Watertown Dental Dental Blog

Best Rated General Dentist Dentist Near Me, Watertown MN

Your natural teeth should last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance. That is why you need a reliable dentist near me to help provide adequate care for your dental health, treat dental issues, and adjust your overall dental hygiene routine as your needs change. But before choosing a new dentist, it is important that you carry out detailed research. If you need a top rated dentist near me, our dental practice is the ideal place to turn to. 

At our dental office, we work with a team of experts who have the necessary experience to address various procedures for patients of all ages. We work with a dedicated team with several years of experience in various dental procedures. We offer dental exams, routine cleanings, and other advanced dental procedures at our deluxe dental office.

Preventative Dental Care 

We believe in taking preventive measures, such as brushing your teeth and flossing at home to reduce the risk of dental problems. We also encourage regular visits to our office for professional teeth cleanings. Our dentist can help you with this to reduce the risk of dental problems in the future. In addition, routine exams can allow us to repair teeth at their earliest possible stage, reducing discomfort and tooth decay.

Restorative Dental Services 

Dental emergencies can happen to anyone when you least expect it. It is important to have a nearby dentist for treatment when necessary. Our experienced dentist and dental team performs a wide range of dental procedures using state-of-the-art dental equipment, the newest techniques, and advanced technology. This translates to pain-free procedures and quick recovery. Whether it is a minor or major issue with your teeth or gums, our dentists will offer a fast, efficient, and lasting solution.

Cosmetic Dental Services 

Building a beautiful, healthy smile through restorative and cosmetic dental procedures is our responsibility to our patients. Our compassionate cosmetic dental services and procedures will help you achieve the healthy gums and brilliant smile you always wanted.

Contact Us Today!

Call our dental team today to get an appointment with one of our experienced dentists. We offer affordable, reliable, and highly professional dental services. Our trusted dental team will be happy to meet with you and discuss your available dental options.

Who Is A Good Candidate for Dental Implants? Watertown MN

If you have lost most or all of your teeth due to advanced gum disease or decay, it will become nearly impossible to maintain the function of your mouth, whether it’s eating or speaking properly. Your smile will also be affected. In such a case, your dentist may recommend a tooth replacement solution such as removable dentures or dental implants. That said, there is a high likelihood that you will want dental implants to be included in your treatment. 

To Replace One to Several Teeth 

If you have gaps between your teeth, a dental implant will help to prevent the teeth adjacent to the space from tilting or shifting, which may misalign your bite. The teeth on the opposing jaw may also grow irregularly because there’s no mate to make contact with, causing you to injure the gum tissue in that area. This can create a chronic sore spot and discomfort. Moreover, the bone tissue under the gums may begin to shrink away (resorption) due to lack of stimulation during chewing, causing your face to appear aged. Dental implants can prevent these issues. 

To Replace Teeth in the Entire Upper or Lower Arch

Innovations in the use of dental implants have led to the discovery of a placement technique known as “All-On-4” that provides a stable and comfortable prosthesis using only four implants to support tooth replacements in the entire upper and/or lower arch. The implants are placed in strategic areas that have sufficient bone structure, providing firm support for dentures to be screwed on permanently. The result is stable teeth replacements that feel and function like your natural teeth. 

Are You a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

There are several factors that may affect your suitability as a candidate for dental implants, including:

  • Position of the missing tooth in the mouth 
  • Quality and quantity of jawbone in the area with the gap 
  • General health of the patient 
  • Cost of treatment 

If you have one or more missing teeth, dental implants can provide you with a stable replacement that looks and feels like your natural teeth, so you can continue to eat your favorite foods without any worry and practice your usual oral care routine.

To learn more about dental implants in Watertown MN and how they can help to restore the function and aesthetic of your mouth, please visit your dentist today.

Dental Crowns – Your First Visit | Watertown MN

Dental crowns can be fabricated from different materials that include porcelain, composite, porcelain-fused-to-metal, and different types of metals and alloys. Each type of crown has its unique pros and cons, so your dentist will help you choose the most appropriate one for your case depending on the strength requirements and aesthetic concerns of the tooth involved, as well as your personal preferences or allergic reactions to any of the materials. 

