Discovering the real reason for bleeding gums at the dentist can help you get rid of the problem for good.
Bleeding Gums at the Dentist: Is it Normal?
Special dental tools are necessary to remove tough tartar and stain deposits on teeth. As a result of using them in a tiny space like your mouth, the dentist or hygienist can accidentally nick your gums and cause a little bleeding. But usually, this is a rare occurrence.
How much your gums bleed can also depend on the kind of procedure you have done. A simple cleaning shouldn’t ever cause much bleeding.
You should know, however, that bleeding is neither common nor normal in basic and preventative dental treatment. If your gums bleed a lot during every routine visit, then it likely indicates a bigger underlying problem that may require periodontal treatment.
What Makes Gums Bleed
Your gum tissue is filled with tiny blood vessels. These vessels will swell and the skin over them thin out as the gums become inflamed. This makes infected gums bleed very easily when bumped…whether it’s with a dental tool, or just flossing.
Healthy gums shouldn’t bleed at all when they’re bumped during a routine exam or dental cleaning. But gums inflamed by gingivitis are very prone to heavy bleeding. It’s not your dentist’s fault after all!
Prevent Bleeding Gums at the Dentist
You can soothe inflammation in your gums by stepping up your oral hygiene routine. Brushing at least twice daily with the proper technique can prevent gingivitis. Brushing should be accompanied by daily flossing and the use of dental products that slow down the growth of infection-causing plaque.
If bleeding gums are an issue for you, ask your dentist for oral hygiene tips that will bring down the inflammation.
Posted on behalf of:
ConfiDenT
11550 Webb Bridge Way, Suite 1
Alpharetta, GA 30005
(770) 772-0994
If you’ve never had a dental crown or implant, then it can be easy to get the two mixed up. Crowns and implants are both beautiful restorative treatments, but they do have several major differences.
The Difference Between Dental Crowns and Implants
A crown is a short hollow shell that fits right over a trimmed tooth. Crowns are a replacement for the decayed or cracked outer layer of a tooth and keep it strong and healthy. Crowns are usually made from a tooth-colored material like ceramic.
Dental implants, on the other hand, are metal screws that replace missing teeth. An implant goes in the space where a tooth used to be and acts just like a natural tooth root.
Replace Lost Teeth with a Crown or Implant
Although crowns and implants are two different things, they can both serve as replacements for missing teeth. This is why there may be some confusion about how implants and crowns are different.
Implants can fill-in for missing teeth. Three or more crowns linked together as a dental bridge can also fill in a gap. The difference here is that the implant is a standalone restoration while the bridge spans the gap by anchoring crowns to the neighboring teeth.
Dental Implants and Crowns Working Together
Getting an implant almost always includes a dental crown?
The implant itself is just a small screw in the bone. It needs to be capped by some sort of restoration in order to function as a complete tooth. Most of the time, implants are topped with dental crowns.
Do you have some teeth in need of restoration or replacement? Contact a restorative dentist to discuss the best options for your smile.
Posted on behalf of:
Smile Design Studios
6130 Highway 6
Missouri City, TX 77459
(281) 969-7388
Wouldn’t it be cheaper to just get dentures and be done with expensive dental work for good?
Before you make any drastic decisions, make sure you know exactly what dentures will cost you when it’s all said and done.
How Much Dentures Cost
A good quality denture that looks natural and feels comfortable can cost around an average of $2,000, depending on where you live. That’s just for one plate. You may pay twice that amount to wear both an upper and lower denture.
Having dental insurance or a financing plan can make dentures more affordable. Even so, you might suffer a bit of sticker shock when you find out how much a new denture could cost up front.
Other Costs Associated with Dentures
In addition to the denture itself, you’ll also need to pay for various diagnostics, temporary prosthetics, and all services related to extracting any remaining teeth. These can then add up to the overall cost of your denture planning.
Extracting all of your teeth in favor of getting dentures might not be the cheapest option, after all.
Lifetime Denture Maintenance
Having dentures doesn’t free you from your daily oral care routine. If anything, you may have to spend more time each day on cleaning your denture than you now do on brushing and flossing. Good denture care is essential to preventing infections and bad breath.
Dentures also negatively impact the way you taste and chew foods, and the way you speak.
Are you ready to make all of these sacrifices when your natural teeth could be preserved after all?
Dentures may be the best solution for some people but that doesn’t make them an immediate go-to for someone with dental problems. Ask your dentist about the healthiest and most cost-effective treatment options available for you.
Posted on behalf of:
Laguna West Dental Care
9098 Laguna Main St Ste 8
Elk Grove, CA 95758
(916) 683-7300
No matter what it’s made of, a dental cap will make your damaged tooth look and feel better. All crowns protect and strengthen compromised teeth. Does it matter, then, which kind you get?
Here are the main types of dental crowns that you can choose from.
