Dental Insurance, Plans, and Products

Renew Your Smile With Dental Crowns or Veneers

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Whether you’re looking to correct a few natural flaws, or need to reverse years of neglect to your teeth, modern dentists can do amazing things with porcelain and resin. You may consider dental crowns or veneers to help with aesthetic issues, structural problems, or both. Your dentist can help you decide if you might benefit from veneers or crowns, but here are a few points to consider before heading in for a consultation.

Veneers cover only the front surface and biting edge of the tooth. They are typically very thin- the thickness of a fingernail or less- and made of porcelain or resin. Veneers are ideal for those with structurally healthy teeth who wish to solve visual issues such as crowding, gaps, stains and chips. Each set of veneers is custom- made and color matched to the wearer for as natural a result as possible. Having veneers applied is a fairly non-invasive procedure requiring just a few trips to the dentist. Resin veneers can often be completed in one visit, while porcelain veneers will need two visits; one for taking molds of the teeth, and then a second visit to apply the veneers after they have been created. Before cementing in the new veneers, your dentist will shave or buff a small layer of enamel of off your teeth to make room for the added thickness. It may take a few weeks to get used to the new shape and/or size of your teeth, but make sure to brush and floss just as you would your regular teeth.

Dental Crowns cover the entirety of the tooth right down to the gum line, and in some cases even go below the gum line. Crowns are considered more appropriate when there is substantial structural damage to the teeth due to decay, injury, or wear. Crowns are sometimes needed after a large filling, to help the weakened tooth keep its shape and strength. Occasionally, a root canal can result in a weaker, more brittle tooth, and your dentist may recommend a crown after this procedure. Having crowns put on can be a more involved process than having veneers applied, depending on the reason you need the crowns. Generally they will require at least two dental visits; at the first, your dentist will take many impressions of your teeth to make sure your new crowns are a perfect fit for your mouth. Then, depending on the reason for the crowns, your teeth will either be drilled/filed down to make room for the crowns or built up to support them. You’ll get temporary crowns at this visit until your permanent ones are ready. At the next visit, the temporary crowns will be removed and the permanent ones will be cemented in to place with extremely strong dental glue. How well you take care of your teeth will have a large impact on how long your crowns last, but they have been known to stay in place for anywhere from 10-20 years.

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Source by Karina Wisekopf

How To Ease Tooth Pain Until You Can Get Into The Dentist

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Toothaches can be one of the most irritating things because of how much pain it can cause, it is almost enough to drive you crazy. The worst part about a really bad toothache is the constant throbbing that never seems to go away. It seems like every time you breathe or move the pain intensifies, no matter how hard you try to avoid the tooth that hurts. Majority of the time this pain is caused by a cavity, but sometimes that pain can be caused from an abscess tooth or an injury to the mouth.

The only way to fix any of those problems is to go into the dentist, but even the best dentist might not be able to see you immediately. With a toothache sometimes even having to wait a day to get into your dentist can seem like forever. The good news is there are quite a few things you can try to help ease the pain until you can get into the dentist.

Tip one:

Try gently removing any food particles from the tooth with your toothbrush or dental floss. Afterwards swish some warm salt water around in your mouth to help ease the pain and to make sure that all of the food particles have been removed. The good thing with the warm salt water is it can be done as often as necessary.

Tip two:

When you are eating try to avoid chewing on that side of your mouth. Also try to stay away from foods that are very hot or very cold as this could cause the tooth to hurt even more. Also sticking with soft foods will help to avoid putting pressure on the tooth. Be sure to gently brush your teeth after eating to avoid having food particles stuck in the tooth.

Tip three:

Try putting a cotton ball soaked in clove oil directly on the tooth. Clove oil has soothing and infection-fighting properties that might help to relieve the pain. If this makes your tooth ache worse immediately remove the cotton ball and rinse your mouth really good with warm salt water.

Tip four:

You can also try placing a tea bag between the infected tooth and your cheek or holding the tea bag gently between your teeth.

Tip five:

A tried and true method is using an ice pack. You can use frozen vegetables in a bag, a zip lock sandwich bag with a few ice cubes, or a regular ice pack to help provide relief. Simply hold the ice pack on the outside of the cheek closest to the tooth that hurts.

Tip six:

You can also use over the counter topical medications that contain numbing medications. The medication used to numb the tooth can be lidocaine or benzocaine. Orajel is an over the counter product that you apply directly to the tooth and it usually provides instant relief.

Tip seven:

You can also take over the counter pain relievers such as aspirin, Tylenol, and ibuprofen. Ibuprofen is probably the best choice because it contains an anti-inflammatory that will reduce any swelling in your gums, as well as provide pain relief. Some people might recommend that you chew the pain relievers or rub it on your gums, but do not do this as it can cause new or further injury to the gums.

Tip eight:

If the pain does not get better or just continues to get worse you can go to the nearest emergency room to get prescription painkillers.

