Root canal therapy is a treatment that works on clearing an infection inside of the tooth. When a tooth becomes cracked, the sensitive nerves and blood vessels inside are exposed and can become infected if not treated. Only 2 options become available at this point: extraction and root canal therapy. If you do not wish to lose a tooth, root canal therapy is the choice for you. A general dentist is able to preform this procedure, but for extreme cases, they may refer you to an endodontist, a dental professional who speciailizes on the inner workings of the teeth. The length of time also depends on the severity, ranging from one visit to three visits.

After numbing the area, the dentist will insert a dental dam to prevent any saliva or bacteria from entering the area being worked on. Then, creating a small opening, they will clear out the infected pulp and replace it with a material to protect the root. The filling is then covered by cement. For those prone to infections, a crown may be suggested.

If you suffer from grinding or clenching your teeth at night, a night guard might be the best choice for you. Night guards help keep the jaw joints stable and prevent damage to both the joints and your teeth by minimizing the effects of clenching and grinding. This condition is known to the dental world as bruxism and while it usually occurs at night which makes diagnosing it tricky, bruxism can occur during the day as well, usually due to stress.

There are a few symptoms to look out for though so you can visit your dentist as soon as possible to diagnose your bruxism and get a night guard. These symptoms include:

• Tooth pain
• Jaw pain
• Frequent headaches (especially in the morning)

Failure to diagnose bruxism and the damage to your teeth and jaw can turn into these symptoms:

• Worn, fractured, and cracked teeth
• Hearing Loss
• Tooth Sensitivity

A dental bridge is a false tooth or a set of false teeth are are placed in the gaps where original teeth have gone missing. Crowns are placed on the surrounding healthy teeth to get the bridge stable and in place.

Visit the dentist as soon as a tooth is knocked out for your best chances of a successful procedure. Wait too long and the surrounding teeth may begin to shift out of alignment since there’s room for them to move now. An x-ray will be taken to evaluate the damage as well as the jawbone in case implants will be required instead. Once the procedure has been confirmed, the surrounding teeth will be shaped so that they will be able to support the sides of the bridge. An impression of the teeth will then be made and sent off to a lab where the bridge will be created. Once the brudge has arrived back to the dental office, it will be tested for a proper fit before being cemented in place.