Dental hygiene plays a large role in a person’s overall health. When patients do not take care of their teeth, it can lead to a multitude of diseases and discomforts, often preventing them from eating properly. Many Haleiwa area residents neglect their dental hygiene due to financial reasons, while others stay away from dentists due to anxiety issues. Regardless of the reason, the impact that bad dental hygiene can have is significant and should never be neglected whether intentionally or not. It is always best for a patient to seek Dental Care in Haleiwa when a problem first starts to prevent the situation from becoming more severe.
When a dental problem does arise, the worst thing a patient can do is wait to see a dentist. A simple cavity can often turn into an infected tooth, causing significant discomfort and pain. Once a tooth decays enough to become infected, exposing the nerve inside the tooth, there will be few options available to save the tooth in question. If the tooth has more than 70% of its enamel left, a dentist will most likely be able to use a crown or veneer to restore it. If the tooth has less enamel than 70%, the dentist may be required to resort to other methods of dental care in Haleiwa to restore a patient’s bite or smile.
In most cases, when a tooth has only a small amount of enamel left, a dentist will prefer to extract and replace it. If the tooth is infected, they will have the patient take antibiotics until the infection is cleared up before doing any work. This is due to the risk of the infection entering the bloodstream during the procedure. Once the infection is cleared up, they will then extract the tooth and offer options for replacement. This can be a dental implant, dentures (if there is more than one tooth involved), or a bridge. Dentists usually prefer implants and bridges, however, since dentures tend to wear the bone beneath them down over time. Implants and bridges use anchors that will act like a tooth’s original roots and promote bone growth while chewing. Contact us for more information on dental procedures and dental hygiene tips.
