What to Expect at Your Next Dental Exam?

 

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends a biannual dental checkup. Now, think about the last time you visited a dental clinic near you. Has it been over a year? Then, you may benefit from our affordable dental exams in Flagstaff. We suggest not postponing the appointment any longer because you could develop serious dental issues.

What Can You Expect from a Dental Checkup?

Dental checkups may scare some people (especially with dental anxiety); however, they are quite simple. During a checkup, our dentist in Flagstaff observes your teeth and gums, performs an oral cancer screening, and takes a set of x-rays for a complete diagnostic.

What is Oral Cancer Screening?

No checkup is complete without this procedure. It is essential to look for lumps or abnormalities in the soft tissues of your mouth.

During oral cancer screening, the doctor will look for precancerous lesions. If they do, they may prescribe a biopsy.

Early detection of this type of cancer increases the chance of a good prognosis.

Why are Dental Checkups Important?

Dental checkups are vital because they prevent many oral conditions like a periodontal disease – the infection of the bone and tissues surrounding it. During a checkup, the hygienist may perform cleanings to remove plaque and tartar buildup (tartar is the hardened plaque).
 
If unremoved, the gums inflame, and periodontal disease begins. The first stage is gum inflammation and is reversible, and you must seek treatment before it worsens.

What are the Stages of Periodontal Disease?

 If this condition is untreated, you may lose one or many dental pieces. The stages are the following:
 
1. Gingivitis - It is the inflammation of the gums. You may notice they bleed while you brush or floss your teeth and tartar buildup, and you should look for dental cleanings near you if you do. By undergoing a professional cleaning and performing excellent oral care habits at home, you may reverse Gingivitis.

2. Periodontitis - Our dentist in Flagstaff is an expert in treating periodontitis. Symptoms are gum recession (your teeth look large), bad breath, bleeding when brushing teeth. Our team will plan root planing and scaling to treat it.

The procedure consists of eliminating plaque and calculus from the teeth and roots. Afterward, they are smooth and reattach to the dental pieces in about a month. We suggest not postponing treatment because it can only worsen.

3. Advanced periodontitis – The most severe stage is advanced periodontitis. Teeth move around a lot (it seems they may fall out on their own), patients have chronic bad breath, and their gums are swollen, red, and hurt.

The treatment for advanced periodontitis depends on the severity. In some cases, the dentist will Schedule curettage or root planing for removing the infected tissue from the roots, but it may not be enough. You may require bone and gum grafting due to the bone and gingiva recession. In this procedure, the doctor transfers bone from a donor site to a recipient one. It stimulates your body to grow more bone, and your dental pieces retain in the socket.

When the shifting is too much, not even bone grafting helps, and you must undergo dental extractions. Keeping infected teeth in your mouth may cause severe problems like abscesses and even sepsis. If your doctor pulls out the damaged teeth, you should look for prosthodontic treatments like dental implants and dental crowns.

Do Not Wait to This Point!

Prevention is the key to excellent oral care. Keeping up with your checkups will help maintain a healthy smile and periodontitis far away!

Do Bridges Look Like Real Teeth?

Whether you are looking into getting a dental bridge or just curious, it's easy to wonder what dental bridges look like. Dental bridges are restorative procedures used to replace missing teeth. There is a ton that goes into the structure of dental bridges. There are four main dental bridges, and how it looks will depend on their type. 

Do dental bridges look like natural teeth? Yes! Often, because it is called a "bridge," they will actually look like a row of teeth. Usually, you should be missing at least two or more teeth to qualify for a dental bridge.

Or if you are missing one or two teeth and have a third worn-down tooth, that tooth can be capped.

Continue reading to learn about the four different types of dental bridges; traditional, cantilever, Maryland bonded, and implant-supported. As well as where to find dental bridges near you!

Traditional Dental Bridges

Traditional dental bridges are the most popular type of bridges. These are usually made of two or more fake teeth with dental crowns. Dental crowns are a procedure done to cap damaged or worn teeth. The "caps" look like real teeth, and these are used to support the fake teeth in the bridge while looking realistic. The capped teeth will be shaved down to fit the cap perfectly and glued on. Traditional bridges can usually last anywhere from twelve to fifteen years if properly managed. 

