Author: LInCo_aDmEeN
What Does Restorative Mean in Dentistry?
What Is Restorative Dentistry?
Restorative dentistry focuses on restoring the function and appearance of teeth damaged by decay, trauma, or disease. It can involve using fillings, crowns, bridges, implants, and other prostheses to restore your smile. Restorative dentistry also includes treatments such as root canal therapy and periodontal therapy. Restorative dentists are trained to evaluate the condition of your teeth and recommend treatments that will help restore their oral health.
There are several therapeutic procedures, and they include:
- Root canal
It’s an endodontic (inside the tooth) procedure that removes infected tissue from inside the tooth, cleans out any debris, and fills the chamber with a sealant.
Root canals are usually required when decay has reached the pulp or nerve of a tooth, which causes pain and sensitivity to hot/cold foods or beverages. When left untreated, this decay can continue to spread until it reaches areas that support your teeth structure; at this point, it may cause serious damage to your jawbone.
- Dental fillings
Dental fillings are used to repair cavities in your teeth. When a tooth has a cavity, it’s usually because the outer layer (the enamel) has worn away and has been exposed to bacteria and other harmful substances. A dental filling can help restore the strength and appearance of your smile by restoring this protective layer and preventing further damage from occurring to keep you healthy for years to come.
- Dental crowns
Dental crowns cover the entire surface of a tooth. They’re used to restore teeth damaged by decay or injury or improve their appearance. Crowns are often made from porcelain but can also be made from gold alloys (gold crowns), zirconium oxide ceramic, or stainless steel (stainless steel crown).
Dental crowns encase the entire upper portion of your natural tooth like it was never gone.
- Dental bridges
A tooth bridge replaces one or more missing teeth and comprises two crowns cemented onto the teeth on either side of the space. The crowns are attached to a false tooth called a pontic.
The false teeth can be made from porcelain or metal, depending on your dentist’s recommendation and preference. Dr. Brion Dalton will prepare your teeth by trimming the enamel and creating a mold to fabricate the permanent bridges.
- Dental implants
Teeth implants are artificial tooth roots placed in your jawbone to support crowns, bridges, and dentures. They can last for many years.
The procedure involves placing a titanium implant into the bone of your upper or lower jawbone to support an artificial tooth (crown). The implant is designed to fuse with the surrounding bone tissue, creating a strong foundation for your new teeth.
What Are The Benefits Of Restorative Dentistry?
There are several benefits of visiting a dental clinic near you for restorative dentistry and here are the benefits:
- It can help you to keep your teeth for a longer time.
- It improves your appearance by making it look more natural and attractive.
- It can improve your overall health by preventing gum disease and cavities, which may lead to serious health problems like heart disease or diabetes.
- It can improve self-confidence by allowing patients who have had missing or damaged teeth in the past to feel good about themselves again.
Who are the Patients of the Restorative Dentistry
Restorative dentistry is for people who have lost teeth. It’s also for people who have damaged or crooked teeth. The restorative dentist in Lincoln, NE, will ensure that the restorations they put on your teeth look natural so that you can smile confidently.
What is the Process of Restorative Process?
The process of restorative dentistry is a multi-step procedure that involves:
- The dentist in Lincoln examines to assess the severity of your oral health conditions and determine if restorative treatment is necessary.
- If you are deemed a candidate for restorative dentistry, then the dentist will recommend a course of treatment that meets all your needs. This can include filling cavities, replacing missing teeth, and restoring broken ones with crowns or bridges.
Rejuvenate Your Smile With Restorative Treatment From Lincoln Dental Associates
Do you feel like your teeth are not as healthy and beautiful as they could be? If so, then treatment may be the solution for you. Restorative treatment can help improve your teeth’ appearance and restore them to their former glory. It can reduce pain and discomfort associated with tooth decay or other oral health issues. Restorative treatment can rejuvenate your smile and make you feel confident in social situations again. Visit Lincoln Dental Associates for assistance.
The Benefits of Restorative Dentistry for Your Kid’s Oral Health
Restorative dentistry helps repair children’s dental problems to fix or return them to optimal shape and functionality. Repairing or restoring damaged and faulty teeth is also a part of restorative dentistry.
What Do Restorative Dentists Do?
Restorative dentists help replace or treat missing or damaged teeth. Whether your child has developed a cavity, experienced trauma, or has aesthetic or functional dental issues, restorative dentistry in Lincoln, NE, effectively restores the teeth ensuring they have a healthy smile and a beautiful appearance.
When Do Restorations Become Essential?
