
As a result of the distressing number of military personnel with severe oral health issues during WWI, dentists decided that preventive care should be stressed. They knew people should start seeing the dentist before they had problems rather than after, but there wasn’t a lot of research letting them know how often would be the most beneficial, so they made a guess. They started recommending regular dental visits twice a year. Now, this was a highly educated guess made by professionals, and it may not have worked if it weren’t the help of the marketing masterminds behind Pepsodent tooth powder.
In a series of advertisements in the 1920s, Claude Hopkins created ads that promoted twice daily tooth brushing with Pepsodent, and twice a year dental visits to keep teeth feeling clean. The ads used a simple habit building formula: cue, result, repeat. The “cue” was the gritty feeling on the surface of the teeth. The ads encouraged people to run their tongues over their teeth in the morning and at night before brushing to feel the texture. Then, brush with Pepsodent tooth powder (paste didn’t come along until the 1950s), and run your tongue over your teeth again. The result clean, smooth, perfect smiles. The only way to keep your smile that way? Twice a day brushing and twice a year dentist visits.
This habit created an entire industry. The first dental hygienist was trained in 1913, but the wide spread training of hygienist started in conjunction with the ad campaign. Additionally, tooth brushes and powders were sold at the local apothecary or pharmaceutical store not just by door to door salesman, and many dental offices began giving free tooth brushes to patients around this time. Eventually, dental insurance companies were formed, and they too supported the six month checkups by covering dental checkups twice a year. Mr. Hopkins, in short, may have had more influence on dental health than any dentist ever has.
Missed a Few Checkups and Need a General Dentist, Somerville?
So the source of the six month dental visit may be a little lacking in research based, evidentiary support, but since the 1920s, the dental community has gathered some hard evidence to support their predecessors’ lucky guess work. Studies show that patients who have their teeth cleaned every six months have a significantly lower risk for ever having tooth decay, gum disease or tooth loss. Children who have six month visits starting from the eruption of their first tooth can receive preemptive orthodontic care so their teeth develop straight and evenly spaced rather than fixing them later with more difficult, painful orthodontia. Dental innovation has also allowed screenings and treatment of bruxism, oral cancer, and TMJ disorder during six month visits. These potentially serious health concerns when diagnosed in their early stages can be treated with minimally invasive, conservative dental methods.
Some behavioral habits indicate that you may need more frequent visits to the dentist. This includes smoking, eating large quantities of sugary or processed foods, irregular oral health care routines, and conditions like bruxism (teeth grinding or clenching) and dry mouth that make the teeth more susceptible to decay. Other patients who eat healthy, maintain an excellent at home dental hygiene routine, and are physically healthy may be able to get away with skipping a checkup, but why risk it? For every year without a dental checkup your chances for serious periodontal (gum) disease, oral cancer and tooth loss increases exponentially. It turns out that the habit started by a toothpaste ad in the 1920s, may just be one of the best habits you can adopt today.
Call Your General Dentist, 01890
William Bernbach once said, “The most powerful element in advertising is the truth.” At Giamberadino Dental Care of Medford, MA, we agree. Our practice is dedicated to providing individual, preventive care so our patients have fewer cavities, and more smiles. Call to schedule your checkup today. Our friendly dental care staff welcomes patients from Medford, Winchester, Somerville, Malden, Everett, and nearby communities.
When Should I replace my Toothbrush?
July 13, 2015
We all know that tooth brushing is essential to properly care for our teeth and maintain good oral hygiene, but we may not be paying as much attention to how we care for our toothbrush. Studies have shown that improper care of toothbrushes can increase the likeliness of many oral health issues, but the same studies make toothbrush sanitation seem like an uphill battle. The main thing to remember is never keep your toothbrush for more than 4 months to avoid the most harmful bacterial contamination. If you want to know more about tooth brushing or toothbrush care and maintenance, call Giamberadino Dental Care of Medford, MA to schedule your dental hygiene appointment and general checkup today.
Other Not So Pleasant Toothbrush Truths
You use your toothbrush to clean your teeth twice a day and maybe you’d rather not think about it, but when’s the last time you cleaned your toothbrush? How about the last time you replaced your toothbrush? You may be feeling annoyed. What do dentists want from you? You brush, you floss, you visit them twice a year, and now you have to clean your toothbrush everyday too. In short, yes you really should clean your toothbrush after every use.
