Know more about Lumineers

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YOUR MINNEAPOLIS DENTIST OFFERS LUMINEERS TO HELP YOU IMPROVE THE APPEARANCE OF YOUR SMILE

Cosmetic dentistry has come a long way and is continually improving day by day. One of its forward-thinking innovations is the teeth lumineers. To help you get acquainted with this dental service, your Minneapolis Dentist shares what you need to know about lumineers:

What are lumineers?
Lumineers are ultra-thin veneers placed over your teeth. Unlike conventional veneers, there is no shaving or grinding down of the original teeth structures. Since lumineers can be placed without drilling, it is then a reversible procedure, causing no damage or alterations to your teeth. The procedure is pain-free, and the patients will not feel any post-procedure discomfort.

How much does a lumineer cost?
Lumineers are priced a little bit more than regular veneers. Since this is considered as a cosmetic procedure, lumineers may not be covered by your insurance. It is also advisable to discuss the cost of a lumineer procedure with your dentist to work out a payment plan.

How does the Lumineer procedure work?

Unlike the traditional veneer which takes about two weeks to complete, a lumineer procedure only takes two visits to the dentist.

1st visit: The dentist will take an accurate impression of your teeth and some photos to ensure the most precise and perfect fit for you. The dental impression will then be sent to a lumineer laboratory; this is where your customized lumineers will be created. After the dentist received the customized lumineers, he will check them to ensure quality and condition.

2nd visit: The second visit is the time when the lumineers are placed and bonded on your teeth. This takes about an hour.

So, if you’re thinking of getting the perfect smile, visit your Minneapolis dentist for an assessment and other options.

Should the children use fluoride toothpaste?

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ST. PAUL DENTIST DISCUSS THE USE OF FLUORIDE FOR CHILDREN

The safety of toothpaste is one of the top concerns of parents. Whether fluorinated or not, it is important to establish a good oral habit of brushing teeth at an early stage.

American Dental Association (ADA) recommends the use of fluoridated toothpaste for all children regardless of age. However, there are certain levels of fluoride appropriation for different ages.

For maximum protection from cavities, the fluoride toothpaste best for children should contain at least 1000 parts per million (ppm) of fluoride. This is indicated on the toothpaste’s packaging. Fluoride is the very ingredient in toothpaste responsible for cavity-fighting protection. It also helps protect against plaque build-up.

Toothpaste with fluoride is safe for younger children given that close supervision by an adult is present. The key here is that parents should do the dispensing of toothpaste into the toothbrush. This is to prevent a common condition called dental fluorosis.

Dental fluorosis is a condition resulting from excessive intake of fluoride toothpaste at a young age. There is a change in appearance, more of the color, of the tooth enamel. But this condition is easily prevented with the right care.

Benefits of using fluoride toothpaste in your child

A plaque is a film of bacteria forming in our teeth as we eat every day. Fluoride helps remove these bacteria through regular brushing, thus, preventing a build-up.

Fluoride helps strengthen weakened tooth enamel. If the weakened tooth enamel is ignored, this can lead to tooth decay.

It helps in the prevention of cavities and early stages of tooth decay.

Fluoride can be found naturally in our water sources and some foods. To further enjoy the benefits from it, it has been developed and added to our toothpaste.

In choosing toothpaste for your child, you should be critical. Some commercially sold toothpaste may contain harsh chemicals that are not good for your child. The multitude of choices of brands today makes it harder for a parent to choose a trusted brand. When choosing toothpaste, you should consider the role of fluoride in your child’s overall oral health.

Toothbrush for baby’s teeth

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MINNEAPOLIS DENTIST DISCUSS: WHY USING BABY TOOTHBRUSH IS CRUCIAL WHEN CARING FOR YOUR BABY’S TEETH

Oral health care of babies is one of the concerns parents have to deal with when the first milk tooth comes out. While milk teeth normally come out once the baby reaches six months, there may be instances when it does not emerge until 12 months after they are born. To take care of your baby’s teeth properly, you should use a toothbrush designed mainly for babies.

