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Professional Teeth Cleaning for Optimal Oral and General Health | Watertown MN
Every person deserves to have a smile they can be proud of. While brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day can help to prevent most dental problems, your home oral hygiene routine is not sufficient to get rid of hardened plaque or tartar. This can only be removed during your six-month preventive dental checkup with professional teeth cleaning. Your dental hygienist will also recommend ways to keep your teeth healthy and bright for life.
The Mouth as a Breeding Ground for Bacteria
Your mouth is exposed to a myriad of health risks unlike other parts of the body. Besides the helpful and unhelpful bacteria living in your mouth, you’re exposed to other dangers in the food and drinks you consume. You need to take special care of this environment to avoid any problems. This is the reason why people clean their teeth, to get rid of food particles, stains, and dental plaque from the teeth, which in turn reduces the risk of getting cavities, gum disease, bad breath, and other oral issues.
Constant Fight Against Bacteria in Your Mouth
Since your mouth contains harmful bacteria and useful bacteria, your immune system is actively fighting the harmful bacteria to prevent it from causing harm. Professional teeth cleaning helps to prevent the buildup of bacteria to such an extent that it overwhelms your immune system and causes disease.
Once the buildup of plaque and tartar is uncontrollable, it causes gum inflammation and bleeding, which is known as periodontal disease. If left untreated, the severity of gum disease can lead to tooth loss and the infection spreading to other parts of your body through the bloodstream. This increases the risk of diabetes going out of control, as well as heart disease, stroke, and dementia.
Final Note
Cleaning your teeth at home using good brushing technique and flossing can help to prevent most oral issues. Daily brushing and flossing help to remove plaque on the surface of your teeth. But it is also important to visit a dentist at least every six months for professional cleaning and the removal of hardened deposits known as tartar that cannot be removed through regular brushing. This prevents the buildup of harmful bacteria in your mouth that may lead to decay, gum disease, and other oral and body issues.
Contact your dentist in Watertown, MN to schedule your routine dental visit today!
Dental Implant Dentist Near Me, Watertown MN
Dental implants are arguably the best solution for missing teeth. When you have a severely damaged or decayed tooth that cannot be saved with a crown or root canal therapy, then your dental implant dentist in Watertown may recommend that it be completely removed.
Unfortunately, any spaces left unfilled between your teeth cause adjacent teeth to shift towards the gap, causing bite misalignment and other problems. In addition, without the tooth root to stimulate the underlying bone tissue, the jawbone may begin to lose mass and strength (bone atrophy), which makes your face shrink and look older. If your dentist recommends tooth extraction, he/she will also suggest an appropriate tooth replacement option to prevent this from happening.
What to Expect
A dental implant is surgically placed in the jawbone and allowed to fuse with your natural bone, creating a firm foundation for the replacement tooth. Singular implants can be used to replace one missing tooth or to support bridgework for 2 or 3 missing teeth. Multiple implants can also be placed at appropriate intervals to support dentures and keep them from slipping when eating and talking.
Dental implants are the only restorative option that stops bone atrophy after tooth loss. A dental implant comprises three parts:
- Titanium post – that is surgically placed into the jawbone
- Abutment – used to attach the post to the crown
- Crown – section of the tooth above the gum line that is connected to the post via the abutment
Who is the Right Candidate for Dental Implants?
Although the success rate of dental implants is high, at over 96%, the right candidate should:
- Have good overall health with no signs of gum disease, tooth decay, or jawbone degeneration
- Have sufficient jawbone tissue to support the posts
- Have no conditions that put you at risk of surgical procedures, like over bleeding
If you don’t have enough bone tissue to support an implant, the dental dentist in Watertown may recommend a bone regeneration procedure to build up the base for the implant. This will, however, increase the duration of your dental implant treatment from the usual 4-6 months.
It is important that you discuss with your cosmetic dentist in Watertown about your candidacy for dental implants.
Cost of Dental Implants in Watertown MN
If you are looking to replace one or more missing teeth, or perhaps you’re looking for a more reliable alternative to old dentures, partials, or loose teeth, your dentist may recommend, and restore your oral health, function, and youthful vibrancy with dental implants. Implants are a revolutionary tooth replacement option which makes the cost of dental implants worth the expense to achieve the time-tested benefits.
Understanding the Advantages of Implants
Implants are safe, reliable, and well-proven for permanently replacing one or more missing teeth. Many people have benefited from dental implants as the preferred long-term solution for excellent comfort and function, which they claim to be similar to having your natural teeth.
Unlike other tooth replacement options, like bridgework and dentures, the placement of dental implants involves a minor surgical procedure, during which the implant will be placed in the jaw. This single factor makes the treatment more costly than other options. Dental implants lie in the category of implantology under restoration dentistry. They require specialist care that is typically more expensive than general dental care. Actually, they can only be placed by an oral surgeon, periodontist, or dentist with relevant advanced training and experience.