Crowns are fabricated in a dental lab, so you will need to visit the dentist at least twice: the first time is to prepare your teeth and take measurements that will be used to prepare the crown, which can then be fitted on your second visit. 

Here’s what to expect:

  • On the first visit, your dentist will administer a local anaesthetic to numb your face for the duration of the procedure. 
  • Tooth preparation depends on your specific case, and may involve the removal of any decay and infection and filing down the tooth to maximize the retention of the crown and to ensure a good fit that doesn’t distort your smile. 
  • Next, a mold or impression of the tooth will be made and sent to the lab to fabricate your permanent custom crown. An impression of the opposing tooth may also be created to ensure a perfect fit with the mouth closed.
  • To protect the prepared tooth, a temporary or transition crown will be placed on it. This crown is typically made from plastic material (acrylic), and is held in place using a temporary cementing medium to allow easy removal at your next visit. 
  • After two to three weeks you will return for fitting of the permanent crown. The dentist will remove the temporary crown and clean the site. The permanent crown will then be fitted and adjusted for any bite variations. If there are no issues, the crown can be cemented to your tooth. 

Same-Day Crowns 

It is possible to get your permanent crown prepared and installed on the same day, as is the case for zirconia crowns. The tooth is prepared the normal way. But instead of making an impression of the tooth, the dentist uses a wand scanner to capture pictures of the teeth. The images are uploaded into a computer where CAD software (computer-aided design) is used to design a 3D model that can be used to fabricate a replacement ceramic crown in about 15 minutes. 

Restore Damaged Teeth Today 

If you have a severely weakened tooth due to fractures, decay, or any other kind of damage, please visit your dentist to discuss whether crowns are suitable to restore the integrity of the tooth. 

To ask about Dental Crowns in Watertown MN please contact us today.

Dental Crowns – Procedure Overview | Watertown MN

Crowns are designed to cover the entire portion of your tooth above the gum line in order to strengthen and protect the remaining tooth structure and to improve its appearance. Following a dental emergency or routine examination, your dentist may recommend that you get a dental crown for any of the following reasons:

  • A fractured tooth 
  • Extensive damage by decay 
  • A weakened tooth due to large filling 
  • Deep tooth stains that affect the aesthetics of your smile 
  • To strengthen and protect a tooth following root canal therapy 
  • To support replacement teeth with bridgework 
  • To replace missing teeth when anchored to dental implants 

If you’re a good candidate for dental crowns, you will require at least two appointments to complete the treatment:

First Visit 

Your dentist will start by administering a local anaesthetic that will numb you for the duration of the procedure. This is necessary to prevent you from feeling any pain when the dentist is preparing your tooth. The process of tooth preparation depends on your specific case, and may involve the removal of any decay and infection and filing down the tooth to maximize the retention of the crown and to ensure a good fit that doesn’t distort your smile. 

After tooth preparation, a mold or impression of the tooth will be made and sent to the lab to fabricate your permanent custom crown. To protect the prepared tooth, a temporary or transition crown will be placed on it. This crown is typically made from plastic material (acrylic), and is held in place using a temporary cementing medium to allow easy removal at your next visit. 

Second Visit 

On your second scheduled visit, which should be in two to three weeks from the first visit, the dentist will remove the temporary crown and clean off the temporary cement from the prepared tooth. The permanent crown will then be fitted and adjusted for any bite variations. The dentist will check for accuracy and assess the aesthetics. If there are no issues, the crown can be cemented to your tooth. 

Same-Day Crowns 

It is possible to get your permanent crown prepared and installed on the same day. The dentist uses a wand scanner to capture pictures of the teeth, transfers the images into a computer, and uses CAD software (computer-aided design) to design a 3D model that can be used to fabricate a replacement ceramic crown in about 15 minutes. 

