But what exactly happens during your appointment? Here’s what you need to know to be prepared for your regular teeth cleaning!

An Exam of Your Oral Cavity

First, if you need x-rays, your dentist may suggest to do these before your cleaning. Generally, x-rays are taken once a year for patients. X-rays are needed to identify any potential decay between your teeth, which dentists can’t spot with the naked eye.

Next, your dental hygienist will examine your smile, looking for signs of gum disease, tooth decay, or other problems in the oral cavity, such as a damaged dental restoration. Your dentist will do an oral cancer screening, which is a painless screening that involves checking the face and oral cavity for any abnormalities. Your dentist will also ask you a few questions about any symptoms you may be experiencing. Oral cancer screenings are typically done once a year [1].

Clearing Plaque

After checking your mouth for any potential problems, your dental hygienist will then use a tool to remove plaque and tartar from your oral cavity. While regular brushing and flossing at homes helps remove plaque before it has a chance to turn into tartar, it’s difficult to remove all the plaque from your mouth. Your dental hygienist will remove plaque or tartar from places you may have missed or places that are hard for you to reach.

Plaque and tartar not only increase your risk for gum disease, but can make it more difficult for you to properly clean your teeth [2]. This scraping process shouldn’t be painful and generally only takes a few minutes.

Cleaning Your Teeth

After scraping plaque and tartar away, your hygienist will then use a paste similar to a toothpaste, but a bit more abrasive, to polish your teeth. While not the same as a professional teeth whitening, this polishing process can remove surface stains to make your teeth look brighter [3].

Once your teeth are cleaned, your hygienist will floss your teeth. This may feel a bit different than the flossing you do at home—your hygienist will do a thorough job to ensure all plaque is removed from your gumline and in-between your teeth. Finally, your mouth will be rinsed out and you’ll be all set!

When Did You Last Get Your Teeth Cleaned?

While every patient is different, a general guideline to get a professional teeth cleaning is every six months. When was your last professional teeth cleaning? If it’s been longer than six months, it’s time to call your dentist!

Sources:
1. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/taking-care-your-teeth-and-mouth
2. https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/conditions/periodontal-disease.html
3. https://www.nature.com/articles/bdjteam2017175

The post What Is Done During Your Regular Teeth Cleaning? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Whether or not your child is accustomed to the dentist, it can be difficult getting kids to feel good about seeing an oral healthcare professional. However, seeing a dentist in their early years is an instrumental part of helping your kids set up healthy habits for life when it comes to taking care of their teeth and gums. Not to mention those regular visits are going to help prevent cavities and gum disease.

When you want your child to love the dentist, here are five tips to help you get started!

Start Early

Children should ideally have their first dentist visit between the age of six months and one year, or whenever their first tooth comes in [1]. The earlier you get your child used to the dentist, the better!

You can and should start with their oral care shortly after birth—wiping their gums with a clean cloth after feedings before they have teeth, and brushing and flossing once the teeth come in, to get them used to oral care.

Go to the Dentist Yourself

Practice what you preach when it comes to the dentist! By going to the dentist yourself and placing an emphasis on your oral care, you can show kids how to take care of their teeth by being an example.

However, remember that it’s generally not a good idea to take your child to your own dentist, as the environment and treatment can make them feel intimidated. A child-friendly dentist will seem much less scary!

Offer Incentives

If your kids really dread going to the dentist, you can offer incentives in exchange for them going and doing their best to maintain a positive attitude while receiving treatment. You can offer healthy treats or have them pick a prize after each dental appointment.

Many pediatric dentists will already offer prizes and incentives for receiving oral care, so you might not have to further incentivize your kids!

Try Attending a Dental Presentation

You can get your children excited about going to the dentist by attending a dental presentation [2]. Call your local pediatric dentist and ask about a day where kids can come in and tour the office, sit in the exam chair, see Mr. Thirsty, and play with stuffed animals that have teeth they can brush.

