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When an individual is dealing with tooth loss and considering their options for restoring dentition, many factors require careful consideration. Very often, dentures are the best choice to restore tooth loss. A consultation with your dentist to get answers to address your questions and concerns is needed before making your decision. Don’t rely on helpful friends or family or what you can read on the internet to play a role in your decision. Some of the things your dentist will likely address include: Type of denture needed: How many teeth are missing? A partial denture replaces one or a couple of missing teeth. If all teeth in an arch are gone, a complete denture is required. Your age: Younger patients that are dealing with tooth loss may be better served with a more permanent option. Time: If you are looking for a solution that can be completed in a couple of dental visits over a few weeks, dentures may work best for you. Cost: While dentures are not inexpensive, they are more economical than other options available. Missing teeth: If teeth will be extracted, and you are not receiving an immediate denture you may be facing a period of time without teeth. Will this fit into your daily needs? Finally, your dentist will address what you ultimately will be facing if dentures are selected. How they work, daily care, potential problems, how long they will last … an honest, open discussion with your dentist will help you determine if dentures are right for you. During your dental exam your dentist will examine the teeth on either side of missing dentition. This will help determine what type of denture you may qualify for. If abutment teeth are decayed or impacted by gum disease, a fixed denture may not be suitable for you. If those abutment teeth are not healthy, placing crowns on them as a means to attach your denture will mean an alternative way to attach your denture will be needed … metal clasps are an option. Patients that select dentures will likely undergo an adjustment period. Things such as saliva production, food choices, and speaking adjustments are to be anticipated. These things are usually overcome with time and a little practice; the final result will be worth the time spent. Contact the office of Dr. Barry Buchanan to discuss your own options!
Tooth loss can occur due to trauma, decay, or disease. Perhaps maybe one or more permanent teeth never erupted properly. Dental implants provide an ideal solution to resolve missing teeth allowing the patient a permanent and beautiful restoration that looks and functions just like your natural teeth. In preparation for the dental implant process the patient will undergo a medical questionnaire to assure they are healthy enough to ensure a successful procedure, and a thorough dental exam will follow including dental x-rays to determine bone strength in gum tissue where the implant is to be placed. Insufficient bone does not automatically disqualify the patient, for there are options available to enhance the bone if needed. The patient is called upon to keep the implant clean by brushing and flossing as directed to prevent infection, a leading cause of implant failure. Tobacco is strongly discouraged as it’s another reason why implants fail. The implant process begins with surgical placement of the titanium post in gum tissue where a tooth is missing. A healing period follows … during that time bone is grafting to the implant to form a solid base to support the restoration. The process of bone merging with the implant is called osseointegration … eventually the implant becomes a permanent part of the patient’s dental anatomy. Once healed an abutment is attached to the implant and the tooth is tried in. When fit, appearance, and function are correct, your dentist will permanently cement it in place. Your dental provider will have fashioned the restoration to perfectly match surrounding teeth in size, shape, and color to make your new tooth indistinguishable from your surrounding natural teeth. When the process is completed you will be able to eat all the foods you love; smile and laugh with confidence; and speak clearly without fear of an embarrassing slip as your new tooth is securely cemented in place. Caring for your implant couldn’t be easier. Just as you brush and floss your natural teeth, that is all that is needed for your newly implanted tooth as well. During every six month dental visit, your dentist will carefully examine your implant to make sure all is well. Dental implants are becoming a very popular way to restore missing dentition … a consultation with your dentist is your first step to a permanent solution for tooth loss. Contact our team today!
