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• Medications – let your dentist know about any medications you are currently taking.
• Previous dental work – tell your dentist of any dental work that you had before. The exam will show the fillings, but you may want to talk about cosmetic procedures or dentures that you may have.
• Allergies – as any doctor, your dentist will need to know about your allergies. You will get a chance to jot down the list of allergies when you fill out the patient information form.
• Pregnancy – there are certain procedures, such as dental x-rays, that are not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

At the initial exam you will meet your dentist and your hygienist. We have great staff in our Virginia Beach dental office that is always happy to help you. We will take your bite x-rays and a full mouth x-ray that will help us identify any problems that you might have. You will talk to your dentist and determine your individual treatment plan.

Please contact our Virginia Beach dental office for more information and to make an appointment. Keep your teeth healthy and smile bright!

One reason we look forward to the Christmas season is the food. This is the time of year our favorite coffee shops roll out the gingerbread-flavored lattes and the pumpkin bread, we’re guaranteed at least one huge turkey dinner this month, and there’s probably enough candy in the house to distribute to a hundred neighborhoods next Halloween. One can easily gain weight in this time, and that’s an obvious concern, but we probably don’t think much about our teeth and the probability that we’re putting them at risk.

Think about it: if we eat more sweets in a short period of time, we’re eating more sugar. We eat more sugar, we increase the risk of damage to tooth enamel. If we don’t compensate for the spike in sweets consumed over Christmas by brushing and flossing better, we could encounter problems during our next dental visit. Nobody wants to start off the new year with a cavity or the prospect of drilling, so be careful when you eat and drink at holiday gatherings.

What can you do to help keep your teeth healthy and strong this season? It’s easy to say we’re going to do our best to lay off the chocolate, but temptation is strong. You don’t necessarily have to deprive yourself of the foods you love, but moderation is key to good dental health.

One of the best things you can do to help your teeth is to stick with water. Yes, the holidays are full of coffees and cocoas and fizzy punches, but water is the best thing for you healthwise. Sodas and carbonated punches are not good for your enamel and should be avoided or severely limited any time of year. Cocoa is nice for an occasional treat, but it is caloric (depending on how it’s made) and the sugar presents a problem. If you’re a coffee drinker, you know to be extra vigilant when brushing. Brush after every meal if you can.

Whenever possible, balance your holiday food with veggies and teeth-friendly foods like cheese, limiting the Christmas candy. If you’re baking this year, look into alternative ingredients that not only lower the fat content of your sweets, but also the sugar content. If it’s possible, cut down on sugar ingredients in your recipes – you may need to play around to improve taste, but if it keeps you health it’s worth the trouble.

Enjoy your holidays and don’t feel bad about indulging this year. Just be mindful of what you enjoy.

We all have our weaknesses. There are times where I feel I can’t get through the rest of a day without having a bite of chocolate. I know too much will do damage in many ways, so I am careful to enjoy it in moderation. That means, too, that I do brush my teeth afterward so as not to bring on any lasting problems. When we get too involved in our vices, however, we’re warned to pull back so we don’t incur various health problems. We should also think of our teeth.

Every day there seems to be a story in the news warning us against this type of food or that type of activity. Vices are called just that because they help us relax and relieve stress. Some may not be habit-forming, and not all will cause physical or mental harm, but it’s important to know how a favorite vice of yours can affect your dental health. Let’s take a look at some things you may enjoy and how you can head off potential problems with your smile.

Red Wine: Some studies have a shown that a glass of red wine can help reduce the risk of heart ailments, but unfortunately it can stain your teeth. The acid level of red wine in particular can cause damage if unchecked, so it’s a good idea to have a healthy snack when you imbibe. Cheese is the most obvious pairing, and it actually does help reduce the acidity in your mouth. Fresh fruit like apples and pears are also good to help keep stains at bay. Don’t forget to brush afterward.

Tobacco: Smoking isn’t necessarily a good habit to develop, but if you must have that morning or after dinner smoke you should rinse with water when you are done. If you’ve been smoking for a while, stains can be stubborn, but you may want to try a toothpaste with baking soda or consult with your dentist about whitening options.

Sugar: Sweets may not necessarily stain, but sugar is not exactly a tooth’s best friend. When you enjoy a slice of cake, a candy bar, or another favorite treat, be sure to brush not long afterward. Drink water if you can, and even consider a treat that isn’t as sugary. Sugarless gum or fruit, for example.

If you know how to take care of your teeth, you can have your cake and eat it, too. Just be sure to brush!

How often have you heard that the one thing that makes you appear most beautiful is your smile? Indeed, you can have a bad hair day or feel upset that your favorite jeans feel a bit tighter than usual, but present your best smile to the world and people don’t seem to notice the flaws. If you’ve had dental issues of late, you may have considered cosmetic dentistry as a means of improving the look and health of your teeth. Finding the right procedure for you, though, could be tricky, but with a bit of advice from your dentist you shouldn’t have any problems.

What sort of procedure should you get to improve your smile? This basically depends on what needs improvement. You may have a missing or chipped tooth, an overbite, a tooth that is smaller or larger than it should be (which in turn makes your mouth look crowded or gapped), or teeth that have become discolored due to age or coffee or tea drinking. Whatever the issue with your teeth, there is a procedure that can help you improve the face and smile you present to friends and family.

When you next visit your dentist, ask about any of the following and determine which is right for you:

Porcelain Veneers – A veneer often refers to a thin layer of protection, and is a term used often in construction. For the dentist, a porcelain veneer is used to cover a tooth and change the way it looks. Veneers have been used to help brighten teeth and conceal cracks, and to correct a misshapen tooth.

Fixed Bridge – If you are missing teeth due to an illness or injury, you have the option of a permanent bridge that fills in the gaps with artificial teeth designed to last. With a bridge, you will regain the proper shape of your smile and experienced improved chewing and speech.

Teeth Straightening – As kids, we dreaded the possibility of braces and living with “metal mouth” for several years. These days, however, there are more attractive options for teeth straightening. Clear aligners allow you to go about your day without people realizing you’ve had dental work. When you wear the specially designed mouthpiece, it works to align your teeth properly while you eat what you wish.

Cosmetic dentistry may be the right option for you if you require work to correct a smile, replace missing teeth, or brighten enamel. Talk with your dentist today about your choices.

What can be a cause of a root canal?

The common reasons for root canals are:

• Tooth decay – tooth decay may invade the tooth and infect it.
• Trauma – the nerve can get exposed from the chipped or broken tooth.
• Aging – the teeth age and dye because of the unhealed past traumas. The damage may be insignificant but it can lead to bigger problems such as a root canal.

Root canal therapy:

The root canal therapy is a treatment procedure performed by your dentist. The number of visits may vary depending on a particular situation, infections and abscess.

A simple procedure includes:

Dental X-ray – Your dentist performs a “periapical x-ray” to display the entire tooth on the film. This allows your dentist to see the damage more clear and determine the treatment easier.

Anesthesia – You dentist will usually put you under a local anesthesia to “numb” your tooth.

Drilling – The dentist begins the procedure by drilling a hole to assess the nerve of the tooth.

Nerve Removal – The nerve and infected tissue is removed from your tooth. Your dentist uses files and instruments to ensure that all the damaged tissue is removed from the tooth.

Sealing – Once the tooth has been cleaned, absorbent paper points are used to dry the area out completely. The special materials are used to seal the tooth.

Filling – After removing the remaining decay your dentist places the filling.

These are just the basic steps of a root canal procedure, please contact your Virginia Beach dentist for more information.