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Has it been quite some time since your last dental visit? If it has been longer than six months, you may want to consider scheduling an appointment with the dentist. There are several reasons why it is important to go to the dental office. You might brush regularly, but that does not necessarily mean you would be able to identify certain problems with your teeth until those problems start to get worse.

If you are missing a tooth in your mouth and decide to have it replaced with a dental bridge, your dentist will likely have to attach it in place with the assistance of dental crowns. A dental crown is like a cap for a tooth, and dental crowns are often used to save teeth that are severely decayed. For a bridge, you will need one or two crowns, simply because a bridge cannot stand on its own.

If one of your teeth has recently been pulled due to an accidental break or the formation of a large cavity, then your dentist will inform you about some options to replace the tooth. Permanent solutions are best, and a dental implant is one of the strongest and most natural looking artificial teeth that you can choose. Dental implants require a surgical procedure. This is the most difficult, painful, and lengthy part of the implant process, and you will need to make some preparations for the surgery.

Having a pool in your backyard is an ideal way to enjoy the summer weather and cool off. One of the main health concerns when enjoying a backyard pool is typically sun protection, but there are also other health concerns that you should be aware off. Being aware of your dental health while enjoying a backyard pool can ensure that you stay protected through the summer. If problems do occur, then you can seek professional help from a dentist for one of the following three concerns.

If you have a tooth infection that has affected the internal tooth pulp, then your dentist will need to complete a root canal procedure. Root canals are quite common. In fact, about 41,000 root canals are completed every day, and this works out to be about 15 million procedures in a single year. This means that your dentist has likely performed quite a few root canals, and there is simply nothing to worry about.

If you regularly experience a foul taste in your mouth, even after using an oral rinse, you might have too much acid in your stomach. Although stomach acid, or gastric acid, benefits your digestive system and body in many ways, the acid may not be so good for your oral health. Gastric acids are strong enough to break down minerals, food, and even bacteria, viruses, and other types of germs. However, stomach acid can also break down your tooth enamel and irritate the soft tissues of your mouth and throat.

If you have a large gap between your two front teeth and are tired of it, you could have it fixed by a cosmetic dentist. There are two main procedures used to close gaps between the two front teeth, and these are bonding and veneers. There are pros and cons with each type, and you may want to compare the following four differences as you try to decide which option is right for you.

When you visit the dentist for a regular checkup and cleaning, one of the last things the hygienist will offer is a fluoride treatment. Fluoride is known for its ability to help your teeth stay strong and fight cavities, but do you really need fluoride for this purpose? Here are several things you should know about fluoride that may help you decide if you should use fluoride for your teeth.

Children usually start losing their baby teeth when they're between the ages of five and six years old. Sometimes these teeth fall out easily while a child is eating or brushing their teeth, but sometimes they're more stubborn, remaining attached to the gum line by a tiny piece of tissue for days on end. Some parents think baby teeth should be left alone until they fall out on their own, while others still practice the old string and doorknob trick.

A toothache, however mild, can have a devastating impact on your day. You may be unable to concentrate in work, or you may be unable to fall asleep at night. It's understandable, then, that you would want some quick relief for this extreme discomfort to allow you to get on with your life. If you're waiting to see a dentist and don't fancy using over-the-counter medication, consider the three natural remedies listed below for reducing toothaches:

If you have extremely discolored and chipped teeth or if your teeth are small and slightly crooked, then it may be in your best interest to speak with your cosmetic dentist about the placement of dental veneers. However, you need to understand that dental veneer placement is a permanent procedure that cannot be reversed. This means that you must carefully consider your cosmetic dental options. When you do this, you should understand that the following things may possibly make you a poor candidate for dental veneers.

The practice of properly brushing your teeth each day will help your teeth and gums be plaque-free and healthy. Too much brushing can cause damage to your teeth from excessive rubbing, and too little brushing can allow cavities and bacteria to flourish in your mouth. Here are some of the dental problems that can come from too little and too much teeth brushing and how you can repair and prevent them.

If you've been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and you want dental implants, you'll have to proceed cautiously. There are several important things to consider that can affect your surgery and recovery. Hyperthyroidism can cause significant problems with dental implants if your hormone levels are not controlled. Fortunately, there are things you can do to have success with dental implants. Here's what you need to know.  Hyperthyroidism causes bone loss  Your thyroid regulates hormones that your body uses for growth.

If you have lost a tooth in your mouth and it is extremely noticeable, then you probably want to have the tooth replaced as soon as possible. While dental implants are the most permanent of all the replacement options, many people do not want to invest their time and money to go through such an uncomfortable dental procedure. If this is true for your situation, then you should consider a dental bridge instead.

There are around 6,000 babies born each year with Down syndrome. This condition not only affects a child's ability to learn, but it can also affect the child in many other ways, including the child's oral health. If you have a child that was born with Down syndrome, it is important for you to understand the oral risks your child was inherently born with. Here are four things you should understand about your child and his or her oral development and health.

While some toddlers love brushing their teeth, others will run away as soon as you pull out the tooth brush. While you can try to coax your child into brushing their teeth, sometimes you will realize that brushing is not possible. After skipping a few brushing sessions, you may begin to worry about tooth decay and gum disease. Whether it is a short phase of toddler-defiance or a long term refusal to brush, it is important that you develop other healthy oral habits to compensate for the lack of brushing in your child's life.

