Author: Familydentalcare_aDMeeN

Jul 11, 2022

What not to do after Deep cleaning?

Deep cleaning is a vital non-surgical process if you display early signs of gum disease such as inflamed gums, redness, excessive teeth sensitivity, receding gums, et cetera. If you show the signs and symptoms described, you might have gone disease and need gum therapy, alternatively called deep teeth cleaning. It is worth noting that the deep cleaning procedure is best suited for patients with early signs of gum disease and is unsuitable for periodontal disease.

When you receive information that you need deep cleaning, you will likely have several questions. Mentioned below are some questions dentists frequently answer from their patients.

  • What information you must have about deep cleaning after-care.
  • What must you avoid after deep cleaning?
  • How soon can you brush your teeth after deep cleaning?
  • Do your gums reattach after deep cleaning?
  • How often do you need a deep cleaning?

This article focuses on answering all the questions mentioned above and provides additional information on the procedures you must follow after deep cleaning teeth.

  • Deep Cleaning — A Valuable Treatment to Stop Gum Disease

Before we proceed with this article, it is essential for you to note that you must opt for deep cleaning soon as you realize you have gum disease. Gingivitis is chronic and worsens over time.

In the earliest stages, gum disease is preventable and reversible with simple non-surgical deep cleaning. Unfortunately, if you don’t act promptly, gum disease progresses to periodontitis, compelling you to undergo invasive procedures.

While you might fear the deep cleaning process, you help yourself by understanding dentists use updated, cutting-edge techniques and technologies to diagnose the root cause of your problem and provide treatment for gum disease at the earliest. You also receive anesthesia and sedation options to ensure a painless experience without discomfort.

Deep Cleaning Teeth After-Care Tips

After you undergo deep cleaning from the local dentist in Crestwood, you receive a list of things you cannot do as part of the after-care. The tips recommended by the dentist are mentioned below for your reference:

Do Not Consider Eating until Your Mouth Is Numb

Most patients receive instructions not to eat anything before deep cleaning increasing their temptation to have foods immediately after the procedure. However, you must refrain from eating until the anesthesia’s numbness wears off. Trying to eat while your mouth is numb increases the chances of biting your tongue and gums, interrupting the healing process.

Remain Cautious about the Food You Have after Deep Cleaning

You will experience sensitivity with your teeth and gums for some time after deep cleaning. Therefore you must avoid any foods that might disrupt your healing—avoiding acidic foods like oranges and tomatoes, challenging foods like steaks, sharp and crunchy foods like chips, and foods with tiny pieces that might get lodged in your gums.

Over-The-Counter Medication Helps When Discomfort

You will likely experience discomfort after the deep cleaning process. However, you can find relief from the pain using over-the-counter pain relievers, but you must ensure you take the recommended quantity.

Prescription Antibiotics

Your dentist might prescribe antibiotics in some cases to prevent infections. You must take the antibiotics as prescribed and according to schedule.

Swelling and Pain

You can expect swelling and pain for a few days or weeks because the deep cleaning process leaves your gums sensitive. You can use ice packs on your cheeks to manage the swelling. However, you must use the ice packs intermittently on and off for 15 intervals each and not longer because they can create tissue damage. Unfortunately, if you experience excessive swelling, contact your dentist for advice.

Minor Bleeding Expected for 24 to 48 Hours

You can expect minor bleeding for approximately 24 to 48 hours and notice a pinkish hue in your saliva. However, the bleeding is perfectly normal, but you can contact your dentist if it persists beyond 48 hours or if you experience excessive bleeding.

Things to Avoid after Deep Cleaning

  • Do not consider eating anything until the anesthesia wears off.
  • Refrain from eating sharp, crunchy, and challenging foods on the day of the procedure.
  • For 48 hours after the procedure, refrain from having hot beverages.
  • Do not rinse your mouth for two days after the procedure.

Do Gums Reattach after the Deep Cleaning?

Removing obstructions like bacteria, plaque, and tartar from your tooth roots ensures the reattachment of your gums. In addition, when the dentist removes the infection and tartar, they also smoothen the roots to allow your gums to heal around your teeth. As a result, you can expect a significant tightening of the gums in approximately five days after deep cleaning.

