Whether we want to admit it or not, we all experience it; the sudden, sharp pain that we can explain running through one of our teeth. We usually ignore it as long as possible before we go to the dentist, which can actually cause the problem to be harder to solve. Toothaches happen to everyone for reasons as small as a canker sore or as serious as gum disease. If you are experiencing severe toothaches or pain, schedule an appointment with a Lifepoint Dental office for emergency dental care today.(Portable X-ray Machine)
Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is the most common cause of toothache. Everyday exposure to harmful substances, such as sugars, acids, and starches, can wear down the enamel on your teeth. If these substances are left on teeth for an extended period of time, they form layers of plaque on teeth which then combines with bacteria to create tooth-eroding acid. While the early stages of tooth decay are fairly common, it is also easy to prevent. Brush and floss your teeth daily and schedule regular teeth cleaning and dental hygiene checkups at Lifepoint Dental in Ames, Ankeny, Des Moines or any of our convenient locations.
Infected Gums or Gum Disease

Swollen gums can be a result of plaque buildup as well. Along with dental hygiene, nutrition also plays a large role in the health of your gums; certain vitamin deficiencies, such as vitamin C, can cause inflammation in the gums. It is important to take the same dietary and food precautions for your gums, as you do your teeth. Brushing your teeth too often or too hard can also lead to gum inflammation and receding gumlines. Other causes might be Gingivitis or Periodontitis. The Lifepoint Dental Dentists can assist you if you think you might be suffering from gum inflammation related to disease.
Abscessed Tooth

An abscessed tooth can occur from a broken or chipped tooth. The opening in the tooth allows for bacteria to slip down into the pulp of the tooth. If you have a broken or abscessed tooth, Lifepoint Dental Partners can help with tooth repair and treatment!
Tooth Fracture

Breaking a tooth is awful, but it happens to the best of us! There are many different types of tooth fracture ranging from minor chips and cracks all the way to split teeth and cracks in the root. To prevent these oral injuries, be sure to wear a mouthguard if you are involved in activities that may involve trauma to the face. Ask your Lifepoint Dental office about their custom sports mouth guards! It is also important to note that good dental hygiene makes teeth stronger and more resistant to breakage. If you do have a tooth break, be sure to contact Lifepoint Dental Partners for any emergency tooth repair needs.
Old or Damaged Fillings

On average, a typical white tooth filling lasts 7-10 years. Just as dental hygiene affects the lifespan of your own teeth, it also affects the lifespan of your dental fillings. Patients who got fillings in their youth or early adulthood may experience a damaged filling in their lifetime. If you have a filling that has fallen out or is damaged, this may cause tooth pain as it leaves the nerve of the tooth exposed. Lifepoint Dental specializes in tooth repair and can fix any of your old or broken fillings.
Repetitive Motions

If you are a compulsive gum or ice chewer, you may be at risk of toothache. You may also experience jaw or tooth ache if you grind your teeth. These repetitive motions wear down the outer protective layer of your teeth and can cause mild to severe tooth pain. It is important to talk to your dental care provider about how to vary your routine and create healthy dental habits to prevent these from wearing down your gums or tooth enamel.
Lifepoint Dental Care: Your Central Iowa Family Dentist

If you are experiencing any kind of toothache or mouth pain, be sure to check out Lifepoint Dental for your family dentist. Lifepoint Dental has six different dental offices including West Des Moines, Ankeny, Marshalltown, Cedar Rapids, Ames and St. Charles, Missouri. Please contact us today to make an appointment and get your best smile back.(Teeth Whitening Machine)

Do you have bad breath? Don’t feel alone, over 4o million Americans alone suffer from bad breath. Bad breath or halitosis, can cause many to shy away from social activities, be anxious about meeting new people, and just mentally inhibit your every day interactions with people in general. This doesn’t have to be the case though. There are many ways to fix or manage bad breath so that it doesn’t take over your social life. Here is a list of 9 tips that you can do to help fix or manage your bad breath right away.（dental air compressor）
1. Brush and Floss more Often

I know I know. This seems to be all us dentists want to talk aout, “now be sure to floss everyday and brush after all meals.” Yes, we can sound like broken records at times but there is a reason for all of this repetition, it works! Like anything, it’s human nature to want to look for the shortcut, or to lie to ourselves that these simple everyday dental hygiene habits really don’t matter that much. But they most certainly do. If you do anything on this list, please make sure that this is the one thing that you make a permanent change with in your life. You’ll be very thankful when you get older and don’t have all of these dentist bills that others do not to mention keeping your original teeth!
2. Scrape or Brush your Tongue

