“At age 75,I was afraid to open my mouth in the company of others because of my horrible looking cracked, crooked,, and yellow teeth. Each conversation provided me with an unpleasant psychological experience.

After consulting with Dr. Cobb, I had my first maxillary teeth done in such a way that I now am getting compliment after compliment, even on elevators! People want to know who is my dentist. So now I am carrying Dr. Cobb’s business cards and providing them to all “inquisitors” . This is my tribute to Dr. Cobb’s excellent work of art.”
-Dr. Allila Kadar, Silver Spring, MD

“A dazzling smile transformed me from self-conscious to confident and proud.”
S-usan, Annapolis, Maryland

Missing teeth are a source of social embarrassment. Dental experts tell us over two-thirds of all Americans between 35 and 45 have lost at least one tooth to an injury, gum disease or a root canal procedure. A dental bridge is one of the most effective ways to replace those missing teeth.

As its name suggests, a dental bridge is a prosthetic device engineered to fill the gap in your mouth with artificial teeth. Dental bridges may be crafted out of porcelain, porcelain bonded to metal, or gold, depending upon how visible the bridge will be when it’s placed in your mouth. Dental bridges are anchored by adjacent natural teeth or dental implants that may be capped with crowns. The structural integrity of these anchor teeth, called abutments, is very important. Should you and your dentist decide a dental bridge is right for you, he or she will spend a great deal of time shaping the abutments so that they provide adequate support for your bridge. Your dentist or the dentist’s assistant will also make a mold of your mouth, which will be sent to the dental laboratory crafting your new bridge. The dental laboratory will create a bridge that can be specially fitted to the precise contours of your mouth.

The perfect candidate for a dental bridge is a person who understands the important role oral hygiene plays in helping bridges last. Brushing your teeth after every meal and flossing regularly are critically important when you have a dental bridge. If you’ve been less than diligent with your oral hygiene in the past, think of your dental bridge as a second chance at oral health!

Specially designed flossing materials are available to meet the needs of bridge wearers who must fit floss in the narrow space between the bridge and the gums. Visit your dentist twice a year for checkups and professional teeth cleanings. With proper care, your new dental bridge can last for 15 years.

Surviving Oral Cancer
Oral cancer survival rates depends on the growth site and cancer stage at diagnosis. During stage 1, the cancer survival rate is 90%, with 75% survival for 5 years. For late stage diagnosis, the survival rate is 20%. Oral health can be maintained with regular visits to the dentist.

Consider Risk Factors
Lesions are often caused by tobacco use and frequent alcohol consumption. Men are twice as likely as women to receive an oral cancer diagnosis. Types of human papillomavirus (HPV) are also linked to risk for oropharyngeal cancer. Consequently, the oral cancer population is increasingly reflecting younger men in the 20 to 50 age range infected with HPV.

Recognize Oral Cancer Alerts
A small ulcer, lesion or lump on the lip, oral mucosa (gum and mouth tissue), mouth floor, tongue, tongue base, or oropharynx (the throat at back of the mouth). Lesions lasting longer than 14 days is the body’s signal to stop and consult a medical professional. The growth may be pale, dark or discolored. A white lesion patch on the soft tissue of the mouth, leukoplakia (most common precancerous lesions) or red velvety lesion patch, erythroplakia. The growth is typically painless at first. When the growth is at an advanced stage, it may burn or turn painful. The growth may appear behind a wisdom tooth or behind an ear. Problems with the tongue or swallowing, sores in the mouth, and later, pain and a “pins and needles” sensation may appear.

Proactive Oral Health
Oral cancer treatment is typically managed by a team of health care professionals, including dental professionals. Besides surgery, radiation therapy, which may or may not include chemotherapy, is standard. Delayed diagnosis and treatment will cause the death of approximately 1 in 4 people with oral cancer. Early detection is critical, a matter of life or death. Oral cancer may be discovered when a dentist conducts a routine cleaning and exam. Oral health is the key to overall good health throughout the years.