Your toothbrush removes bacteria and food particles from your teeth. Some of these particles become trapped in the bristles and can replicate. Overtime, it becomes increasingly likely that your toothbrush will further contaminate your teeth rather than cleaning them. Then, there’s the other things that can contaminate your toothbrush. Most people store their toothbrush in a bathroom where it’s regularly exposed to debris from perfumes, hairsprays, cleaning products, and the dreaded fecal matter from toilet bowl spray. Even more disturbing, toothbrushes are not required to be stored and sold in sterile packaging meaning your toothbrush may be contaminated the moment you buy it.
At the end of the day, the cleanliness of our toothbrushes should be treated with a reasonable amount of concern. Thoroughly rinsing your toothbrush before and after each use and storing the brush in an open, upright container is generally more than enough care to keep your toothbrush from causing illness. However, it never hurts to rinse the toothbrush with an antimicrobial mouthwash from time to time, or even run it through the dishwasher to ensure sanitation. It’s essential to remember that our bodies are swarming with bacteria and only a tiny percentage of those is harmful. Oral hygiene and cleaning will never remove all the bacteria from our mouths, but it may help us remove the harmful ones.
Toothbrush Tips from Skilled Dentist, Sommerville
Okay, so now you’re afraid to brush your teeth, but you still need to. Here are some helpful hints from Giamberadino Dental for toothbrush maintenance:
- Replace your toothbrush regularly. We recommend 4 times a year, every 3 months.
- Replace your toothbrush if you’re sick. When you’re sick more of the harmful bacteria may be populating your mouth. Using the same toothbrush after you feel better can lead to recontamination.
- Don’t share your toothbrush with anyone. Your body is a delicate ecosystem and introducing another person’s bacteria to the ones your body is used to makes it more likely you may develop an illness and increases your chances of tooth decay.
- Don’t store your toothbrush covered, lying down, or upside down. Storing the toothbrush upright allows the water to run from the bristles and dry out relatively quickly making it more difficult for bacteria to grow. Whereas storing a toothbrush in a container or lying on its side or upside down helps create a moist environment where bacteria flourish. Additionally, storing toothbrushes in a container can lead to mold growth as well as bacteria propagation.
- Clean your toothbrush before and after use. Allowing the toothbrush to dry out between uses exposes bacteria to oxygen which kills them. Rinsing the toothbrush with warm water before and after use removes foreign matter that may have collected on the bristles between usage. If you’re concerned about contamination rinsing your tooth brush with antimicrobial mouthwash while you gargle can help kill bacteria on your brush as well.
There’s no way to clean all the bacteria and debris off of your toothbrush or out of your mouth, but maintaining good hygiene routines can help remove the majority of harmful bacteria. Remember that this care applies to mechanical toothbrushes as well as manual toothbrushes. If you want to invest in an electric toothbrush, find one that has removable heads that are easily replaced.
Call Your Dentist, 01890 to Find Out More
Dr. Giamberardino is a skilled general, restorative and cosmetic dentist in the Sommerville area. He can help you achieve and maintain the best possible dental health. Call to schedule your six month checkup today. Our Medford, MA practice invites patients from local communities like Somerville, Arlington, Cambridge, Winchester, and Melrose .
Teeth Whitening for a Summer Bright Smile in Medford, MA
June 30, 2015
So, does Massachusetts deserve an awesome summer, or what? After the winter we survived, everyone in Medford, MA, and the surrounding communities should have a very enjoyable summer. And with all there is to do in the area—cheer for the Red Sox, have a clambake on the Cape, explore the New England Aquarium, stroll through old Boston, sail down the Charles River—there will be plenty of smiles to go around. If you want to make sure your smile will look its best, then now is the time to visit Dr. Anthony Giamberardino for teeth whitening Medford can rely on for a brighter smile.
If your teeth are yellowed, stained or otherwise discolored, then you’re in good company. Millions of Americans have less than perfectly white smiles and the reasons are all generally the same:
- Commonly consumed foods and drinks, such as berries and tomatoes or coffee and red wine
- Smoking and chewing tobacco are prime culprits for stained teeth
- Certain medications, such as the antibiotics tetracycline and doxycycline
- Teeth grinding and clenching, which can darken the biting surfaces of your teeth
- Improper oral hygiene
- The aging process
- Tooth injuries
- Genetic predisposition to teeth that are more yellow, brown or gray in color
Teeth Whitening Summerville Smiles For this Summer!