Baby Toothbrush
When buying a baby toothbrush, you should get one with soft bristles and a small head. This will allow you to clean all parts of the mouth of the baby. You should check the packaging on the age range of the toothbrush.

As a parent, you can also opt to get a silicone rubber fingertip toothbrush for their babies. This type of toothbrush can easily fit into your finger. It allows you to clean the whole mouth of the baby. Once the baby turns one, a soft toothbrush can be used for their oral health care. The toothbrush should be small enough to fit into the mouth of the baby.

Using these types of toothbrushes ensures that all the parts of the mouth of the baby are cleaned. MOreover, it helps avoid injuring the baby’s delicate gums.

Tips to Remember
To ensure proper oral health care for the baby, you should take into account some tips.

● The toothbrush should be replaced every three months, but if the bristles start to spread out after only a couple of use, it will be necessary to change the toothbrush immediately.

● Parents should brush the teeth twice a day, once in the morning and once before they sleep.

● A small circular movement should be used when brushing the teeth and should concentrate on the area between the gums and the teeth.

Choosing the most suitable toothbrush is essential to ensure proper oral health care for babies. Parents should use toothbrushes with a small head and soft bristle to ensure the entire mouth of the baby is cleaned.

invisalign

What are arch wires?

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MINNEAPOLIS DENTIST OFFER INVISALIGN AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO BRACES

Dental braces are devices used to align your teeth. It is comprised of an arch wire, hook, ligature, and bracket. Getting yourself braces may be a huge decision for you to make; hence, many questions are racing in your mind.

Arch wires are one of the main components of braces, and most people find themselves asking a number of questions about these. To name a few, here is a list of frequently asked questions:

What are arch wires?
These are metal wires that enclose your teeth as each wire goes across from one end of the teeth to the other. These wires can be flexible in nature, but they are also the force that helps move your teeth. It is composed of mostly molybdenum and titanium.

What do they really do?
Arch wires are the main pressure that pushes your teeth to its proper position. Initially, the arch wire gets distorted when attached to the teeth. However, it gradually turns to its perfect arc, bringing the teeth along with it.

What is the ideal orthodontic arch wire?
Square wires are deemed to be the ideal type of arch wire. It is most preferred due to its ability to move teeth effectively with minimal friction.

How long does the treatment take?
Treatment usually takes from 18 to 24 months. It will depend on the severity of your case and your compliance to scheduled appointments.

How long does the pain last?
Pain is inevitable when you first put in your braces. When the arch wire is held tightly, you can expect to experience pain in the first few weeks.

When deciding on having your own braces, it is best to gather questions you would like to ask a dental specialist. This way, you can evaluate whether getting one is a good choice and how effective it will be. Moreover, you can continue to collect information and verify facts through extensive research and expert advice.

Early Orthodontic Intervention

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MINNEAPOLIS DENTIST DISCUSS EARLY ORTHODONTIC INTERVENTION FOR KIDS W/ BUCK TEETH

Children with buck teeth or prominent front teeth require early orthodontic intervention to straighten their teeth. This is to improve their bite and appearance. Upper front teeth that are sticking out are more likely to get broken in an accident. Additionally, the appearance of buck teeth can lead to your child getting bullied by other children.

Early Orthodontic Intervention

Any age can actually be a great time to see an orthodontist. However, the American Association of Orthodontists highly recommends that you take your child to an orthodontist at age 7. Early orthodontic evaluation enables early detection of problems, thus, leading to more effective treatment. By monitoring teeth growth and development, serious problems in the future are prevented. Children’s teeth are still growing and developing. Their skeletal structure is in fact, still malleable. This is why finger or thumb sucking can lead to buck teeth. But during this time, it’s also possible to modify their jaw development. By orthodontic intervention, the need for tooth extraction or surgery later in life is reduced.