Teeth cannot heal or regenerate if damaged by chips, cracks, or cavities. The damage might necessitate the need for extraction if children do not receive timely treatment. Extensively damaged teeth need comprehensive restorations with dental crowns, endodontic therapy, or pulpotomy. Getting a damaged tooth restored in a timely fashion allows your child to retain their natural teeth essential for ensuring oral function, orthodontic progress, and healthy occlusion.
What Procedures Are Most Commonly Used in Restorative Dentistry for Children?
- Pulpotomy: if your child experiences significant decay and pain from an infected tooth and the pollution is close to reaching the dental pulp, the pediatric dentist in Lincoln, NE, suggests performing a pulpotomy or nerve therapy. If your child doesn’t receive timely treatment, they may develop a severe infection and lose their tooth.
- Stainless Steel Crowns: Incorrectly formed primary molars with fractures or fractures that have received a pulpotomy require a stainless steel crown to safeguard the remaining tooth. Crowns also help when extensive and deep cavities have damaged the tooth making it essential to preserve.
- Silver or Tooth Colored Fillings: Fillings are beneficial to restore teeth drilled to remove decay. Cavities needing a filling are not extensively damaged. When filling a hole, dentists clean the decayed portion of the tooth with a dental drill and fill the hollow space using silver amalgam or tooth-colored fillings to ensure your child’s aesthetic appearance is not impacted.
- Extractions: children require extractions for various reasons. Dentists may suggest an extraction if your child has an extensive cavity or is ill with a severe condition. Tooth removal also becomes a requirement if a child has spacing problems such as crowding or if they need orthodontic treatment to straighten misaligned teeth.
- Space Maintainers: Space maintainers help preserve space for a permanent tooth if a primary tooth is lost early or extracted due to reasons described earlier. Your child can develop orthodontic problems if the empty void is left open because the teeth neighboring the edentulous gap start drifting towards it. The teeth in the opposite jaw can also move upwards or downwards towards the space to prevent the permanent tooth from emerging correctly. Space maintainers are temporary restorations that are removed when the new tooth emerges or the teeth around them loosen.
The Aim of Restorative Dentistry
Restorative dentistry aims to prevent damage to the remaining teeth and maintain your child’s ability to eat, drink, and speak without experiencing discomfort. Restorative dentistry also considers aesthetic restoration to support appropriate tooth functionality and improve your child’s oral health.
Please schedule a consultation with our Lincoln pediatric dentist
If you are concerned about your child’s dental health and think they might need restorative dentistry, kindly do not hesitate to schedule a consultation with Lincoln pediatric dentistry in Lincoln, NE, to ensure your child’s oral health receives timely treatment for the conditions described above. Allowing your child’s dental issues to remain untreated ensures they experience more discomfort and eventually lose their teeth.
A meeting with the practice to discuss your child’s dental health ensures you receive the answers you need to restore your child’s dental health regardless of the problem. The practice offers compassionate and gentle dentistry for children and teenagers, aiming to ensure your child develops and maintains a positive association with dental care doing everything possible to create a pleasant and fun atmosphere for children.
Do not consider restorative dentistry insignificant because a damaged tooth from decay or impacts on the mouth continues worsening until you receive treatment from an experienced restorative dentist for yourself or your child. Children’s teeth are similar to adult teeth but need additional care because they are in their developmental stages. Therefore whenever you notice your child complaining about pain or returning with dental trauma, visit the Lincoln pediatric dentist’s office to ensure they receive the restorative treatments needed without delay.
Lincoln Dental Associates provides restorative dentistry for children offering different treatments to help fix their damaged, decayed, or diseased teeth. Consult the practice with your child if they are affected by the above conditions.
Why is preventive dentistry important?
Preventive dentistry aims to prevent dental issues such as tooth decay, cavities, or gum disease. Prevention dental care isn’t just the twice-a-year dental checkups. It also involves daily practices to keep your oral structure healthy and strong. These practices include a proper diet, oral hygiene, and wearing mouthguards when engaging in physical activities like sports. According to our dentist in Lincoln, preventive dentistry offers a variety of benefits, such as time, pain, and money.
Types of Preventive Dental Care
In dentistry, preventive dental care involves taking care of our teeth to protect them from serious dental diseases. We provide our patients with various preventative dental care options at Lincoln Dental Associates. Some of them include the following:
- Oral Exam. During an oral exam, the dentist will look closely at your mouth for early signs of gum disease, oral cancer, and other dental issues.
- Professional dental cleaning. This is an expert dental brushing and flossing done at the dental office to remove plaque and tartar buildup.
- Diagnostic tests. These are tests such as the X-ray done to examine the severity of a possible dental issue found in your mouth.
- Dental sealants. Sealants are plastic coatings painted on your teeth’s surface, especially the molars. They provide our teeth with extra protection from cavities.
