Author: BaCkMouT_ADmEEN

Gum disease is one of the most common oral health problems, affecting millions of people worldwide. While poor oral hygiene is the leading cause of gum disease, other factors can contribute to its development. If you suspect that you may have gum disease, you must visit a dentist or periodontist for an evaluation. The gum treatment options vary depending on the severity of the disease, but early intervention is key to preventing further damage to your teeth and gums.

What is Gum Disease?

Periodontal disease affects the gums and can lead to tooth loss. It is often caused by poor oral hygiene, which allows bacteria to build up on the teeth and gums. Gum disease in Shavertown, PA, can be treated with various methods, including professional cleaning, antibiotics, and surgery. In severe cases, gum disease can lead to tooth and bone loss.

What Are The Stages of Gum Disease?

Gum disease is a chronic, progressive condition that leads to inflammation of the gums and bone loss. It can be difficult to detect gum disease because it does not cause pain or discomfort.

The stages of gum disease are as follows:

1) Gingivitis: Inflammation of the gums, redness and bleeding, swollen tissue around the teeth

2) Periodontitis: This is an advanced gum disease that causes bone and tooth loss

The Link Between Poor Oral Hygiene and Gum Disease

Poor oral hygiene is a major contributing factor to gum disease. Periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss, pain, and other serious dental problems. If you don’t brush and floss regularly, plaques build up on the gum line, and this can lead to tartar. The calculus harbors bacteria that can affect the gums.

The main risk factors for gingivitis are smoking and alcohol use. Smoking increases the risk of developing periodontal (gum) disease by increasing the number of bacteria in the mouth that cause plaque buildup on teeth and gums. Alcohol use increases the risk of developing periodontal (gum) disease by reducing saliva flow which leads to poor oral.

What are The Warning Signs of Gum Disease?

Gum disease can be difficult to detect in its early stages, but there are some warning signs to look out for, such as bleeding gums, receding gums, and bad breath. If you think you may have gingivae disease, it is important to see a dentist to treat it.

How to Treat Gum Disease?

A dentist can help you treat gum disease by performing a professional cleaning and examining your teeth. The treatment may require brushing, flossing, and other dental care products.

The most common treatment for gum disease is scaling and root planing. This is the primary gingivitis treatment, and it removes plaque from the surface of the teeth and provides relief from pain.

Some people may need antibiotics to treat gum disease. Others may need to change their diet or lifestyle to prevent it from worsening.

As the gum disease advances, you may require periodontitis treatment that involves grafting and surgery.

The good news is that some natural alternatives to gum disease treatment can be done at home. These include drinking lots of water, eating more fruits and vegetables, and avoiding sugar-rich foods.

What Are The Risks of Untreated Gum Disease?

Untreated gum disease is a chronic health condition that can lead to serious complications. It can also lead to tooth loss, bone loss, and oral cancer. Untreated gum disease is most commonly found in people with diabetes or cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure or coronary artery disease.

Tips for Maintaining Good Oral Hygiene

Oral hygiene is one of the most important aspects of our health. It helps in preventing diseases, infections, and other health issues. The following are some tips for maintaining good oral hygiene:

• Brush with a soft brush or toothpaste, floss once a day and rinse your mouth with water after brushing
• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables
• Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration
• Avoid smoking, chewing tobacco, or using snuff.

Schedule an Appointment

Visit Back Mountain Dental for more information about gum disease and how you can treat it.

Your teeth are expected to last forever. Unfortunately, things don’t work according to plan, and more than 120 million people have lost at least one tooth in America. However, the good news is also around the corner, and you don’t need to live with gaps in your smile for the rest of your life.

Whether you are missing one tooth or all your teeth, dental implants in Shavertown, PA, can help transform your smile while keeping your remaining teeth safe and healthy. Here is what you want to know about the gold standard for replacing missing teeth with dental implants.

Who Are Ideal Candidates for Dental Implants?

There are no perfect dental implant candidates. However, patients intending to receive dental implants must have three essential qualities. They are:

Adequate Bone Density

Getting dental implants is not just about replacing teeth. It is also about your underlying jawbone and its ability to secure the implants. Implant placement proceeds only if your jawbone is dense to hold and integrate the titanium screw. Unfortunately, if you don’t have sufficient jawbone density, you must undergo bone grafting to regenerate sufficient bone for the procedure.