The other things that affect the cost of implants are:
- Position of the tooth – replacing a front tooth usually involves a lot more work because of the minimal work-space available compared to a back tooth. In addition, the abutment used in the front teeth is usually more costly than the standard abutments used in back teeth placement.
- Thorough examination – the consultation process also includes a number of costly exams including diagnostic imaging (panoramic X-ray).
- Multiple, unique parts – each implant comprises three elements: the implant, abutment, and crown, all of which are made from different materials, through different processes, and are placed at different appointments.
- Additional procedures – some patients require periodontal treatment or bone grafts to prepare your gums and bone tissue for implant surgery and increase your chances of a successful procedure, which adds to the overall cost of treatment.
Please visit your dental surgeon in Watertown MN today to find out about the cost of getting dental implants for your specific case.
Why Choose Dental Implants in Watertown MN
Having a missing tooth or teeth can have a significant impact on your confidence and oral health. Fortunately, dental implants in Watertown MN provide a tooth replacement solution that is trusted by dentists and provides long-term results for patients.
How Do Dental Implants Improve Your Smile?
Dental implants are an excellent solution to improve your smile if you are missing a single tooth, multiple teeth, or need to replace all of your teeth. A dental implant is essentially an artificial tooth that is placed, or implanted, into your jaw where a dental crown is then capped on for a complete tooth that looks and even feels like a real tooth. With implant dentures, you are able to replace all of your teeth with a beautiful smile that is both strong and aesthetically pleasing. In general, the best part of the new replacement tooth or teeth will function as seamlessly as your regular tooth.
Advantages of Implants
As one of the most recommended tooth replacement options, dental implants in Watertown MN offer patients a variety of benefits to improve their smile including:
- Preventing potential of Perio disease that could be caused by continuous bone loss
- Preserving bone and stability for your teeth
- Enhancing the appearance of your smile
Overall, dental implants provide a natural-looking tooth replacement option to help you maintain or improve your oral health. To best understand how implants can work for you, it is important to consult with a cosmetic dentist near you. After examining your teeth and gums, your dentist can determine if tooth replacement is right for you.
Schedule Your Consultation
To find out if you are a good candidate for dental implants, contact your dentist in Watertown MN to schedule your consultation. We look forward to helping you find the best tooth replacement solution to help you achieve the smile of your dreams.
Advantages of Dental Implants in Watertown MN
A dental implant is a titanium post that is surgically placed in your jaw to form an artificial “tooth root” that functions as a sturdy support for the replacement tooth, denture, or bridge. Dental implants in Watertown are a popular, effective, and long-lasting solution for replacing missing teeth.
They offer many other advantages over other tooth replacement options as follows:
- Can be used to replace one or more teeth without affecting the health or structure of neighboring teeth like conventional bridgework
- They’re natural-looking and feeling, so you can enjoy your usual foods and care for your mouth as usual without necessarily giving the new tooth any special attention
- Can be used to support a denture, making it more secure and comfortable
- Can be used to support a bridge to replace more than one tooth, as an alternative to removable partial dentures
- They stimulate the jawbone to prevent bone resorption, which can make your face appear older
Placing dental implants in Watertown involves a surgical procedure that requires extreme care. The implant requires three to four months to integrate with the underlying bone tissue before crown placement. During this time, the dentist will place dentures or partials to cover the gap and allow you to eat normally. Complex cases that involve soft and hard tissue grafting will take nearly twice as long. But the actual time depends on your age, health, number of teeth, and quantity and quality of bone tissue.
The Treatment Process
The oral surgeon uses state-of-the-art 3D digital imaging and advanced implant planning software to analyze your jaw anatomy and identify the best site for the implant before surgery. This is important to reduce the recovery time to a few months. After surgical placement of the implant, you need to wait 4-6 months for the gums to heal before the replacement tooth can be placed. If your gum and/or bone tissue needs to be rebuilt, like through grafting, then the full treatment time will be longer.
Please schedule an appointment with your oral surgeon in Watertown for a proper assessment of your case.
Should You Pay More for Different Types of Dental Bridges? | Watertown MN
Are you struggling with tooth loss? Perhaps you’ve changed the way you smile and laugh to conceal the gap in your teeth, or you’re having trouble pronouncing some words or enjoying your favorite foods. Whether you’ve lost one or more teeth to trauma, age, or tooth decay, your dentist may recommend dental bridges in Watertown MN to fill the space and restore the full function and aesthetic of your mouth.
Dental bridges are a common treatment that allows you to maintain the proper alignment of your teeth, which in turn helps to keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy through your normal oral hygiene routine. They provide you with one of the most affordable, permanent tooth replacement options, making your mouth feel whole and normal.