If you suspect you have gum disease, please schedule an appointment with Family Dental Care — Crestwood to receive the deep cleaning process and prevent the condition from progressing to periodontitis.

Previous Blog Post

Why would a tooth need to be extracted?

Should you consider having a tooth pulled merely because you have a toothache? Toothaches aren’t indicators to rush to the dentist to have the tooth extracted. On the contrary, you must look for signs and symptoms that might indicate extraction of the tooth is essential. This article looks to share with you some realities about…

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Can Invisalign fix a snaggle tooth
Jul 06, 2022

Can Invisalign Fix a Snaggle Tooth?

Do you have a snaggle tooth and wonder what your options are to fix it? Snaggle teeth are irregular or projecting teeth growing out of alignment with others. If you have more than one snaggle tooth, you find it beneficial to get braces.

However, if all your teeth are relatively straight and you have merely one snaggle tooth might have apprehensions about whether braces are worth the trouble. You might think there are other options available to treat the condition.

If you have a problem with one snaggle tooth, here is the information on fixing it.

What Causes Snaggle Teeth?

Many reasons contribute to the crookedness of your teeth. Generally, snaggle teeth result from overcrowding, indicating that isn’t sufficient room in your mouth for your teeth. The conditions your teeth in or out create crooked or protruding teeth.

Other causes also exist for a snaggle tooth. The size of your teeth might be too large for your mouth; you may have lost your baby teeth prematurely, you grind your teeth frequently, et cetera. There are various reasons why your teeth become misaligned over time.

Is a Snaggle Tooth a Problem?

Everyone emphasizes the importance of straightening your teeth for your oral health. However, is it also a problem if you have one tooth out of position?

Snaggle teeth don’t cause severe risks to your oral health like other orthodontic conditions. However, they have the potential to create problems, especially with your bite. Crooked teeth are breeding grounds for bacteria to remain trapped, making them challenging to clean. As your teeth constantly shift with age, snaggle teeth can become uncomfortable, creating more significant complications.

In addition, seeking treatment for a snaggle tooth can improve your confidence in your smile. If you have one snaggle tooth impacting your smile with the rest remaining straight, it can make you self-conscious and encourage you to hide your teeth. Fortunately, straightening the snaggle tooth can make you feel secure when showing your teeth.

Treating a Snaggle Tooth with Invisalign

If you consider treating a snaggle tooth, you might think braces are the only option available and might be reluctant to commit to the treatment for merely one tooth. However, if you visit our dentist in Chicago, IL, you will express happiness at the dentist’s multiple options for treating a snaggle tooth depending on its misalignment. Eventually, the treatment recommended by the professional will depend on the severity of your snaggle tooth.

Traditional braces are undoubtedly an option for treating a snaggle tooth similar to other misaligned teeth. If your snaggle tooth is severely misaligned, the dentist recommends snaggle tooth braces as they are the gold standard for severe misalignment. Currently, advances in dentistry make available different types of braces like mini braces and clear braces. The different varieties of braces make them discreet and their metal counterparts.

You can expect some discomfort with braces initially. However, they offer an effective remedy, especially for severe cases of misalignment, and can also help adjust the jawbone besides fixing any problems emanating from a crooked jaw.

Invisalign is another option to treat mild or moderate misaligned snaggle teeth. Invisalign works faster than traditional braces and is more subtle. Invisalign braces are removable but need wearing for the better part of the day and night. The removable feature is best used for eating, drinking, and maintaining excellent dental hygiene. The dentist will determine whether Invisalign is suitable for your snaggle tooth because Invisalign cannot adjust the jaw or fix severe alignment issues. Unfortunately, if you are unsuitable for Invisalign, you will need an alternative method for treating your snaggle tooth.

Invisalign treats many orthodontic problems providing you a discreet option to straighten teeth with virtually invisible clear aligners. Unfortunately, they work best with mild to moderate misalignment conditions, and severe cases are better treated with traditional braces.

However, Invisalign might help treat your snaggle tooth if it isn’t severely misaligned. If your dentist determines you are unsuitable for Invisalign, they will discuss other options with you, such as tooth contouring or dental arch adjustment, and walk you through your options on what they consider best for your specific situation.

