Pregnant women are at increased risk of  developing dental problems which can effect the health of their unborn baby.

During pregnancy, higher levels of progesterone can encourage the proliferation of certain Gingivitis-causing bacteria normally found in the mouth.  An overgrowth of this bacteria causes “Pregnancy gingivitis,’ a condition that affects more than half of all pregnant women and usually strikes between the second and eighth months of pregnancy. If left untreated, Pregnancy gingivitis can lead to periodontitis, a more serious form of gum disease which has been linked to premature births, low birth weight and still births.

It is extremely important, therefore, that pregnant women follow a strict routine of brushing, flossing and regular dental checkups.

If you’re pregnant and your gums appear red and bleed slightly during brushing, you could have Pregnancy gingivitis. Pregnant women can also develop a ‘pregnancy tumor’ on their gums, which is an extreme inflammatory reaction to plaque or bits of food.

Are you pregnant? Make a dental appointment today.

At the office of RICHARD Y. LIU, D.M.D. P.A. we are a highly qualified and experienced team of professionals committed to excellent dental care.   Call us at 603.436.9200 and we’ll gladly answer any questions you may have. We’re conveniently located off Woodbury Avenue, across from the malls. Take Piscataqua Drive to 101 Shattuck Way, Suite 5, Newington.

Take years off your looks with Dr. Liu’s ‘dental facelift,’ a non-surgical approach to vastly improving the contours and dimensions of your face.

What the cosmetic surgeons don’t tell you is that teeth play a major role in the framework of your face. As we age, teeth wear down and  jaws recede,  decreasing the height of our face and causing a slackened appearance. Cheeks appear hollow and lips which were once full have shrunken in size.  Many women think cosmetic surgery is the only answer to regaining their looks but there’s an easier way.

In a “dental facelift,” your dentist studies the shape of your face then carefully applies veneers on select tooth surfaces. With the coordinated application of veneers,  your face can be subtly reshaped. Volume can be added to sunken cheeks. Thin lips take on a fuller dimension.  That slackened look disappears. The result is a whiter, more youthful smile and a much younger appearance. No bruising, no stitches, no recovery time! No one will know your secret they’ll just know you look terrific! You’ll feel terrific, too!

Healthy teeth, an attractive smile, and self-confidence are our goals for each of our patients. At the  Portsmouth, NH office of RICHARD Y. LIU, D.M.D., P.A., we’re currently accepting new patients. We welcome your call at 603.436.9200 to schedule an appointment for superior dental care. We recommend regular checkups and cleanings. Take the time to understand your health – it is worth the investment. We’re located just off  Woodbury Avenue, across from the malls. Take Piscataqua Drive to 101 Shattuck Way, Suite 5, Newington.

P.S. A dental facelift restores the cusp tips of the teeth to rebuild the bite, which increases facial height and improves chewing ability.

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The American Dental Association recently found that men and women differ when it comes to taking care of their teeth and gums. According to a nationally representative survey of 1,000 Americans ages 18 and older, 86 percent of women brush their teeth twice or more a day while only 66 percent of men make the same effort to keep their teeth clean. As far as flossing is concerned, there is room for improvement for both genders. Slightly less than half of those surveyed (49%)  indicated that they floss their teeth once a day or more. One out of three people surveyed think that bleeding gums after brushing their teeth is normal—but it is not.

Your teeth can last a lifetime if you practice basic dental care, which involves brushing and flossing regularly, following a healthy tooth diet and visiting us at the office of Portsmouth NH dentist  RICHARD Y. LIU, D.M.D. P.A. for regular checkups and cleanings. Keeping teeth and gums healthy will contribute to overall health and enjoyment of life. We’re located at 101 Shattuck Way, Suite 5, Newington, where teaching you how to prevent dental disease and preserving your natural teeth for a lifetime are our primary goals. Please call 603.436.9200 to schedule your  appointment.  Heading north on Woodbury Avenue, take a right onto  Piscataqua Drive across from the malls. Take your next left onto Shattuck Way. The office is located on the left.

P.S. According to the survey mentioned above, women replace toothbrushes every three to four months on average while men retain theirs an average of five months.

If you want to keep your teeth their whitest – watch out for wine!

