Sensitive teeth often come from the fact that your gums have slightly receded. This recession of the gum line allows the underlying dentin to show through, which allows water and food easier access to the sensitive nerve. To manage this, there are a number of toothpastes, gels and even some dental procedures that can be applied. Sensitive teeth can also come from bruxism. Speak to us in more detail if you have very sensitive teeth.
Great tooth and gum care starts at home. Brushing and flossing on a daily basis is the best way to take care of your teeth and gums on a continual basis. By keeping to a daily routine you will greatly minimize the risk of gingivitis or tooth decay as you age.
Gingivitis is a condition caused when bacteria surrounds the teeth and becomes trapped within the gums. The gums can become irritated, inflamed and often bleed. In order to prevent the condition from worsening, regular hygiene visits are highly recommended. During your visit, our Hygiene team will teach you the proper flossing techniques and oral hygiene protocol for home care.
Periodontal Disease is a quiet disease that begins with little or no symptoms and is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. It is caused by bacteria that surrounds the teeth and gets trapped within the gums. The immediate condition is known as ‘gingivitis’. The gums become irritated, inflamed and often bleed. If not properly treated, the condition worsens and irreversible damage occurs to the bone that anchors the teeth. Noticeable symptoms now also appear, including
- Bad Breath
- Gum Recession
- Gum Sensitivity to Acidic Foods
- Abscesses
- Tooth Pain
- Tooth Mobility
- Tooth Loss
Periodontal disease is a chronic condition that needs immediate and on-going attention. Through a series of periodontal cleanings, root planing & scaling, laser therapy and local antibiotics, this condition can be controlled. Periodontal surgery is only necessary for severe cases.
Silver fillings, known as amalgam, have been around for decades. They are made from a metal alloy and were, for a long time, the best restoration for fillings. We now have more conservative and environmentally safer filling choices so amalgams aren’t used much today.
White fillings, also known as composites, are made of plastic and glass polymers. These cosmetic fillings allow us to fill a cavity with a substance that will look and feel just like your existing tooth structure. This material bonds directly to your tooth and allows us to be more conservative when removing decay. Rather than a gray or silver material in your mouth, the composite color will match the tooth color.
There are several ways in today’s dental world to enhance your smile. Certain procedures include:
- Tooth Whitening
- Bonding
- Porcelain Veneers
- Porcelain Crowns
We have the capability to improve your smile using all or some of these procedures. For an exact consultation, please contact our office so that we may provide you with a customized treatment plan.
Tooth whitening is a cost effective and safe procedure to create a beautiful, healthy smile. Over the years, desensitizing elements, like fluoride, have been added to the whitening product. This reduces the risk of tooth and gum sensitivity.
Tooth Whitening must be monitored by us here at Eggert Family Dentistry and should only be completed after a comprehensive exam and if you are following a regular recare routine.
The whitening process can last for a number of years if maintained properly. Beverages such as coffee, tea, cola and wine will reduce the lasting effect. Remember, if it could stain a white shirt, it will stain your smile!
Bonding is a cost effective procedure used to fill gaps in front teeth and to change a tooth’s color. The immediate results are amazing. Within a few hours, you will have a great smile! Bonding, like tooth whitening, may change color over time due to coffee, tea, cola and wine.
Porcelain Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain that go directly on your natural teeth. This entire procedure can take as few as two visits. Veneers can change the size, shape and color of your teeth. This procedure is used to repair fractured teeth, teeth darkened by age or medication, or a crooked smile. Many times, patients ask for porcelain veneers to simply feel and look younger with a straighter, whiter smile!
Crowns are a custom-created, natural looking “cap” that is placed over a damaged tooth. A crown will change the size, shape, and color of your teeth (if needed) in as few as 1 visit, using our CEREC technology.
