But what happens when you want a professional teeth whitening but you have dental implants
or dentures? You can still have a white smile even with these cosmetic treatments, so here’s
how you can get professional whitening done right with dental implants or dentures.

Yes, But There Is a Right Way to Do It

The best way to get a professional teeth whitening along with your dental implants or dentures
is to get the whitening procedure done prior to your restoration work.

Whitening your teeth before you get dental implants or dentures is the best way to ensure that
all your teeth will be a uniform color and that your smile looks perfect. When you have your
consultation for dentures or dental implants, ask your dentist if professional teeth whitening is
a possibility before your procedure so that you can have the best and brightest smile once your
restorations are complete!

Whitening Full or Partial Dentures

Since dentures are typically made out of a different material than the dental crown that
completes your dental implant, they are more apt to absorb stains. It’s best if stains are
removed daily through regular brushing and cleaning of your full or partial dentures.

You may also have the option to have your dentures professionally polished to look their best.
When it comes to partial dentures, considering teeth whitening before your restoration is going
to help you smile look complete!

What About Whitening After the Procedure?

Since the dental crown that affixes to the end of your dental implant is made of porcelain, it’s
extremely resistant to staining. This also means that it’ll be resistant to whitening too! It’s
important to address your teeth whitening goals before your dental implant procedure if
possible.

If your dental implant is in the rear of your mouth and not easily seen, your dentist may
consider a professional teeth whitening on the rest of your visible teeth and be less concerned
about non-visible teeth matching.

If you have a partial denture and are interested in teeth whitening, you may need to have your
partial denture re-made to match your teeth after the whitening process. Since dentures need
to be replaced after several years anyway, this may be a good opportunity to consider teeth
whitening!

Teeth whitening is possible even with dental implants and dentures. Whether you’re
considering teeth whitening before your procedure—which is the ideal time—or after, your
dentist can work with you to address your teeth whitening needs. You can have the bright smile
of your dreams even with restoration work, just ask your dentist how!

The post Can You Get Professional Teeth Whitening If You Have Dental Implants or Dentures? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Fortunately, you don’t have to let dental anxiety or dental phobia prevent you from going to
the dentist. With modern sedation options, your dentist may be able to help alleviate your
anxiety during your appointment and get the treatment you need for healthy teeth and gums!

What are your sedation options to help stop dental anxiety when it comes to seeing your
dentist?

Mild Sedation: Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide, often referred to as laughing gas, is an inhaled substance that’s used to stop the patient from experiencing pain and anxiety during a procedure.

While inhaling nitrous oxide, you won’t be asleep, but you won’t feel anxious either. Laughing gas is considered to be safe and is used at the majority of dental practices. Nitrous oxide is considered a non-invasive form of sedation as you’ll simply breathe it in through a mask.

The effects of this form of dental sedation are short-lived and you can drive yourself home from the appointment without any lasting effects.

Moderate Sedation: Oral Sedation

If you’d like to be a bit more sedated due to your dental fear or anxiety, you may want to ask your dentist about oral sedation.

During this form of sedation, you’ll be prescribed a pill or a liquid that you’ll take before your appointment. You will need someone to drive you to and from the appointment, but the idea is that you’ll arrive to your appointment relaxed and worry-free.

You may receive other forms of sedation during your treatment as needed to control pain or anxiety, but many people find that this form of conscious sedation helps them to visit their dentist without fear.

Moderate to Heavy Sedation: IV Sedation

Receiving a heavier form of sedation is possible at your dentist’s office with IV sedation, in
which the sedative will be administered directly into your vein for an instantaneous effect.

IV sedation is considered a moderate to heavy form of sedation in which you’ll still be awake and aware, but may feel as though you are asleep. This type of sedation is often used for shorter dental procedures.

As with oral sedation, you will require someone to drive you home from the appointment and may need a bit of time to recover from the sedative following your procedure.