Benefits of preventive dental care
The following are benefits that come with having preventive dentistry in Lincoln.
Prevents Dental Decay and Cavities
Dental cavities can cause pain and discomfort in our oral health. Having proper oral hygiene at home prevents the formation of cavities. Additionally, during regular dental checkups, the dentist can professionally clean and eliminate tarter buildup avoiding cavities. Fluoride treatments and dental sealants may also be applied to provide your teeth with extra protection.
Eliminates Bad Breath
Having bad breath can be unfortunate for someone’s life. It can affect your social interaction and self-esteem. While bad breath is unpleasant, it could signify an infection or tooth decay. Regular dental cleanings and various preventive dental treatments will help you treat the root cause. Visit our dentist near you to avoid finding yourself in embarrassing situations such as the bad breath.
It avoids Serious Health Issues.
There are several health conditions known to begin to form in the mouth. Poor oral hygiene and tooth decay can lead to inflammation in your whole body. This is because bacteria from oral issues such as gum disease can enter your bloodstream. According to Dr. Brion Dalton, practicing preventive dental care can help avoid unnecessary health complications like blood infections.
Prevents Gum Disease
Letting plaque and tartar build up in your teeth and gums increases your chances of gum disease. Gum disease begins with gingivitis and, with time, can develop in severity and become periodontitis. Dental checkups allow the dentist to detect signs of gum disease in its early stages.
Long-Term Dental Investment
Having professional preventive dental care regularly will save you time and money in the long run. Dental insurance plans cover most dental checkup routines. Additionally, even if you don’t have dental insurance coverage, paying for a dental cleaning twice a year is cheaper than paying for root canals or implants.
Brighter Smile
Besides the promise of better oral and overall health, you will maintain a bright and attractive smile through preventive dental care. Regular dental cleanings eliminate dental stains. Therefore, you don’t have to invest in professional whitening products with preventive dentistry.
At-Home Preventive Dental Care Tips
In addition to professional preventive dental care practices, there are also at-home tips we can adopt to keep our mouths healthy and strong. Remember the following tips as you look forward to your regular dental checkups from our dental office in Lincoln.
- Brushing. At least twice a day, brush your teeth in the morning and before bed. Don’t forget to pay attention to your teeth and gums. Use the recommended fluoride toothpaste by the dentist.
- Flossing. At least once a day, floss your teeth meticulously to eliminate those food particles between your teeth.
- Mouthguards. Always wear a mouth guard if you are a sports person or participate in accident-prone activities. It will protect your teeth from direct trauma, which could lead to tooth loss or a broken tooth.
- Balanced diet. A proper diet is important to our overall well-being. For example, avoiding sugary, hard, or chewy foods. Remember, our state of health reflects our diet.
If you want affordable, preventive dental care services in Lincoln, visit our dentist at 68505.
Is Getting a Crown a Painful Procedure?
A tooth crown, also known as a dental cap, is an artificially made tooth cover that is placed on top of a pontic tooth to act as a crown. The purpose of a dental cap is to restore a tooth’s normal shape, size, and functionality.
Before taking you through the dental crown procedure and answering the question of whether the crown placement procedure is painful, you need to first understand what a crown is, the best types of crowns in the market, and the role they play in promoting good oral care.
But first, here are reasons why one may need to get dental crowns in Lincoln.
- Damaged tooth
When a tooth breaks or cracks due to oral trauma or other causes, visit an Emergency Dentist In Lincoln because the damage suffered will compromise the tooth’s integrity and functionality. This will definitely affect your smile appearance and may as well interfere with your chewing. One of the best ways of restoring the original tooth’s shape, size, and support for it to function properly is getting a crown at Lincoln Dental Associates.
- Tooth discoloration
A tooth crown can be recommended by a dentist near you for cosmetic reasons too. For example, dental crowns improve the smile appearance of people with dental flaws such as discolored teeth, poorly aligned teeth, and teeth of disproportionate size.
- Missing tooth
When you lose a tooth, the gap left behind causes the adjacent teeth to shift out of place or wear unevenly, hence why Dr. Brion Dalton, a dentist in 68505, recommends early tooth replacement. There are various teeth replacement options, and one of the most popular is dental implants topped with implant crowns. It involves placing an implant on healthy gums and jawbone and fixing a tooth crown at the top to improve tooth appearance and function.
- Tooth decay
Tooth decay is normally a result of poor dental hygiene, and it weakens a tooth’s structure. If you have a tooth affected in such a way, you can get a tooth crown to cover it and make it stronger again. This is usually the case if your tooth has not suffered extensive decay.
- Root canal
Following the completion of a root canal procedure, it is necessary for a dental crown to be placed at the tooth’s top part to seal bacteria out and prevent them from causing infection.
