A TMJ Dentist Can Treat Your Jaw Pain Using These Procedures

As a TMJ dentist, there are several procedures we can recommend to help alleviate any pain or discomfort you feel in your jaw.  TMJ will affect somewhere between twenty and thirty percent of the entire population of the United States. While there have not been any comprehensive nationwide studies done, smaller studies show that only chronic back pain causes more distress on a national scale. As a matter of fact, tooth pain is the only condition that causes more facial distress than TMJ. Over 15% of all TMJ cases that go untreated and will become chronic, which often requires surgical intervention to correct. Considering that only about two-thirds of all people who have TMJ seek out the medical attention they need, this is a large gap in education that must be provided to the general public about this condition. 

Understanding TMJ is a little bit harder than understanding a single condition diseases. This is because TMJ is a symptom complex, meaning that it is a series or group of symptoms that may have multiple causes and unfortunately multiple ways of treating those causes. All of this has lead to a level of confusion about the condition and how to best treat it. What is not in dispute is the importance of treating TMJ before it escalates and becomes chronic, a condition that could affect a person’s jaw movement and hence hinder chewing, yawning, and talking. 

As a TMJ dentist, we prefer to treat the condition right away using a non-surgical, non-invasive method.  One of the main causes of TMJ is grinding and clenching teeth at night.  We make it impossible for teeth to touch so that they cannot clench.  This is done by wearing a removable oral appliance that looks like a full retainer.  It is connected and prevents the teeth from clenching.  It is a simple step to take because you only need to wear it before going to bed and take it out again in the morning.  While easy to do, this should alleviate many of your symptoms and soreness.  Once chronic TMJ sets in, there are three main options for treatment. 

Arthrocentesis is the most minor of the procedures that a TMJ dentist can use to clean the damaged tissue and treat TMJ. Usually, this treatment is recommended when a patient has no prior history of TMJ and is suffering from locked jaw as a result of the condition. The needle can be inserted into the joint to flush or clean out the joint. Any damaged tissue can then be removed with a special tool, and ultimately unstick the joint. All of this is done under general anesthesia, but the procedure has minimal recovery time and no risk of scarring or nerve damage. 

Arthroscopic surgery is a little more complex and involves making a small incision under the ear of the patient. Arthroscopic surgery relies on specialized tools, with a camera and flashlight attached that are inserted into the patient and give the orthodontist a clear view of the jaw. Seeing the areas of damage magnified on a video screen, allows the surgeon to remove any damaged tissue and align the disc as necessary. This surgery is also performed under general anesthesia and is considered to be minimally invasive. The risk of infection, scarring, and nerve damage are also greatly reduced as is the amount of time recommended for recovery. 

If you are currently experiencing jaw or joint pain, call and schedule an appointment with a TMJ dentist. 

Learn How a Sedation Dentist Can Help You to Stay Comfortable

As a sedation dentist, we make it possible for people to get dental work done that have been unable to visit the dentist. For a number of Americans, sedation dentistry, is the answer to a life-long fear of the dentist chair. Studies have shown that somewhere between 5% and 8% of Americans have never visited the dentist because they are afraid of the experience. There is no doubt that the fear is a legitimate one, and there are a number of theories why people are so afraid of oral procedures. One theory, that makes a lot of sense, is the helplessness many people feel while in the chair. Having a person hovering over you, with your mouth open to the point of being barely able to speak, can cause a great deal of anxiety for some people. 

Luckily a sedation dentist has a solution to help ease some of the anxiety. By allowing our patients to select the level of sedation they want, we can provide them with an experience that is stress-free and still gets the dental work they need to be done. It is inaccurate to refer to sedation dentistry as “sleep dentistry”, a term that is relatively popular, because it is only in some cases that the patient is actually asleep. Much of the time the sedation is at the minimal levels, which allows us to take the edge off and ensure that you are comfortable. 

You will need to make a number of decisions with regard to the level of sedation, you want, and need, and also the method of delivery. We will then advise you on the benefits and risks of each of the options, so that you have a complete understanding of sedation and how it works with dentistry. There are four levels of sedation that you can elect for. We will give advice and recommendations for each of these in conjunction with the procedure you are going to be getting. 

