david-bradley-dds

DENTAL CROWNS

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 16:28:20 GMT

Why is it important to get a crown when needed?

A dental crown Is almost like a tooth “cap”. It Is a porcelain crown that covers the entire tooth from the gums to the chewing surface. We recommend this on a cracked or a badly decayed tooth to avoid further decaying and/or pain. In order to know whether you need a crown done, and what for, it is necessary to get an exam done with Dr. Bradley.

The dental crown imitates a real tooth by texture, durability and appearance. It is very important to take proper care of your teeth to get the most out of the crown, which can last up to 15 years. We also offer a lifetime warranty on all crowns that we place as long as you’re keeping up with your routine cleanings and exams.

Who is a candidate for a dental crown?

Dental crowns can fix many things such as – A tooth that is cracked, broken, badly decayed, or discolored. We may suggest crowning a tooth starting at the age of 13 and up. Crowns typically take about two appointments and do not require much down time, you may have mild sensitivity in the area for the first 24 hours but you may return to work or school after your appointment. It is recommended that you take it easy around the area of the crown for the first few days.

Why is wearing a night guard important?

Do you ever wake up with pain/aches in your head or jaw? This could be a sign of bruxism or TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder). These two disorders are common but very crucial to get treated so that it doesn’t get worse and lead to further health problems.

TMJ and bruxism stem from clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth throughout the night. The aches and pains may even start days after a night of clenching, making it questionable if its related to TMJ. To assure that we figure out the issue as soon as possible, we recommend scheduling an appointment with us after the first sign of these disorders.

How to tell if a tooth is infected.

Do you have sensitivity to cold or hot foods? Do your teeth hurt when biting down on foods? Come on in to our office asap or give us a call to schedule an appointment at 248-380-9330.

An infected tooth is a tooth that has an abscess full of puss that can cause major pain. If you wait too long to have this treated, it will then spread to your tooth roots. This is what creates a root canal, or possible extraction. To help prevent an infection it is crucial to keep up with your recommended hygiene appointments. The longer you hold off on tooth pain, the worse the pain and problem will get. Below will give you a few signs of an infected tooth and what you can do about it.

Signs of an infected tooth:

Toothache
Sensitivity to cold or hot foods
Bad taste in your mouth
Bad breath
Swelling
Fever
Throbbing pain in the area

Until you are able to come into our office, a few things you can do to ease some pain are taking some over the counter pain relief or putting a cold compress over the area of pain, but you should not be doing this to help ignore the problem, but to ease the problem until you can come into our office.

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU VISIT OUR OFFICE AS A NEW PATIENT

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 16:24:19 GMT

Welcome to Dr. Bradley D.D.S! We’re so happy that you’ve trusted us as your new dentist office. The first thing you can expect is a warm welcome with smiling faces. We will then take your temperature while checking in at our front desk.

Patient forms- We will ask you to fill out our new patient forms. This form includes health history, HIPPA forms, payment agreement, consent for treatment, etc.

Once you have finished filling out our forms, we may ask you to have a seat while we get your room prepared for you. When we bring you back, we will start with a digital X-ray to get an accurate look on what’s going on, then we will perform an oral examination. If any treatment is needed, Dr. Bradley will discuss the best course of treatment to restore your oral health. If no treatment is needed, we may ask you to stay the same day to conduct a standard cleaning with our hygienist, otherwise we can reschedule for another time if need be.

TEETH WHITENING

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 16:22:59 GMT

Haven’t seen any results from over-the counter-tooth paste or whitening strips? Then come on in and get your teeth whitened with our professional whitening treatment. Here are some tips on how to keep your teeth looking pearly and white:

Avoid staining foods and drinks. Coffee is the biggest cause of tooth staining. Some other foods/drinks that may cause staining are pop, tea, wine, and any foods with strong coloring in them.
Brushing and flossing is essential in keeping teeth bright. Brushing after drinking/eating anything that can stain your teeth is the best way to prevent staining. Brushing also gets rid of plaque (an invisible film of bacteria that sits on your teeth). If plaque Is not brushed off daily, then it can create a yellow coloring on the teeth over time.
Professional teeth whitening treatments will be the most effective way to get a whiter smile. We offer this in our office and recommend getting a whitening take-home tray that we can make for you. The process takes about 45 minutes- an hour and the results will leave you with a brand new smile.

PERIODONTAL DISEASE

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 16:18:03 GMT

WHAT IS PERIODONTAL DISEASE?

Gum disease is the swelling or soreness of the gums around your teeth. It is caused by bacteria in plaque, a sticky, colorless film that forms on your teeth.

THERE ARE 4 STAGES OF GUM DISEASE:

The first stage is gingivitis. This is a form of gum disease that causes inflamed gums. The cause is poor oral hygiene. Untreated gingivitis can lead to tooth loss and other serious conditions. Symptoms include gums that are swollen, puffy, receding, sometimes tender, or that bleed easily when flossing/brushing. Treatment involves a professional cleaning as well as oral rinses. This stage can be cured by brushing 3 times a day, regular flossing, and getting your teeth cleaned every 6 months by a dentist.

The second stage is slight periodontal disease. Once you have reached this stage it is irreversible but can be managed with proper care and cleaning. This is why it is very important to keep your recommended hygiene appointments every six months. Inflammation progresses into the supporting structures of the teeth, this results in mild bone loss, continual bleeding, and you will need to have a maintenance cleaning every four months instead of six.

The third stage is moderate periodontitis. This stage includes continued inflammation and destruction of the supporting structures of the teeth. Bone loss extends between the roots of the teeth and movement of the teeth will start. Discomfort/pain may start as well as bad breath, more severe bleeding, and redness of the gums.

The fourth and final stage is advanced periodontitis. Bone loss and mobility increases. Eventual loss of one or more teeth will start. Pain and sensitivity become more severe. It is very important to take proper care and stay up to date with appointments.