Sure, there are plenty of over-the-counter options for teeth whitening. The problems with those are that you have no idea how long they’ve been sitting on the store shelf. And the longer they sit, the less potent the whitening formula becomes. At Dr. Giamberardino’s office, we offer take home teeth whitening kits that you can be certain are full strength. Our take home kit includes custom-fitted whitening trays and professional grade bleaching gel. Simply fill the trays with gel and wear them for the amount of time Dr. Giamberardino instructs.
For people who have staining or discoloration that will not respond to teeth whitening, we also offer porcelain veneers, which are adhesively bonded to the front side of the teeth in your smile zone in order to create a clean and white smile.
Call Our Office Today
If you would like to learn more about the teeth whitening, Winchester will be choosing for the most dazzling smiles this summer, then call our office. Dr. Giamberardino is a trusted cosmetic dentist, now proudly restoring smiles daily throughout Medford, MA, Winchester, Somerville, Malden, Everett, and the neighboring areas.
Anthony Giamberardino DMD creates comfort, function and beauty with modern dentures in Medford, MA
June 25, 2015
Medford and Somerville denture wearers don’t sacrifice looks for fit and function with dentures from Anthony Giamberardino DMD. Whether the need is a traditional partial or full denture, immediate dentures placed after extraction or implant-supported overdentures, Giamberardino Dental Care delivers high-quality dentures for beautiful smiles.
For too long, dental patients have struggled with full and partial Medford dentures that don’t look natural or fit comfortably. Function has been problematic, too, with all-too-familiar slippage, unclear speech, and gooey adhesives.
The Finest Cosmetic Dentistry Treatment
May 27, 2015
Everyone wants a brighter, bolder, and very attractive smile. When you look into a mirror, you want to see a smile that stops everyone in their tracks. If you already have a million dollar smile, congratulations! For those of us who weren’t blessed with a perfect set of pearly whites, the staff at Giamberardino Dental Care is here to help with cosmetic dentistry treatment that is second to none in Medord, MA.
What Could Cosmetic Dentistry Do For You?
We specialize in smile makeovers. No matter what type of service you need, we can make it happen. From teeth whitening and porcelain veneers to CEREC all-ceramic restorations and more, we have the tools and the team to give you a winning smile.
How important is having a winning smile? Well, an American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry poll shows that people with an attractive smile are considered more intelligent, happy, successful with their careers, friendly, interesting, kind, and sensitive to others. These are all great qualities to have, and make you a lot more approachable whether it’s in the professional or personal world. When you schedule a consultation with Dr. Giamberardino, he’ll discuss your smile imperfections and which type of smile you’d like to achieve. He’ll evaluate your teeth and gums, assess your bite and existing dental work, then recommend procedures that meet your preferences. Thanks to the office’s state-of-the-art technology, he can create a computer simulation of your future smile. How cool is that? You can literally peak into the future at what your smile will eventually look like.
The Teeth-Whitening Experts
It’s no wonder why teeth whitening has become so popular – it’s fast, effective and convenient. Everyone wants options, and we offer a great option. Come visit us for custom take-home whitening trays. These work great and you’ll see results quickly. If whitening can’t get your teeth as bright as you’d like, veneers or bonding may be a more practical solution.
Schedule an Appointment with Us
Dr. Giamberardino takes great pride in creating smiles that not only function correctly, but get noticed everywhere you go. To make an appointment, please speak with our staff located at our Medford, MA office. We also serve the surrounding communities of Somerville, Arlington, Cambridge, Winchester, Melrose and beyond.
Medford general dentist, Anthony Giamberardino DMD, takes a 3-pronged approach to outstanding smiles.
May 20, 2015
Prevention, restoration and cosmetic smile makeovers provide patients of Medford general dentist Anthony Giamberardino with healthy, attractive and lasting smiles. Dental services include everything from check-ups to fillings to clear braces and implants.
No 2 people are alike, nor are 2 smiles the same. Regarding every aspect of dental health, patients need personalized and informed care. Medford general dentist Anthony Giamberardino DMD tailors a smart, 3-pronged care plan to help patients achieve outstanding smiles. Prevention, restoration and cosmetics all play their parts.
