11/25/2015 10:01:00 AM |
Anonymous
The prospect of a root canal can inspire fear in even the bravest
dental patient. However, there’s no need to fear this procedure. You’ll find
that root canals aren’t nearly as painful or uncomfortable as their reputation
implies, and often they are the best option for saving your teeth from being
extracted. In the long run, root canals can preserve your natural tooth,
allowing you to retain a healthy bite.
The
Problem
It used to be that infected or damaged teeth had no hope of
being restored and were addressed by being extracted. This tactic had many
drawbacks. Tooth extractions bring on their own slew of dental problems if the
tooth is not subsequently replaced, including causing neighboring teeth to
shift, distorting your healthy bite, and diminishing jaw bone density over
time.
How Can a
Root Canal Help?
A root canal keeps as much of your natural tooth as is
possible, maintaining your jaw strength and keeping your other teeth healthy
and in place.
During root canal treatment, the infected tooth pulp is
removed, and the interior of the tooth is cleaned, filled, and sealed. After
this is done, a crown or filling is applied to the tooth to protect it. After
this work is done, your tooth will work just like any other healthy tooth.
This procedure can be done in as few as two dental
appointments, one for the procedure and the second for crown delivery. A root
canal is a conservative approach to dentistry, saving the patient time, money,
and discomfort.
Benefits
of Saving Your Natural Tooth
A root canal saves your natural tooth, and that provides many
immediate and long-term benefits, such as:
- Preserves a natural appearance
- Maintains a normal bite
- Protects other healthy teeth
- Improves chewing efficiency
Make an Appointment with Southwest
Family Dental
If you have a damaged
or infected tooth, don’t wait till it’s causing excruciating pain before coming
in to see us. Make an appointment at our Bakersfield dental office so we can
discuss options and restore your oral health.
11/17/2015 8:01:00 AM |
Anonymous
There
are many factors that lead to tooth loss. While often thought of as a problem singularly
affecting elderly patients, younger individuals also undergo dental trauma,
damage or decay, and medical conditions that may require them to look for tooth
replacement options. With several to choose from, dentures present its own set
of benefits and disadvantages. Conventional dentures and dental implant
supported dentures are two option to replace missing teeth and your dentist
will help you determine which solution will best fit your personal dental
needs.
Defining the Differences
Both
dental implant-supported dentures and conventional dentures offer comprehensive
solutions for individuals suffering from tooth loss. However, there are certain
benefits associated with dental implants that may not be accessible with
conventional dentures. The differences between the two options affect the level
of stability and comfort.
Conventional dentures- Conventional dentures are
fully removable, and must be taken out daily to be cleaned. Without implants to
support the restoration, the denture rests on the gums.
Dental Implant-Supported
Dentures-
This type of denture is attached to and supported by dental implants, and is fused to
the bone for durability and longevity. This option is viable when a patient
does not have any teeth in their mouth, but has enough bone in their jaw to
support an implant. Your denture may snap on to make daily cleaning easy or can
be fixed to the implants, leaving patients with a permanent set of replacement teeth.
Weighing Your Options
Many
people find that dental implant-supported dentures offer many benefits over
conventional dentures. Implant-supported dentures are more stable and will
create a more confident smile throughout the day. These implants will not move
during eating or speaking for an improved quality of life.
Since
conventional dentures need to rest on your gums, patients need to keep them
stable with adhesive resins that may not last throughout the day, causing the
plates to slip around when speaking or chewing. Additionally, dentures may
cause discomfort as the plates irritate the soft tissue inside the mouth.
Some
patients may not have enough bone to support implants and will need to opt this
traditional solution. Others may not be keen on surgical placement or may not
have the money or insurance benefits to support the added cost of dental
implants.
Make an Appointment!
If
left untreated, missing teeth can lead to many different oral and long-term overall
health problems. If you have one or more missing teeth, contact our Bakersfield dental office to schedule a consultation and learn about your options to
restore your smile.
10/23/2015 3:58:00 PM |
Anonymous
When
it comes to orthodontics for children, there is no “one size fits all”
solution. While some children will require orthodontic treatment in phases,
spanning years and starting early in life, others will be able to skip early
treatments and go right into getting braces at an older age. Whether your child
will need treatments in phases or not, it’s important to understand all of your
options before committing to one orthodontic treatment.
Phase I Orthodontic Treatment
Also
known as “Early Treatment,” Phase I Orthodontics begin when the patient is
between the ages of 7 to 10. Early treatment is highly effective for children
who will need some form of braces to correct bite problems due to skeletal
imbalance issues, overcrowding, or misaligned teeth when there is a mix of baby
and adult teeth.
Ideally,
Phase I Orthodontics is designed to create a better environment for the
introduction of adult teeth, and to correct jaw problems when the growth and
size of the jaws are still malleable. While not every child needing braces
needs this preliminary orthodontic treatment, those that have undergone Phase I
Orthodontics have greatly benefited from this form of
early intervention. This phase of treatment takes about 6 to 12 months and
could include one or more types of treatment using orthodontia including:
- Expanders
- Spacers
- Braces
- Retainers
Phase II Orthodontic Treatment
The
majority of patients that undergo Phase I Orthodontic care will require a
second round of treatment once adult teeth come in. Sometimes, this secondary
treatment is less involved than what it would have been if the Phase I
treatment was not implemented. This second phase of treatment will take about
12 to 24 months.
Conventional Treatment
Traditional
braces are implemented after all of the patient’s permanent teeth have come in.
On average, patients receiving conventional braces are around 11 to 13 years of
age, having not undergone Phase I and II orthodontic treatments. On average,
children who go right into conventional braces may need teeth extracted or
surgery to expand the palate in order to create a healthy bite.
Orthodontics in Bakersfield
With
so many different treatments available, it is important to visit your
orthodontist early. At Southwest Family Dentistry, we recommend bringing your
child in for their first orthodontic appointment by age seven. At this stage,
their permanent teeth are starting to come in and problem areas can be
pinpointed quickly.
Don’t
wait until your child starts experiencing discomfort or low self-esteem because
of their smile. Schedule a consultation at Southwest Family Dentistry to see if
phase orthodontic treatment or conventional braces would benefit your
child. Contact us today!
8/24/2015 1:30:00 PM |
Anonymous
We're excited to announce the official launch of our Southwest Family Dentistry blog.
We'll be posting helpful dental tips, news from the dental industry, news from our practice, and more about the latest in dentistry.
We built our practice on the notion that we're there for our patients when they need us and we want our online presence to be a reflection of that principle. We hope this blog provides an extra level of service to our current and future patients.
If you would like to stay up to date on the latest from Southwest Family Dentistry, simply click the RSS “Subscribe to feed” link located on our website and subscribe. Our subscribers will be updated when we make a new blog post.
Here's to your best oral health ever!