Root Canal Therapy

Root Canal Therapy

We know you have a lot of St. Petersburg Dentists to choose from. Which is why we make every effort to provide a unique and personal experience for each and every one of our patients. We are 100 percent invested in top of the line dental technology, continued education and service. 

Root Canal Therapy: What to Expect

Root canal therapy is a common procedure used to treat infected or inflamed teeth. It is often the most effective way to save a tooth, and St. Pete Dentist, Dr. Brian Leeson offers this treatment for patients who need it. If you’re considering root canal therapy, here’s what you can expect from the procedure.

What Does Root Canal Therapy Involve?

Root canal therapy involves removing any damaged tissue from the root of your tooth. This includes cleaning out any bacteria that may be present and then filling the empty space with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha. Once this material has been inserted, the area is sealed off so that no further damage can occur. The process usually takes between one and three visits, depending on how many roots your tooth has and other factors such as the severity of infection or inflammation. The procedure itself typically takes around an hour to complete.

Pain Management During Root Canal Therapy

Many people worry about how painful root canal therapy will be, but in reality, most patients report very little discomfort – if any at all! Our team at 4th Street Family Dentistry in St. Pete are highly trained professionals and we use only the latest technologies and techniques to ensure that our patients have a comfortable experience during their root canal procedure. We also offer a variety of pain management options including sedation dentistry, which can help reduce anxiety or fear associated with dental procedures such as root canals.

Aftercare Tips For Your Tooth Following Root Canal Treatment
Once your root canal treatment has been completed, it’s important to take steps to ensure that your tooth remains healthy and that no further damage occurs. To do this, you should brush twice daily using a soft-bristled toothbrush and floss every night before bedtime to remove any food particles or plaque that may have built up on your teeth over time. You should also avoid eating hard foods or chewing gum for several days after your treatment as these activities could cause discomfort in your treated tooth area. Additionally, it’s important to visit St. Pete Dentist regularly for routine checkups and cleanings so that we can monitor the health of your teeth following root canal treatment.

Root canal therapy is a common procedure used by dentists for treating infected or inflamed teeth in order to save them from a tooth extraction or worse outcomes such as abscesses or bone deterioration due to infection spread throughout your jawbone structure. It’s important for those considering this type of treatment understand what is involved in order to make an informed decision about their oral health needs. We are committed to making sure our patients have everything they need in order to make an informed decision regarding their oral health care needs. We offer professional guidance on root canals, pain management options, and aftercare tips so our patients never feel like they’re going through this process alone. Contact us today if you’re interested in learning more about how root canal therapy works!

Why Are My Teeth Sensitive?

Why Are My Teeth Sensitive?

Why Are My Teeth Sensitive?

Have you ever felt pain or discomfort after eating a scoop of hot soup or a piece of ice cream? If that’s the case, you’re not alone. While discomfort from hot or cold meals may indicate a cavity, it’s also typical in individuals who have sensitive teeth, states Brian Leeson, dentist in St. Petersburg. Tooth sensitivity, also known as “dentin hypersensitivity,” is a condition in which the teeth experience pain or discomfort in reaction to particular stimuli, such as hot or cold temperatures. This may leave you wondering, “Why are my teeth sensitive?”

Reasons for Tooth Sensitivity

It may be a momentary or long-term issue, and it can affect one tooth, several teeth, or all of a person’s teeth. Various factors may cause it, but most instances of sensitive teeth can be resolved with a simple modification in your dental hygiene routine as instructed by dentist in St. Pete.

Symptoms

As a result of specific triggers, people with sensitive teeth may suffer pain or discomfort. This discomfort may be felt at the roots of the impacted teeth. The following are some of the most prevalent triggers:

  • Meals and drinks that are heated
  • Drinks and meals that are cold
  • Acidic foods and beverages chilly air sweet foods and drinks
  • Alcohol-based mouth rinses after brushing or flossing teeth

Your symptoms may come and go for no apparent cause over time. They might vary in severity from minor to severe. If they become unbearable it is important to give your emergency dentist St. Pete a call.

Causes

Because their enamel is thinner, some individuals have more sensitive teeth than others. The enamel is the protective outer covering of the tooth. The enamel of a tooth may be worn away in several ways, including:

  • Toothbrushing too vigorously
  • Using a harsh toothbrush
  • Eating or drinking acidic foods

A variety of factors may cause tooth sensitivity. Acid reflux, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), may cause acid to rise from the stomach and esophagus, wearing down teeth over time. In addition, the acid may wear away the enamel in conditions like gastroparesis and bulimia, which induce recurrent vomiting.