Deep Sedation: General Anesthesia

General anesthesia is the deepest form of sedation you can receive. You’ll essentially be asleep for your entire procedure and may not even recall the procedure. Your dentist or oral surgeon will administer this sedative through an IV.

The effects of general anesthesia have the potential to affect you for hours after your
appointment, so it’s important to plan for this as well as to plan for someone to be waiting for you at the office to take you home.

General anesthesia is typically only considered for dental patients who need oral surgery or for people who for one reason or another do not qualify for other forms of sedation dentistry.

Have you been suffering from dental anxiety or dental phobia and let it prevent you from going to the dentist? You have options for receiving sedation dentistry to get the care you need, even if it’s just a professional teeth cleaning. Talk with your dentist about your sedation options to help alleviate your fear and anxiety at the dentist!

The post Don’t Let Fear and Anxiety Keep You from the Dentist appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

The causes of tooth discoloration are numerous and may be influenced by an internal or
external factor. Here, we’ll see how tooth enamel can be influenced by several elements to
make your teeth turn an unattractive yellow color.

Certain Foods

One external factor affecting tooth color is certain foods and drinks. Tooth enamel is porous
and can easily be stained, although fortunately, many of these stains are just on the surface and can be removed through regular brushings and professional teeth cleanings.

Coffee, tea, and wine are the worst offenders for making teeth turn a yellow or brownish color, but in truth, any food that has a deep hue has the potential to stain your teeth. These surprising tooth stainers include berries, beets, and tomatoes.

Acidic foods and drinks are also culprits when it comes to staining teeth. The acid in foods such as lemons and drinks such as soda can wear away the tooth enamel, making it easier for staining to occur and also allowing the yellowish color of your dentin—the softer layer beneath your tooth enamel—to come through.

Not Getting Professional Cleanings

Since professional cleanings can remove most surface stains, skipping those dental
appointments can cause buildup of stains and plaque which can result in teeth appearing more yellow. In addition, if you’re not brushing and flossing regularly at home, you’re allowing your teeth to accumulate more stains, plaque, and bacteria that can affect your tooth color.

Getting a professional teeth cleaning at least once a year or as recommended by your dentist can help prevent the build-up of surface stains to prevent your teeth from turning yellow. If you have deeper stains, you dentist may suggest a professional whitening to help remove them.

Antibiotics During Tooth Formation

Your tooth discoloration may be coming from an internal source—for instance, when the dentin turns a brownish yellow color. This typically happens in children who take antibiotics while their teeth are still developing, namely the antibiotics tetracycline or doxycycline.

If you had antibiotics younger than age 8, you may have teeth that are naturally darker. In
addition, women who take antibiotics during their second trimester of pregnancy and later can cause their child to have discolored or darker teeth.

Genetics

Genetics may also affect your tooth color. You may naturally have tooth enamel that’s thinner, which can allow the dentin to show through. This can not only make for weaker teeth that are susceptible to sensitivity and decay, but can also cause teeth to have a yellower appearance.

People who have naturally thicker and stronger tooth enamel may have brighter and healthier teeth. Since tooth enamel can be affected by oral care habits and the foods we eat, genetics is only partially responsible in many cases. Your dentist can help you have a stronger, whiter smile!

Are you worried about your teeth turning yellow? When teeth begin to take on a more
yellowish appearance, it’s time to seek professional help. Contact your dentist today to learn how you can make teeth appear brighter and whiter in just a few simple steps!

The post Why Are My Teeth Turning Yellow? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Veneers are essentially a very thin layer of durable porcelain that’s placed over your natural smile with minimal preparation. Although veneers are considered a permanent form of treatment, they have many benefits. What are some of the benefits of dental veneers?

Get a Whole New Smile

Instead of having numerous treatments to restore your teeth, dental veneers provide a whole new layer to your smile. Veneers can correct uneven teeth and even crooked teeth to make them smooth and uniform. Veneers can dramatically transform chipped or gapped teeth or even shorter teeth, giving them a new appearance in just one to two weeks for dramatic results.

