Despite the prevalence of helpful oral health information on the internet, root canals remain a source of anxiety or uncertainty for dental patients. As providers of root canal therapy, Amerident Dental helps patients understand the benefits and processes of this treatment. If you have questions about root canal therapy, we encourage you to read on or call our office for more information about this common dental procedure.
Isn’t it Better to Just Pull my Tooth?
If you have a painful tooth infection, it can seem better to just remove the affected tooth altogether to relieve discomfort. But having a missing tooth presents its own unique set of challenges for your oral health. With a gap in your smile, teeth can begin to shift out of place and become misaligned. Missing teeth also reduce essential stimulation needed for bone and soft tissue to remain healthy. Whenever possible, it’s always better to keep your natural teeth.
Can I Get a Second Root Canal?
While it’s not ideal to return for a second root canal procedure, it is possible to do so. In rare cases, when a root canal was completed with a lack of thorough care, bacteria can still remain and cause painful dental symptoms. A second treatment targets these untouched areas and cleans areas of root chambers that were neglected with the first treatment. In this scenario, keeping your tooth is still of the utmost importance.
What if I’m in Pain after my Root Canal?
It’s normal to feel some general discomfort after treatment, but it should by no means be equivalent to the pain from your original tooth infection. If you’re still experiencing shooting pain in the area of your treated tooth and are unable to bite and chew on the side of your mouth that contains the treatment site, call your dentist immediately to see if a second root canal is necessary.
Do I Need a New Crown if I get a Root Canal Retreatment?
After a root canal is completed, your treated tooth is sealed and capped with a dental crown. If you require a second root canal, it may not be necessary to undo all parts of your initial treatment, including the restoration. If the cause for retreatment is bacteria left behind inside your tooth, your crown can remain as-is; a new access point will be made through the crown and sealed after retreatment is finished.
If the cause for re-treatment is an improperly sealed crown, which allowed bacteria to enter inner tooth systems, the crown will need to be removed and re-sealed.
At Amerident Dental, we want our patients to know that root canals are nothing to be afraid of. We encourage to you call our office or make an appointment today to learn more about root canal therapy.
Friday, March 3, 2017
Friday, June 24, 2016
Dentures and Dental Implants
If you have broken, missing, decayed, or otherwise damaged teeth, you’ve probably considered dentures, which are removable devices that replace teeth, making it easier for you to eat and which aesthetically improve your smile. However, some people don’t like the feel of full or partial dentures, as they can become loose, block the palate, or provide insufficient dental function. If you’ve tried dentures and aren’t comfortable with how they feel, dentures that snap over dental implants may be the perfect solution.
How they Work
Snap on dentures, or overdentures, are palateless and stay in place by attaching to four or five or implant posts. For this reason, you must have implants placed before you can enjoy the benefits of fixed dentures. The team at our office can determine whether you qualify for implant dentistry. Snap on dentures are available for both upper and lower arches of teeth and are removable, like traditional dentures, so they can be stored and cleaned effectively, but are securely held in place during the day with stable dental implants, improving comfort and oral function.
Benefits
The palette of traditional dentures can cause a feeling of discomfort and trigger a gag reflex for sensitive patients. Full dentures that cover the roof of your mouth can also make swallowing and speaking a challenge. Keeping dentures in place is its own battle, no matter what kind of adhesive you use, as speaking, eating, or simply moving your mouth can loosen your dentures, which can cause rubbing on soft tissue or the embarrassment of slipping teeth.
Snap on dentures with dental implants solve many of these problems as your prosthetics will be fixed in place. Your dentures won’t slip out or fail, even when you’re eating and speaking.
Learning More about Implant Overdentures
If you’re uncomfortable with your current dentures or looking for a way to enhance your smile without the frustrations of loose and failing teeth replacements, implant dentures present an ideal solution. At our Dracut office, we can help you make positive choices about your dental health by providing you with options and education, including implant dentistry and fixed denture solutions. Contact or visit us today to learn how to improve your smile and quality of life.
How they Work
Snap on dentures, or overdentures, are palateless and stay in place by attaching to four or five or implant posts. For this reason, you must have implants placed before you can enjoy the benefits of fixed dentures. The team at our office can determine whether you qualify for implant dentistry. Snap on dentures are available for both upper and lower arches of teeth and are removable, like traditional dentures, so they can be stored and cleaned effectively, but are securely held in place during the day with stable dental implants, improving comfort and oral function.
Benefits
The palette of traditional dentures can cause a feeling of discomfort and trigger a gag reflex for sensitive patients. Full dentures that cover the roof of your mouth can also make swallowing and speaking a challenge. Keeping dentures in place is its own battle, no matter what kind of adhesive you use, as speaking, eating, or simply moving your mouth can loosen your dentures, which can cause rubbing on soft tissue or the embarrassment of slipping teeth.
Snap on dentures with dental implants solve many of these problems as your prosthetics will be fixed in place. Your dentures won’t slip out or fail, even when you’re eating and speaking.
