Friday, April 15, 2016

What You Need to Know About Brushing Your Teeth from our Dentist Office

Dentist OfficeWhen you visit our dentist office, we can show you how to properly brush and floss your teeth. Learning how to do this the right way will help you to prevent cavities and gum disease from forming in your mouth. We understand the importance that preventative care plays in good oral health. We can do our part by cleaning your teeth twice a year and removing any plaque, tartar, and bacteria that was left behind from at home cleanings. While this is effective, it isn't enough without at home care as well.

Here is what you need to know about brushing your teeth.

The two-minute myth.
A lot of people have been taught that as long as they brush for at least two minutes, their teeth will be clean. This is only half of the story. The two-minute rule is a good starting point, but you really need to brush for as long as it takes to get a good clean. This may be longer if you have a bad toothbrush. Feel your teeth when you are done and see if they are clean. If you can still feel grime with your tongue then adjust your timing accordingly.

Motion matters.
When you brush your teeth, it is important to brush them in a circular pattern. This will help you to remove more bacteria and plaque without irritating your gums. If you have an electric toothbrush, it will do this for you so that you have less to worry about. This is far better than brushing from front to back or back to front which can irritate your gums. We can show you how to do this when you visit our dentist office.

It is also important for you to brush away from your gums. For example, if you are brushing your top teeth start at the gum line and brush downwards. This will keep bacteria off of your gums and help to prevent gum disease.

Buy the right equipment.
You should be brushing with a soft toothbrush or an electric one. Both are better for your teeth than a hard toothbrush because they won't strip away your enamel or irritate your gums. You also need to switch out your toothbrush every three months before the bristles start to fray. If you notice that your toothbrush has an odor, you should change it out faster since this could be a sign of bacteria.

Purchase toothpaste that contains fluoride so that you can strengthen your teeth while brushing them. Look for one that has the American Dental Association seal of approval on it and use this toothpaste several times a day for the maximum benefits.

When you visit our dentist office, we can demonstrate how to brush properly and care for your teeth so that you can stay healthy at home and prevent both cavities and gum disease. You should also schedule a teeth cleaning for twice a year so that we can remove any bacteria or plaque that has been left behind.

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Friday, April 1, 2016

A Restorative Dentist Can Use Both Crowns and Veneers

Restorative DentistA Restorative Dentist Can Use Both Crowns and Veneers

A restorative dentist can help you if your tooth has become damaged. Previously, when a person's tooth became cracked or chipped there were not many options for correcting it. Some people even had their tooth pulled, which is now unnecessary most of the time thanks to modern dental techniques. By visiting the dentist immediately after teeth have been damaged, most teeth can be restored and saved.

Dental crowns and veneers are two ways that a dentist will restore the tooth. They can be used to correct teeth that have been chipped or cracked. Additionally, a veneer is often used to cover dark stains, close gaps in teeth, and make them even. Crowns are more frequently used to restore a tooth after a large portion of it has been removed during a procedure like a root canal. Both options provide patients with a way to improve the appearance and strength of a damaged tooth and allow for a person to eat normally once their tooth has healed.

While there are many similarities between the two procedures, there are also many differences. Here is what you need to know.

How they are used. Dental veneers are used more often to restore a tooth with minor damage while the majority of the tooth is still in place. This can include teeth with small holes in them, chips, or cracks.  Meanwhile, dental crowns are needed when a larger portion of the tooth is missing, or the crack is so large that the tooth is falling apart. A restorative dentist will use a crown when the damage is more extensive.

What they look like. A dental veneer is made of all-porcelain or ceramic so that it looks completely natural. This is an excellent solution for someone who may be repairing one tooth but also wants to cover stains on other ones at the same time. They can be placed on one or all of a person's teeth. Dental crowns are made of several materials and a patient can select which one to use. All-metal crowns are more common for back molars since it is the most durable and will last the longest. All-porcelain and porcelain-on-metal are also common and more frequently used on teeth that people can see. The only challenge is that they don't last as long.

Tooth preparation. In both scenarios, a restorative dentist will prepare the tooth by removing a portion of the enamel so that the crown or veneer can fit and feel natural. More of the enamel is removed with a crown than with a veneer since the crown surrounds a tooth where the veneer simply sits on top. Temporaries are worn after the tooth is prepared while the lab is creating a permanent solution.

Placing a crown or veneer. Once the permanent ones are ready, the temporary will be removed and if the permanent crown or veneer lfits perfectly it will be bonded to the tooth.

Both solutions can look natural and feel great and allow the patient to eat like normal and speak comfortably. A restorative dentist will make recommendations on what needs to be done after examining a damaged tooth.

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