For patients who want a new smile in a short period of time with minimal preparation work, veneers may be a good choice. You can talk with your dentist about whether or not your concerns about your smile would improve with dental veneers.

Get Rid of Stains

If teeth are deeply stained and don’t respond to a traditional cleaning or even professional whitening treatments, it may be time to consider veneers. Veneers can make yellow or stained teeth whiter and younger looking. It can make thin or translucent teeth thick and strong.

The best part about dental veneers is that the veneers themselves are very resistant to stains, so you won’t need BriteSmile, Zoom, Crest Whitening Strips, or any other chemicals to whiten your teeth after the treatment. Instead, you can just enjoy your beautiful new veneers!

Improve tooth Sensitivity

For people who have experienced enamel damage and have very sensitive teeth, dental
veneers can actually help stop tooth sensitivity from worsening and, in fact, can even improve existing tooth sensitivity by adding a new layer onto teeth and shielding your natural teeth from hot and cold temperatures.

Many patients who receive dental veneers appreciate that their teeth are less sensitive after the treatment. In fact, some dentists use a desensitizing treatment before bonding porcelain veneers to your teeth to help enhance the protection from extreme temperatures you’ll experience with dental veneers.

For patients that qualify, dental veneers make a dramatic transformation and give many
patients the smile of their dreams without whitening treatments, orthodontic work, or tooth bonding. If you have several issues you’d like addressed with your smile, you can ask your oral healthcare professional if dental veneers could be for you!

The post Are Dental Veneers the Best Option for Enhancing Your Smile? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Dental implants also provide a sense of confidence and security, as people know that their smile is safe and they won’t have to worry about their tooth falling out or keeping a partial denture in.

For many people who are considering dental implants, they often wonder exactly how much these restorations can cost. Here’s your guide for determining an approximate amount for your dental implant procedure!

A Single Dental Implant

If you have just one tooth that needs to be replaced, the minimum you can expect to pay for a dental implant is typically around $1,500. The costs for dental implants are higher because you’ll need both a dentist and an oral surgeon to fully complete the procedure. A single dental implant could cost as little as $1,500 or as much as $6,000, depending on if you need a bone graft before the titanium post can be successfully placed in your jaw.

Two Dental Implants

If you’re looking to have a pair of dental implants, you can expect to pay a minimum of $3,000 and upwards of $10,000. You’ll likely need multiple visits to complete your restorations and the cost of materials combined with your procedure and care can cost more than many people realize.

Multiple Dental Implants

When you’re missing multiple teeth, dental implants can cost upwards of $30,000. In cases like these, it may be more cost efficient to get implant-supported dentures. Implant-supported dentures cost an average of $34,000 and allow you to only have a few dental implants (between four and six) where a denture will permanently attach onto.

Implant-supported dentures are a secure option for those that don’t want to pay so much to replace each tooth with a dental implant; they make a cost-effective and simpler option that’s just as secure!

Breaking Down the Costs

What constitutes the price of dental implants? Let’s break down the costs to see where these numbers are coming from.

– The cost of the materials for the dental implants themselves typically range from $1,500
to $2,000.
– The dental crown that affixes onto the end of your dental implant can cost between
$500 and $3,000
– This does not include your appointments for digital x-rays, any necessary bone grafts,
and the oral surgeon’s fees.

As you can see, there’s more to the price of dental implants than merely paying your dentist. Fortunately, certain dental insurance plans can help you cover some of the costs of dental implants so you’re not left paying this money out-of-pocket.

If you’re considering dental implants for your smile, schedule an appointment with your dentist today to see if you would qualify and what the specific cost would be. Dental implants can provide you with a sturdy smile that functions well for a lifetime!