Wine may be touted to have antioxidants good for the body, but there’s a downside: wine also stains your teeth.  Red wine causes immediate and readily apparent staining while white wine makes teeth more susceptible to staining later on.  The pigments in red wine stain teeth on contact, but more acidic white wines lightly etch the outer surface of teeth which sets them up to accept other staining pigments. This means that red wine drinkers will see stains right away while white wine aficionados will notice tooth stains later.  Keeping this in mind, wine drinkers should be careful not to follow a glass of white wine with coffee, tea, cigarettes, red wine or other staining agents.

Of course it’s not always possible to prevent your teeth from getting stained. That’s where professional tooth whitening comes in. Whitening is among the most popular cosmetic dental procedures. It can greatly improve your looks.

At the office of Portsmouth dentist RICHARD Y. LIU, D.M.D. P.A., we have the best teeth whitening procedures available. Our office will provide you with dental care of the highest quality, utilizing the most modern procedures by an extremely qualified staff. Please call 603.436.9200 to schedule an appointment for all your dental needs. We’re conveniently located off Woodbury Ave., across from the malls at 101 Shattuck Way, Suite 5, Newington.

P.S . Don’t brush immediately after drinking white wine, which may only serve to aggressively wear down etched enamel surfaces. Instead, allow time for saliva to remineralize teeth before brushing.

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Technological advances in tooth restoration are benefiting patients – big time.

Gone are the days of dental impressions, temporary restorations and multiple office visits. Aided with a camera, computer and milling machine dentists can now restore your tooth in a single office visit.

CEREC, which is an acronym for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, is a CAD/CAM technology by which dentists can make a precise tooth-colored, single tooth restoration – including inlays, onlays and full crowns.

Here’s how it works.  Your dentist uses a special camera to take a picture of your damaged tooth, then displays the image on a computer screen. With computer aided design technology, your dentist designs your restoration.  Once the design is complete your dentist can mill the restorative piece from porcelain right then and there in the office thanks to  computer aided manufacturing. Within one hour you’ll have a beautiful smile again. You will feel especially confident because CEREC porcelain crowns contain no metal which means no telltale dark line at the gumline.  You’ll be smiling, laughing and talking with ease!

Please call the office of Portsmouth, NH dentist Richard Y. Liu, D.M.D. P.A. today at 603-436-9200 to schedule your appointment. We are conveniently located off  Woodbury Avenue, across from the malls at 101 Shattuck Way, Suite 5, Newington. You will receive a professional oral dental exam to detect and address any existing or imminent oral health problems.

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While a gap-toothed smile looks endearing in a toddler, most adults feel a little conspicuous with a hiatus between their two front teeth.  Years ago adults  had to live with what nature gave them but new advances in cosmetic dentistry can easily and effectively  give you a beautiful, smooth smile.

What causes a gap?

Gaps between the upper two front teeth may appear for the simple reason that your mouth has more room than it needs to accommodate your teeth.  As a result, your teeth  spread out and you notice a visible space.

A  gap can also occur if  the muscle attachment (frenum)  between the upper lip and the upper dental arch (in the area of the two front teeth) is too large or fibrous, resulting in pressure that pulls the teeth apart. A simple surgery may be all that is necessary to relieve this issue. Your dentist can then fill the gap between the two front teeth by a bonding procedure that builds up tooth material on both sides of the space, giving you a great-looking smile.

Wouldn’t it feel wonderful to be able to smile with confidence?   For complete dental care come see us at the office of Portsmouth dentist RICHARD Y. LIU, D.M.D. P.A., located at 101 Shattuck Way, Suite 5, Newington.

As your dental professionals, we pride ourselves on providing the highest quality dental care  in a relaxing and comfortable environment. Call 603.436.9200 to schedule an appointment.

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If you’ve lost one or more teeth, getting a great-looking replacement bridge can be as easy as two visits to the dentist.

Many patients today are opting for a bridge, a fixed dental restoration that  commonly  replaces no more than four adjacent front teeth or two side teeth. Much like a highway bridge, it is supported by two abutments, which are structurally healthy teeth on either side of the gap. The span, or “pontic,” is a metal framework attached to the abutments at each end with the necessary number of attached artificial teeth.  If abutment teeth are located on only one side of the gap, dentists use a special cantilever  bridge which supports the replacement tooth from just one side. When properly crafted, the artificial teeth and abutment crowns should match the contour and color of natural teeth and appear to be growing out of the gums. Your dentist attaches the bridge to either natural or replacement teeth which then bear the pressure caused by chewing.  These anchor teeth also keep the surrounding teeth from shifting out of place.