Expect the dentist to examine your mouth and jaw and inquire about your dental history before walking you through your options. They will make the best effort possible to ensure you have a confident and straighter smile by providing a suitable remedy for your snaggle tooth.

If you are concerned about a snaggle tooth and want to have a straighter smile, Family Dental Care — Chicago provides a remedy best suited for your situation. Kindly schedule an appointment with the practice to treat the odd tooth in your mouth.

Previous Blog Post

What not to do after Deep cleaning?

Deep cleaning is a vital non-surgical process if you display early signs of gum disease such as inflamed gums, redness, excessive teeth sensitivity, receding gums, et cetera. If you show the signs and symptoms described, you might have gone disease and need gum therapy, alternatively called deep teeth cleaning. It is worth noting that the…

Read More

Jul 01, 2022

What Is the Root Cause of Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a potentially severe life-threatening condition affecting males, females, and children and causing your breathing to stop repeatedly for 10 seconds or more when sleeping. In addition, the disorder results in a lack of oxygen in the blood, briefly awakening you throughout the night.

Obstructive and central other two main types of this condition affecting most people. If you have problems with your breathing mechanics, you might have obstructive sleep apnea. Mechanical problems do not cause central sleep apnea, which results from your brain not signaling muscles that control breathing.

If you have obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea together, you might become a victim of a complex sleep apnea syndrome identified as treatment-emergent central sleep apnea.

What Are the Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

The symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apnea overlap, making it challenging for you to determine the condition affecting you. However, the familiar signs of both conditions include loud snoring, gasping for air when sleeping, awakening with a dry mouth, challenges remaining asleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, irritability, et cetera. You might not realize you are affected by sleep apnea unless reported by your bed partner or family member.

Causes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Adults

There are various causes of obstructive sleep apnea, with the most common being the relaxation of the muscles at the back of your throat. The muscles support the soft palate, which looks like a triangular piece of tissue hanging from the sidewalls of your throat and the tongue.

Relaxation of the muscles narrows your airway when breathing, ensuring that you don’t get sufficient air and lowering the oxygen level in your blood. Your brain senses your inability to breathe to arouse you from sleep to help open your airway briefly. Unfortunately, the awakening is brief and will likely not make you recollect the incident. The pattern repeats itself five to 30 times or more every hour, making it difficult for you to reach deep sleep during the night. The awakening episodes are accompanied by choking, snorting, and gasping.

What Is the Treatment for Sleep Apnea?

When affected by obstructive sleep apnea, you might want to find the spiritual root cause of sleep apnea, thinking you are probably not managing your life correctly and the problem follows you even when sleeping. Unfortunately, determining the spiritual causes of the problem will not help get rid of it but will undoubtedly increase the risks of OSA, making you susceptible to various other medical conditions.

Sleep apnea is not a recent phenomenon, and treatments for the condition are available from medical professionals and dentists. Which professional you choose to consult is entirely your decision. However, whether you select a medical professional or a dentist, you must undergo a sleep test performed by a sleep medicine specialist in a clinical setting.

The nocturnal polysomnography test is considered the gold standard for diagnosing sleep apnea. However, when testing you, the specialist hooks you to equipment to monitor your heart and lung and predict brain activity besides breathing patterns and blood oxygen levels when you sleep.

If your tests are abnormal, the specialist might refer you to other medical professionals or even cardiologists to identify sleep apnea causes.

If you test positive for sleep apnea, you can receive treatment for the condition in two ways. You can have the conventional treatment provided by medical professionals with the CPAP device that helps keep your airway open when sleeping. While considered the best for treating sleep apnea, the CPAP device is uncomfortable and not tolerated by most.

Fortunately, all is not lost if you find that you cannot accept the CPAP device to overcome sleep apnea. You can contact Family Dental Care and provide a comfortable and tolerable treatment for this condition that you will find comfortable and beneficial.

Benefits of Getting Sleep Apnea Treatment at Family Dental Care

If you seek sleep apnea treatment in Calumet city, you can contact family dental providing oral appliances as an effective remedy to keep your throat open by pushing your jaw forward. The oral device pioneered by dentists is customized for your mouth and helps relieve snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea.

