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…]

Going to the dentist is rarely anyone’s favorite thing to do. But like other doctors’ appointments, it helps things go smoothly if you are prepared for the appointment. There are several things you can do before and during your appointment that will help you have a successful dental visit.

Clean Your Mouth

Even if you will be getting a thorough dental cleaning while you are at your appointment, no one likes to deal with a dirty mouth. Brush your teeth and floss before going to your dental appointment. This is also important because if you aren’t doing a good job with oral hygiene, your dentist will be able to see that at your appointment and give you tips on how to improve. [Read more…]

When you have to have a tooth extracted, it can be a scary experience. It often helps dental anxiety if you are fully aware of what will happen during the procedure. There are actually three different types of extractions, and they are very different. Talk to your dentist about which method of extraction is best for you. In the meantime, here’s what you need to know.

Simple Extraction

A simple extraction is the most common. In a simple extraction, the area is numbed with a local anesthetic so that you feel little or no pain. You will feel some pressure as the dentist works to extract the tooth. Although extractions are often referred to as “pulling teeth,” the tooth is not actually pulled. Instead, it is pushed down into the gum until the root breaks free of the jaw. Then, it is easily removed. Simple extractions are usually performed when a partial extraction is not appropriate and there are no complications. [Read more…]

Although no one wants to go through it themselves, tooth extractions are sometimes necessary. There are some important things that you should know about tooth extractions before you head to the dentist. Being prepared for the experience will make it much more easily endured.

Types of Extractions

There are two main types of extractions. A simple extraction is where the dentist will remove the tooth using local anesthetic. You shouldn’t feel any pain during the procedure, but you will feel quite a bit of pressure as the tooth is worked back and forth and loosened in the socket. The other type of extraction is a surgical extraction. This may also be done with local anesthetic, or it may be done with general anesthesia. A surgical extraction is usually handled by an oral surgeon, and it requires cutting out the tooth. [Read more…]

Many dental implant patients are turned away by other providers because they have bone loss. Without the appropriate bone density to anchor from, implants become impossible. There are a few common reasons for bone loss in the jaw that can make implants difficult. Yet even if you have some bone loss, it is still quite possible to get implants.

Causes of Bone Loss

There are two primary causes of bone loss. The first is periodontal disease. Periodontal disease begins in the gums, but can eventually eat away at the bone under the tooth as well. The other common cause of bone loss is a missing tooth. Once a tooth has been extracted, if no replacement is made, the bone under the extracted tooth will wear down and diminish. [Read more…]

In some cases, you may be prescribed antibiotics before dental work. This practice is not as common as it once was, but it is still an important treatment factor for many patients. Antibiotics treat bacterial infections, and bacterial infections in the mouth can cause several issues for patients as the infection can travel. Infections in the mouth can also make dental work more painful.

Heart Conditions

It used to be recommended that anyone with a heart condition take antibiotics before dental treatment. However, this practice has seen a decline as it has been found that antibiotics before dental work does not significantly limit risk of infection traveling to the heart. Some people with certain heart conditions, such as valve replacements, may still need antibiotics before dental treatment.

Lowered Immune System

People who have a lowered immune system are often prescribed antibiotics before dental treatment. If your immune system is weakened, infection can travel more easily from the mouth to other areas of the body, particularly when that bacteria is released by dental work. People with compromised immune systems include people with diabetes, cancer patients, and those who take steroids. [Read more…]

Dental anxiety is highly common among dental patients. If you have dental anxiety, there is no shame in it. It is important that you do not let dental anxiety stop you from getting the oral health treatment you need. Here are the top three ways to alleviate dental anxiety.

Talk to Your Dentist

It is important that you talk to your dentist about your anxiety before you undergo any procedures. Being up front and honest with your dentist will help them to better accommodate you. Your dentist will have additional methods of coping with your dental anxiety, and if it is too troublesome for you they may have pharmaceutical means of keeping you calm through the procedure.

Music

Often, music is a great way to relieve dental anxiety. You can create a playlist of your favorite songs and listen to it through ear buds while the dentist is doing their work. Earbuds, particularly air buds, do not interfere with the work your dentist needs to do on your mouth. Turn up the music as loud as you need to drown out the sound of the tools, and focus your attention on the lyrics and the way the music makes you feel. [Read more…]

Teeth grinding is a big problem for some people. You may only grind your teeth in your sleep, or you may grind your teeth throughout the day. Teeth grinding is usually a sign of not being relaxed before you go to bed. It can also be a sign of high anxiety during the day. Sometimes, it is simply a bad habit that needs to be broken. Here are some tips for the best solutions for teeth grinding.

Learn to Relax

Relaxing before bed can help stop nighttime teeth grinding. Take a warm bath just before retiring for the night. Give yourself a massage as you get in bed. You can also use relaxation techniques such as meditation as you go to sleep to help you let go of the stresses of the day. Using relaxation techniques throughout the day will also help both daytime and nighttime teeth grinding.

Seek Help

If you are highly anxious and this is one of the main causes of your teeth grinding, you should seek professional help. Anxiety can be a serious and debilitating condition, and it is likely affecting your life in ways other than your dental health. Seek out a therapist or psychiatrist if you have frequent high anxiety. [Read more…]

Most health insurance policies provide medical care separately from dental care, a pattern than makes no sense! Oral health and overall health are closely interconnected, and when one suffers, the other also suffers as a result.

Dental Health and the Heart

Inflammation links poor oral health and heart problems. The gums inside of the mouth are vascular, which means they are full of blood vessels, while the mouth itself is filled with bacteria. When unhealthy gums become inflamed, the bacteria in the mouth can seep into the bloodstream and travel anywhere within the body, creating more inflammation as they go. This is incredible dangerous, especially to the heart.

Inflammation causes hardened arteries and makes it difficult for blood to flow to the heart. This severely increases your risk for heart attack and stroke. When the inflammation of atherosclerosis combines with the inflammation and roaming bacteria caused by poor oral hygiene and gum disease, the results can be fatal. [Read more…]