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Tooth Abscess Treatment Near Me, Litchfield MN
An abscessed or infected tooth is a dental problem caused by bacteria penetrating through your tooth enamel and dentin to reach the pulp (pulpitis), such that pus begins to collect within. It can also occur when bacteria gets trapped in deep gum pockets. This results in a number of unpleasant symptoms, including:
- Throbbing pain in the tooth
- Pain in the surrounding areas, such as the ear, lower jaw, and neck
- Soreness of infected tooth and surrounding area when biting
- Pain in the teeth when consuming hot or cold foods and drinks
- Bad taste in your mouth
- Fever and general feeling of being unwell
- Difficulty opening your mouth and swallowing
Types of tooth abscesses
If you suspect that you have a tooth infection, you should visit your dentist immediately for diagnosis and/or emergency treatment. Your dentist may discover one of two types of tooth infections:
- Periapical abscess – It is the most common type of tooth infection. It happens when you have a hole in the tooth enamel, which allows bacteria to enter and make its way to the pulp. The bacteria infects the pulp and spreads to the bone surrounding the tooth, causing a pocket of pus to form at the tip of the tooth root
- Periodontal abscess – This type of abscess is the result of untreated gum disease. The infected gum tissue becomes inflamed and begins to move away from the bottom of your tooth. This creates a gap that is difficult to clean, allowing bacteria to build up. Ultimately, a pocket of pus forms at the side of the tooth root to form a periodontal abscess.
Treatment options
Cases of dental abscess are treated by draining the pus and resolving the infection by removing the damaged tissue from the pulp. Additional remedies may include:
- Over-the-counter medication to help with the pain
- Antibiotics to stop the spread of the infection
- Root canal therapy and then capped with a dental crown to strengthen it
- Tooth extraction and replacement with a partial denture, bridgework, or dental implant.
Please visit your dentist for proper diagnosis and treatment.
How to Find a Reliable Dentist Near Me, Litchfield MN
When it comes to finding the right dental practice for your family, you need to choose a team that is dedicated to providing excellent and top-class dental services and solutions. One that is committed to helping you and your family achieve an outstanding level of dental hygiene and oral health for the long-term.
Here are some considerations to help you find a reliable dentist near you:
- Dentist who’s qualified and experienced in performing various dental services, including cosmetic dentistry, general dentistry, dental treatments, dental cleanings and exams, and other common procedures.
- Wide range of dental services offered under one roof such as general dentistry, cleanings, veneers, crowns & bridges, among other dental procedures.
- Friendly, compassionate, and diligent team that will thoroughly investigate your case and perform the most suitable dental procedure that will provide a lasting solution to your dental issues.
- Excellent and prompt dental services, whereby dental procedures are performed using the latest techniques and state-of-the-art dental equipment to ensure maximum comfort and fast healing.
- A comfortable and serene environment that is suitable for all your family members
First Appointment at a Dental Practice Near Me
In case you are in search of the best dentist near me, call our dental practice today to schedule a one-on-one consultation with our qualified dentist. At our dental practice, we understand that every patient is unique and requires specific dental needs. With this in mind, we offer personalized and quality dental care for your entire family. When you visit our dental practice, you can expect:
Our experienced team will be available to speak with you and help you understand your possible dental treatment options. We will recommend a dental procedure or solution that works best for you. When you need the best dentist near you for dental cleaning, treatment, or procedures, our dental practice remains the ideal place to visit. Our ability to deliver excellent and compassionate dental services makes us the preferred option for individuals and families looking for a reliable dentist in their area.
What to Expect During Teeth Whitening Treatment | Litchfield MN
Your smile may gradually lose its sparkle regardless of how thorough your oral hygiene routine is. Although brushing and flossing your teeth every day and scheduling professional teeth cleaning visits can help to prevent stains, factors such as ageing, smoking, and consuming wine, tea, coffee, and other colored foods and drinks can contribute to the yellowing or discoloration of your teeth.
Tooth whitening provides you with a way to improve the color of your teeth and ultimately enhance your smile. This requires you to consult a dentist to design a personalized treatment plan that is based on the current shade of your teeth and the desired outcome. Professional teeth whitening in the dentist’s office is the most common bleaching method, and is usually accomplished using hydrogen peroxide or another bleaching agent.
The treatment is performed by a team member during the first appointment, and then under one’s supervision for subsequent treatments to ensure safety and effectiveness of the treatment.
The procedure involves:
- Placing a rubber shield or some gel to protect your gums
- Applying the bleaching agent on your teeth using some trays that fit snugly like a mouthguard
- Leaving the trays on to activate the bleaching ingredient and break it down into oxygen that penetrates tooth enamel to change the shade of your teeth
- A laser may be used to speed up the breakdown for faster results. This requires application of a higher concentration of the bleaching agent without using the trays, and then using laser technology to activate it. This improves the color of your teeth by 5-6 shades.
