Everyone is concerned about the coronavirus pandemic, and it is important to take precautions to protect yourself, your family, and others. Postponing unnecessary appointments to stay home as much as possible is wise. But if you really need dental care, it is considered essential. While you are at your appointment, you should consider these safety measures.

Wearing Masks

The city of Largo and the county of Pinellas both have mask orders in place. You must wear a face covering when you are in an indoor setting. You should have a mask on when you enter our office and keep it on until the dentist needs access to your mouth. Our staff will also be wearing masks, including during your procedure.  [Read more…]

Although our office is open, we are trying to limit the number of patients that we come into contact with for everyone’s safety. When patients do come to our office, we are working hard to maintain social distancing and sterilization procedures. Even if you have an urgent dental need, we may not be able to get you in for an appointment right away. And if you have symptoms or potential exposure to COVID-19, you won’t be able to keep your appointment.

But what if you’re in pain, uncomfortable, and having difficulty eating? What are you supposed to do? There are some home treatments that can be beneficial in reducing pain and inflammation until you can get into the dentist.  [Read more…]

Did you know that dry mouth is more than an inconvenience? Chronic dry mouth can actually lead to a deterioration of your oral and overall general health. It is important to recognize the symptoms of dry mouth early and to take measures to correct the problem quickly. Allowing dry mouth to continue unchecked can lead to dental problems as well as issues with your overall health.

There are several different reasons that you might have dry mouth. Most commonly, dry mouth is caused by excessive smoking, alcohol use, or some prescription or over the counter medications. The treatment that is appropriate for your dry mouth will depend on what is causing the dry mouth in the first place. [Read more…]

There is no doubt that diabetes affects many different areas of your health, but most people don’t think about its effect on oral health. In fact, diabetes can cause a host of oral health issues, some of which can be treated at home and some that need to be addressed by a dentist. Here’s what you need to know.

Why Diabetes Impacts Oral Health

When a patient has diabetes, it means that their body cannot regulate its own blood sugar. When blood sugar levels are high, it can cause a lot of other problems. One of these is that your white cell count will decrease dramatically. White cells are responsible for fighting off bacterial infections, which is the most common cause of tooth and jaw pain. [Read more…]

Dental problems are no party for anyone, and they can be expensive to correct. Often, people tend to get extractions as a quick and inexpensive fix for decaying or broken teeth. While this serves many purposes, it can also affect many things in your life. Here are just a few ways that having missing teeth can affect your career.

In-Person Interviews

If you are interviewing for a new position in a new company, an internship, or an institution of higher learning, first impressions are everything. You need to be able to appear professional and well-kempt. You will, of course, dress in your business best, likely a suit or dress. You will spend time agonizing over your morning ritual trying to make sure that you appear the part that you are trying to play.  [Read more…]

It’s the end of the year, and that means you have a lot on your plate. You are probably swamped at work, you are busy for the holidays, and you have personal business matters to attend to. Yet there is one task that you have probably forgotten—scheduling your annual teeth cleaning and exam. Now is the time to make your appointment. Here’s why you need to take this important step.

An Ounce of Prevention

You should get a cleaning and dental exam at least once per year, if not every six months. This annual checkup is important because it helps you prevent gum disease and tooth decay. No matter how well you think you are taking care of your mouth, your dentist can get your teeth and gums much cleaner in their office. This helps prevent problems that could be painful and costly. [Read more…]

The holidays are a joyous time of family, friends, and good food. Comfort food is the theme when it comes to the holidays, especially sugary treats that you don’t get year-round. Yet when you are eating these high-calorie, sugar-filled foods, you need to be aware of what they are doing to your body. Not only can eating too much of these foods cause you to gain weight, it could damage your teeth. Here are some ways that you can protect your teeth this holiday season.

Everything in Moderation

It is important that you don’t go overboard with the sweet treats and other foods that cause plaque and tartar buildup. Enjoy all of the treats that are made for you, but do so in moderation. Make sure that after you eat these sweets that you drink a glass of water to rinse the sugar away from your mouth. Letting sugar sit on your teeth will cause cavities. [Read more…]

Having healthy gums is very important. If you develop gum disease, you could eventually lose teeth and even lose bone density in your jaw. Unhealthy gums pull away from the teeth, causing them to become loose and possibly fall out. Periodontal disease, or advanced gum disease, attacks the bone beneath the gum and can make treatment difficult.

The best way to avoid these problems is to have good gum hygiene. With good gum hygiene as part of your regular oral health routine, you will be able to keep healthy teeth and a healthy body. Here are three things to keep in mind.

Brush Properly

Most people do not know how to brush their teeth properly. You should brush every surface of your teeth, including the front, back, and chewing surface, but it is also important to brush your gums. Your gums should get the same attention as your teeth, and you should be brushing down away from the gum to pull out food and bacteria from between the gum and teeth. [Read more…]

You know that missing teeth affect your appearance, and they might make you feel very self-conscious. But there are many other important reasons to replace missing teeth. Having missing teeth actually affects your overall oral, physical, and mental health. 

Oral Health

When you have missing teeth, the gum beneath and around the missing tooth begins to recede, and the bone of the jaw where the tooth is missing begins to wear away. With the bone wearing away and the gums receding, teeth on either side of the missing tooth will eventually become loosened and decayed, and they, too, will have to be removed. This is a slippery slope.  [Read more…]

One of the most frustrating things about dental care can be the cost. When you have dental problems or missing teeth, it can seem nearly impossible to afford the dental work you need to be healthy and whole. Luckily, there are some new options that can help you take care of your dental needs without spending the rent money. Care Credit is one of the best options to help you pay for your necessary dental work.

How It Works

Care Credit is an independent program that offers you a credit card that can be used to pay for medical, dental, and vision needs. It has a traditionally low interest rate, depending on credit approval. You can use the Care Credit card at participating locations, in which we are included. You then make reasonable monthly payments until you have completely paid for your procedure. [Read more…]