Even if your dentist doesn’t offer a child-friendly dental presentation, you can certainly suggest they consider doing one or call around to see if another dentist has such an event you and your kids can attend.

This will not only get them more familiar with the dentist, but learn that it’s a fun place and not as scary or boring as they might think.

Have Fun at Home

You can encourage oral care habits at home and motivate kids to get excited about the dentist. Try purchasing stuffed animals where you can brush and floss their teeth and pretend to fill in cavities. Take kids to the store to pick out a fun toothbrush and toothpaste.

Make oral care fun at your house and extend this routine to the dentist—it just might get your kids excited about going for their regular checkups and cleanings!

Sources:
1. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/babies-and-kids/first-dental-visit
2. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/resources/lesson-plans/presentation-resources

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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 have many long-term benefits that you’ll soon see. Here’s why implants are the
best investment for your smile in the long run!

Stimulate Bone Growth

One of the best benefits of dental implants is that they stimulate bone growth in your jaw.
When you lose a tooth, the bone that once supported that tooth will begin to diminish over
time. Without a replacement, the body has no need for this bone. When your jaw bone loses
density, your face can begin to have a shrunken or aged appearance.

With dental implants, the bone in your jaw is once again stimulated by a “tooth”. This will help
enhance the fullness of your face and may even give you a younger appearance. This will also
help your jaw remain strong and healthy over your lifetime!

Save Money on Future Replacements

Since dental implants have the potential to last a lifetime with the proper care, they save you
money on future replacements. With dentures and bridges, a replacement is inevitable after a
few years. With dental implants, you have a permanent solution that will never need to be
replaced. Only the dental crown will need to be replaced, and these crowns have the potential
to last a decade or even longer!

Reduce Risk of Cavities

Since dental implants aren’t able to get cavities, you’ll help reduce the chances that bacteria
from tooth decay or gum disease will build up on your replaced teeth. This could facilitate a
healthier smile with the proper home care and regular visits to your dentist!

Keep Teeth from Shifting

Dental implants prevent your teeth from shifting over time. Teeth shifting happens as the result
of missing teeth, which the body will then compensate for by slowly moving the remaining
teeth into their place. Dental implants help your teeth stay in their proper positions over your
lifetime, so you won’t have the need for cosmetic work as the result of shifting!

Enjoy Food Again

You’ll never have to worry about your dental implant falling out or causing you any discomfort,
unlike some cosmetic tooth replacements. This means you can enjoy all the foods you used to
enjoy before you lost your tooth or teeth. In fact, since dental implants function just like your
normal teeth, you’re unlimited in what you can have to eat!

Improve Confidence

Dental implants not only provide you with an array of long-term physical benefits for your
smile, they provide lasting emotional benefits as well. They often give patients the confidence
to smile again, to fully express themselves, and to enjoy foods out in public. Even your speech
may improve, as missing teeth can make it difficult to pronounce words properly.

From inspiring confidence to providing you with a sturdy, functional, and beautiful solution to
your missing teeth, dental implants are rapidly becoming the most popular choice to restore
smiles. Have you been considering dental implants? Make an appointment with your dentist
today to discuss the long-term benefits dental implants may have in store for you!

The post What Are Long-Term Benefits of Dental Implants? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the beginning stage of gum disease and also the mildest. When plaque isn’t fully
removed from teeth, these bacteria can lead to gingivitis, causing inflammation and irritation in
the gums.

Fortunately, gingivitis is the easiest form of gum disease to treat and can actually be reversed.
Your dentist will most likely recommend a deep cleaning to remove all the bacteria responsible
for your gingivitis. After this, proper home care and regular dentist visits will be instrumental to
keeping gum disease away.

Periodontitis

Once your gingivitis has progressed to periodontitis, you’ll have a harder time reversing the
disease, but it can certainly still be treated. Chronic periodontitis happens when the bacteria
have caused pockets of infection in the surrounding gum tissue and your gums may be receding
from your teeth, resulting in the appearance of longer-looking teeth.