Whether a young individual needs a routine check-up and cleaning or a middle adult wants to whiten her teeth to gain an advantage in the workplace, Dr. Giamberardino is the 01890 general dentist with the experienced technical and people skills to optimize teeth and gum health.
Prevention is key to a lasting smile.
The professional staff at Giamberardino Dental Care know that routine examinations and cleanings prevent cavities and gum disease and keep small issues from doing a lot of damage. In addition, a thorough check of the oral cavity gives the doctor a picture of the patient’s overall health, often revealing entrees for chronic conditions such as diabetes, vitamin and nutritional issues and heart disease.
So for his patients, Dr. Giamberardino recommends twice yearly check-ups and cleanings which include:
- periodontal probing to detect gum disease
- check for decay, including low radiation digital x-rays to detect interdental cavities and root/ bone structure issues
- intraoral cameras to find hidden problems
- quick and painless Velscope oral cancer examination
- plaque and tartar removal
- buffing and polishing of teeth
Restorative dentistry saves teeth and optimizes dental health
When dental problems arise, your Somerville, MA dentist at Giamberardino Dental Care has a varied menu of restorations to heal your teeth and gums. These technically-excellent services are:
- tooth-colored fillings
- permanent dental implants to fill gaps and retain gums and bone structure
- CEREC same-day porcelain crowns
- partial crowns (onlays and inlays)
- fixed bridgework and removable partial/full dentures
- root canal therapy to remove diseased pulp and preserve tooth structure
- periodontal therapy for advanced gum disease
As part of full mouth reconstruction as needed, these services eliminate decay, restore the health of gums and bone, repair failing teeth and replace those that are missing. Patients enjoy informed participation in their treatment plans and receive services in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.
Cosmetic dentistry creates the smile you always wanted.
Dr. Giamberardino can provide his patients with a computer simulation of what an improved smile can look like. Treatments may consist of:
- teeth whitening for brighter teeth with no staining
- clear braces for straighter teeth and correct bites
- cosmetic bonding and porcelain veneers to cover chips, cracks and minor overlaps and gaps
General Medford dentist Dr.Giamberardino can treat all your dental needs.
Don’t neglect the health or appearance of your teeth, especially when you can visit Anthony Giamberardino DMD in the Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts area. Call his office for an appointment time that is convenient for your schedule: (339) 674-6745.
Magnificent Porcelain Veneers in Medford, MA
April 20, 2015
Have you ever considered of getting a smile makeover? Do you wonder what it would be like to have a pristine, beautiful smile that can turn heads? We all want to have a dreamlike smile that will have others staring. Who doesn’t want a set of white teeth that will improve the personal and professional aspects of your life? Achieving your fantasy smile is not a dream anymore, and you can gain a lovely set of teeth in just two dental appointments. Giamberardino Dental Care can give you a celebrity-like smile with the aid of porcelain veneers.
What are Porcelain Veneers?
If your teeth are chipped or discolored, Dr. Giamberardino, an expert practitioner with years of dental experience, and his team of caring professionals can utilize porcelain veneers. Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain used to recreate the natural look and strength of teeth. The porcelain strips are shaped and placed on the teeth, correcting the shape, size, and color of your teeth. We are passionate about providing beautiful smiles to every patient, and after receiving this treatment, we can guarantee you will love your new, luminous smile.
How Do I Get Them?
If you are considering this treatment, we first need to set up an initial consultation. Our experts need to examine your mouth, take impressions, and make sure veneers are right for you. After taking impressions, we may need to remove some enamel to make room for the porcelain veneers, though it is not a significant amount removed. We will create your veneers in our special laboratory and prepare them for the bonding process. When the veneers are ready, we will have you come back into the office for another appointment. We will cement the veneers to your teeth and make any adjustments, if necessary. After the veneers are properly bonded, we will send you on your merry way with a phenomenal new smile.
Get the Smile of Your Dreams
Are you ready to get the smile you always wanted? Call our office today and schedule your consultation with our team. We absolutely love providing warm, gorgeous smiles for every patient who comes into our office, and we welcome everyone who lives in Medford, MA, Winchester, Somerville, Malden, Everett, and the neighboring communities.