Dentist Las Vegas are accredited medical professionals specializing in teeth, gums, and mouth. They work in teams that often include dental assistants and hygienists.
Like doctors, dentists study and perform research to improve the health of their patients. They are often the first to spot underlying health issues manifesting in the mouth, like gum disease.
Dental hygienists are an important part of preventative care. They help to reduce bacteria in the mouth, which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. They also teach patients healthy oral hygiene habits to maintain a healthy smile.
The Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research explains that the mouth is an entry point to the digestive and respiratory systems, where germs can cause diseases in those areas. Those who do not practice good oral hygiene can experience severe problems with their teeth, such as cavities and gum disease.
Students enrolled in a dental hygiene program learn to prevent these diseases with regular brushing and flossing and visiting the dentist for X-rays, cleanings, and exams. They can also receive instruction on managing their diet and avoiding unhealthy foods and drinks that contribute to poor oral health.
The human body is a complex network of systems, and many medical problems are preventable. Preventive care includes routine exams, screenings, vaccines, and programs to help you adopt healthy habits. It also enables you to catch and treat health problems early, when they’re most easily treated.
Maintaining good dental hygiene is important because it helps prevent cavities, gum disease, and bad breath. It also reduces your risk of heart disease, respiratory infections, and other systemic diseases. Research shows that mouth bacteria can enter the bloodstream, affecting other body parts.
Other factors that can affect oral and dental health include smoking, a poor diet, chronic inflammation (like rheumatoid arthritis or Sjogren’s syndrome), and medications that slow bone growth, like osteoporosis drugs. It’s important to let your dentist know all the medicines you take. They can also check for side effects of these drugs, like the jaw-weakening condition called osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). ONJ occurs spontaneously or after some dental procedures, including extractions and implants.
Dental cleanings are a vital part of maintaining good dental hygiene. They remove hardened plaque and tartar that can cause tooth decay and gum disease. Dental hygienists use various tools, including dental mirrors and scalers, to clean the surface and between your teeth. They may also polish your teeth to remove stains and improve the appearance of your smile.
Regular cleanings can also help detect problems like jaw issues and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). TMJ affects the joints in your mouth and causes pain and discomfort.
Many Delta Dental plans have low or no copayments and coinsurance for routine preventive care, including dental cleanings. This allows you to get the most value from your benefits. To learn more, contact your plan provider. They can help you understand your coverage and what to expect during a dental cleaning appointment.
The most common reason for a dental filling is to address tooth decay. Leaving it untreated will lead to infection, damaging the entire tooth and possibly spreading to other areas of the mouth or body.
During the procedure, the dentist will first apply anesthetic to the area. He will then drill the area and prepare it to be filled. Then, he will fill the cavity and shape it to match the natural contours of the tooth. Finally, he will cure or harden the filling using a special light.
Dental fillings are more than just a solution to cavities; they restore the health and integrity of teeth, improve oral hygiene, and prevent further deterioration. They can also help save you from more expensive and complex procedures like root canals or extractions. There are several types of fillings, including gold, silver amalgam (made of mercury mixed with copper, tin, and zinc), tooth-colored composite resin, or glass ionomer fillers.
A root canal is a tooth-saving procedure when the soft tissue inside a tooth (pulp) gets infected. This usually happens because of a deep cavity or crack in the tooth, which leads to bacteria that spread into the pulp through the tooth’s roots. Left untreated, the infection can cause a tooth abscess and affect oral health.
Once the infected tissue is removed, the tooth will be filled with biocompatible gutta-percha and sealed. Then, a temporary filling or crown will be placed on the tooth to restore chewing function and protect it from further damage.
Although a root canal may sound intimidating, it is a very safe and effective way to save a damaged or infected tooth and avoid needing more extensive dental procedures in the future. To maintain good dental hygiene, you should continue to brush and floss regularly, pay special attention to the treated tooth, and schedule regular dental checkups.
Tooth extractions (often called “pulling”) may seem scary, but they’re important to maintaining good dental hygiene. They help relieve pain, stop infections and crowding, and prevent future problems like jaw fractures.
The procedure involves numbing the area with a local anesthetic and using an elevator to remove the tooth from its socket. The dentist or oral surgeon might also need to use forceps to separate the roots from each other.
There are few absolute contraindications for tooth extraction, but a clear diagnosis should be made before considering it as a treatment option. In cases where a patient has uncontrolled medical conditions such as hypertension or previous transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs), efforts should be made to liaise with their general medical practitioner to have these managed before proceeding with treatment. This will reduce the risk of complications such as clotting disorders.
Crowns are a popular dental treatment to replace broken, chipped, and missing teeth. They restore a tooth’s size, strength, and shape while preventing further damage.
Before attaching a crown, the dentist must prepare the tooth by shaping it. This involves filing down the top and sides to make room for the crown. They will also take impressions of the tooth and the teeth above and below it to determine how you bite together.
Metal crowns are made of gold, silver, or other alloys and can withstand biting and chewing forces. However, their metallic color makes them less attractive than other types of crowns. They are best used for molars that are out of sight. Unlike other crowns, they are not as fragile and can last many years when properly cared for.
If you have missing teeth, bridges are an option that can help with both the appearance and function of your smile. They can also help with problems like speech impediments caused by missing teeth. Missing teeth can cause gaps that make it hard to pronounce certain words and can cause the remaining natural teeth to shift into the space, causing bite, gum, and jaw problems.
The procedure for a dental bridge involves filing down two healthy teeth on either side of the gap to prepare them and then creating a dental bond to fill the gap with porcelain or metal. Those with dental bridges must practice good oral hygiene, including daily brushing and flossing, and visit their dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings. These can catch issues early on and ensure the bridge stays in place.
Dental implants provide a permanent replacement for missing teeth and help preserve the jaw bone, prevent gum disease, and maintain the health of your remaining natural teeth. With proper maintenance, they can last a lifetime.
Implants are anchored in the jaw bone by a titanium screw-like post called an abutment. A new tooth, either a single crown or a fixed bridge, is attached to the abutment.
Achieving implant success requires careful planning, including radiographs to evaluate the quality of bone and to detect early loss of the dental ligament that supports teeth. A routine oral hygiene regimen, with special care around the implant site and regular visits to your dental hygienist, can ensure that the implants, other teeth, and soft tissues remain healthy and infection-free.
Cosmetic dentistry can give you a bright and beautiful smile if you want to look your best. These procedures include tooth-colored fillings, porcelain veneers, dental bonding, and teeth whitening.
These procedures improve the appearance of your teeth and gums, but they don’t fix health problems. Cosmetic dentists have extra training in these treatments, vast technical knowledge, and refined artistic touch.
Cosmetic procedures are usually elective, so dental insurance does not cover them. They are primarily focused on the aesthetics of your smile, including color, size, shape, alignment, and bite. They are most often performed on the front teeth, although they can also be done on other teeth. This includes repairing chipped, broken, or crooked teeth and replacing missing ones with dental implants. It can also fix small gaps between teeth.