At this stage of gum disease, your dentist will likely still perform a deep cleaning to stop the
disease from causing further damage and prescribe antibiotics to help combat the active
infection. In severe cases, patients may need a procedure to help reconstruct the gum tissue.

Aggressive Periodontitis

Some people will experience an aggressive form of gum disease, in which the health of your
gums is compromised by the quick loss of gum tissue. This form of gum disease is very similar to
traditional periodontitis except it progresses faster. People who have a family history of gum
disease and people who smoke have an increased chance of experiencing aggressive
periodontitis.

Your dentist will talk with you about your treatment, which will be similar to periodontitis, but
may require surgery to help save your gum tissue. Seeking treatment is important before your
smile is totally compromised!

Necrotizing Periodontitis

In people who have compromised immune systems, death of the gum tissue may occur and
cause major damage to the ligaments that help hold teeth in place. This form of gum disease is
rare and is usually associated with another medical problem. Your dentist and physician will
work together to create the best treatment plan for you in the event that you’re experiencing
this form of gum disease.

If you’re experiencing red or bleeding gums, gum recession, or sensitive teeth, you could be
experiencing symptoms of gum disease. All forms of gum disease are treatable, so make an
appointment with your dentist as soon as possible to evaluate your smile. Since gum disease is
the leading cause of tooth loss, there’s a not a moment to wait!

The post Are There Different Types of Gum Disease? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Since fillings need to be replaced eventually, it’s paramount to get them checked out regularly
by a professional dentist. For example, if a filling is damaged or cracked, this creates space
where food particles and bacteria can get under your filling and cause more harm to your
tooth.

Every filling creates a seal between your tooth and your filling material. When this seal
becomes worn down or damaged, it’s not difficult for bacteria to get under the filling to attack
the tooth. This is often how cavities happen underneath fillings or along the seal of the filling
and the tooth.

The Seal May Not Be Correct

Although technology has come a long way in helping your dentist create the best filling possible
for your cavity, creating an impervious seal is still almost impossible. There’s usually a tiny gap
in the area where the seal of the filling meets your actual tooth. With proper care, you can
prevent bacteria and food from getting in this space.

However, if the seal of your filling was not done correctly or your filling wears out quickly, you
may be seeing evidence of tooth decay beneath the filling sooner than you think. For instance,
if you grind your teeth at night, this can quickly damage fillings and cause more problems that
may lead to future tooth decay.

Preventative Measures to Take

Patients usually can’t tell if their filling is worn out just by looking at it. However, a dentist can
properly evaluate the state of your filling, which makes regular dental exams all the more
important. During your appointment, your dentist can let you know if your filling is in good
shape or if you should look into getting a replacement sooner rather than later.

The type of decay that forms under fillings may be harder to notice. As such, the damage can
become extensive before it causes any signs or symptoms. These newer cavities may be larger
and more painful than your original cavity, and could potentially lead to more damage or even
necessitate root canal therapy. The best thing you can do is schedule regular visits with your
dentist to check out the damage in addition to taking care of your teeth!

Getting cavities under an existing filling isn’t ideal under any circumstances. You want to take
the best care possible of your fillings while also keeping your regular appointments with your
dentist. These simple tasks can help prevent future decay and keep your existing filling intact
for as long as possible.

The post Can I Get Cavities Under a Filling? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Expected Life Based on Material

Silver amalgam fillings were most commonly used in dentistry for over 150 years, but now, composite
resin fillings are making a fast replacement. These fillings are not only considered safer alternatives to
silver amalgam, but the color also matches your natural teeth. Many people prefer this type of material
to shiny silver fillings.

But how long do these fillings last, exactly? The exact length of time is impossible to predict, but here’s
what you can expect based on your filling’s material:

 Silver amalgam filling. These can last for up to 15 years, although they should be regularly
checked by your dentist during your bi-annual appointment for cracks or damage. This is
because a damaged silver filling can expose you to mercury and should be repaired or replaced
as soon as possible.

