It’s the most wonderful time of the year—or so the song goes. While there are plenty of reasons to love this season, there’s one area that it is the worst: your oral health. Most dentists agree that from October through December is the most risky time for smiles. Why? What can you do to make the holidays better for your smile? Read on to find out!
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More often than not, teeth that have received root canal therapy can last decades when properly cared for. In fact, they can even last the rest of your life with the right at-home maintenance and routine dental checkups. Unfortunately, there are instances where root canal retreatment is needed months and even years after the procedure was completed. It’s best to look at retreatment not as a setback, but as a second chance for your tooth. Learn about the most common reasons retreatment is performed and what to expect at your appointment!
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Do you have a good emergency dentist’s phone number on hand in case anything happens? Dental emergencies can occur when you least expect them, so it’s important to always be prepared. Choosing the right emergency dentist in Fort Worth will depend on a number of factors. Here are some traits to look for so you can trust that you’re receiving the best quality of urgent dental care during your stressful situation.
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Did you know your smile affects your overall health? The discovery of the mouth-and-body connection has raised awareness of the importance of routine dental care. Access to affordable services makes it easier than ever to achieve a healthy smile because 77% of Americans have dental insurance. The monthly investment provides reduced rates for a variety of oral health needs. Unfortunately, less than 3% of Americans meet or exceed their annual limits. If you’re not utilizing your dental plan, you’re throwing money down the drain because your benefits don’t last forever. Worried about a large bill? Here are 4 tips to maximize your coverage to keep a healthy smile within your budget.
Dental crowns are generally used to protect teeth that have decayed or become otherwise damaged. This keeps them for enduring further harm in the future. They are hollow on the inside and tightly fit over your compromised teeth. While dental crowns have a long life, they aren’t made to last forever. Read on to learn more about the benefits of dental crowns, how long they last, and what you can do to make the most out of them.
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Have you gotten your second dental checkup yet? If not, you’re not alone. While the American Dental Association recommends getting regular checkups and cleanings every six months, many of us go much longer between visits. However, these quick and easy appointments are essential for spotting and stopping oral health issues as early as possible, which can potentially save you a tremendous amount of time, money, and hassle! Take charge of your oral health today with these three simple tips for making and keeping dental appointments.
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We appreciate that aesthetics is a major concern for patients who are restoring their smiles after tooth loss. Of course you want reassurance that the treatment you choose will have a lifelike appearance.
Implant supported dentures offer patients some of the most optimal aesthetic results in addition to conferring a number of other benefits. This treatment option is well worth your consideration if you want dentures that look and feel like your natural smile.
The appliances used in implant supported dentures are made of state-of-the-art materials that mimic the appearance of biological tooth enamel. Furthermore, your dentist will create customized design specifications for those dentures that consider a number of factors that will replicate your natural smile, including:
The end result of your implant supported dentures treatment can and should be a smile that looks no different than the smile you were born with.
An appealing aesthetic result is merely one of the many benefits associated with implant supported dentures. The dental implants become fixtures in the jaw thanks to osseointegration. As such, the dental implants act as artificial tooth roots, which gives implant supported dentures greater:
The structurally complete nature of dental implants is tremendously valuable and allows implant supported dentures not only to look like a biological smile but to feel and function like one as well!
To see the lifelike results that some of our other patients have achieved with implant supported dentures and learn how this treatment might be beneficial in your case, visit our office for a no-obligation consultation. Call Hulen Crossing Family Dental today to get on our schedule.
Sedation dentistry can enhance your experience when you’re in our care. Millions of people suffer with fear and phobias related to oral healthcare settings. This fear can prevent people from getting the care they need to maintain their oral health. If you’re nervous about an upcoming procedure, you might want to discuss sedation amenities with our dentist.
Following are the top five benefits associated with sedation dentistry.
If you suffer from intense fears of dental settings, you’re not alone. Many people develop phobias related to oral care because of previous experiences or because the sounds of dental instruments are intimidating. Sedation dentistry can help keep you calm and relaxed. In fact, oral and IV sedation can help you establish positive associations with oral healthcare, which could diminish the intensity of your anxiety over time.