How Long Does a Crown Tooth Procedure Take?
A fully functioning dental crown will require at least two visits to our dentist in Lincoln for it to be placed unless you opt for same-day crowns. When getting multi-day crowns, your dental practitioner will examine and prepare your tooth that requires the crown. This may involve dental x-rays and an oral exam. Next, the professional will file down some parts of the tooth’s outer layer, and an impression of the trimmed tooth and surrounding teeth is taken.
A temporary tooth cap is placed over your tooth as a form of protection as you wait for the permanent crown to be made. This may take a number of weeks. When the crown is set back from the dental lab, you will return for your second appointment, where the permanent crown will be cemented to your tooth.
When getting same-day crowns, your dental practitioner will take digital images of your oral cavity. These pictures will provide the details needed for the crown to be made right there at your dentist’s office. Making the tooth crown will take around an hour or two.
Once it is ready, the dentist will cement it in place. This whole process will last for about two to four hours. You should, however, note that not all dental offices have the technical skills and technology to make same-day dental crowns. Make sure to ask the dentist if the same-day crown is available and how much it will cost.
How Many Crowns Can You Get at One Time?
How many crowns you get at a single visit will vary depending on the type of crown you choose and how long your visit is scheduled to take. For instance, one-day crowns need just a single visit at our Dental Office In Lincoln. However, these crowns have a short life span compared to permanent dental crowns.
Benefits of Preventive Dentistry
When most people hear about dental appointments, it brings dread and anxiety. There are several reasons why people feel this way, like having bad experiences with dentists in the past.
In reality, paying a visit to your dentist in Lincoln Dental Associates saves you much more money, suffering, and pain in the long run.
Preventive dental care is important because it provides physical health benefits and improves social interaction. If you’ve never considered having regular oral appointments, there are some reasons you should book the appointment.
Why is Preventative Oral Care Important?
There are many benefits you get from having preventive oral care. They include:
Prevent Cavities
Paying regular visits to your dentist helps prevent cavity formation. However, no matter how perfect you are with flossing and brushing, reaching every cranny and nook of the mouth is still difficult.
Having teeth professionally cleaned helps eliminate tartar and plaque buildup and helps avoid painful cavities.
Our dentist in 68505 can also apply dental sealants and fluoride treatment to your teeth to protect them from cavities.
Eliminate Bad Breath
Having bad breath is not just unpleasant but tricky and can also be a sign of an infection or decay. If you’re struggling with bad breath, you should have regular dental cleanings and preventative dentistry near you. This will help you get to the bottom of the problem and solve it.
Prevent Gum Disease
When one lets plaque and tartar buildup on their gums and teeth, they increase their risk of developing gum diseases such as gingivitis. Also, another form of gum disease is called periodontitis which is more severe inflation of the gums that destroys the jawbones.
The sooner the dentist catches the signs of gum disease, the more they’ll eliminate the irritation and keep your gums and teeth healthy.
Taking preventative steps such as fluoride treatment helps one avoid gum disease. This prevents erosion and makes it easier to fight off the bacteria that cause disease in the mouth.
Catch Jaw Problems Early
Many people don’t realize they have TMJ disorder or grind their teeth. However, when these problems are unchecked, they cause issues like severe tension headaches and Joe misalignments.
Your dentist in Lincoln will know about these disorders and make you special appliances that prevent the disorders from getting worse.
Save Money
Visiting your dentist near you more often for preventative treatment helps save you money in the long run. In addition, if one has dental insurance, cleanings are normally covered, so one won’t have to pay anything out of pocket when one goes in.
Even if one doesn’t have insurance, it’s cheaper to pay for cleanings twice a year than for dental implants or root canals. But with a dental cleaning, you’ll go for years without seeing your dentist for another oral problem.
Helps You Avoid Serious Health Problems
Several serious health conditions usually start in the mouth.
Poor oral hygiene and tooth decay cause inflammation throughout your body, putting you at risk of diseases. This usually happens because poor dental hygiene practices make bacteria easier to enter the bloodstream. Some diseases that are linked to poor oral health include
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Osteoporosis
- Respiratory disease
- Heart disease
Also, poor oral hygiene can lead to low body weight and premature birth if you’re pregnant.
Prevent Injuries
If your kid plays sports, you are an emergency dentist in Lincoln who can make a mouth guard to keep the kid’s teeth safe during their favorite activities. In addition, it will be a lot cheaper and easier to pay for teeth cleaning than trying and having them repaired after a bad tackle.
Get Gentler Treatments
Do you hate visiting the dentist because you find the cleaning process uncomfortable? You should keep in mind that it will only get to us the longer you go without the treatment.