Cost of Dental Bridges
There are different types of dental bridges in Watertown MN with varied costs depending on, among other factors, the type of dental materials used and type of bridgework used. Porcelain or zirconia are the most common materials and can be nearly as expensive as gold. But the materials are tooth-colored and look like your natural teeth, which makes them a popular option. Moreover, they’re very tough and durable, giving you a long-lasting replacement tooth.
Whichever material you use, the type of bridgework will influence your cost of treatment as follows:
- Traditional bridges are supported by two teeth that need to be prepared to accommodate abutment crowns that hold up the replacement tooth. It is the most common procedure, and the cost should be paid in full or partly by your dental insurance plan.
- Cantilever bridges are only supported by one tooth, but use a similar process to traditional bridges. They may be slightly cheaper than traditional bridges, but won’t be as strong.
- Resin-bonded bridges don’t require abutment crowns or preparation of adjacent teeth to support the pontic. However, they are more expensive than the other two options.
- Implant-supported bridges are also expensive because of the additional cost of placing dental implants. The need for additional procedures in order to restore your complete smile will add to the total cost of treatment. With implant-supported bridges, you need to visit a dental surgeon for the placement of the implants. Any other dental specialists that you visit due to other dental complications will also increase your total cost of treatment, but it may be necessary to ensure optimal results.
Want to learn more about dental implants, please schedule an appointment with your Watertown dentist to design the most suitable treatment plan for your needs and budget.
3 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Getting Dental Bridges in Watertown MN
Dental bridges are a common restorative dental treatment used to replace one or more missing teeth. The bridgework, comprising a false tooth (pontic) attached to two crowns on either side (abutment), fills the space left behind by missing teeth.
Here are some other facts about dental bridgework:
1. Why Should I Fill Spaces Between My Teeth?
Gaps between your teeth not only affect the beauty of your smile but also interrupt your speech and ability to chew your food. If left unfilled, the teeth adjacent to the gap can begin to shift out of position, creating smaller gaps between your teeth that are hard to keep clean. This can lead to bacteria buildup that makes you susceptible to gum disease, decay, bad breath, and other oral issues. Moreover, the moving teeth can affect your bite, causing malocclusion and jaw problems.
2. How do Dental Bridges Work?
Dental bridgework provides one of several treatments available to replace one or more missing teeth. A dental bridge refers to a fabricated, replacement tooth that is connected to two crowns on either side and used to fill the gap left by a missing tooth. The crowns supporting the false tooth (pontic) are attached to the adjacent teeth on each side of the gap, forming a bridge. The dental bridge is held in place by the adjacent healthy teeth via the abutments, helping to restore the function and aesthetic of your smile. The bridge may also be anchored to teeth on only one side of the gap, forming a cantilever bridge. If the gap is too big, dental implants may be added to support the bridgework, especially when replacing multiple teeth in a row.
3. How is the Procedure for Dental Bridges Done?
Getting a dental bridge typically requires two or more dental appointments. The first appointment involves examining your mouth to determine your suitability for the procedure. Afterward, the dentist prepares the abutment teeth by removing some of the tooth enamel to create room to place the crown over them without changing the shape or size of the tooth. The dentist then takes an impression of the teeth and uses it to create a model to fabricate your permanent bridge in a dental lab. This process takes several days, so a temporary bridge will be placed over the prepared teeth to protect them in the meantime. The permanent bridge is placed on the second appointment.
Final Note
Your bridgework should last many years depending on your oral hygiene routine and mouth-related habits. Please discuss with your dentist in Watertown about ways to maximize the longevity of your dental bridges.
Benefits of Dental Bridges | Watertown MN
There are several types of dental bridges in Watertown, though the traditional bridge comprising one or more fake teeth (known as pontics) anchored by dental crowns (known as abutments) that are cemented to the teeth on each side of the gap, is the most common option.
Dental bridges offer numerous benefits, compared to leaving a gap between your teeth unattended to, including:
- Restoring your ability to chew food properly
- Restoring your ability to speak properly
- Restoring the natural aesthetic look of your smile and mouth
- Preventing adjacent natural teeth from shifting and affecting your bite
- Maintaining the normal structure of your face
Moreover, there are different types of dental bridges in Watertown, each of which is suited for certain situations and offers specific benefits to the user. These types and benefits include:
- Traditional fixed bridges – this is the most popular type of bridgework. Traditional permanent bridges can be used in any position in your mouth, including missing molars, provided you have strong adjacent teeth on both sides of the gap. Moreover, this approach can be used to replace up to 6 missing teeth using 6-unit bridgework.
- Cantilever bridges – this type of bridgework is not as common and is only used when the pontic can only be supported by healthy teeth on one side of the gap. The pontic is bonded to only one abutment crown. This option can only be used with front teeth where you can control biting force, as opposed to back teeth that are subjected to heavy chewing forces.
