Jan 16, 2025 | Blog, Dental Topics 3, Implant Dentistry
Failure to take good care of your teeth can result in tooth loss, and so can issues like trauma or aging. No matter why you lose a tooth or multiple teeth, you’ll want a secure, comfortable and attractive replacement. Dental implants come to the rescue with all of these benefits and more.
A dental implant involves placing a titanium rod into your jaw to provide a sturdy new root, and then topping it off with an artificial tooth. You’ll end up with a fully functional tooth that works, looks, and feels just like a natural tooth.
There are a number of advantages that dental implants bring:
- prevents movement of neighboring teeth
- does not negatively impact adjacent teeth
- looks aesthetically appealing
- does not slip or move in any way
- provides comfortable fit
- lasts a lifetime with proper care
- requires no special maintenance
Dental implants are inserted surgically while you are under local anesthesia, so you won’t feel anything during the procedure. There may be minor swelling or minimal pain that can be managed by over-the-counter remedies, and those side effects should dissipate within a couple of days. Risks are low and the long-term results are very good. The implant fuses with your body and you won’t even know it’s there once it has healed.
Ongoing care for your dental implant simply involves regular brushing and flossing, and dental checkups to ensure continued good oral health. You should be able to expect your fully restored smile to look and feel great for years to come.
Are dental issues holding you back? Take control of your oral health by booking an appointment with our experienced team at our Bingham Farms dental office.
Jan 2, 2025 | Blog, Dental Topics 3, Implant Dentistry
Restoring a missing tooth is not as unnatural as you might think with the help of dental implants. These restorations have transformed the ability of dentists to make your smile complete and fully functional without the worries of cumbersome dentures or bridges.
Dental implants involve surgically placing a titanium rod into the jaw bone, which will then fuse with the bone to become a part of your body. A trusted, experienced dentist or oral surgeon is the best professional for this procedure. The implant provides a stable and secure base for a replacement tooth which is later placed on top of the rod.
Most people with missing teeth are candidates for dental implants, although your dentist will perform an examination to make sure. Healthy gums and ample strong bones are required for a successful dental implant treatment.
There are two main types of dental implants. Subperiosteal is designed for patients with a shallow jaw bone that does not allow for rebuilding, so these implants are placed under the gums. Endosteal is for patients with a thick jaw bone, which is ideal for the implant being placed into the jaw bone using plates, screws and cylinders for support. Your dentist will advise which type of implants are best for you.
Once the implant surgery is performed, the area will be allowed to heal for up to a couple of months so that the artificial tooth or crown placed on top will be able to successfully complete the procedure. Once the entire treatment is finished, you’ll have a fully functional, comfortable and secure new tooth and root.
No special maintenance is required with dental implants. Normal brushing and flossing is recommended, as well as regular dental checkups to guarantee good oral health. Implants are made to last a lifetime with proper oral care. With this advanced treatment that dentistry offers today, you can expect a worry-free restoration that gives you back your smile.
Take the first step towards optimal oral hygiene. Reserve your dental appointment at our Bingham Farms dental office now and experience personalized care.
Dec 26, 2024 | Blog, Dental Topics 3, Family Dentistry
Family dentists care about you and your teeth from the moment you enter the world until the moment you leave it. They want to get to know you – and your teeth – and they have the expertise, knowledge, and skill to care for a child’s baby teeth and for his or her adult teeth. A family dentist focuses on preventative care, aiming to avoid any serious dental complications as you age.
Family dentistry offices are generally friendly, warm, and comfortable. They are specifically designed to put nervous or anxious children and adults at ease. The staff strives to build a relationship with each member of your family, offering a lifetime of dental care and advice on any issues that might arise.
A family dentist in Bingham Farms could treat more than one member of your family in a single visit. Booking more than one appointment per visit is extremely convenient, and it can save you valuable time and effort by allowing you to be seen while your spouse or child is seen in an adjacent area. Don’t drive all over town for your family’s dental needs; see a family dentist instead!
Your family dentist will provide you and your family with the necessary oral hygiene skills needed to have a lifetime of good oral health. Your family dentist will ensure that each member of your family has the latest recommendations regarding brushing, flossing, and rinsing to prevent tooth decay and plaque between appointments.
A family dentist provides all of the services a standard dentist does, such as regular dental cleanings, check-ups, and x-rays. Other preventative treatments include sealants and fluoride treatments. A family dentist is able to treat cavities with fillings or to handle gum disease. Basic cosmetic dentistry procedures like tooth whitening are also offered.
The primary difference for a family dentist is the length of time a family dentist wants to see you. A family dentist can treat you for the rest of your life, and will use the knowledge about you and your particular oral health history to make the best decisions regarding your care in any situation that might arise.
