News with tag cavity

Periodontitis – Gum Disease

Periodontitis (gum disease) has been linked with an increase in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (thickening of the blood vessels). This can cause heart attacks and strokes. Periodontal disease is also linked with diabetes, low birth weight and rheumatoid arthiritis. Bleeding gums is often the first sign of gum disease. Call North Road Dental Clinic if you have bleeding gums to be assessed. It is important to establish a good regime at home to prevent oral disease and maintain oral health. Firstly, avoid simple sugars as much as you can. If you are going to have sugary food or drinks (we’re all human!) then try and keep it to a mealtime (when saliva flow is increased to wash away the sugars) or follow the sugar with either water or milk. The people who have the most dental decay may not eat the most sugar, but they do have it more frequently!

About Flouride & Cleaning

Get some fluoride on your teeth! This helps to repair your teeth and keep them more resistant to dental decay. The most common way to do this is to use toothpaste (remember NOT to rinse your mouth with water after for the best result, the longer the contact time, the better it will work). You can supplement this by using a fluoride containing mouthwash – make sure it does contain fluoride as some don’t and stick to alcohol free. Clean your teeth – ideally at least twice a day for 2+ minutes with a brush. Electric ones are proven to be more efficient. You also need to clean the parts the brush can’t reach between teeth, with either dental floss or an interdental brush (Pikster, Tepe brands are common). If you don’t do this regularly you may notice your gums bleed. Don’t let this put you off, persevere and they will stop bleeding when cleaned, usually in a couple of weeks once they are healthy. If the bleeding persists that may be a sign you have more severe gum issues so it is best to make an appointment. Make an appointment at North Road Dental Clinic so we can check your oral health which is so important to your overall health.

Cavities aren’t always the black, visible holes that cartoons or online drawings make them out to be. Often tooth decay isn’t visible at all. That’s why it’s important to see your dentist on a regular basis. The earlier we diagnose your cavity, the simpler it is to correct the tooth infection.

Sensitivity to Changes in Food or Temperature

Sweet foods or liquids are the most common items to cause pain in a decaying tooth. Just because you’re not eating sweets doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. Naturally sweet foods like juice or fruit may cause pain as well. While it’s fairly similar to experience cold sensitivity, it’s not common for heat. Severe pain from hot foods may mean there’s nerve damage.

Pain When Biting Down

Something feeling “off” when you bite down is a tell-tale sign of tooth decay. It’s also a common symptom of cracked teeth. If possible, let us know what the general area is that hurts when you chew. You may even be able to pinpoint the exact tooth.

Rough Edges on Your Teeth

When you run your tongue along your teeth, does everything feel smooth? A rough area may mean something is wrong. Believe it or not, your tongue may pick up on the cavity before your tooth even starts to hurt.

An X-ray Can Give You Answers

Digital dental x-rays make it possible to see through and between teeth, where cavities often start. We utilize low-radiation imaging to screen for decay during your exam, so that it’s more difficult for a cavity to go overlooked. When we find decay early on, it means a smaller and more affordable filling to fix it. In some situations, early decay can even be reversed through fluoride therapy and remineralization techniques.

If you think you have a cavity or have gone more than six months since your last dental exam, call North Road Dental Clinic in Carnegie today to schedule a checkup. For information visit our tooth repair and fillings page

Are you considering a smile makeover or other type of cosmetic dental treatment? Teeth whitening is a great place to start.

An Affordable Option

Teeth whitening is a relatively affordable cosmetic treatment. Plus, it’s easy to maintain. You can generally plan on whitening your entire smile for less than the cost of other types of treatment. It even makes a great gift for yourself or another family member.

Create a Baseline

Whether or not you plan to get additional cosmetic work done — like veneers or crowns — it’s best to have a white smile to begin with. That way, future restorations can be matched to your adjacent teeth. If you’re planning on having an area bonded later this year, you can’t whiten the material used to place the bond. It’s best to just have white teeth from the start! Otherwise you would need to replace the restoration after you whitened your teeth, so that it didn’t stand out.