The decision to get braces as an adult can be a difficult one. Not many people want to be known for having a mouth full of crooked or misshapen teeth, but you probably don't want to be the one adult in the office sporting a mouth full of metal brackets, either. You may be tempted to jump straight to clear braces – removable plastic aligners that are all but invisible in your mouth.

Typically, if you have a tooth infection, your general dentist sends you to the endodontist for a root canal procedure. However, there are some cases when a root canal procedure alone can't save the tooth. If this is the case, your endodontist may need to perform a surgical treatment called an apicoectomy. Check out these important facts about this surgical procedure. It Stops Persistent Infections   Hopefully, after your root canal treatment, the tooth remains free of infection.

If you are undergoing radiation therapy for a cancer of the head or neck, you are at risk of a wide variety of oral health complications. The radiation will not just target your cancer cells, it will also have an effect on your nearby healthy cells. Here are four oral complications that you may experience as a result of your treatment. Xerostomia If the radiation damages your salivary glands, they will not be able to produce as much saliva.

Radiation therapy is a common treatment method for cancers of the head or neck, but it can lead to many complications inside your mouth. One of these potential complications is periodontitis, a severe form of gum disease. Here are four things that radiation patients need to know about periodontitis. How does radiation cause periodontitis? Periodontitis is primarily caused by plaque. If you don't remove this plaque by brushing or flossing, it will harden and turn into calculus.

If you have a baby on the way, then you are likely doing everything you can to ensure that your baby emerges as healthy as can be. You may not realize that there are even steps you can take right now to help your baby have healthy teeth. While it may sound surprising, one part of your baby's anatomy that actually begins developing before they are born is their teeth, and they begin developing as early as six weeks into pregnancy.

One of the hardest things about being a parent is seeing your child in pain. Tooth pain can be particularly tricky. Adults often have trouble finding relief from a toothache, so it can be tough to figure out how best to help your child. However, it can help to have a plan of action for when your child wakes up in the night with tooth pain. Take a look at a few strategies that can help you help your child feel better.

If you find you are anxious or nervous when visiting a dentist, you are not alone. It has been estimated that up to 1 in 5 Americans avoid seeing a dentist due to fear. This can lead to a neglect of preventative care, lingering problems such as tooth decay and ultimately result in needless pain and expensive restorative care. The good news is there are effective ways you can overcome these anxieties and be at ease in the dental chair.

Many volunteer organizations with international placements demand a medical and dental checkup before you can depart. This is usually because the organization assumes financial responsibility for your health while you are abroad. While some organizations require you to have your wisdom teeth examined before departure, to determine whether you will be at risk for an emergency removal while you are abroad, others do not require such detailed examinations. No matter what your volunteer organization requires, if you are departing for a long-term volunteer project outside of the United States and you have not had your wisdom teeth removed, you should consult your dentist about an extraction.

For most people, braces are a minor inconvenience, or a small bump in the road to a beautiful smile. While they can be somewhat uncomfortable, especially after adjustments, many people with braces find that an over-the-counter pain medication works perfectly to resolve the discomfort. However, as mild as they are, these OTC pain medications can have side effects, and if you can't take them, or prefer not to, you need to find other ways to relieve the pain of orthodontic braces.

Teeth whitening is a popular cosmetic procedure for persons of all ages, and many dentists provide teeth whitening services for their patients. However, people can augment professional whitening by using a couple of safe and useful substances: activated charcoal and hydrogen peroxide. Below is more information on how you can use these "wonder drugs" to easily and inexpensively treat your own teeth in order remove some of the stains: Materials you will need

Dental bonding can be a great way to create a beautiful smile at a relatively inexpensive price. Unfortunately, due to the fact dental bonding is comprised of a composite material, it is susceptible to staining. Knowing what creates these stains, as well as how to get rid of these stains, will keep your smile beautiful for years to come. What Causes Your Teeth To Stain? There are a number of offenders that will cause your teeth to become stained.

Your teeth do not only help you speak properly and chew hard foods, but also say a lot about your appearance. If your teeth have dark stains from frequently drinking wine or smoking cigarettes, you may feel too self-conscious to show off your smile to the world. The good news is that it is still possible to achieve whiter teeth that you can be proud of. Here are seven ways to achieve a white smile:

When a person has to pay all -- or a substantial portion -- of the cost for a full set of dental implants out of their own pocket, it can be difficult to persuade them to choose implants over dentures. Dentures are less expensive than implants, but they have numerous disadvantages. If you're trying to make this decision, consider the problems associated with dentures before choosing a type of artificial teeth.

Do you actually use those toothbrushes your dentist gives you at the end of each appointment? The ADA recommends that you replace your toothbrush every three to four months, but if you use an electric toothbrush, those manual freebies from your dentist are probably piling up somewhere, unopened. Instead of leaving them hidden away in a drawer for who-knows-how-long, there are plenty of ways to use them on things other than your teeth.

When your dentist is not able to save your decaying toot with a standard, non-surgical root canal procedure, he or she may recommend visiting an endodontic specialist for an apicoectomy. An apicoectomy is a more involved, surgical root canal procedure in which the gum tissue near the tooth is removed, allowing the endodontist to clear infected tissue away from your tooth and also remove the end of the tooth root to more effectively clear the infected root pulp from the root canals in your teeth.

Considering looking for an orthodontist in Aurora IL? The thing that led you to seek this type of treatment could be any reason related to the positioning of your teeth. Your orthodontist in Aurora IL may start treatment at nearly any stage in life, depending on the issue and the individual. This means that an orthodontist in the Aurora area could easily treat patients ranging from pre-teens up to senior citizens.