Gum recession may expose unprotected parts of the tooth, resulting in insensitivity.

Tooth decay, fractured teeth, chipped teeth, and worn-down fillings or crowns may expose the tooth’s dentin, resulting in insensitivity. If this is the case, you will most likely just have sensitivity in one tooth or area of the mouth rather than the whole mouth.

Following dental procedures such as fillings, crowns, or teeth whitening, your teeth may be momentarily sensitive. Sensitivity will be limited to one tooth or the teeth around the tooth that got dental treatment in this situation. This should go away in a few days.

Diagnosis

Make an appointment with 4th Street Family Dentistry if you are experiencing tooth sensitivity for the first time. Using our Healthline FindCare service, you may schedule an appointment with a dentist in your region. They may examine the condition of your teeth and search for issues such as cavities, loose fillings, or receding gums that might be causing the discomfort.

This is something your dentist can accomplish during a basic dental cleaning. First, they’ll clean your teeth and examine them visually. They may use dental equipment to feel your teeth for sensitivity, and they may also order an X-ray to rule out reasons such as cavities.

Treatment

You may attempt over-the-counter dental remedies if your tooth sensitivity is minor.

Select toothpaste that is particularly formulated for sensitive teeth. This toothpaste will not have any irritating components and may contain desensitizing compounds that prevent pain from reaching the tooth’s nerve.

Alcohol-free mouthwash is preferable since it is less irritating to sensitive teeth when it comes mouthwash.

Brushing softly and with softer toothbrushes might also help. Soft toothbrushes will be marked.

These cures usually need multiple applications to be practical. But, within a week, you should see a difference.

If non-prescription toothpaste and mouthwash don’t work, speak to your dentist about prescription toothpaste and mouthwash. In-office fluoride gel or prescription-grade desensitizing medications may also be used. These may assist in safeguarding your teeth by strengthening the enamel.

Treating Medical Conditions

Our friend Dr. Ben Kacos, Shreveport dentist, states that if underlying issues are causing your tooth sensitivity, you should address them before the enamel wears away and the teeth become damaged.

Brushing more gently and maintaining proper dental hygiene might help heal receding gums. In addition, your dentist may propose a gum transplant in situations of extreme sensitivity and pain caused by significant gum recession. This technique involves removing tissue from the palate and putting it over the tooth’s root to protect it.

By being conscious of not clenching or grinding your teeth throughout the day, you may learn to cease doing so. Reduced stress and caffeine use before bedtime may also help you avoid nighttime teeth grinding. If this doesn’t work, you may wear a mouthguard at night to protect your teeth from grinding.

Will It Go Away?

Talk to your dentist about a remedy if your tooth sensitivity is making it difficult to eat. Over-the-counter toothpaste and mouthwashes for sensitive teeth are widely available.

Consult your dentist about prescription toothpaste and mouthwash if they don’t work. If you have signs of cavities or possible root damage, you should schedule an appointment with your dentist right away so that you may obtain treatment and avoid consequences. These signs and symptoms might include:

  • A toothache out of nowhere
  • Localized sensitivity
  • Sharp pain
  • Staining of teeth
  • Pain when biting or chewing

If any of these symptoms occur be sure to contact our office as soon as possible.

When To See The Emergency Dentist

When To See The Emergency Dentist

When To See The Emergency Dentist

How can you know whether your aches and pains are normal or if you have a serious toothache to worry about? Your St. Petersburg dentist states, if left unaddressed, those apparently little issues may soon escalate into a toothache you’ll never forget. Here are some signs to know when to see the emergency dentist 33704.

Signs You Need Emergency Dental Care

Toothaches occur in a variety of forms, sizes, and pain levels. Knowing what constitutes an emergency and what does not might help you save money over time. Putting off your aches and pains might sometimes lead to a worse dental issue down the road. Because your body is so interconnected, pinpointing the exact reason for your dental pain might be challenging. A proper diagnosis from Dr. Brian Leeson is the most reliable approach to get quick toothache relief and maybe avoid a more serious problem.

Loose Tooth

You should never suffer loss of teeth as an adult. If you’ve noticed that your teeth are becoming loose, there are a few factors that might be causing this. Patients may have severe pain as a result of this, and you should seek emergency dentist St. Pete right away. Whether it was a sports-related injury or a traffic accident, you’ll want to make sure your teeth are healthy and robust. Even if your teeth seem to be in good shape, you should see an emergency dentist rule out any nerve or jaw injury. While nerve or jaw injury may not show symptoms right away, it is critical to get treatment before your situation worsens. It’s better to be safe than sorry in this circumstance, as it is in most.