Dentists have many devices to treat sleep apnea, and you might have to try different devices before finding one suitable. After you have the right fit, you must repeatedly follow up with the dentist during the first year and even later to ensure that clients fit well and assess your signs and symptoms.

If you think you need treatment for snoring and daytime sleepiness, you experience kindly contact Family Dental Care — Calumet City to get yourself evaluated for sleep apnea and receive suitable and comfortable treatment from this practice.

Previous Blog Post

Can Invisalign fix a snaggle tooth

Can Invisalign Fix a Snaggle Tooth?

Do you have a snaggle tooth and wonder what your options are to fix it? Snaggle teeth are irregular or projecting teeth growing out of alignment with others. If you have more than one snaggle tooth, you find it beneficial to get braces. However, if all your teeth are relatively straight and you have merely…

Read More

Jun 26, 2022

What Are Some Of The Early Warning Signs Of Periodontal Disease?

What Is Periodontal Disease?

It is a term in dentistry referring to infections of the soft tissues in the oral cavity. The infection commonly begins with the gum tissue, hence gum disease. However, periodontal disease concerns a broader spectrum of bacterial infection in the mouth that impacts the health of your jawbone.

The periodontal disease exists in two main forms, that is:

  1. Gingivitis – is the initial stage of periodontal disease. It is often subtle, hence why many cases go undiagnosed and untreated.
  2. Periodontitis – is an advanced stage of periodontal disease. It occurs when gingivitis remains untreated for a long time, progressing and worsens. Periodontitis has severe dental consequences, including tooth loss.

What Causes Periodontal Disease?

Various factors contribute to gum disease. However, there isn’t one known factor that can be blamed for gum disease. The different factors that increase your risk of periodontal illnesses are:

  1. Poor oral hygiene – is the leading risk factor for gum disease. Poor dental hygiene leads buildup of food residues in your mouth. When they combine with saliva and bacteria present in the oral cavity, they form a sticky substance called plaque. Over time, plaque hardens into tartar, slowly causing gum infections.
  2. Genetics – some people’s genes predispose them to gum infections.
  3. Underlying health issues – diabetic patients, for example, have a significantly higher risk of getting periodontal disease than healthy people.
  4. Smoking – tobacco smokers are more than 50% more likely to get gum infections than non-smokers.
  5. Excessive consumption of alcohol for a prolonged period
  6. Hormonal changes – women can easily get gum disease due to fluctuations in their hormonal components. It is usually the case during pregnancy, menopause, or puberty.

Early Warning Signs of Gum Disease

Detecting periodontal disease symptoms early helps you get ahead of the infection to prevent irreversible oral complications. The key is to catch the infection before it advances to periodontitis. Some of the early warning signs of gum infection are:

  1. Bad breath: if you do not have cavities on your teeth, the bad smell from your mouth could be due to an infection in your gum tissue.
  2. Swollen gums: the body’s immune system will begin to respond to the bacterial infection in your gums through inflammation.
  3. Bleeding gums: if you do not have an open wound or a dental injury, you should not be bleeding in your mouth. Bleeding gums are usually a sign of an imminent infection. You are likely to notice streaks of blood on your toothbrush or fruits like apples.
  4. Painful chewing: periodontal infection will cause tender gums and jaw pain. It can make it difficult to chew or bite foods.
  5. Receding gums: if you begin to notice that your gums are receding, it is an indication that the infection is worsening. Your gums will pull away from the teeth, exposing more tooth roots. One way to tell you have receded gums is by considering the length of your teeth. If they look longer than they usually are, contact your dentist in Oak Lawn for treatment. Another way is by noticing the lines or notches at the bottom of your teeth near the gum line.
  6. Reddened gums – gum disease will cause your gums to be redder than usual.
  7. Mouth sores – mouth sores that persistently keep coming back are a serious symptom of an underlying condition. In worse-case scenarios, the mouth sores could also be an early sign of oral cancer.