Are dental issues holding you back? Take control of your oral health by booking an appointment with our experienced team at our Bingham Farms dental office.
Dec 19, 2024 | Blog, Dental Topics 3, Family Dentistry
Dentists recommend seeing children for the first time when they have begun to cut teeth, by the time they have celebrated a first birthday. A first visit is primarily about allowing a child to get comfortable in the dentist’s chair and about educating you, the parent, on how to care for your child’s baby teeth. Most children who visit at this age will not remember the visit, but it will lay the foundation for positive experiences in the dental chair in the future.
Once children reach the approximate age of 5, they will have their first set of X-rays taken. The family dentist will review them to look for cavities between the teeth and to check proper development of dormant permanent teeth.
As children age, between 6 and 12 years, they will lose their baby teeth and permanent teeth will begin to erupt. At this time, your family dentist may recommend a tooth sealant. This plastic resin bonds to the “flat” chewing surface of a tooth, protecting it from debris and decay in the crevices.
Your family dentist may also give your child an orthodontic evaluation. Most pediatric patients begin orthodontics once all of their permanent teeth have erupted; however, some patients benefit from staged orthodontics and can begin treatment much sooner.
If your child has been seeing a dentist since infancy, introducing the child to the dentist isn’t an issue; your child already knows and trusts your family dentist. If you are bringing your child to the dentist for the first time as a toddler or kindergarten student, you should plan to spend some time talking about what to expect.
Many times, having parents sit in the dental chair and then hold their child on their laps is very comforting to the patient. Your family dentist has experience in dealing with fearful or anxious children and will know what to do in each case. Often, videos or music are employed to relax young patients.
You can trust your family dentist with each member of your family, no matter what the age. Talk to your family dentist today with any questions you may have about your child’s first dental appointment.
Ready to transform your smile? Schedule your appointment today at our Bingham Farms dental office.
Dec 12, 2024 | Blog, Dental Information, Dental Topics 3
For many years, dentists removed cavities and filled them with metal amalgams. Traditional metal fillings are less expensive and were often the first choice for fixing damaged teeth. Recently, composite resin fillings have become the top method for restoring smiles. Ultimately, the decision rests with the patient; however, many dentists have moved to placing only composite fillings.
Silver fillings actually weaken the natural tooth structure, although they do repair the decayed area. As well, metal fillings contain mercury, which can become toxic in large doses. Metal fillings can expand, contract, or leak from wear over time. In many cases, they also darken with age.
Tinted to match natural teeth, composite resin fillings preserve your bright, white image. With composite resin fillings, less tooth area needs to be removed, which keeps as much of your original tooth in tact as possible. Because tooth-colored fillings actually bond to the tooth, you don’t have to worry about these restorations changing shape or cracking.
To place a composite restoration, your dentist will clean out the decay and prepare the tooth. Then, the doctor will fill the area with the composite material. With a special curing light, your dentist hardens the filling and polishes the tooth.
When you have metal fillings, check with your dentist and request an evaluation of their stability. Some people choose to replace amalgam fillings because of the way they look. If your old fillings develop additional decay or fracture, you will need to have the restorations repaired in order to restore the tooth.
Schedule a dental cleaning appointment today at our Bingham Farms dentists office.
Dec 5, 2024 | Blog, Dental Information, Dental Topics 3
You wake up in the middle of the night to a throbbing sensation in your tooth. Tooth decay or an abscess usually causes this kind of pain. You will need to see a dentist as soon as possible to resolve the issue. But if you experience signs of a true dental emergency, contact your dentist right away.
Until you can get an appointment, you can try some of these home remedies to help ease some discomfort:
- Apply an over-the-counter oral analgesic ointment to temporarily numb the area.
- Look to see if food could be trapped between teeth and causing pressure. If so, dental floss can remove the irritant and you can rinse the area with warm water.
- Mix bay berry bark with vinegar and apply the paste to the aching tooth.
- Place a wet, black tea bag on your gums to relieve soreness; this may also help stop any bleeding.
- Crush a piece of garlic clove and place it on the affected tooth. Garlic is a natural antiseptic and pain reliever.
- For pain in your gums, try applying an ice pack against the side of the face. Switch to heat if cold doesn’t help. Apply a hot compress and gargle with warm salt water.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, but don’t choose aspirin. If you need to have a dental procedure done, aspirin can increase bleeding.
- Use cotton swab to put oil of cloves on the aching tooth every 20 minutes.
Take the first step towards optimal oral hygiene. Reserve your dental appointment at our Bingham Farms dental office now and experience personalized care.
