Are you dealing with the daily frustration of a toothache that won’t quit? Maybe you’re hiding your smile because of a chipped or missing tooth. Or perhaps you’ve been struggling with mysterious jaw pain or gums that are often tender and bleed.
If any of this sounds familiar, you should know that you don’t have to just live with it. Our Lexington dental office is here to help with solutions that are designed to get your smile back.
We offer a wide range of restorative dental treatments for our patients in Lexington, KY. But what exactly is restorative dentistry? It’s simply a fancy term for the treatments that fix problems. Whether it’s a cavity that needs a filling, gum disease that requires deep cleaning, or a missing tooth that calls for an implant, our goal is to restore the health, function, and beauty of your smile.
We believe the best treatment starts with you understanding your options. That’s why we take a comprehensive approach, listening to your concerns and explaining everything in a way that makes sense. To get you started, we’ve assembled answers to some of the most common questions we hear about restorative care.
Restoring Your Smile: Your Questions Answered
1. Does gum disease affect the heart?
This is a really important question, and the answer is yes it can. Think of your gums as a protective barrier. When harmful bacteria build up and cause gum disease, that barrier becomes inflamed and can develop tiny openings. The bacteria can then sneak into your bloodstream and travel throughout your body.
When they reach your heart, they can cause inflammation in your blood vessels. This increases your risk of serious problems like heart disease, stroke, and heart attacks. This is especially crucial for patients who already have heart conditions. Taking great care of your teeth and gums is a key part of protecting your overall health.
2. How do I know if I need dental implants?
Dental implants are amazing because they replace the entire tooth, from the root to the crown. But how do you know if you need one? If you already have a denture or bridge but find it difficult to speak clearly or chew your favorite foods, an implant can provide a much more stable solution.
Other signs include a sunken-in look to your face caused by jawbone deterioration, or frequent infections around a missing tooth. Implants are small, durable posts that act as artificial tooth roots. We can use a single implant to support one crown, or several implants to secure a full bridge or denture. Today’s dental implants will give you a strong and natural-looking smile.
3. Do I need a crown after a root canal?
Most of the time, yes! A root canal does an excellent job of removing the infected, painful nerve from inside your tooth. However, the process can leave the tooth drier and more brittle, like a piece of dead wood. A dental crown is a custom-made cap that fits over the entire tooth.
It does two critical jobs. It protects the weakened tooth from cracking under the pressure of chewing, and it seals the tooth to prevent new bacteria from getting in. While a filling might fix the hole, a crown provides the full-strength protection your tooth needs for the long haul.
4. Why do I have TMJ headaches?
If you get frequent headaches, especially around your temples or the top of your head, your jaw might be the culprit. The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are the hinges that connect your jaw to your skull. When these joints are under stress or aren’t aligned properly, the pain doesn’t always stay in your jaw.
It can radiate out, causing tension headaches and even migraines. You might also feel pain in your cheeks or ears, hear a clicking sound when you chew, or find it hard to open your mouth wide. The good news is that specific TMJ treatments can help relieve this pressure and pain.
5. What’s the difference between a filling and a crown?
This is a great question! Both fix teeth, but they are used for different levels of damage. A filling is like a small patch. It’s used when a cavity is relatively small and there’s still plenty of healthy tooth structure left. The dentist removes the decay and “fills” the hole with a composite resin.
A crown, on the other hand, is like a helmet for your tooth. It’s used when a tooth is extensively decayed, cracked, or has been weakened by a root canal. The crown covers and protects the entire visible portion of the tooth above the gum line.
6. I’m nervous about pain. How do you help with that?
You’re not alone! Dental anxiety is very common, and our top priority is your comfort. We have many ways to help you feel relaxed and pain-free. We always use powerful local anesthetics to completely numb the area we’re working on.
For patients who are especially nervous, we also offer sedation options. This can range from a mild sedative to help you relax to stronger options where you might not even remember the procedure. We’ll always talk to you about your concerns beforehand and create a comfort plan that’s right for you.
Ready to Find Your Solution?
We hope this helps answer some of your initial questions. The best way to know for sure what’s right for your unique smile is to come in for a visit. Don’t let discomfort or uncertainty hold you back from a healthy smile.
Are you ready to explore how we can restore your smile? Schedule your next dental appointment with us online today, or give our friendly team a call. Dr. Morgan Chambers and everyone at our practice are always happy to help and answer any other questions you might have.