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My Ashburn Dentist Patient Education <br>https://myashburndentist.com/
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Dental Patient Education My Ashburn Dentist https://myashburndentist.com/
New Patient Exam Dental Exam A clinical exam is more commonly referred to as a routine check up. This check up lets your dentist essentially take inventory of the overall health of your mouth and teeth and diagnose any potential problems you may have. The first thing your dentist will check during the exam is your face and neck. Checking visually, your dentist will look for any abnormalities, such as lumps, bumps or swelling. Checking inside your mouth is next on the agenda. During this part of the check up your dentist will be looking for any abnormalities in the soft tissue, such as discolorations or ulcers on your lips, gums, tongue, palate and cheeks. Your dentist will also perform an oral cancer screening and will check your bite and your jaw joint for any problems. Next your dentist will check your gums and jawbone, as they are the foundation for your teeth. Your dentist will check them for any signs of gingivitis, gum disease and bone disease. Checking your teeth comes next. Your dentist will be checking them for cavities and other problems. Finally, your dentist will be sure to look specifically at any areas where you may have symptoms or concerns. X-rays In most cases a clinical exam by itself is not sufficient to completely diagnose all potential problems with your mouth. In fact, the majority of problems with your teeth and the jawbone are not visible to the naked eye. That is why x-rays play a key role in allowing a better, and more accurate look at what is really going on inside your mouth and below your teeth and gums. By using x-rays your dentist can check for any bone loss and determine the severity of the gum disease. In addition to revealing any problems that were not visible during the clinical exam these initial x-rays will also provide your dentist with a benchmark with which to compare against during your future visits.
Teeth Whitening When you look in the mirror, what color are your teeth? White? Yellow? Brown? You may or may not be aware that over time teeth naturally become darker and stained. In addition to natural aging, there are some other factors that may also discolor your teeth like: Smoking Some food or drinks such as: coffee & tea Some prescription and over the counter drugs such as: (Tetracycline & Iron) A Brighter Smile A bright, white smile can be achieved by bleaching your teeth. There are several ways in which this can be done but the most commonly recommended technique by dentists is an in office bleaching. Hands down, this is the quickest and most effectiveway to whiten your teeth. Dental Office Whitening Treatment Simply put, in office whitening uses a concentrated hydrogen peroxide gel to bleach your teeth to a brighter, whiter smile. To help accelerate the process for better results a special light or, with some bleaching systems, a laser is used in conjunction with the gel. What's great is that the whitening procedure generally takes only one office visit. The entire process takes roughly 1 to 2 hours and unlike other teeth whitening techniques that may take weeks to show results, you will see results almost immediately.
Amalgam Fillings What Is A Cavity? & Why Did You Get One? Cavities, as their name implies, are essentially holes in your teeth caused by decay. You can sometimes spot a cavity, as the area surrounding the hole generally looks dark brown or gray. The main culprits to blame for your cavity are certain types of bacteria in your mouth. These bacteria are contained in plaque and they interact with the carbohydrates and sugars in your food creating an acidic environment that dissolves the protective enamel on the outer layer of your tooth. Once the acid succeeds in eroding the enamel, your tooth is exposed, leaving just the softer dentin layer, which will ultimately cause the formation of a cavity. At this point the decay process rapidly speeds up and spreads deeper into the tooth. Why Do I Need A Filling? A filling is necessary to treat your cavity because if left untreated the decay will eventually grow and will enter into your nerve canal. And yes, this can be as painful as it sounds. It can also lead to more serious problems such as infection or abscess. A filling may also be needed to replace or repair an old worn down existing filling or to fix a chipped tooth. In addition to potential pain and discomfort and possible tooth loss, if you wait to have your cavity filled it may end up requiring a more difficult process, such as a root canal, to save your tooth. And it could also cost you a lot more money to fix. The bottom line is you should get your cavity filled as soon as you can.
