If you consistently clean your teeth at the gum line, you will be able to fight the buildup of plaque and tartar at the edge of your periodontal tissues and avoid gingivitis. Unfortunately, even those who take care to fully protect their smile each day can experience poor periodontal health at some point in their life. The good news is that even if you already have an issue with gingivitis, it can be addressed through a scaling and root planing. This procedure is a focused cleaning that removes harmful microbes that are present on the roots of teeth below your gum line. Our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office will check to see if it might be necessary for you whenever you come in for a routine preventive dental checkup. (more…)
How Dental Bridges Make Biting And Chewing More Comfortable
For people who have experienced tooth loss, choosing a meal is about more than just deciding what they are in the mood to enjoy. Even minor issues with tooth loss create potential problems for a person’s bite function, so foods that you used to love may have to remain off the menu. Fortunately, there are permanent prosthetic dental appliances that can give you better bite support while also restoring your smile! At our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office, patients can meet with us to discuss the benefits of receiving a custom dental bridge. Dental bridges are held in place with a pair of dental crowns. An appliance can be permanently set without the need for oral surgery, and they can give you back the ability to bite and chew foods that you have found it difficult to enjoy. (more…)
3 Issues That Can Hurt Your Oral Hygiene Routine
A consistent and thorough oral hygiene routine will protect you against plaque buildup, which means you are less likely to have problems with dental decay and gum disease over time. At our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office, we can offer guidance to patients who want to make sure their teeth remain healthy while we meet with them to provide routine dental checkups. What you should keep in mind is that certain seemingly small missteps can have more consequences for you than you realize. Over time, those missteps can leave you open to problems that will call for restorative dental work. If you are guilty of making these common mistakes, recognizing your errors and correcting them can ensure that your smile remains healthy in the long term! (more…)
Should I Check In With My Kids When They Clean Their Teeth?
You want your kids to do a good job cleaning your teeth, but you also want to give them the space to develop a good oral hygiene routine without the need to check in on them. What balance should you strike when you are trying to give them the ability to care for their teeth on their own? While kids can crave some independence, it is important that they develop a good grasp of brushing and flossing at an early age. If they develop poor habits, they can experience more problems over time that call for restorative dental work! Your Ankeny, IA dentist can help them develop better habits during pediatric dental services, and they can help you learn how to effectively tech them smart behaviors at home. (more…)
How An Implant-Held Prosthetic Improves Bite Support
Tooth loss can bring about more than just concerns about your appearance. Adjusting to biting and chewing with a gap in your smile can lead to frustration, as certain foods can be harder to enjoy, and you can experience pain and sensitivity from a change in your jaw movement. Through prosthetic dental work, patients who have lost teeth can return to a more comfortable and natural bite. This reduces potential issues with pain and stiffness while also allowing you to enjoy a wider range of foods without difficulty. If you have lost a tooth, or if you need to do something about the loss of several teeth, our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office can meet with you to discuss prosthetic dental work with dental implants. Dental implants keep restorations set in place so that you can trust them to contribute to your bite function. (more…)
Make Sure You Do Not Overlook Signs Of Gum Disease
You should see your dentist on a regular basis if you want to make sure that you are free of any oral health problems. Sometimes, a problem can actually form without your realizing it, which means it can grow worse until uncomfortable symptoms do begin. That can mean more harm to your tooth structure that results in more involved restorative dental work. With that said, there are some problems with your dental well-being that you can identify in between visits. Pay attention to changes in your gums that may occur over time. Problems with bleeding, swelling, and changes in your gum line can serve as warnings that you are experiencing issues with gum disease. Our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office is prepared to help if you begin to struggle with this issue. (more…)
Is Dental Wear And Tear Making You Look Older? We Can Help!
There are several changes that we go through as we grow older. While the aging process is something that affects everyone, some people can see certain markers of aging before others, which can hurt their confidence in their overall appearance. One issue that you may need to watch out for is premature wear and tear on your teeth. This can leave your smile looking older and less healthy, which can affect the way that others perceive you when you smile and speak. At our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office, we can recommend cosmetic dental treatments that make teeth look brighter, healthier, and more youthful overall. The right procedure can make you look younger and healthier, and generally make you happier with your appearance. (more…)
Why You May Want To Discuss Sleep Apnea At Your Dental Exam
You may not have a toothache, or any trouble biting and chewing, but you may still have a problem worth mentioning to your dentist at your next dental exam. If you have a habit of snoring, if you seem incapable of enjoying restful sleep, or if you are showing symptoms of chronic fatigue, it could be because you are dealing with sleep apnea. Patients who struggle with this problem can face more health threats than they realize, as this problem can affect your physical health as well as your emotional and mental well-being. At our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office, we can recommend the use of a nightly oral appliance that keeps your airways open while you sleep, and effectively puts a stop to your troubles with sleep apnea. (more…)
Arranging A Conservative Treatment To Address Tooth Decay
Once a cavity forms, it will continue to worsen until the appropriate treatment is provided by your dentist. Dental decay will not respond to brushing and flossing, so it will keep spreading and growing until you undergo restorative dental treatment. Our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office is prepared to help take care of your teeth when a problem develops. Our goal is to do more than just stop the spread of decay. We will work to provide conservative, smile-friendly treatment whenever patients need to undergo care. The dental fillings and dental crowns that we use can match the appearance of your healthy tooth structure. As a result, you can walk away from treatment remaining confident in your smile! (more…)
How Can I Improve My Cavity Prevention Efforts?
Is your current oral hygiene routine as effective at cavity prevention as it should be? If you let a cavity develop, the damage to your tooth will be permanent even if the problem is caught and treated early. Keeping this in mind is important, as is a commitment to smart preventive dental care. Fortunately, your efforts to avoid decay are supported by your dentist – with regular dental exams at our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office, you receive helpful evaluations and cleanings to prevent future problems with cavities. Combining these visits with a smart, thorough oral care routine at home can help you avoid future appointments for restorative dental work! (more…)