Oct 28, 2015 | Blog
It’s doubtful you have met many people who relish the idea of undergoing root canal treatment. Of course, everyone wants to have beautiful, healthy teeth. The good news is that there are quite a few things you can do to ensure the health of your smile and reduce your risk of having root canal therapy:
- Maintain a vigilant habit of good oral hygiene. Brush your teeth at least twice per day, preferably after every meal and before bedtime. Floss daily between teeth and around the gumline.
- Use fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash to keep your teeth strong.
- Eat a healthy, nutritious diet. Raw vegetables and hard fruits are not only good for your general health, they scrape away debris as you chew and help to keep your teeth clean.
- Avoid smoking entirely. If you are currently a smoker, your doctor or dentist can assist you in finding the best methods to stop immediately.
- To stay hydrated, drink plenty of water and avoid sugary drinks that can contribute to tooth decay. Rinse your mouth with water after drinking coffee, tea, soda or sports drinks.
- Visit your dentist twice a year for regular cleanings and checkups.
Prevention is the key to avoiding root canal treatment. By taking these proactive steps, you will aid in preventing the decay that leads to infection resulting in the need for root canal therapy. Even if you didn’t grow up following these tips, it is never too late to start ensuring the health of your teeth.
If you live in the Central Falls, RI area and you need a root canal, contact our office today.
Nov 10, 2015 | Blog
As we age, the challenges we face in dental care change. Factors such as limited mobility, medications, and other health-related conditions commonly suffered in old age can cause the onset of additional oral health concerns. Mobility issues can cause difficulty in properly maintaining routine oral hygiene, while complications from illnesses or chronic health problems such as diabetes can contribute to gum disease. Even the prescription medications you take for other health issues can have an effect on your oral health.
Patients of advancing age often suffer from tooth loss, decay, gum disease, gum recession or dry mouth. Because your oral health has a direct impact on the overall health of your body, it is crucial that elder patients maintain a regular routine of dental care. Doctors have found a direct link between gingivitis and heart disease. Your family dentist is your best partner in preventing the disease and decay that can lead to more serious illnesses as you age.
Other issues you may experience as you advance in years include missing teeth or poorly fitting dentures. Both of these problems can make it difficult to chew, causing you to aspirate food or to simply avoid eating. Your family dentist can address these concerns, providing restorations for missing teeth or refitting dentures. Regular professional cleanings can help reverse the damage done from haphazard home care caused by mobility issues.
Better and more advanced dental care has resulted in people keeping their natural teeth much longer than our ancestors. However, we are also living longer and this puts additional stresses on aging teeth and gums. Your family dentist is able to address the dental problems specifically associated with advancing age, allowing you to keep your teeth longer and avoid additional issues that can be created by your aging body, teeth, and gums.
Central Falls, RI family dentist
Nov 14, 2015 | Blog
People have been looking for ways to replace missing or gapped teeth for about as long as people have HAD teeth. As early as 700 BCE, a form of dentures made from bone and ivory were created by the Etruscans. Discarded human and animal teeth taken from cadavers were also used for dentures. Within 500 years, the Etruscans had begun to use gold to replace gapped teeth in an early form of what we would know today as a dental bridge.
In the 1700s ivory dentures were extremely popular and were made from materials including hippopotamus, walrus and elephant. Human teeth, horse teeth and donkey teeth might have also been used, in addition to teeth pulled from fallen soldiers, executed criminals or other cadaver sources.
Over the years, great advancements were made in the area of dentures, and by the end of the 18th century porcelain dentures were created, pioneered by a dentist named Alexis Duchateau. Plaster was used to make molds of a patient’s mouth, allowing the dentist to create a denture that far surpassed any comfort level previously available to denture-wearing patients. This was a great improvement, but the teeth were too white to look real, and they tended to chip. In the early 19th century, Claudius Ash, employed as a gold and silver-smith, fused porcelain onto a gold base, providing a more realistic and durable option for dentures.
The rubbery base of the denture similar to what is used today was invented in the 1940s and was known as Vulcanite. Only ten years later, the first dental lab was established for the sole purpose of providing dental prosthetics. Today, dentists utilize acrylic for the pink-toned gum-tissue-mimicking base, and acrylic remains the primary material used today.
The technology and methodology of dentures improves and changes each year. Goopy molds have given way to digital impressions and 3-D printers. It is exciting to think what the future will hold for denture-wearers.