Mild sedation is the most moderate form of sedation, typically administered using inhalation. A mask is placed over your nose and mouth, following which you will be asked to breathe normally. A solution of nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, will be administered. Nitrous oxide causes you to relax and let go of excess anxiety during the procedure. 

Moderate or conscious sedation is typically given using a pill. The sedation dentist can determine what level of sedation, you require, and work with an anesthesiologist to get you a pill that has the right level of anesthesia. Typically this kind of sedation does leave you with a heavy tongue and slightly drowsy. 

Deep sedation sits somewhere between moderate sedation and full general anesthesia. Deep sedation puts you into a light sleep, from which you could easily be awakened. This allows you to be relatively unaware of the activity around you as we perform the oral work you need. 

General anesthesia is the heaviest form of sedation and is typically associated with surgical procedures. Given through an IV, general anesthesia is monitored throughout the surgery and the levels can be adjusted constantly to ensure that patients remain asleep and comfortable. 

If you want to learn more about the ways we can help you to relax, schedule an appointment at our sedation dentist office. 

Learn How to Properly Brush Your Teeth from a General Dentist

In our general dentist office, we treat patients of all ages and show both kids and adults how to brush their teeth correctly.  If you only brush your teeth occasionally and try to rush through it, you probably aren’t getting the best clean.  While your intentions are good, if you don’t brush correctly you may be wasting your time.  Make the most of your efforts by changing your routine and incorporating these simple tips:

• Timing matters.  The faster you can get sugar off of your teeth, the better.  Carry a soft travel toothbrush with you and use it throughout the day.  As an added bonus, your teeth will be less likely to stain, and your breath will smell fresher without the need for gum. No matter what you should brush your teeth at least every night and every morning. 
• Use the right brush.  As a general dentist, we recommend that our patients use a soft toothbrush instead of a hard one.  This is important because a soft toothbrush will get your teeth clean, but it won’t strip the enamel off of your teeth or irritate your gums.  If you can use an electric brush that is even better.
• Keep it new.  The bristles on your toothbrush need to look new. Once they start to fray, you have kept it for too long.  We recommend buying a new brush every three months and if you have an electric one, switching out the brush heads.  This will help you to consistently get a good clean. 
• Toothpaste.  You should use toothpaste that contains fluoride because this is a mineral that will keep your teeth strong and help to prevent cavities. We recommend that children receive fluoride treatments when they visit our office, and this is one additional way to keep teeth healthy and strong in between teeth cleanings.  If your teeth are sensitive, you may want to use desensitizing toothpaste instead. 
• Brush in circles.  You should brush your teeth in a circular pattern that starts at the gum line and moves towards the center of your mouth.  This way bacteria, plaque and food, are pushed away from your gums. This is a far better way to brush then going from back to front, which can irritate your gums.
• Keep it clean.  Your toothbrush needs to stay clean and dry so that bacteria cannot develop on the brush itself.  Use a toothbrush holder so that it can air out throughout the day.  You can also put it in an empty dishwasher so that your brush can get cleaned and sterilized on a weekly basis.

When you visit our general dentist office, we will remove any plaque and bacteria that have been left behind from your daily brushing and flossing.  Working together we can help to prevent cavities and gum disease so that you can stay in excellent oral health.  Taking the time to do so will prevent you from experiencing discomfort down the road.

Learn How You Can Save Money While Visiting the Family Dentist

Don’t let money prevent you from visiting our family dentist office.  There are ways that you can save and reduce your overall dental care expense.  We also offer financing solutions and can discuss payment plans if you need it. This way you and your family can get the care that you need without worrying about your budget.

When trying to manage your health care cost, you can start by planning for preventative care.  We recommend that you schedule a teeth cleaning for twice a year.  This way we can remove bacteria and plaque from your teeth in order to prevent cavities and gum disease from developing.  When you prevent infections, you also prevent the need for more expensive dental procedures.  Most insurance companies will pay for this type of treatment so you may have little to no out of pocket expense. 