You might need a crown to protect a weak tooth due to extensive dental decay or cracking, to restore a broken tooth or a tooth that has been severely worn down, to cover and support a tooth with a large filling if there isn’t a lot of natural tooth remaining, to stop a cracked tooth from completely splitting, to hold a dental bridge and/or partial denture in place, to enhance the cosmetic appearance of discolored or misshapen teeth, or to restore dental implants.
A dental implant is a “man-made” replacement for a missing tooth and tooth root. Made from titanium, this screw-like object is inserted under the gum and directly into the upper or lower jaw bone. There is usually minimal discomfort involved with this procedure. After a few months, the dental implant and the bone fuse together. This creates an anchor for the new “tooth” to be placed onto the dental implant.
- Dental Implants look and function like your natural teeth.
- Dental Implants are a permanent solution for missing teeth.
- Dental Implants are maintained by routine hygiene visits to our dental office.
- Dental Implants decrease the possibility of bone loss, periodontal disease, tooth movement, and further tooth loss.
- Dental Implants replace the need for a removable full or partial denture.
- Dental Implants replace only the tooth or teeth that are missing. A traditional bridge, on the other hand, compromises the adjacent teeth as well.
With major advancements in dentistry and dental implants, most people are candidates for dental implants. There may be exceptions due to chronic illnesses, heart disease, and severe osteoporosis.
The average dental implant procedure takes 3 – 4 visits. The first visit is to x-ray the area and take an impression for a surgical guide and a temporary prosthesis to cover the implant.
The next visit is to place the implant. A local anesthetic is applied to the area and some patients elect to use sedation as well. A minor incision is made to place the implant. The implant is placed into the jaw bone and often covered with sutures. The procedure is usually completed with little to no discomfort.
After 3-6 months of healing, the next steps to fabricate the tooth or teeth for your implant(s) will begin.
Fees for dental implants vary widely due to your specific needs. Always schedule an implant consultation to discuss the procedure and all fees involved.
With routine dental hygiene recare visits and proper home care, a dental implant can last well over 30 years. Occasionally changes are needed for the tooth portion of the implant or parts need to be replaced, but it is not uncommon to be able to use at least some of the implant for your entire lifetime.
Please contact us to discuss the options we have available to make your perfect smile a reality!
Injury to your teeth and gums should never be ignored. Ignoring a dental problem can lead to permanent damage as well as more extensive and expensive treatment. Below is the summary of what you can do for dental trauma.
Knocked-out tooth Find the tooth if you can. Hold the tooth, not the root, and rinse it off with water if it’s dirty. If possible, try to put the tooth back in the socket, but never force the tooth back into the socket (you may have it backwards). If you can’t place the tooth into the socket, place the tooth in milk, salt water, or saliva. Try not to handle the tooth very much. Call Eggert Family Dentistry immediately.
Partially dislodged tooth Call Eggert Family Dentistry right away. You can apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth on the affected area. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever (such as Advil or Tylenol).
Soft-tissue injuries This includes tears, cuts, and punctures to the tongue, check, lips, or gums. Rinse your mouth with salt water. Use a moistened piece of gauze or a tea bag to apply pressure to the area and to help stop bleeding. If bleeding doesn’t stop in 30 minutes, call Eggert Family Dentistry.
Of course prevention is the key, if you are interested in having a custom-fit athletic mouth guard made, please give us a call to set up an appointment
Maintaining good oral hygiene at home is one of the most important things you can do for your teeth and gums. Healthy teeth not only enable you to look and feel good, they make it possible to eat and speak properly. Good oral health is important to your overall well-being. Daily preventive care, including proper brushing and flossing, will help stop harmful bacteria from attaching themselves to the teeth and the tissues. If given the opportunity, these bacteria will cause decay, gingivitis, and periodontal (gum) disease.
