Category: Blog

Has your Dental Arts dentist recently recommended a dental crown as a restoration for your smile? Maybe you are wondering why you need a crown versus a normal filling. If this is the case, then continue reading to learn why you might need a crown instead of a filling.

What is a dental crown?

Dental crowns are made of porcelain to closely match the appearance and feel of your tooth’s enamel. It lasts several years and allows you the comfort to easily chew, eat, and speak. Dental crowns are used for patients with large decay, to replace a filling, to strengthen a tooth that has recently had root canal therapy, or a tooth with a fracture or crack.

What is the process of getting a crown?

Getting a dental crown from your local dentist will typically take two or three visits to our dental clinic. Your dentist will first provide you with a temporary crown to wear. This needs to be worn while your customized dental crown is being made. Once it is complete, you will need to return to our clinic for your dentist to place the permanent restoration in its resting place. Finally, your dentist will make any needed changes or improvements to the final dental crown.

What if I don’t complete my crown right away?

It is important to get your restoration done right away. This will eliminate the possibility of further damaging your teeth or needing any more restorations or procedures. It can even cause an infection if the decay reaches the nerve of your tooth. If you are in need of a dental crown, then please contact our clinic today to set up an appointment with one of our dentists.

Our dentists at Dental Arts SPB clinic provide regular tooth extractions for our patients when needed. There are several different reasons why an individual may need a tooth extraction. To learn more about these reasons and to see what you should expect during and after your tooth extraction, continue reading on.

Why may you need a tooth extraction?

Your Dental Arts SBP dentist may suggest a tooth extraction for the following reasons:

• Severe decay
• Crowded teeth
• Remove a baby tooth for the permanent tooth to emerge properly
• Remove wisdom teeth
• Gum disease
• To accommodate dentures

What to Expect During Your Tooth Extraction

To begin your tooth extraction, your dentist will thoroughly numb the affected area in order to avoid pain. They will also examine and see if you are in need of an antibiotic before or after your extraction procedure. If needed, your dentist will remove any gum or bone tissue that is covering the tooth. After removing your teeth, your dentist will provide you with the necessary amount of stitches to close the gum. Your dentist may provide you with self-dissolving stitches.

What to Do After a Tooth Extraction

Your dentist will provide you with specific instructions on what to do after a tooth extraction. A few things to keep in mind are to apply pressure to where the tooth was removed to prevent bleeding and use an ice pack to avoid swelling in your mouth. It is important to keep your mouth clean and to brush regularly. If needed, take any medications to control pain and swelling as well. Eating soft foods will allow the area to heal more quickly.

For more information on teeth extractions, contact our dentists today! Schedule your next appointment with our dentists.

Tooth decay or damage, crowded teeth, and gum diseases are some of the conditions where tooth extraction becomes inevitable. Here are some tips to guide you through the process and recovery period.

The Basics of Tooth Extraction

The oral surgeon or dentist numbs the site of the extraction with a local anesthetic. They cut away the gum and bone tissue if the tooth is impacted.

Using forceps, the dentist will rock the tooth back and forth until it is loosened sufficiently to be extracted. However, if the tooth proves difficult to remove, the dentist may need split and remove the tooth in pieces.

After the tooth is pulled, a blood clot will form inside the socket. The dentist places a gauze pad over it, and the patient gently bites down to stop the bleeding. The dentist might also stitch the gum over the extraction site.

Precautions

Tooth extraction though safe might present opportunities for infections to occur. Hence, patients at higher risks of infection due to other underlying conditions may need antibiotics before and after the procedure. The patient’s full medical history should be referred to before the extraction.

Recovery

It usually takes patients a few days to fully recover. The patients can request for painkillers if the pain is intense. Gently biting down on the gauze pad will help stop bleeding and encourage the formation of a clot. Leave the pad in place as long as advised by the dentist. An ice pack can be applied to reduce swelling. Patients need at least a day to relax after the procedure.

Do not rinse or spit in the six hours after the extraction to avoid dislodging the clot. Smoking is not advised as it slows healing. Eat only soft foods and gradually incorporate harder foods as the site heals.

We all are familiar with basic oral care. We visit our dentist at least twice a year, brush and floss thoroughly, but your dentist may recommend deep teeth cleaning. What is deep teeth cleaning and how can it improve your smile? Let’s see why deep teeth cleaning is different from a regular cleaning at your dentist.

What is deep teeth cleaning?

Your dentist at Dental Arts in St Pete Beach, FL may recommend deep teeth cleaning for you. It is basically just when your dentist cleans the entire surface of your tooth, down past the gum line. It cleans the plaque where your regular flossing and brushing routine can’t quite reach. When not treated, your gums will begin to recede. This exposes the sensitive part of your tooth to more bacteria. Deep teeth cleaning will help to protect your teeth and avoid you paying the extra costs later.

