Finding the Best Cosmetic Dentist in St. Pete

Finding the Best Cosmetic Dentist in St. Pete FL

Finding the Best Cosmetic Dentist in St. Pete

Besides the health of your teeth, their appearance is just as critical to your self-esteem. If you’re like a lot of people, sadly, you probably don’t like how they look. You don’t have to live with your chipped, discolored, or unattractive teeth. You can get a smile from a cosmetic dentist in St. Pete, but who is the best cosmetic dentist? Here are five easy tips for finding the best cosmetic dentist in St. Pete.

Qualifications & Experience

There are many dentists providing cosmetic services in the city, but not all have undergone additional training to specialize in complex cosmetic treatments. You don’t want to put that smile in just anyone’s hands. You deserve to take advantage of the best cosmetic services in St. Pete. Look for a dentist who has completed specialized training in cosmetic dentistry. Often, search to see if they are part of a number of accreditations, such as the American Dental Association.

Various Services

You require more than just a cookie-cutter treatment plan to achieve the smile of your dreams. To get exactly what you want, you should have multiple choices, so take the time to look at the different dental services offered. Dr. O’Grady, a cosmetic dentist in Denver Highlands, CO, recommends finding a dentist who offers everything you and your family could need. That way you don’t have to see a specialist if you need an extraction someday. So, when looking for a cosmetic dentist, choose a dental office that includes a range of treatments, such as veneers, teeth whitening, Invisalign, and more.

Conveniently Located in St. Petersburg, FL 

We completely understand; life is busy. We want you to achieve the smile of your dreams, which should not feel like a chore! Choose a dentist that is convenient for you and your schedule. Luckily, 4th Street Family Dentistry is conveniently located for St. Petersburg, FL residents. We are also open five days a week and offer emergency dental services. 

Affordable Dental Services

Unfortunately, most insurance plans will not cover cosmetic care unless they also have restorative benefits. It’s likely you’ll need to pay out-of-pocket as a result. To lower the price of your cosmetic treatment, pick a dentist who partners with your insurance provider. Also, search for one who offers dental savings plans.

Testimonials & Reviews

You will learn a lot about a dentist and their staff by taking the time to read online reviews and testimonials. Patients are usually brutally honest when sharing their experiences online. If you’re looking for a cosmetic dentist in St. Pete, FL, consider looking at their work. Also, look on their Instagram or Facebook page to see if any before and after photos of recent cosmetic patients. This will make choosing your cosmetic dentist that much easier. So, to help make the right decision for your smile, you will have a clear understanding of the level of treatment and outcomes you would expect to get.

Choose the Best Dentist in St. Pete

Cosmetic dentistry can be costly, but it’s worth the investment. You deserve a happy and healthy smile that you are proud of. That being said, take the time and do your research when looking for a cosmetic dentist. If you’re in the St. Pete, FL area, Dr. Leeson will help you achieve a confident, beautiful smile that is made to last.

Why Dr. Leeson as Your St. Petersburg, FL Dentist

After practicing in private practice in the Tampa Bay area for the last few years, Dr. Leeson has chosen to start his own practice in the neighborhood he lives in and loves. Some of the cosmetic dentistry services offered at 4th Street Family Dentistry include teeth whitening, dental veneers, dental crowns, dental bonding, and more.

Dr. Leeson earned his dental degree from Temple University in Philadelphia. He loves giving back to his friends. He works with local charity Tampa Bay Watch where he is committed to contributing a portion of all new patient sales to support non-profit efforts to restore the bay and keep our beaches safe. 

He also works annually with the Florida Project Mercy Outreach Program, which offers free dentistry to the underserved community. When he’s not practicing Dentistry, Dr. Leeson and his wife spend much of their free time cooking, brewing beer, playing sports, and just enjoying the outdoors. 

How to Repair a Broken Dental Crown

4th Street Family Dentistry - How to fix a broken crown

How to Repair a Broken Dental Crown in St. Pete

Sturdy as they may seem, our teeth aren’t immune to damage. Your teeth are susceptible to tooth decay and physical trauma. That’s where dental crowns come in. Said to be the single most productive procedure performed in dental practices, dental crowns are effective ‘caps’ that are placed over damaged teeth to restore their shape, size, strength, and appearance.

Dental crowns are usually used when the tooth is too damaged for dental fillings to restore functionality properly. On average, dental crowns can last between five to fifteen years, depending on the amount of wear and tear and your oral hygiene practices. But did you know crowns can get chipped or broken just like regular teeth? If you notice a chip or fracture in your crown, contact 4th Street Family Dentistry for emergency treatment. 

Before you had your crowns installed, you probably had a conversation with your dentist in St. Petersburg, FL, to determine the type of crown that will work best for you. Crowns are usually made from a variety of different materials, and this determines how resistant they will be to damage. Ceramic and resin crowns are usually the least durable, while crowns made from base metal alloys, gold alloys, and porcelain fused with metal are highly durable.