Gum Disease Treatment at Family Dental Care

The good news is that we can treat all stages of gum disease at Family Dental Care – Oak Lawn. However, we have more successful treatments with gingivitis since the consequences of the infection are reversible. Some treatments options for gum disease are:

  1. Antibiotics – to kill the bacteria in the mouth.
  2. Professional deep cleaning – entails root planing and scaling. These procedures scrape plaque and tartar from teeth surfaces.
  3. Gum graft surgery – to repair receded gums. The procedure will entail extracting graft tissue from a different part of your mouth to restore the damaged portion.
  4. Bone graft surgery – is a surgical procedure for periodontitis to repair damaged bone tissue.

Previous Blog Post

What Is the Root Cause of Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a potentially severe life-threatening condition affecting males, females, and children and causing your breathing to stop repeatedly for 10 seconds or more when sleeping. In addition, the disorder results in a lack of oxygen in the blood, briefly awakening you throughout the night. Obstructive and central other two main types of this…

Read More

Jun 21, 2022

Does Invisalign® Work Permanently?

What Is Invisalign?

It is a type of teeth aligner in orthodontic dentistry that straightens malpositioned teeth. Invisalign ®️ braces became an aesthetically-pleasing alternative to traditional metal braces for shifting teeth. Since metal brackets and wires are too conspicuous when you smile, Invisalign provides a better way. Adults have begun to acknowledge the benefits of orthodontic treatment thanks to Invisalign braces.

Invisalign features a transparent plastic-like material that applies controlled pressure over teeth to move them. As such, these aligners are also called clear or invisible braces.

What Are the Unique Features of Invisalign Braces?

Other than that, they are virtually invisible. Invisalign aligners provide many advantages to patients compared to traditional metal braces. Some of them are:

  1. Flexibility – Invisalign braces are removable. Therefore, your dentist in 46321 will not have to give you a list of foods you cannot eat during your treatment. Instead, you can remove your teeth aligners any time you want to eat.
  2. Ease of maintenance – Invisalign aligners require good oral hygiene to maintain their essence of invisibility. Brushing your teeth and rinsing your clear braces before wearing them well ensure they do not get stained. Such dental expectations are not too hard to maintain, compared to the difficulty of keeping clean teeth when you have metal braces.
  3. Fewer adjustments – invisible aligners do not have metal wires. Adjusting them is different from traditional braces. When you visit your dentist, you get a new tray of clear aligners to replace the initial ones. This will continue throughout your treatment, which may take about 32 clear braces.

Are Orthodontic Visits Essential Even with Invisalign?

Although your dentist does not need to keep adjusting your clear aligners to direct the movement of teeth, dental visits are still essential with Invisalign braces. The orthodontic visits will allow your dentist to evaluate the state of your oral cavity throughout your treatment. Besides, you need to change your aligners every six or so weeks. The good news is that you will not need as many orthodontic visits as necessary for traditional metal braces.

How Long Do Invisalign Results Typically Last?

If you are keen to wear your clear aligners properly throughout your treatment, your results can last a lifetime. However, your teeth need reinforcement to allow new bone tissue to regenerate, supporting your teeth in their new positions. At this point, your orthodontist will introduce you to something called a permanent Invisalign retainer.

How Can I Ensure My Results Will Last as Long as Possible?

Although your teeth will look straighter than before, be motivated to maintain your result for a long time. Part of the things you should do after orthodontic treatment are:

  1. Complete your orthodontic treatment – do not stop wearing your invisible aligners just because you notice an improvement in the alignment of your teeth. Follow through with your orthodontist’s treatments plan until the end for the best results.
  2. Wear your retainers – retainers are an important part of post-treatment care after orthodontics with Invisalign. They are types of teeth aligners that hold teeth in position to prevent them from shifting back to their original state. If you start your orthodontic treatment as an adult, you may need to wear retainers for the rest of your life after treatment. Teenagers and children have a better chance of abandoning them soon because their jaws are still developing.
  3. Maintain good oral hygiene – proper oral hygiene will benefit your dental health long term. Besides, the last thing you want is to harbor plaque and tartar in your mouth that causes infections like periodontitis that weakens jawbones and damages gums and teeth.
  4. Eat healthily while avoiding hard foods – chewing hard foods repeatedly places unnecessary pressure on your teeth and jaw. It will not benefit the alignment of your teeth.
  5. Wear a mouthguard – if you are involved in risky activities that may expose you to dental trauma, wear a mouthguard. It is a mouth protector that will protect your teeth from breaking and your jawbone from incurring significant damage.
  6. Seek treatment for teeth grinding – a condition where you gnash your teeth against each other at night when you sleep. Other than wearing down your enamels, teeth grinding can cause a relapse in your orthodontic results.