You can also save money by investing in a dental savings plan.  These plans can be bought online and work by giving you discounts on a variety of treatments.  It can be used by itself or in combination with an insurance plan. This is especially beneficial for people that want to get orthodontics treatments or major dental work.  You can get more information when visiting our family dentist office. 

Whenever possible, take steps to avoid a dental emergency so that you can keep your health care cost at a manageable level.  Brushing your teeth two to three times a day, using fluoride toothpaste, flossing, and eating healthy are all ways to do so.  They keep your teeth clean and strong so that they are less prone to infection.  We also recommend that the athletes in the family wear a mouth guard.  The American Dental Association claims that over 200,000 high school and college athletes avoid injury every year by wearing one.  When you can prevent injuries and infections, you can prevent the need to pay for major emergency dental work. 

If you do need a dental procedure, ask about your options.  There is typically more than one way to have dental work done.  For example, if one of your teeth has fallen out you can use dental implants, a dental bridge or dentures to replace it.  Likewise, a chipped tooth may be fixed with a bonding procedure, dental veneers, and a dental crown.  During your consultation let us know if you have specific budgetary constraints so that we can make recommendations as to which procedures can solve the problem while staying within your budget.  

In our family dentist office, we understand that at times families need to have dental work completed but simply can’t afford it.  Whether you chip a tooth during the holidays or while saving to buy a house, medical emergencies can strike at inopportune times.  We offer financing solutions and payment plans that can help. This way you can get the procedure that you need without having to pay anything out of pocket immediately.  

These are some of the ways that you can continue to get the dental care that you need while saving money and living within your budget. 

Get Tips for Staying Away from Sugar From Our Family Dentist Office Halloween

As the holidays approach, we treat patients of our family dentist office and help them to stay cavity and pain-free.  While conducting teeth cleanings and dental exams, we regularly ask our patients about their diet and what foods they are eating to either strengthen or weaken their teeth.  One of the most common issues we see is that people eat way too much sugar.  Sugar is in virtually all processed foods, so it is hard to get away from.  When you combine that with sugar in your coffee or a daily candy bar, it creates a sugar overload and a risk to the health of your teeth and gums.

When sugar settles onto your teeth, it can create an acid that starts to attack the tooth.  This is why people that leave sugar on their teeth are at a greater risk of getting a cavity.  We recommend that patients brush their teeth throughout the day instead of only in the morning and at night in order to remove bacteria and sugar before it has the opportunity to create a problem.  When doing so make sure to use a soft toothbrush so that your gums won’t become irritated.

In our family dentist office we believe in the importance of preventative care which includes brushing at home, having your teeth regularly cleaned, and eating a healthy diet.  With that in mind, here are our favorite tips for staying away from sugar:

• Drink lots of water.  If you stay hydrated and drink water, you will feel fuller throughout the day.  It is hard to have room for dessert when you are full from drinking a bottle of water.  In fact, before you eat make sure to drink a cup of water and do so again when you are done.  Wait a few minutes before ordering dessert, and you will likely find that you are simply too full. 
• Carry healthy snacks.  It is easy to head to the vending machine when you are hungry.  To prevent this, carry healthy snacks with you.  This can include apples, string cheese, baby carrots, granola, and other foods that are easy to transport.  Load up your bag with snacks in the morning so that you can stay healthy throughout the day. 
• Eat a balanced diet.  It is important to eat a diet that contains complex carbs and lean protein.  This way you will have sustained energy throughout the day and avoid crashing.  When you eat a diet full of simple carbs, like cereal or white bread, you will crash quickly and it is natural to reach for something else that contains sugar in order to get your energy levels back up.  This isn’t good for you so to avoid it, eat a healthy and balanced diet that will help you to stay full and have plenty of energy.

As a family dentist, we understand that the healthier you are at home; there is less of a chance that you will develop gum disease or cavities.  Combine these healthy habits with trips to the dentist so that you can stay in good oral health. 

