General & Family Dentistry

William Shakespeare once said, “The eyes are the windows to the soul”—and while Bill S. was a brilliant writer, was no doctor. The health of the mouth is literally a window into the health of your whole body. If your system lacks nutrients or an infection develops, your mouth may show the first obvious signs of distress, whether these hints are visual or physical.

Healthy Teeth are Important

We all have busy lives these days, and it’s easy to forget to floss—or to make your regular hygiene appointments. Unfortunately, the longer you put off dental care, the greater the potential for future dental problems can be.

• Dr. Chang encourages you to be proactive in caring for your teeth.
• However, even if you have already procrastinated a while, please don’t hesitate to call!
• We’ll meet you where you are without judgment—we’re here for you.

Gum disease is an infection of the tissues that support and surround the teeth. It is caused by plaque, which is constantly forming on our teeth and is a leading cause of adult tooth loss. If caught early and treated, gum disease can be reversed—but left unchecked, it has been linked to more than 50 systemic health conditions, including heart attack, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

Warning Signs of Gum Disease

• Gums that bleed easily
• Gums that are red, swollen, and tender
• Gums that have receded (pulled away from the teeth)
• Permanent teeth that have become loose
• Changes in your bite

The earlier you seek treatment for gum disease, the better. Get in touch with Sweet City Smiles today!

As the popularity of tooth-colored restorations grows, more patients are choosing to replace old silver metal amalgam fillings with white composite ones. Metal amalgam has been used by dentists to fill teeth for generations, but many people are concerned about potential mercury exposure—which is a matter of continued debate.

While there is no real reason to replace a healthy mercury filling with a white one, some patients choose to do so for aesthetic reasons. However, Sweet City Smiles only encourages you to replace amalgam fillings if they are worn out, failing, or damaged. Other considerations for choosing a specific type of filling include:

• The size and location of your cavity
• Insurance coverage and out-of-pocket costs
• How long the filling could last

According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, about 53,000 people in the U.S. will be newly diagnosed with oral cancer this year, and oral cancer rates have been on the rise for more than a decade. Leading risk factors include tobacco and alcohol use, but the leading risk factor for oral cancer is human papillomavirus (HPV). Dr. Chang takes your health seriously—and as a result, an oral cancer screening is included in every adult hygiene appointment at Sweet City Smiles.

Does Your Mouth Look Different?

As with other cancers, early detection and diagnosis of oral cancer leads to better long-term outcomes and survival. Visit us twice a year for your screening—and in between, watch for:

More than 2 million teeth are knocked out during sports activities each year. Daily functions from talking to eating are affected by a lost tooth, and replacement is costly. Even if unprotected teeth survive a blow to the face, they may be broken or cause additional injury to the jaw, face, or tongue.

Safety Means Everybody Wins

Custom-fit mouthguards are more likely to be worn consistently and provide more reliable protection than the store-bought type since they are designed specifically for the wearer.

Sweet City Smiles can make a professional, high-quality mouthguard to protect the family athlete’s victorious smile. Call and ask us for details!

The average family’s lives aren’t just busy these days—they can be stressful, too. The American Sleep Association estimates that 10% of U.S. adults clench and grind their teeth during sleep, a condition known as bruxism. Bruxism is often caused by stress or anxiety and can be exacerbated by caffeine or nicotine use prior to sleep.

Custom-fit nightguards help save the teeth by reducing the bite force pressure that occurs during grinding. Dr. Chang can design a nightguard just for you to help alleviate:

• Headaches
• Neck pain
• Jaw pain

As long as your natural teeth remain healthy, your Sugar Hill dental team will do everything in our power to keep them in your mouth. For those times when pulling a tooth can’t be prevented, Sweet City Smiles can perform a safe, convenient extraction here in our office.

Why Do Teeth Need Extraction?

There are a number of reasons. These include:

• Overcrowding
• Preparation for orthodontia
• Severe decay or infection

If you do need a tooth extracted, you’re in good hands with us. Give us a call today!