Caring for Your Dental Crowns 

Dental crowns should last long time with proper care, which includes regular brushing and flossing, not using your teeth as tools to crush ice or bite nails, and regular professional cleaning to keep your mouth healthy.  

To ask about Dental Crowns in Watertown MN please contact us today.

3 Types of Dental Cleanings: Which Is Right for Me? Watertown MN

Your general dentist can provide different types of dental cleanings depending on your unique dental needs. The American Dental Association recommends that you get prophylaxis cleanings at least twice a year. Prophylaxis, which is also referred to as “teeth cleaning”, involves the removal of accumulated plaque from your teeth, which cannot be removed by regular brushing at home. 

A good candidate for prophylaxis should have firm, pink gums with no bleeding or gum pockets over 3mm. However, there are various situations that may require you to get a different kind of dental cleaning, such as gum disease, periodontitis, or staying too long between prophylaxis cleanings. Depending on your individual case, your dentist may recommend other types of cleanings such as:

Full Mouth Debridement 

If your teeth have heavy plaque and tartar (calculus) build-up, perhaps because you’ve missed a few prophylaxis cleanings, then your dental professional may recommend full mouth debridement using hand tools and a micro-ultrasonic scaler to clean your teeth and restore the health of your mouth. This procedure is typically performed before an oral examination and diagnosis to ensure good visibility of the actual condition of your mouth.

Scaling and Root Planing 

Commonly referred to as “deep cleaning”, this procedure is recommended for patients who exhibit signs of periodontal disease, such as deeper gum pockets (over 3mm), inflammation and bleeding gums, accumulation of plaque and tartar below the gumline, and/or loss of bone tissue supporting the teeth. This process may require the dental professional to numb the treatment area to avoid sensitivity when scaling and cleaning the roots of your teeth. 

Periodontal Maintenance 

Periodontal disease is chronic and irreversible. So following initial treatment for periodontal disease through scaling and root planing or periodontal surgery, your dental professional may recommend this specialized cleaning every 8 – 12 weeks as part of your ongoing maintenance to reduce the risk of gum disease recurrence. 

Need Dental Cleaning Today?

If you’ve experienced red, tender, bleeding gums, bad breath, or you just want to be proactive about your oral health, then you should contact our office to find out more about your individual dental cleaning in Watertown MN.

Dental Implant Treatment – Common Questions | Watertown MN

What can I expect during dental implant treatment planning?

The qualified dentist will:

1. Physically examine the gap in your mouth where you’re planning to get a dental implant placed.

2. Capture the necessary dental imaging including X-rays, CT scans, and/or panoramic films in order to assess the quality and quantity of jawbone. 

3. Review your medical history for things like infections, allergies, bleeding disorders, existing medical conditions, and medications to ensure that you’re healthy enough to undergo dental surgery and heal and recover properly

4. Carefully plan your dental implant placement procedure

How can you help me relax for the surgical procedure?

During all your surgical procedure appointments, the dental surgeon will administer a local anesthetic to numb the surgical site, as well as any sedatives that you may require to calm your anxiety and make you comfortable. 

Is bone grafting necessary?

If the site has sufficient bone tissue after tooth extraction, the implant may be placed immediately without bone grafting. But if there’re signs of bone loss, the dentist may place a cadaver or synthetic bone at the site in order to build up the bone tissue and achieve a solid base to support the implant. This process is referred to as alveolar bone grafting, and takes 2-6 months to heal before you can proceed with implant placement. 

Can implants be placed in the upper jaw?

Though there is insufficient bone tissue in the upper jaw, especially in the back where the maxillary sinus is located, dental implants can still be successfully placed after building up the bone tissue with sinus augmentation or sinus lift procedure. 

How safe are dental implants?

First, you should note that dental implant placement has been used in dentistry since the 1950s. Second, implants tend to be very successful with a success rate of 98%, and are even considered the standard of care for replacing missing teeth.

For more information on dental implants in Watertown MN and to find out the cost of your individual treatment, please contact us today.