Signs Your Dental Crown is Fractured or Broken

The best dentists in St. Petersburg, FL, will tell you that spotting a cracked or broken crown may not be easy, especially if you don’t visit the dentist regularly. Digital Doc, the maker of the best intraoral cameras, says that cracks may start out small, making it almost impossible for you to spot them with the naked eye. Seeing your St. Pete dentist twice a year will allow them to catch the issue and treat it while it’s still early.

If the crack isn’t treated soon enough, you may notice increased pain or sensitivity. The sensitivity will occcur while chewing, sensitivity to hot or cold foods, or bleeding at the affected tooth. A crown may break due to a blow to the face, a fall, grinding your teeth, wear and tear, or biting down on something hard. If your crown gets broken from physical trauma or chips off as you chew, contact an emergency dentist in St. Pete for treatment.

In certain circumstances, a painful crown may be a sign that the underlying tooth is the issue. If it can no longer support the crown, your dentist in St. Petersburg may have to extract it and install a dental implant to restore the tooth’s functionality.

What You Should Do if Your Dental Crown Breaks

While broken crowns aren’t usually considered an emergency, you may require emergency treatment if caused by a fall or blow to the face and cause intense pain. If you notice it, the first thing you ought to do is examine the area to see the extent of the damage before contacting a dentist in St. Pete for further guidance. Get a mirror and study the affected area if the broken crown is visible. Use your tongue to check for sensitivity. Are pieces of the crown missing or dislodged? Are there any jagged edges that may cut the inside of your mouth? Does the area feel sensitive to air or food?

While dentists don’t always recommend it, you may have to pull off the crown if there is a risk of swallowing it. If there is any bleeding, use a piece of gauze to gently apply pressure to the area. Dr. Ben Kacos, a sedation dentist in Shreveport, LA, says you can apply a little clove oil with a cotton swab or dental cement directly to the tooth surface if it feels sensitive. This will protect the remaining tooth and reduce the pain and sensitivity until you can finally see a dentist. 

Treatment for a Broken Crown

Make sure you see a dentist within 5-7 days of your dental crown breaking, even if it isn’t causing you too much pain. Leaving it for too long creates the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and leads to infection down the road. If you are afraid of brushing around the broken crown before your dentist’s appointment, you can use mouthwash or a saltwater solution after brushing to kill off bacteria.

The dentist will thoroughly clean and examine the remaining tooth and crown to assess the damage’s extent. If the crown is too damaged to be reapplied and the tooth is strong enough to hold a new dental crown, you will be fitted with a temporary crown while a new permanent crown is fabricated. Your St. Petersburg, FL dentist can also bond a composite resin to a porcelain crown to repair the crown if it has a minor crack or fracture. However, this requires a very specific porcelain repair kit, and not every dentist has it.

If it turns out that the underlying tooth was the problem, you may have to undergo a tooth extraction. Then have a dental implant installed once you heal. While they can be uncomfortable, broken dental crowns are entirely fixable. Whether through bonding with a composite resin or outright replacing them. Leaving a broken crown in could lead to more severe dental problems down the road. Are you looking for a dentist to fix a broken crown? Contact 4th Family Street Dentistry for emergency treatment today.

Celebrating National Brush Day

National Brush Day - 4th street family dentistry

Celebrating National Brush Day

Is it really a coincidence that National Brush Day is on November 1, right after Halloween? Definitely not! Halloween comes with candy, lots and lots of candy. Many parents tend to get a little obsessed with ensuring that their children’s teeth get back in shape. This is where brushing comes in. While it is the most effective way to clean our teeth and keep them free from plaque and bacteria, brushing too much can also be a problem. 

The following are a few good practices the best dentist in St. Petersburg, FL, recommends for children and grownups to keep in mind when brushing their teeth. We’ve also added some bad practices to avoid while brushing your teeth.

Good Dental Hygiene Practices

Brushing Teeth the Proper Way

Dr. Chris Green, the best dentist in Parker, CO, emphasizes that brushing your teeth involves a lot more than a few up-down and right-left motions using your toothbrush. First, you need to hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against your gums. Follow this up with back and forth strokes on your teeth, making sure you clean the chewing surfaces as well as the inner and outer surfaces of your teeth with the same series of gentle motions. 

Focusing on the Invisible Sufaces

After you’re done brushing the tooth surfaces that are visible, you can now attend to the inside surfaces on the back of your front teeth. It should be noted that some dental complications, such as dental caries, originate from the back surface of your front teeth. Dentists in St. Petersburg state that it’s important to ensure that you remember to clean that area. Effectively but gently brushing your teeth using the proper technique two times a day, every day is good for your gums and teeth and tough on plaque and bacteria, which ensures optimal oral health. 

Choosing the Right Brush Size

When choosing a toothbrush for your child, you should remember that the one size fits all rule does not apply here. Your child’s toothbrush must not be too big or too small for their mouths. Making sure you choose the right size ensures your child does not experience discomfort while brushing. Moreover, using the right size toothbrush makes it easy to clean your child’s teeth properly as it reaches all the parts of the mouth. 