After your whitening treatment, the effects can last for a long period of time if you practice proper oral hygiene. Please visit your dentist to learn more about teeth whitening options that may work for you.
Causes of Toothaches and Possible Dental Treatments | Litchfield MN
Toothaches are usually the result of tooth trauma or a dental condition, such as a cracked tooth, dental cavity, advanced gum disease, an exposed tooth root, or disorders of the jaw joint (temporomandibular joint). The severity of the pain can be mild, sharp, or excruciating, and can vary in occurrence, from periodic to chronic.
Causes of tooth pain
The most common cause of tooth pain is dental caries. Dental cavities refer to holes that form in the two outer layers of a tooth (tooth enamel and dentin), when you don’t brush your teeth properly, allowing acid in the mouth to erode the tooth. If the cavities are small and shallow, you may not experience any pain. But as they get larger and deeper towards the inner living tooth tissue (pulp), you will start experiencing severe pain when the pulp gets irritated by bacterial toxins or liquids that are cold, hot, sour, or sweet.
Other causes of tooth pain include:
- Dental abscess – Severe pulp injury and subsequent tooth infection
- Periodontal disease – bone loss and formation of deep gum pockets that cause gum infection and pain
- Tooth root sensitivities
- Impacted tooth
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders – caused by arthritis, jaw injury from impact or recent dental work, or jaw muscle fatigue from habitually clenching and grinding teeth
Treatment for tooth pain
Depending on the diagnosis, your dentist may recommend the following treatments for a toothache:
- Over-the-counter pain relief medication
- Extraction of an impacted tooth
- Topical fluoride application for minor tooth sensitivities
- Dental filling for small and shallow cavities
- Dental crown for larger cavities
- Root canal therapy for cases that involve an injured pulp or infection,
- Tooth extraction of infected tooth followed by tooth replacement
- Cases involving advanced gum disease may require thorough cleaning, as well as scaling and root planing, combined with improved oral hygiene practices.
It’s important that you visit a dentist for a thorough examination to diagnose the cause of the pain and recommend an appropriate long-term treatment.
Tooth Colored Fillings In My Area | Litchfield MN
Tooth colored fillings, refer to dental filling materials made from composite or plastic, which are designed to match the color of your teeth. They provide you with a discreet way to repair damaged or decayed teeth, since tooth colored fillings blend with the teeth’ natural appearance and surrounding structure.
This means that tooth-colored fillings are personalized dental restorations that are tailored to not only repair your damaged or decayed teeth, but also match the color of existing natural teeth. Your dentist may recommend composite resin fillings for the following reasons:
- As a treatment for cavities.
- To restore fractured or chipped front and back teeth where aesthetics is a concern since they maintain the natural appearance of your teeth.
- To restore your beautiful smile and allow you to smile with confidence, since the filling material blends seamlessly with the surrounding teeth and is virtually unnoticeable
- To maximize the strength of a repaired tooth by minimizing the amount of healthy tooth structure removed during the filling process.
- To maximize the longevity of the restored tooth, since the material is resistant to expansion and contraction. This reduces the risk of fractures compared to metal fillings
- To help you achieve a whiter smile, since tooth colored fillings are not at risk of discoloration, especially when considering tooth whitening in the near future
Schedule a Consultation Today!
Tooth-colored fillings can help restore the full function of your mouth and improve your smile. Our dentist can offer you custom-shaded fillings that will match the color of your surrounding teeth. Our experienced dentist will take you through the details of everything involved in the tooth colored fillings procedure. With this, we can help restore the natural appearance of your teeth.
Contact our dental practice today to find out more about tooth-colored filling dental procedure and enjoy the benefits of a beautiful smile. Our dentist will be happy to meet with you and discuss your dental options.
Most Recommended Dentist Near Me, Litchfield MN
Your natural teeth should last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance. That is why you need a reliable dentist near me to help provide adequate care for your dental health, treat dental issues, and adjust your overall dental hygiene routine as your needs change. But before choosing a new dentist, it is important that you carry out detailed research. If you need a top rated dentist near me, our dental practice is the ideal place to turn to.
We are a reputable dental practice committed to offering top-class dental services and solutions to both young and adult patients. At our dental practice, we work with a dedicated team with several years of experience in various dental procedures. We offer dental exams, routine cleanings, and other advanced dental procedures at our deluxe dental office.
Preventative Dental Care
We firmly believe in preventive dental practices, such as proper at-home oral hygiene and regular dental visits for professional teeth cleaning. Our dentist can help you with this to reduce the risk of dental problems in the future. Moreover, with regular checkups, we can restore damaged teeth at the earliest stage possible to reduce the discomfort and tooth deterioration associated with untreated dental problems.