What you eat affects your oral health—including your teeth. We all know that eating healthy is important for our general wellness but sometimes, people overlook the importance of nutrition on our oral health. In addition to visiting our dentist for routine checkups and cleanings, our practice recommends limiting sugar intake, watching out for acidic ingredients in foods and beverages, and staying hydrated. Limit Sugar Intake Sugar is dangerous to your dental health because it feeds oral bacteria. Our mouths are warm and moist—a perfect environment for bacteria to thrive. Eating sugar will only give bacteria more fuel to survive. When bacteria feed on sugar (including starches), they release acid as a by-product and colonize to form plaque. Acid is an irritant that softens teeth and uncontrolled plaque can lead to the development of gum disease and tooth decay. Whenever possible, avoid sugar. If you do consume something with high sugar content, drink water as you eat. We recommend limiting sugary drinks like soda, too. Drinking water while eating or drinking something sugary will help rinse away sugar particles. Avoid Acids Acid is very dangerous to your teeth because it can damage tooth enamel. Our tooth enamel is comprised of minerals. The mineral content of tooth enamel is what makes this protective barrier on the outside of our teeth so strong. Unfortunately, tooth enamel is not impervious to damage. Acid is dangerous because it strips away the mineral content of tooth enamel, thus weakening it. Acids can be found in many foods and drinks. Sometimes acid is naturally occurring, other times acid is used as a flavor enhancer and preservative. Common acidic foods and drinks include citrus fruits, soda, and alcoholic beverages. Staying Hydrated Water intake is very important to your oral health. Drinking water throughout the day will help rinse away food particles that harm teeth as well as dilute acids. Water’s neutral pH is also good for preventing an acidic environment in the oral cavity. Call us today to reserve a checkup with our dentist.
Establishing good oral health begins in childhood. Our family dentistry practice understands the unique health needs of children—especially the importance of detecting potential developmental problems early on and preventing common conditions like tooth decay. Our family-friendly practice takes an inviting and welcoming approach to treating children so that they can establish a positive relationship with our dentist and our staff. Detecting Congenital or Developmental Abnormalities Congenital and developmental abnormalities that affect the oral cavity and facial bones can have a lifelong impact if not addressed early on. Many conditions, with timely intervention, can be treated to maintain a beautiful aesthetic and comfortable oral function. Detecting issues such as improper tooth eruption, occlusal problems, and cleft palates is best done at an early age. This is because a child or adolescent’s facial bones and teeth are still developing. Manipulating the growth of bones and teeth is easier during development. To detect potential problems, we recommend that parents bring their children to our family dentistry practice for the first time around the age of one. This initial appointment involves a physical examination and questions about your family’s medical and oral health history. A child’s first visit is a great time for you to become acquainted with our team, too. By the age of four or five, your child should receive his or her first dental cleaning. With yearly appointments and cleanings, we can closely monitor your child’s oral health and development. If necessary, we can provide referrals to specialists for complex treatment. Preventing Tooth Decay One of the most common threats to your child’s oral health is tooth decay. In fact, tooth decay is so common that about 99% of the population will develop a cavity at one point in their lifetimes. Teeth cannot self-heal and therefore when damaged, a cavity will only deepen until it infects a tooth. Untreated tooth decay is very painful. We treat decay with restorations but we try to focus on preventing cavities all together. Prevention involves providing oral health education that teaches proper oral hygiene, thorough dental cleanings, and treatments such as fluoride varnishes and dental sealants. Call us today to reserve an appointment with our dentist.
Patients who are in need of dentures may have concerns that the appliances will not have a secure fit and will embarrassingly slide out of place. They may also fear that the dentures will shift in the mouth during chewing, making mealtime particularly difficult. Dental implants can give denture wearers more peace of mind, offering enhanced stability and security in comparison to conventional appliances. Because a strong bond forms between the jaw bone and the dental implants, implant dentures have a physical connection to the patient’s jaw that a standard denture lacks. Essentially, the dental implants replace the missing roots of the patient’s natural teeth. We typically take the roots of our teeth for granted, but they perform important functions. They anchor the jawbone and prevent it from eroding, which occurs after tooth loss if the roots are not replaced. Your teeth’s roots also absorb the strong forces that help you process crunchy foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables. Of course, implant dentures also have a comfortable, snug fit, and patients who choose this tooth replacement option don’t have to worry that their dentures will come loose at a most inopportune time. Furthermore, the fit of implant dentures won’t change over time, unlike conventional dentures, which don’t fit as well after the shape of the jaw evolves as it atrophies. Clearly, implant dentures outperform standard dentures in a variety of ways. In order to benefit from all of these advantages, patients do need to undergo a surgical procedure in order to place the dental implants, but the procedure is completed in a matter of hours. Patients are usually able to resume normal, non-vigorous activity within days of the surgery. If you worry that conventional dentures won’t measure up to your missing biological teeth, consider an implant-supported prosthetic as an alternative. Call our office to schedule an evaluation to determine whether this treatment option might be the best choice for you.