Previous Blog Post

What Are Some Of The Early Warning Signs Of Periodontal Disease?

What Is Periodontal Disease? It is a term in dentistry referring to infections of the soft tissues in the oral cavity. The infection commonly begins with the gum tissue, hence gum disease. However, periodontal disease concerns a broader spectrum of bacterial infection in the mouth that impacts the health of your jawbone. The periodontal disease…

Read More

Jun 16, 2022

Is It Painful To Remove Impacted Wisdom Tooth?

Many adults have painful memories linked to dental procedures that involve surgery. However, wisdom tooth removal ranks top among the common oral surgeries many adults undergo. The surgery targets the last molars to grow in a human mouth, usually at the furthest corners of the mouth.

What Is an Impacted Wisdom Tooth?

It is a wisdom tooth that has erupted improperly, remaining partially stuck under the gum tissue. Some wisdom teeth can be wholly stuck under the gums. The problem with impacted teeth is that they cause soreness, tenderness, swelling, and pain in your jaw every time you chew. If the inflammation is too significant, it can make even swallowing problematic.

Besides, the improper alignment of the impacted wisdom tooth places unnecessary pressure on adjacent teeth, resulting in orthodontic problems. Instead of needing braces, you should talk to a dentist at Family Dental Care – Evergreen Park for a tooth extraction procedure.

Must You Remove Your Wisdom Tooth?

Dentists will only recommend wisdom tooth extractions for problematic teeth. If your wisdom teeth are healthy, there may not be a need to remove them unless to create more space in your jawbone for orthodontic reasons. Other than that, dentists recommend wisdom tooth removal because it is the best treatment protocol for preserving good oral health.

Procedure for Impacted Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Removing an impacted wisdom tooth is different from a healthy one. Such a procedure entails surgery to access the entire tooth under the gums. The dentist will first numb your mouth, making the procedure painless. Besides that, you need sedation dentistry to keep you calm and relaxed throughout your surgery.

The surgery begins with cutting open the gums, exposing the entire tooth structure. Sometimes the dentist may need to drill through the jawbone to access the tooth, particularly for stubborn wisdom teeth. The dentist will then break it down into manageable sizes for easy extraction. The dentist will fill the void with a special filling when the entire tooth is out before sewing the gums in place. Afterward, (s)he will place gauze over the wound, controlling the bleeding.

Pain After Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Your oral surgeon should prepare you enough for the recovery period after your extraction procedure. The empty socket and open wound will cause throbbing pain in your jaw and gums as if from a toothache. The pain may even cause a headache or pain in other parts of your head. Therefore, dental experts prescribe medication to manage the pain, which is crucial to the first week of recovery. The intensity of the pain should subside by the day, getting better after the one-week mark.

How Long Should It Last?

Dental pain after a wisdom tooth extraction should last about 3-7 days. Some patients take longer than others due to differences in the body’s self-healing pace. However, after 14 days of your extraction, severe tooth pain is unusual and requires immediate evaluation. While at it, consider other symptoms you may be experiencing along with the pain, including:

  1. Swelling that spreads to other parts of your mouth
  2. Persistent bad breath
  3. Bleeding
  4. Pus or other fluids from the extraction site
  5. Mouth sores near the extraction site

Reasons that Explain Abnormal Pain After a Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Although you should anticipate some swelling, tenderness, and discomfort after impacted wisdom teeth removal, it should be bearable.

Excessive dental pain is abnormal and could indicate an underlying problem that needs urgent attention from your dentist in Evergreen Park.

Some of the factors that may explain your severe pain levels are:

  1. Painful dry socket – occurs when you introduce dry air into your extraction wound. It is common for patients who love drinking through straws.

  2. Infection – sometimes, the excruciating pain your feel in your mouth is because the extraction wound is infected. If you have not been keen on proper oral hygiene, bacterial overgrowth may cause an infection in the wound.