Regular checkups can also detect gum disease. Studies have shown that nearly 80 percent of adults have some form of gum disease. Gum disease is the most common cause of tooth loss in people over the age of 35. Studies have also shown that people who have gum disease are more likely to develop heart disease, diabetes and stroke. Again, this problem can be prevented with regular dental checkups.

The number of people being diagnosed with oral cancer has increased drastically in the past few years. Early detection is the key to preventing complications from this condition. However, many people do not get diagnosed with this condition until it is too late because they ignore the signs and symptoms. A dentist will do a thorough examination of the mouth. If he finds cancerous lesions, he will refer the patient to an oncologist.

A trip to the dentist not only helps keep a person’s teeth healthy, but it can also save his life. Gum disease may indicate that a person at an increased risk for developing heart disease or another serious health condition. Oral cancer can be fatal if it is left untreated, but if it is diagnosed early, the patient’s prognosis is much better. It usually takes less than an hour to perform a thorough examination. That one hour may save your teeth and your life. If you have not been seeing your dentist at least twice a year, it is time for you to start.

A dental implant is a device that is inserted into the gums of the mouth in order to act as a permanent and stable root for an artificial tooth. The implant must be placed surgically and is actually mounted into the bone where a natural tooth root would normally be. Once the implant is in place it can be used as a foundation for a variety of techniques to reconstruct functional teeth. There are even instances where several implants can be placed in the mouth to support a wide bridge for patients who have lost multiple teeth.

Choosing a dental implant means undergoing oral surgery that can take several months to complete as the root of the tooth is slowly rebuilt. The result, however, is a mechanism in the mouth that has the same strength and abilities as a natural tooth root. Additionally, the teeth that are attached to an implant can be changed as needed without extensive surgery. The flexibility of being able to design teeth that do not rely on underlying natural structures gives dentists the ability to make new teeth that are superior to other reconstructive methods.

Since new teeth that are attached to dental implants are freed from many of the limitations that can affect veneers or crowns, the teeth can be made to look more natural. They can also be created in a way that makes them interact more favorably with the surrounding natural teeth. The overall appearance of dental implants is very close to the natural smile that a patient might have once enjoyed.

Oral health is a primary concern for the field of cosmetic dentistry. Cosmetic dentistry is more than just having a beautiful smile. A healthy smile enhances your confidence and restores dental issues that may eventually result in tooth decay or loss.

Purpose of Cosmetic Dentistry
➢ Help you achieve and maintain a gorgeous smile
➢ Whiten teeth that are stained or discolored
➢ Close off gaps or spaces between teeth
➢ Repair or replace teeth lost to injury or decay
➢ Prevent further damage or tooth loss
➢ Realign your bite
➢ Straighten crooked teeth
➢ Relieve dental pain and discomfort
➢ Correct improper chewing habits
➢ Replace outdated treatments
➢ Restore oral health

Your dentist will examine your mouth to determine which cosmetic dentistry procedures might be beneficial to you. Dental procedures vary in amount of time required to complete. Some procedures can be done in one visit, while others may require multiple appointments. Many cosmetic procedures do not necessitate the use of anesthesia, although a local anesthetic may be applied if specifically requested.

Cosmetic Procedures
➢ Braces are used to straighten crooked teeth as well as correct misaligned bites. Traditional braces utilize metal wires and brackets that must be adjusted periodically. A variety of colored bands are available.

➢ Invisalign serves the same corrective purpose as braces without the need for metal wires. Additionally, they are nearly invisible, making them extremely appealing for those who may be self-conscious about getting braces. Custom-made aligners are used to move and straighten your teeth. New aligners are worn every few weeks until your teeth have properly shifted.

➢ Whitening can be performed either by using bleaching trays or via a special laser and solution combination.

➢ Veneers are able to cover teeth that are discolored or stained. They can also change the shape of your teeth.

➢ Bridges and implants are both used to replace teeth that are missing as well as fill in gaps and spaces between teeth.