Gum Health

You may not qualify for the dental implant procedure if you have unhealthy gums or display signs of periodontal disease. You must prepare yourself to undergo comprehensive treatment like scaling and root planing or laser gum therapy to improve gum health before receiving dental implants.

Physical Health

Other health factors can also prevent you from getting dental implants. Some risk factors might prevent you from receiving full-mouth dental implants because they are likely to fail. Pregnant women, excessive smokers, children, and people with chronic conditions taking steroids may not be ideal for dental implants. Fortunately, if you can adjust your lifestyle habits to make dental implants an option, you can pursue lasting oral health with dental implants.

Dental Implant Care Tips

Dental implants are not your natural teeth indicating they are not susceptible to decay and cavities. However, it in no way suggests that you can discard your toothbrush.

Your dental implants are merely as healthy as the gum tissue surrounding them. However, when you neglect brushing and flossing, the accumulation of bacteria infects your gums to damage the implants. The condition is called peri-implantitis, which results in the loss of bone supporting the implant. If left untreated, it can result in implant failure.

Caring for your dental implants can remain simple and effective if you brush and floss regularly to eliminate bacteria, use an antibacterial mouthwash to reach all areas of your mouth, and try interdental brushes to remove plaque from around the implants.

The Parts of a Dental Implant

Dental implants are artificial teeth designed to appear like a natural teeth and fit perfectly in your mouth. However, it is composed of three individual parts that work together. They are the titanium screw, the abutment, and the crown.

The titanium screw is embedded deep into your gum tissue and allowed to fuse with your jawbone in approximately three to six months to replace your missing tooth roots. The healing process called osseointegration helps the implant reinforce a sturdy base to remain permanently in your mouth.

The abutment is attached to the titanium screw, and the custom-made dental crown is mounted on the abutment. Of the three parts, the titanium screw is the only portion that remains with you for life. The abutment and the dental crown exposed to the forces of chewing can damage and need replacements over time, requiring you to undergo further tooth implant procedures to have the natural-looking artificial tooth in your mouth.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental implants offer many benefits, and some of the most significant are mentioned below for your reference.

Even if you miss a tooth, the loss can affect chewing and pronunciation. Implants function like natural teeth enabling you to chew and talk without fear. As the implants are firmly and permanently integrated with your jawbone and aren’t likely to shift or slip, you can rely on them like natural teeth.

Besides helping you replace your missing teeth for aesthetic reasons, the replacements help stimulate and strengthen the underlying jawbone. Dental implants replace your tooth root to continue stimulating the jawbone and help prevent jawbone resorption over time.

Tooth loss exposes you to having an incomplete smile. Whether you lose your front teeth or bottom molars, you become self-conscious when smiling and talking to others. Fortunately, implants replace your missing teeth to restore your entire smile. As they appear natural and realistic, no one realizes that you have problems with tooth loss.

If you want a durable option for replacing missing teeth, Our dentist  Wilkes Barre at Black Mountain Dental can provide single tooth or full mouth dental implants. Please schedule an appointment with this practice today to get your replacement teeth as soon as possible.

No matter how well your care for your pearly whites, chips, and cracks happen. Tooth chipping is not uncommon, and most people have to deal with them at one point or another. Tooth chipping may not seem serious, but the chip might develop into a fracture if you don’t get treatment. Fractures are much worse since they expose the inner parts of the tooth and can lead to infections or tooth breakage.

Thank heavens there are a plethora of options that can deal with chips and cracks, such as dental crowns and dental bonding in Shavertown, PA. Fixing such issues isn’t a big deal since the options are readily available.

Easy as it may be to fix chips and cracks, most patients will face a dilemma when choosing the procedure that will be appropriate for their scenario. There are lots of questions that you might ask yourself before you settle on a procedure. So, let’s compare dental bonding with crowns and see which one is better.

Dental Bonding

Composite bonding teeth is a process where composite resin is applied to flawed teeth to alter their appearance and restore their function.

Composite resin is a wonderful material since our dentist can shape, trim, and polish it to ensure that your teeth are aesthetically pleasing and structurally sound. That’s why it is used to restore decayed teeth, enhance the teeth color of severely stained teeth, and reshape teeth if they are misaligned or crooked.