Cantilever Bridge 

The cantilever bridge is slightly different from the traditional bridge but much less common. Traditional bridges use a minimum of two fake teeth; this bridge only uses a single fake tooth. These are usually used for missing teeth in the back of the mouth and are not as strong as other bridges. Due to their lack of strength and need for ongoing repairs, cantilever bridges are not often used anymore.

Maryland Bonded Bridge

Maryland bonded bridges are unique for being supported by a metal framework.  The only bridge to use a framework, these look like a row of teeth but have metal clasps on each tooth. The metal framework usually sits behind the teeth to hide it from being seen. It can be visible from certain angles, though. This is not as commonly used anymore either because traditional or implant-supported bridges can achieve the same results with higher aesthetics. 

Implant-Supported Bridge

Implant-supported bridges are kepted secure by dental implants or metal screws connected to the jawbone. Usually, there are one to two implanted supported crowns with a fake crown tooth in the middle. The implant screws cannot be seen and look very natural. This option is best used for multiple missing teeth in a row. The only downside to this bridge option is longer healing times in between because the implants must be inserted and healed first. This is also one of the longest-lasting options, often lasting longer than twenty years. 

Dentist in Flagstaff

Dental bridges can vary in appearance based on which type they are! But overall, they all share the same goal of looking like natural teeth. While some are more invasive than others, implant-supported bridges can last much longer. Most of the time, your dentist will exactly match your bridges and implants to the color of your teeth. It is best to find a dental office near you to help guide you through this process. 

If you’re looking for porcelain fixed bridges in Flagstaff, look no further than West Flag Dental! At West Flag Dental, you can receive the highest quality of care while finding the best treatment plan for you. West Flag Dentists are kind, caring, and ready to help you begin your journey to a happier smile! 

What To Do About a Lost or Chipped Crown?

Crowns are exceptionally versatile solutions for lots of problems with teeth, but they don’t last forever. In the best of situations, a crown placed over one of your natural teeth typically has a 10 to 20-year lifespan. Having to deal with loose porcelain crowns in Flagstaff or even having one replaced isn’t anything to be worried about, but it’s still something that you should know about in advance.

Dental crowns near you are subjected to constant pressure and torque while you chew, bite and eat every day. Your mouth is a dynamic environment and all the motion, pressures, torque and changes to which your crowns are exposed can’t help but have an impact on the crowns themselves.

Sometimes you might not even know that you have a loose dental crown until that crown comes right off your tooth, which is a startling way to find out. What should you do if that happens?

How to respond to losing a crown

If you’re eating and suddenly realize that a crown has come off a tooth, the first thing that you should do is to retrieve that crown from your mouth to avoid swallowing it or choking. Once you get a hold of the crown, rinse it carefully under clean water and set it aside somewhere safe. Your dentist may actually be able to return it to place depending on its condition.

Whether losing a crown is a dental emergency depends a lot on the condition of the tooth it was covering. If you’re very anxious or experiencing pain after losing a crown, by all means contact a dentist near you on an emergency basis for advice about how quickly you should get dental attention. Even if it does not feel like an emergency situation, contact your dentist in Flagstaff as soon as convenient.

If you find that your tooth is very sensitive in the absence of the crown, you can temporarily get some relief from that tooth sensitivity by putting some clove oil on the tooth with a cotton swab or covering the tooth with some dental cement. Be sure to tell your dentist about the tooth sensitivity. It may indicate that your tooth is damaged and vulnerable to bacteria if left unprotected for too long. Depending on those factors, your dentist may schedule an appointment as quickly as possible.

What if your crown gets chipped?

As strong and durable as crowns are, they can become chipped in accidents or even as the result of bad habits (like using your teeth like wrenches) or even by grinding your teeth as you sleep. If you notice that your crown has become chipped, you should call your dentist immediately. That’s especially true if the broken piece hasn’t broken off yet, but is merely hanging loose. Don’t decide on your own to pull the loose piece off; get advice from your dentist first.

