Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Best Tooth Paste for Gums

Do you have bleeding gums, gingivitis or periodontal (gum) disease?  These are the best tooth pastes on the market for you!


Wednesday, May 1, 2019

I Was Told My Tooth is Cracked. What Now?

Cracked teeth are fairly common and most often fixable.  Some teeth have been in your mouth since you were 6 years old and have been through some wear and tear.

Most common causes of a cracked tooth:

  • Clenching and Grinding
  • Large silver fillings
  • Older fillings
  • Root canalled teeth
How do I know if I have a cracked tooth?
  • You or your dental professional can see it.  At our office we will take a photograph of the crack, so you can see what we see.
  • You have off and on biting sensitivity. 
  • Sensitivity to hot and/or cold
  • Gum swelling
  • A "line" of stain 
How is a cracked tooth treated?
  • If a crack is superficial (simple) and not causing any pain, removing the crack and placing a filling can be done.
  • If a crack is large (complex) and symptomatic, the best treatment is a crown.  A crown is placed over the top of the tooth to prevent the crack from spreading and progressing.  Eating and drinking will cause flexure of the tooth.  A crown prevents that flexure, keeping that crack right where it is.
What happens if I leave a crack and do nothing?
  • Much like a crack on the sidewalk it will spread.  The larger the crack the more symptoms and pain you can have, as the crack gets closer to the nerve.
  • The crack can cause the tooth to split in two.  Often this will result in needed the tooth extracted.