Dr John A Muire Periodontist

08/06/2026

05/06/2026

The 4 most common oral health conditions are:

🦷 tooth decay
🦷 gum disease
🦷 tooth loss
🦷 oral cancers

Fortunately, most cases are preventable and can be treated in their early stages.

28/05/2026

Many parents worry when they see spaces between their child’s baby teeth. But in most cases, those small gaps are actually a healthy sign.

Baby teeth are naturally smaller than permanent teeth. As a child grows, the jaws also grow and create extra space to prepare for the much larger adult teeth that will erupt later. That’s why dentists often like to see some spacing between baby teeth during early childhood.

When baby teeth are very tight together with little or no spacing, there may be less room available for the permanent teeth in the future. This can increase the likelihood of crowding, overlapping, or crooked teeth as adult teeth begin to come in.

Of course, spacing alone cannot perfectly predict future orthodontic needs, but it can give important clues about how the teeth and jaws are developing.

Sometimes, the gaps parents worry about today are actually helping create a healthier smile tomorrow.

27/05/2026

A tooth can survive the initial injury — then suddenly darken years later.

Dental trauma from childhood falls, sports injuries, accidents, or unnoticed hits to the mouth can silently damage the blood supply and nerve inside a tooth. Over time, the internal tissues may break down, causing the tooth to gradually turn gray, dark brown, or even black.

Many people are surprised when this happens long after the original injury, especially if the tooth never caused severe pain. But discoloration affecting a single tooth is often a warning sign that the inside of the tooth is no longer healthy.

The good news is that dentists can usually diagnose the cause with an examination and X-rays. Depending on the condition, treatment may include root canal therapy, internal bleaching, crowns, or other restorative procedures.

A dark tooth is not always “just staining.” Sometimes it tells the story of an old injury the tooth never fully recovered from.