➢ Bonding is useful for repairing damaged or chipped teeth. It can also alter the shape of your teeth.

➢ Enamel shaping changes the shape of teeth by contouring the enamel, or outer surface of the tooth.

Dr. Cobb uses ceramics and other restoration materials that make the repair to your teeth look natural in appearance and beautiful. It works well when there have been lost or damaged teeth from wear and tear, decay, or even damage from trauma.

Dr. Cobb has trained all his staff to be understanding and caring when it comes to the patient’s care and well-being. It is important for the patient to fee safe and secure during any of the treatments planned for the patient.

Relaxing in the state of the art facility includes Bose Noise Canceling Headphones, iPads and iPods which are available with thousands of videos from Netflix and an endless variety of music from Pandora. They also provide warm towels to help relax the patient.

Dr. Cobb’s dental practice is one of the few offices that employ the use of laser techniques that allow him to perform soft tissue procedures instead of the traditional surgery. The laser limits bleeding and swelling, reduces the need for anesthesia and there is less pain following dental procedures. Without the use of drills and other painful tools, the patient is able to relax during their appointment.

Another advancement employed in the office is digital radiographs, which are a much-improved version of x-rays, which do not deteriorate over time. A much lower level of radiation is needed with this technology.

Make your appointment today for a consultation and meet the friendly and caring team available to you. They will answer any questions or concerns you may have. They also have sedation dentistry for patients that have phobias or fear of pain that is usually associated with dentists. Their trained and caring staff will make you feel at ease from the moment you walk through the front door.

Porcelain veneers are ceramic shells or outer coatings applied to the outer surface of your teeth. Today’s porcelain veneers blend perfectly with the natural coloring of your adjacent teeth so that no one would ever notice the veneer. Instead, they will notice the beautiful results that come about after the application of the porcelain veneer. Veneers also correct the appearance of misshapen teeth and teeth with uneven surfaces, in addition to filling gaps between two teeth. Dr. Cobb will outfit your teeth with porcelain veneers in a three visit time frame.

At your first visit, Dr. Cobb will consult with you about the pros and cons of veneers and show you what you will look like when veneers are applied to your teeth. During your second visit, a thin, 0.5 millimeter layer of enamel will be removed from your teeth to make space for the porcelain veneers so that they can be permanently attached to your teeth. During this time, a temporary veneer may be applied to your teeth until your permanent porcelain veneers are completed by the dental laboratory. Once your permanent porcelain veneers are ready, Dr. Cobb will make adjustments to the fit until you are comfortable, and then the veneers will be permanently adhered to your teeth.

You will notice an immediate improvement in the appearance of your teeth and relief of your mouth pain due to misshapen teeth once the porcelain veneers are bonded to your teeth. This improvement will last a lifetime with careful dental hygiene and regular dental care.

Problems in your mouth may be a result of tooth loss, movement, fractures or wear and tear as you age. The good news is that you aren’t stuck with your mouth being that way for the rest of your life. Restorative dentistry helps you restore your confidence and provides many options for improving your dental health.

After a consultation with a dentist who can analyze the condition of your mouth, you can take the next steps to determine which method of restorative dentistry is most appropriate for your situation. Dental implants replace broken or missing teeth in your mouth to improve your smile and confidence. The implant is typically composed of titanium and fuses to the bone. They are strong and natural looking and provide a long-term solution to dental concerns.

Porcelain veneers place a thin shell on the outer covering of the tooth to brighten a dull or worn smile due to aging. Before veneers can be applied, a thin layer of tooth enamel must be removed to make room for the placement. They’re more ideal to improve the look for a faded smile, as opposed to fixing more serious problems with missing or damaged teeth.

If a gap is a problem in your mouth, you may be a candidate for bridge work. A bridge gets its name from bridging the gap in a patient’s mouth with an artificial tooth that eliminates the gap and also fits comfortably in the mouth similar to a natural tooth. They may be used in combination with other restorative dental procedures for a comprehensive plan to fix all problems in a patient’s mouth.