A Cosmetic Dentist Can Help with Dental Emergencies

If you have a dental emergency, a cosmetic dentist can help to save and restore your tooth.  Accidents are common. Millions of people get into a car accident, slip and fall, are injured at work, or hurt while playing sports every year.  Many times these accidents also create a dental emergency.  While teeth are made of strong enamel, they are still susceptible to injury.  They can easily become cracked, chipped, or even knocked out during an accident.  Fortunately, when such unfortunate occurrences take place, a dental professional can help.

When people think of cosmetic dentistry they typically think of teeth whitening and creating gorgeous smiles.  While this is absolutely the case, it is only part of what an experienced dental professional does.  When treating dental emergencies, there are several components to the treatment.  First to stop the results of the trauma and then to correct it.  Correcting damage done requires that the tooth or teeth are restored to their former appearance and functionality.

There are several ways for a cosmetic dentist to accomplish this, including:

Dental Veneers. This is an excellent option for fixing a damaged tooth.  A dental veneer can be used when a tooth is chipped, cracked, broken or becomes severely stained as a result of the accident.  The natural tooth is saved, and the veneer is placed on top of it.  Before it can be placed the dentist will shave down the existing tooth so that when the veneer is laid on top, it will lay flat with the gum tissue.  Veneers look completely natural and can make your teeth look even more spectacular than before.  If you need to fix one or two teeth after an accident, you may want to consider having a veneer placed on all of your front teeth in order to give you a gorgeous smile at the same time.

Dental Implants.  If a tooth is knocked out and cannot be saved, a cosmetic dentist can install a dental implant.  This is a fantastic way to permanently replace a missing tooth.  A metal piece is implanted underneath the gum line and secured to the jawbone.  Once healed, a second metal piece will be attached to the first at the surface of the gum line.  A new synthetic tooth is made in a dental lab and securely attached.  Once the procedure is complete, the synthetic tooth will look completely natural and provide the same functionality as a natural one.

When the dental emergency is related to a patients’ oral health, a cosmetic dentist can help by removing infections and performing procedures like a root canal.  In a root canal, the infected dental pulp and infected roots are removed.  Once the infection is completely gone, a dental crown will be placed on top and around the tooth.  By surrounding the previously infected tooth, it serves as a protective barrier.  It can be made of a composite with the same coloring as natural teeth so that it blends in perfectly. 

There are many ways to treat and correct damaged teeth.  As an experienced cosmetic dentist, we have the tools and experience necessary for doing so.  Call today to schedule an appointment. 

Stopping Gum Recession in its Tracks

Over eighty percent of the adult population experience gum recession.  It can be prevented and stopped before it causes pain or discomfort.  They key is preventative care to stop it in its tracks.  As soon as your gums start to experience problems, seek immediate treatment to reverse the damage.

As a periodontist, Dr. Pechak is an expert at treating gum disease.  The first step is to prevent it from ever happening.  Good preventative care can keep gums healthy.  This is done by brushing after meals, using floss on a daily basis, and rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash to kill bacteria.  People can also keep their teeth and gums healthier by drinking plenty of water, not smoking or using tobacco products, eating a healthy diet, and visiting the dentist twice a year.  These regular dental exams give our staff the ability to remove bacteria and plaque while Dr. Pechak identifies any signs of gum disease that require further treatment.

Gum disease starts as gingivitis, which is completely treatable and reversible.  By removing bacteria from the gum line, gums can regain their natural health.  Gum recession is often caused by gum disease that is left untreated. There are additional risk factors such a hormonal changes, using tobacco products, aggressive brushing, and genetics but these can typically be mitigated by regular teeth cleanings.  Those that have a greater risk should schedule their cleaning for two or more times per year. 

If Dr. Pechak identifies gum recession, he will likely start the treatment by conducting a thorough cleaning of the teeth and gums.  This can be done at the surface of the gums unless the bacteria has spread.  If so, a procedure called tooth scaling and root planning will be performed.  This is where the gum tissue is pulled back, and the bacteria underneath it is removed.  Antibiotics can also help to eliminate any lingering bacteria.  When the procedure is complete, the gum tissue will be securely placed over the tooth. Tooth scaling and root planning can help to restore the health and functionality of your gums before any more serious intervention is required.

Immediate treatment will prevent your gums from receding further and exposing your tooth, the root system, and bone structure to attacks by viscous bacteria.  Gum recession is dangerous due to that simple fact.  When the gums recede, other areas are exposed, and pockets are created where the bacteria can accumulate.  This puts the health of the tooth and entire mouth at risk.  When bacteria attacks the gums and bone it can cause an abscess, an extremely painful condition which can interrupt daily life.   An abscess is not something that can be ignored, because when the infection spreads it can get all the way into your neck, creating the need for a surgical procedure to drain out the infection. This is a highly unpleasant scenario that can be avoided by simply treating gum disease and gum recession early.

If you notice that your teeth are more sensitive or appear longer, you may have the early signs of gum recession.  If this is the case, call the Perio & Implant Center of the Monterey Bay to schedule an appointment for a dental examination and teeth cleaning.