Tips for Treating Sensitive Teeth from Your General Dentist Office

If you have sensitive teeth, schedule an appointment with our general dentist office.  We can clean your teeth and remove any bacteria that may be irritating your gums and teeth.  Afterwards, we will examine them to determine if any cavities or infection are present.  Often, tooth sensitivity comes from having a cavity that makes it painful to bite down or eat your favorite ice cream dessert. Additionally, gum disease can create sensitive teeth because when your gums are infected they will be swollen and sensitive, overall.  If they are left untreated, the disease will cause your gums to recede, and part of your tooth and roots will be exposed.

If we identify any oral health issues during your dental exam, we will treat them right away.  Gum disease, for example, can be treated with a thorough deep cleaning and if that isn’t enough we can perform a gum graft to cover the exposed portion of the tooth and roots.  Likewise, a cavity can be treated, and if necessary we will perform a root canal to remove the infected area of the tooth and the infected root.  Afterwards, a dental crown will be used to protect the tooth.

When no infection is present, tooth sensitivity is typically caused by the loss of enamel.  This is something that can be treated in our general dentist office and at home.  When your teeth lose enamel, it can be painful because the enamel is what protects the actual tooth structure that is made of dentin.  Dentin is a porous material and the holes inside of it lead directly to the roots of your tooth.  That is why when the enamel wears away doing something as simple as drinking iced tea can lead to shooting pain.

Here are tips for reducing your tooth sensitivity:

• Brush with a soft toothbrush.  Switch out your hard toothbrush for a soft one.  If you can buy an electronic toothbrush – do so.  This is the best way to get a good clean without needing to brush your teeth aggressively. 
• Use desensitizing toothpaste.  It typically takes several applications to notice a difference but this type of toothpaste will block the sensation of pain from traveling through your tooth and to your nerves.  
• Fluoride treatments.  You can get a fluoride treatment at our general dentistry office, and this will help to strengthen your teeth.  Fluoride is a mineral and by placing it directly onto your teeth they will be strengthened.  This does not directly replace your enamel but provides good protection. 
• Bonding.  If teeth are especially sensitive, having a bonding procedure completed may be a good option.  This is where a tooth colored material is applied to the surface of your teeth in order to seal and protect the dentin. 
• Crowns.  Dental crowns are a cap that surrounds the tooth so if your sensitivity is not going away, you may want to consider wearing crowns.  This way nothing directly touches your tooth.  Instead, food, water, and air will touch the crown. 

To learn more about how you can protect your teeth and reduce sensitivity, visit our general dentistry office.

How Coffee and Gum Health Work Together: Previously Unknown Tips from the General Dentist

As a local general dentist office, we focus on finding ways to keep our patients in the best possible oral health.  This involves preventative care and ongoing education.  We are constantly reminding patients to brush and floss along with providing tips for which foods are good for teeth and which ones aren’t.   We also pay attention to new scientific research that can shed light on how to keep teeth and gums in better health.

Recently, the University of Boston released a study that found coffee can actually improve your gum health.  The study itself is interesting because researchers followed a group of one thousand men for thirty years in order to get the data.  This long-term study has given us information on how coffee can impact the health of teeth and gums in the near and distant future. Researchers found that men who drank one or more cup of coffee a day had fewer teeth with bone loss than those who did not.  Bone loss is a common symptom of gum disease, the absence of which indicates that coffee is good for overall gum health.  Men with stronger and more bone dense teeth were less likely to suffer from tooth loss as well, making it possible to preserve more of their natural teeth. 

Gum disease can ravage teeth and even cause them to fall out.  This disease can be prevented by brushing and flossing throughout the day along with regular teeth cleanings at our general dentist office.  Some people are more likely to get the disease, no matter what.  For example, diabetics and pregnant women suffer from restricted blood flow which can naturally cause the gums to swell and lead to gum disease.  Additionally, those who smoke or use chewing tobacco are also at a greater risk for the disease along with other oral health issues.  

The caffeine inside of coffee is likely what creates the immediate benefit to gums and teeth.  Caffeine is an anti-inflammatory and can prevent or reduce swelling in the gums.  This is excellent news for those that like to drink coffee along with those that need a natural way to reduce swelling.  Medication can be great, but it typically comes with other side effects and is expensive. Drinking coffee every day is an affordable way to prevent swollen gums and according to the research, has no negative side effects to oral health.

