What, exactly, are wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth are a type of molar that is found in the very back of your mouth and are the last molars to develop. There are four wisdom teeth: upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right. These teeth usually appear in late teens or early twenties but may become impacted (fail to erupt) due to lack of room in the jaw or angle of entry. The removal of wisdom teeth has become so commonplace that it is almost a rite of passage for young adults.

Drs. Gustafson and Morningstar will tell you that when a tooth is impacted, it may need to be removed. If it is not removed, you may develop gum tenderness, swelling, or even severe pain. Impacted wisdom teeth that are partially or fully erupted tend to be quite difficult to clean and are susceptible to tooth decay, recurring infections, and yes, even gum disease.

In addition to visiting our website with any questions you may have about wisdom teeth, our friends at WebMD have developed a helpful explanation about wisdom teeth and how they impact your health. Also, feel free to give us a call with any questions you have or ask us on Facebook!

Teeth Whitening—Smile brighter and support the Boys and Girls Clubs!

Are you ready for a whiter, brighter smile? Now through the end of June, Drs. Gustafson and Morningstar are hosting our annual Smiles for Life teeth whitening program. At our office, you can whiten your teeth while raising money for the Boys and Girls Clubs of South Oakland County. Our doctors are donating 100% of their time for teeth whitening, while Discus donates 100% of the whitening supplies to support the Smiles for Life campaign.

You can also enter to win free professional teeth whitening through our special Facebook Causes promotion. Join our cause, invite friends, and donate to Smiles for Life for a chance to win FREE professional teeth whitening!

If you haven’t yet scheduled your spring teeth whitening appointment, please request your appointment today. Thank you for helping us make a difference!

Flossing with Drs. Gustafson and Morningstar

We hope you are not a part of the 51 percent of Americans who don’t floss every day. And we definitely hope you're not part of the 10 percent who never floss at all. Drs. Gustafson and Morningstar and our staff at Gustafson and Morningstar Dentistry will always tell you that proper flossing is just as important for your dental health as brushing regularly. Flossing, you see, cleans food and plaque that build up between teeth and below the gumline, key areas that brushing simply cannot reach.

Flossing 3-to-5 minutes each day is recommended, but even 60 seconds of flossing has a great benefit over not flossing at all. Also, make sure to always brush your teeth after you floss, and to rinse with water or mouthwash. When you begin flossing you may experience gum pain or bleeding, but with daily flossing and brushing this should stop within a week or so.

Lastly, has it been at least six months since your last checkup with Drs. Gustafson and Morningstar? If the answer is yes, we encourage you to schedule an appointment!

Gustafson and Morningstar Dentistry, taking steps to reduce our environmental impact

We are living in an age with a renewed commitment to conservation, and are frequently reminded to recycle, reduce and reuse. Earth Day is Friday, April 22nd, and we thought today would a great time to discuss the things that Gustafson and Morningstar Dentistry does to conserve our natural resources and the environment.

Our office uses the Dexis digital x-ray system, which allows for us to zero in on patient comfort, while mimimizing our environmental impact. Since x-rays can be submitted electronically, this system also reduces the waiting time for patients. We also participate in SOCRRA, a Royal Oak recycling program. We continue to make sure and recycle our paper, plastic, glass, and metal. Each week, Gustafson and Morningstar Dentistry places recycle items in two curbside bins.

Dr. Gustafson, Dr. Morningstar and our team would love to hear how you're reducing your ecological footprint. Leave us a comment below or you can also visit our Facebook page and post something on our wall.

Happy Earth Day!

$1.50 for a Cavity

Vending machines are a quick way to satisfy hunger. You put in $1.50 and you get back a candy bar, bag of chips or even a soda…but that’s not all! Drs. Gustafson and Morningstar want to remind you that vending machines not only dispense sweet treats and caffeine bursts, but they also dispense cavities!

Every time you chow down on that chocolate bar the bacteria in your mouth have a party feasting on the sugar. The sugar quickly turns into acid; that’s right, ACID! The acid sits on your teeth and eats away at the tooth’s natural enamel (the stuff that protects your tooth from decay). When this enamel is eaten away by the acid on your tooth, you get a cavity! Brushing your teeth after eating a sugary treat can help prevent cavities; but before you indulge, remind yourself: “can’t brush? Hold the sugar!”

When choosing a snack, consider these nutritional options that will not only satisfy your hunger and that “sweet tooth,” but won’t cause acid build up resulting in cavities:

• Fresh Fruits (berries, oranges, melon, pears, etc)
• Raw Vegetables (broccoli, celery, carrots, etc)
• Bread
• Pretzels (low salt)
• Milk (low or non-fat)
• Cheese (low or non-fat)
• Nuts and seeds (pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, etc)
• Sliced meat

If you would like more advice about how you can prevent cavities, give Gustafson and Morningstar Dentistry a call or ask during your next appointment.

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month

Visiting Gustafson and Morningstar Dentistry regularly will not only help keep your teeth and mouth healthy, but will also help keep the rest of your body healthy. Our office uses the ViziLite® oral cancer screening system, which utilizes the latest technology in the detection of oral cancer. An oral cancer exam using this technology enables the dentist to immediately see if there are any abnormal tissue cells in the mouth.

The fact is, every hour of every day in the U.S., someone dies of oral cancer, which is the sixth-most common diagnosed form of the disease. The five-year survival rate is only 50 percent, and oral cancer is one of the few cancers whose survival rate has not improved because it is often detected so late. Since April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, Drs. Gustafson and Morningstar would like to take this opportunity to remind all of our patients that oral cancer exams should be done at least annually.

Drs. Gustafson and Morningstar are specifically trained to diagnose, treat, and prevent oral health problems. Please let us now if you have any questions about your oral health during your next appointment.

How important is your smile?

Unlike other dental offices, the husband-and-wife team of Drs. Shari Gustafson and Shari Morningstar give their patients something extra to smile about. They make patient comfort more than a facet of their job; they make it a priority.

And speaking of smiling, in a new poll conducted by Glamour Magazine, people were asked, “If you had to pick between having perfect teeth, eyesight or hair, which would you choose?

Well, 44 percent of folks out there are choosing teeth! In addition, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, or AACD, conducted a study and found that 99.7 percent of those polled believed a smile is an important social asset. Respondents said straightness, whiteness, cleanliness, as well as the sincerity and sparkle of a person’s smile were all important factors not only socially, but career-wise as well.

Drs. Gustafson and Morningstar are now accepting new patients! When you're ready to begin perfecting your smile, please schedule an appointment at our conveniently located Royal Oak, MI office. We look forward to seeing you!