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Thursday, February 27, 2014

Entrusting Total Dental Care to a Skilled Dentist in Scranton, PA

The number of people who get too anxious about visiting their dentists has become a serious matter. By avoiding dental treatment, these individuals are vulnerable to periodontal complications that mere brushing and flossing can't solve. Addressing such fear and preventing its resulting oral health complications are the main factors which have given rise to sedation dentistry. Using the right sedatives, a capable sedation dentist in Scranton, PA can administer the right dental treatment and procedure to even the most restless and fearful of patients.

Not to be confused with sleep dentistry, wherein patients are put to sleep for the duration of the procedure, sedation dentistry involves administering sedatives designed to calm down patients, in conjunction with any anesthetic procedure. With sedatives, patients no longer have to quake in fear as they receive proper dental treatment.

http://www.backmountaindental.com/blog/industry-news/entrusting-total-dental-care-to-a-skilled-dentist-in-scranton-pa.php

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

How a Cosmetic Dentist in Wilkes Barre Can Give You a Healthier Smile

There is little point in whitening teeth that have been damaged by disease. Indeed, there are many products that folks can purchase over the counter in Wilkes Barre, PA and elsewhere, that can whiten their smiles. However, such items fail to address pressing dental concerns that can only badly ruin a patient's smile in the long run. Thus, it's recommended that patients seek a skilled cosmetic dentist in Wilkes Barre that is also experienced in general dentistry, such as Dr. James DeFinnis of the Back Mountain Dental Office.

Not only will trained dentists ensure that patients have healthier teeth to go with the whitening, they'll also carefully supervise the whitening process. Not all over-the-counter teeth whitening products are equally effective, and results could vary greatly according to the individual condition of the users'

http://www.backmountaindental.com/blog/info-articles/how-a-cosmetic-dentist-in-wilkes-barre-can-give-you-a-healthier-smile.php

Monday, February 24, 2014

Particular Signs You Need a Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatment has received an unwarranted bad reputation over the years. However, the procedure is important as it saves a tooth from dying, allowing a person to keep using the tooth for years to come. 

In the past, tooth extraction was the only way to resolve several severe dental problems. Today, root canal treatment can effectively provide relief from the following dental ailments: 

Oversensitivity

When the nerve ending within the pulp of a tooth is damaged, it becomes extremely sensitive to hot and cold. It is also possible for patients suffering this condition to feel spontaneous toothaches. 

Deep Cavities

Sometimes, cavities can be so severe that it reaches the pulp of the tooth. When this happens, bacteria can infect the pulp and damage the nerve endings. If left untreated, the formation of abscesses become a real possibility. 

Abscesses 

Abscesses are pus-filled pockets that form when the pulp of a tooth has died. At this stage, prompt treatment is a must as an abscessed tooth can easily infect other healthy teeth. Contrary to popular belief, root canal treatment is not painful. Throughout the duration of the procedure, you will be under local anesthesia. 

In fact, many patients who have undergone root canal treatment claim the procedure feels like getting dental filling. Nevertheless, be sure to see an experienced dentist for the possibility of you needing root canal treatment the moment you notice the symptoms mentioned above.

Monday, February 17, 2014

The Three Steps of Root Canal Therapy

Drill, clean, and fill; these are steps in root canal therapy oversimplified. Dentists perform this invasive procedure when the decay has burrowed deep into the tooth, affecting the vessels and nerve endings at the root of the tooth. This usually happens when a patient leaves tooth decay untreated for a long time. 

Drilling
Removing the decay from an affected tooth starts by drilling a hole. Dentists use a small drill with a tip no bigger than the surface area of the tooth’s top crown. The hole is made either at the back of the tooth (for front teeth) or the top crown (for premolars and molars). 

Cleaning
Once a clear path to the abscess has been created, a dentist uses an endodontic file to scrape the chambers clear of the decay. The dentist uses various file sizes, starting with the smallest file, a 10-K file. Throughout the cleaning procedure, the dentist will use larger files to scrape more abscess out of the canals. 

Filling
After the last of the abscess has been cleaned, the dentist will plug the hole with a rubbery seal known as a gutta-percha. The name technically refers to the genus of plants from which the seal is derived. Gutta-percha is widely used in dentistry because it’s naturally inert and doesn’t react negatively with the human body.

Friday, February 7, 2014

Dental Hygiene Tips: Caring for Your Crowns

Dental crowns are porcelain, ceramic or metal (typically gold) fixtures that are installed over your teeth to repair or reinforce damage. They can either be permanent or temporary, but both will need considerable care and maintenance if you want to keep them functioning. Here are some of the things you should do to keep your crowns in shape. 

Brush and Floss 

You might need to change to a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste for sensitive teeth, but this doesn’t mean you can do away with brushing less. Moreover, you should also ensure that you floss often, preferably after each meal to ensure that debris doesn’t build up near your crown. Be careful when flossing near your gum line to ensure the crown doesn’t loosen. 

Food to Avoid 

At the outset, you’ll need to stay away from sticky foods – you might as well give away those gummy and caramel candies in your fridge, as they are notorious for damaging dental crowns. Hard food like raw vegetables, candy and even nuts should be avoided or minimized. The same goes for food which are too hot or cold. 

In the event that your crown does come loose, don’t hesitate to contact your dentist immediately.

Monday, February 3, 2014

Want a Perfect Smile? Talk to a Cosmetic Dentist

Up until the previous decades, dentistry was concerned with nothing more but the preservation or improvement of a person’s oral health. Nowadays, dentistry has gained an appreciation for the aesthetic side of things as teeth today are generally seen as symbols of beauty and status. When a person’s teeth aren’t that great, cosmetic dentistry can certainly make them better using a variety of means. 

Teeth whitening or bleaching, as the name suggests, aims to make a person’s teeth whiter and shinier. The techniques used in this procedure may vary from one dentist to another, and not everyone’s teeth can be bleached, so it’s important to talk to your general dentist first about having the procedure. Veneers, on the other hand, can be seen as a teeth whitening alternative. These pieces of ceramic or resin are designed to cover tooth blemishes like chips, cracks, or discolorations, and they can be customized to suit virtually all kinds of teeth. 

People with missing teeth can restore their smiles by having dental implants applied to them. The procedures to get them are generally long and labor-intensive, but they result in artificial teeth that mimic the shape, feel, and aesthetics of real teeth. Dental implants can be used as an anchor to an artificial tooth or teeth.