As a general dentist, we recommend drinking coffee as part of an overall oral hygiene routine.  It cannot replace anything but can augment it.  Brushing and flossing throughout the day is still important, and drinking water is more important than ever.  The body needs to stay hydrated in order to function and to produce saliva, a natural defense for the mouth.  Coffee can dehydrate you so if you add it to your routine, add an additional cup of water, as well.  Finally, don’t forget to have your teeth cleaned twice a year in order to prevent and detect early signs of gum disease. 

Your Family Dentist Can Protect Your Teeth From Getting Injured While Playing Sports

As a local family dentist, we can protect your teeth from being damaged while playing sports.  It is extremely common for people to get a tooth injury while practicing or playing the game.  It doesn’t matter what sport you play or how often you play it, people are at risk of injuring their tooth and often do.  In fact, around 40 percent of adult tooth injuries are due to playing sports and the American Dental Association claims that 13 to 39 percent of tooth loss is due to sports injuries.  When you consider the fact that most adults don’t play organized sports, these numbers become even more significant.  

You can take an active role in protecting your teeth from becoming injured.  It starts with a healthy diet that will make your teeth stronger.  Eating nuts, dairy products, lean protein, and veggies will help to strengthen your teeth.  You can also brush with fluoride toothpaste so that minerals are deposited directly onto your teeth.  This is important because as people age they tend to lose the minerals that make their teeth strong.  These are ways to re-mineralize your teeth and keep them healthy. By doing so, you decrease the risk that they will become injured during the game. 

As a family dentist, we understand that it doesn’t matter if you are in a soccer league or playing a pickup game of basketball.  In any sport where you can come in contact with another person or ball, your teeth are at risk.  The goal is to minimize this risk as much as possible.  In addition to keeping your teeth in good oral health at home, you should also visit our dental office for a teeth cleaning twice a year.  This way we can remove any lingering bacteria and plaque in order to keep cavities and gum disease away.  When teeth are free from infection, they can withstand the potential damage caused by accidents. 

We also recommend that you, and all the athletes in your family, wear a mouth guard.  The American Dental Association estimates that every year more than 200,000 injuries are prevented by college and high school football players wearing a mouth guard.  This is only one sport and one demographic.  It doesn’t take into account the people playing sports like hockey, rugby, basketball, soccer, and baseball.  All of these sports are high energy, and your mouth can come in contact with a flying ball or flying elbow.  Sports like basketball do not require the player to wear a mouth guard, but it is still very dangerous.  The University of California found that 11 percent of their basketball players experienced a tooth injury.  When you combine this with the knowledge that 40 percent of adult tooth injuries is due to playing sports, it makes a compelling case for wearing a mouth guard. 

If you are playing sports and your tooth does become injured, we can help. As a family dentist office, we can repair and restore your tooth to its natural state in no time. 

Seniors Trust Local Dentist to Care for Their Teeth

Dr. Krupa treats patients of all ages in his dentist office.  Seniors have come to trust that he will provide dependable advice and solutions to all of their oral health care needs.  Dentistry has improved significantly over the past several decades which have enabled more people to keep their natural teeth as they age.  Even with these advancements, around 70 percent of the U.S. adult population will experience some form of tooth loss.  This makes regular teeth cleanings and working with an expert important.

Seniors can suffer from a variety of oral health issues.  When adult teeth first come in they are strong and full of enamel and other minerals.  As people age their teeth go through the process of demineralization where teeth start to lose their strength.  Regular teeth cleanings, fluoride toothpaste, and a specific diet can help put minerals back on teeth and make them stronger again.  Still, they are typically not as strong as when a person was younger simply due to the constant stress and strain that teeth experience. This makes them more susceptible to becoming damaged, cracked, or broken.

Another condition seniors often suffer from is dry mouth. This is where the body stops producing the saliva it needs to wash away bacteria naturally.  This can lead to bad breath that smells stale and an increased risk of cavities.  Patients with this condition can benefit from drinking more water and having their teeth cleaned at our dentist office on a quarterly basis in order to keep their breath smelling fresh.

