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Root canals are conducted to repair a tooth damaged by infected tissue surrounding and underneath the tooth. During the root canal procedure, we will drill into the infected tooth, extract the infected material, clean the inside of tooth and tissue, and fill the tooth back in to prevent further infection from causing problems.

The patient will be under general anesthesia while the procedure is performed.

This type of procedure can present mild to moderate pain for the patient since it is invasive. We will offer pain management solutions after the procedure is complete for a healthy and comfortable recovery, but pain may persist for a while.

Preparation for a Root Canal Before and After the Procedure

Preparation for a root canal is important for ensuring a healthy and speedy recovery. Before the procedure, we will need to consult with you about your medical history as well as any current medication you are taking. We will also discuss the procedure at this time and can answer any question you may have.

The procedure is generally an outpatient procedure. After the completion of the procedure, be sure to have someone who is willing to drive you back home. Since the procedure requires you to go under, you will not be able to drive home by yourself and will need assistance.

When you get home, you will be experiencing moderate pain, however, we will prescribe you medication to combat the discomfort. To help with the healing process, we ask that you stop smoking as it can hinder the healing process and we also suggest cleaning teeth very gently as soon as possible to inhibit bacterial growth.

It is important to come contact us as soon as possible if signs of infection begin to form. Some signs of infection are growing or unbearable pain, excessive swelling of gums days after the operation, and the inability to eat comfortably for a long period of time. If you have more questions or concerns, please give us a visit or contact us.

Custom dentures and immediate dentures are two different types of dentures our patients can get. Some patients even get both, depending on their situation.

There are some differences that come with each of them, which might make a patient choose one or the other or go with both. There are also pros and cons that we tell each of our patients, which can help them choose which is the best method for them to go with.

Permanent Dentures

Permanent dentures are long-term dentures that provide a fit inside the mouth that doesn’t change. These are given once all of the teeth are removed and the gums are healed completely. This is because the gums need to settle down with time.

The permanence of these dentures is also important for those that want more comfort and teeth that look like their actual teeth. These dentures are more common in our office and the ones that are given after immediate dentures to most patients.

Immediate Dentures

Immediate dentures are given to patients as soon as they leave our office. This provides them with their confidence, so they don’t have to worry about leaving with no teeth. They may not be the perfect match to their previous teeth, and they might not provide the tightest fit. They are not meant as a long-term solution.

These dentures are quicker to make, and they may need to be re-made once the gums heal and change with time. Due to this, they’re not usually offered to those patients that want something more permanent.

If you’re interested in any sort of dentures for your smile, speak with our office today. We can schedule a time to have you come in and speak with our dental team regarding the options you have and the smile you want. We are here to help!

Dental bridges are more common for a person to have than other types of dental procedures. When you have a bridge, you want to ensure that you’re caring for it the correct way.

Our dentists do provide more information on how to care for the bridge that you have, but in case you need further information or have an idea of what to expect when you have one, then consider all that comes from the use of dental bridges in your mouth.

Dental Bridges are Like Your Natural Teeth

Caring for your dental bridges should be done in the same way that your natural teeth should be cared for. You want to floss and brush regularly. You also want to make sure you’re not chewing on gums or other sticky candy because this can stick to the bridge and cause it to come loose.

If the bridge does come loose at any point, give our office a call to schedule an appointment with our office to have it fixed right away. This reduces the damage to the bridge and to the gums and teeth in your mouth because we can fix the issue before it becomes worse.

Sticking to a balanced diet is also important, because you should have enough vitamins and minerals in your system to remain healthy. Exercise, water, and not smoking can also be beneficial to those that want to have healthier teeth and gums, but also to have a brighter, whiter, healthier smile, even when there is a bridge involved inside the mouth.

Speak with us today if you have further questions about dental bridges or to schedule an appointment to come out and speak with our dentists. We can provide you with more information, but also provide the dental care that you need to get your smile back once again.

Taking proper care of your dentures is very important. There are several reasons for this. Knowing what these reasons are will help you understand their importance.

Why You Should Take Really Good Care of Your Dentures

Caring for your dentures isn’t a difficult process, but it is a necessary one. You’re not only taking care of them so that you can maintain good oral health, but also to help you maintain a great looking set of dentures. When your dentures look great, you’ll have better self-esteem because you won’t be so worried that everyone is looking at your dentures instead of focusing on who you are as a person.

