Dentures and Dental Implants Seattle

Although canker sores are often confused with cold sores, there is a difference. Canker sores occur inside the mouth, and cold sores usually occur outside the mouth. Canker sores are small ulcers with a white or gray base and a red border. There can be one or more sores in the mouth. They are very common and often recur. They usually heal in a week or two and rinsing with antimicrobial mouth rinses may help reduce the irritation. Cold sores – also called fever blisters – are composed of groups of painful, fluid-filled blisters that often erupt around the lips and sometimes under the nose or chin. Cold sores are usually caused by herpes virus type I and are very contagious. They usually heal in about a week. Over-the-counter topical anesthetics can provide temporary relief and prescription antiviral drugs may reduce these kinds of viral infections.

Space maintainers can be crucial to the dental health of a child. When a child loses a baby tooth early through decay or injury, the other teeth can shift and begin to fill the vacant space. If this happens, the problem is that, when the permanent teeth emerge, there’s not enough room for them. This can lead to crooked or crowded teeth and difficulties with chewing or speaking. To prevent that, the dentist can insert a space maintainer. This holds the space left by the lost tooth until the permanent tooth emerges. Space maintainers might be a band or a temporary crown attached to one side of the space. When the permanent tooth emerges, the dentist removes the device and protects the child’s future smile.

Your dentist will do everything possible to make your visit as relaxed and comfortable as possible. Depending on the treatment you are receiving, there are several medications available to help. Some drugs control pain, some help you relax and others put you into a deep sleep during dental treatment. The best approach will depend on the type of procedure being undertaken, your overall health – including any history of allergies – and the degree of anxiety you feel. Some of the options your dentist might discuss include: Analgesics: These are the most commonly used drugs for relief of toothache or pain following dental treatment. They includes aspirin, acetaminophen and anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen. There is a separate category of narcotic analgesics – such as those containing codeine – which are used for more severe pain. Local anesthesia: Topical anesthetics are applied to mouth tissues with a swab to prevent pain on the surface level. They may also be us...

It would be easy to get overwhelmed by the huge range of dental care products now available. Even looking just at toothbrushes present a wide range of choices. There are hundreds of manual and powered toothbrushes to choose from. Start by looking for products that carry the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance – this is an important symbol of a the product’s safety and effectiveness. When you buy a toothbrush, replace it every three to four months. Replace it sooner if the bristles become frayed as a worn toothbrush will not clean your teeth properly. Make it easy for your children to brush their teeth by choosing a child-sized toothbrush and make it more interesting for them by selecting fun colors and designs. Often people who have difficulties with hand, arm or shoulder movements find that powered toothbrushes are the best choice. However, it’s also possible to make a few small changes to modify a manual toothbrush and make it easier to use. For example...

Everybody wants the best smile possible and there’s no need to have it spoiled by gaps in your teeth or by teeth that are stained or badly shaped. Whether the problem was caused by nature or by an injury, you may be able to have a veneer placed on top of your teeth to restore or improve your smile. Veneers are thin, custom-made shells crafted from tooth-colored materials designed to cover the front side of teeth. Your dentist will usually make a model of your teeth and the veneers will be made by a specialist dental technician. A small amount of enamel has to be removed from your teeth to accommodate the shell so having veneers is usually an irreversible process. In order to make the most of your veneer, your dentist may suggest that you avoid foods and drinks that could discolor them, such as coffee, tea or red wine. It’s also possible that veneers might chip or fracture. But, for many people, veneers are well worth it as they give them a completely new smile.

Dental implants are increasingly popular as a way to replace missing or damaged teeth. Their great advantage is that they look natural and feel secure helping you to restore your smile and eat more easily. Implants are an ideal solution for many people but they are not an option for everyone. Placing implants requires some surgery so patients must be in good health, have healthy gums and have adequate bone to support the implant. They must also be committed to taking action to maintain their oral hygiene and to visiting the dentist regularly. The process for placing implants is as follows: First, surgery is performed to place the anchor. This can take up to several hours. Following the surgery, you may need to wait up to six months for the bone to grow around the anchor and firmly hold it in place. Sometimes follow up surgery is required to attach a post to connect the anchor to the replacement teeth. Alternatively, the anchor and post may already be attached and are pl...

People at any age can have a condition that makes it difficult for them to look after their own dental health. This could affect people who suffer from a wide range of conditons such as stroke, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, mental retardation, Down syndrome, genetic disorders, Alzheimer’s disease or arthritis. However, people in all of these categories have the same dental needs as everyone else – they need daily brushing and flossing, regular dental visits and a balanced diet. There are some steps caregivers can take to make it easier to look after people in those categories. If the person is uncooperative or uncontrollable, try to explain what you are about to do and schedule the task for a time of day when they are rested. Move in a calm, slow, reassuring manner to avoid startling them. Give praise and encourage them when they help themselves. Support the person’s head, and take special care to prevent choking or gagging when the head is tilted back. If t...