Better Results Than Store-Bought Kits

No matter how many whitening strips, trays, or toothpastes you buy online or at the supermarket, they won’t be as effective as a prescription grade product that your Carnegie dentist can equip you with. They may seem cheaper at first, but after you’ve gone through one or two refills, you will have already spent more than if you did getting professional treatment…without the results to show for it.

Find Out if You’re a Candidate

There are a few things you need to know before starting a whitening regimen. First, your teeth need to be free of cavities. If necessary, we can place a temporary filling that can be replaced with a permanent one after you whiten. Also, your gums need to be free of periodontal disease.

Schedule a quick exam at North Road Dental Clinic in Carnegie to find out if one of our cosmetic teeth whitening treatments is right for you.

If you’ve been on Pinterest any time recently, you’ve probably seen personal or sponsored posts that have something to do with 'healing cavities the natural way” or “reversing tooth decay without seeing your dentist.' But could these headlines be too good to be true? Yes and no. The truth is, a full blown cavity cannot be fixed, healed, or have the tooth “grow back” by using some magic formula in your bathroom. But if the cavity is only in the beginning stages — we’re talking enamel demineralization on the most outer layers of the tooth — then it can be reversed before an actual “hole” forms in your enamel.

Demineralization: Phase One of Tooth Decay

Before tooth decay actually works its way through the tooth, it must first target a healthy area of enamel. The first stages involve eating away the outermost layers, etching the tooth and creating a weak spot. As more acids come into play, the enamel starts to appear chalky or white compared to the tooth around it. At this point, the surface is demineralized and prime for a cavity to form at any second.

Intercepting Before it’s Too Late

Once a tooth is demineralized, you have an important choice to make: treat the area of weakened enamel to prevent a cavity and re-strengthen your tooth, or wait it out and allowing the cavity to form, then get a filling.

The less invasive and more holistic approach would be to remineralize the tooth and prevent the cavity. This can be done by:

• Cleaning the area more thoroughly each day
• Seeing your dentist for a professional strength fluoride treatment
• Optional treatments in your dentist’s office
• Getting a prescription fluoride to use at home
• Changing your habits to limit acid exposure to the teeth

If you suspect that you have a demineralized tooth or have a history of frequent cavities, call North Road Dental Clinic in Carnegie to schedule an appointment.

Did you know that most types of tooth loss can be avoided? Of course, there will always be exceptions here and there, but when it comes to the most common situations we see in our Carnegie dentist office, there are steps you can take to prevent tooth loss from happening before it’s too late.
Here are a few tips:

Wear a Protective Mouthguard During Athletic Activities

Dental injuries occur every day, especially to athletes (no matter their age.) Wearing a custom fitted mouthguard offers the best protection against knocked out teeth and concussions.

Floss Every Day

The leading cause of tooth loss in adults is gum disease. Even if your brushing is great, it won’t clean between the teeth and under the gumlines where periodontitis starts. Clean these areas daily. If you hate flossing that much, consider investing in a water flosser.

Drink a Lot of Water

Staying hydrated rinses your mouth to neutralize bacteria levels, acids, and prevent xerostomia (a risk factor of tooth decay.) Tap water also contains fluoride, to make your teeth stronger.

Don’t Ignore that “Twinge” Feeling

Do one of your teeth feel “off” from the rest? Your body could be trying to tell you something. If a small cavity is starting to develop, it’s best to treat it while it’s still small. Large decay can spread quickly, to the point that the only option left to treat it is to remove the tooth.

Schedule Routine Dental Checkups

At North Road Dental Clinic, our Carnegie dentists recommend seeing patients for a checkup at least every six months. These frequent intervals help us to screen for problems earlier on (when treatment is easier) and work with patients to form good habits to intercept issues as they arise.

Call our Carnegie dentist today to schedule.