When one goes to the dentist every six months, it takes much less effort for a dental hygienist to scrub tartar and plaque from the teeth.
Improve Your Smile Appearance
Preventative dentistry in our dental office in Lincoln is necessary for maintaining a bright and attractive smile. Having your teeth professionally cleaned twice yearly will eliminate discoloration and plaque. This helps your teeth look better after cleaning.
How Do Dental Crowns Work & Are They Painful?
Dental crowns, alternatively called tooth caps, are excellent restorative solutions for damaged or decayed teeth that significantly improve your oral health. Unfortunately, many patients needing a dental crown don’t know what these restorations mean or how painful it is to get a dental crown.
This article explains how tooth crowns work and how much pain you must endure when getting them to protect your natural tooth. Kindly continue learning from this article everything you want to know about dental crowns.
How Does a Dental Crown Work?
Dental crowns function after they are customized to fit over your natural tooth like a snug hat. The tooth cap helps restore the strength, size, durability, and aesthetic appearance of a tooth severely decayed or damaged besides discolored because of infections or injuries.
Dental crowns also function as restorations for teeth recently undergone root canal therapy to eradicate infections to the dental pulp. However, the treatment renders the tooth fragile and prone to fractures. In addition, crowns help support dental bridges or function as your artificial tooth over dental implants if you have missing teeth. Crowns also help enhance the aesthetic appearance of your smile if you have a discolored tooth from infections or injuries.
Crowns serve different purposes according to your specific needs and are customized to match your remaining teeth and remain inconspicuous in your mouth.
What Kind of Crowns Can You Get?
Various materials help make dental crowns, including gold and stainless steel, porcelain fused to metal, all-porcelain, or all ceramic and resin. All crowns available from the dentist near you are appropriate to protect teeth. However, some might not suit your specific needs or aesthetic preferences or might not match the budgetary constraints. Therefore when restoring your teeth, a consultation with the Lincoln dentist is essential before you decide on a specific variety of crowns for your tooth.
Are Dental Crowns Painful?
When considering restoring your tooth, you must schedule at least two appointments with the dentist in Lincoln before you can have the restoration over your tooth.
During your first visit, dentist 68505 examines your tooth, taking x-rays of it and the surrounding bone. If you have infections in the tooth, the dentist might recommend undergoing root canal treatment before proceeding with the dental crown procedure. However, if no conditions are present, the dentist gives you local anesthesia to ensure you don’t feel discomfort while preparing your tooth.
The dental office in Lincoln must reshape your tooth by filing the tops and sides and removing the tooth structure past the enamel to accommodate the restoration. You will likely feel pressure in the mouth but no pain because of the local anesthesia. After tooth preparation, the Lincoln dentist impressions the tooth and your remaining teeth to create a mold for a dental laboratory to customize your crown. Temporary acrylic crowns protect the exposed tooth in your mouth while you wait for the dental laboratory to return your personalized restoration in approximately three weeks.
You can revisit Dr. Brian Dalton to have your tooth fixed after three weeks when the dental laboratory returns your customized restoration. During your second visit, the dentist starts the process by removing the acrylic crowns and placing the customized restoration to check for color and fit. If everything is acceptable, the dentist uses special dental cement on the crown to finally bond it over your natural tooth encasing it entirely. As you leave the dental office, you receive instructions on appropriately caring for the dental crown to ensure you don’t require replacements faster than imagined.
Caring for Dental Crowns
Caring for dental crowns doesn’t pose a significant challenge because the restoration requires similar care as your natural teeth. Brushing twice daily, flossing once, and getting six monthly dental prophylaxis helps you maintain the repair for five to 15 years to protect your tooth.
It helps if you remember the crown encases your natural tooth, which remains beneath it. Therefore you must remain cautious not to allow dental plaque to accumulate beneath the dental crown because it might make treatments from the emergency dentist in Lincoln necessary for conditions like tooth decay for the encased tooth. Dental conditions on a fixed tooth require removal of the crown and possibly a new replacement after undergoing the necessary treatments.
Dental crowns provided by Lincoln Dental Associates are excellent restorations for damaged, decayed, or missing teeth. Crowns are not painful and function appropriately for the situation you need them. Therefore if you are affected by any conditions described in this article, kindly do not hesitate to contact this practice to fix your teeth without delay.
Most Common Dental Emergencies
What are Dental Emergencies?
An oral emergency is any bruising, injury, or trauma to the teeth, gums, and supporting tissue, and it causes swelling, bleeding, or soreness.
Oral emergencies can happen for all sorts of reasons, from a knocked-out tooth to a piece of toothbrush wire getting stuck in your gums. Although dental emergencies are serious problems, not all require a trip to an emergency dentist near you. Some mouth trauma needs urgent treatment, while others can wait for the earliest appointment. Knowing urgent and non-urgent dental emergencies is crucial save time and money.