Family dentists in St. Pete also recommend investing in a toothpaste that has fluoride in it, as it’s good for your teeth. This is because fluoride prevents cavities from developing and also prevents tooth decay. Use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste to brush.

Flossing Your Teeth

Emergency dentists St. Pete adds that flossing rids your mouth of the plaque that is on your teeth. This prevents plaque buildup. In addition to this, flossing also helps prevent gum disease and takes care of both your gums and teeth.

Visiting Your Dentist, Dr. Brian Leeson, After or Before National Brush Day

Making a trip to your dentist 33704 for your annual checkup at least twice a year ensures that any issues or problems you might have with your teeth are well taken care of. They may also provide you with extra tips to help keep your teeth healthy.

Bad Dental Practices to Avoid

Brushing Immediately After Eating

Brushing your teeth after eating candy or consuming a meal may end up causing more harm to your teeth. This is because when we eat, the enamel of your teeth tends to soften and stay like that for about half an hour after you’re done eating. During this time, your enamel is weak, which means that if you brush your teeth, it may be scraped away together with plaque and bacteria. 

This National Brush Day, refrain from rushing your children to brush their teeth immediately when they are done eating. Waiting half an hour will give their enamel time to sufficiently harden before they brush, thus protecting their teeth.

Using Toothbrushes with Hard Bristles

Hard-bristled toothbrushes not only cause bleeding of your gums and pain, but they also damage your teeth enamel. Damaged gums may loosen their teeth grip, which may result in loss of teeth. It is, therefore, important to avoid getting hard bristled toothbrushes for your kids or using them yourself.

Not Brushing for the Proper Amount of Time

Effectively brushing your teeth requires at least two minutes. The two minutes ensure that your teeth are properly exposed to the toothbrush’s cleaning action. 

Using an Old Toothbrush

Frayed toothbrush bristles can damage your gums and teeth. If your toothbrush is more than three months old, then you need to get a new one to help you remove all that plaque buildup from your Halloween candy that’s on your teeth. This National Brush Day, contact 4th Street Family Dentistry to keep your smile bright and your teeth right!

Root Canal Therapy Procedure

Root Canal Therapy Procedure - 4th Street Family Dentistry

Root Canal Therapy Procedure

For many people, the term root canal is scary. Plenty of folks believe that the treatment is extremely invasive and painful, but that is far from the truth. As we all know, most dental procedures are preventive, designed to treat issues and prevent them from becoming more severe down the road. Similarly, root canal therapy is known as one of the best and most effective dental treatments out there.

Root canal therapy is endodontic, meaning it treats the inside of the tooth. To get a good idea of what root canal therapy is, you’ll first have to get a better understanding of a tooth’s inner workings. With a good defense, however, you may never have to know what a root canal is. This includes practicing a consistent and thorough oral hygiene routine and visiting 4th Street Family Dentistry every six months to prevent any dental issues from progressing and becoming severe.

What is a Root Canal?

The teeth are made of three layers; enamel, the outermost protective layer, dentin, a hard layer below it, and soft tissue called the pulp. The pulp, which is located right in the middle of the tooth, contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues. It extends from the crown of the tooth down to the tip of the roots inside the root canal.

It connects the nerves and blood vessels in the tooth to the ones in the jaw right below the tip of the tooth root. The pulp is crucial during the developmental stages as it aids in the tooth’s growth and development and supplies nutrients needed to sustain its growth. Once the tooth is fully mature, however, it can easily survive without the pulp. Root canal therapy essentially removes pulp that has been infected from the root canal. This saves the tooth and surrounding teeth from further degradation. But how does the pulp become infected?

It can happen in two ways, deep tooth decay or a fracture that creates an opening for bacteria to enter the pulp. All the best dentists in St. Petersburg, FL, recommend brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing for a good reason. If you don’t, bacteria in the mouth will feed on food debris and form plaque. 

Plaque is acidic, and it strips the enamel of minerals, resulting in tiny holes or openings. The cavities will eat into the enamel and dentin if they aren’t treated. Over time, the bacteria enters the pulp causing an infection. If you have dental decay, contact a St. Pete dentist near you to prevent it from progressing to something more severe like dental decay.

Root Canal Treatment Procedure

Once bacteria have breached the pulp and it becomes inflamed, an emergency root canal therapy in St. Petersburg becomes a necessity. If you don’t seek treatment from a dentist in St. Pete soon enough, the infection can spread to the surrounding nerves, bones, and other teeth. Root canal therapy removes the infected pulp from the root canal and fills the space with a rubbery filling material.

The treatment usually consists of two steps, the root canal therapy itself and other dental procedures to restore the function of the tooth. First, your St. Petersburg, FL dentist, Dr. Leeson will take an x-ray of the tooth to see the shape of the root canals and to determine if the surrounding bone shows any sign of infection. A local anesthetic will be applied to numb the area around the tooth and to make you more relaxed and at ease during the procedure.