Generally speaking, you don’t need to rush into the dentist on an emergency basis, but can wait a day or two. The exception to that general rule is if the chipped crown has left behind a jagged break that is causing pain or discomfort. While you may be able to wait a day or two until seeing a dentist, don’t wait to call a dentist. Be sure to tell your dentist and their staff if you're experiencing any pain, tooth sensitivity, or prolonged or excessive bleeding.

In many cases, minor chips can be repaired, but your dentist will carefully examine your crown, your underlying tooth and the purpose that the crown was placed to perform before making a decision about repairing versus replacing that crown. 

What Happens When Your Veneers Need To Be Replaced?

Before traditional porcelain veneers near you are put in position, a dentist will remove a thin layer of enamel from the tooth or teeth to be covered with veneers. By removing that thin layer of enamel, the staff at your dental clinic in Flagstaff will ensure that the veneer will fit flushly and securely without adding any perceptible bulk or edge to any portion of your tooth.

Porcelain veneers properly placed on and bonded to a well-prepared tooth can last for as long as 15 years as long as you do your part to keep the underlying tooth or teeth healthy. At somewhere around the 15-year mark, though, those porcelain veneers will need to be replaced. Replacement may be required earlier if the underlying tooth is damaged by tooth decay or periodontal disease, or if your veneer is damaged by clenching your jaw, grinding your teeth, chewing fingernails or ice, or using your teeth like tools.

When the time comes when it is necessary to replace your dental veneers in Flagstaff, what will happen next? Your dentist will review the condition of your underlying teeth, including to ensure that your tooth has enough enamel to allow for the tooth to be prepared and the new veneers to be bonded in place. Typically, the first replacement of a set of veneers can happen without difficulty because there will be enough enamel in place to allow for the preparation and placement of your second set of veneers. Having said that, every individual’s situation is different and decisions will be made based on a careful review of the specific condition of your teeth. If it isn’t possible to replace your first or second set of veneers with a second or third set of veneers, what will happen next?

Porcelain veneers do not bond as well to dentin — the layer in your teeth beneath the enamel layer — as to enamel. If there is insufficient enamel on your teeth to place your new veneers, your dentist will recommend the placement of dental crowns instead. Crowns fit over your tooth — much like a thimble over the end of a pencil — but not onto your tooth. Even a tooth that has minimal enamel can support a crown as long as the dentist can achieve a good bond between your crown and your tooth at the edge of your gums.

Dental crowns are an incredibly versatile and powerful dental restoration that can achieve all of the cosmetic functions performed by veneers. Your dentist will craft crowns that will blend with your remaining natural teeth while projecting the profile of a perfect tooth.

Only a very thin layer of enamel needs to be removed from a tooth before veneers can be put in place. For the vast majority of patients, that’s not a significant concern but your dentist will confirm that you have adequate enamel in place to allow that step. If you or your dentist are concerned about the extent of your enamel layer, your dentist will explain the advantages of prepless veneers. Prepless veneers are not appropriate for every situation and patient, but do offer the advantage of requiring the removal of very little enamel — or none at all.

Whatever are your cosmetic dentistry goals, discuss them with a dentist at a dental clinic near you who is familiar with your medical and dental condition, lifestyle, commitment to oral and dental health, budget and timeline. Your dentist and their staff will ensure that you understand all of the options available to help you to achieve your goals.

Why You Should Visit Your Dentist if Your Dentures Break

Unfortunately, people lose one or many teeth during their lives. Some patients are completely edentulous before reaching their fifties! 

Thanks to modern dentistry, there are many ways to replace them. Among them, our dentist in Flagstaff offers complete and partial dentures.

What are Dentures?

Dentures are oral devices that consist of acrylic and fake teeth for edentulous patients. Depending on how many teeth you are missing, your doctor may customize full or partial ones.

Full Dentures

As their name suggests, your doctor will use these for fully edentulous patients. They consist of a base of pink acrylic (which resembles the gums) and false teeth. 