Restorative Solutions

There are many restorative dentistry solutions that are available to people today.  Dr. Krupa is an expert at providing real solutions so that patients can continue to enjoy their life and the taste of their favorite foods.  He provides a variety of services including:

• Dentures.  This can be a temporary or permanent solution that can be completed fairly quickly.  Many patients prefer dentures because they don’t want to have oral surgery but need their appearance improved ASAP.  A full or partial set can be created and patients are on the road to recovery much faster.
• Dental Bridges.  A bridge is created when a crown is placed on the two teeth surrounding the missing one.  A bridge forms in between them and holds the new tooth in place.
• Dental Implants.  In this procedure, a metal piece is inserted underneath the gums and secured to the jawbone.  The implant needs time to heal and once it does a new tooth is attached that will look and feel completely natural.

There are many ways that Dr. Krupa helps patients restore teeth that have become damaged or fallen out but it starts with preventative care. As a local dentist, Dr. Krupa recommends that seniors have their teeth cleaned at least twice a year so that oral infections and gum disease can be prevented.  By keeping the teeth and gums healthy seniors have a greater chance of being able to keep all or most of their teeth throughout their lifetime.  This should be combined with a good oral hygiene routine at home.

Sedation Dentist and Cosmetic Dentistry

If you are considering a cosmetic dentistry procedure, visit a sedation dentist.  This way you can stay comfortable during the procedure and eliminate any anxiety that you may be feeling at the thought of having dental work done.  There is no need to live with a smile you don’t like when there are options for transforming it, while remaining comfortable. 

There are several types of cosmetic dentistry solutions that can turn an ordinary smile into something beautiful.

Here are some of the commonly used procedures and how sedation can make them more comfortable. 

White Fillings

When a patient gets a cavity, Dr. Krupa can treat it and use a white or natural colored filling instead of a metal one.  This solves the health issue while using a material that looks natural and won’t standout. Many people feel nervous when thinking about having a cavity treated, and a sedation dentist can provide something to ease the anxiety along with local anesthesia that numbs that specific area. 

Dental Veneers

Veneers can be used to solve multiple problems with teeth. They can restore a tooth that has become chipped or gotten a small hole in it.  Cosmetic issues can also be addressed like covering a dark stain, making teeth even in lengths, and closing gaps in between teeth.  The veneer itself is a thin shell that is made of ceramic and looks completely natural.  In order to prepare the tooth for the veneer, a dentist must prepare it by removing a portion of the enamel.  This part of the procedure can be uncomfortable traditionally, but a sedation dentist can make it pain-free.  By eliminating any anxiety or pain, the procedure is more enjoyable, and once the veneer is placed on top of the tooth, it will help to create a gorgeous smile. 

Dental Crowns

A crown is used when a tooth needs to be restored and strengthened.  It is a cap that surrounds the tooth completely so that when a tooth becomes severely cracked, or a large portion of it is removed due to a root canal or other procedure; a crown can hold it together, make it strong, and look natural.  In order to prepare a tooth for a crown, enamel has to be removed from all sides. This way the crown will fit over the tooth without pushing the surrounding teeth out of the way.  A sedation dentist can make sure that the procedure is completed without pain, both during the preparation time and when the final crown is placed. 

Dental Implants

This procedure has a surgical component and should not be completed without pain relief.  In order for an implant to work, a metal post has to be implanted under the surface of the gums.  This post is then secured to the jawbone.  Without pain relief, this would be very uncomfortable but a sedation dentist has a variety of options that can prevent a patient from feeling any pain.  In fact, some patients even go to sleep during the procedure. 

With an expert like Dr. Krupa, patients can have the cosmetic dental work done that they want without fear, anxiety, or pain. 

Gary Krupa, a Sacramento Dentist, Treats Gum Disease

Did you know that your dentist can improve the health of your heart?  Scientists have found a direct link between gum disease and heart disease.  In fact, 91 percent of people with a heart condition also have unhealthy gums.  Since heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women, it is important to reduce risks wherever possible.  Having your teeth cleaned twice a year can help prevent gum disease and keep you in better health overall.