Your dentist will then place a rubber sheet around the tooth to keep the area free from saliva and to prevent the bacteria in your mouth from entering the tooth. Once this is done, the dentist will drill a small access hole into the tooth using a dental drill. The pulp, along with the decayed nerve tissue, is removed from the root canal. A series of root canal files of increasing diameter will be inserted into the access hole and used to scrape and scrub the sides of the root canals while water or sodium hypochlorite is used for flushing away the debris.

Post Treatment

Some dentists in St. Petersburg prefer to wait a week before sealing the root canal, especially if the pulp was infected. In that case, they may put medication inside the root canal to clear up the infection before sealing it. In the meantime, a temporary filling is placed to keep out contaminants like saliva and food. Once the infection is cleared, the now hollow root canal is sealed with a soft, rubbery material.

Depending on your smile, you may have to undergo further dental treatments to restore 100% functionality. Our friend Dr. Ben Kacos, an endodontist in Shreveport, LA, says most dentists recommend a buildup to fill the hole in the middle where the access is made and a crown to protect the exterior of the tooth. You may experience some pain and discomfort for 3-4 days after the treatment, which is completely normal. If over the counter pain relievers do not work and you are in pain for five or more days after the root canal therapy, contact your emergency dentist in St. Pete immediately. 

Root canal therapy is a treatment designed to save the tooth, the surrounding teeth, and bone and to restore functionality. If you are suffering from deep tooth decay or had an injury to the teeth and are looking for a dentist for treatment, we’ve got your back. Contact 4th Street Family Dentistry for a consultation today.

The Benefits of Dentures

benefits of dentures - St. Petersburg Fl

The Benefits of Dentures

Right from your childhood, your teeth play a crucial role in both your physical and social development. A strong, healthy set of teeth allows you to chew and eat properly. Similarly, a beautiful, aesthetic smile can help you conquer the world with confidence. However, teeth don’t always last a lifetime. So, you may find yourself considering tooth replacement options down the road.

Dentures are among the top teeth replacement options for people who’ve lost two or more teeth. Every dentist in St. Petersburg would advise you to have a missing tooth replaced as soon as possible. Not only will it restore both the aesthetic and functional roles of your teeth, but it will also save you from experiencing more severe dental issues.

Types of Dentures Your Dentist May Recommend

  • Full dentures – Are used when the patient has lost all of the teeth. They consist of a removable lower and upper arch with a row of porcelain or acrylic made teeth. 
  • Partial dentures – Can be used to replace either the lower or upper arch of teeth. They work better for people who haven’t lost all of their teeth.
  • Implant-supported dentures – These dentures are often used with patients who have only lost some of their teeth. A thin metal bar with posts attached to it is implanted onto your jawbone, right under your gums. Once your gums heal, a denture is clipped onto the posts.

Best Benefits of Dentures

If you are missing two or more teeth, you may be a suitable candidate for dentures, so contact 4th Street Family Dentistry today for a consultation. It may be the first step between you and a strong, healthy set of teeth.   

They Prevent Bone Loss

When your natural teeth are firmly implanted in your jaw, they constantly stimulate the jawbone, keeping it in a state of perpetual regeneration at a cellular level. When teeth are lost and aren’t replaced, the jawbone doesn’t receive stimulation, and as time passes, the process of constant regeneration will stop and reverse, resulting in bone loss. Over time, more and more of your jawbone will be lost, eventually resulting in changes in your face’s shape.

Restores the Function of the Teeth

Although teeth serve an aesthetic purpose, their greatest role is functional. They enable you to bite and chew your food. This ability is compromised once you have gaps in your teeth. All types of dentures are designed to look and work like the real thing, and once they are installed, you’ll be able to eat your food with ease. 

They Improve Your Speech

When you speak, your tongue pushes against the back of the teeth to help you make the right sounds and speak properly. If you have one or more missing teeth, you may find it hard to pronounce certain words, leading to self-consciousness and difficulty speaking with others. With dentures, your tongue will have an adequate surface to push against, allowing you to speak clearly and confidently.

They Restore Your Appearance and Give You Confidence

A clean, bright smile is a major confidence booster. Additionally, your teeth prevent your lips and cheeks from collapsing inwards. With gaps in your teeth, you may feel self-conscious. Dr. Kristina Neda, a dentist in Georgetown, KY, says that most of her patients opt for dentures because of how great the transformation is.

You Will Have Fewer Diet Restrictions with Dentures

If you are missing most or all of your teeth, the number of foods you can comfortably eat is severely limited. Not only will this impact the quality of life you lead, but it may also affect your health if you aren’t getting enough nutrients. With dentures, the range of food you can comfortably bite and chew. So, you’ll be able to eat a diverse, healthy, and balanced diet without much pain or frustration.