 Composite resin filling. Although these fillings will match your natural teeth, they don’t last as
long. They may last for up to 10 years, although some people will need them replaced in as little
as 5. It all depends on your oral health.

 Gold filling. Less common than silver amalgam or composite resin, gold fillings are your costlier
option and won’t match your natural teeth, but their life expectancy is up to 30 years!

Regardless of which dental filling you have, it’s important to remember that it will need to be replaced
at some point. It’s also crucial that you take care of your dental filling to not only extend its life, but to
protect your smile from further damage.

How to take Care of Your Dental Fillings

Taking care of your dental fillings isn’t that much different from taking care of your teeth. Brushing and
flossing are important as well as visiting your dentist. It’s important to not engage in harmful practices
such as biting your nails, grinding your teeth, and chewing ice. All of these habits can harm your fillings!
Getting dental checkups is also essential. Your dentist can let you know how well your filling is holding
up. If there are any problems, your dentist will be the first to spot them and you can work to repair your
filling to fully protect your teeth.

If you have dental fillings, it’s easy to think that your teeth are set for life. However, keep in mind that
your filling will need to be replaced at some point. By keeping up with your dentist visits, you can know
exactly when to replace your fillings to keep your smile protected and prevent the need for future
fillings!

The post How Long Will My Dental Fillings Last? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

The traditional process for dental implants can take months. If you’ve been living without teeth
for any length of time, you know how important it is to have your smile restored as quickly as
possible. Can dental implants really be done in one day? Actually, they can! Let’s talk about
same-day dental implants and what they mean for you.

Crown Restoration Is Completed at the Office

3D CT scan technology enables your dentist to make your temporary crown restoration right
there at the office on the day of your dental implant procedure. Although this crown will look
just like your natural teeth, it still qualifies as a temporary solution—until your implant fuses
with the bone in your jaw, your permanent crown can’t be placed.

However, you’ll still get to leave the office that day with a temporary restoration that won’t
have anyone second-guessing your smile. You’ll have a brand-new dental implant and a crown
to top it off, making your dental implants essentially a one-day procedure!

How Are Same-Day Dental Implants Different?

Same-day dental implants aren’t any different from traditional implants. They both require
detailed x-rays for accurate placement, an experienced dentist or oral surgeon, and they both
need time to fuse with the bone in your jaw to be permanent. Since you’ll be getting your
crown and dental implant on the same day, your dentist will need to be sure your dental
implant can healthily support the crown.

Once your dental implant heals and your permanent crown is placed, there’s virtually no
difference between same-day dental implants and traditional dental implants that take months
to complete. Of course, you’ll still need an initial consultation and a follow-up appointment in
addition to the appointment to permanently fix your crown, so keep these visits in mind!

People Who Qualify for Same-Day Dental Implants

The criteria to qualify for same-day dental implants isn’t all that different for traditional dental
implants. You’ll need to have a healthy mouth in order to facilitate proper healing of the
implant. This element is even more important since the entire process will be completed in a
day. You’ll need to have a healthy and strong mouth to qualify. You’ll also need to have enough bone in your jaw to support the implant until your permanent crown is placed. Since your temporary crown will be installed that same day, it’s imperative that your jawbone can support the restoration until you get your permanent crown.

Your dentist can let you know if you qualify for same-day dental implants during your consultation.
Are you in need of a tooth replacement but don’t want to wait months for a dental implant?
Ask your dentist about same-day dental implants. You just might qualify for this procedure and
best of all, you’ll have a gorgeous new smile that same day!

The post Can Dental Implants Be Done in One Day? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

When your wisdom teeth don’t have room to come in all the way, they may only erupt through
the gums partially, or push horizontally against the other teeth. Either way, these impacted
wisdom teeth can cause damage through crowding or problems with the gum tissue. Partially
erupted wisdom teeth can cause bacteria to grow, causing pericoronitis, or an infection in your
wisdom teeth.

What are the signs of a wisdom tooth infection? Here’s what you need to look out for!