Dental Bridges Dental bridges are used to replace one or more missing teeth in your mouth. Dental bridges are fixed, in that they are cemented on the supporting teeth, or in some cases fixed on the dental implant that has been placed next to the missing teeth. Importance of Replacing the Missing Teeth Replacing the missing teeth will restore your ability to properly chew and speak besides its cosmetic advantage; in addition the space caused by the missing teeth may allow the surrounding teeth to shift into that space. This shifting could cause a misalignment in your bite that can result in problems with your jaw joint. These shifted teeth are harder to clean, making them more susceptible to gum disease, decay or even additional tooth loss. The Dental Bridge Treatment It normally takes two or more visits for your dentist to complete your bridge. On your first visit the supporting teeth, which are typically the ones on either side of the missing tooth, are prepared. This is done to make room for the crowns that will slide over the supporting teeth. These crowns also serve as holders of the Pontic, which is the missing tooth's replacement. Next, an impression of the supporting teeth is made so a dental laboratory can custom fit the bridge. Finally a temporary dental bridge is inserted to protect the supporting teeth as well as the space between them. On your second visit the permanent bridge is placed and adjusted to insure proper fit and function. If the fit of the bridge is satisfactory your dentist will proceed with permanently cementing the bridge into place.
Denture Like many things in life, the importance of something is never truly appreciated until it is gone. If you've lost your teeth, whether due to injury, tooth decay or gum disease, you surely understand. The good news is that you have options to replace them. Dentures can help restore your way of life by helping you with day-to-day functions, such as eating and speaking, as well as help restore your confidence by improving your appearance and smile. Making a denture is a process that usually takes about 6-12 weeks, however this can vary from one patient to another. It also depends on the type of the denture and the technique your dentist or the laboratory technician uses to make the denture. Denture Treatment Process Complete dentures are made using your mouth as a model. First, your dentist will take an accurate impression of the upper and lower arches of your mouth. This impression is then sent to the dental laboratory. At the next visit, your dentist will record the relationship of the arches that best resembles your original bite and helps you select the shape and color of the denture teeth and gums. Keep in mind the color of everyone's gums varies. To make a more natural denture your dentist will help you choose the shade that best matches your mouth. In the subsequent visits your dentist will adjust your bite, test your speech and check the appearance and functionality of the denture teeth and gums. After a satisfactory fit and appearance is achieved, the denture is then sent back to the laboratory for fabrication.
Dental Crown As you age, your teeth age too. Decay, fillings, trauma or even just normal chewing habits can make your teeth break down over time. A dental crown or a cap is a cover that is placed over a tooth to protect a weakened tooth from further fracturing or deteriorating. A crown could also be used to replace a discolored or badly shaped tooth or protect a tooth that has had a root canal. Lastly, a new crown is necessary to simply replace an old worn down or defective crown. The Dental Crown Treatment It normally takes two visits for your dentist to complete your crown. On your first visit your dentist will shape and prepare the tooth so the crown can properly fit over it. Next, an impression of the tooth is taken and a temporary crown is inserted to protect the prepared tooth. This impression is then sent to a dental laboratory where a custom-fit permanent crown is made. On your second visit, the permanent crown is placed. If the fit, shape and color of the crown are satisfactory your dentist will proceed with permanently cementing it into place.
Tooth Extraction Procedure On Removing A Tooth First, a local anesthetic is applied to make the procedure more comfortable. In some cases your dentist will elect to use nitrous oxide gas in addition to the anesthetic. A dental instrument called an elevator is used to wiggle the tooth in its socket. After the tooth is loosened, it is removed using forceps. Extraction's Possible Complications Like most other procedures, tooth extraction is not free of possible complications. You should be aware that there is a slight chance of infection, tenderness, prolonged bleeding, dry socket and loosening of neighboring teeth or their fillings or crowns. Another rare possibility is of an upper tooth getting displaced into the sinus. Lastly, jaw fracture and temporary or permanent numbness is also very rare possibilities.
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