Toothache

The intensity of your toothache may indicate that you should see your dentist for fast toothache treatment. If your toothache is minimal, there are a few home remedies that you might try. If not, you should make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible, since toothaches may be caused by a variety of factors. Treatment will be determined by the underlying cause, thus accurate diagnosis is essential for long-term toothache treatment.

For patients, preventing a toothache in the first place is desirable, but we understand that this isn’t always possible. Habits and lifestyle choices may get in the way, and before you realize it, you’re dealing with a toothache. See your dentist if your toothache has become more severe and the pain persists following sensitivity to warmth or touch.

Swollen or Aching Gums

While seeing your gums bleed after flossing isn’t ‘normal,’ it might be an indication of gingivitis or early gum disease. However, if your gums are bleeding excessively, often, and even leave your gums sore, there are several red flags to be aware of. These are some of the most frequent gum disease symptoms.

If your gums are hurting or swollen, though, your dentist will need to check them to see what’s wrong. Early detection of gum disease is critical for maintaining the health and integrity of your gums and teeth. Untreated symptoms of gum disease, in particular, may progress to the point of no return. Because gum disease progresses in phases, some patients will be unable to return their teeth to their previous level of health. Treatment for periodontal disease is totally dependent on where you are in the disease’s progression.

Swollen Jaw

Swelling of the jaw might be an indication of a severe infection. Salivary gland infection is one of them. If you have a swollen jaw, a terrible taste in your mouth, a fever, difficulty breathing, or swallowing, you should get emergency dental help right away. A bacterial infection caused by a blockage in your salivary glands is known as a salivary gland infection. Saliva may get clogged, preventing it from fulfilling its task of breaking down food and washing away microbes. While this form of infection is unusual, you should see a dentist about your symptoms before disregarding them.

Abscess

If you see signs of a tooth abscess, you should contact your dentist right away. An abscessed tooth is a painful infection that develops at the base of the tooth. This is usually caused by an untreated cavity or severe gum disease. It might also be caused by any damage to your teeth, such as a chipped tooth. Fever, a bad taste in your mouth, pus, and swollen glands are all symptoms of an abscessed tooth. The symptoms are similar to those of the majority of other illnesses, and treatment should be sought as soon as possible. An abscessed tooth usually needs surgery to ensure that the infection is adequately drained and treated.

Canker Sore Isn’t Improving

This usually applies to any lesions that have developed in your mouth and are refusing to go away. Canker sores are common, and they may strike anybody at any moment. Only if the sores persist or get infected should this be a matter of worry. If you have an open sore in your mouth that hasn’t healed after two weeks, see your doctor or dentist to determine what’s wrong.

Regular Migraines

Our friend Dr. Eastham, best dentist in Grand Junction CO, states that headaches may be caused by a variety of factors, including stress, illness, or eating something cold too fast. If your headaches have become persistent and recurrent, though, it might be an indication of something more. Because your teeth and skull are linked, any discomfort in your mouth or jaw might cause or contribute to a headache. If you grind your teeth on a regular basis, you may have bruxism. Patients who grind their teeth on a regular basis sometimes suffer from headaches. If you believe this is the case, see your dentist about any additional bruxism warning symptoms, such as worn down tooth enamel or increased tooth sensitivity. Wearing a mouth guard at night might occasionally suffice as treatment.

Numb Tooth

If you had a terrible toothache and then suddenly lost all sensation in your tooth, it might be an indication that the infection has progressed to the root. A tooth that is completely devoid of sensation is never a good indication. It’s possible that an abscess has reached your root, where your nerves reside, necessitating a root canal. Keep a watchful eye on your toothaches, since they might signify a significant dental problem that requires immediate treatment.

It’s important to pay attention to what’s going on in your mouth as a patient. Any major changes might indicate the presence of a larger problem. An emergency dental appointment is usually a smart option if you have a toothache and require toothache treatment. 

Make an appointment with our office today if you have any of these symptoms.

Healthy Teeth For the Holidays

healthy teeth for the holidays

Healthy Teeth For the Holidays

Dental health is so important, every month of the year. However, many of us often neglect our dental health when there’s a busy season of life, such as the holidays. However, it is essential to maintain healthy teeth for the holidays.

How to Maintain Healthy Teeth For the Holidays

Luckily, our team at 4th Street Family Dentistry is here to help! Today on the blog, Dr. Brian Leeson, dentist in St. Petersburg, shares how to maintain your healthy teeth for the holidays.