Restorative Dental Services
Dental emergencies can arise any time. As such, it’s important to have ready access to a top rated dentist near you to provide the necessary treatment. Our experienced dentist and dental team performs a wide range of dental procedures using state-of-the-art dental equipment, the newest techniques, and advanced technology. Whether it is a minor or major issue with your teeth or gums, our dentists will offer a fast, efficient, and lasting solution.
Cosmetic Dental Services
A bright and healthy smile exudes confidence. This is our responsibility to our patients to create beautiful, healthy, and confident smiles through our restorative and cosmetic dental procedures. Our compassionate cosmetic dental services and procedures will help you achieve the healthy gums and brilliant smile you always wanted.
Contact Us Today!
Call our dental practice today to schedule an appointment with our experienced dentists. We offer affordable, reliable, and highly professional dental services. Our trusted dental team will be happy to meet with you and discuss your available dental options.
Best Value for Dental Implants in Litchfield MN
Dental implants tend to cost a lot more than alternative tooth replacement treatments such as dentures and dental bridgework. This cost can partly be attributed to the requirement of a skilled oral surgeon to perform the procedure, as opposed to a general dentist. As a surgical procedure, it also requires careful planning to eliminate any risks and ensure successful treatment. Moreover, dental implants often require additional procedures such as tooth extraction, bone grafting, sinus augmentation, crown placement, and so on depending on the position of the implant, individual treatment plan, and the patient’s general health. All of these factors add to the final cost of dental implants placement.
Generally, there is a variety in the price range for a single dental implant. This amount is distributed across service costs, cost of all components involved in the procedure, and the cost of the replacement crown.
A costly dental implant procedure may involve the following steps:
- Tooth or teeth removal – to remove any tooth fragments during site preparation.
- Bone grafting – If the implant site has signs of bone loss after tooth extraction, your oral surgeon may recommend bone grafting to build up the bone tissue and achieve a solid base to support the implant. Bone grafting in the upper jaw is known as sinus augmentation or sinus lift
- Titanium Implant placement – A titanium post will be inserted into the jaw bone using a special drill and tools, and a “healing cap” placed over the implant before stitching up the gum.
- A temporary denture will be placed at the site for aesthetic purposes during healing
- Abutment placement – It is connected to the implant using a screw
- Crown fabrication – Impression of the abutment will be obtained and sent to a dental lab to fabricate your custom crown.
- Tooth replacement – When the crown is ready, it will be secured to the abutment by cementing or with a screw.
How Much Will the Insurance Pay?
In the cost breakdown above, dental insurance providers only accept to pay for the replacement crown. This is because dental implants are considered an elective procedure by most dental insurance providers, even though it has become a standard of care for tooth replacement.
For more information on dental implants in Litchfield MN and to find out the cost of your individual treatment, please contact us today.
Types of Dental Crowns, Which To Choose in Litchfield MN
When it comes to choosing dental crowns to repair a damaged tooth, there are several dental materials that you can choose from. However, porcelain-fused-to-metal is arguably the most common material because of its unique combination of mechanical strength and aesthetic results. In addition, it’s said to be of an acceptable biologic quality that is needed for periodontal health.
That said, porcelain-metal blends may not be as readily available because their fabrication requires a high level of workmanship and the use of precious metals which have become increasingly costly. Some patients also dislike the metal framework, which may be visible when you smile depending on the tooth being restored.
As such, your dentist may recommend alternative tooth-colored materials for your custom permanent crown, such as:
- All Porcelain Crowns – Dental crowns that are fabricated entirely from porcelain are referred to as all-porcelain crowns, while those made entirely from ceramic are known as all-ceramic crowns.
- All-Resin Crowns – Dental composite resin crowns are highly affordable, but are arguably the weakest material for crowns since they’re prone to chipping, cracking, and rapid wear.
- Zirconium – Crowns made from this material are as strong and durable as metal crowns and natural-looking for an aesthetic restoration. Zirconia crowns are biocompatible and won’t cause allergic reactions, plus they can be fabricated at the dentist’s office for same-day crown restorations.
Which Crown Should You Choose?
Each dental crown material has various pros and cons that should be carefully evaluated before choosing your permanent crown restoration. You can also choose metal crowns made from gold, platinum, and alloys like nickel-chromium and cobalt-chromium for a stronger and more durable restoration. Your dentist will help you make the right choice based on your specific dental needs.
To learn more about Dental Crowns in Litchfield MN please contact us today.