Dentures Protect Your Remaining Teeth from Extensive Wear and Tear

If you still haven’t lost all of your teeth but do not undergo restorative dentistry, your remaining teeth will take on way too much stress. Dr. Chris Green, a cosmetic dentist in Parker, CO, says that handling a load that was meant for 32 teeth will cause your remaining teeth to wear down faster over time. With a well-fitted set of dentures, the load will be spread evenly among your teeth, sparing your teeth from too much wear and tear and extending their lifetimes.

As you can see, there are so many benefits of dentures! If you have lost all or most of your teeth, dentures may be the best solution for you. Statistics show that at least 48 million Americans are missing all of their teeth, so you’re not alone. Search “St. Pete dentist near me” to see whether dentures can work for you. They are great at restoring tooth aesthetics and functionality, and they will ultimately prevent bone loss and preserve the structure of your face. Contact 4th Street Family Dental today for a consultation.

When Does a Tooth Need to be Extracted?

when does a tooth need to be extracted - 4th Street Family Dentistry

When Does a Tooth Need to be Extracted?

Your permanent teeth are quite strong and ideally, they should last your entire life. With proper oral hygiene coupled with regular dentist appointments and a little bit of luck, your teeth will remain strong and healthy even as you advance in age. However, it doesn’t always play out like that in real life. Despite being sturdy and hard, teeth are susceptible to damage. If the damage is extreme enough, it can result in tooth loss. So under what conditions does a tooth need to be extracted?

Dentists in St. Petersburg agree that teeth are important and no one should let their oral health get to the point of tooth loss. In fact, Dr. Leeson, a dentist at 4th Street Family Dental, would prefer to save your teeth rather than pull it out. This can only be done if the problem is caught early enough. On top of a consistent oral health routine, you should visit the dentist every six months for a comprehensive exam and dental cleaning. However, if a tooth is too damaged to be restored, extracting it may be the only way to prevent the damage from spreading to the rest of your teeth. 

Seeing as the procedure is usually done after most other restorative measures have been ruled out, tooth extractions in St. Petersburg can only be carried out under certain circumstances. Additionally, you will later have to replace the missing tooth with an implant to fully restore bite function, aesthetics, and to prevent additional bone loss.

Extensive Tooth Decay

Your teeth require proper care to stay healthy and strong. This requires daily brushing and flossing coupled with regular dentist visits. If your oral hygiene is poor, plaque and bacteria will build on the surface of your teeth over time, resulting in tooth decay and cavities. If your cosmetic dentist in St. Pete catches the tooth decay in time, it can easily be treated. 

If the decay isn’t reversed in time, it will eat through the enamel and the dentin, granting bacteria access to the sensitive pulp underneath. Once the pulp becomes infected, your emergency dentist in St. Petersburg will prescribe a root canal to save the damaged tooth and to prevent the infection from spreading to the other teeth. If the damage is too extensive, pulling out the tooth may be the only viable option. 

Overcrowded Teeth

Also called dental crowding, this happens when there isn’t enough space on the jawbone for permanent teeth to grow in straight. This results in crooked teeth that overlap each other, affecting your bite. Not only does this make it difficult to chew and eat, but it makes it virtually impossible to properly clean and floss. Depending on the size of your jaw and how many teeth you have, the overcrowding can either be mild, moderate, or severe.

Since they are hard to clean, overcrowded teeth can collect plaque and germs. This increases your chances of tooth decay and gum disease. If you are suffering from overcrowded teeth, a dentist in St. Petersburg will have to extract one or more teeth to create room in your jaw. This will be followed up by braces to correct the position of the teeth. 

Impacted teeth

As our baby teeth fall all out, they are replaced by a permanent set designed to last the rest of our lives. However, when the permanent tooth doesn’t properly erupt through the gums, it is considered impacted. This happens when the jawbone doesn’t have enough space to hold the new tooth, and it usually involves the wisdom teeth. Dr. Cody Boals, an emergency dentist in Colorado Springs, says it can also be caused by irregular tooth growth, over-retained baby teeth, having extra teeth, and dental trauma.

An impacted tooth may result in:

  • Bad breath and a constant bad smell in your mouth, especially near the impacted tooth.
  • A gap in the teeth where the impacted tooth should emerge.
  • Tender, red and swollen gums.
  • Pain while opening or closing your mouth.
  • Persistent headaches that come on suddenly.

If you experience any of these symptoms, you may have an impacted tooth. Contact a St. Pete dentist near you to have the tooth extracted to prevent further damage. 

Gingivitis

Periodontal or gum disease is caused by continued poor oral hygiene, and it is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. When food debris isn’t removed from the surface of your teeth and gums, plaque and bacteria build up over time, inflaming and irritating the gum tissue. Your gums may bleed if you brush your teeth. If the condition isn’t treated at this stage, it advances to a more severe form of gum disease called periodontitis.

