What to Expect When Getting Dental Veneers

 

Many individuals experience a great deal of trepidation when planning for any unfamiliar dental procedure. Many of those procedures, however, offer a number of necessary benefits. Dental veneers, for example, can be both cosmetic and beneficial to individuals with chipped teeth or other problems. Understanding what to expect before you get dental veneers in Cary can make that appointment much easier.

What to Expect: The Initial Visit

Veneers can’t be applied in a single visit. At the first visit, your dentist will:

• File down a thin coating of enamel to prepare for the veneers
• Take an impression of your teeth to have the veneers made
• Set another appointment for 1-2 weeks in the future

Consult with your dentist about whether or not anesthetic will be used for this appointment. In some cases, it may not be required. In others, or if your teeth are particularly sensitive, a local anesthetic may be necessary.

What to Expect: Applying the Veneers

At your next visit, the veneers will be applied. You can expect your dentist to:

• Apply a local anesthetic if necessary (again, some won’t need it)
• Clean your teeth
• Roughen the surface of the tooth or teeth
• Apply the veneer
• Use UV light to quickly harden the cement
• Schedule a follow-up visit if needed

Following application of your veneers, you may experience some tooth sensitivity. This sensitivity should wear off quickly to leave you with a brighter, more even smile. Visit this website to find a cosmetic dentist in Cary.

Why You Should Get Your Gums Cleaned

Although you might be on top of keeping your teeth clean and healthy, that’s not the only part of your mouth that needs constant attention. Your gums also need to be taken care of daily to avoid serious dental issues that can be quite painful and often difficult to treat.

The most common issues that develop when the gums are not properly cleaned are gingivitis and periodontitis. This is when bacteria in the mouth gets in between the teeth and the gums and becomes infected. In severe cases, tooth loss can occur. Signs of these diseases usually include inflamed or swollen gums, bad breath, receding gums or other pain on or around the tooth. If you notice any of these issues, visit a dentist as soon a possible to get it treated before it develops into something worse.

Luckily, by taking good care of your teeth and gums you can usually prevent these diseases from occurring in the first place. When you are at home, you should brush your teeth, gums and tongue at least twice a day to remove bacteria and plaque. You should also thoroughly floss your teeth daily to remove food remnants near the gums that could lead to increased bacteria. Another way that you can keep your gums healthy is by using a mouthwash every day. This can be very beneficial, as it cleans areas of the mouth that are hard to reach while brushing.

Although there are various things you can do from home to help keep your teeth and gums in top shape, one of the most important ways you can prevent gum diseases is by visiting a dentist at least once every six months. This is because they have the tools to thoroughly clean and polish your teeth and gums, which makes it more difficult for plaque to form. They also can spot and treat any developing issues that you may not have noticed yet, preventing worse problems from arising.

A few other ways to keep your gums healthy include using a good toothbrush, avoiding soft drinks, quitting smoking and using products that help you locate plaque. If you follow these tips and do your best to keep your teeth and gums healthy, you can easily eliminate diseases and other painful gum problems from developing, such as gingivitis or periodontitis. For more information on how you can take care of your gums or to schedule a dental cleaning in Durham, please visit this website.

Planning for the Next Dentist Cleaning

Annual dental cleanings can mean the difference between white, shiny teeth and rotted, discolored teeth. Brushing and flossing might not be enough to sustain overall oral hygiene. Visiting a dentist once or even twice a year will prevent many problems that can affect the gums and teeth. These problems like tooth decay and gingivitis are not only easily avoidable, but are also reversible.

Tooth decay is a symptom caused by bacteria. Once bacteria enter the mouth, they attach themselves to the teeth. However, these bacteria can be held in check as long as they aren’t fed. Eating a high amount of sugar and other carbs will cause the bacteria to produce plaque. Once plaque becomes attached to teeth, it begins to wear away the minerals in the enamel, which leads to cavities.

Visiting a dentist annually for a teeth cleaning will help to remove plaque build-ups that brushing and flossing alone won’t get to. Fluoride is one treatment that can help prevent and even reverse tooth decay. When visiting the dentist a fluoride gel will be applied to the teeth which will restore mineral to the enamel and reduce the production of plaque.

