January 27th, 2012 | 
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Cavities can best be described as holes in your teeth that are usually caused by tooth decay. As we all know, tooth decay is influenced by what we eat, how we take care of our teeth, and the amount of fluoride in our toothpaste. If your family has a history of tooth disease or teeth problems you may be susceptible to inheriting them. Passing tooth problems down from generation to generation are not uncommon.
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For many years, different cultures have relied on herbs to help control toothache pain and provide temporary relief. Natural herbs such as cloves, calendula, tarragon, and yarrow can be used to help relieve toothache pain until you can get to the dentist.
Introduction
Endodontics is the branch of dentistry that deals with diseases of the tooth‘s pulp. The pulp is found in the center of the tooth and in canals (called root canals) inside the root of each tooth. Pulp includes connective tissue, nerves and blood vessels. Pulp nourishes the tooth when it first emerges through the gum. Once the tooth matures, the pulp can be removed without destroying the tooth. That’s because each tooth also is nourished by a blood supply in the gums.
Removing the pulp is called endodontic treatment, but it is often referred to as root canal treatment or root canal therapy. Many people refer to pulp removal as “having a root canal.” Root canal treatments are quite common. In the United States, they save about 24 million teeth each year.
Why Would You Need Root Canal Treatment?
Continue reading “Do you need a root canal?” »
Anxiety in the Dentist’s Chair
If you’re afraid of going to the dentist, you should know that there are ways to quell dental anxiety and make your dental care experience a lot more tolerable.
Not many people really like going to the dentist. But for some people, the thought of going to the dentist can bring on such a fear that they avoid getting the dental care they need. In fact, nearly half of adults skipped the dentist in 2009, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Dental extractions are among the easiest and best ways to get relief from a toothache. As the name implies, an extraction involves removing the tooth. If your pulp has died or the tooth has become severely infected, extraction may be your only route. Depending on the tooth, the dentist can do either a simple extraction or a more complicated extraction.
Simple extractions
These types of extractions, the simple extractions, are the most common in the world of dentistry. Simple extractions, also known as pulling, don’t take long to complete. The dentist will numb you before he starts, so you won’t feel anything. Depending on the tooth, pulling it will normally take just a few minutes after you have been numbed with local anesthesia. Once completed, the dentist will place gauze in your mouth to bite on and you will be free to go.
Complex extractions
As we all know, not all teeth can be pulled. Sometimes, the tooth will be so decayed or broken off that the dentist will have nothing to grasp above the gum line. In cases such as this, the dentist will need to perform a more complicated extraction, which involves getting the tooth out below the gum line, as he won’t be able to use the standard method of pulling and rocking.
Dental extractions are very common, and happen on a daily basis for dentists. All types of extractions, even the most complex, will take time to heal. As long as you take care of your extraction site, you’ll avoid common pitfalls such as dry sockets and other mishaps. Once the procedure is over – you’ll eventually start to feel a lot better once you have had the tooth or teeth removed.
Tooth Infection or Dental Abscess: What is it?
A tooth infection is also known as a tooth or root abscess. It is a pus-filled swelling. The infection is usually a result of tooth decay. The damage to your tooth is not caused by bacteria, but usually by certain dietary habits that are common in our modern industrial society.
Tooth With Infected Pulp
What Causes a Tooth Infection?
With their more sophisticated procedures, dentists are helping people keep their teeth longer. Because people are living longer and more stressful lives, they are exposing their teeth to many more years of crack-inducing habits, such as clenching, grinding, and chewing on hard objects. These habits make our teeth more susceptible to cracks.
How do I know if my tooth is cracked?
Cracked teeth show a variety of symptoms, including erratic pain when chewing, possibly with release of biting pressure, or pain when your tooth is exposed to temperature extremes. In many cases, the pain may come and go, and your dentist may have difficulty locating which tooth is causing the discomfort.
Why does a cracked tooth hurt?
What are Dental Crowns and Tooth Bridges?
What are Dental Crowns and Tooth Bridges?
Both crowns and most bridges are fixed prosthetic devices. Unlike removable devices such as dentures, which you can take out and clean daily, crowns and bridges are cemented onto existing teeth or implants, and can only be removed by a dentist.
How do Crowns Work?
Continue reading “Crowns and Bridges” »
What Causes a Toothache?
Dentists recognize that an aching tooth can be an intimidating and frightening experience. I assure you that the dental profession takes a very gentle approach to make you comfortable once again. For most of our patients, the greatest amount of fear stems from a fear of the unknown. I hope that the information on this page helps reduce some anxiety, should you have any.
Most of us have experienced some type of toothache over the course of our lifetime, and the number of reasons for this discomfort are so great that I cannot expound on all of them here. Often, the first idea that comes to mind is, “Uh oh, I have a cavity.”