The procedure takes two appointments. In the first one, your doctor will take a mold of your mouth for the dentures. They may place temporary ones for you to go home with teeth. 

After a dental technician creates the permanent ones, you will visit your dentist for the fitting. Your doctor will evaluate that they don’t fall out when you speak and that you feel comfortable.

Partial Dentures

These also have metal hooks that grasp the remaining teeth for support. They retain better, and your doctor will perform a similar procedure; however, before anything, they will drill small holes in specific dental pieces, where the metallic appliances will rest.

Whether you are looking for complete dentures near you or partial ones, you must take care of them for long life. They last around five to seven years.

Caring for Your Dentures?

If you acquire our dentures in Flagstaff, you should follow these recommendations:

• Brush them – Every day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a mild soap. Do not use toothpaste because it harms them. Also, use lukewarm to cool water because hot water may bend them out of shape-
• Take a break – Before bedtime, remove them and soak them in the water of denture cleaning solution. Giving your mouth a break will avoid oral issues such as mouth sores and gum irritation.
• Reduce pigmented foods and drinks – Like chocolate, black tea, coffee, and red wine. These substances stain the acrylic of your dentures, making your smile look unpleasant.
• Visit your dentist regularly – You must visit a dentist twice a year (every six months) for a general checkup. If you are a dentures wearer, your doctor will monitor the device and repair it (if necessary).
• Avoid DIY repairs – If your dentures break, do not use superglue. There is the misconception that it works and fixes them. While it will glue it, it is toxic, and if your dentist needs to perform a permanent repair, they may not be able to afterward.

We strongly suggest visiting a dentist near you if your dentures break or are not fitting correctly after some time. A dental professional will evaluate them and decide if it is fixable or should you get new ones. 

The Bottom Line

Dentures are oral devices that replace many and even all of your teeth. They last up to seven years (they can last longer in some cases), and you must take good care of them for better results. 

You should remove them before bedtime to prevent mouth sores and clean them daily for a healthy mouth. 

In case of an accident with your dentures, contact a dental professional right away. We know that DIY techniques are popularizing, but there are professionals for a reason. We are available to help you with any events you may have with or without dentures and to evaluate your oral health every six months for a perfect smile.

Gum Disease, and What You Can Do About It

Periodontal disease is an even more frightening-seeming word for gum disease. Whatever you call it, gum disease is an infection of the soft tissues that surround your teeth and line your gums. While it’s easy to overlook your gums, you really shouldn’t. They’re important because they seal your teeth and the sensitive parts of your teeth and jaw from bacteria in your mouth. Gum infections can degrade those tissues, reduce the protection they provide to the roots of your teeth, and allow infection to progress into and beyond your mouth and jaw.

Gum disease presents in two forms: as minor and reversible gingivitis; and as much more serious and dangerous periodontitis. Both conditions are treatable, but reversing gingivitis is much easier than undergoing periodontal disease treatment near you for periodontitis. 

What are the symptoms of gum disease?

Understanding what gum disease looks like is easier when you realize what healthy gums are supposed to look like. Healthy gum tissue is pale pink, firm, and lays around the base of your teeth snugly. Here, on the other hand, are symptoms of periodontitis:

• Puffy and swollen gums that bleed easily
• Gum tissue that is red or purple rather than pink
• If your toothbrush is bloody or you spit out blood after brushing or flossing
• If it hurts to chew
• If you have persistent bad breath
• Pus oozing from between your teeth or beneath the lip of your gums
• There seem to be wider spaces between your teeth
• Your teeth feel loose, or you’ve lost teeth
• If your gums seem to be shrinking or your teeth look longer than usual.

What can you do to prevent gum disease?

Do you know what the first few answers are going to be? Yep, you got it. Brush, floss, visit your dentist in Flagstaff for twice-annual checkups, have your teeth cleaned annually, and undergo all recommended dental treatment. It really is as easy as that. Those basic daily and annual dental hygiene habits will, in most situations, keep your gums and teeth healthy. Better still, if any gum health issues do develop, your dentist will be able to identify them right away and intervene to get you back on track.