Sedation dentistry can help prevent discomfort caused by more complex and invasive treatments. For example, nitrous oxide (laughing gas) has an analgesic effect. Oral and IV sedation also help amplify the effects of pain-relieving medication for optimal patient comfort.
Diminished Recollection of Dental Procedures
Medication used in sedation dentistry can have an amnesic effect. This can help patients overcome dental phobias in the long term because they have diminished recollection of their treatment.
Having a strong gag reflex can be an issue when it comes to oral healthcare procedures. Fortunately, anxiety medication slows down the central nervous system, which ultimately decreases a person’s gag reflex. This is especially beneficial for those receiving care that is more lengthy or complex.
Sedation dentistry helps your oral healthcare team work faster. When anti-anxiety medication helps patients lie still and stay relaxed, it prevents intermittent disruptions to treatment. This allows dentists to work faster and without obstruction so you can get back to your normal activities as soon as possible.
Our practice offers nitrous oxide, oral sedation, and IV sedation. If you’d like to discuss sedation dentistry, give our team at Hulen Crossing Family Dental a call so we can schedule a consultation.
If you have an upcoming appointment for root canal therapy, you might be wondering what to expect after your treatment in terms of your recovery. For the most part, people can return to work or school the day after their treatment. There may be some exceptions, however, so it’s always best to discuss these matters with your dentist.
After root canal therapy, you may feel tired and groggy – especially if you have been prescribed a mild sedative or pain medication. Since this medicine can impair your motor and cognitive function, you will need to have a trusted friend or family member drive you to and from your procedure.
You may feel some discomfort after your treatment, but it can be managed with over the counter or prescription medication. It’s important to take anti-inflammatory medication recommended by your dentist even if you’re not in pain because preventing swelling will control discomfort within the hours and days following your procedure. You can also apply cold compresses to the outside of your face on the side where you received treatment.
In the hours after your procedure, your mouth will likely be numb from the local anesthetics used. It is important to avoid eating anything at this time because it could cause you to bite down too hard on your treatment site. It’s wise to avoid drinking hot beverages, too.
Once the numbness wears off, it is best to eat items like soup or very soft foods like mashed vegetables for the next couple of days. If you need to chew anything, try to chew with the side of your mouth that didn’t receive treatment.
Keeping your mouth clean after root canal therapy is important. Be sure to take great care when brushing. Avoid brushing vigorously or applying too much pressure with your toothbrush. Gentle brushing is best.
Give our team at Hulen Crossing Family Dental a call if you have questions about upcoming treatment or need to schedule an appointment.
If you’ve been considering braces, you might be pleased to learn that Invisalign can transform your smile without the need for obvious wires and brackets. Invisalign is one of the most discreet ways that you can straighten your teeth, which makes it a great treatment option for working professionals.
Invisalign is an orthodontic system that corrects spacing issues between teeth. Those with crowded, crooked, overlapped, and gapped teeth can benefit from Invisalign treatment. This type of orthodontia involves wearing removable, retainer-like appliances called “aligners”. Each set of aligners is custom made for a patient’s unique needs.
Treatment is broken up into two-week long phases. Each new phase involves wearing a new, tighter set of aligners. As treatment progresses, people will notice that their gaps between teeth are closing, crooked teeth are moving to an upright position, and other teeth will begin to look less crowded. Once treatment is complete, patients will enjoy a noticeably straighter smile.
Invisalign works similar to other types of orthodontic treatment. Aligners fit snugly over teeth. This will generate gentle force and pressure that moves teeth to healthier positions over time.
The most notable advantage of Invisalign treatment is the fact that aligners are almost undetectable to other people. Invisalign is constructed from thin, clear plastic. When aligners are worn over teeth, they are nearly invisible to others.
Another unique benefit to Invisalign treatment is that aligners are removable. Unlike fixed orthodontia, Invisalign is taken out of the mouth for meals and oral hygiene. This feature makes it easy to enjoy a wide variety of food and easily clean one’s teeth and gums.
Invisalign has smooth surfaces that do not scrape against or irritate soft oral tissue such as the linings of the lips and the cheeks. This is one reason that most people view Invisalign as more comfortable than conventional metal and wire braces.
If you think Invisalign might be right for you, we invite you to schedule a consultation with our dentist. Give our team at Hulen Crossing Family Dental a call today to set your appointment.