The plaque will spread and grow below the gum line, breaking down the tissue and connective bone that holds the tooth in place. As this progresses, the teeth become looser and looser and they may even fall. You may notice some of the following if you have gingivitis:

  • Red, swollen and tender gums.
  • Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth
  • Gums that bleed during and after tooth brushing
  • Receding gums
  • Looser or shifting teeth

For most emergency dentists in St. Pete, tooth extraction is often the last resort. Taking proper care of your teeth and visiting the dentist every six months will keep major dental issues at bay. However, if you are experiencing any of the conditions described above, do not suffer in silence. Contact 4th Street Family Dental today for a consultation.

Signs It’s Time to Visit the Dentist

Signs it's time to visit the dentist - 4th Street Family Dentistry

Signs it’s Time to Visit the Dentist in St. Petersburg

Has it been awhile since you went to visit the dentist for a dental examination? We get it, life can be busy. If you don’t experience any tooth pain, it’s all too easy to skip those regular appointments. Perhaps you have a fear of the dentist? 

Did you know that those dental examinations and professional cleanings can actually help to prevent the majority of dental issues? If you’ve neglected or avoided going to the dentist, consider these signs, it’s time to visit the dentist.

Pain, In Teeth or Gums

A toothache can range in severity from mild to excruciating. Whether the tooth pain comes and goes or is constant, this is usually a sign of a tooth infection. Pain should be indicative of needing to see Dr. Leeson, an emergency dentist in St. Petersburg.

The inflammation and discomfort that you’re feeling are likely due to a cavity and other serious decay. These issues will not usually resolve on their own. Don’t delay coming in to see your St. Petersburg dentist until the pain is unbearable. A small cavity can be treated with a dental filling, but more advanced decay could need a root canal or dental crown.

Pain in the Jaw, Signs of Bruxism

Do you grind your teeth while you’re sleeping? This condition, known as bruxism, is quite common. Many of us don’t know that we grind our teeth in our sleep until someone points it out to us. It can lead to pain in the jaw, cavities, and even cracks on your teeth. It is also, of course, possible that the pain in your jaw is being triggered by a cavity and an abscess in the tooth.

Gum Irritation and Bleeding

Do your gums bleed when you brush your teeth? It is possible that you are too aggressive when you brush. But it could also be indicative of an issue with your gums. Gum disease, in all of its stages, is thought to have an impact on more than half of the adults living in the United States. If you have swelling, redness, and signs of developing a tooth abscess, along with loose teeth, you may have periodontitis. During your visit to the best dentist in St. Petersburg, FL, we can address the gum disease and offer a dental treatment plan that will improve your oral health.

Constant Dry Mouth

Does it feel like your mouth is always dry? Ruling out any other potentially serious medical concerns, such as diabetes, it could be that you’re struggling with dry mouth. Without enough saliva in the mouth, there is an increased risk of decay. This is because the saliva in our mouths helps to neutralize acids, and naturally rinse away food debris and bacteria. It also aids in digestion. A visit to your St. Petersburg dentist can help to identify the source of your dry mouth. Dr. Lesson can also recommend solutions while identifying any cavities or other damage that will require tooth repair.

Struggles with Bad Breath

It’s normal to experience a bit of unfriendly breath after your morning cup of coffee, or perhaps a garlic-dense meal. However, if brushing and flossing don’t seem to do anything to resolve your bad breath struggles, it could be that you have something else that needs to be addressed.

Dr. Chris Green, a dentist in Parker, CO, says that bad breath could be as the result of a cavity, gum disease, or other serious medical conditions. The fastest way to resolve it is with a visit to your dentist, to rule out and address the potential issues.

Preventative visits and routine cleanings can keep your teeth healthier between visits, and help to keep pain at bay. If you have any questions about your oral health or our dental services in St. Petersburg, contact 4th Street Family Dentistry today! We’re happy to answer any questions or concerns. 

Causes of Tooth Pain

common causes of tooth pain - 4th Street Family Dentistry

Common Causes of Tooth Pain

If you have ever felt the misery of tooth pain, you know how rotten it can make you feel. When it comes to toothaches, our St. Petersburg patients know that they can rely on us to relieve their tooth pain. The first step to getting you out of pain is finding out what the cause of your tooth pain is. Do you know what some of the most common causes of tooth pain are? Read below to learn more.

Decay of One or More Teeth 

Cavities are perhaps the most common cause of tooth pain. Tooth decay happens as a result of the bacteria in the mouth eroding the tooth enamel. If the decay is not addressed in its early stages, it can eventually expose the nerves inside of the tooth.

Tooth decay is quite preventable, with good oral hygiene. Brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing once a day, and using quality mouthwash can help to keep the bacteria in your mouth under control. If you do have tooth decay, you’ll appreciate how Dr. Leeson, the best dentist in St. Petersburg FL, treats the decay and restores your smile.

