The Helpfulness of Dental Crowns

The helpfulness of dental crowns cannot be overstated. Dental crowns can be helpful if your teeth are suffering from large cavities or severe dental damage. In fact, dental crowns have many uses and can aid our oral health in many different ways. To help you understand more about dental crowns, our dentist, Dr. Latino with Chad Latino DDS in Waco, Texas, has provided you with some helpful information: – Dental crowns are part of our superior cosmetic dentistry in Waco, Texas, providing visual upgrades to your smile and can be shaped and crafted to your specific needs. – Dental crowns can last from two decades up to the rest of your life, which is because they are very durable and very safe. – Dental crowns cover the entirety of a tooth for added support. – Dental crowns can be used for the following treatments: dental fillings, dental implants, dental bridges, and root canals. – Dental crowns are very effective and safe for use in children. Because children are at a high risk for tooth decay, dental crowns add an additional layer of support. – Dental crowns can stave off extractions by protecting teeth that are severely damaged. – If a tooth is discolored, it can be concealed with a dental crown. If you need help with your oral health, or if you have questions about if a dental crown can help you, please call us today at 254-615-3084 to set up an appointment. Our dental team is thoroughly trained and capable of assisting you with any of your oral health care questions and concerns.

Should You Choose an Implant or a Bridge?

There are good reasons for replacing missing teeth. Not only will tooth-restoration improve your appearance and help you to look younger, it can also improve your ability to eat and speak. Additionally, empty spaces in your smile give plaque and bacteria extra places to accumulate, which can lead to gum disease and tooth loss. If you’ve ever wondered if you should replace a tooth with an implant or a bridge, the following information might help. Implants are very popular, since they sit directly in your jawbone, and do not need to be removed to be cleaned. They are also very sturdy, long-lasting and natural-looking. Be that as it may, not everyone is a good candidate for implants. If your gums are not healthy, or if you do not have enough bone in your jaw to support the implant, your dentist may suggest another restoration option. Certain medications and medical conditions, including pregnancy, may mean that implants are not for you. In that case, the dentist may suggest a dental bridge. A bridge is an effective way to replace missing teeth. It also does not require the surgery needed for implants. To place a bridge, the dentist will remove the enamel from the tooth on each end of the gap. These teeth will receive crowns and will serve as the anchors for the bridge. The dentist will take an impression of the teeth and the gap, fit you with temporary crowns and a bridge, and send the impression to a dental lab. There, a technician will create your permanent bridge. When it is ready, the dentist will remove the temporary bridgework and cement the new crowns and bridge in place. If you are missing one or more teeth, you should talk to Dr. Latino about your restoration options, including an implant or a bridge. If you need implants or a crown, Dr. Latino and the staff at Chad Latino DDS can help you find the right solution for you. Contact us to schedule an appointment.

Could You Use a Deep Cleaning?

Even if you carefully brush and floss every day, you will still have plaque. It is a fact of life, and just a part of having teeth. However, if you do not keep up with your brushing and flossing, plaque can build up on your teeth and eventually harden into a tougher substance known as tartar. Plaque can cause your gums to recede, which then gives the plaque a chance to form below the gumline. If that happens, you could lose teeth and even parts of your jawbone. That sounds very serious, and it is. However, your dentist can treat the problem with a deep cleaning, which is also known as scaling and root planing. In scaling, the dentist uses an instrument to remove the plaque and tartar above and below the gumline. With root planing, the dentist will smooth out the roots of your tooth so that they can re-attach themselves to your gums. After your procedure, you may have some pain the next day, and your teeth may be somewhat sensitive for a week afterwards. If this pain continues longer than a day, let your dentist know during your follow-up appointment. During that appointment, the dentist will also measure the depths of the pockets of your gums to see how the healing is progressing, or if further treatment is necessary. If you have noticed that you have tender, red, swollen or bleeding gums, our dentist, Dr. Latino may be able to help you with a deep cleaning. If you would like to schedule an appointment for a deep cleaning, or it is just time for your regular dental exam, give us a call. If you live in the Waco, Texas, area, you can reach Chad Latino DDS at 254-615-3084. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Gum Disease Can Hurt Your Oral Health

Gum disease is not something to take lightly. Did you know gum disease is a large reason for adult tooth loss? Well, it’s true! Gum disease can cause damage to your smile and leave you with embarrassing symptoms in its wake. That is why our team at [practice_name] in [city], [state], is here to talk about gum disease and how it can hurt your smile. There are many symptoms of gum disease. Some of these symptoms include bleeding gums, persistent bad breath, permanent wobbly teeth that are loose and separating from the gum line, tenderness, tooth loss, swollen gums, and even bone loss, which is why it is vital to keep your smile safe from gum disease. There are ways to prevent gum disease or reverse it from growing. Some of these ways include brushing regularly, using a mouthwash to help rid your smile of bacteria, and flossing each day to keep food particles from developing plaque between your teeth. The most important thing you can do to fight gum disease is by making an appointment with Dr. [doctor_name]. Your semi-annual checkup is vital to keeping your smile healthy and gum disease far away. To learn more about gum disease, or if you feel you are in need of a dental tune-up, please call us today at [phone] to set up an appointment. Our friendly team is always happy to assist you in any way we can when it comes to your oral health.

Your Long-Term Oral Health Can Be Threatened by Periodontal Disease

Every year, periodontal disease threatens the oral health and quality of life of millions of Americans. The Centers for Disease Control also report that 64 percent of people 65 and over have been diagnosed with moderate-to-severe periodontal disease. At the same time, the American Dental Association estimates approximately 47 percent of people age 30 and older have some form of periodontal disease afflicting the health of their gum tissues. Periodontal disease is primarily caused when poor oral hygiene allows tartar to harden at the gumline. The constant bacterial presence leads to the inflammation and infection of the gum tissues known as gingivitis. Common symptoms often include red or inflamed gums. This usually includes increased bleeding during regular brushing and flossing. Many people experiencing gingivitis symptoms also complain of issues with chronic bad breath. Without timely treatment, gingivitis can develop into the more dangerous form of periodontal disease known as periodontitis. This level of infection can make your gums slowly recede from the base of your teeth, forming small pockets of bacterial infection near the roots of your teeth. In time, this can also result in the loss of bone structure, which can result in the loss of an otherwise healthy tooth. At the same time, continuing research has also found that the systemic inflammation of periodontal disease can also have an impact on other medical conditions. This can increase complications with diabetes, heart disease and stroke. While periodontal disease doesn’t cause these issues, it does seem to limit treatment options and can lead to further complications. If you are concerned that you might be developing periodontal disease in [city], [state], you should call [phone] to schedule an appointment at [practice_name].

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