Why Should I Visit The Dentist Twice A Year?
We recommend that adults schedule preventative visits every six months to maintain healthy gums and teeth. Even if you take excellent care of your teeth and gums through regular brushing and flossing, you still need to see a dentist regularly. Your dentist can check for problems that you may not see or feel. Many dental problems don't become visible or cause pain until they are in more advanced stages. Examples include cavities, gum disease and oral cancer. For patients with gum disease or bone loss, your cleanings may be more frequent to ensure bone and gum health is maintained. Regular visits allow your dentist to find early signs of disease and allow problems to be treated at a manageable stage.
Maintaining oral health is an important part of overall health. Your oral health could contribute to various diseases/conditions such as: endocarditis, cardiovascular disease, or pregnancy complications (Mayo Clinic, Oral health: A window to your overall health).
What Are Crowns And Bridges?
Dental crowns (aka “caps”) are routinely made for teeth that have broken down, large portions destroyed by decay, cracked, or have had a root canal. We utilize a digital scanner for the majority of our crowns allowing for a more comfortable patient experience and avoiding the need for traditional impressions. We also stay up to date on the most advanced dental materials for our crowns to ensure for excellent strength and esthetics.
What Are Dental Implants?
Nothing can take the place of natural teeth, but when disease or an accident ends in tooth loss, dental implants can be a wonderful alternative to partials or dentures. If you are in good general health, with healthy gums and a jawbone that can support an implant, this treatment may be an option for you. Patients find that an implant is secure and stable, and an ideal replacement for their own teeth. Dr. Kyle or Dr. Lauren can help make the best decision for you.
What Is The Best Way To Whiten My teeth?
We get asked this question a lot. The fastest and most effective way to whiten teeth is typically to schedule an in-office professional whitening procedure. However, depending how dramatic you need your results to be, you may not require this type of procedure. We have several options available to you through the office so our best advice is to speak with your dentist or dental hygienist about what type of teeth whitening they would recommend. The best results are always going to be a result of a professional treatment, but your dentist can help you determine which treatment is right for you.
What Is Sleep Apnea & Snoring And How Can They Be Helped?
Snoring and sleep apnea not only affect your ability to get deep, restful sleep, but it can disturb those around you, and more seriously, it can even become a life-threatening condition. Our dentists recognize sleep apnea as a serious medical problem and evaluate your airway during routine examinations. If they see indications of airway issues they may recommend you contact your physician to set up a sleep study. If you have already been through a sleep study and a CPAP machine is not working for you, you may be a candidate for a custom-fit oral appliance to help prevent apneic events. . Impressions are taken in office and each device is customized at our lab resulting in a precise and comfortable fit.
What Are The Differences Between Regular X-Rays And Digital X-Rays?
Digital x-rays require very low levels of radiation exposure compared to traditional film x-rays. We take digital X-rays to evaluate for any cavities between the teeth, bone loss, un-erupted teeth and infections. Cavity detecting x-rays are generally taken 1 time per year, and a full panoramic x-ray which shows us your whole mouth as well as your joints of your jaw is typically taken every 5 years. Select x-rays of the roots of individual teeth may become necessary when presenting with discomfort or prior to a crown procedure.