Benefits of Early Intervention

There are several benefits to early orthodontic intervention. Some of the good results of early orthodontic treatment include:

  • Space is created for crowded or growing permanent teeth
  • Facial symmetry is improved by impacting jaw growth
  • Risk of trauma due to protruding front teeth is lessened
  • Space for unerupted teeth is preserved
  • Need for permanent tooth extraction is reduced
  • Treatment time with braces is reduced
  • The child’s self-esteem and self-confidence is improved

There are several functional and health concerns that emerge from misaligned or buck teeth. Your mouth and teeth play a vital, yet overlooked role in ensuring proper food digestion and positive overall health. This is why getting a beautiful smile shouldn’t be your primary motive for getting orthodontic treatment. People with healthy teeth have been proven to live healthier and longer. Correcting your child’s misaligned teeth will influence your child’s likelihood of having a healthy and beautiful smile.

What Causes Buck Teeth?

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The reason why you are probably reading this article is that you want to find ways how to cure buck teeth. Well, you can agree that you are not alone in this problem. There are thousands of people having the same teeth structure as yours and are looking for solutions. But before going into the needle, the following will help you understand the causes of buck teeth:

1.) The medical term for buck teeth is “Class 2 division malocclusion”. Not surprisingly, it is one of the most common dental problems that people suffer from worldwide; hence, you are not alone.

2.) Similar to other common bite problems, buck teeth can be due to (a) genetics wherein you might have inherited this or (b) environmental factors like bad habits that led to the disarrangement of the teeth.

3.) According to research, the habit of “sucking” at an early age contributes greatly to the distortion of teeth development. Hence, when you had a bad habit of thumb sucking when you were young, the chances are, you will have bucked teeth when you mature.

4.) Children with buck teeth have a higher risk of suffering upper teeth damage due to trauma. Additionally, this dental problem can also result in psychological issues because of a lack of confidence brought about by the incorrect teeth alignment.

Is this something to be worried about? Well, with the help of modern technology, the answer is no. Right now, there are available options for treatment. But it’s highly recommended that treatment should start at an early age. Although it is alright to treat an adult, it will take a longer time because the gums have been hardened and the teeth are already permanent. Moreover, while it might be a common dental problem, it is highly recommended to seek help from a well-experienced orthodontist first. The right orthodontist can easily identify the solution and manage the problem correctly.

What causes gingival abscess?

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MINNEAPOLIS DENTIST OFFERS TREATMENT FOR GUM DISEASE

Have you experienced a throbbing pain around your ears? Is it often accompanied by severe pain around your jaw or any side of your face? If you have, then you should definitely see a dentist. You might have a gingival abscess.

A gingival abscess is not an ordinary periodontal infection. This infection can cause serious damage to the roots of your tooth. It can also affect the space between your tooth and gum. It is often painful because of severe inflammation. This can be easily treated by an emergency dentist or other oral health practitioner. Oftentimes, this is accompanied by fever or inflamed gums. The abscess drains liquids or pusses that can cause bad breath.

What causes a gingival abscess?

· Perforation on the gums walls during root canal treatment. This might have caused the bacteria to spread throughout the mouth

· Your gums might have been hurt or pierced by a sharp foreign object

· Occlude bacteria forming around the pockets. This often happens during scaling and planning.

· Inflammation caused by a traumatic tooth injury or orthodontic treatment.

· It can also be caused by occlusal stress

· Diabetic patients are more prone to periodontal abscess

How do we treat gingival abscesses?

· We can treat gingival abscesses by oral medication. You can also help lessen the infection by rinsing your mouth with saline solution. Your dentist will also prescribe a pain reliever to relieve the irritation.

· If the gingival abscess is caused by plaque and tartar, your dentist will execute a scaling and planning treatment to clean the air pockets.

· If the abscess is underneath the tooth, an emergency dentist will perform a root canal treatment. This treatment will remove the puss and the abscess from your mouth. There is also a possibility that your gums will also reshape to make sure that the abscess will not form again.

· If a root canal treatment is not applicable due to severe damage or infection, then there is a possibility that the tooth will be pulled out. This is to make sure the bacteria cannot spread towards the other teeth.

A gingival abscess is a painful mouth infection. It is very important that you see your dentist regularly to ensure that you have healthy teeth and gums. If the symptoms start showing, it is best that you see an emergency dentist right away.