When Is It Time to See the Dentist?

/0 Comments/in /by

Do you know how often you’re supposed to see the dentist in Las Cruces, NM? We can help! It’s important to see the dentist for periodic cleanings and examinations. You should also see the dentist when you notice symptoms of a problem or when you’re having an emergency. Here’s what to know.

See the Dentist for Regular Appointments Twice Per Year

Most dentists recommend that their patients come for a dental cleaning in Las Cruces, NM, twice annually. During these twice-per-year dental appointments, the dental professional will clean your teeth and examine your teeth for problems. Your dentist may also give you a fluoride treatment or may x-ray your teeth if you haven’t had this done in a while.

Visit the Dentist If You Notice Symptoms and When It’s An Emergency

Watch your teeth for signs of a problem. If you notice any of the following problems, contact your dentist to make an appointment:

  • Sudden increased sensitivity in one tooth or one area of your mouth
  • Pain when chewing or pain at unpredictable times
  • Gums bleed, particularly when brushing your teeth

The following are dental emergencies. Contact your dentist as soon as possible if you have any one of the following problems:

  • Loss of a permanent tooth
  • Tooth is cracked, chipped or broken
  • Severe pain in one of your teeth, accompanied by swelling in the gums and nearby cheek
  • Injury and bleeding in the mouth

Whether you need a standard dental cleaning or you have a dental emergency, contact University Family Dental. We’ll be happy to clean your teeth, provide a diagnosis for your condition and help restore your teeth to good health. Call today to make an appointment.

What to Do When You Lose a Crown

/0 Comments/in , /by

It can be exceptionally frustrating to lose a crown, particularly when it’s sold as a product that lasts. Unfortunately, it’s relatively common for a crown to either fall off or be pulled off long before it’s supposed to. Sometimes crowns fall off or break because you ate something particularly sticky or hard, but sometimes the adhesive fails because your enamel is starting to wear away. If you have a crown in Las Cruces, NM, we’ll look at what you should do if you lose one.

Steps to Take

Here are the major steps to take:

  • Make an appointment: It doesn’t have to be with your regular dentist — particularly if you think that the crown was pulled off due to faulty work. However, it’s important not to leave the tooth vulnerable for very long.
  • Rinse and recover the crown: You may not have to get a new crown if the one that fell off is still in good shape. Rinse it off and hold onto it before bringing it to a dentist in Las Cruces, NM.
  • Protect the tooth: Products at the drugstore, like dental wax or cement, may be able to give your tooth temporary support. Ideally, you’ll be able to see your dentist right away, but this isn’t always possible. In addition, you should avoid chewing or eating on that side to avoid additional damage.

Talk to a Dentist in Las Cruces, NM

While the frustration is real when it comes to losing a crown, the good news is that it’s also entirely fixable. At University Family Dental, we have restorative dentistry services that can help you rebuild your smile from the ground-up. Here, we can either reattach the crown you lost or provide you with a new one.

 

What Causes Loose Teeth? 

/0 Comments/in /by

Having loose teeth as an adult isn’t normal. Many people go their whole lives without any problems with loose teeth. Others have loose teeth conditions get worse over time. What causes loose teeth, and why do some people suffer from this while others have no much healthier teeth?

Poor Dental Hygiene

One main cause of loose teeth is poor dental hygiene. Your dental hygiene needs to be good from the time you’re a child all the way through your entire life. Unfortunately, many adults fail to maintain good dental hygiene for one reason or another. They may suffer from dementia, which inhibits personal care habits, or they may just have fallen into bad habits in general. Whatever the reason, not brushing, flossing and rinsing can lead to loose teeth.

The reason this happens is that bacteria end up eating away at the teeth below the gum line. A pocket is then formed where the tooth meets the gum line. This is a place where food gets stuck, which in turn feeds more bacteria. Eventually, the gum tissue is no longer tight against the tooth, and the tooth gets loose.

Prescription Medication

Surprisingly, some prescription medications have side effects that can lead to loose teeth. The reasons may be unclear, but the results are the same. If you have loose teeth and are on prescription medication, check the fine print on your labels. Consider talking to your doctor about possibly changing medications if you feel the two are related.

Malnutrition

Older adults in America sometimes suffer unknowingly from malnutrition. This may be because of alcohol abuse or a lack of good eating habits. This malnutrition can lead to loose teeth. Unless vitamins and minerals are reintroduced back into the diet, the problem will persist and severe tooth loss may occur. If you suspect that malnutrition is a root cause of your tooth problems, consult with your personal physician as well as your dentist.

If you have one or more loose teeth, you need to visit your dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist may be able to save your teeth, or they may be able to offer you a solution such as dental implants. Contact us today for more information about your options in the even of loose teeth.

 

Should You Have Your Mercury Fillings Removed? 

/0 Comments/in /by

As time has gone on, more information has become available about the dangers of mercury fillings. Mercury in general is a hazardous substance. But in the past, it was commonly used as a dental filling because of its durability and ease-of-use. Almost everyone in over a certain age has mercury fillings in their mouth if they ever had a cavity filled. It is now possible to have mercury fillings removed and replaced with amalgam fillings, which are considered to be safer. But there are hazards associated with removing mercury fillings, just as there’re hazards associated with keeping mercury fillings in. So what is the right choice tonight? Should you have your mercury fillings removed?

The Dangers Of Having Mercury Fillings Removed

Mercury is a substance that releases vapors when is disturbed. One situation where papers could be released is when you have mercury fillings removed. The vapors could theoretically cause some health issues which you may not have previously had if you had kept your mercury fillings in place. So one of the main dangers of having mercury fillings removed is that those vapors will be released.

The Safety Of Keeping Mercury Fillings In

The other side of the argument is to keep your mercury fillings as they are. If your mercury fillings are not causing any problems if your health we’re with your dental health, there is a safety that should be considered in keeping mercury fillings in. In other words, there’s really no reason to fix something that isn’t broken.

Talk to Your Dentist

If you are seriously concerned about the dangers of mercury fillings, you should talk to your dentist. Your dentist will have more information about the arguments on both sides of keeping your mercury fillings or having them removed. In addition, your dentist can conduct a thorough visual examination of your feelings see if they are damaged in any way. If there is damage, your dentist make talk to you about the possibility of having your mercury fillings removed.

Alternately, the choice of whether to have your mercury fillings removed or keep them is to be made by you and your dentist. Always follow the advice of your dentist when it comes to your health. For more information about mercury fillings, please feel free to contact us.