Bridges are composed of gold, alloys, porcelain  or a combination of materials. They generally cost less than other forms of tooth replacement and usually require just two office visits.  What could be better than that?

Most dental bridges are highly durable and with proper care usually last more than 10 years. Bridges may occasionally need repair or replacement due to normal wear and tear, but as with natural teeth, proper oral hygiene, good eating habits and regular visits to your dentist will help keep your bridge in tip-top shape.

Please call the office of Portsmouth dentist  RICHARD Y. LIU, D.M.D. P.A. at 603.436.9200 to schedule an appointment. We’re located at 101 Shattuck Way, Suite 5, Newington, NH, where you will receive a professional exam to detect and address any existing or impending oral health problems.

Healthy gums have been linked to the metabolization of glucose, which takes on new meaning for diabetics who stand to benefit more than ever from regularly brushing their teeth.

In a recent study diabetics who had gum disease but were treated for their periodontal conditions over a four-month period displayed better glucose control than diabetic patients whose gum disease was left alone. That’s because the buildup of plaque, which leads to periodontal disease, may cause chemical changes that weaken a diabetic’s ability to metabolize glucose.

How do diabetics get periodontal disease? Periodontal disease  is a bacterial infection of the gums that can strike anyone.  Symptoms may not appear until the disease is well advanced. Warning signs include persistent swollen, red or bleeding gums, tooth sensitivity and bad breath.  The disease can be effectively treated with antibiotics and the regular removal of plaque by a trained hygienist.  Since plaque continually reforms on teeth,  daily brushing and flossing is essential.

If you need answers to a dental problem or just want to improve your daily dental care, we have  information to keep your smile in top shape.  Remember:  everyone, especially those with diabetes  should maintain scrupulous brushing and flossing habits and visit their dentist regularly. No exceptions!  Give Dr. Liu a call today.

RICHARD Y. LIU, D.M.D. P.A., and his staff are committed to your best interests. Please call 603.436.9200 to schedule an appointment. We’re located at 101 Shattuck Way, I Suite 5, Newington, NH.

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Adults who neglect brushing and flossing their teeth are more likely to develop heart disease and diabetes,  research shows.  In a study of nearly 12,000 adults, those with poor oral hygiene had a 70 percent greater risk of heart disease than those who took good care of their teeth.

It has long been known that healthy teeth and gums are critical to overall health.  Back in the early 1800s, the theory called “focal sepsis” maintained that infections in the mouth led to disease in the rest of the body. Scientific evidence now backs this up. Here’s what happens:  Gums can become inflamed from food debris and plaque buildup if teeth are not properly and regularly brushed and flossed.  This inflammation can play a role in the buildup of clogged arteries which can lead to heart disease.  In fact, people with poor oral hygiene test positive for two factors called C-reactive protein and fibrinogen, both of which signal inflammation in the body.

Today’s advances in research provide more reason than ever for people to brush and floss their teeth. Remember, good oral health promotes overall health.  Call us at 603.436.9200 for an appointment. Your health is worth taking care of.

At the office of RICHARD Y. LIU, D.M.D. P.A., we will do everything we can to insure that your visits are as  comfortable and pleasant as possible. We’re located at 101 Shattuck Way, Suite 5, Newington, where our staff offers a range of professional services to all our patients. Remember that preventative dentistry is the lowest cost, most convenient way to retain your smile.

Are you having trouble remembering things? Might be time to get out the dental floss.

Gum disease, which has been linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes and Alzheimer’s, is now believed associated with poorer thinking skills.

In a recent study researchers found that adults aged 60 and older with the highest levels of the gum disease-causing pathogen Porphyromonas gingivitis were three times more likely to experience trouble recalling a three-word sequence over time than those with lower levels of the pathogen. Those with the highest levels of the pathogen were also twice as likely to fail three-digit reverse subtraction tests. Scientists think that gum disease influences brain function through several mechanisms, one of which may be a systemic inflammation that could impede mental agility.

These findings give people more reason than ever to thoroughly brush and floss their teeth and visit their dentist regularly.

The office of Dr. RICHARD Y. LIU, D.M.D P.A., is currently accepting new patients. We’re located at 101 Shattuck Way, Suite 5, Newington.  Please call (603) 436-9200 to schedule your appointment.