Protecting your dental health is one of the best investments you can make. With the right combination of preventive care (like checkups and exams) and brushing and flossing at home, you can help keep your teeth and gums healthy for life.

But at The Winning Smile Dental Group, we know that dental problems can be hard to avoid completely. Your genetics, the natural aging process, and other factors can all contribute to cavities, decay, gum disease, and other dental health issues.

In today’s post, we’ll review the most common dental health problems we see at our office and talk about how we can help you!

Dental Anxiety

What keeps most people from seeing the dentist as often as they should? The answer is dental anxiety or dental phobia. In most cases, people are more afraid of the thought of being at the dentist than the appointment itself. This is especially true for those who haven’t been to the dentist in awhile.

Remember: The Winning Smile Dental Group is a 100% judgement-free office! We’ll welcome you to our practice and help you take control of your dental health. There’s no lecturing and no making you feel bad.

To help patients feel relaxed and at-ease during their appointments, we offer sedation dentistry to all of our patients. Oral sedation can help you relax before and during your appointment. Nitrous oxide is an inhaled sedative that wears off quickly.

We offer sedation options for both kids and adults, so ask your dentist if you have questions!

Tooth decay

Virtually everyone will get a cavity eventually. Some studies estimate that only 5% of people go their whole lives without a single cavity! Everything from the specific types of bacteria that live in your mouth to the foods you eat can cause a cavity to develop. It doesn’t matter how well you brush or floss.

Cavities form when your tooth enamel is damaged due to bacteria in your mouth. These bacteria eat the carbohydrates left behind after we eat and excrete acid, which eats away at your tooth enamel and leads to decay and cavities.

Fillings

When detected early, cavities are very easily treated. Our dentists use tooth-colored fillings made from a durable composite resin to fix cavities fast. By detecting small cavities early during your biannual dental exams, we help protect your healthy tooth structure and avoid unnecessarily complex restorations.

Exams & cleanings

Besides eating, bacteria are good at exactly one other thing: reproducing and creating more bacteria. If not removed by brushing and flossing, bacteria can build up into a hard sticky film called tartar.

Brushing and flossing at home can’t remove all of the bacteria or tartar in your mouth. That’s what your regular exams and cleanings are for. Your dental hygienist will clean tartar and bacteria from hard-to-brush areas in your mouth, helping to reduce your risk of cavities in between visits to the dentist. Dental exams also allow you to identify possible warning signs for future decay.

Root canals and crowns

Unfortunately when decay and bacterial infections reach the inner tooth, a root canal is the most common course of treatment. These infections may be caused by advanced tooth decay or chips and cracks that allow bacteria to enter the tooth. Whatever the cause, the result is often a tooth that is extremely painful and sensitive to hot and cold temperatures.

The root canal removes the infected tissue and relieves the pain caused by the bacterial infection. After a root canal, a crown is used to protect the remaining tooth. Our crowns are durable and custom made to match the shape, look, and function of your natural tooth.

Tooth loss

Tooth loss can be the result of accidents, injuries, tooth decay, gum disease, and the natural aging process. Whatever the cause of tooth loss, it’s important to fix the problem as soon as possible.

Many people think of their teeth as only the parts we see. However, your teeth are more like trees, they have roots we can’t see! And these roots serve an important purpose— they hold your teeth in place and prevent “erosion” of the bone in your jaw.

When a tooth is lost, your jaw bone begins to dissolve, a process known as resorption. Bone loss is irreversible and must be prevented.

In addition to bone loss, missing teeth can:

• Trap bits of food, making it harder to brush and floss
• Cause you difficulty when speaking or chewing
• Make you self-conscious about your appearance

At The Winning Smile Dental Group, we offer a variety of treatment options to help you replace missing teeth.

Implants

Implants are as close as you can get to a brand new tooth. Our implants look and function just like real teeth. They not only prevent bone loss in the jaw but they actually encourage the growth of new healthy bone tissue.

Your implant creates a strong and solid foundation for a crown, bridge, or denture that can be custom-made to look just like the rest of your teeth.

Dentures

When you lose multiple teeth, a  denture is a great treatment option. Whether traditional dentures or implant-supported, we can help. With one or more implants, our dentists can create a rock solid foundation for a high-tech denture that allows you to eat the foods you love and speak and smile confidently.

Cosmetic issues

Do you have a smile you don’t love? Do something about it with the help of the cosmetic dentists at The Winning Smile Dental Group. We’ll work together to help you achieve the smile of your dreams and restore your self-confidence by fixing:

• Stained teeth
• Chipped and cracked teeth
• Crooked and misaligned teeth

Teeth whitening

The foods we eat and other factors can cause otherwise healthy teeth to take on a dingy and stained appearance. Our teeth whitening treatments can drastically improve the appearance of your teeth and create a beautifully white smile. Choose from:

• In-Office Teeth Whitening – Powerful and non-invasive in-office teeth whitening treatments use peroxide gels to gently whiten your teeth. Whitening treatments are safe and do not harm your teeth.
• Take-Home Teeth Whitening – We love KoR teeth whitening trays. Custom made to fit your mouth, these take-home whitening treatments are convenient and comfortable. Using a pH balanced whitening solution, KoR products work with your body to produce amazing results.

Veneers

Veneers are like a miracle cosmetic treatment. Veneers are custom-made porcelain shells that fit atop your teeth to correct:

• Stains
• Chips
• Cracks
• Small gaps

They’re a very flexible treatment that can be customized to meet your needs. Find out if they’re right for you at your next appointment.

Invisalign and Six Month Smiles®

Bulky metal braces are a thing of the past! Modern orthodontic treatments like Invisalign and Six Month Smiles® are comfortable, discreet, and produce amazing results. They not only straighten your teeth but they correct problems with your bite and can even help keep your teeth healthy for a lifetime.

See you soon!

Schedule your appointment at The Winning Smile Dental Group today. Our dentists can’t wait to help you!