When planning for restorations for damaged teeth, such as dental crowns, patients have a number of concerns. For example, they may wonder how the crown will affect their chewing function, forcing them to give up their favorite foods. The good news is that dental crowns are quite strong and help to preserve the functionality of the biological tooth, including its ability to participate in chewing a variety of foods. Dental crowns are typically made of porcelain or ceramic materials, which may or may not be combined with metal to give the restoration additional strength. Furthermore, after the dentist bonds the crown to your biological tooth, that also makes it heartier and able to withstand normal chewing forces, within reason. Of course, dental crowns are not indestructible. Patients should use common sense. If you attempt to chew anything that could harm your natural tooth, it has the potential to damage a dental crown, as well. Your dentist will give you more detailed instructions on limitations of your new dental crown, as well as information on oral hygiene necessary to keep the crown in good condition. In addition to being rather strong, dental crowns come with a quick treatment timeline. After an initial consultation in which all necessary data is collected, that information is then forwarded to the dental lab that will design and create the crown. That process takes a few weeks. When the crown is ready, the patient returns to the office to have the crown bonded in the tooth. While you are waiting for the permanent crown, you may be fitted with a temporary restoration that is not as durable as the permanent crown. You should be able to eat nearly all foods after you get a dental crown, although your provider may give you some specific restrictions to protect the longevity of the restoration. Be sure that you understand the directions for caring for your dental crown, including what you can eat and what you should avoid. If you have any questions about the maintenance of your dental crown, don’t hesitate to ask one of our knowledgeable staff members. Contact our office today to schedule a consultation!
If you’re dissatisfied with the appearance of your smile, a cosmetic dentist can help you address virtually any aesthetic flaws. Whether you suffer from crooked, stained or damaged teeth, our practice can improve on your pearly whites. Many of the treatments offered by your cosmetic dentist require a minimal investment of time on your part, as well. You can dramatically change your smile’s appearance in a matter of weeks, sometimes in a matter of days. Furthermore, these interventions result in minimal, if any, discomfort. Here are just a few of the interventions that a cosmetic dentist might use to enhance your smile: Composite fillings: Dark amalgam (metal) fillings can significantly detract from your smile, but they can easily be removed and replaced with tooth-colored composite fillings. The materials used today are even strong enough that they can often be suitable to restore cavities on the large chewing surfaces of the rear teeth, which typically were addressed with amalgam fillings in the past. Teeth whitening treatments: Dingy teeth are certainly a drag. Whether your teeth are discolored due to staining, aging or some other factor, teeth whitening treatments can brighten your teeth by as many as 8-10 shades. Furthermore, these treatments can be completed at your convenience in the comfort of your own home, and they’re much more effective than over-the-counter options available in your local drug store. Porcelain veneers: These handy devices are the best multi-use tool that your dentist provides. They can conceal chips, cracks and deep stains that don’t respond to teeth whitening. They can also be used to create the appearance of proper alignment of slightly crooked teeth or to make an undersized tooth look proportionate with the rest of the smile. Porcelain crowns: When a tooth needs more extensive restoration than can be addressed with a filling or veneers, a porcelain crown may be a suitable treatment. As with porcelain veneers, the material looks quite realistic and can be very strong when bonded to the tooth. Don’t suffer with a less-than-stellar smile. Schedule a consultation at our office to learn more about the cosmetic treatments that can help you get a mega-watt grin!
