Discolored teeth kill your confidence. You smile more freely when you feel confident in how your teeth look, especially if they look clean and white, and many of us experience yellowing teeth that detracts from our smiles. What causes yellow teeth? Yellowing, discolored teeth are the result of our everyday lifestyle habits, including our dietary choices, oral hygiene habits, and vices like smoking. You can prevent yellow teeth by making healthy choices and establishing good habits. Existing stains can be treated with cosmetic dentistry. (more…)
Is Root Canal Therapy Painful?
When you hear “root canal,” you may envision a scary, painful procedure, which is the way it is often depicted in movies and media. If your dentist recommends that you undergo root canal treatment you may worry, “Is root canal therapy painful?” The answer is no! You should not feel anxiety about undergoing treatment on your root canal, because the treatment is not painful with modern dental practices. Root canal therapy could mean the difference between a healthy tooth and a tooth lost to infection. (more…)
8 Tips to Prevent Tooth Decay & Gum Disease
The best way to prevent dental disease is to take good care of your teeth and gums on a daily basis. Good oral hygiene habits are easy, accessible and affordable, so there’s no excuse to skip at-home dental care. You don’t need complicated equipment or special skills to brush and floss your teeth, two habits that drastically reduce the occurrence of cavities and gingivitis. Twice-daily brushing and daily flossing are two tips to prevent tooth decay and gum disease, in addition to healthy diet choices, dental appointments, and early detection. (more…)
Is It Cosmetic?
There are several different types of dentistry including general, restorative, and cosmetic. There can be a fine line between some of them. For instance, some cosmetic procedures can also restore function and some restorative procedures can also improve cosmetics. So what is the difference? It’s probably a good idea to be aware of some of the different procedures each offers. Take our quiz below to find out if you need more education on the differences between cosmetic and restorative dentistry. What do you think? Is it cosmetic?
It’s Just One Missing Tooth. Not A Problem. Right?
Actually any amount, from one to several, missing teeth can present a host of problems. The first and most noticeable issue for the patient is that it becomes more difficult to chew. Just one missing or broken tooth affects your ability to chew and what types of foods you can eat. It is harder to chew meat, crunchy vegetables, and nuts. It can also cause discomfort when you try to eat these things. However, the most noticeable issue for people looking at you is that…well… you are missing a tooth. A missing tooth mars your smile, but it does much more than that. So if you’re thinking “It’s just one missing tooth. Not a problem. Right?” Wrong.
Complete Your Smile With Dentures Or Partials
Are you missing teeth? One, two, three? Maybe you are completely edentulous, meaning you have lost all of your teeth. Missing one or more teeth can make it difficult to chew. If you’re having difficulty chewing you may be missing out on important foods and nutrients that your body needs to stay healthy. Even the loss of one tooth can present a problem. Most people already know what dentures are but maybe they have not heard of partials. Today you can restore your chewing function and complete your smile with dentures or partials.
Bridge Placement
If you’re missing one or two teeth in a row it is wise to replace them. Leaving spaces between teeth can cause your teeth to shift, resulting in crooked teeth. It can also cause the underlying bone structure to begin to atrophy which can cause serious problems in the future. A dental bridge is an easy way to replace missing teeth. It is a prosthesis made up of artificial teeth with a crown on each end. Bridge placement is affordable, easy, and painless.
No! Don’t Take My Tooth!
Today there are a myriad of dental treatments for all problems imaginable, but regardless, sometimes you may still require a tooth extraction. Some people would rather opt for an extraction because it seems easier and cheaper than having a root canal or other treatment. Then there are those that do not want to lose their tooth, but may have little choice in the matter. Learn why you may need an extraction before you say “No, don’t take my tooth!”
Don’t Avoid It…It Really Is Not That Bad
Wonder what it is? A root canal of course. Root canals seem to be feared by all, but if you need one you do not want to avoid it. The reason is that root canal therapy is necessary when your tooth pulp is infected. If the infection is left untreated, not only will it be terribly painful, but the infection can spread or cause abscesses. You can end up having a real mess on your hands, one that a simple root canal will no longer fix. You will need extraction, then a bridge or implant to replace the missing tooth, or teeth. When it comes to root canal therapy, don’t avoid it, it really is not that bad.
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The White Dental Filling
The most common dental filling since the 1800s has been silver amalgam. Silver amalgam fillings are a mixture of silver, tin, copper, and mercury. Amalgam fillings contain about 50 percent mercury. It is the mercury that holds them together. Because there have been concerns over the years as to the safety of mercury, composite fillings were developed. Composite fillings are not only environmentally friendly, they are more esthetic, and eliminate health concerns. At Peddicord Family Dental we offer composite resin fillings, the white dental filling.