Periodontal, or Gum, Disease

Gum disease is a common concern faced by men and women of all ages. It becomes a reality when the bacteria in the mouth forms tartar on the teeth, at or below the gum line. The bacteria can lead to pockets of inflammation that can quickly cause a tooth abscess. Most patients have no idea they have gum disease. That’s why our friends at Digi-Doc recommend that all dental offices have intraoral cameras or high-quality dental x-ray systems. If you are experiencing pain from gum disease, then it is time for you to schedule your deep dental cleaning. A professional dental cleaning at 4th Street Family Dentistry will help to clean and clear up the infection and inflammation.

A Direct Tooth Injury

When you experience a tooth injury, the tooth can become chipped, cracked or completely broken. Even if you don’t immediately feel pain in that tooth, you should consider it an emergency. Only a professional will know the extent of the damage. So, if you have a broken or chipped tooth, contact the best emergency dentist St Petersburg, Dr. Leeson. X-rays and an examination can be done and the tooth will be repaired if needed. Failing to address a broken tooth can lead to decay, resulting in the need for root canal therapy. It can also ultimately lead to tooth loss.

Impacted Teeth

Teeth that never fully erupted can become infected. This is quite commonly seen with wisdom teeth, which is why during a visit to our dental office in St Petersburg, FL, the dentist may recommend extracting the wisdom teeth sooner than later. The impacted tooth may simply exist for years, without causing any issues at all. Or it may become infected, and start to cause you significant pain. It’s often not worth taking the time to address the infection in wisdom teeth, but the recommended plan of treatment is to extract the impacted tooth/teeth.

Referred Pain From Sinusitis

If you have a sinus infection or sinusitis, you may have a fungal, viral, or bacterial infection that is causing inflammation and pain. The roots of the teeth on your upper jaw are close in proximity to your sinuses. This can lead to referred pain in your upper teeth. If x-rays and an examination don’t reveal a cause for your toothache, you may be referred to your primary care physician for further testing. It could just be that you need a round of antibiotics and steroids to resolve your sinusitis.

Resolving Tooth Pain

The best way to resolve the pain that you are feeling is to visit your St. Petersburg dentist. If x-rays and an examination of your mouth determine that decay is responsible for the pain, the answer may be a filling, root canal, or potentially a tooth extraction.

If, on the other hand, gum disease is responsible for the toothache, it may be that a root planing and scaling are necessary. You may also need antibiotics to control the bacteria in your mouth.

If the tooth is broken, chipped, or cracked, a filling may not be sufficient to restore stability and functionality to the tooth. A dental crown may be the better option to stabilize and protect the remaining natural tooth. 

Preventing Tooth Pain

While there are some very effective ways of treating tooth pain, the best cure is truly prevention, says Dr. O’Grady, an emergency dentist in Denver Highlands. Some types of toothache can’t necessarily be prevented, but gum disease and decay can be prevented simply by practicing good oral hygiene routines at home. Visiting our office for a dental cleaning and routine examination every six months can also help to prevent dental problems. 

Don’t ignore tooth pain. If you’re wondering, “Can a dentist near me help with my toothache?” You’ll be happy to learn that we offer comprehensive dental solutions to get you out of pain and get you smiling once again. 

Dentures FAQ: St. Pete Dentist

dentures FAQ - 4th Street Family Dentistry

Dentures FAQ

Whether you need full dentures or partial dentures, 4th Street Family Dentistry can help. Restorative dentistry can help drastically improve your day to day life. We also understand that you may have plenty of questions about this next step on your oral healthcare journey. Dr. Brian Leeson hears all manner of questions from his patients who can benefit from dentures. In this article, Dr. Leeson answers dentures FAQ asked questions that might set your mind at ease about the dentures that can help restore your smile.

Do Dentures Look Fake?

Perhaps in years past, dentures looked incredibly fake. Today, your dentures can be designed to closely resemble natural teeth. Those around you will be hard-pressed to figure out that you’re wearing dentures unless you tell them. Just as you’d experience with crowns fitted by a cosmetic dentist, partial dentures can be matched to your surrounding natural teeth so that you get a perfectly seamless smile that you’ll be proud of.

What is the Dentures Process Like?

With standard dentures, it can take several weeks and a few appointments. Impressions will be taken, molds will be built, and several fittings will be needed to ensure a comfortable fit and a normal bite.

The process can vary between individuals, so it’s important to speak to your St. Pete dentist about the steps that may apply to you and your oral healthcare needs.

What Type of Dentures Can I Benefit From?

This is a highly individualized process. You may benefit from just a partial denture, or you may be better suited for a full set of dentures. You may be a good candidate for affixed dentures, or you may be better suited for removal dentures. Dr. Kristina Neda, a dentist who offers dentures in Georgetown, KY, says that what works for you will be based entirely on your personal preferences, budget, and the health of your teeth and gums.

How Do I Take Care of My Dentures?

Your dentures should be treated just like your natural teeth. Whether they are affixed or removable, you should brush them and use a quality mouthwash. This will help keep your dentures in tip-top shape and go a long way toward keeping them fresh and clean. Fresh breath is a must, and brushing your dentures after every meal will help you ensure that your breath is always minty fresh.