- Resin-bonded or Maryland bonded bridges – this option consists of a pontic that is attached to a porcelain or metal frame, which is then held in place using one or two wings that are attached to the adjacent healthy teeth. Resin-bonded bridges are typically used to fill gaps in the front of the mouth. They are a good choice because they’re conservative, with virtually no preparation of the adjacent teeth to support the pontic in place. But since they’re prefabricated, the dentist may need to trim the surrounding teeth to achieve a good fit. They’re also low-risk, strong, permanent, and look very realistic.
- Implant-supported bridges – if you’ve lost multiple teeth in a row, then implant-supported bridges can help to stabilize the bridgework. The pontics are secured to one or more implant-supported crowns spread across the gap, giving you a restoration that is just as strong as if the bridgework were anchored to your natural teeth.
Please consult your dentist in Watertown MN to learn more about dental bridgework and to determine whether you’re a good candidate for the procedure.
The Importance of Regular Dental Visits and Teeth Cleaning | Watertown MN
Teeth cleaning forms a vital part of maintaining not only your oral health but also a healthy body and mind. In fact, your oral health is connected with your overall health. During your dental exam, the hygienist can identify the signs of certain medical conditions and diseases, such as nutritional deficiencies, diabetes, hormonal irregularities, and so on, and recommend the appropriate action to help manage them and correct the problem.
Indeed, these routine dental visits can save more than your mouth. Here are some of the benefits you can expect from teeth cleaning visits:
- Check for any oral issues – an oral evaluation is done before teeth cleaning, as it shows the extent of plaque and tartar buildup and the best approach to remove it. The hygienist also examines the condition of your teeth, checking for signs of decay and proper brushing/flossing, gums for inflammation and other signs of gum disease, the tongue, cheeks, lips, throat, and neck. If any problems are detected, you will schedule an appointment for treatment.
- Professional teeth cleaning – necessary to remove tartar (hardened plaque) that may contribute to dental issues such as decay, gum disease, and bad breath, among others. For severe tartar buildup, a full-mouth debridement (cleaning above and below the gums) may be necessary as opposed to standard teeth cleaning of the exposed part of the teeth (above the gum line).
- Address bad breath – depending on the health of your gums, the hygienist may need to inspect your roots for abnormalities. If you’re suffering from bad breath (halitosis), then gingival irrigation may be necessary to remove food debris and accumulated bacteria.
- Improve your general health – the hygienist will also check for signs of certain medical conditions and diseases, such as nutritional deficiencies, diabetes, hormonal irregularities, and so on, and recommend the appropriate action to help manage them and correct the problem.
During the oral evaluation, you can ask your dentist in Watertown MN about any medical or financial concerns you may have. This means that you can learn more about how to take better care of your mouth to maintain a healthy smile.
Dental Crowns Near Me, Watertown MN 55388
Dental crowns near Watertown are one of the most popular restorative and cosmetic treatments in dentistry. They provide a strong and durable cap that holds together a tooth that has been severely damaged and weakened by trauma or decay, helping to save a tooth that may otherwise have been extracted.
Other benefits of dental crowns near Watertown include:
1. Prevent Tooth Loss from Decay
The crown protects the remaining natural tooth so you are not forced to extract it. Crowns can be used to save decayed teeth, where the cavity has formed on more than 50 percent of the tooth, such that a filling cannot be used. To save the tooth, the dentist needs to remove the decay, clean the site, and cement the custom crown in place, restoring the complete function of your mouth.
2. Save Damaged Teeth
Crowns are typically recommended for severe tooth damage, where other options are not sufficient to provide a strong restoration. Some of the common applications of crowns include:
- To strengthen the tooth structure following root canal therapy
- To repair broken or fractured teeth
- To replace large fillings
- To fix chips and cracks
3. Cosmetic Repairs
If dental crowns are the only way to save your tooth, your dentist may recommend tooth-colored materials so the restored tooth is barely noticeable compared to adjacent teeth. In fact, tooth-colored materials reflect light just like natural teeth, which makes it hard to distinguish the restoration from tooth enamel. This allows you to both restore and improve your smile.
Final Note
Dental crowns are usually placed in two visits. During the initial visit, the dentist will determine whether you’re a good candidate for dental crowns, and then take digital impressions of the tooth so they can be used to fabricate your custom crowns in a lab. Before your permanent crown is ready, a temporary crown will be placed to protect the prepared tooth and allow your mouth to function normally. About 7 days later, on the second visit, the temporary crown will be removed and your permanent, custom crown placed so it “caps” the entire damaged or decayed area of the tooth.
If you have any questions or concerns about porcelain dental crowns, please visit your dentist in Watertown today.
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Invisalign
With advances in dental technologies, it is now possible to straighten your teeth discreetly without the use of traditional metal braces.
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