How is it different from my regular cleaning?

Deep teeth cleaning involves scaling and planing. Your dentist will use scaling to remove the plaque of the entire surface of your teeth. After the plaque is gone, your dentist will use planing to smooth out the enamel of your teeth. Your gums will have a smooth area to reattach to.

Does deep teeth cleaning hurt?

Your dentist may suggest numbing the affected areas before beginning the cleaning. This is based on the buildup of plaque on the teeth and how much area needs to be cleaned. You may experience sensitivity after the cleaning. Your dentist may recommend a small dosage of ibuprofen as bruising is common after a deep teeth cleaning.

Don’t forget the importance of keeping your smile bright and healthy. Contact Dental Arts today to see if deep teeth cleaning is an option for you!

Looking for a perfect yet natural looking smile? Are you finally ready to fix the tooth you cracked ages ago? Veneers are the perfect way to transform your teeth and boost your self confidence. However, what are porcelain veneers and what do they treat exactly? Porcelain veneers have been used for years to fix a variety of dental problems such as chips and cracks, gaps between teeth, minor misalignments, and discoloration. They are thin, porcelain shells that are ‘glued’ to the tooth/teeth. What, though, are some common misconceptions about porcelain veneers?

• The application is painful. Veneers are only applied after the patient is given a local anesthetic to eliminate any pain or discomfort.
• You only need veneers for the front of your mouth. While it is most common for dental veneers to be placed in the most visible part of your mouth, they are also made for your lower and back teeth.
• The entire tooth must be filed down before veneers can be placed. Minimal reshaping of the tooth is sometimes needed to place dental veneers. Our dentists at Dental Art, however, do everything to eliminate unnecessary filing.
• Veneers can get put on in one visit. In order to get your perfect smile, more than one appointment is necessary. You will be given several temporary veneers to try out.
• Veneers are unnaturally white and noticeable. With today’s technology, we can perfectly match to the color, thickness, and shape of your teeth.

Are porcelain veneers right for you? Call us today for an appointment at Dental Arts to see if porcelain veneers work for your teeth. Our staff will be more than happy to assist you!

So you’ve scheduled your root canal therapy? You are probably wondering what exactly you can do after your treatment for the quickest, easiest and most comfortable recovery. Well luckily for you, Dental Arts St. Pete Beach is here with root canal aftercare and recovery tips! We hope that your root canal treatment and recovery goes well.

Properly Take Prescriptions

If you are undergoing root canal treatment, chances are you know how painful a tooth infection can be! If your dentist prescribes any medications or antibiotics, it is important to take the prescription as directed. This can promote better healing and reduce your risk of additional complications.

Keep Your Mouth Clean

Following your root canal therapy, it is extremely important to keep the area as clean as possible. Be careful yet thorough when brushing, flossing and rinsing your mouth to avoid any discomfort while still removing any bacteria.

Watch What You Eat

When it comes to what you should eat and drink following a root canal, there are a few simple rules to follow. Your tooth will most likely be sensitive, so hot and cold foods may cause quite a bit of discomfort. You should also avoid foods that are crunchy, chewy, sticky or hard following your treatment.

Get a Dental Crown

At our St. Pete Beach dental office, we recommend every patient who receives a root canal also get a dental crown following their treatment. A dental crown can help protect your affected tooth from further decay, damage and infection along with improving the appearance, functionality, and strength of your tooth.

Do you have additional questions regarding your root canal treatment? Don’t hesitate to contact Dental Arts St. Pete Beach. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have about root canal therapy or anything dentistry related honestly. We hope that you have a quick and speedy recovery following your root canal therapy!

We’ve all heard how important dental care can be for achieving optimal oral health but what exactly are good dental care habits? Visiting your St. Pete beach dentist, of course, is an essential component but what about when you are at home?

The Importance of Brushing

When it comes to taking care of those pearly whites, brushing might just be the most important thing you can do. We recommend brushing a minimum of at least two times a day, once in the morning and once before bed. Always purchase a soft-bristled toothbrush and be sure to also brush lightly.

When it comes to replacing your toothbrush, we recommend you replace it every 3 months. If you notice worn bristles or have been sick, we recommend replacing your brush immediately. Again, be sure to always buy soft-bristled toothbrushes.

The Importance of Flossing

While brushing is extremely important, there are some areas your brush is going to miss. Like in between your teeth! Flossing allows you to properly clean the areas between your teeth where bacteria and plaque love to hang out. Find flossing difficult? Try out some of the newer floss picks which allow you to reach areas easier and can easily be disposed of.

Got braces? A Waterpik can be a great dental addition which allows you to properly clean your braces and teeth without having to deal with the hassle of flossing between brackets, wires, and bands.