Metal Crowns
Silver-colored crowns are the cheapest in comparison with other kinds. They’re ideal for kids whose smiles haven’t fully developed, or for temporary purposes while adults wait for their permanent new crown. The drawback to metal caps is that you could have an allergy to one of the metals used in them. Also, they’re highly visible so they don’t look great when you smile.
Gold Crowns
Gold is the best kind of crown if you want something that will last for many years. It’s compatible with your body and gentle on teeth. Like other metal crowns, however, it’s quite noticeable on front teeth. They’re ideal for teeth further back in the mouth that have to withstand a lot of pressure from chewing.
Porcelain or Ceramic Crowns
Tooth-colored caps made from porcelain or ceramic are the best kind of dental crowns for creating the most natural look. These crowns make it easy for your dentist to monitor the health of your capped teeth since they don’t contain metal which obscures the view on x-rays.
Combination Crowns
The strength of a metal crown meets the beauty of a porcelain cap in a combination crown. These are beneficial for when you want the best of both options.
Zirconia Crowns
Zirconia is a material that looks like ceramic but has some trace metal elements that make it extremely durable. Zirconia crowns are best for teeth that suffer a lot of wear from teeth grinding.
Visit a restorative dentist to find out which kind of crown is best for you.
Posted on behalf of:
West Hill Family Dental
132 New Britain Avenue
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
(860) 563-3303
You know what dental fillings are but somehow, they’re still a mystery to you because you’ve never had one! Clear up the confusion with these answers to six of the biggest questions about fillings.
Dental fillings replace tooth material that’s been lost to cavities. This reinforces the tooth and prevents the cavity from turning into an abscess or infecting other teeth.
Tooth decay can hurt, but getting a filling doesn’t have to. The dentist will ensure that your tooth is numb before starting to drill. You won’t feel anything more than a little pressure.
The cost of a filling depends on where you get it, which tooth needs the filling, how big the cavity is, and which material your filling is made of. You may have dental insurance that covers the entire cost of a filling. Ultimately, getting your tooth filled is cheaper than waiting too long and having a root canal or extraction.
Dental fillings typically last five to ten years. It all depends on how strong the surrounding tooth is and how well you take care of your fillings.
Dental restorations are made from a variety of materials including: silver amalgam, gold, ceramic, porcelain, glass, and plastic blends.
As long as you opt for a composite filling made from a tooth-colored filling material, no one will ever know it’s there!
Would you like to learn more about fillings? For the answers to your other questions about restorative dentistry, contact a dentist near you.
Posted on behalf of:
Riverwood Dental
3350 Riverwood Pkwy #2120
Atlanta GA 30339
(770) 955-2505
You don’t need a special reason to show off your smile with confidence. But your wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event that will be memorialized for decades to come in photos and videos. You want to look especially good on your very special day!
Here are a few ways you can make your smile look younger, healthier, and brighter in time for your wedding day. At least a couple of these solutions are guaranteed to work with any budget and schedule.
You can’t go wrong with teeth bleaching. A professional teeth whitening treatment will take years off your smile in a single appointment and saves you the risk and hassle of experimenting with at-home teeth whitening.
A small patch or two of tooth-colored filling material can completely transform your smile in minutes. Dental bonding is an instant fix for minor smile imperfections like chipped and unevenly-spaced teeth.
If you have the month to schedule a few appointments for veneers, go for it! Veneers completely cover the fronts of your upper front teeth to give you a permanently beautiful and uniform smile.
Dying to close up that gap between your front teeth before your wedding? You may qualify for a problem-focused short-term braces treatment.
Caps are the classic solution for enhancing smiles and have the added advantage of restoring damaged teeth.
Make time to visit a cosmetic dentist several months to a few weeks before your big day. You’ll get more recommendations for fast and affordable treatments that will give you the smile of your dreams just in time for the wedding of your dreams!
Posted on behalf of:
Wayne G. Suway, DDS, MAGD
1820 The Exchange SE #600
Atlanta, GA 30339
(770) 953-1752
“Bruxism” is the medical term for teeth grinding, which often happens at night. It is a subconscious habit that both kids and adults can suffer from. Here’s what you as a parent need to know about bruxism habits observed in your children:
Bruxism Is a Common Childhood Problem
As many as 3 out of every 10 kids will go through a bruxism phase. If your child grinds his or her teeth, rest assured that this is not an unusual problem. Let your child’s dentist know about the habit so that they can monitor their teeth for signs of trouble.
Bruxism Can Have Many Unknown Causes
No one really knows exactly why kids grind their teeth, but they don’t do it on purpose; it usually happens in their sleep. The habit may be caused by different factors such as:
Try to communicate with your child to find out if there is some stressful anxiety or conflict that could be behind their teeth grinding habit.
Most Kids Grow Out of Bruxism
Most kids only brux temporarily and the habit stops on its own before it can cause too much damage. You should still seek professional help from a dentist to monitor and treat the problem. This will mitigate any negative effects for as long as the problem persists. Your dentist can fit your child with a custom dental nightguard to protect your child’s teeth from damage due to teeth grinding.