What else can you do? Your diet is essential to your overall health, and that’s no less true when it comes to your teeth and gums. By eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and minimizing your consumption of refined carbs, caffeine and sugar, you can increase the chance of maintaining a healthy mouth — especially if you focus on adding some more of these vitamins to your diet:

• Vitamin A in beef, liver, milk, cheese and eggs aids the healing of inflamed gum tissues
• Vitamin B found in mushrooms, meat, fish and supplements can help keep toothaches, receding gums and sensitivity of mucous membranes at bay
• Vitamin C contained in fruits and vegetables promotes the healing of bleeding gums and helps to prevent gum inflammation while also preventing plaque formation
• Vitamin D found in cheese, milk and fatty fish and also generated from sun exposure can help prevent your gums from becoming inflamed and help your body and teeth to absorb calcium
• Vitamin E found in sunflower seeds, peanut butter, tomato paste and turnip greens (or in a capsule form) can relieve infants’ sore gums during teething and also helps to promote the absorption of calcium.

If you’ve experienced any of the symptoms of gum disease or are concerned about the health of your gums, make an appointment for a checkup at a dental clinic near you for advice about keeping your gums healthy and gum disease treatment in Flagstaff. 

The Importance of Dental Checkups

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends visiting a dental professional every six months for a checkup. However, a doctor may advise you to go for dental cleanings and exams near you every three or four months if you are a high-risk patient.

What is a High-Risk Group?

These patients have a high risk of developing cavities or gum disease due to their habits, conditions, and lifestyle. Among them, you may find the following:

- Pregnant women

- Heavy smokers

- People with periodontal disease

- Patients that have had multiple cavities in the last year

- Patients with uncontrolled diabetes 

If your dentist considers it correctly, they may suggest you visit them every three months. On the other hand, if you are a low-risk patient, you can make a trip to the dentist every year instead of every six months.

What is a Low-Risk Group?

These patients have excellent oral care, haven’t had any cavities in their last year, and take foods low in sugars. If you are one of them, your dentist may schedule your appointments once a year.

Why are Dental Checkups Important?

You may benefit from our dental exams in Flagstaff because your doctor will monitor your teeth, gums, and other soft tissues, like your tongue and cheeks. They will also perform oral cancer screening for prevention.

An oral cancer screening consists of checking your mouth looking for white or red patches. If your dentist detects any unusual mouth sore, they may recommend further testing. 

If you detect any bumps, ensure to tell your dentist for them to evaluate it and see if there is something to concern.

Your dental professional will also take a set of x-rays to detect any issues that they cannot see with the naked eye, such as dental caries between teeth, impacted teeth, and the condition of the jawbone.

What is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease is the infection of the tissues that support your teeth and gums. When you skip brushing and flossing your teeth, the dental plaque builds up (a film containing saliva, bacteria, and food debris). Whenitdoes, the gums inflame (Gingivitis).

Gingivitis is the first stage of periodontitis. It is reversible, and you fix it by keeping up with your oral care habits. If untreated, the plaque hardens and turns into tartar. 

If you have tartar buildup, you must visit a dentist near you for professional teeth cleaning. Not doing so may lead to bone recession. Your teeth will lose support and can fall out.

You may benefit from our preventative treatments in our dental clinic in Flagstaff to prevent periodontal disease. 

Primary Oral Care Habits

Your dentist will help you along the way, but you must do the work at home. Here are the recommendations to follow to prevent oral issues away:

1. Brush your teeth – You must brush your teeth two times a day for at least two minutes. Use fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush not to harm your teeth and gums.

2. Floss – You must use dental floss, interdental brushes, or water flossers to clean the surfaces between your teeth. The toothbrush does not reach these areas, so you must use these devices to remove dental plaque from there.

3. Avoid sugary foods – Try to reduce the consumption of sugary foods because bacteria react with starchy foods and produce acids that wear away the enamel.

4. Visit your dentist regularly – Keeping up with your dental checkups, as we mentioned before, will help to detect any early signs of a problem, and your dental professional will advise you on the steps to follow.