Regardless of what method or methods you use to help relieve the pain you need to get into the dentist as soon as possible. Remember when going to see the dentist be sure to tell him about anything you did to help relieve the pain.

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Source by Dr. Scott Watkins

Children’s Teeth – How Being Educated About Your Child’s Teeth Can Save You Thousands of Dollars

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As a dentist and a mother of two little boys, I am constantly bombarded with questions from parents about their children’s teeth. There seems to be a huge lack of compiled information on the subject. While I have seen plenty of information for parents and caregivers on cord care, rashes and behavioral techniques, I have yet to see a comprehensive guide on the development and care of children’s teeth. And, unfortunately, your children’s teeth are a huge part of their childhood and will have an enormous impact on their adult lives. Misinformation or lack of knowledge can cause frustrating experiences during these critical times. It can make parents feel unsure of what to do when there dentist suggests certain treatment or diagnosis. It can also just leave parents feeling confused or unsure of curious dental questions which always seem to arise through the child’s growing years.

Infants begin the process of teething around 3-4 months old, until the first tooth makes its appearance around 6-7 months old. This long and sometimes tumultuous process will lay the foundation for many years to come. Did you know that babies are not born with the bacteria that cause cavities? Did you know that when we kiss and coo near our babies mouths that we introduce cavity causing bacteria to them, exposing them to possible tooth decay? By keeping those slobbery but wonderful kisses to a minimum, we may be able to delay tooth decay much longer in our kids.

Have you ever heard the popular myth, “Baby teeth can’t be important, they are just going to fall out anyway?” This all too popular belief among the dentally unaware is a huge cause for the many preventable dental problems with children’s teeth today. Baby teeth are extremely important to tooth position of the permanent teeth and can also play a large role in the future facial appearance of a child. They may determine whether or not a child will need braces or head-gear. Early orthodontic planning and treatment can save parents thousands of dollars later.

And, for those parents who cannot afford braces, early dental evaluation could yield less expensive solutions just by using alternative treatment while in the baby teeth years. This early intervention could save your child from being embarrassed of their smile as or wear braces as an adult. So how early should children’s teeth be placed in braces? Well, there are a multitude of factors to be considered and all are dependent on the dental situation as a child. After years of research, we now know that once children reach the age of puberty, conservative orthodontics is much more difficult. So, it is not uncommon or outrageous to evaluate and start simple orthodontic care as early as age 7, to help avoid more extensive orthodontics later.

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Source by Dr. Jamie L Brown

Dental Implants – Types and Procedures

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It is now much easier to get implants to replace lost teeth or veneers to change the surface appearance of teeth thanks to recent changes in cosmetic dentistry.

Differences between cosmetic and general dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry is when a person opts to have the look of their teeth altered to improve their smile and general appearance. Although the American Dental Association does not regard cosmetic dentistry as a specialty, the procedures can produce dramatic results. Restorative dentistry is used when a person loses, chips, or breaks teeth due to trauma, cavities and tooth decay or other natural reasons.

However, before undergoing any cosmetic dentistry treatment, an individual should know first the risks and advantages in addition to what to expect during and after the procedure. It is also important to know the credibility of your dentist to perform cosmetic dentistry treatment, how much the procedure will cost, and if there are any special maintenance required after the treatment.

Dental Implants

At one time, if a person lost a tooth due to trauma, old age, or any other cause, that space in the mouth was either left blank or a denture or false tooth was put in its place. Times have changed.

Dental implants involve placing a metal rod at the jawline and putting a molded artificial tooth or crown where the former tooth was. Because the implant is fused with existing teeth, it should last a lifetime and keep your gumline healthy.

Requirements for dental implant patients

You need to have healthy gums and strong bone as the basis for the implant or dental crown. These implants have the look and feel of regular teeth and can be used to chew food or do anything that regular teeth would do.

The health condition of the patient, the condition of the gum tissues and jaws, and the size, shape, and position of the jaw bones are important considerations before doing any implant procedures. Individuals with poor dental hygiene, diabetics, and those who smoke heavily are discouraged to have implants due to higher risk of gum disease and infection.

Dental implant failure is also increased especially for people who suffer diseases of the bones like osteoporosis and for people who have been taking steroids for a long time.

What are dental implants made of?

There are three parts of a dental implant: titanium metal that is fixed to the jawbone, an abutment or post that is fitted over the part of the implant that juts out from the gums, and a crown to provide a natural-looking appearance to the implanted tooth/teeth.

The lower part of the implant is often a titanium rod that is fused to your existing jawline. Crowns are typically made of a composite resin in a whitish tooth color. In some cases the dentist may use a porcelain tooth, but it is not considered as durable for a lifetime of grinding and chewing.

The procedure for implants

Your dentist will take molds of your existing teeth and make a crown that is shaped to replace the former tooth. He or she will also choose a shade of white that is close to the shade of your existing teeth for the visible part. In this way the new tooth blends in with your other teeth and looks natural.