Do Dentures Hurt?

When you meet with the best dentist in St. Petersburg, FL, Dr. Brian Leeson, you’ll find that we take steps to ensure your comfort levels are maintained at every step of the process. If you need to have some natural teeth extracted before getting your dentures, you may experience some discomfort. It should not be overly painful, however.

Getting fitted for your dentures should offer mild discomfort at the most. Restorative dentist in Shreveport, LA, Dr. Ben Kacos, says there may be some minor irritation when you first wear your new dentures. This should fade quite soon, as your mouth adjusts to wearing the dentures.

If you experience anything more than irritation or discomfort, remember to reach out to your dentist so that we can find a solution to boost your comfort levels and minimize pain.

Will Dentures Change the way I Speak?

Missing teeth will alter the way that you sound when you speak. Wearing partial or complete dentures can help to improve your speech. If you do find that it’s difficult to pronounce some words when you’re wearing your new denture appliance, simply practice saying the words out loud. Repeating the words will help you to better accustom to saying them. If you find that you sound different from your new dentures in the first few days, don’t get discouraged. It just takes a bit of time to adjust to speaking with your new smile.

Am I a Candidate for Dentures?

Any person who is missing one or more teeth can benefit from some type of dental prosthetic. Partial dentures are important for those who have just a few teeth missing, as they can help keep your remaining healthy teeth from shifting around in your mouth. Dentures will improve your speech, your ability to chew and enjoy food. Also, they will provide facial support, which can go a long way toward improving your smile and your overall appearance. 

Are you ready to learn more about how you may benefit from dentures? Visit your dentist near me, Dr. Leeson, to understand the health of your teeth and your gums. If you have questions about the dentures FAQ above, contact 4th Street Dentistry. You may even be a good candidate for implant-supported dentures. 4th Street Family Dentistry can also serve as the go-to emergency dentist St. Pete patients turn to when there are dental emergencies.

Do I Need a Root Canal?

4th Street Family Dentistry - Do I Need a Root Canal?

Do I Need a Root Canal?

For many patients, just hearing the simple words “root canal” are enough to strike fear and set off anxiety. According to Dr. Leeson, the root canal procedure has a bad reputation, which is very much undeserved. If your tooth pain is severe enough to warrant the procedure, you’ll find that undergoing the procedure can prove to be a relief. It can also reduce your risk of losing the tooth.

You may be wondering if you will need a root canal when you next visit with your St. Petersburg FL dentist Dr. Leeson. While you truly won’t know whether or not you could benefit from the procedure, there are some signs that you may need to have root canal treatment. 

Severe Tooth Pain

The clearest sign of an issue with a tooth is experiencing tooth pain. It’s not unusual to experience tooth pain, but what sets this pain apart will be the fact that you experience more pain when you eat, chew or otherwise apply pressure to the tooth.

The pain may be serious enough that it keeps you up at night, and does not respond well to over-the-counter pain relievers.

Discoloration in the Tooth

A tooth that is infected and suffering from serious decay may also change color. You may start to notice that a tooth that has been giving you a bit of trouble is starting to darken. Dr. Moghadam, a dentist in Easton, PA, says that this is due to the dentin inside of the tooth being infected or dead as a result of the infection. While this may give cause for embarrassment and concern, your cosmetic dentist Dr. Brian Leeson can offer solutions to restore the look of your tooth. A crown is often used after the root canal treatment to reinforce the tooth. A crown can restore the look of a healthy tooth instantly.

Tooth Sensitivity 

Tooth sensitivity isn’t entirely rare. Many people do have some type of sensitivity in their teeth. The fact that you experience sensitivity when enjoying cold or hot food and drinks do not necessarily mean that you will need root canal therapy. The key difference is that once you remove the source of the sensitivity and discomfort, the pain should stop if it’s not severe decay in the tooth. If it is, and you are in need of a root canal procedure, the sensitivity and discomfort will linger for some time. You may need to consider taking pain relievers before you can get the relief that you need.

Inflammation of the Gums

Did you know that it’s not just the tooth that can be symptomatic when it comes to an infection inside of the tooth’s root canals? Your gums can show some signs that the nearby painful tooth is in need of root canal therapy. Your gums may be swollen, tender to the touch and you may see a small, raised white bump on them. Our friend Dr. Josh Eastham, an emergency dentist in Grand Junction, says that if you are experiencing gum inflammation, that it’s important to see a dental professional before the problem worsens. Gum inflammation can lead to gum disease, which eventually causes permanent tooth loss.

According to your emergency dentist in St. Pete, there may be no immediate and outward indication that you are in need of root canal therapy. This is why it is so important to keep up with your routine checkups every six months. Pay a visit to the best dentist in St. Petersburg and learn more about the overall health of your teeth and gums. At 4th Street Family Dentistry, we love to keep you smiling.