Dental Emergencies Near You
- Knocked Out Tooth
Your teeth can be knocked out after a fall or contact with an object. Avulsed teeth can lead to serious problems if not appropriately addressed. If you knock out your tooth, remaining calm is most important. The next step is to find the tooth and rinse it with water if possible. Next, put the tooth in a cup of milk or a container of saliva and take it to your dentist.
If the tooth is only partially avulsed, push it back to the socket using the crown. Avoid the temptation of pulling the tooth; only an emergency dentist in Lincoln can determine if the tooth can be saved or not.
- Broken Tooth
Fractured teeth can be mild or severe, and the condition of the teeth will determine if you need a trip to an emergency dentist in Lincoln or wait for the earliest appointment. Mild fractures can be treated at home with remedies. However, you need urgent treatment if the fracture extends to the roots.
Rinse your mouth with lukewarm saline water, and use an ice pack to ease swelling if present. Depending on the severity of the tooth fracture, your dentist may be able to fix it right away or may need to do a more extensive repair.
- Abscessed Tooth
Abscessed teeth are one of the most common dental emergencies. An abscess is the buildup of pus in the gums and forms in response to infection.
It can cause pain, swelling, and redness in the mouth. If you have an abscessed tooth, you should see a dentist as soon as possible.
An abscess can spread the infection to other parts of the body and may cause widespread inflammation left untreated. In most cases, the dentist near you prescribes medication to treat the infection.
- Soft tissue injury
These can occur if you have a cut on your lips or tongue. These injuries can lead to bleeding and increase your risk of getting an infection if not treated. If you’ve been bitten on the lip or tongue, you first need to clean the wound. Rinse it and then apply a cold compress to the area to reduce swelling. If it’s a deep cut, you may need stitches, so go to the hospital as soon as possible.
- Bleeding Gums
If you’re experiencing bleeding gums, you likely have gingivitis, a mild gum disease. Plaque buildup is the primary cause of gingivitis, which can be treated and reversed with a good oral hygiene routine.
The gum infection can spread and lead to periodontitis (If not treated on time and correctly), a severe problem that causes bone and teeth loss. You must visit a dentist in 68505 for an assessment and treatment if you notice persistent gum bleeding after brushing or flossing.
How to Handle Dental Emergencies?
- Use an ice pack to reduce swelling
- Avoid touching your mouth to reduce the risk of infection.
- Do not take pain medications unless the dentist advises because some can worsen the bleeding.
- Visit a dental office in Lincoln immediately (preferably an hour after the dental trauma).
Take Action
A dental trauma might occur at any time, so it’s important to be prepared. Knowing the most common dental emergencies, you can take the appropriate steps to remedy the situation as quickly as possible.
Visit Lincoln Dental Associates for assistance when a dental emergency occurs. Most dental emergencies can be resolved quickly and without further damage with timely treatment.
Which Is Best for You; Partial Denture or Full Dentures?
What Are Dentures?
They are multiple artificial teeth bound to a gum-like plastic-like base that restore missing teeth in dentistry. Dentists in 68505 typically use dentures to help restore optimal oral functionality for patients, given that teeth play a sizeable role in oral health.
For many years dentures were renowned for restoring old people’s teeth. The reason is that many people lose multiple, if not all, of their natural teeth because of age. However, since various factors can cause tooth loss, even young people can lose multiple teeth in one go. Does that mean that young people cannot get dentures?
Understanding Partial and Full Dentures
Many times when people talk about dentures, they refer to complete dentures. They feature all teeth, meaning that they work best for toothless patients. Therefore, if you have a few natural teeth remaining, a dentist near you would need to extract them before placing dentures. However, the introduction of partial & full dentures in Lincoln, NE, in modern dentistry provides patients with different options. Instead of removing your remaining teeth, you can receive a partial denture, replacing only the lost ones.
Role of Dentures in Oral Health
You will never quite appreciate the value of your natural teeth until you lose multiple of them in a go. Teeth are necessary for crucial functions like speech and eating. Since teeth are important for major functions of the mouth, Dr. Brion Dalton will begin your treatment immediately after tooth loss. At this point, the priority will be the functionality of your mouth.
However, teeth also play a big role in your aesthetics, supporting the facial muscles to frame your face. It is the reason cosmetic dentists near you will also recommend tooth replacement appliances like dentures to benefit your aesthetics. Fortunately, a dentist near you can replace all your missing teeth with dentures, whether you prioritize your smile’s aesthetics or your mouth’s functionality.
When Do You Need Dentures?