Try to Limit Your Sugar Consumption

Of course, we want you to splurge and treat yourself during the holidays! There are so many delicious treats to enjoy this season. However, don’t allow sugar, eggnog, and cookies get in the way of a beautiful smile. To keep your smile happy and bright this holiday season, we recommend trying to limit your sugar consumption. Our dentist in St. Pete’s explains that people tend to indulge and gorge during this festive time of year, and often forget to brush their teeth afterward.

Unfortunately, when you eat too many sweets your teeth may begin to rot and develop cavities. Treat yourself now and again, but don’t go overboard, and remember to brush and floss afterward. Without proper maintenance of your teeth, you might end up needing emergency dentist St. Pete.

Drink Water Between Meals

Drinking water is a great way to clear any extra gunk out of your teeth. We recommend drinking a full glass of water after every meal. This is a wonderful way to really clean your mouth and enhance saliva production.

Select the Appropriate Stocking Stuffers

Stockings are traditionally packed with sweets that cause cavities. This year, establish a new family tradition by putting a new toothbrush in each stocking to kick off the New Year. Dental accessories make for excellent stocking stuffers! Try adding some floss, fun toothpaste, and more for your loved ones.

Avoid Grazing

It’s normal to leave food out for folks to snack on throughout the day. “Grazing” not only contributes to weight gain over the holidays, but it also means that the bacteria in your mouth have continual food to consume, raising the risk of dental decay. To avoid this, serve food at mealtimes and hide leftovers away after everyone has eaten.

Chew Sugar Free Gum After Meals

Bethlehem Dentistry states, after a meal, chewing gum is a great way to unwind. It reduces snacking and creates more saliva, which helps to wash away germs that cause plaque development more rapidly. Make sure the gum you pick is sugar-free or includes xylitol, a natural sugar alcohol that aids in tooth decay prevention. After each meal, 20 minutes of chewing gum delivers significant cavity-fighting advantages.

We wish you a happy holiday season!

Don’t hesitate to call Dr. Leeson if you need assistance putting these holiday dental advice into action. We’re always happy to discuss your dental problems so that you can keep your smile bright and cheerful! Please contact us online or call 4th Street Family Dentistry to schedule an appointment!

Post Root Canal Care

Post Root Canal Care

Post Root Canal Care Guide

After your operation, your Dentist in St. Petersburg will send you home with instructions for pain management. Additionally, Dr. Leeson, the best dentist in St. Pete, will tell you how to care for your tooth while you recuperate. Importantly, following care instructions is especially crucial if you have a temporary filling or crown in place. Today on the blog, we cover post root canal care.

Right After the Root Canal

As the numbing medicine used during the treatment wears off, you may experience some discomfort in the region for a few days as everything heals. Additionally, there may be a slight stiffness in your jaw from having your mouth open for a lengthy amount of time during the process. These brief sensations are generally relieved by over-the-counter medications. However, your dentist in St. Pete may also prescribe harsher narcotic medicine. It is critical to carefully follow prescription recommendations, and because opioids can make you drowsy, you should use caution when driving a car or using dangerous machinery while taking them.

Though you may feel a little different feeling from your treated tooth than from your other teeth for a while, you should call your emergency dentist St. Pete right away if you notice any of the following symptoms:

  • Severe discomfort or pressure that lasts more than a few days
  • Swelling within or outside your mouth that is visible
  • Medication-induced hypersensitivity (rash, hives, or itching)
  • Your bite is uneven.
  • If a temporary crown or filling was used, it is removed (losing a thin layer is normal)
  • Symptoms that existed previous to treatment reappearance

Post Root Canal Care at Home

Wait until the numbness in your mouth has worn off before eating so you don’t bite your face or tongue. To avoid harming the treated tooth, do not chew or bite down on it until it has been entirely repaired by your dentist 33704. Remember to brush and floss as usual to keep the region clean and avoid infection.

Following the completion of your root canal and any follow-up appointments, you will need to return to your dentist for a final crown to properly repair the tooth. Dr. Ben Kacos, emergency root canal Shreveport LA, explains that it is critical that you schedule this consultation as soon as your dentist has finished working on your tooth. We agree – a tooth that has been properly treated and repaired can live as long as your original teeth.

Contact 4th Street Family Dentistry Today

Brushing and flossing your teeth, getting regular exams and cleanings, and returning to your dentist if you suffer discomfort or swelling in the future are all ways to take care of your teeth. It is conceivable for a successfully treated tooth to require treatment again, even years after the first surgery, although this is rarely the case, and the tooth may frequently be kept. Contact 4th St Family Dentistry today to schedule an appointment.

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!

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.

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.