The Importance of Scraping

Another part of good dental care habits is cleaning your tongue! When people think of cleaning their “smile” they often just think of their teeth, however, did you know bacteria also love to hang out on your tongue? These bacteria can lead to bad breath, plaque buildup, dental decay and even gum disease! We recommend investing in a tongue scraper which can be used to remove leftover debris and bacteria.

Wondering how well you are doing with your dental care habits? Contact Dental Arts in St. Pete Beach today! We’d be happy to evaluate your smile and overall oral health to determine if you could be taking better care of your smile!

If you have anxiety when going to the dentist, or your young child is prone to meltdowns or freak-outs when faced with potential pain, then sedation dentistry might be for you and your family. Many people today are under-informed when it comes to sedation dentistry and believe that it could be dangerous like anesthesia during surgery.

Fact: Sedation Dentistry Is Safe

Nitrous oxide is given to the patient before any procedure starts and when the procedure is over the gas leaves your system just as fast as it started. You will constantly be monitored by your dentist at all times, and there is virtually no added risk with the use of laughing gas, or nitrous oxide.

Fact: There Are Different Levels of Sedation Dentistry Available

If you wish to be minimally sedated, then you can receive just enough sedative to remain awake, yet relaxed. You will remain conscious throughout the procedure, and the nitrous oxide will be just enough to make sure you feel no pain and are completely relaxed.

Fact: Sedation Dentistry Has Been Around for Many Years

Sedation dentistry and the use of laughing gas can be dated all the way back to the 19th century! It is well understood and very safe.

Fact: Sedation Dentistry Can Be Used for More than Relieving Dental Anxiety

While laughing gas does a good job at keeping you from becoming overly anxious, it is also extremely useful for your dentist when they have to perform multiple procedures at once or when dealing with a client who has a sensitive gag reflex! It is also great when dealing with kids or patients who can’t cooperate or who have trouble sitting still.

Whether or not sedation dentistry from the dental office is right for you is completely up to you to choose. You should know, however, that it is renowned to make for a more pleasant dental experience and is very safe!

It might not seem like it, but your teeth are like sponges. They are porous, which means they have little holes all over them that are ready to absorb whatever is thrown against them. This can be a good thing or a bad thing. For most people, it means that your teeth absorb staining liquids like coffee and wine. Over time, the natural shine of your pearly-whites can start to lose its luster. Thankfully, though, these little pores also open up the possibility for teeth whitening treatments to take care of those stains!

What You Can Do

There are a lot of options out there in terms of teeth whitening. Teeth whitening kits, teeth whitening strips, teeth bleaching, and other teeth whitening products are all easily obtainable and completely safe. Many people believe that they are damaging to teeth, but if you use them correctly then that simply isn’t the case!

There are many differences between the whitening products out there. Most of them use the same basic ingredients because every company and dentist knows what works. The difference, though, is the delivery method. All of the methods work but to varying degrees.

Whitening toothpastes, for example, are diluted with water and then lathered onto your teeth, but quickly washed off seconds later. Whitening strips are held against the teeth by an adhesive, which works better than the toothpaste. However, the absolute best way to get your teeth white fast would be to stop in to your local dentist and get a whitening treatment. Dentists use a thick gel that makes its way through all the crevices of your teeth and is held securely by a tray. It is safe and effective.

The teeth whitening you choose is up to you, but it’s important to know that each method will yield varying results, so choose wisely!

Are you interested in a bright, healthy, cavity-free smile? Wondering what else you can do besides proper at-home dental care and professional dental treatments? Address your diet! Much like other parts of your body, what you consume can have a big impact on how healthy your smile is. Wondering which foods and beverages to avoid? Here are just a few:

Citrus

Although citrus fruits pack an amazing dose of Vitamin C, the acidity found in these foods can actually be harmful to your smile. The acid contained in acidic foods such as citrus can erode your tooth enamel, leaving you more at risk for decay, cavities, and infections.

Coffee

For most adults in America, the thought of life without coffee can be a scary one. However, if you are looking for a bright, white, healthy smile, it may be best to at least cut-down. Coffee can not only stain teeth but can also result in dry mouth and bacterial overgrowth. If coffee is a must, try using a straw and rinsing it down with a nice glass of water.

Sticky Foods

Sticky foods such as dried fruits, candies and taffies can all be especially bad for your dental health. These foods often get stuck to teeth and have high amounts of sugar, increasing your risk of decay and cavities.

Soda

Soda has become a staple in the American diet for most; however, for those interested in optimal oral health, it may be better just to drink some water. The sugar found in these beverages is consumed by bacteria, creating acid which in turn erodes enamel. When enamel has been eroded, a patient is much more likely to have decay and cavities.

Much like the rest of your body, diet has a huge impact on your oral health. When it comes to keeping your smile healthy, be sure to avoid foods high in sugar, acidity or that are overly sticky. Contact our dentistry in St. Pete Beach to know more!