Your tongue can be a breeding ground and safe harbor for tons of foul smelling bacteria. This bacteria needs to be removed on a daily basis just as it needs to be removed from your teeth and from in-between your teeth, otherwise bad breath is the by product of not doing so. You can accomplish this task easily enough with your toothbrush, but if you find your toothbrush to big or awkward to get back there effectively, then you can pick up a tongue scraper at most drug stores. Regardless of how you do this, be sure to add tongue scraping to your everyday routine and say bye bye to bad breath once and for all!
3. Avoid Foods that may Sour your Breath

Foods such as onions or garlic can stay on your breath for hours after you eat them even if you do brush after eating them. The reason being is that these foods travel into your bloodstream and lungs to where every time that you breath you will be breathing the remnant odors of these foods too. So try to avoid foods like these within a few hours of any social occasion.
4. Stop Smoking

I think we all know that smoking leaves one of the worst breath odors around, and that quitting will thus eliminate this constant source of bad breath. So kick the habit already and enjoy good breath again as that is just one of the many many benefits to kicking the bad habit or smoking.
5. Rinse your Mouth Regularly

Do you use mouthwash as a part of your everyday dental hygiene routine? If you don’t then don’t feel bad, as easy as rinsing is most people don’t do it. If you rinse with a mouthwash like Listerine before brushing, then it will  give you a “pre-wash” if you will, loosening up plaque and killing bacteria before your toothbrush ever even gets going. This will allow for an overall better cleaning of your teeth and mouth and therefore better breath on a daily basis.
6. Chew Gum Instead of Using Mints

Eating mints, or other sugar based candies, will help to promote the growth of bad breath causing bacteria in your mouth. Instead, try chewing sugarless gum as this will help to stimulate the saliva glands to produce saliva which acts as the moths natural defense against bad breath causing bacteria.
7. Keep your Gums Healthy

Gum disease or periodontal disease can be a huge contributing source of bad breath. What happens is pockets of bacteria get caught up in the areas of the gums where they border the teeth. This is usually caused by a lack of proper daily dental hygiene habits, especially a lack of flossing. This bacteria can really cause a foul odor to come from your mouth, or bad breath. So get your gum disease under control and you will also reap huge benefits in the bad breath department as well.
8. Look Out for Dry Mouth

Since saliva is your #1 natural defense against bad breath causing bacteria in your mouth it’s important to always keep the saliva faucet turned on. To do this just simply be sure to not let your mouth ever go dry. Whether you drink water or chew gum it’s important to keep your #1 line of defense against bad breath fighting on your behalf as mush as possible.（Dental Implant Equipment）

In some instances bad breath can be a cause of something else such as a sinus infection, post nasal drip, diabetes, or even liver or kidney disease. If you feel like you have tried everything there is to do and you still don’t have any positive results, then you may want to consult your doctor to see if some of these other health issues may be the root cause. We hope these tips can help to get you on the right track to fixing your bad breath and helping you to live an all around better quality of life starting now!

So your first question may be: what in the heck is a dental crown? Well, a dental crown is something that you put on your most dominant, or “king tooth” as we call it. JUST KIDDING! What a dental crown really is a “cap” that completely covers an existing tooth in order to restore the tooth’s shape, size, strength and overall appearance. Once cemented in place, a cap or crown (these terms are interchangeable) completely covers the visible portion of a tooth that lies at and above the gum line.
Why Might you Need a Dental Crown?(Autoclave Sterilizer)

Dental crowns are needed  for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons may be:

To protect or restore an already weak or broken tooth from weakening or breaking further
To support and cover a tooth which has a large filling when there is little tooth left
For cosmetic purposes, such as covering a severely discolored tooth
Sometimes they are used to hold a dental bridge in place
or to cover a dental implant

There are also many other reasons why a dental crown might be used, but these are some of the more common.
The Dental Crown Process

The process for getting a dental crown is a two visit process generally.
The First Visit

During your first visit the main goal is to prepare the tooth for the crown by doing a thorough examination of the subject tooth area. During this first visit, we may take a few X-rays to check the roots of the subject tooth and surrounding bone. If the tooth has extensive decay or if there is a risk of infection or injury to the tooth’s pulp, then a root canal treatment may first be performed. Before the process of making a crown begins, the tooth and gum tissue around the subject tooth will be anesthetized (made numb). After that, the tooth receiving the crown will be filed down along the chewing surface and sides to make room for the crown. However, if a good portion of the tooth is missing due to decay or damage, a filling material may be used in order to “build up” the tooth to support the crown.