  3. Abrasion – even though you are to maintain good oral hygiene after a tooth extraction, don’t be too harsh. Any abrasion around the extraction site can dislodge the blood clot on the wound, causing bleeding and significant pain.

Previous Blog Post

Does Invisalign® Work Permanently?

What Is Invisalign? It is a type of teeth aligner in orthodontic dentistry that straightens malpositioned teeth. Invisalign ®️ braces became an aesthetically-pleasing alternative to traditional metal braces for shifting teeth. Since metal brackets and wires are too conspicuous when you smile, Invisalign provides a better way. Adults have begun to acknowledge the benefits of…

Read More

Jun 11, 2022

What will the dentist do for a broken tooth?

Teeth are built to last a lifetime, but it is not always the case. If you are not intentional with dental care, you may suffer substantial oral damage throughout your life. Some oral problems that affect your teeth structures are chipping, cracking, and breaking.

What Breaks Natural Teeth?

Teeth can break differently and for different causes. The common factors that break natural teeth are:

  1. Bruxism – is also called excessive teeth grinding. It is a dental problem affecting many people when they sleep.

  2. Dental injury or accident – oral trauma is a big reason for broken teeth.

  3. Chewing or biting hard foods – if you have an inclination or preference for hard foods, you may risk damaging your teeth. Foods like popcorn kernels, ice cubes, sugar cane, or hard nuts can break your teeth.

  4. Weak teeth enamel – weakened teeth structures are susceptible to breakage. Your teeth may weaken due to age, genetics, or consuming too many acidic foods.

  5. Poor oral hygiene – results in plaque and tartar buildup that cause dental cavities and gum disease. If your teeth do not break due to dental cavities, they may fall off due to advanced periodontal disease.

How Do Dentists Fix a Chipped Tooth?

Emergency dentists at Family Dental Care – Crestwood prioritize dental protocols for saving natural teeth where possible. Therefore, if you have a chipped or broken tooth, the first line of treatment would be to treat it instead of tooth extraction. Some of the ways a dentist can fix a broken tooth are:

  1. Root canal therapy – is an endodontic procedure that repairs a tooth from the inside. The dentist will remove the damaged portion of the tooth cavity, then fill and crown it to restore its external structure.

  2. Dental filling – a tooth filling is a perfect solution for chipped and broken teeth. A dentist will use a filling material to replace the damaged portion of the root, preventing the entry of bacteria into the internal layers.

How Minor Chips Are Repaired?

Minor chips on your teeth structures may not require drastic restorative measures. For the most part, you only need a dental solution that will restore the tooth’s aesthetics.

  1. Composite bonding – is a dental procedure for repairing the aesthetics of a tooth. Composite resin can contour a chipped or broken tooth, making it good as new.

  2. Dental veneers – are alternative oral appliances in cosmetic dentistry that restore tooth structures, specifically from the front side. This treatment option would be suitable if your broken tooth is not painful or causing underlying dental issues other than aesthetic concerns.

Quick At-Home Treatments for Broken or Knocked-Out Teeth

When you notice that you have a broken or knocked-out tooth, find a way to calm down. Only when you are calm can you treat your oral health with the seriousness it deserves. Some of the things you should do are:

  1. Collect teeth or teeth fragments – make sure you locate the entire tooth or portions of it that have fallen out of your mouth.

  2. Re-insert or store teeth – if you are bold enough for this kind of step, try to restore the tooth in its socket. Be gentle so you do not expose yourself to too much pain. Further, do not try to force the tooth in place. If you cannot re-insert it, store it well. Soak it in milk until you can visit a dentist.

  3. Treat symptoms – admit that you cannot treat the root cause of the pain if you are not a dental expert. Instead, focus on treating your symptoms. Some of the symptoms you are likely to be experiencing are:

  4. Severe tooth pain – take pain medication to manage the discomfort.

  5. Swelling – cold compress with ice is one of the best ways to manage swelling at home. It will constrict the blood vessels in your mouth and reduce the pain.

  6. Bleeding – use a clean washcloth or gauze to regulate the bleeding from the wound. Bite down on the cloth for about 30 minutes and replace it as necessary.