Red Swollen Gums

If you’re able to see your wisdom teeth in the back of your mouth, you may notice red,
inflamed gums around one or more of your wisdom teeth if you have an infection. Although
you may or may not see any pus, the swelling or tenderness in that area may make it
uncomfortable for you to bite down properly. Puffy gum tissue around the infected site and
redness may be signs of pericoronitis.

Bad Taste or Smell in Your Mouth

One sign of an infection in your oral cavity is a foul taste in your mouth or a bad smell. In
addition to this, you may also see pus coming from the gum tissue near the infected tooth. This
taste will return after brushing and will normally persist until the infection is taken care of. If
you notice these signs, be sure to schedule an appointment with your dentist to evaluate the
problem!

Swollen Lymph Nodes or Fever

If your infection is more severe, you may have swollen lymph nodes just below your chin, which
usually indicates that your body is trying to fight off an infection. You may also have a fever or
chills, and additional swelling on the side of your face with your affected tooth. Some people
even experience jaw muscle spasms. All of these are signs that you need to get checked out to
determine what’s causing the problem.

How Periocoronitis Is Treated

In order to make the infection go away, you’ll need to have your dentist properly clear the
infection, and you’ll likely need to be on antibiotics. You may also need to have your wisdom
teeth extracted, or have gum tissue around the area removed so that the infection doesn’t
return. Your dentist will discuss the best options for your treatment with you once your
symptoms are evaluated and a diagnosis is made.

Are you experiencing signs of wisdom tooth infection? If your wisdom teeth are still intact and
you’ve been seeing any of these signs, it’s time to schedule an appointment with your dentist.
Since oral infections can get into the bloodstream, it’s imperative that you get the problem
addressed as soon as possible. Get your wisdom teeth checked out if you have these signs!

The post Top Signs of Wisdom Tooth Infection appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

If you find that you have bad breath almost all the time, even after brushing or using
mouthwash, something else is likely going on that needs to be addressed. What could chronic bad breath mean? Here’s what might be affecting your smile and why you should get it checked out.

You Could Have Gum Disease

Gum disease is often the culprit behind chronic bad breath. This is because the infection that’s present beneath your gumline can’t be removed with regular brushing and flossing. This will create either a bad taste in your mouth or a foul odor, or both. In addition to this symptom, you might also see blood when brushing or have tender gum tissue.

Since gum disease can lead to tooth loss over time, it’s crucial that you get this checked out by a dentist. Catching gum disease early can help you avoid intensive treatment and may just save your smile—and alleviate your chronic bad breath!

You May Be Dehydrated

If you’re not drinking enough fluid throughout the day, you could be dehydrated. Consider your daily fluid intake. If you’re drinking fluids that will ultimately dehydrate you, including coffee, alcohol, and caffeinated teas, you could be contributing to your chronic bad breath and not even realize it!

While it’s fine to have these beverages, you should be sure to drink plenty of water as well. For every drink with caffeine or alcohol in it, have a glass of water. This will help balance the dehydrating effect these drinks can have on your body and your mouth. Water can restore your bacteria balance and help stop bad breath.

You Could Have an Underlying Illness

There are certain illnesses where bad breath is a sign. These include liver or kidney disease, renal failure, diabetes, asthma, and even throat cancer. There’s no way to know what your bad breath is telling you without getting evaluated by a physician. Your first stop should be the dentist’s office to ensure you don’t have tooth decay or gum disease or exhibit any signs of oral cancer.

If none of these things are present, it’s time to see your doctor to see exactly what your bad breath is trying to tell you. If your bad breath remains without a cause, don’t ignore it. Getting this symptom checked out might just save your life!

When it comes to halitosis, you should absolutely see a professional to determine what’s causing the problem. If increasing your fluid intake doesn’t help, you should see a dentist to evaluate your smile and then a physician to ensure there’s nothing else going on. Don’t let chronic bad breath impact your life—you can determine the cause and stop this embarrassing problem once and for all!

The post Is Chronic Bad Breath Impacting Your Life? Read On appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.