Dental Crowns Treatment in Litchfield MN
Dental crowns are custom-made tooth restorations that are designed to cap the entire surface of a weakened tooth in order to strengthen it. Dental crowns are permanent. As such, they’re carefully designed using impressions of the damaged tooth to ensure that the size and shape of the crown matches that of the original natural tooth. You can even choose tooth-colored materials for fabrication of your custom crown so it blends in with the surrounding, natural teeth.
The commonly used materials for tooth-colored crowns are porcelain and composite resin. However, you may also choose metal crowns made from gold, silver, or nickel/chromium alloys, or even choose a blend of porcelain and metal to take advantage of the properties of each material. During your visit, your dentist will help you determine the best choice of material depending on:
- The location and function of the tooth
- The visibility of the tooth when smiling
- The position of your gum line and gum tissue
- The shades of surrounding teeth
- Signs of teeth clenching and grinding
The crown that you choose will be placed in a number of steps undertaken within two appointments:
Step 1: Tooth Preparation
On your first visit, the dentist will administer a local anaesthetic to numb your face and prevent you from feeling any pain when preparing your tooth. Tooth preparation involves the removal of any decay and infection on the site, after which the tooth is filed down to maximize the retention of the crown and to ensure a good fit that doesn’t distort your smile.
Step 2: Making an Impression for the Dental Lab
After tooth preparation, a mold or impression of the tooth will be made and sent to the lab to fabricate your permanent custom crown. An impression of the opposing tooth may also be created to ensure a perfect fit with the mouth closed. Impressions are created using putty or paste that is spread over the prepared tooth and then pulled away so it keeps the shape of the tooth involved. The dentist can also note down specific details about the replacement tooth, such as the natural shade and fit, so its unnoticeable when you smile.
Step 3: Fitting a Temporary Crown
To protect the prepared tooth, a temporary or transition crown will be placed on it. This crown is typically made from plastic material (acrylic), and is held in place using a temporary cementing medium to allow easy removal at your next visit. During this period, it’s important to maintain proper oral hygiene at home to prevent reinfection of the tooth or gum tissues, which may affect the overall success of your crown treatment.
Step 4: Fitting the Permanent Crown
On your second scheduled visit, which should be in two to three weeks from the first visit, the dentist will remove the temporary crown and clean off the temporary cement from the prepared tooth. The permanent crown will then be fitted and adjusted for any bite variations. The dentist will check for accuracy and assess the aesthetics. If there are no issues, the crown can be cemented to your tooth.
Caring for Your Dental Crowns
Dental crowns should last a long time with proper care. Please discuss with your dentist about how to care for your teeth to protect the restoration and your other teeth from future damage.
To ask about Dental Crowns in Litchfield MN please contact us today.
3 Types of Dental Cleanings: Which Is Right for Me? Litchfield MN
Your general dentist can provide different types of dental cleanings depending on your unique dental needs. The American Dental Association recommends that you get prophylaxis cleanings at least twice a year. Prophylaxis, which is also referred to as “teeth cleaning”, involves the removal of accumulated plaque from your teeth, which cannot be removed by regular brushing at home.
A good candidate for prophylaxis should have firm, pink gums with no bleeding or gum pockets over 3mm. However, there are various situations that may require you to get a different kind of dental cleaning, such as gum disease, periodontitis, or staying too long between prophylaxis cleanings. Depending on your individual case, your dentist may recommend other types of cleanings such as:
Full Mouth Debridement
If your teeth have heavy plaque and tartar (calculus) build-up, perhaps because you’ve missed a few prophylaxis cleanings, then your dental professional may recommend full mouth debridement using hand tools and a micro-ultrasonic scaler to clean your teeth and restore the health of your mouth. This procedure is typically performed before an oral examination and diagnosis to ensure good visibility of the actual condition of your mouth
Scaling and Root Planing
Commonly referred to as “deep cleaning”, this procedure is recommended for patients who exhibit signs of periodontal disease, such as deeper gum pockets (over 3mm), inflammation and bleeding gums, accumulation of plaque and tartar below the gumline, and/or loss of bone tissue supporting the teeth. This process may require the dental professional to numb the treatment area to avoid sensitivity when scaling and cleaning the roots of your teeth.
Periodontal Maintenance
Periodontal disease is chronic and irreversible. So following initial treatment for periodontal disease through scaling and root planing or periodontal surgery, your dental professional may recommend this specialized cleaning every 8 – 12 weeks as part of your ongoing maintenance to reduce the risk of gum disease recurrence.
Need Dental Cleaning Today?
If you’ve experienced red, tender, bleeding gums, bad breath, or you just want to be proactive about your oral health, then you should contact our office to find out more about your individual dental cleaning in Litchfield MN.
6 Month Smiles
Six Month Smiles is a short term orthodontic treatment that involves wearing clear braces to straighten and improve tooth alignment. This alternative treatment is a convenient approach to a straighter smile without the time commitment.
Learn more