For most people, visiting the dentist isn’t much of an ordeal, but when told that they need root canal treatment, many patients will still hesitate or wonder if there is a better alternative. The good news is that root canal therapy’s bad rap is undeserved. The procedure is typically quick and minimally invasive, and in addition to restoring your tooth, it also alleviates the intense discomfort caused by the infection in your tooth. The most important thing everyone should know about root canals, however, is that the treatment may be your best option for saving your tooth before extraction becomes necessary. (more…)
Is Teeth Whitening a Good Idea?
It may be the most frequently prescribed dental treatment, but not everybody has undergone professional teeth whitening. For those who have, the amazing results that teeth whitening can produce in little time can have life-changing benefits. If you haven’t experienced those benefits yet, then you may wonder whether or not professional teeth whitening is a good idea. If your teeth are stained or have lost their luster, then ask your dentist how teeth whitening can bring back their youthful appearance! (more…)
3 Tips to Prevent Bad Breath
If you’ve ever been embarrassed by bad breath, then you probably resolved then and there to never be embarrassed by it again. For some people, that’s easy, but for others, keeping their breath consistently fresh might prove a bit more challenging. With the exception of more serious dental issues, like tooth decay and gum disease, most cases of bad breath are caused by things like inadequate hygiene or mild dehydration. These tips can help you prevent bad breath from causing you embarrassment, though if your bad breath persists, then you should schedule a visit with your dentist as soon as possible. (more…)
Common Questions About Tooth-Colored Fillings
The thing about cavities is that nearly everyone will experience at least one of them in their permanent teeth. But today, treating a cavity is typically simple, involving little more than cleaning and filling the cavity to restore and protect the tooth. With tooth-colored fillings, the result is not only a stronger and healthier tooth, but also one that retains its natural, healthy appearance. The thing about tooth-colored fillings is that they not only blend in discreetly with your natural teeth, but can also do a better job of treating and preserving a tooth that’s been stricken with a cavity. (more…)
Do I Need A Machine To Treat My Sleep Apnea?
Your snoring might be more than an annoyance to your significant other. It may also be a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA occurs when your throat muscles relax and block your airway while sleeping. This increases the air pressure in your throat, which causes the tissues to vibrate loudly, creating the snoring sound. OSA also has the potential to be dangerous if left untreated. Usually, people use an uncomfortable and cumbersome CPAP machine to treat it. Thankfully, there is an alternative to treat your sleep apnea—a custom-made oral appliance that doesn’t rely on machinery to help you sleep peacefully again. (more…)
How To Keep Your Child’s Smile Healthy
Even though your child’s teeth are going to fall out eventually, the health of your child’s teeth can have ramifications that affect the quality of their adult smile. It is absolutely vital for the future health of your child’s smile to be as persistent with the maintenance of their baby teeth as you are with your adult teeth. Thankfully, there are some easy steps that you can take to keep your child’s smile healthy. (more…)
Tips to Keep Teeth Clean Between Checkups and Cleanings
Checkups and cleanings are extremely important for maintaining your smile’s health. Your dentist is equipped to remove tartar buildup that your toothbrush and floss just can’t handle. Although you can’t keep your mouth healthy on your own, there are still things you can do in between dentist appointments to keep your teeth clean between checkups and cleanings and prevent your next appointment from escalating into a cavity filling or even a root canal. Here are some helpful tips to keep teeth clean between checkups and cleanings. (more…)
Why Tooth Extraction Might Be a Good Idea
For many people, wisdom tooth extraction is more than a good idea—it’s a necessity to stop the impacted molars from damaging the rest of their smiles. Sometimes, though, extracting a tooth that isn’t impacted is also a good idea, such as if the tooth is damaged or extremely infected, or if it’s lost support due to severe gum disease. In any case, tooth extraction is only a good idea when there’s no other restorative option to save it, or to save your healthy teeth and oral tissues from suffering collateral damage. (more…)
Make Your Tooth New Again with a Dental Crown
Your teeth can’t repair themselves when they’re damaged. But today’s dental crowns can make teeth like new again, protecting them so they can continue to perform their duties. In many cases, crowns are crafted to closely mimic your healthy, natural teeth, serving the dual purposes of restoring and cosmetically improving your smile at the same time. If you’ve lost a tooth, a crown might also serve as an excellent, highly lifelike replacement for it when supported by a dental crown. (more…)
3 Questions About Bonding & Contouring
It isn’t enough just to make your smile prettier; successful cosmetic dentistry also means protecting your natural teeth and gums to ensure your beautiful smile lasts for life. With tooth bonding and contouring, you can enjoy the best of both worlds—a significantly improved smile and the preservation of your healthy, natural smile’s tooth structure. Bonding and contouring are minimally invasive cosmetic touchups that can have dramatic effects on your smile’s appearance. They can also be part of a larger smile makeover plan to help you avoid more extensive treatments. (more…)