When you suffer from dental anxiety, it can feel like there is no way to avoid having an unpleasant experience at the dentist’s office. Anxious patients can suffer different degrees of discomfort; for some, the thought of a routine dental appointment will be enough to feel distressing. What you should know is that your dentist can help alleviate your condition by supplying you with nitrous oxide to help you with your dental anxiety. Nitrous oxide is safe, and its effects wear off quickly. Breathed during your treatment, the gas can create a relaxed sensation, and make your visit a more comfortable one. (more…)
3 Things You Miss When You Skip Dental Checkups
What are you missing out on when you leave dental checkups off your schedule? The simple answer is that missing appointments leaves you vulnerable to dental problems, and to missing signs of oral health trouble. At every appointment, you receive the combined care of a professional dental cleaning, and an evaluation. The cleaning removes tartar and other debris from your teeth, and helps protect them from a future buildup of harmful materials. The review makes it possible for your dentist to identify trouble, and recommend any necessary restorative dental care while an issue is in its early stages. (more…)
Quiz: Restorative Treatment Using A Dental Crown
You may know someone who has a dental crown, or several crowns, and have no idea – even if the crown is located in a prominent part of their smile. This is possible because your dentist is able to make crowns with ceramic, and those restorations can pass for natural teeth. Crowns are used for restorative dental care when a tooth is affected by damage too large for a dental filling to correct. The type of crown you receive will depend on the demands that will be placed on it, and on the impact its presence will have on your smile. In addition to ceramic, zirconia can also be used to make a convincing restoration. Metal and porcelain fused to metal crowns may look less natural, but they can provide you with superior protection. (more…)
The Link Between A Scaling/Root Planing And Gum Disease
When is it appropriate to undergo a scaling/root planing? This procedure goes beyond the standard professional cleaning you undergo during a routine dental checkup. This preventive treatment involves the accessing of your teeth under your gum line. Bacteria found under your gums will be removed, and the surfaces of teeth will be polished in order to make it harder for future bacteria to take hold. This is recommended for patients who have gingivitis, an early stage of gum disease. Without intervention, gingivitis can turn into the more severe periodontitis, which is not reversible, and will create serious oral health threats. (more…)
Fully Addressing Your Needs During A Tooth Extraction
The news that you need to have a tooth extracted is not something you are likely to receive warmly. Your dentist will try to avoid resorting to this method of restorative dental care, but sometimes there is simply no alternative available. In some cases, a person needs to have a tooth extracted because of crowding – by removing a tooth, you can undergo orthodontic work that brings your smile into a more comfortable position. It is also possible to need a tooth extraction because of an injury, or a serious cavity. An extraction for a cavity is avoidable if you seek help for decay at an earlier stage. Regular dental checkups can make it possible for your dentist to identify trouble sooner, and provide more conservative care. (more…)