When you don’t take good care of your dentures, it’s possible that bacteria will build up on them. This will lead to germs and infections that could lead to many unwanted dental procedures in the future. Taking care of your dentures now will prevent this from happening in the future.

Dentures are also expensive. You can think of them as an investment in your health. However, you won’t want to make this investment repeatedly. Taking care of your dentures now will save you from paying for many new sets throughout your lifetime.
Wearing dentures that aren’t properly cared for can also be hard on the other parts of your mouth – your tongue, jawbone, and gums can all suffer. This can lead you to need other work done. Of course, all of this is uncomfortable overall as well.

We Can Help You Care for Your Dentures

Now that you understand why there are some commonly prescribed “best care practices” that you should follow when you’re wearing dentures, hopefully you’ll feel more confident in knowing how to care of your dentures. If any questions should arise, we are here for you. Simply give us a call and make an appointment to come into our office so we can help you.

From the time we are little, we are taught that we need to care for our mouths properly. This includes brushing our teeth at least two times per day, and always remembering to floss and rinse with a good mouthwash.

If we get to the point of having dentures, it can change what needs to be done to properly maintain the health of our mouth. If you are new to having dentures, then it is important that you know how to keep your mouth healthy.

What Needs to Happen to Keep Your Mouth Healthy?

When you no longer have any natural teeth, it does not mean you get out of the daily routine of keeping your mouth clean. It just means you do it slightly differently. Instead of brushing your teeth and gums, you will now brush your dentures and gums. Plus, you will brush your dentures out of your mouth instead of the teeth inside your mouth. They still need to be kept clean. If you put dirty dentures in your mouth, then you could wind up with gum disease, which is not only avoidable, but also painful.

You should still make sure to rinse your mouth out at least once per day with a really good antimicrobial mouthwash. That way, you clean out any extra microbes and bacteria that may have built up in your mouth. Plus, we still need to examine your mouth just like when you had natural teeth. It may not be the same experience, but that routine is still important when it comes to keeping your oral health optimized.

For more information on what differences come with caring for your mouth with dentures, give our office a call. We will have you come in, talk about the changes, and help you if you are unsure as to how to perform any of these routine activities with dentures.

Getting dentures can be a huge improvement in terms of the quality of life you enjoy and the variety of foods you can eat. What’s more, getting dentures can help you in your speaking as well as providing a boost to your self-esteem.

However, there can be a downside to dentures: the stereotype of an old person removing their teeth each night can play on you.

You may find that you begin to view yourself as old because of the way you look. In addition, if you spend a great deal of time with your dentures out, you may begin to develop creases in your face that will cause you to look older.

Fortunately, there is a way to address this: using dental implants will give you the benefit of dentures, while at the same time enhancing your appearance.

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are the closest thing to actual replacement teeth that you can get. During the dental implant process, a metal rod is fused into your jawbone. Onto this rod is affixed an artificial tooth crafted from ceramic or another similar material.

A dental implant looks, feels, and operates just like an actual tooth. Because of this, dental implants are the best choice when you are looking for something that will mimic your natural teeth in every way.

Dental Implants Versus Dentures

A major difference between dental implants and dentures is that dental implants stay in your mouth. Because you do not remove them, your face will not develop the sagging wrinkle lines that you can get from spending too much time with your dentures out. This, in turn, will give you a boost both in terms of your actual appearance as well as in how you feel about yourself.

So, consider dental implants. You may find that they are the right choice for you.

One of the most common questions asked by those who are getting dentures for the first time is whether the dentures can develop cavities. This question makes sense, given that dentures and teeth look, feel, and operate in similar ways.

The good news is that you need not fear getting tooth decay in your new dentures. Although they may look like your natural teeth, they are constructed from a material that does not decay.

However, this certainly does not mean that you can just dispense with engaging in regular oral hygiene practices: although you cannot get a cavity in your dentures, dentures that have not been properly cleaned on a regular basis can lead to all sorts of health issues for you.

The Problem with Dirty Dentures

So, if your dentures cannot get cavities, what is the big deal with keeping them clean? Remember that, while your “teeth” may no longer be affected by germs, the rest of your mouth certainly is. Dentures provide lots of little spaces where bacteria can grow and thrive. If they are not thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis, they will increase the levels of bacteria in your mouth.