If you have a tooth that needs attention, our Carnegie dentist will provide you with the best treatment options available. In most cases, there is more than one to choose from. Ultimately, your dental treatment is up to you, the patient, when it comes to which option you choose. Our clinic strives to inform and guide you, so that you can make the best decision regarding your dental health. Preventing Additional Damage When a tooth is broken or has a cavity, a filling is usually the first choice to repair it.  During this procedure, we remove the decayed section of the tooth and build the tooth back up by bonding filling material to it. It’s important to know that fillings are not as strong as your natural tooth.  The larger the filling, the more compromised the tooth will be.  If you have a strong bite or eat hard foods, you could in fact, break the tooth off further. To avoid this, if we feel that the tooth would be too weak to fill, we may recommend a crown instead. A Protective Outer Shell A crown is a fabricated shell of porcelain that is permanently cemented over your tooth to protect it.  During this procedure, we will need to reduce the tooth around the edges and its’ biting surface, so that when the crown is placed, it lines up properly with the other teeth. A crown is beneficial because it’s made from very strong material.  So rather than chewing up and down on a tooth with a large weak filling, you will chew on the crown.  This practically eliminates the chances of the tooth breaking.  However, crowns are more expensive than fillings.  They also normally require at least two visits to complete.  The first appointment will be to reduce the tooth and place a temporary crown.  The second will be to cement the permanent crown. Call at North Road Dental Clinic in Carnegie today.  Together, we can find the best treatment options for your unique smile.

It is so important that children have good teeth when young, to set the standard for their adult teeth. Just because they fall out, doesn’t mean they should be neglected! Giving your children a healthy mouth is so important to their overall wellbeing and health. Follow these tips to keep your child’s mouth healthy.

1. Get in a good habit of brushing twice a day, with fluoride toothpaste-use a children’s paste with a reduced fluoride content. This will physically remove decay causing plaque, whilst also providing the correct amount of fluoride for tooth development.
2. Reduce the amount and frequency of sugar intake. Having regular sugar ingestion will cause harm to your child’s teeth. Of course they’re going to have sugar at times, but keep it as a treat, not regular food, and beware of hidden sugars in things like fruit juices, cereals and dried fruit (sultanas etc...)Try and have a glass of water after too.
3. You may want to use a remineralising agent like “tooth-mousse”. This will help to keep any areas where decay is of a higher risk (perhaps in the fissures) more resistant to decay.
4. Bring your child in for regular examinations, and set a good example yourself by coming too! Please, please, please be careful with the language you use when talking about the dentist. Kids are fantastic patients, as long as Mum/Dad/Aunt/Uncle hasn’t been talking to them about how it won’t “hurt”, and how they don’t want “needles”, and there’s nothing to be “scared” about.

You’ve finally replaced that missing tooth! Your new dental bridge looks and feels great, and you want it to stay that way. But just like the rest of your smile, our Carnegie dentists want you to take great care of your bridge so that it can last for several years. Here’s what you need to know when it comes to bridge care and maintenance: Clean Underneath Your Bridge Daily — Use a floss aid such as a threader, tufted proxa-brush, or a water flosser to clean underneath your bridge. Take care to focus on the sides of your supporting teeth, as these areas are especially prone to collecting plaque build-up. Brush Along the Margin Where Your Bridge Touches the Gums — There’s a small amount of tooth enamel exposed, where your bridge tapers off and just above your gumlines. If not cleaned properly, it can start to decay (allowing cavities to seep under the bridge, making it come loose.) Brush gently along the gumlines daily, but don’t scrub too hard as it could cause your tissues to pull back. Let Us Know if Something Feels Odd — You know your mouth better than anyone. If you’re biting down or chewing and something doesn’t feel quite right, you need to let our Carnegie dentists know. Your mouth can pick up on the tiniest of changes, even if it’s just fractions of a millimetre. Like in any area of your mouth, this is a warning sign that you should always be on the lookout for. Schedule an Exam, Scale and Polish Every Six Months — During your visit, we’ll make sure everything looks as it ought to. This includes taking periodic X-rays to inspect areas that are deeper under the bridge, so that any recurrent tooth decay can be intercepted as early as possible. Call North Road Dental Clinic today to schedule!