Bonding works by hiding the flaws by spreading a coat of resin over the teeth. Composite resin chemically bonds to your teeth, forming a sturdy substance that can restore your tooth’s appearance and function for several years.

For example, if you have a chipped tooth, our dentist will apply composite resin to fill the chipped part and then allow it to cure. Once it cures, our dentist will trim the edges, shape it and then polish it to give it a sheen that matches the rest of your teeth.

Some of the bonding techniques that you come across are:

• Direct composite bonding
• Adhesive bonding

When Is Dental Bonding Used?

Our dentist will recommend dental bonding if you wish to:

• Repair chips
• Close down gaps
• Change the shape of your teeth
• Improve the color of your teeth
• Elongate your teeth
• Cover roots when there is gum recession

Tooth Crowns

On the other hand, crowns are used when the damage to the tooth is severe. If there is a huge chunk of the tooth that’s damaged or missing, tooth crowns are probably the best solution. Unlike bonding, tooth crowns are designed to cap or cover an entire tooth to restore functionality and enhance its appearance. Crowns are also created using tooth-colored materials.

If a tooth needs a crown, our dentist will remove the damaged part and shape the tooth by carving out some of the enamel to create space for the crown. Then, our dentist will use special bonding material to secure the tooth crown on the prepped tooth.

A crown strengthens a damaged tooth. The problem is that the procedure will not be reversed. The reason is that once your enamel is removed, it cannot grow back.

When Are Tooth Crowns Used?

Our dentist might recommend a crown if:

• Your tooth’s chewing surface is worn out because of bruxism
• You need to cover a tooth after a root canal
• You desire to enhance the color of severely discolored teeth
• You need to strengthen a tooth that cannot be supported using a filling, inlay or onlay
• You wish to cover an implant
• You want to attach a bridge
• You desire to repair severely chipped or cracked teeth

Dental Bonding vs. Crowns

Some factors set the two dental procedures apart. The first thing is the amount of tooth mass lost. Dental bonding is used to fix minor problems such as chips, gaps, and cracks, which don’t involve the removal of the enamel. On the other hand, some of the enamel must be removed before getting crowns.

Dental bonding is much less invasive than tooth crowns, and the bonding procedure takes a much shorter time.

It is worth noting that crowns are used when the damage is severe, whereas tooth bonding fixes minor issues. Crowns are the best option for strengthening the teeth.

Both solutions are effective in their right. But to pick the correct option, you might have to visit our dentist, who will conduct the necessary examinations to help you choose the best option. Therefore, contact us at Back Mountain Dental to schedule an appointment with our dentist.

In most cases, we can avoid dental emergencies by practicing good oral hygiene. However, research has shown that the older you get, the higher the chances of getting a dental emergency. That is because teeth tend to wear out as we get older, thus making them prone to damage and tooth decay. This article will highlight the types of dental emergencies and how dental fillings can be used for their treatment.

What Is a Dental Emergency?

A dental emergency is any problem that results in severe pain or bleeding in the mouth. Pain and bleeding in the mouth mostly occur due to tooth damage. If you experience any of the symptoms above, we advise you to visit a dentist near you for emergency dental services.

Dental Fillings

A dental filling is a procedure that involves the insertion of filling materials such as amalgam and resin into the hole of a tooth suffering from decay. This procedure is necessary to restore its structure and function, thereby preventing further damage to the tooth.

Before your dentist can proceed with treatment, the damaged tooth will need to be prepared for filling. Preparation is necessary to ensure all decays in the tooth have been completely removed and free up space for the filling material.

Types of Dental Fillings

Silver Amalgam

This type of filling is not only made from silver, as the name suggests, but comprises a mixture of silver, copper, zinc, mercury, and tin. The combining of different metals allows for a strong and durable filling. If properly installed, silver amalgams can easily last for more than 12 years before it needs to be replaced. That has made it a popular choice for those looking to fill molars, which are hardly visible and require strong fillings to handle the pressure from chewing.

Composite Filling

Composite fillings are dental fillings made from a mixture of plastic and resin. The dentist will place the filling on the damaged tooth, shape it and then harden it using a curing light. Although not strong as silver amalgam, composite fillings are strong enough to handle chewing of soft food. Since resin is natural-looking, it is commonly used by patients looking to fill their frontal teeth. In general, composite is more costly compared to silver amalgam. That being said, you must avoid biting on hard objects and practice good oral hygiene if you want to increase its lifespan. With proper aftercare, composite resin can easily last for more than 8 years before needing replacement.