What is the best way to brush? Brush your teeth at least twice a day, for at least two minutes. Use a soft or extra soft-bristled brush. Or, use a sonic or electric toothbrush. Make sure your brush’s head is not too large; the head should fit easily into the mouth and allow you to reach all areas without hurting your cheek or tongue. Use toothpaste that contains fluoride. The fluoride can help keep the teeth strong and can reverse cavities in their early stages. If you have sensitive teeth, ask us about using desensitizing toothpaste with fluoride. These toothpastes can work in certain situations. When brushing, place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle with the bristles into the gum tissues. Move the brush in an elliptical or circular motion. Brush the outer tooth surfaces, the inner tooth surfaces, and the chewing surfaces. Hold the brush vertically and use the “toe” of the brush to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, moving in an up-and-down manner. Finally, brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.
What is the best way to floss? Cleaning between the teeth once a day with floss is essential in preventing decay and gum disease. There are many areas in the mouth where the toothbrush just can’t reach. Usually, these areas are better cleaned with floss. When flossing, break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. This opposite finger will take up the floss as it gathers the bacteria from your mouth. Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers. Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Try to avoid snapping the floss into the gums, as that can injure the gum tissue. When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C-shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth. Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up and down motions. Repeat this method for the rest of your teeth. Finally, don’t forget the back side of your last tooth.
Is there anything else I can use to clean my mouth? Depending on your situation, you may benefit from a mouth rinse, used daily. Antimicrobial mouth rinses, like Listerine, reduce bacteria and plaque activity, helping to prevent gingivitis and gum disease. Fluoride mouth rinses, like ACT, help reduce and prevent tooth decay. For patients with signs and symptoms of gum disease, we will often recommend a rubber tip or proxy brush to clean more effectively in the gum tissue. Typically, the best use of these tools is to hold the tip vertically with the long axis of the tooth and remove the plaque along the gum line and in between the teeth. For more specific instructions related to your particular situation, be sure to ask us. For patients with bridges or fixed retainers, it is important to use a floss-threader to get the floss under these fixtures and help clean in between the teeth. For patients missing teeth or for those who have a removable partial denture, it can help to use gauze to remove plaque on a tooth where there is no adjacent tooth. We suggest using a 2×2 size piece of gauze, opened up and folded the long way. Use the gauze along the side of the tooth like you would a beach towel when drying off your body.
Dental radiographs (x-rays) are an important tool to show us the condition of your teeth, roots, bone, and surrounding tissues. They also allow us to detect periodontal disease, tooth or tissue abscesses, abnormal growths, and can pinpoint locations of tooth decay. Think of dental radiographs as a dental magnifying glass, allowing us to detect minor changes and conditions before they become major problems.
Some cracked teeth have no symptoms. However, given enough time, a cracked tooth will usually exhibit a sharp pain with cold, hot, and/or chewing triggers. This pain may come and go over time. It is important to diagnose a crack before it goes too far and the tooth splits. To help decrease the aggravation of the tooth it is best to avoid eating hard foods and to chew on the opposite side of your mouth.
Teeth can crack due to a number of factors, the most common being biting on hard objects such as hard candy, ice, nuts or even crunchy foods like a carrot, grinding or clenching teeth, a severe hit, or trauma to the mouth.
Spotting a crack on a tooth can be challenging, as some hairline fractures are too small to be seen without a microscope. By asking the right questions and by running a few tests on the teeth, Dr Eggert is able to determine if and where you have a cracked tooth. Sometimes the nerve tissue in a cracked tooth becomes irreversibly inflamed and root canal therapy may be necessary.
We like to start seeing your child soon after his or her 1st birthday. We don’t expect too much from the first visit, but want to give your child a chance to get comfortable with our office as the new dental home. It also allows for us to have a discussion about nutrition and good food and drink habits. Early examination and preventative care will protect your child’s smile now and in the future.
Decay is caused by bacteria living in the mouth. The bacteria eat away at the tooth surface and cause a cavitation in the tooth. The bacteria that cause decay are always present, but can become especially active with certain food and drink. Sugary and acidic foods make the teeth especially vulnerable to the decay-causing bacteria. To prevent decay, follow our recommended home hygiene regimen and come for regular dental visits to our office. Should you still get decay, we can repair the tooth a number of ways depending on your situation.