Gum disease is typically created when people have poor oral hygiene and lack of dental care.  This can include forgetting to brush and floss or skipping regular teeth cleanings.  Some people are naturally at an increased risk of getting gum disease, including diabetics, smokers, and people that use smokeless tobacco products.  Eliminating these habits and keeping blood sugar under control can help reduce the risk.

Dr. Krupa will look for signs of gum disease during regular dental exams.  Early detection is important because it allows him to treat the disease before it becomes painful and leads to other health issues. The first stage of gum disease is called gingivitis and the symptoms include swollen and red gums that may be sensitive or occasionally bleed.  They can be treated with a thorough cleaning at our dentist office.  In this procedure the bacteria are removed from on and under the gums.  Once the bacteria have been removed the gums can typically heal themselves and the symptoms will go away.  This is the best stage to treat the disease because the procedure can be done fairly quickly with minimal recovery time.

The advanced stages of gum disease create additional issues.  Gums typically start to recede and expose more of the tooth and even the roots which will make teeth appear longer or larger.  If the gums keep receding a pocket may form in the gum tissue. Bacteria can gather here and attack the tooth and roots to create an infection and potentially a dental abscess.  This can be painful and some people even lose their teeth at this stage.  In order to treat the condition the bacteria must be removed, the pockets closed, and the gums secured around the tooth.  This may be done with a gum graft or other procedure.  While more intensive, it may be necessary for protecting the teeth and roots.

Leaving gum disease untreated is not an option for people wanting to stay in good health.  As it continues to grow the health of your entire mouth is in jeopardy and as science has shown, so is your heart.  Additionally, pregnant women are at risk of going into pre-term labor when they have gum disease.  Even those who make it to full term may have a low birth weight baby.  Good oral health is important for both mother and baby during pregnancy and we help all of our patients stay in the best health possible.  Schedule a teeth cleaning and dental exam with dentist,  Dr. Krupa, so that he can prevent and treat gum disease before it creates major health problems.

Visit a Sedation Dentist to Stay Pain-Free When Getting a Dental Crown

If you need to have dental work performed, visit a sedation dentist so that your experience is both comfortable and pain-free.  There are many reasons why people don’t want to go to the dentist, and dental anxiety is at the top of the list. Bad childhood experiences, and fear of pain makes it understandable why many people silently suffer, rather than getting work done.  The good news is that the dental work can be completely pain-free when visiting the right dentist, so there is no need to skip a dental exam or avoid getting a cavity corrected. 

When a cavity develops, it typically starts small and is not exactly painful.  It may create discomfort but not necessarily pain.  This is the best time to have it removed since it can be done quickly.  Pain medication can be used so that you don’t feel a thing.  

Unfortunately, many people wait too long to have a cavity fixed, and the infection spreads.  When it gets into the center of the tooth (dental pulp) the roots may also become infected.  This can be incredibly painful and require a root canal so that the infected area can be removed, and the tooth can be saved.  Once the area of the tooth has been removed a dental crown is often needed in order to strengthen it.  Visiting a sedation dentist will ensure that you can have this procedure completed without being in pain. 

Before a crown is placed, the tooth has to be prepared. This generally involves removing a portion of the enamel from the tooth.  Since the crown is a cap that surrounds a tooth, more of the enamel needs to be removed than with a procedure like dental veneers.  The crown needs to be able to fit securely without pushing the other teeth out of the way or damaging them.  The preparation process can be uncomfortable without sedation.  After this step is completed a temporary crown will be placed around the tooth and worn while the permanent one is created in the lab. 

In order to create the final crown, an impression of your tooth and the surrounding teeth needs to be created.  The lab will use this to make a crown that fits perfectly and is in line with your bite.  Once in place, a tooth with a crown should feel the same as your natural teeth.  To make sure that the fit is perfect, the dentist will try it on and see how it looks prior to bonding it to your tooth. 

This entire process can be intense for people that are already worried about visiting the dentist.  It is an excellent way to save a tooth but this is of no consequence to those that are gripped with anxiety.  Fortunately, a sedation dentist can help patients to relax so that any fears or anxiety is removed before the procedure ever gets started.  This can be combined with pain relief so that a patient can get the dental work done that they need without the stress.