Ceramic Filling

Ceramic fillings, also referred to as inlays, are fillings made from porcelain material. Porcelain material offers durability while allowing the dentist to color it, thus making it more attractive and aesthetically pleasing. Furthermore, ceramic fillings are more advantageous because they provide more resistance to stains and abrasion than composite resin. However, the main disadvantage of using ceramic fillings lies in its brittle nature, requiring the dentist to create more space for fillings.

Advantages of Dental Fillings

Repair Fractured Teeth

Your tooth can crack or chip due to trauma when you engage in a contact sport, chew on hard objects or accidentally fall. When your teeth get fractured, they become weak and susceptible to more damage. Therefore, you must prevent additional damage to your teeth by seeking urgent dental care.

Protection From Decay

Before your teeth experience decay, food particles start collecting on small holes in your teeth. These holes serve as a breeding ground for food particles; if left uncleaned, these food particles will later manifest to bacteria. Therefore, when you go for regular dental checkups, your dentist will use dental fillings to cover these holes and protect your teeth from decay.

Strengthen Tooth Structure

When your teeth are decaying, their strength and structure get compromised. That is because bacteria forming on the teeth will eat through the tooth structures responsible for anchorage and support. These structures can be reinforced and strengthened to withstand the pressure from chewing and protect your tooth from further damage through tooth fillings.

Conclusion

Modern dentistry allows for the correction of major dental emergencies through dental fillings. In most cases, the damage on the tooth is correctable if you seek help from a dentist as soon as you start experiencing pain or bleeding in the mouth. Time is an important factor when seeking dental treatment; for the best emergency dentistry in Shavertown, PA schedule an appointment with Back Mountain Dental. We accept many payment options and insurance covers to make it flexible for you. In addition, the availability of sedation services means our patients get to enjoy quality dental care without experiencing pain.

Do you have crooked or misaligned teeth? Do you think about getting perfectly straight teeth and a beautiful smile? Well, then Invisalign® is the ideal way to achieve your target. Yes, you read that right; Invisalign is the way to go and not those clunky metal braces that have become so associated with teeth straightening over the years.

It is not that metal braces aren’t used nowadays, but in most cases, Invisalign® in Shavertown, PA, works just fine because it brings with it a number of interesting benefits. Following are some of the benefits of using Invisalign and why we believe you should prefer them over ordinary metal braces.

Eat and Drink What You Like

People who wear metal braces cannot eat or drink everything and have to abstain from certain types of food and drink because they might end up damaging their braces. Fortunately, people who wear Invisalign in Shavertown, PA, can enjoy all the foods and beverages they want. You can simply take off your Invisalign aligners and start eating anything you want! There are no restrictions whatsoever. You can simply wear your aligners once you are done eating and drinking.

Aesthetically-Pleasing, Almost Invisible

Some people who get to wear metal braces will tell you that it takes a toll on your self-esteem. Some people become overly self-conscious because of the fact that they wear those clunky metal braces. Invisalign, on the other hand, are invisible braces, which means that you do not ever have to feel self-conscious about how you look. You can smile as broadly as you want and even take the aligners off whenever you feel like it. The fact that Invisalign aligners are invisible braces is a huge advantage.

Maintain Excellent Oral Hygiene

Unlike metal braces, where people face difficulty in brushing and flossing their teeth, Invisalign® offers the ease of maintaining perfect oral hygiene. Since you can take off Invisalign aligners at your will, you can brush and floss for as long as you want for clean and sparkly teeth. Brushing and flossing can be a challenge for people who wear metal braces but not for those who wear Invisalign aligners.

Comfortable to Wear

Invisalign® is a lot more comfortable to wear in comparison to traditional metal braces. Metal braces have sharp edges that cause discomfort, especially when they come in touch with the inside of your cheeks. Invisalign aligners do not have sharp edges, to begin with, and hence do not cause any sort of serious discomfort when put on.