The post What Can Dental Implants Cost? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Whether you’re traveling abroad this summer or are just going on a nearby weekend getaway with friends, here’s what to do if you’re experiencing a dental emergency while you’re away.

Toothache

If you have a toothache while flying, don’t panic. For people who may have a cavity, a damaged filling, or a crack in their teeth, the changes in air pressure can make the affected area expand and cause pain or discomfort. Your toothache should go away after landing, but be sure to follow up with your dentist when you return home.

If you have a toothache and haven’t flown anywhere—or if the toothache from your flight
hasn’t gone away—you can try to alleviate your pain by rinsing gently with warm salt water, carefully flossing your teeth, or applying a cold compress to the affected area. You should never ignore a toothache, especially if the pain is severe, so your dentist as soon as you’re able, and find one while you’re traveling if you can!

Cracked or Chipped Tooth

If you crack or chip a tooth during your vacation, it’s important to find a dentist who can assess the problem, especially if you’re experiencing pain as a result of your injury. Your hotel concierge may be able to recommend a local dentist, or if you need to, go to the emergency room to address the problem.

Knocked-Out Tooth

A knocked-out tooth will require immediate attention, so find a dentist if you can, but visit the emergency room if you cannot. If the tooth is in one piece, you can hold it gently by the crown and attempt to keep it in its socket until you can receive medical attention. If your tooth is in fragments, gather up all the pieces if you can and store them in saliva or milk until you can see a dentist.

Restorative Dentistry Issue

Whether it’s a filling that’s fallen out or broken dentures, it’s common for restorative dentistry issues to crop up, especially if you haven’t seen the dentist in a while and your restoration is in need of repair. You may be able to get help from a local dentist for a temporary fix until you can see your regular dentist at home. If you’re traveling abroad, you may be able to ask your insurance company for dentists that you can see.

Be Prepared!

Your best bet for a dental emergency is to be prepared. Go in for a checkup before your trip. Consider getting dental insurance if you’re going abroad. Travel with everything you know you need to maintain your smile. You can also be extra prepared and keep a list of dentists in your bag, whether you’re going somewhere locally or outside the country. This can save you precious time if you’re experiencing a severe toothache or a knocked-out tooth!

Dealing with an emergency is never at the top of anyone’s fun list, but being prepared while you’re traveling can make all the difference. Know where to go if you need help. Keep items you know you’ll need with you. Keep these tips in mind if a dental emergency happens while you’re on your vacation!

The post Dental Emergency While Traveling? Here’s What to Do appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

What can cause jaw tightness? There are several different reasons behind tense jaw muscles that may be causing your discomfort. By identifying the root of the problem, you can help alleviate your jaw pain!

You Have a TMJ Disorder

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is one of the most complex joints in the human body. It connects your upper jaw to your lower jaw and enables your jaw to move up and down and from side to side.

Since the TMJ is so complex, it’s susceptible to problems. When your joint doesn’t work
properly due to an improper bite, arthritis, or an injury, it can cause chronic pain and jaw
tightness that’s difficult to live with.

Fortunately, there is treatment for TMJ disorders. Your dentist can perform a simple evaluation to determine if your TMJ is being impacted by a disorder and talk with you about treatment.

You Grind Your Teeth

Bruxism, the technical term for teeth grinding, can be immensely damaging to both your teeth and your jaw. Grinding your teeth puts intense stress on your TMJ and your pearly whites. In some cases, bruxism can cause teeth to fracture or completely wear down.

Teeth grinding happens for a variety of reasons, but one of the main causes is stress. In fact, you may be grinding your teeth while sleeping and not even know it! Your dentist can tell if your grind your teeth by conducting a simple exam.

If you’re a teeth grinder, you could be putting concentrated pressure on your jaw muscles, leading to a constant feeling of tightness even when you’re not grinding your teeth.