  7. Get help – ultimately, you need the assistance of an emergency dentist in Crestwood to treat your tooth. If you cannot easily locate an emergency dental clinic, find one online and contact a dental expert immediately.

Previous Blog Post

Is It Painful To Remove Impacted Wisdom Tooth?

Many adults have painful memories linked to dental procedures that involve surgery. However, wisdom tooth removal ranks top among the common oral surgeries many adults undergo. The surgery targets the last molars to grow in a human mouth, usually at the furthest corners of the mouth. What Is an Impacted Wisdom Tooth? It is a…

Read More

Jun 06, 2022

What Is Bone Grafting?

It is a dental surgery that restores damaged bone tissue in the oral cavity. Bone graft surgery in Chicago entails obtaining graft tissue from a different part of your body, a human donor, or a synthetic source to repair the damaged bone tissue.

Bone tissue in the oral cavity deteriorates due to jawbone inactivity. If you lose your natural teeth and do not replace them soon, the bone tissue will begin to disintegrate. At this, if you want to replace your teeth with dental implants, you would need a bone grafting surgery beforehand. You can also need bone graft surgery due to congenital disabilities, developmental issues, or traumatic dental injuries.

How Does a Dental Bone Graft Work?

Once your oral surgeon has confirmed the source of the bone graft, he proceeds to extract it. If the graft is from your body, you will undergo two different surgeries. After obtaining the graft, the dentist places it on the target area of your jawbone, places a membrane over it for added protection, then sews the tissues together. The grafting surgery relies on your body to naturally grow and regenerate while integrating the graft tissue.

When Do You Need a Bone Graft?

Surprisingly, bone graft surgeries are common procedures. They help address various dental issues, including the following:

  1. After a tooth extraction – for socket preservation to fill the void that remains once a tooth is removed.
  2. Implantation surgery to receive a dental implant to replace a lost tooth.
  3. Rebuilding the jawbone before receiving dentures.
  4. Treating periodontitis, a severe and advanced stage of gum disease.

How Much Does Dental Bone Grafting Hurt?

The one thing you must know about bone grafting is that it is a surgery. Therefore, it may be uncomfortable, especially during your recovery. The surgery may not be painful because of sedation dentistry and local anesthesia. The anesthesia numbs your mouth while the sedatives keep you calm and relaxed throughout the treatment.

How Long Does Pain Last After Dental Bone Graft

After a dental bone graft, the pain will mostly revolve around swelling, soreness, tenderness, and discomfort. Since it takes about 3-4 months for the bone tissue to fully integrate and heal, you may have a tender jawbone for a while.

However, you should not be experiencing any severe pain levels. Many people liken the pain to healing from a tooth extraction or root canal. Your dentist should prescribe pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs to manage the pain and swelling during recovery.

To promote faster healing and alleviate discomfort during the period, consider the following tips:

  1. Keep your head elevated when you lie down. It will reduce blood pooling in your head, which often aggravates the pain and swelling.
  2. Cold compress with an ice bag. It will alleviate the pain and swelling.
  3. Take your pain medication religiously.
  4. Eat healthily to supply your body with all the necessary nutrients, boosting your immune system to support self-healing.
  5. Rest – Although it may feel like wasting time, resting is crucial for your healing process. It allows your body to concentrate only on recovery instead of every other task you are doing. Make amole time to rest every day while you recover.
  6. Eat soft foods. It may take a couple of days or weeks before you are comfortable with hard foods. The idea is to prevent excessive chewing and abrasion that may compromise the healing pace of your surgical wound.

Benefits of Getting Bone Graft at Family Dental Care

When you visit us at Family Dental Care – Chicago for a bone grafting surgery, you will know you have made the best decision because of the following factors:

  1. High precision – we have top-of-the-line technology that allows our oral surgeons to operate with great precision. It will reduce the accidental damage to healthy tissues in your oral cavity, reducing the healing duration.

  2. Exceptional aftercare services – when you are ready to go home, you will feel equipped to care for your oral health as you heal and recover.

  3. Alternative approaches for sedation – you can choose your sedation method of choice. Some patients prefer sleep dentistry, while others want to be awake during the procedure.

  4. Additional treatment protocols – we can offer you any other dental services you may want, including dental implants or dentures.

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