Friday, February 17, 2017

You don't have to settle with having a chipped tooth

You don't have to settle with having a chipped tooth
A chipped tooth can be unsightly, embarrassing and it may even prevent you from chewing food comfortably. For minor tooth damage, such as cracks and chips, there is an affordable and quick solution available from your local dentist. You don't have to settle with having a chipped tooth forever. A quick trip to Bertagnolli Dental practice and your smile can be fully restored.

A chipped tooth can be the result of a sports accident, an unusually hard piece of food, or a tooth grinding habit. Most of the time, a chipped tooth will not cause pain or impede normal eating. If near the front of your mouth it can ruin your smile, and many people find a jagged new edge on their tooth to be uncomfortable. Fortunately, tooth bonding with a composite resin can easily be used to fix the appearance and feel of a chipped tooth.

The composite resin used to repair the tooth is made from a combination of translucent plastic and glass. It can be made in different shades to match perfectly with the exact color of your tooth. Tooth bonding involves applying this resin to the affected area of a tooth, molding it into the desired shape, and curing it with a special light. This is a great solution for chips, minor cracks, and unsightly gaps between your teeth. Tooth bonding is only used on cosmetic issues, it is not a solution for serious structural damage to your teeth.

One of the advantages of tooth bonding is that it can be done quickly. Unlike crowns or bridges, there is no lab work or molds to be made. One visit to your dentist's office is all you need. It is one of the least invasive procedures, as the resin is bonded directly to the existing surface of the tooth, so there is no need for drilling. The simple procedure is an affordable solution to most cosmetic issues.

One disadvantage to tooth bonding is that it does not last forever. Usually, the composite resin can be expected to endure up to 10 years of normal use. If you grind your teeth, it can significantly shorten the lifespan of the resin. This can be a great option for teenagers who need a temporary cosmetic fix before their teeth have fully developed. The procedure is completely reversible and can easily be removed if you elect to get a more permanent fix later.

Tooth bonding with composite resin makes it easy to fix cosmetic tooth issues without any fuss. You don’t have to settle with having a chipped tooth when there is a cheap, long-lasting treatment available from your dentist. The composite resin looks much better than traditional fillers like silver amalgam, and it is perfectly safe. After a tooth bonding procedure, you will quickly forget you ever had a chipped tooth in the first place! To schedule an appointment for tooth bonding at Bertagnolli Dental practice, simply contact us through our website or call us today.

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

What a deep clean of your teeth can do to fight gum disease

What a deep clean of your teeth can do to fight gum disease
Gum disease, or gingivitis, is no laughing matter. Bacteria attacking the gums causes it, and if left untreated, can quickly progress into a chronic condition. While the easiest way to prevent gum disease is to pay close attention to your daily oral hygiene habits, once you start experiencing symptoms, it is best to make an appointment with your dentist. The experts at Bertagnolli Dental know what a deep clean of your teeth can do to fight gum disease.

Oral bacteria can damage both your teeth and gums. During daily brushing, one of the most difficult places to remove food debris and plaque from is the place where your teeth meet your gums. If the plaque deposits or calculus produced by bacteria are left to sit on your gum line, they can cause irritation and inflammation. Gum disease moves progressively further towards the roots of your teeth, loosening the gums from the tooth surface. This can allow pockets to form, increasing the opportunity for bacteria to take up residence and eventually leading to abscesses, loosened teeth, and tooth loss.

A typical cleaning from a dental hygienist involves scaling, the removal of superficial calculus buildup from the surface of your teeth. A deeper cleaning might be recommended if you are showing the early symptoms of gingivitis. Deep cleaning usually involves root planing. This is a method of cleaning the surface of your teeth's roots, in the hard-to-reach area below the gum line.

Root planing goes deeper than the typical tooth scale and polish. Usually, for this more invasive cleaning, you will be given a local anesthetic. This will allow you to be relaxed and comfortable while your dentist works on sensitive areas around your gums. The root planing procedure is often preceded by the use of an ultrasonic device over the affected area. Ultrasonic waves are used to dislodge calculus buildup from beneath the gum line before your dentist flushes the area with water.

Hand-held instruments are then used on the roots of the teeth where the gums have loosened. Remaining bacteria and plaque is gently scraped away. Finishing the treatment, iodine or an antibacterial solution is flushed under the affected gums. According to an article from the Dear Doctor Dentistry and Oral Health magazine, it is possible that just one deep cleaning root planing procedure can successfully return mildly inflamed gum tissue to complete health. Commonly, root planing will allow gum tissue to heal by 1-3mm within a few weeks of the procedure.

If you are noticing the first signs of gum inflammation, it is not too late to completely reverse your symptoms. A deep clean by your dentist could be all you need to fight gum disease and prevent its progression. Of course, the dentist cannot do all the work. You may also need to adjust your daily oral hygiene routine and pay closer attention to your gum line when brushing. To schedule a tooth scale and root planing procedure and experience what a deep clean of your teeth can do to fight gum disease, call us at Bertagnolli Dental or visit our website today.