Dental Crown Types, Procedure, When It’s Done | Watertown MN

A dental crown or tooth cap is a long-term restoration that provides a permanent solution for both restorative and cosmetic dental problems. Dentists particularly recommend them for large cavities, either as the only restoration, or to complement large unstable dental fillings or root canal therapy.  

Crowns for Cavities 

Dental fillings are the most common restoration for cavities. But if the cavity is too large, it may result in a weak filling with no durability. In such a case, your dentist may recommend that you get a crown instead of fillings to repair the cavity. Crowns can also be used to replace previously placed fillings to strengthen the tooth. 

When you have severe decay that has infected the tooth pulp (section inside the tooth that contains the nerves and blood vessels), the condition is considered irreparable and you may end up losing the tooth. However, it is possible to save the tooth through root canal therapy, whereby the pulp is removed and replaced with dental filling material. The procedure requires a substantial amount of the natural tooth to be removed in order to thoroughly clean the pulp and completely remove the infection. 

While you retain the original tooth, its structure will have weakened considerably, affecting its normal function. As such, your dentist may recommend that you get a dental crown to encase the restored tooth to strengthen it. The crown also serves an aesthetic function as it covers up the filler material, giving your smile a natural appearance. 

Crowns for Cosmetic Dental Applications 

Cosmetic reasons 

Dental crowns are custom-made to restore the shape, size, and even shade of a damaged tooth if you use a tooth-colored crown. As such, your dentist may recommend crowns to enhance the appearance of imperfect teeth such as:

  • Excessively or unevenly worn down – resulting in very short teeth 
  • Badly shaped teeth 
  • Severely stained teeth 
  • Widely gapped teeth 

Other Applications of Dental Crowns 

Crowns can also be used to repair a chipped, broken, or fractured tooth that is experiencing sensitivity to hot and cold foods and drinks; to support dental bridgework for replacing missing teeth; or to replace a missing tooth with dental implants. 

There are different materials that can be used to fabricate dental crowns. Your dentist will help you choose the best material for your specific need. To learn more about Dental Crowns in Watertown MN please contact us today.

Best Value for Dental Implants in Watertown MN

Dental implants tend to cost a lot more than alternative tooth replacement treatments such as dentures and dental bridgework. This cost can partly be attributed to the requirement of a skilled oral surgeon to perform the procedure, as opposed to a general dentist. As a surgical procedure, it also requires careful planning to eliminate any risks and ensure successful treatment. Moreover, dental implants often require additional procedures such as tooth extraction, bone grafting, sinus augmentation, crown placement, and so on depending on the position of the implant, individual treatment plan, and the patient’s general health. All of these factors add to the final cost of dental implants placement.

Generally, there is a variety in the price range for a single dental implant. This amount is distributed across service costs, cost of all components involved in the procedure, and the cost of the replacement crown. 

A costly dental implant procedure may involve the following steps:

  • Tooth or teeth removal – to remove any tooth fragments during site preparation. 
  • Bone grafting – If the implant site has signs of bone loss after tooth extraction, your oral surgeon may recommend bone grafting to build up the bone tissue and achieve a solid base to support the implant. Bone grafting in the upper jaw is known as sinus augmentation or sinus lift 
  • Titanium Implant placement – A titanium post will be inserted into the jaw bone using a special drill and tools, and a “healing cap” placed over the implant before stitching up the gum. 
  • A temporary denture will be placed at the site for aesthetic purposes during healing 
  • Abutment placement – It is connected to the implant using a screw
  • Crown fabrication – Impression of the abutment will be obtained and sent to a dental lab to fabricate your custom crown. 
  • Tooth replacement – When the crown is ready, it will be secured to the abutment by cementing or with a screw. 

How Much Will the Insurance Pay?

In the cost breakdown above, dental insurance providers only accept to pay for the replacement crown. This is because dental implants are considered an elective procedure by most dental insurance providers, even though it has become a standard of care for tooth replacement. 

For more information on dental implants in Watertown MN and to find out the cost of your individual treatment, please contact us today.

