Our StarBrite Dental Blog

Explore the advanced world of Biomimetic Dentistry at StarBrite Dental. Learn how cutting-edge oral appliances like Vivos, Adjustable Herbst™, and more are reshaping dental care for the better.

When your gums swell, what is most important is that they are not left untreated. Read this post to get a closer look at your gums and what causes problems.

Your body can never rebuild or renew your own tooth enamel. Read this post to learn how to strengthen tooth enamel for a lifetime of healthy teeth.

Read this post to discover the causes, treatment, and prevention for swollen gum behind a molar. See a dentist ASAP if you suffer from swollen gums.

Should you receive a gingivectomy or gingivoplasty? These 2 procedures have different purposes and are recommended for different situations. Read here.

At StarBrite Dental, a dental office located in the Rockville/North Bethesda area, we make a point to be responsive and available even late at night. We know that toothaches don’t always occur during business hours.

Palatal expanders are dental or orthodontic appliances that expand the shape of the bones forming the palate of your mouth. Even though this concept may be new to you, this procedure has actually been practiced for several decades. This technology for helping patients—both kids and adults—change the shape of the bones in the face and mouth enables dentists or orthodontists to correct several problems for their patients, such as the following: Overcrowding: A child’s upper jaw may be so narrow that their teeth don’t have room to come in. The teeth may be very poorly aligned due to this lack of sufficient space, or some teeth may become impacted. Crossbite : A narrow bone structure in the upper jaw and a wider bone structure below it can result in crossbite, a condition where the upper teeth fit inside the lower teeth (they should fit just outside the lower teeth). TMD: Temporomandibular disorder can result from poor alignment of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Over time, this misalignment can cause headaches, damage to that joint, tinnitus and other problems. A poorly shaped palate can be involved in causing this disorder. Sleep apnea : A narrow palate can affect the width of the airway. While a person sleeps, this narrower airway does not provide enough oxygen for the sleeper. Widening the palate helps open the airway. As a person grows up with this narrowed palate, they may be forced to undergo jaw expansion surgery, referred to as orthognathic jaw surgery. With correct diagnosis and therapy, however, this surgery may be able to be avoided. That is a major benefit of treatment with palatal expanders. This surgery often requires weeks of home recovery before returning to school or work. Wearing a dental expander for months or a year or more enables improvement of these problems without invasive surgery.

What should you know before getting a full mouth reconstruction? Click to learn some key facts you should know about full-mouth reconstruction before committing to one.

Click to read some of the signs indicating someone may be grinding their teeth at night. Anyone with these symptoms should contact their dentist for an exam