November 2012 - The Dental Place

November 26, 2012

For anyone who has chipped or cracked a tooth, feeling self-conscious about your smile is always a possibility. Aside from the damage done to the tooth, the tooth itself may otherwise be totally healthy, and so a dentist may be reluctant to perform an extraction of the tooth. A dental crown could be the answer, helping to conceal the damage, while preserving the structure and health of the underlying tooth.

Dental crowns are porcelain caps that a dentist places over the affected tooth. Prior to fitting, the dentist will remove a small quantity of the tooth’s enamel, before taking an impression of the tooth, which will be used to fashion the artificial tooth.

Dental crowns can be used to conceal damage to a tooth in order to hold it in place without jeopardizing the health of the tooth. Crowns can also be used to conceal unsightly fillings, such as those used in root canal treatment, as well as helping to protect the filling from damage. Dental crowns can even be matched to the natural shade of the patient’s other teeth, helping to deliver a natural aesthetic finish.

Dental crowns can be used to conceal damage to a tooth in order to hold it in place without jeopardizing the health of the tooth.

Multiple fillings in a single tooth can affect the integrity and strength of the tooth, and so a dentist may feel further fillings in the tooth may not be worthwhile and recommend a dental crown instead.

Once a dental crown is placed, it can potentially last a lifetime with proper after-care. Regular dentist check-ups, coupled with a good dental hygiene regime should hold the dental crown in place for many years. Being cautious of sticky or hard foods is always advised to avoid damage of the crown.

If you are suffering from a chipped or cracked tooth and would like to know if a crown can benefit your smile, contact the Grand Prairie office of The Dental Place today to schedule a consultation.

November 16, 2012

Many people believe the dental needs of children and adults are similar, but there are distinct differences between the two. One of the most important is the attitude that children may have towards a visit to the dentist.

However, while it might be natural for children – and even many adults today – to feel uncomfortable visiting the dentist, it is important to realize the benefits of doing so and the earlier on a child feels confident in visiting the dental office, the better.

The sensation of cleaning teeth should be bestowed in a child’s early years, from washing the gums gently with a damp cloth even before teeth have begun to break through the gum tissue. This helps to remove any sugars and acids that might still formulate on the surface of the gums and compromise the teeth or lead to infection of the gum tissue.

Once the teeth begin to emerge, gentle brushing with baby-formulated toothpastes can maintain the health of the teeth while helping show and teach the child the importance of brushing. Early exposure to a dentist can help build trust between the child and the dentist, and can aid in the early detection of dental issues which might be evident.

As the child gets older and teeth fully emerge, flossing can be introduced as an accompaniment to regular brushing, to remove trapped food debris from between teeth. Some dentists might recommend that flossing begin once two adjacent teeth emerge. Every child is different, and a dentist is always on hand to offer help and support in helping maintain a child’s dental health.

Dietary standards should always be monitored; it is natural for children to be attracted to sweet treats, such as cakes and ice cream, and sugary drinks. While these can be acceptable in moderation, they can lead to cavities in the child’s teeth if the sugars left behind on the surface of the teeth is not removed, and so it is always a good idea to try to encourage children to clean their teeth whenever possible afterwards, in addition to their regular dental health regimen.

A child’s early dental health is vitally important to their overall dental health later in life, and habits formed as a child can carry forward into adulthood. It is important to teach children positive practices with dental hygiene and regular dentist visits from a young age.

To learn more about the unique dental needs of your child, contact the Grand Prairie TX office of The Dental Place today at 972-264-5795 to schedule an informative consultation.

November 5, 2012

Many people experience the loss of a single tooth. For some, the loss might occur as the result of an accident; while for others, a dental extraction might have been necessary.

However, while many people may believe the loss of a tooth has no great bearing on the overall health of their teeth, in reality, this is not the case and a single missing tooth can have far-reaching detrimental effects. To combat the effects of a single tooth loss, dental implants have become a popular choice of tooth restoration.

A set of teeth typically work together as a team, offering strength and support to one another in functions such as biting, chewing and even word and sound formation. So naturally, if one tooth is removed, all are affected. Teeth can shift position, altering the biting and chewing pattern, creating pressure and leading to issues such as TMJ.

Teeth can shift position, altering the biting and chewing pattern, creating pressure and leading to issues such as TMJ.

What’s more, the symbiotic relationship between the now-missing tooth and the gum and jawbone is broken. The stimulus provided by the symbiosis is lost, which can lead to gum tissue recession and loss of bone mass in the affected area. This recession can spread across the gum line and jaw bone, weakening other teeth and leading to further loss.

An implant dentist can use dental implants to address the issue of a missing tooth by using a prosthetic tooth to replace the one that has been lost. A small titanium support is inserted into the area of the missing tooth and allowed to bond onto the jaw bone. This binding of the two materials is known as osseointegration, and provides strength and support to the dental implant, and also helps to recreate the symbiotic relationship between the tooth, gum tissue and jawbone.

Once the pillar has been placed and the healing process is complete, the implant dentist places a shaped dental crown onto the pillar to complete the implant treatment. The dental crown provides a natural appearance to the treatment, while offering all the benefits of a normal tooth.

The dental implant helps to maintain bite strength, aid speech and word pronunciation and helps to keep gums stimulated, helping to promote healthy gums and jaw bone.

After-care is easy too, dental implants can be cared for normally as part of regular dental care and require no special cleaning aids or solutions.

If you have suffered from single tooth loss and would like to consult with our dental team about implant treatment, contact The Dental Place, serving Arlington TX and surrounding areas, today to schedule a consultation.