You Have an Improper Bite

When your teeth don’t fit together properly, this can cause an improper bite, also called a malocclusion. Malocclusions range from overbites and underbites to open bites and cross bites. These types of bites range from mild to severe and can all cause jaw pain, especially when chewing, speaking, or smiling. Improper bites are usually inherited from your parents and can fortunately be fixed with orthodontics.

If a malocclusion is causing your jaw tightness, speak with your dentist about what treatment in the form of orthodontia might look like!

You Have Arthritis

In some cases, jaw tightness may be caused by rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. In fact, the majority of people with rheumatoid arthritis have some type of TMJ pain, as the
inflammation may impact the joint.

Osteoarthritis is rarer but can happen in the TMJ, where it can cause loss of healthy tissue including cartilage and will impact the function of your jaw. Both people with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis may experience painful jaw tightness.

Are you experiencing jaw tightness that’s impacting your life? A painful jaw can be caused by a variety of problems from teeth grinding to arthritis and malocclusions. Your dentist can help you determine the cause of your jaw tightness and work with you to implement a successful treatment plan!

The post What Are the Causes of Jaw Tightness? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

When a tooth is missing, the other teeth will shift to compensate for the loss. This means your entire smile is subject to change as the result of one missing tooth. Replacing any missing back teeth you may have is essential to retaining the structure and function of your smile.

What are your treatment options for replacing missing back teeth?

Dental Implants

When it comes to replacing missing teeth, it’s hard to top dental implants. Dental implants are secure, functional, and are the most natural replacements to your missing teeth available today.

Dental implants consist of a titanium post that’s allowed to fuse naturally with your jawbone. Once this process is complete, a dental crown is placed on the end. Although your dental crown will eventually need to be replaced, your dental implant should last for life.

For missing back teeth, dental implants make an excellent choice because of their durability. The back molars are an integral part of chewing food. Dental implants are up to the challenge and make healthy lifetime replacements for your missing back teeth that require minimal additional maintenance.

Dental Bridge

You also have the option of having a fixed dental bridge in place for your back teeth. A dental bridge will rely on two adjacent teeth in order to support the bridge, so these teeth will need to have a tiny amount of tooth enamel removed in order to place the bridge and provide the proper support.

A dental bridge enables you to replace any teeth that are missing in a row in order to effectively support your smile and experience better function. You can talk with your dentist about whether or not a fixed dental bridge is the right treatment option for your missing back teeth.

Partial Dentures

A partial denture is designed to only replace one or a few teeth. It can affix to the neighboring teeth in order to provide you with an either removable or non-removable option for your missing back teeth.

For missing back teeth, partial dentures offer you the option of restoring your ability to chew and speak without investing in a more permanent placement option. Partial dentures will need to be adjusted over time and will also require daily cleaning and maintenance in order to remain effective and healthy teeth replacements!

Replacing your missing back teeth is essential to having a healthy smile. Schedule a consultation with your dentist today to discuss your options for replacing any missing back teeth you may be missing. Your professional dentist can review the options with you so that you can make your best choice!

The post Treatment Options for Replacing Missing Back Teeth appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

These dental bridges are affixed to dental implants instead of being supported by the
surrounding teeth, so they’re stronger, more secure, and look more natural than a traditional
dental bridge.

With all the benefits of implant supported bridges, here’s how you can find out if you’re a
candidate for these practical tooth replacements.

At Least One Tooth Missing

In order to qualify for implant supported bridges, you’ll need to have at least one natural tooth
missing or more in a row. This enables your dentist to place the implants and then construct a
bridge that will attach and not affect the surrounding teeth.

In fact, implant supported bridges work to strengthen the surrounding teeth. When you lose a
tooth, the bone in your jaw can become compromised in that area, leading to teeth shifting.
When you take advantage of an implant supported bridge, you can help facilitate jaw bone
growth and keep all your teeth in their natural positions while naturally strengthening and
stimulating the jawbone.