After reshaping the tooth, a paste or putty will be used to make an impression of the tooth to in order to receive the crown. This impression is then sent off to a lab where it usually takes anywhere from 2-4 weeks for the dental crown to come back. However, in the mean time, you will be given a temporary crown which will help to protect the tooth from weakening any further even while your permanent crown is being made.
The Second Visit

This visit is a fairly easy one. Once the crown has come in, you will come in for your second visit which will be when the permanent crown is actually placed on the tooth. If the crown comes back with the correct size, shape, and color; we will then place a local anesthetic on and around the subject tooth area and then permanently cement your new crown into place.
How Long do Dental Crowns Last?

On the average, a dental crown will last between five and fifteen years. The large time variance depends on many factors such as how good your daily oral hygiene habits are, and if you have any other bad habits such as teeth grinding, chewing ice, opening bottles with your teeth, etc..
The Cost of a Dental Crown

Costs of crowns vary depending on what part of the country you live in and on the type of crown is selected. For example, porcelain crowns are typically more expensive than gold crowns, which are typically more expensive than porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns. Generally, crowns can range in cost from $500 to $900 or more per crown. A portion of the cost of crowns is generally covered by insurance. To be certain, check with your dental insurance company first. If you don’t have insurance ask us about our dental financing options.(dental laboratory equipment)

Periodontal (gum) disease is the most likely cause of a loose, permanent tooth. This progressive infection causes damage to the gums and bone tissues that hold teeth in place, leading to looseness and ultimately tooth loss.(oilless air compressor)

Gum disease, however, isn’t the only cause: although not as common, excessive biting forces over time may also lead to loose teeth. The excessive force stretches the periodontal ligaments that hold teeth in place, causing the teeth to become loose.

This condition is called occlusal trauma. In its primary form, the patient habitually grinds or clenches their teeth, or bites or chews on hard objects like pencils or nails. Generating 20-30 times the normal biting force, these habits can cause considerable damage. It can also be a factor when gum disease is present — supporting bone becomes so weakened by the disease, even normal biting forces can cause mobility.

If you recognize the early signs of grinding or clenching, particularly jaw soreness in the morning (since many instances of teeth grinding occur while we sleep), it’s important to seek treatment before teeth become loose. The symptoms are usually treated directly with muscle relaxants, an occlusal guard worn to soften the force when teeth bite down, or stress management, a major trigger for teeth grinding. The sooner you address the habit, the more likely you’ll avoid its consequences.

If, however, you’re already noticing a loose tooth, treatment must then focus on preserving the tooth. Initially, the tooth may need to be splinted, physically joined to adjacent teeth to hold it in place while damaged tissues heal. In some cases, minute amounts of enamel may need to be removed from the tooth’s biting surfaces to help the tooth better absorb biting forces. Other treatments, including orthodontics and gum disease treatment, may also be included in your treatment plan.

If you notice a loose tooth, it’s critical you contact us as soon as possible for an evaluation — if you delay you increase the chances of eventually losing it. The earlier you address it, the better your chances of preserving your tooth.(electronic apex locator)

The first thing you need to do is sterilize your dental handpiece. This ensures a clean, safe repair.（Portable X-ray Machine）

Then you can visit my website, download the handpiece repair form and shipping label and print them out.

Fill out the repair form completely, and please give as much detail as possible about the problems you are experiencing with your handpiece. Make a copy of your completed repair form so you can refer back to it, if needed.

Make sure to leave your handpiece in the sterilization pouch and box up your handpiece. Please include the dental handpiece repair form in the box with the handpiece, so I can identify the owner of the handpiece as well as the problems you are experiencing. Put the shipping label on the box and send it to me from your local post office. I recommend insuring your package.

…and those are the steps to get your dental handpiece prepared for the repair. You can expect a 24 to 48 hour turnaround for high speeds, 7 to 10 days for electric and low speed handpieces. As always, feel free to call me at 800-569-5245 with any questions. Thank you.（Teeth Whitening Machine）

Do you feel anxious before every dentist appointment? If the answer is yes, you are not alone—more than 75 percent of Americans feel anxious when visiting their dentist. Today, Dr. Chris Proctor and Dr. Richard Gore and our team thought we would provide some tips to reduce your stress about visiting our Abilene, TX office.(oilless air compressor)

The first thing we want you to do is plan ahead. If at all possible, book an appointment at a time when you know you won’t be in a rush to get somewhere else, such as picking up your children from school or an important meeting at the office. We also recommend you avoid caffeine and sugar prior to your visit as too much of either can make you feel even more anxious, not to mention jittery.

