The most common includes tooth sensitivity, which typically doesn’t require a dentist’s attention unless it gets worse. Other problems include an easy fix such as a filling that doesn’t fit properly, exposed to another kind of filling material or produced from a material the patient is allergic to. With these problems, your family dentist can easily repair or replace the filling. But, if the tooth pain occurs because of continuing decay, then it’s more serious. The dentist might try to remove the remaining decay or perform a root canal.

The normal pain after a filling a cavity is more similar to tooth sensitivity than to severe dental pain. The tooth might become sensitive to temperatures – hot or cold. The patient might experience tenderness when speaking or biting down. Normally, this sensitivity will decrease with time but if it doesn’t decrease or even becomes more of a problem, the patient should see the dentist right away.

If the problem is because the patient is allergic to the material used as the filling, the dentist will have to refill the teeth. The most common dental filling materials used are porcelain, gold, a silver mix consisting of silver, mercury, zinc, tin, and copper, and composite resin, which are tooth-colored plastic and glass materials. A family dentist that also works in cosmetic dentistry will also be able to help you create a natural smile with the correct type of fillings.

However, the most urgent causes of tooth pain after filling a cavity is leftover tooth decay or an infection. A dentist removes the decay before filling a tooth, but sometimes some decay is left behind. Also, there are times when the decay is too close to the tooth pulp. When either of these situations happens, the decay can continue to spread under the filling and cause the tooth to hurt or even cause an infection. The dentist might be able to correct the problem or he might need to perform a root canal and remove the tooth nerve.

Getting a cavity filled is normally an easy process for both the dentist and the patient but you still need to be aware of how the tooth feels in case there is an underlying problem. If you need a cavity filled or other dental treatments such as teeth whitening, crowns or veneers, contact Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa. We are a Plymouth family dentistry that offers dental treatments from restorative care to cosmetic dentistry. Check us out online!

The news written articles stating the dangers of amalgam fillings but many have been proven to be false in numerous scientific studies. Nevertheless, composite fillings certainly are more attractive. Many people don’t realize that your family dentist can replace your silver fillings with white fillings to get rid of all that metal in your mouth – making your open-mouth smiles more attractive.

So what are the pros and cons between the silver and white fillings?
No one would argue that composite or the white fillings are more attractive. These fillings are affordable, and they tend to strengthen a tooth that has been weakened by decay. On negative side, they usually don’t last as long as amalgam fillings, the actual procedure to fill the tooth may take a little longer and, some dental insurance companies don’t want to change their ways and may not cover them.

On the other hand, amalgam or the silver colored fillings have a longer life, are definitely less attractive and tend to expand with age, causing the tooth to weaken and sometimes crack. These fillings have and still cause a bit of controversy on the health risks. Some dentist will not use this type of filling because some of concerns are valid, particularly for people who have other conditions such as pregnancy, mercury sensitivity, and kidney dysfunction or for children who need to have teeth filled.

The best person to ask about your silver fillings is your family doctor. At Wayzata Dental and SmileSpa, we are up on the latest research and practice modern dentistry. Come speak to us! You can visit us online or make an appointment. We not only specialize in giving you that perfect smile but also making sure you are healthy.

Dentists, like any other doctor, will see patients with emergencies and often leave room in their schedules to accommodate these impromptu events. It is important to see a dentist as soon as possible if you are experiencing any pain or feel that you may lose your tooth or teeth.

Different Types of Emergencies
• A tooth can become cracked or broken while eating or due to a sports injury, fall or a traffic accident. Teeth are knocked out in the same ways. Severe pain may also be caused by an infection or decay. You should go to the dentist when a tooth is cracked or broken. Pain may become unbearable.

But sports injuries can be avoided by wearing a mouth guard. Other things like chewing ice, candy and other hard items can break teeth too. If you have the habit of opening things with your teeth – stop. Use scissors instead!