Dental Cleanings & Checkup in Watertown MN

At your six-month dental checkup, your dentist should perform dental cleaning as a preventive procedure to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Professional teeth cleaning is necessary to remove accumulated plaque and tartar from in between your teeth and gums, which may be responsible for various oral issues such as cavities, gum disease, bad breath, oral cancer, and so on. 

During your routine dental visit, which should be every 6 – 12 months, your dental hygienist will first examine your teeth before cleaning them. The examination involves physical assessment of your teeth, gums, tongue, and the entire mouth for any concerns using a small mirror. If there are any noticeable problems, the dental hygienist will consult the dentist to determine whether it’s safe to proceed with the cleaning. But in some cases, it may be necessary to first clean your teeth and then perform the examination in order to obtain an accurate diagnosis. Your dental professional will determine the right sequence for your specific case.

What to Expect

Routine dental cleaning takes about 30 minutes depending on how long it has been since your last cleaning. This is because plaque will continuously calcify and mineralize on the surface of your teeth to form tartar. During this time, the dental hygienist will:

  • Use a scaler to remove plaque and tartar from the surface of individual teeth, between the teeth, and around the gum line. 
  • Polish the teeth using a high-powered brush with a soft rubber cup. This not only removes any surface stains, but also makes your tooth surface smooth and shiny to make it harder for plaque to form. 
  • Perform professional flossing in order to thoroughly clean the area between your teeth to remove any leftover plaque and toothpaste from the previous steps. 
  • Rinse your mouth using a solution containing liquid fluoride to remove any debris and clean your mouth. 
  • Apply flavored fluoride by putting it in flexible trays that are then placed over your teeth for 30 seconds. This helps to strengthen your teeth and enhance the protection against plaque and calculus. 

Schedule Your Appointment
While many dental procedures can be dreadful, teeth cleanings are easily tolerated by most people because they’re not only simple and painless, but also an important part of maintaining your long-term oral health. To learn more about what to expect from a routine dental cleaning in Watertown MN, please contact our office today.

Dental Exam & Cleanings in Watertown MN

Dental professionals agree that you should schedule a dental assessment at least once a year. This is an important examination that aids in the early diagnosis of potential oral problems, such as chips and cracks, cavities, gum disease, and even oral cancer. Besides evaluating your dental health, dentists also perform professional teeth cleaning to remove plaque and calculus or tartar, which are responsible for most common oral problems. 

A dental cleaning is typically performed by a dental hygienist. But before the cleaning commences, they will first physically check your teeth, gums, tongue, and the entire mouth for any concerns using a small mirror. If there are any noticeable problems, the dental hygienist will consult the dentist to determine whether it’s safe to proceed with the cleaning. 

A typical professional teeth cleaning procedure involves the following five steps:

Step 1: Plaque and Tartar Removal 

Your dental professional uses a scaler to remove plaque and calculus from the surface of each tooth, targeting the area above the gums, between the teeth, and around the gum line. The duration of this step depends on how long it has been since your last cleaning. 

Step 2: Polishing  

When all the plaque and tartar has been removed from your teeth, the hygienist will use a special brush with a soft rubber cup. This not only removes any surface stains, but also makes your tooth surface smooth and shiny to make it harder for plaque to form. 

Step 3: Expert Flossing 

Professional flossing helps to thoroughly clean the area between your teeth to remove any leftover plaque and toothpaste from the previous steps. 

Step 4: Rinsing 

The dental hygienist uses a mouth rinse containing liquid fluoride to remove any debris and clean your mouth. 

Step 5: Fluoride Treatment 

As the final step, your dental hygienist may apply flavored fluoride by putting it in flexible trays that are then placed over your teeth for 30 seconds. This helps to strengthen your teeth and enhance the protection against plaque and calculus. 

Keep in mind that this is the standard dental cleaning process. If you have gum disease, your dental hygienist may recommend deep scaling to remove plaque from your tooth roots as well. To learn more about what to expect from a routine dental exam & cleaning in Watertown MN, please contact your dental office today. 

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

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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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