Signs Your Child Has a Serious Bruxism Problem
Many kids experience a brief bruxism phase and have no damage to show for it. Your child’s habit may require an intervention, however, if you notice any of these signs:
Learn more about bruxism by taking your child for regular dental checkups.
Posted on behalf of:
Dental Care Acworth
5552 Robin Road Suite A
Acworth, GA 30102
(678) 888-1554
Has your dentist recommended braces for you or your child? You might be both excited and a little nervous about the idea. Here’s what you should know about braces before you begin treatment.
Braces Can Help Even if You Have Straight Teeth
You might be surprised to hear you need braces if you think your teeth look perfectly straight. In reality, braces can fix a variety of tooth alignment issues that can impact your oral health in unseen ways. For example, a misaligned jaw could contribute to premature enamel wear and TMJ pain. Braces can correct that.
You Can Get Braces at Any Age
There’s no cut-off age for braces! As long as your teeth and jawbone tissue are healthy, braces can get your smile back on-track.
Braces Consultations Are Free (Usually)
Are you nervous about seeing an orthodontist because of the cost? Most initial consultations are complimentary. You won’t have to pay a thing until you agree to a treatment plan that suits you.
You Might Not Qualify for “Invisible” Braces
Almost everyone wants their braces to be as unnoticeable as possible. While there are tooth-colored and other virtually invisible options out there, you have to be prepared to accept the fact that your teeth might need the help only traditional braces can provide.
You Can Shorten Your Treatment by Taking Care of Your Braces
Good oral hygiene and a diet of braces-friendly foods will help your orthodontic treatment to proceed as planned. But you might have to wear your braces for longer than usual since poor habits can lead to more adjustments and orthodontic appointments.
Call an orthodontist near you to learn more about braces.
Posted on behalf of:
Sapphire Creek Dental
2180 State Hwy 46 W, Suite 106
New Braunfels, TX 78132
(830) 549-2014
Sedation dentistry is a great way to improve your next dental treatment experience. However, “sleep” dentistry doesn’t mean you will be unconscious. You may not even fall asleep, at all.
What does sleep dentistry really mean, then?
Sedation in the Dental Office
Dentists can sedate their patients with laughing gas, an oral medication, or an IV drip. All of these methods deliver different levels of light to moderate sedation. Dental sedation is different from the general anesthesia that knocks people out for major surgery. The medication your dentist provides will simply help you relax and stay calm, but it doesn’t actually make you sleep.
What You Really Experience with Sleep Dentistry
The sedatives can have an amnesic effect which makes you forget most of what happened during the treatment process. You may come out of a dental sedation appointment feeling a bit disoriented as if you just “woke up.”
“Sleep” dentistry doesn’t mean that you’ll actually fall asleep. Some patients do naturally doze off due to the relaxing effect of dental sedation. Typically, however, you should be alert during your dental sedation treatment. You’ll be able to answer questions and move or respond to directions the dentist gives you.
Is “Sleeping” During Your Dental Treatment Right for You?
Dental sedation is ideal for patients who:
Sedation is usually safe for all kinds of dental patients. To find out whether sedatives can have a positive effect on your next dental experience, schedule an appointment with a local sedation dentist.
Posted on behalf of:
Springfield Lorton Dental Group
5419-C Backlick Rd
Springfield, VA 22151
(703) 256-8554
In your pursuit of a whiter, brighter smile, you may have tried every bleaching product on the shelves at the store. You’re frustrated that nothing seems to have worked until now. In desperation, you turn to the vast array of products available online.
Some teeth whitening products found on shopping sites even claim to be professional-grade.
While there may be some seemingly good-quality teeth bleaching products available on the web, you might want to think twice before purchasing one.
Online Whitening Kit Drawbacks
First of all, you can’t always know whether the teeth bleach manufacturer is a company you can trust when you purchase online. You may end up with an ineffective or harmful product. What if you have an allergic reaction to an ingredient in the bleach or suffer some other negative effect? If you purchase from an international supplier then your litigation options are few.
Next, there’s the fact that shipping impacts product quality. The most effective teeth whitening solutions need to be kept cool. Since you can’t always control how the product ships to you, there’s a chance that you end up with an ineffective or damaged product.
Finally, there’s the fact that some teeth just won’t get any whiter no matter what you do. Teeth can become discolored due to causes that aren’t reversed by bleaching. You might just be wasting money by trying to bleach such teeth.
The Best Teeth Whitening Technique
The safest, fastest, and most effective way to change your tooth color is to visit an experienced cosmetic dentist. Only after a dental exam will you know whether or not teeth bleaching is right for you. Call your dentist today to plan a visit.
Posted on behalf of:
Soft Touch Dentistry
1214 Paragon Dr
O’Fallon, IL 62269
(618) 622-5050
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