Gingivitis can also be caused by plaque build-up. Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums and can lead to a more serious disease called periodontal disease. Plaque can accumulate in the space between the gums and the teeth and will cause the teeth to separate from the gums. This separation will weaken the structure of the tooth and could end with the extraction of the tooth. As plaque collects it can harden and become tartar. Once tartar is formed, only a dentist can remove it.

Gingivitis and tartar build-up can, however, be reversed. While brushing and flossing can help prevent plaque, a visit to the dentist is necessary to remove tartar. There are new technologies available to remove tartar and prevent gum disease. Ultrasonic cleaning implements can scrape away tartar and leave teeth reinvigorated. These treatments can undo the effects of gingivitis and prevent periodontal disease. An annual trip to the dentist’s office is the only way to undo the effects of serious gum disease.

Oral hygiene is never as simple as at-home brushing and flossing. Specific instruments are needed to get in between teeth and remove built up bacteria and plaque. Visiting a dentist for a regular teeth cleaning can prevent any long term gum or tooth disease. Visit this link to find out more about dental cleaning in Chapel Hill.

Three Reasons Kids are Afraid of the Dentist

Countless studies have found that the vast majority of children are afraid of the dentist. Many parents can attest to the truth of those studies. But what, exactly, are children afraid of, when they go to the dentist? What, in particular, causes their uncontrollable fear and anxiety? Read on to find out.

Being in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people.

Being in strange surroundings can make anyone feel anxious. Add to that the strange rituals that go on in a dentist’s office (a stranger putting their hands in your mouth), and it’s a wonder that any children are not afraid of the dentist.

Loud noises and sharp tools.

Most children are sensitive to sounds and to what they see. The sound of a drill can be frightening, as can the sight of rows of sharp tools lined up on a tray.

A painful past experience.

If your child had a tooth pulled during a previous visit to the dentist, they might remember the discomfort they felt during that experience. Any experience of pain or discomfort can lead to anticipation of another painful experience.

Many children are afraid of the dentist, but just remember that all children can get over those fears. Visit kids dentist in Cary to learn more.

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Six Steps to Deciding on a Good Dentist

Finding quality dental care is crucial, not only for the health of our teeth and mouths, but also for our overall physical well-being. Our bodies are complicated systems, and each individual part of these systems affects every other part. To ensure the health of your teeth, you need to find a quality professional you can trust. But how do you actually go about finding a good dentist? Here are six steps to help you on your way.

Start by narrowing down your options. Check your health insurance provider: which dentists are covered by your insurance plan? Starting with this step can help you to save time by eliminating options that wouldn’t work for you anyway.

Next you can ask your primary care physician for recommendations. If you trust your family doctor, chances are that you can trust his or her recommendations for a dentist. Family doctors often have access to sound information on other medical professionals in a given region.

As you go about deciding on a dentist, you’ll also want to pay attention to various practicalities. These are the details that often get overlooked but that can end up making all the difference. For instance: how far away is the dentist’s office from your home? Will you end up getting caught in bad traffic every time you go for a visit? Or is the dentist’s office in a convenient location? Try to make things a little easier on yourself.

You can also check online reviews of various dentists—but remember that it’s always important to take these reviews with a grain of salt. Just because someone else was unhappy with their treatment doesn’t mean that you will be. Online reviews can be helpful, though, in giving you a sense of a dentist’s general reputation in your community.

Perhaps most importantly, match yourself with a dentist who will meet your needs. Do you have kids who need dental care? Look for a pediatric dentist. Do you have gum disease? Look for someone with experience in periodontist. Don’t just settle for a dentist who works near you and has received strong reviews; make sure your dentist can treat your specific needs.

Last but not least, take a look around on your first visit. Is the dentist’s office clean and organized? Is the staff friendly and professional? Does the dentist have a good bedside manner? Where was the dentist educated? Visit the following website to learn more about a family dentist in Morrisville.

Keep Your Smile Beautiful

With cosmetic dentistry, your teeth can look beautiful no matter how much wear they’ve had. Consider porcelain veneers for a smile you’ll love.