Watertown Dental Dental Blog

Cosmetic Dentist Near Me, Watertown MN 55388

Cosmetic dentistry is a branch of professional oral care aimed at improving the appearance of your teeth and smile. A beautiful smile is vital for a successful life, both professionally and socially. It makes you appear happy, healthy, and attractive, which gives you great confidence in your various pursuits and makes you feel like you can do anything. But if you’re feeling shy or hesitant about smiling or laughing with other people because of fractures, cracks, stains, or gaps in your teeth, then you should consider visiting a cosmetic dentist. 

Some of the common aesthetic problems that cosmetic dentists deal with include:

  • Stained or Discolored Teeth – May be caused by age, food, medications, smoking, and other lifestyle factors
  • Tooth Decay – Usually caused by plaque buildup due to poor oral hygiene, as well as consuming too many sugary items. 
  • Chipped or Fractured Teeth – May be caused by any kind of trauma in an accident, due to a sports injury, or even bad habits such as chewing ice or opening soda bottles with your teeth. 
  • Crooked, Overcrowded, or Misaligned Teeth – The cosmetic dentist will recommend the appropriate custom dental appliances to gradually move your teeth to the desired position. 
  • Missing Teeth – There are several options for replacing missing teeth depending on the health of adjacent teeth, the health of the gum and jawbone tissues, age, and personal preferences, among others. 

When scheduling your cosmetic dentistry consultation, you should have a good idea of what you want – your ideal smile – before approaching the dentist. Generally, you should know:

  • What shade of white you would like your teeth to be – natural, ultra-white, in-between 
  • Do you want your teeth to be in perfect alignment or slightly varied?
  • Do you think your smile is toothy, gummy, or awkward in any other way? 
  • What defects do you want to be fixed? – missing tooth, crooked or misaligned teeth, fractured teeth, stained teeth, etc. 

If you’re self-conscious about your teeth or want to improve your smile, please visit your Watertown dentist today to discuss your case. The dental team will examine your mouth and formulate a custom plan to help you achieve the beautiful, dazzling smile you’ve always wanted. 

Teeth Whitening Near Me, Watertown MN 55388

An estimated 80 percent of adults want a better smile, which most people relate with having whiter and brighter teeth. As a result, teeth whitening has become very popular in recent years. Bleaching or teeth whitening involves lightening the shade of your natural teeth and removing stains and discoloration. Whitening can greatly improve the appearance of your teeth and smile.

Why Do Teeth Get Discolored?

The color of your natural teeth is created when light is reflected and scattered off the outer layer of the tooth (known as enamel), combined with the color of the underneath tooth layer (dentin). The thickness and smoothness of tooth enamel is unique to every person as it depends on your genes. Thinner enamel means that more of the dentin color will show through. Additionally, smoother or rougher enamel affects how light is reflected, and therefore, the tooth color.

Every day, a thin film (pellicle) forms on the surface of the enamel, which makes it easy for stains to stick to the tooth. Enamel also contains tiny pores that can hold stains if you don’t clean your teeth properly. 

Some of the reasons for teeth discoloration include:

  • Age – tooth enamel is naturally white, but it thins over time due to normal wear, allowing the yellowish dentin to show 
  • Fluorosis – teeth darkening due to excessive fluoride consumption 
  • Food and drink – tea, coffee, red wine, and other food items contain intense color pigments known as chromogens that bond to tooth enamel, causing discoloration 
  • Tobacco use – chewing and smoking tobacco exposes you to two chemicals responsible for creating stubborn stains: nicotine and tar
  • Illness – early tooth decay or illness during tooth development can also cause spots on your teeth 
  • Medications – tooth discoloration can be a side effect of taking certain medications, like antihistamines and antipsychotics. Fetuses and babies may also be at risk of tooth discoloration of the adult teeth if exposed to antibiotics like doxycycline and tetracycline. 
  • Calculus – accumulated plaque can also reduce the sparkle of your teeth 

Anyone Can Enjoy a Whiter Smile

If you desire a brighter smile, you should discuss with a Watertown dentist near you about your suitability for teeth whitening to reduce staining and discoloration. This will help to improve your appearance and make you less self-conscious so you can smile more. Schedule your appointment today.  

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. They 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 making the cost of dental implants worth the time and expense. 

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 today to find out about the cost of getting dental implants for your specific case.  

What to Expect with Dental Implants in Watertown MN

Dental implants provide the most natural tooth replacement possible. The artificial tooth comprises a titanium post that acts as the tooth root, connecting the crown to the underlying bone tissue. The result is a restoration that looks, feels, and functions like your natural tooth. It also doesn’t require any special cleaning procedures. You just need to brush, floss, and schedule regular professional cleanings like normal. 

If you have one or more missing teeth, the gap in your mouth can be filled in a number of ways, including dental implants. That said, you need to visit your dentist to determine whether you’re a good candidate for dental implants. 

The Initial Consultation

During your first appointment for dental implants, the dentist will review your medical history and investigate lifestyle factors that may affect your treatment, such as smoking and alcohol consumption. He will then physically examine your mouth and take x-rays, 3D scans, impressions, and photos to help design your tooth replacement and plan your treatment. 

Generally, to be considered a good candidate for dental implants, the gap should have a healthy amount of gum and bone tissue. In some cases, the oral surgeon may recommend that you go through additional procedures like bone grafting to build up the bone tissue so it’s sufficient to support the implant and replacement tooth. Soft tissue grafting may also be necessary to ensure that the gums can adequately cover the new tooth root (implant). 

Get Healthy for a Successful Implant Placement

The success rate for dental implants is over 95%. However, some patients are at risk of complications, especially if they smoke, consume excess alcohol, have gum disease, or are suffering from certain medical problems that prevent proper healing and timely recovery. 

If the dentist identifies any oral or medical problems that may reduce the chances of a successful implant, they will try to help you manage them. Ideally, the mouth should be free of gum disease, infections, and excessive teeth wear as it could indicate bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching) that can prevent proper healing of the implant. 

Please consult your dentist in Watertown MN for a personal examination to determine if you’re a good candidate.

Dental Implant Dentist Near Me, Watertown MN 55388

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 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 implant dentist may recommend a bone regeneration procedure to build up the base for the implant. This will, however, increase the duration of your treatment from the usual 4-6 months. 

It is important that you discuss with your dentist in Watertown MN about your candidacy for dental implants.

New Patients

At Watertown Dental, your first appointment includes a thorough exam and gathering any information that our dentist must be aware of in order to provide care specifically to your oral health. We understand that all patients are different and require individualized care. 

Our Practice’s Mission:

To fulfill our mission of providing quality dental care to you and your family, we are committed to:

  • Staying up to date with latest techniques and equipment.
  • Ensuring a comfortable, relaxing environment.
  • Exceeding your expectations with our professionalism.

What Every Patient Can Expect

At our practice, every patient can expect to be treated with prompt service at their specified appointment time. Our patients can also look forward to a comfortable experience. We understand that visiting a new dentist can be stressful, which is why our practice works to actively to accommodate all patients and alleviate any fears they may have about a new dentist or dentistry treatments. Familiarizing yourself with our practice, services, and our dentist is a great first step to creating a long term and comfortable experience with dentistry.

Watertown Dental Dental Offer

New Patient Exam Xrays and Regular Cleaning $67

Includes consultation, exam, and x-rays. In the absence of periodontal disease. New Patients Only

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Watertown Dental Dental Offer

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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