These elevated levels of bacteria will cause you problems. Many people who use dentures and fail to clean them find that they develop issues such as gum disease and even yeast infections in the oral cavity. In addition, with the higher bacterial levels in and around the dentures, you can be susceptible to breathing in the nasty bugs and developing life-threatening conditions in your lungs.

For Your Health, Clean Your Dentures

The good news is that you can fight back. Make it a point to clean your dentures each night, and consider soaking them in a disinfectant for at least 10 minutes when you’re done using them for the day. Doing this will help keep you healthy, and prevent many of the above issues from plaguing you.

Root canals are sometimes needed to protect your tooth or your health. When you have one, it is important that you know what needs to be done post-treatment.

This is because without the proper care in the area, you may come across some complications. Listen to our dental team to find out what you should and should not do after this type of treatment.

Root Canal Post Treatment Care

After a root canal, it is important that you follow any recommendations provided by our dentists. This is not only for your own good, but to ensure that complications and infections are minimized after this type of procedure.

When a root canal is done, a hole is drilled into the tooth and the nerve, pulp and bacteria are removed and cleaned from the inside of the tooth. This is done to clean out the tooth and help the patient keep the tooth. From there, the inside of the tooth is filled again using a special filler. Once done, we may provide a temporary cap over the area we have just cleaned and fixed or we may leave it until the permanent cap is ready.

Take any medications prescribed by our dentist. Do not stop taking them unless directed to do so. You want to brush and floss daily. Be gentle with the treated tooth until the permanent crown is placed on it. You don’t want to damage it before this is done.

If you’ve had a root canal done or you think you may need one, give our office a call. We would be more than happy to go over the post treatment instructions given to you or we can schedule you for a time to come in for an exam to find out if a root canal may be what you are in need of.

Instant dentures can be the best option that you have when it comes to getting teeth in your mouth as soon as the others are removed. Whether or not they are the best option for you depends on your specific situation.

We will provide some insight as to who they are great for, but we strongly encourage you to give our office a call, so we can have you come out for an appointment and have an exam.

When are Instant Dentures the Best Option?

Instant dentures are the best option to go with when you need to have all of your teeth removed. When this happens, you don’t want to leave without having teeth in your mouth, as this can cause you to feel uncomfortable. It might also mean you’re unable to chew anything because you don’t have teeth.

It is recommended that you leave the instant dentures on for at least 24 hours or more during the healing phase. You don’t want your gums to swell up if you remove them, as you may not be able to get them back on. Always follow any instructions that we give you, because you need to be able to heal and instant dentures are there to aid in that process before the permanent dentures are ready to be used.

When you need to have teeth put in, then give our office a call. We can work with you to get the best possible treatment option that works best for you. We provide an exam, while also ensuring that your gums are healthy, that you have the information needed, and that you are well-taken care of.

You should be smiling in no time at all, making this a great option to go with if you do not have all of your teeth. Contact us today to learn more.

Whether you have just gotten your first dental crown, or you have had several for a period of years, you need to be sure that you take steps to protect your dental work.

Doing this can help make sure that the crowns last longer, saving you the time, expense, and inconvenience of having them replaced. Here are a few things you can do in order to make sure your dental crowns last as long as possible.

Continue Your Regular Oral Hygiene Routine

Hopefully you are in the habit of brushing your teeth at least twice every day with a good toothpaste containing fluoride. In addition, you need to be sure that you are flossing at least once in every 24-hour period. If you are, continue this routine even after getting the crown. If you’re not in this habit, you need to pick it up-or there may be more dental work necessary in the future.

Take Care with Your Chewing

Your parents probably told you again and again when you were growing up that you should not chew on ice because it would crack your teeth. They were right: chewing on ice can cause microscopic fractures in the enamel, and these fractures can worsen over time.

But it’s not just ice that you need to avoid. Chewing on other hard things such as hard candy, overly sticky foods like peanut brittle, and other similar things can also damage your teeth. Plus, if you have dental work, the sticky foods could pull on the dental work and cause it to come loose.

Caring for your crowns might seem like an overly complicated proposition. However, as time passes, you will find that it becomes second nature and requires very little additional thought or effort on your part. And your teeth will be healthier and stronger because of it.