Once you’re here at our office, take some slow, deep breaths to relax. Then, try to relax your muscles by sitting back comfortably. If you are still feeling anxious, let Dr. Chris Proctor and Dr. Richard Gore or someone on our team know. We deal with nervous patients all the time and may have additional relaxation techniques for you to try. If you’d like, we also encourage you to bring headphones and listen to music of your choice to distract yourself while we work on your teeth.(dental x-ray machine)

If you have additional questions about relaxation techniques, or would like to schedule an appointment, please give us a call!

But all too often our smiles are remembered for the wrong reasons. Many of us are embarrassed by our smiles … but we don’t have to be. At Cottage Dental Care, we want to help you make the best first impression possible by giving you the best smile possible.

At Cottage Dental Care we can help correct any issue that might make you hesitant to flash that smile everywhere you go. One such option available at Cottage Dental Care is braces, which can be used to correct a variety of dental issues from crooked, crowded, and missing teeth to jaw alignment and bite correction. Braces aren’t exclusively used with adolescents. Orthodontic evaluation and treatment can provide benefits to people of all ages. You’re never too old for orthodontics!

Straight teeth provide more than just a better image – they make overall oral health care easier. They’re easier to clean, lead to better gum health and are less likely to chip or grind. Braces not only improve your smile, they may also prevent expensive dental procedures down the road.

If your smile is remembered for all the wrong reasons, it’s time to make a change. With so many orthodontic options available, you don’t have to live your life embarrassed by your smile! Leave a lasting impression with a terrific smile! Let Cottage Dental Care in Bloomington, IL improve your smile, your confidence, and your oral health with braces. Contact us today to set up a consultation appointment. Come visit us at Cottage Dental Care – where a “Healthy Mouth is a Healthy Body” and you’ll always be treated like family.(Micro Motor Handpiece)

Dental treatments like root canals and tooth-colored bonding aren’t just for adults. In fact, children sometimes require the same dental treatments that adults routinely get — though not always for the same reasons. For example, an adult may need a root canal to save a permanent tooth that’s in danger of being lost due to trauma or extensive decay. But since a primary (baby) tooth will be shed anyway, why go to the same trouble for it?(dental air compressor)

One reason is that the primary teeth function as guides for the permanent teeth, which are forming beneath them. Saving a baby tooth now aids in maintaining proper tooth spacing, and may help prevent a future malocclusion (“mal” – bad; “occlusion” – bite) — which could require costly orthodontic treatment later. Likewise, the application of dental sealants — plastic coatings that fill in tiny pits and crevices in the teeth that are prone to cavities — can prevent decay from gaining a foothold in the mouth.

Minor fractures or chips in the teeth, whether they result from sports injuries or simple childhood exuberance, are often repairable with tooth-colored bonding materials. These can be used successfully on primary or permanent teeth and are nearly indistinguishable from natural teeth — so there’s no reason to delay treatment.(Micro Motor Handpiece)

Talking The Mini Handpiece

Small-headed handpieces are nothing new. I’m guessing most of us have owned one at some point in our careers. We’ve been enamored by their compact size but underwhelmed by their ability to cut tooth structure. We also don’t care for the high-pitched screeching often associated with earlier generation models. Ultimately, they have found their way to the rear of our “back-up” handpiece drawer, and we only look for them when we’re called upon to restore the disto-buccal of No. 18 on a patient who has ultra-limited opening.detachable scaler handpiece

We then go searching for the short shanked burs because our mini handpiece doesn’t work with normal length cutting instruments. They’re on the shelf somewhere. This has to sound familiar!

(Unless of course you are a pediatric dentist who uses micro handpieces on a daily basis.)

A few months back the good people at J. Morita asked if I would like to try out their soon-
to-be-introduced TwinPower Ultra series handpieces. I was told I would be quite surprised by the ability of such a small handpiece to cut like a full-sized counterpart. I thought to
myself, “Sure…what have I got to lose? Try it for a day and then give it back

People with dental problems aren’t necessarily going to the dentist as much as they did in the past.

A recent study shows that general practitioners are seeing patients with dental issues on an increasing basis in the United Kingdom. According to a recent survey, 87 percent of general practitioners feel under pressure to deal with dental health problems, such as toothaches or mouth ulcers.

With more people seeking medical care in the United Kingdom, the general practitioners are dealing with the issue of trying to fit in all of their patients. The other problem is that these physicians don’t have the training or knowledge to deal with oral problems, whereas dentists can provide the specific treatment for each condition.

Dentists are also more likely to notice oral cancer or even signs of oral cancer. It’s important for people to be aware of the possible signs of this type cancer and take advantage of the screening programs.
November is Mouth Cancer Action Month in the United Kingdom.

led teeth whitening