Learning More about Implant Overdentures
If you’re uncomfortable with your current dentures or looking for a way to enhance your smile without the frustrations of loose and failing teeth replacements, implant dentures present an ideal solution. At our Dracut office, we can help you make positive choices about your dental health by providing you with options and education, including implant dentistry and fixed denture solutions. Contact or visit us today to learn how to improve your smile and quality of life.
Thursday, June 9, 2016
What Does my Dental Insurance Cover?
Our dental office treats a range of oral health concerns, from cosmetically flawed teeth to advanced tooth decay. With each procedure, it’s common for patients to wonder what their options are to ensure best results and what their insurance offers for coverage of those treatment options.
While this is a question with a range of answers – every dental insurance can differ -- there are some general things to keep in mind with most insurance plans that can help you better understand what you can expect from your treatment plan.
Elected Procedures May Come with Minimal to No Coverage – Treatments that serve purely cosmetic benefit and are patient-elected, such as teeth whitening and veneers, may not be covered under most treatment plans. However, there may be some wiggle room for aesthetically-appealing materials on necessary procedures, such as all porcelain dental crowns and bridges.
Prevention is Covered and is Key – This may be a common sense standard that you’ve heard before, but it’s certainly true. Many common dental problems that would later require cosmetic and functional restoration, such as decayed or stained teeth, can be avoided with frequent dental visits. With routine dental care, our team can prevent serious damage to teeth and ensure that your smile is fresh and bright. In most dental plans, twice yearly cleanings and dental X-rays are covered. If you keep up with these important preventive visits, the likelihood that you will need to plan for or seek funding for advanced dental restorations can be minimized.
Modern, Aesthetic Treatments May Be Included – Be sure to read over the fine details of your dental plan to find any hidden gems regarding covered treatments. In some cases, whitening may be included or in the event that you need a cavity filled – one of the most common treatments patients receive – tooth-colored, composite restorations may also be a covered option.
Waiting Periods for New Insurance Plans – Many plans include a stipulation that patients must wait for a set period of months before taking advantage of coverage for more comprehensive restorations or complex treatments, such as dental bridges and orthodontics. If you just started with a new insurance plan or switched plans benefit from better coverage, be sure to check whether any waiting period applies to your desired treatment.
Working with your Insurance and Amerident Dental
In any treatment where you have questions about what benefit you can receive from your dental plan, it’s always wise to call your insurance provider directly to clarify what is possible. If you have questions about your treatment pan, our Dracut, MA dental team can help you make the most of your available benefits and submits claims to your insurance on your behalf. For assistance regarding your treatment plan and insurance benefits, contact our office for an in-depth consultation.
While this is a question with a range of answers – every dental insurance can differ -- there are some general things to keep in mind with most insurance plans that can help you better understand what you can expect from your treatment plan.
Elected Procedures May Come with Minimal to No Coverage – Treatments that serve purely cosmetic benefit and are patient-elected, such as teeth whitening and veneers, may not be covered under most treatment plans. However, there may be some wiggle room for aesthetically-appealing materials on necessary procedures, such as all porcelain dental crowns and bridges.
Prevention is Covered and is Key – This may be a common sense standard that you’ve heard before, but it’s certainly true. Many common dental problems that would later require cosmetic and functional restoration, such as decayed or stained teeth, can be avoided with frequent dental visits. With routine dental care, our team can prevent serious damage to teeth and ensure that your smile is fresh and bright. In most dental plans, twice yearly cleanings and dental X-rays are covered. If you keep up with these important preventive visits, the likelihood that you will need to plan for or seek funding for advanced dental restorations can be minimized.
Modern, Aesthetic Treatments May Be Included – Be sure to read over the fine details of your dental plan to find any hidden gems regarding covered treatments. In some cases, whitening may be included or in the event that you need a cavity filled – one of the most common treatments patients receive – tooth-colored, composite restorations may also be a covered option.
Waiting Periods for New Insurance Plans – Many plans include a stipulation that patients must wait for a set period of months before taking advantage of coverage for more comprehensive restorations or complex treatments, such as dental bridges and orthodontics. If you just started with a new insurance plan or switched plans benefit from better coverage, be sure to check whether any waiting period applies to your desired treatment.
Working with your Insurance and Amerident Dental
In any treatment where you have questions about what benefit you can receive from your dental plan, it’s always wise to call your insurance provider directly to clarify what is possible. If you have questions about your treatment pan, our Dracut, MA dental team can help you make the most of your available benefits and submits claims to your insurance on your behalf. For assistance regarding your treatment plan and insurance benefits, contact our office for an in-depth consultation.
Thursday, May 26, 2016
How Long Does it Take to Restore a Smile?
