3 Common Dental Procedures You May Benefit From

Posted by Sheryl Wright on July 12th, 2021

When it comes to your dental care, you will want to make sure that you stay on top of it. Having bad oral health can lead to things like bad breath, infections, and missing teeth. In some cases, you can get an infection so bad that it puts your life at risk. To avoid this, you will want to make sure that you have good oral hygiene and that you see your dentist twice a year.

Seeing your dentist twice a year can help to address any issues that you have. There are many common dental procedures that can help you to have better oral health and a better smile.

Root Canals and Fillings

When you have a cavity, a small hole in your tooth has been opened. Without the right care for your tooth, the cavity will grow larger and eventually destroy the entire tooth. If the cavity is not caught early enough, you will need to get an extraction. Instead of dealing with an extraction, a filling is a much better choice.

A filling can be done easily to correct the cavity. To get a filling, your dentist will clean out the cavity. He or she will remove the decay and bacteria from the hole and then fill it with porcelain, gold, silver, or amalgam. Once the filling has dried, you can use your teeth like you always have without having to worry about an infection.

If the cavity has caused too much decay and the decay is in the pulp of the tooth, the only way to save the tooth is with a root canal. A root canal may be done by some dentists, but others may refer you to a specialist. When a root canal happens, your mouth will be numbed, and then the dentist will remove all the decay from the tooth, including the roots. It will then be filled in. Generally, root canals can be done in one visit. However, if your tooth is in very bad shape, it may take a couple of treatments to ensure everything is removed. You will be able to resume your normal activities quickly.

Extractions

There is a wide variety of reasons as to why a tooth will need to be extracted. Wisdom teeth are often removed to prevent issues in the mouth like crowding. In some cases, the wisdom teeth will cause an infection and need to be removed. If a tooth has broken beyond repair or you decide that you would rather not have a root canal, the tooth can be extracted. Tooth extract is simple. The mouth is numbed, and the tooth is wiggled until it comes out. Wisdom tooth extraction can be more complicated, especially if the tooth has to be cut out. This may require specialist and surgical care depending on the severity of the impaction of your wisdom teeth. Tooth extractions may take several days to recover, depending on what kind of extraction that you have had. Wisdom teeth extractions may take a few days to heal from, especially if surgery is required.

Implants

If you have lost a tooth or had to have one extracted, it is a great idea to get an implant. Teeth implants have come a long way in the past few years, and they are made to last for years. You can get all on 4 implants very affordably now as well. It is important to get something in your mouth to fill where the other tooth was. Eventually, the teeth on either side of the missing tooth will start to move. This will drastically affect the shape of your teeth and can lead to your other teeth falling out. Implants can be made for just one tooth, or if you have several missing, they can replace those as well. Many dentists can do dental implants, but some recommend that you go to a specialized dentist who offers implants. Be sure to check with your dentist to see what they offer.

Taking care of your teeth will leave you with good overall health. Bad oral health has been linked to many things, including heart disease, high blood pressure, digestion issues, brain issues, and even cancer. Be sure to see your dentist at least once a year. You will also want to make sure that you are brushing and flossing after every meal.