Two types of dental implants

The first type of implants is called Endosteal implants which are implanted directly into the jawbone through surgical procedure. Once the healing has been completed on the surrounding tissue, another surgery is required to post is connected to the first implant. The last step is attaching the artificial tooth or teeth one by one or as a group (such as a bridge or denture) to the post.

The second type is Subperiosteal implants which are made of metal frame implanted in the jawbone below the gum tissue. The metal frame will become fixed in the jawbone as the gum tissue heals. The posts that are attached to the metal frame stick out of the gums for mounting of the artificial teeth.

How long does the procedure take?

It takes several months to heal from a dental implant. If your dentist is removing a tooth that will be replaced by an implant, that will be pulled on the first day. Then the dentist places the implant anchor for the new tooth. This implant will take 3-9 months to heal, but through a process called osseointegration the titanium rod will bond with your existing jawline.

Your dentist may give you a temporary crown while the healing is taking place and in some cases your dentist will place the crown on the same day. The mold for your new tooth takes a few hours or a few days to come back to the office, so you will most likely make a second visit.

The success or failure of dental implant procedure will depend on the individual’s health, the drugs that will be used to speed up osseointegration, and the health of the gum tissues. Healthy bones and gum tissues contribute greatly to the long-term success of this cosmetic dentistry procedure.

Implant side effects

Patients usually experience some pain and bleeding at the implant site. On rare occasions an infection can occur after the implant is placed. It is important to brush and floss your teeth daily to prevent this from occurring. Many dentists discourage smokers from getting the procedure done, due to relatively higher rates of infection.

Dental Implant complications

Several risks related to having dental implants are divided into three parts: first, during the surgical procedure when there is nerve injury or too much bleeding; second, during the first six months after the surgery when osseointegration fails or infection sets in; and third, long-term occurrence such as mechanical malfunction or peri-implantitis (inflammation of the tissues surrounding the dental implants).

Summary:

Implants are a long-term solution to replace missing teeth and among one of the expensive cosmetic dentistry treatments. They are titanium artificial tooth root replacements that are inserted into the bone sockets of the missing teeth and are good alternative to bridges and removable dentures. They are surgically implanted into the jawbone by an oral or maxillofacial surgeon. If bone loss occurred due to periodontal disease, the surgeon will probably have to graft a bone first to secure the implant.

The condition of your teeth and the expected result that you want will determine which cosmetic dentistry procedure is right for you. Your dentist can answer any questions for you like what to expect through the course of treatment, what changes will look like, and what type of maintenance is required if there are any.

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Source by Joe R. Stewart

What Cosmetic Dentists Can Do for You

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While beauty may only be skin-deep, it is considered as a valuable investment – especially in certain fields, like acting and modeling. Not all people are born to be naturally beautiful, and for this reason, some choose to enhance their best features to strive for perfection. One such feature could be a person’s smile. A smile can look more attractive with perfect teeth and prominent jaw line. This can be enhanced with the help of cosmetic dentistry, a field in which dentists use a range of cosmetic dental procedures.

Cosmetic dentists are far more advanced than regular dentists. Just like regular dentists, they are familiar with dentures, dental crowns, dental bridges and dental implants, but they are more advanced in the sense that they are experts in procedures such as restorative dentistry, teeth straightening, teeth whitening, cosmetic and surgical teeth bleaching, applying porcelain veneers and bonding techniques. Patients can consult a cosmetic dentist as to what type of dental treatment they want to undergo.

As a permanent solution to replace few or a mouthful of missing teeth, cosmetic dentists offer dental implants and dentures. The costs involved depend on the type of materials used in making the implants, the laboratory where these are made, plus the experience of the dentist. Usually, cosmetic dentists may charge more than regular dentists to perform such tasks. However, when it comes to problems involving multiple dental implants, cosmetic dentists are more capable of coming up with a better solution. When you choose a cosmetic dentist, you could save on both time and money than what you will spend when you make several tips to a regular dentist until the procedure is complete.

Cosmetic dentists offer a number of remarkable procedures to straighten uneven or crooked teeth. The teeth of an adult can be straightened by means of an orthodontic method of treatment called Invisalign. This is done by fitting teeth individually with brackets made of clear, transparent material, as opposed to the traditional metal material. Using different sets of aligners for a couple of months could correct the teeth little by little, giving an ideal position. Porcelain veneers can also be used as another alternative, which is a simpler way to straighten teeth and create a perfect smile.

Most patients go to cosmetic dentists for teeth whitening. Needless to say, white teeth are an easy way to get a perfect smile. In the process of teeth whitening, the dentist bleaches the teeth until their natural color surfaces. Cosmetic dentists are experts in this field of work and can be consulted for issues regarding a person’s teeth and smile. This service should be affordable to many, as painless as much as possible, and helpful in enhancing your smile.

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Source by Matt McWilliam