Every patient seeking comprehensive smile restoration is interested to know how quickly they can see results. For patients with generally healthy mouths, this process can be a bit shorter, but successful treatment still requires careful planning and occasionally working with outside specialists and/or dental labs. At Amerident Dental, we support positive experiences by explaining to patients what is involved in their treatment plans and how long each facet will take, considering any of the following:
Addressing Pre-Existing Dental Health Concerns: Placing a restoration on teeth that are not properly supported due to poor soft tissue health won’t provide best aesthetics or lasting results. Other issues such as poor bone health or teeth grinding caused by TMJ disorder can also impact the success of your final treatment, which is why it’s so important to address these issues first.
Before placing restorations, deep cleaning to target gum disease or night guards to protect against grinding may need to be provided. For patients interested in dental implants, restoring depleted bone quality with a graft helps ensure the durability of new teeth. It’s difficult to say with certainty how long any of these processes will take – while deep cleanings and bone grafts are done in one or two appointments, the recovery processes for either treatment can take several weeks.
Planning your Treatment: After initial problems are corrected and the proper foundation of health for your new smile has been established, laying out plans for your treatment can begin. This phase typically includes taking impressions and X-rays and completing a full mouth exam, all of which can be accomplished in one or two dental appointments. After our dentist has confirmed which teeth require what types of restorations, we can go over a suggested treatment plan with patients, explaining outcomes, expectations, and recommendations.
Fabrication of Prosthesis: Restorations or replacements for teeth, such as crowns, bridges, veneers, and dentures, are fabricated a dental lab, where they are made with recommended materials to help your smile look as natural as possible. Depending on the kind and quantity of prosthesis you are receiving form a dental lab, complete turn-around time for submitting impressions and receiving permanent restorations can be about two weeks.
Final Fittings: Once prosthetics are complete, you’ll return to our dental office where we will ensure that they fit properly, help balance your bite, and are the appropriate shade for the rest of your teeth. If any adjustments need to be made, we can take care of that on the spot. Adjustments and final bonding in place can typically be completed in one to two office visits.
Invest in your Health and Wellness
The truth is that there are no shortcuts for achieving a beautiful, healthy, and completely restored smile; each patients’ expected treatment times will vary. If you have questions about how long your desired treatment plan will take, call our Dracut dental office for a consultation. Investing in your smile with comprehensive care is always worth the time!
Addressing Pre-Existing Dental Health Concerns: Placing a restoration on teeth that are not properly supported due to poor soft tissue health won’t provide best aesthetics or lasting results. Other issues such as poor bone health or teeth grinding caused by TMJ disorder can also impact the success of your final treatment, which is why it’s so important to address these issues first.
Before placing restorations, deep cleaning to target gum disease or night guards to protect against grinding may need to be provided. For patients interested in dental implants, restoring depleted bone quality with a graft helps ensure the durability of new teeth. It’s difficult to say with certainty how long any of these processes will take – while deep cleanings and bone grafts are done in one or two appointments, the recovery processes for either treatment can take several weeks.
Planning your Treatment: After initial problems are corrected and the proper foundation of health for your new smile has been established, laying out plans for your treatment can begin. This phase typically includes taking impressions and X-rays and completing a full mouth exam, all of which can be accomplished in one or two dental appointments. After our dentist has confirmed which teeth require what types of restorations, we can go over a suggested treatment plan with patients, explaining outcomes, expectations, and recommendations.
Fabrication of Prosthesis: Restorations or replacements for teeth, such as crowns, bridges, veneers, and dentures, are fabricated a dental lab, where they are made with recommended materials to help your smile look as natural as possible. Depending on the kind and quantity of prosthesis you are receiving form a dental lab, complete turn-around time for submitting impressions and receiving permanent restorations can be about two weeks.
Final Fittings: Once prosthetics are complete, you’ll return to our dental office where we will ensure that they fit properly, help balance your bite, and are the appropriate shade for the rest of your teeth. If any adjustments need to be made, we can take care of that on the spot. Adjustments and final bonding in place can typically be completed in one to two office visits.
Invest in your Health and Wellness
The truth is that there are no shortcuts for achieving a beautiful, healthy, and completely restored smile; each patients’ expected treatment times will vary. If you have questions about how long your desired treatment plan will take, call our Dracut dental office for a consultation. Investing in your smile with comprehensive care is always worth the time!
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Welcome to our Blog
Hello and welcome! We're excited to announce the official launch of our Amerident Dental blog. We'll be posting helpful dental tips, news from the dental industry, news from our practice, and more about the latest in dentistry.
We built our practice on the notion that we're there for our patients when they need us, and we want our online presence to be a reflection of that principle. We hope this blog provides an extra level of service to our current and future patients.
If you would like to stay up to date on the latest from Amerident Dental, simply click the RSS “Subscribe to feed” link located on our website and subscribe. Our subscribers will be updated when we make a new blog post.
Here's to your best oral health ever!
We built our practice on the notion that we're there for our patients when they need us, and we want our online presence to be a reflection of that principle. We hope this blog provides an extra level of service to our current and future patients.
If you would like to stay up to date on the latest from Amerident Dental, simply click the RSS “Subscribe to feed” link located on our website and subscribe. Our subscribers will be updated when we make a new blog post.
Here's to your best oral health ever!
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