• You should also visit the dentist when you suddenly have the onset of a fever (plus experiencing teeth pain). You may have an abscess tooth. Without seeking medical attention, the infection can spread to other parts of the head and neck and cause serious health problems. In rare cases it can even become life threatening.

• See your dentist right away if you lost a filling or crown. Even if you don’t have any symptoms, the tooth has lost its support and could easily become damaged. Pieces could break off, and you may need more extensive treatment. If you wait too long to see your family dentist, there is a high probability that your dentist will not be able to repair it easily.

Everyone has different pain levels. But the rule of thumb is that if you are experiencing pain in your teeth, seek the help of your family dentist . . . he or she can – and wants – to help you.

The latest technology involves a bonding process that effectively integrates the tooth and the restoration to form a single entity. Once completed, it can often be very difficult to find where the restoration had been made. This technology is slower, more expensive and requires precise technical skills of the dentist. This is one of the reasons why many dentists leave the process to a cosmetic dentist.

Where dental bonding is making big inroads is in the area of minimally invasive cosmetic restorations. Ultra-thin porcelain veneers can now be bonded to teeth without damaging the teeth in any way. In the past, veneers could only be applied after grinding back some of the tooth’s surface. This permanently damaged the tooth and meant that, once applied, the tooth always required a veneer. Ultra-thin porcelain veneers can be removed if necessary and the tooth will remain 100% intact.

Dental bonding has a lot of advantages over dental cementation. If you have the option of having a tooth restored using a bonding process, then go with it if the cost is within your budget. While dental cementation may be a little cheaper, the fact you may have to repeat the process every five or six years makes the bonding process more economical long term.

A regular dental check-up and cleaning of your teeth can help to prevent many of those problems from occurring. During a check-up, your dentist will examine each tooth for any evidence of decay, and if any is found, arrange to have that decay removed and the tooth filled, if appropriate. Your dentist will also examine your gums to determine if there is any gum disease present.

Part of this examination is a thorough professional cleaning of your teeth. Cleaning your teeth using professional equipment serves several purposes. First, by removing any buildup of tartar, your dentist can determine if there are any problems developing, especially at the gum line. Cleaning, of course, also helps to prevent problems occurring into the future.

If you have a history of tobacco use, your dentist may also perform an oral cancer screening. While this won’t definitively discover cancerous areas, it will discover areas that should be further investigated for cancer.

A simple six month dental check-up is an important part of your overall health maintenance. Your mouth is where food passes through to your digestive system – poor dental health can result in large numbers of bacteria traveling with that food into your gut causing any number of problems. If you haven’t had a dental check-up in the last six months, perhaps it’s time you organized one.

CEREC, or CEramic REConstruction, is a chair-side dental procedure that can be used to replace fillings, create wafer thin veneers, or to produce perfect crowns. Because the procedure can be completed in one sitting, the patient can save a lot of time and inconvenience.

The technology, while complex in design, is simple in concept. The dentist prepares the tooth for the procedure and uses a special 3D camera to create a digital image of the tooth. The dentist then uses special software to fine tune the image before sending it to a special milling machine that produces the finished product. That milling machine is able to sculpt a crown or veneer, for example, to the finest detail, making for a perfect fit.

Once the dentist is happy with the end product, it is permanently fixed in place. While that process sounds time consuming, it generally isn’t – the total time required is far less than the normal two visits required for standard veneers or crown. The end result is perfect, and as a patient, you’re safe in the knowledge that the crown or veneer has been created for your tooth and your mouth. CEREC technology saves time for you and for your dentist.

You first teeth serve a number of purposes. Obviously, they are important when it comes to eating. In the bigger picture, those first teeth break the way for the adult teeth that come late. Each adult tooth develops immediately below a first tooth. As it develops it follows the path that was laid by the first tooth, and as it does so, it slowly pushes that first tooth out.