If you’ve already experienced one episode of gum disease, you face a much higher risk of developing this condition again in the future. Therefore, it’s essential that you follow the guidance of your dentist in regard to your home oral hygiene routine as well as follow-up professional care and monitoring. Periodontal treatment becomes necessary when the inflammation associated with gum diseases causes symptoms that need to be addressed, such as bleeding, swelling or redness of the gums, or in more advanced phases, gum recession and loosening of the teeth. That inflammation is caused by a buildup of oral bacteria. Therefore, if you can minimize the presence of those bacteria, you can reduce your risk of future bouts with gum disease that might warrant further periodontal treatment. Unsurprisingly, a solid daily oral hygiene regimen that includes brushing and flossing is the foundation of maintaining your oral health after receiving periodontal treatment. Be sure to brush twice each day for two minutes each session, using proper technique. Believe it or not if you brush too hard or too long, you may actually be doing more damage to your smile. Effective flossing is also a must to clean the spaces that your toothbrush can’t reach. You must also continue to follow up with your dentist after getting treatment for gum disease. It’s generally good practice to get an exam and professional cleaning every six months, whether you have a history of gum disease or not. If you do have a history of gum disease, your dentist may advise for more frequent cleanings to minimize bacteria and check-ins to monitor for signs of a recurrence. If you have already received one course of gum disease treatment, it’s important to maintain your oral health to make a recurrence less likely. Follow the guidelines offered by your providers, and speak with one of our knowledgeable professionals if you have any questions about your home oral care regimen or the professional care that you receive on an ongoing basis. We want to support you in your efforts to preserve a healthy, beautiful smile! Contact our office today!
Have you noticed white spots on your teeth or the teeth of your children? Do you wonder how they form? White spots can form for a number of reasons. Sometimes it is due to antibiotic use or exposure to too much fluoride. Moreover, a white spot also forms during the early stages of tooth decay. If you see a white spot, it is best to bring it up with our team at our family dentistry practice as soon as possible so that we determine its cause. While many white discolorations can be harmless, it is best to rule out tooth decay as a cause so that patients can get conservative treatment early on. How Antibiotics and Fluoride Can Discolor Teeth While fluoride is a great, natural way to strengthen teeth, too much fluoride exposure while a child’s teeth are developing can lead to white discoloration on teeth. White spots or striations caused by excessive fluoride exposure do not present oral health problems and are purely a cosmetic issue. Certain antibiotics used during pregnancy can affect the color of a child’s teeth—leading to white and light yellow stains. These stains are cosmetic in nature as well. Treating Tooth Decay When a cavity begins to form, it can appear like a white spot on the tooth’s crown. This spot will appear white because the cavity has formed beneath the enamel surface of teeth, which has been eroded by acid and bacteria that eat through the surfaces of teeth. Beneath tooth enamel is the dentin structure of teeth. Dentin is softer and will appear whiter because it is not exposed to staining agents like dark food and drinks until a tooth is permanently damaged. If the cavity progresses, it will eventually darken (and deepen). Cavities affect patients of all ages. Our dentist treats tooth decay with restorations like fillings. A filling is a small restoration that is placed over the cavity to protect the tooth from further external damage. Receiving a filling is minimally invasive and only requires a local anesthetic. Larger areas of decay may require more extensive restorations like crowns or inlays. Call our family dentistry practice today to schedule a checkup or cleaning.
Do you have severe tooth pain? Perhaps your discomfort is persistent and nagging. You might also experience sharp pains when you bite down on food. When a person experiences tooth pain, it should never be ignored. Dental discomfort is a sign that something is wrong and in the case of toothaches, it can signify the need for root canal therapy. When teeth are deeply affected by injury or caries, root canal therapy can literally save the tooth from needing to be surgically removed. Timely treatment for tooth pain is imperative to saving a tooth. Why Root Canal Therapy is Needed Sometimes a dental injury or cavity can reach the innermost structures of a tooth. Inside the tooth is the root canal, a chambered area that holds the nerve ending of the root system along with cellular matter called dental pulp. The root canal is normally protected against the debris and bacteria the float in the mouth. However, when a tooth is unhealthy, the root canal can become exposed to debris and bacteria. This exposure can infect the contents of the root canal, which will cause pain since nerve endings are involved. When the root canal is infected and if treatment is not received quickly enough, patients could risk losing their tooth because the infection can develop into an abscess. An abscess is an infection that affects the root system of a tooth and spreads to neighboring tissue like bone and gums. This infection can kill a tooth and affect the entire oral health system. What Root Canal Treatment Involves Root canal therapy is an endodontic treatment. This procedure involves accessing the root canal through the base of where a tooth is damaged or decayed. Using very tiny instruments, the root canal is opened and its infected contents are removed. Then, the root canal is cleaned and sealed to provide protection for the tooth. After treatment, the pain associated with an infected root canal will subside because the nerve endings are no longer there. Sometimes, a restoration like a dental crown or inlay is needed to protect the external structure of a tooth. Call us today to schedule a checkup with our dentist.
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