Moreover, metal braces have to be physically tightened every now and then by your dentist, which can be a cause of discomfort for people. In contrast, Invisalign® for teeth straightening does not require the intervention of your dentist for tightening; rather, you are handed multiple aligners which need to be replaced fortnightly. Each aligner is slightly tighter than the previous one; hence it does not cause as much discomfort as metal braces.

Fewer Dental Visits

With Invisalign, you don’t have to visit your dentist every now and then. You will have fewer appointments with your orthodontist, which will focus on measuring progress. On the other hand, if you opt for metal braces, you will have to visit an orthodontist more often to get the braces and wires tightened for teeth straightening. With Invisalign aligners, you can change aligners yourself without the intervention of an orthodontist.

Simple and Affordable

All in all, Invisalign is much more affordable than regular metal braces. It is cheaper in terms of cost, and you save on the additional trips to the orthodontist’s office that come with metal braces. Furthermore, they get the job done just as well without all the apparent downsides that are so characteristic of metal braces.

Moreover, the procedure to get Invisalign® is simpler than having metal braces fixed. These Invisalign aligners are made with 3D imaging of your teeth to accurately sit on each individual tooth and straighten it accordingly. You just have to replace one aligner with another over the course of every few weeks to see results. By the time you get to your final aligner, you will have perfectly straight, beautiful teeth.

Missing teeth can harm the overall health of a person. The first effect is that it can affect your self-image. You may feel less confident and less attractive to others, leading to depression or low self-esteem.

The second effect is that it can affect speech and eating, as chewing food requires a set of muscles to work together that are not in place when there are no teeth present.

Missing teeth can affect social interactions because people cannot smile or laugh properly without teeth, which leads to difficulties in communicating with others. Missing teeth can affect the jawbone and cause facial deformation if left untreated.

It is crucial to replace the missing teeth to improve your appearance and restore your oral health. We have several teeth replacement options like dentures in Shavertown, ON, that can help restore the missing teeth.

What are Dental Dentures?

Dental dentures are prosthetic devices placed over natural teeth to replace missing teeth. They can be made of metal, ceramic, plastic, or combinations thereof.

Dental dentures can be classified into two types: partial and full dentures

• Partial dentures

A partial denture covers the missing teeth in the upper arch of your mouth. They are usually made from metal, plastic, or porcelain.

• Full dentures

Full dental prosthetics replace all the teeth in your mouth. They are made with a metal framework fixed to the teeth using a screw and covered with acrylic or porcelain.

Full dental dentures can be made to look natural and blend in with your natural teeth. They also provide an excellent solution for people who have lost all their teeth or need to replace their old dentures with a new set.

These dentures are categorized into two complete or immediate. Immediate dental dentures are prefabricated in the dental office and are fixed immediately after the teeth are extracted. These dentures facilitate healing, but only temporarily as you wait for the fixed ones to be made.

Complete dental dentures are fixed 12 weeks after extraction, and the gums have healed.

How Are the Dentures Fixed?

The dental dentures procedure takes several months to be fixed. The dentist starts the process by determining if you are a candidate for dental dentures. He will take impressions of your jaw and measure how the jaws relate to each other. The dentist will create a cast of your jaw in the exact pattern, and you will fit them to ensure that it is the correct size.

The dentures are assessed for the correct color and shape, and the final cast is made.

How Long Do the Dental Dentures Last?

The lifespan of dental dentures depends on the material used, how well they are cared for, and how many times they have been removed and replaced. The average lifespan is between two and five years.

When Do Dental Dentures Need a Repair?

The dentures can get damaged and worn out and will need replacement. You will also need to visit the dentist regularly to have the dentures realigned.

If you have a dental denture, you must be aware of the signs that it needs to be replaced.

Dental dentures are made of acrylic, and they can deteriorate over time. Some other signs that your dental denture needs to be replaced include:

• There is a change in the way your dentures fit
• Your dentures are cracked or chipped
• Pain and discomfort when chewing
• Gum soreness

How to Care for the Dental Dentures?

Dental dentures are made of acrylic resin, and the material is durable. However, it is still important to take care of them.

The best way to care for dental dentures is to clean them regularly with a soft toothbrush and toothpaste. Use a water flosser to remove any food particles stuck between your teeth.

Schedule an Appointment

Visit Back Mountain Dental for more information on dental dentures and what you can expect during and after the dentures are made.