You are the perfect candidate for dentures as long as you lose more than three teeth in a row. For less than three subsequently missing teeth, visit a dental office in Lincoln to get dental bridges or dental implants, perfect for single-tooth replacements. Either way, any of the following factors can contribute to premature tooth loss:
- Periodontal disease – is perhaps the leading cause of tooth loss among adults. Periodontal diseases occur in two primary stages, gingivitis and periodontist. The early stage of the infection is gingivitis, which can often be managed to prevent permanent consequences. However, if you delay seeking treatment, you will suffer from periodontitis, which often causes tooth loss.
- Aging – the older you get, the more likely you will need tooth replacement treatment protocols at Lincoln Dental Associates.
- Dental injuries or accidents – the trauma you incur in your mouth after an accident often merits attention from an emergency dentist in Lincoln. While not everyone loses their teeth, several other injuries like fractures can necessitate tooth removal.
- Severe dental decay – if you leave dental cavities untreated for a long time, they progress enough to merit a drastic tooth extraction procedure.
Which Dentures Should You Choose?
The decision between partial and full dentures should not be complex, especially if you liaise with a denturist near you. Ideally, consider the following factors to make a suitable decision for your oral health:
- The number of missing teeth – if you have over 80% of your natural teeth missing, it would be more logical to get full dentures than partial ones.
- Preferences – if you want uniformity, you may be okay with extracting your remaining natural teeth to get dentures instead. However, some patients are adamant about retaining their natural teeth, whatever the cost.
- Risk of infection – if you are at a high risk of dental infections even the remaining healthy teeth in your mouth can get damaged and begin to fall off. Therefore, getting partials would defeat the point since you may soon require another denture to replace the other teeth. Complete dentures are perfect for patients with underlying health problems that may increase the rate of oral infections, including diabetes and cancer.
- Convenience – would it be convenient to undergo several tooth extractions before getting dentures? If retaining your remaining teeth is more convenient than removing them, then partials would be a better fit for your tooth replacement treatment.
What are the Precautionary Steps After Going Tooth Extractions?
What is a Tooth Extraction?
Tooth removal is a surgical procedure that pulls teeth from the mouth. A dentist or oral surgeon usually performs this procedure.
Tooth extraction can be done for various reasons such as:
- A cavity or deep decay that has penetrated to the root and developed into a periodontal (gum) infection.
- A damaged, broken, or cracked tooth.
- An impacted tooth (a tooth that is not growing properly).
- A gum infection that has developed around food debris or bacteria. The infection can cause a tooth abscess, which can cause pain.
If you suspect a tooth abscess, you should see an emergency dentist in Lincoln right away to prevent an infection from reaching the surrounding tissues.
What Can You Expect After Tooth Extraction?
After tooth extraction in Lincoln, NE, you will experience bleeding, swelling, soreness, and pain. These problems will clear with time, but it is crucial to follow the instructions given by Dr. Brion Dalton to prevent complications.
Tooth Extraction Post-Op Instructions
How you care for the surgical area will determine how fast you recover.
- Avoid spicy and sugary foods.
Avoid spicy, greasy, or acidic foods as they can irritate the mouth and may cause you to experience discomfort and swelling.
Drink lots of water and avoid smoothies and other beverages rich in sugar. Sugar, especially simple sugar such as that found in fruit juices, can increase the swelling of the mouth and gum tissues after tooth extraction.
- Compression
If possible, you should immediately begin compressing the extraction site with a bandage or other soft, sterile bandage. This will help relieve the pressure applied to the extraction site and prevent swelling of the gums.
- Keep the site clean and dry.
You should avoid applying pressure on the extraction, as this can irritate the gums and cause bleeding. You should also avoid applying creams or gels to the extraction site. Keep the extraction site clean, dry, and free of debris.
- Brush carefully
After the tooth was removed, the tooth socket, or the site where the tooth was removed, will probably be a little swollen. The swelling clears in a few days, and you will notice that the tooth socket is pink in color. It is important that you gently brush the tooth socket with your toothbrush as gently as possible. Do not use a hard toothbrush, and do not scrub the tooth socket.
- Prevent dry socket
A blood clot form 24 hours after the extraction to facilitate healing. It is vital to prevent the clot from breaking to avoid a dry socket. A dry socket causes pain and bad breath and slows down the healing process. Avoid drinking beverages with a straw, which can break the clot. If you accidentally dislodge the clot, visit a dental office in Lincoln for assistance.
- Use an Ice Pack
An ice pack reduces swelling and discomfort after a tooth extraction procedure. When applied for 10 minutes every hour for the first 24 hours after a tooth extraction, ice packs can ease discomfort and help speed healing.