If you live in the Central Falls, RI area and you need dentures, contact our office today.
Nov 21, 2015 | Blog
If you have damaged or decayed teeth you may be considering options to restore both the look and function of your smile. Crowns and veneers are both utilized by cosmetic dentists to accomplish these goals. Which should you choose? Both crowns and veneers have pros and cons, and some distinct differences.
A crown is a cap that is placed over the tooth to reinforce the tooth and restore its original size and shape. Crowns are bonded into place and cover the entire tooth that is visible above the gum line. Crowns are most often used when the tooth has serious problems with structural integrity, often caused by decay. Cracked, broken, or worn down teeth also get crowns. Crowns modify how the tooth looks, and can help restore a more perfect smile. Crowns can be made of stainless steel, resin, porcelain, ceramic and other metals.
Veneers are similar to crowns in that they are used to restore the appearance of a tooth. Veneers utilize a thin shell of either porcelain or composite material that is placed over the tooth to protect it from damage and correct its appearance. Veneers require the structure of the tooth surface to be altered to bond it to the tooth.
Veneers are most commonly used to restore the outward appearance of a tooth, while crowns are typically used for structural repair. If your goal is simply to change the appearance of your teeth, veneers may be the best option. If you have extensive tooth decay or trauma, a crown might be the best choice. Consult with your dental professional to find out if a crown or veneers would be most appropriate for your specific dental issues.
Nov 28, 2015 | Blog
Most dental professionals recommend having third molars, or wisdom teeth, removed in early adulthood, preferably before they are fully formed and rooted into the jaw. Generally, this means having wisdom teeth extracted between the ages of 17 and 25. Waiting until you are older to have wisdom teeth removed can have considerable risks and complications.
Wisdom teeth that are not removed create the following risks:
- Impaction caused by wisdom teeth that do not have sufficient room to grow, causing pain and potential disease and damage to adjacent teeth.
- Tooth decay from wisdom teeth that are difficult to keep clean.
- Infection caused by bacteria that is harbored in the wisdom tooth eruption site.
- Growth of tumors and cysts caused by severely impacted wisdom teeth.
- For patients who need to have wisdom teeth removed later in life, complications can include:
- More complicated removal surgery to eliminate deeply rooted or impacted wisdom teeth that results in longer surgery recovery time.
- Roots that have grown close to the nerve that affects the feeling in the lower lip might be injured in surgery, causing permanent nerve damage.
If you or your young adult have emerging wisdom teeth, schedule a consultation with your dentist to determine if and when they should be removed. While some patients will not need to have their third molars extracted, in most cases, having wisdom teeth removed as they are erupting can help to avoid a host of future problems. When wisdom tooth extraction is performed early, recovery time and risk of complications are drastically reduced for most patients.
Aug 15, 2015 | Blog
Experts recommend that each member of your family see a dentist every six months for ideal oral health. One of the most convenient ways to accomplish this is to establish a relationship with a qualified family dentist. This type of dentist sees patients of all ages and oral conditions, so that you can all get the dental care you need in one place.
Dental checkups are usually considered to be rather routine. During the visit, you generally will have your entire mouth examined, X-rays taken if recommended, and professional teeth cleaning performed. Evaluations will be made for signs of tooth decay, gum disease, oral cancer, or any other issues that might be of concern. You can expect all of these typical treatments from your family dentist.
Another important part of your dental visit is to discuss your oral condition as well as your overall health with the dentist. If you are the parent of a young child, you will need to voice any issues with the dentist that your child may have. Some of the topics to discuss with your dentist include changes you’ve noticed in your oral condition, pain or other problems you are experiencing, medications that you are taking, and any other health problems that are present. Your oral health and your general health can be linked in many ways, so it’s important to be open and thorough in your discussions with your family dentist.
Family dentists are experienced in handling all kinds of patients and their concerns. Dental anxiety or phobia is one example, since it’s not uncommon for patients to be nervous about the dentist. Young children are especially susceptible to this concern, but family dentists are well-versed in treating them. Senior patients bring their own unique set of issues, and family dentists are able to successfully treat this age group as well. Family dentists are also able to make recommendations for other types of specialists as needed, such as orthodontists, endodontists, or oral surgeons. The goal is good oral health care for every member of your family, and that is what family dentists are trained and experienced in providing.