Sufficient Jawbone

Just like with traditional dental implants, you’ll need enough bone in your jaw in order to
healthily support your implant supported bridge. Sometimes, people who have lost a tooth lack
the proper bone to support a dental implant, especially if they’ve waited years to replace their
tooth.

If you don’t have enough bone in your jaw to support the dental implants, your dentist may
suggest a bone graft. Although this will add a bit more time onto your procedure, it’ll give you
optimal chances of success for your dental implants.

You’ll first get dental implants in the areas where your missing teeth are and then a temporary
dental bridge while your implants heal. Then, you’ll receive your dental bridge which will be
permanent, secure, and functional.

Good Oral Health

Just like with regular dental implants, you’ll need to be in good oral health in order to be a
candidate for implant supported bridges. If you have gum disease or another type of oral health

condition, it’ll need to be fully treated before you can be considered for this procedure. Keeping
your smile in optimal health with regular checkups is the best way to ensure you’ll be a
candidate for implant supported bridges.

It’s also important that you don’t smoke in order to encourage proper healing of your dental
implant site. If you smoke, your dentist will encourage you to stop or minimize your usage
before and after the procedure. This will help you have your best chances at healing after your
dental implants are placed.

Implant supported bridges offer many benefits that traditional bridges can’t. Your implants will
never need to be replaced, your bridge will be stronger, and you won’t have to compromise the
health of the neighboring teeth to support a traditional bridge. Make an appointment to talk
with your dentist about an implant supported bridge today!

The post Who Is a Candidate for an Implant Supported Bridge? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

But do dental implants have the ability to chip or break? Here’s everything you need to know
about your dental implant’s durability in addition to how to prevent any problems with your
tooth replacement.

Yes, It’s Possible

It is possible for your dental implant to chip. While it’s extremely rare for the actual titanium
implant to crack or fracture, the dental crown placed over it does have the potential to become
damaged.

How does this happen? Dental crowns can become damaged from an injury such as a contact
sport hit or a fall, teeth grinding, or biting down on something hard that you’re not supposed to
bite, such as a nut shell.

Dental implants enable you to have a beautiful smile again with all the security of a natural
tooth. It’s rare for these sturdy replacements to crack, even the dental crown portion, but it is
possible!

When to Seek Medical Advice

While a chipped or broken dental crown is not a strict dental emergency, you should still see
your professional dentist as soon as possible. This is because your dental crown will need to be
repaired or replaced.

If you have a broken or cracked crown on your dental implant, you should always seek medical
advice. A dental crown is there to protect your titanium implant and to provide your mouth
with the full functionality of a normal tooth, so getting it restored is a priority.

The process for getting your dental crown replaced will be the same as the first time you
received it. If your dentist office can’t make the crown that same day, you’ll get a temporary
crown in the meantime. If you need a crown repair, it may be as simple as filling in the chip or
break with composite resin!

How to Protect Your Dental Implant

It’s easy to protect your dental implant as well as your other teeth to prevent fractures and
chips. You can follow best practices that include:

 Not using your teeth as tools. Your teeth weren’t meant to crack open nuts, open
packages, or bite pencils. Use your teeth for chewing, nothing else!

 Wear a mouthguard for bruxism. Bruxism, also known as teeth grinding, can cause your
dental crown to fracture or chip. If you grind your teeth, your dentist can fit you with a
mouthguard to ensure your teeth don’t suffer the extreme damage that bruxism can
cause.

 Get regular checkups. Your professional dentist can provide you with regular checkups
and cleanings to ensure your dental implant and your natural teeth stay healthy and
strong.

Protecting your dental implant is simpler than you think when you take good care of your smile!
Whether you have a dental implant or are considering getting one, these sturdy tooth
replacements offer all the advantages of a real tooth. Although the crown on dental implants
does have the potential to chip, taking care of your smile ensures your dental implant will be in
good standing for life!

The post Can Dental Implants Chip or Break? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.