- Opt for a Soft Diet
The extraction site will be sensitive to the touch, so you should avoid foods containing many sticky or chewy elements. Eat foods that are soft since they won’t cause any problems. This will help to minimize the discomfort and swelling at the extraction site.
- Avoid sports or vigorous activities.
For the first week after the tooth extraction procedure, patients are advised to refrain from vigorous activities like playing sports. This is because vigorous activities can cause injury to the healing process and may further complicate the healing process.
- Reduce alcohol intake
Our dentist in Bethany also recommends that you do not drink alcohol for at least the first week after the tooth extraction procedure. Alcohol can cause discomfort and may interfere with the healing process.
- Take all meds as prescribed.
A dentist near you will prescribe medications to relieve pain and prevent infection. Avoid taking any medications that can cause bleeding or can increase bleeding risks while they are recovering from a tooth extraction.
Schedule an Appointment
Visit Lincoln Dental Associates for more information about tooth extraction and how to address the discomfort.
What Is the Best Alternative to Dental Bridges?
When you lose a couple of teeth, you find an overwhelming need to get replacements to avoid the consequences of tooth loss. You might visit the dentist near you to inquire about replacement solutions for your missing teeth.
Depending on your unique needs, you might receive an offer to have dental bridges near you as substitutes for your missing teeth. However, you might wonder whether they are the best replacement solution or can you get better alternatives to dental bridges. Options for dental bridges are undoubtedly available but are you willing to undergo an intensive procedure to have them replace your missing teeth? If you are, the dental office in Lincoln offers you an excellent alternative with implant-supported dental bridges to close the gap in your mouth.
What Are Dental Bridges?
A traditional bridge consists of two parts. The first is an artificial tooth called Pontic, and it is assigned the role of replacing your missing tooth. The second part is the abutment that anchors the Pontic in place. Dental crowns serve as abutments bonded to the adjacent natural teeth on either side of the gap left by the missing tooth. For your abutment teeth to hold bridges securely before bonding over the natural teeth, tooth structure removal is necessary by filing and recontouring the tooth.
If you are not in favor of dental bridges and think you must have a permanent solution, the dentist in 68505 recommends an implant-supported bridge held by dental implants. In this case, each artificial tooth receives support from a dental implant. If you cannot have one dental implant for every missing tooth, an implant-supported bridge can have pontics anchored by the dental crowns of the implants.
Implant-supported bridges are more secure than other varieties. Unlike traditional bridges, they don’t require the reshaping of natural teeth. Unfortunately, implant-supported bridges require months before you can have replacement teeth for your missing ones.
Why Do Implant-Supported Bridges Require More Time?
Implant-supported bridges require surgery to embed a dental implant in your jawbone and sufficient time to recover from the surgical process before you can have an artificial tooth mounted over it. Your body must integrate with the dental implant to make it part of your body and function as your artificial tooth root.
If you consider implant-supported dental bridges, you invest in a long-term solution that doesn’t require replacements or care similar to other replacement solutions. However, you must adhere to your dentist’s instructions and quit harmful habits like smoking after the implants are embedded in your jawbone. You also do not qualify for implant-supported bridges if you are affected by immunosuppressive conditions that can hinder the healing process.
After having dental implants inserted in your jawbone, the titanium post must osseointegrate with your body to provide a stable base for your artificial tooth. If you wish to close the gap in your mouth right away, Dr. Brion Dalton provides a temporary dental crown over the implant for aesthetic purposes. However, the temporary tooth needs replacement after recovering from the surgical process. After that, you can have a customized dental crown over the implant appearing and functioning like your natural tooth.
Getting implant-supported bridges is more expensive than other replacement solutions. However, it provides you a lifelong replacement for your missing teeth requiring minimal care so long as you maintain excellent dental hygiene.
Caring for Implant-Supported Bridges
Implant-supported bridges do not need special attention besides maintaining excellent dental hygiene. However, you must brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each with fluoride toothpaste, floss at least once regardless of the time of the day, and get regular dental checkups to ensure plaque buildup does not develop around the implants.
Plaque buildup is the primary cause of gum disease that results in implant failure. If you are not diligent with your dental health and habits and neglect regular dental checkups, you might develop infections in your mouth to need treatments from the emergency dentist in Lincoln. However, if you care for the implants as recommended by your dentist, you can rest assured the artificial teeth will remain with you for a lifetime.
When you seek replacements for missing teeth, you have dentures, dental bridges, and implants. Dental implants are optimal and the best solution for replacing teeth. However, if you want an alternative to dental bridges, the dentist recommends implant-supported bridges providing you a replacement representing the best of both worlds.
If you seek replacements for missing teeth, Lincoln Dental Associates provides dental bridges of different types. Kindly contact them for the best solution suitable for your needs today.