If that first tooth is removed too early, then the permanent adult tooth is left to fend for itself. It could develop on an angle or with a slight twist. The gap left by that missing tooth may cause other teeth to move as well. This can leave a young adult with a mouthful of crooked teeth and requiring more expensive treatment if they wish to have those teeth straightened – and this can be the result of just losing one tooth.

In cases where a tooth has some decay, it is important to remove that decay as soon as possible. This means it will have less of an impact on that tooth, and just as importantly, less of an impact on any of the surrounding teeth. By restoring that young tooth, the dentist can also spend time with your child explaining the need for a good dental health regime, and why it’s important to maintain those ‘baby’ teeth. You should take note as well since your guidance is what will determine how good your child’s adult teeth will be.

The most common procedure today is cleaning and descaling. That stands to reason since, with a good oral hygiene practice at home, cleaning and descaling helps to keep the teeth in top condition. That means that fillings and extractions are required less often.

Other procedures that are popular include teeth whitening, teeth straightening, and the use of veneers to renew a tooth’s look. Whitening is a very common request. Our lives are not kind to teeth when it comes to things like smoking and coffee. Over time teeth start to take on a real yellow color, despite regular brushing and the use of toothpastes designed to keep teeth white.

The role of today’s dental professional is more one of prevention rather than restoration. Cosmetic procedures have been popular for several years, but still not used as frequently as a good basic clean. So when should you have your teeth cleaned and descaled? Every six months – generally the same time you have your teeth checked for any problems.

We’re well into the new year. Have you arranged your next dental checkup and cleaning? Most people forget about their six monthly appointments, yet by keeping them they will reduce the number of fillings or extractions required.

Trust – one of the most important aspects of the dental profession that dentists now work on is developing a sense of trust between the child and the dentist. Rather than fearing a visit to a dentist, they want to reverse that to the point that a trip to the dentist is no different to a trip to the hairdresser. Children will then visit more often for cleaning and routine checkups.

Education – once a dentist has the trust of a child they are more likely to listen to them. Education is an important aspect of dentistry and focuses on teaching a child good dental hygiene practices. If a child is taught how to look after their teeth, and why, they are more likely to follow those practices, thus ensuring good strong healthy teeth.

Prevention – the final aspect of a dentist’s involvement with children is the prevention of decay and the maintenance of good teeth. This involves regular examinations, cleaning, and fluoride treatment. Where necessary, cosmetic changes such as tooth straightening can also help. While cosmetic in name, these changes help to improve the overall function and health of the teeth long term.

That may sound fairly simple, and it is to a certain extent. If parents support their dentists by reinforcing those three aspects, then our children will grow up with good strong healthy teeth that rarely need filling, extracting, crowns, or bridges. If these services are not required, then the cost of dental health insurance will surely fall – everyone wins, and overall, we would have a much healthier society. We can only do it one child at a time – but we need your help. Children’s dental health - it’s a lifetime investment for everyone.

Dentists do have a vested interest in this argument, but it’s not as altruistic and some may think. There are several medical and social reasons in favor of filling a child’s primary teeth. On the medical side, if decay is found then removing that decay is obviously in the best interests of the tooth, even it will fall out at around 11 or 12. Decay can lead to further problems if not treated, including severe pain.

On the social side, children are exposed to the more serious side of dentistry. Drills and needles are no fun, but then neither is pulling a badly decayed tooth out. The social side of dentistry is problematic and really does depend on the approach taken by dentists. If they are gentle and treat the child as an individual then the end result is often very positive. This makes continued dental treatment into adult life much easier – it is hard to work with a patient who is terrified of your every move.

Just as importantly, children with white, clean teeth will smile more and generally happier. Children with decay will often hide their teeth, and their smile, and become more withdrawn. Add pain to the picture and they become miserable as well.

Dentists generally take the minimalist approach; that is, we do as little as possible when it comes to children’s teeth – but that doesn’t mean doing nothing at all. Should children’s primary teeth be filled? It depends on the circumstances since every child is different.