Family Dentistry of Columbus
Dental Care Tips
The first step in proper dental care is to brush your teeth twice a day (morning and night) for at least 2 minutes. Using a battery-powered toothbrush is much more effective than a regular toothbrush and takes all the work out of brushing. Using mouthwash after brushing will help freshen your breath and kill the bacteria that can cause bad breath. Use a toothbrush that has a soft brush and round bristles. This type of toothbrush will clean more effectively. Hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and work along the gum line using short, gentle strokes.
Dental bridges, like implants and partial dentures, are used to replace missing teeth. There are several types of fixed dental bridges, including conventional fixed bridges, cantilever bridges and resin-bonded bridges. Typically, conventional and cantilever bridges require shaping of the teeth surrounding a missing tooth. Crowns are then placed on the shaped teeth and attached to an artificial tooth. A resin-bonded bridge requires less preparation of adjacent teeth. It is often used to replace front teeth, provided that the gums are healthy and the surrounding teeth do not have extensive dental fillings.
Root canal therapy may be recommended for a tooth that may be damaged by deep decay, a large filling, fracture or trauma due to a direct physical blow or heavy bite. Regardless of the initial cause, the nerve of the tooth becomes infected or abscessed, causing pressure and pain. In some teeth, deterioration and death of the pulp happens gradually, so little discomfort is felt. In either case, root canal therapy is required to remove the infected nerve tissue, relieve pain and ultimately save the tooth.
Root canal therapy usually requires multiple visits. Initially, it is important to remove the decay or old filling and access the nerve chamber to clean out the infected pulp tissue. Medicine is placed in the tooth, and it is temporarily sealed for immediate pain relief. Antibiotics are prescribed to help control the infection. Once the tooth is free of infection, special instruments are used to remove all of the nerve tissue and to properly clean and shape the canals. The canals are then sealed to prevent bacteria from reentering the tooth. In this way, root canal therapy is completed with minimal discomfort to the patient.
A tooth that has undergone root canal therapy becomes brittle over time. Therefore, a crown is recommended to protect the tooth from further fracture. At this office, we take every step possible to avoid extraction of a tooth, and root canal therapy is an excellent option to relieve pain and infection and save your natural tooth.
Restorative therapy is the process by which we use a tooth-colored material, called a composite filling, to restore the tooth’s natural beauty. Composite fillings are matched closely to your natural tooth color so that the ability for your friends and family to tell the difference between a restored tooth and a non-restored tooth is virtually impossible. Composites are excellent options for front teeth as well as the back teeth. Composites have been proven to be extremely durable, aesthetically pleasing and mercury free.
Crowns take the place of natural tooth structure if the tooth has a large deteriorating old filling or is fractured or chipped. A crown, also known as a cap, helps to improve the function of an otherwise structurally unsound tooth. Crowns strengthen and protect the remaining tooth structure and can improve the appearance of your teeth as well. Crowns are also used to improve the appearance of natural teeth that are malformed, malpositioned or discolored. Here at Family Dentistry of Columbus, we can use full porcelain crowns, which tend to be more cosmetically aesthetic and functionally durable.
Dental implants replicate the natural function and appearance of your lost teeth. Historically, dentures or bridge restorations would be used as replacements but with limited results. Dental implants, however, are natural-looking replacements for missing teeth that also provide the same function as your natural tooth root. They have also been used to anchor these other types of restorations for greater success and patient satisfaction.
A dental implant is a small, sturdy, titanium post that acts as the root structure would for a natural tooth. A dental implant is placed into your upper or lower jaw bone. After the bone has grown around the implant, implants can hold a crown, bridge or over-denture just like roots hold natural teeth in place. Implants are very durable and can last a lifetime. They require the same maintenance as natural teeth; this includes brushing, flossing and regular dental check-ups.
A single tooth or a full arch of teeth that have been lost due to injury or disease can be replaced with dental implants. Titanium metal is used because of its compatibility with bone and oral tissues.