It just might! If you’re unhappy with a smile that looks yellow, teeth that look short, or enamel that appears gray, your smile may be aging you. However, there are many ways to prevent dental damage, improve the look of your smile and maintain a healthy, youthful appearance. In fact, it may be a lot easier than you think to look as much as ten years younger. Most importantly, you’ll feel the confidence to smile and speak in any personal or professional situation.
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Does My Oral Health Reveal my Age?
September 6, 2017
Learn about tooth decay from Brookfield, WI dentists
June 2, 2016
Dr. Brandon A Brunner, Brookfield, WI dentist, and his associate dentists at Elmbrook Family Dental, teach patients all about tooth decay. Learn how a tooth develops a cavity, and what you can do to prevent this very common oral health problem. (more…)
Alleviate Pain with Gentle Root Canal Therapy from Elmbrook Family Dental
January 17, 2015
Are you tired of tooth pain and sensitivity? If you’re seeking relief from tooth aches and sensitivity to hot and cold foods, Elmbrook Family Dental can help with root canal therapy. Root canal therapy is a dental procedure where your diseased or damaged inner tooth pulp is gently removed and the inside areas (root canals) are disinfected, filled, and sealed. Once root canal therapy is completed, a dental crown can be placed over your the tooth to restore its full functioning. You can make an appointment with the gentle restorative dentists of Elmbrook Family Dental for your root canal therapy procedure today. The highly qualified dentists of Elmbrook Family Dental proudly serve patients of all ages throughout Brookfield, WI, Elm Grove, Milwaukee, Pewaukee, Waukesha, New Berlin, and the surrounding communities.
Do You Need Root Canal Therapy?
Inside each tooth are soft pulp tissues containing blood, nutrients, and nerves from which you experience sensations of hot and cold. This tissue is vulnerable to damage from infection, accidental injury, tooth fracture, or trauma from repeated dental procedures. If your tooth becomes diseased or injured, bacteria can build up inside the pulp, spreading infection and causing pain and sensitivity. You may experience severe, constant, or throbbing pain, as well as prolonged sensitivity to heat and cold, swelling and tenderness in the gums and face, and discoloration. In some limited cases, the pulp may die so gradually that there is little noticeable pain.
Does Root Canal Therapy Hurt?
Not when you choose the gentle dentists of Elmbrook Family Dental. Your root canal therapy will be performed in conjunction with our Single Tooth Anesthesia system. A rubber dam will be placed in your mouth to isolate the infected tooth. The dentist will then make an opening through the natural crown of the tooth to access the root canal and pulp chamber. Creating this access also relieves pressure built up inside the tooth which can immediately decrease any pain. Next, small files are used to clean and disinfect the entire canal space. The canals are also slightly enlarged and shaped to receive a rubber-like filling material called gutta-percha. However, the tooth will not be filled or sealed until completely free of bacteria. You may receive a temporary seal, or the tooth may be left open to drain with an antibiotic to counter any spread of infection. Once the canals are completely clean and filled with gutta-percha, sealer cement is applied. The restored tooth is then protected by a temporary filling or crown until a permanent restoration is placed.
Brookfield Root Canal Therapy Appointments
Successful root canal therapy will not only ease pain, but will also save your natural tooth from extraction. Don’t let tooth pain or discomfort get the best of you. Make your root canal therapy appointment with the trusted family dentists of Elmbrook Family Dental today. The restorative dentistry experts at Elmbrook Family Dental proudly restore smiles daily throughout Brookfield, WI, Elm Grove, Milwaukee, Pewaukee, Waukesha, New Berlin, and nearby areas.
Are Partial Dentures Right for You?
October 21, 2014
A “partial” is a term most people use to refer to a partial denture. Dentures are custom-made prosthetic teeth, usually attached to a gum colored plastic plate. If you are missing more than one tooth but you have mostly healthy teeth, getting a custom-fitted partial to replace your missing teeth is a good solution. Partial dentures can be set up in multiple ways. It’s important to replace any missing teeth to prevent the shifting and misalignment of your other teeth and to maintain normal oral functions like eating and speaking clearly. If you need to replace your missing teeth, make an appointment with the experienced and attentive dentists of Elmbrook Family Dental today. The dentists at Elmbrook Family Dental proudly serve patients throughout Brookfield, WI, Elm Grove, Milwaukee, Pewaukee, Waukesha, New Berlin and nearby areas.
Types of Partial Dentures
Partial dentures can be either fixed or removable. Removable partial dentures fit in the mouth with metal clasps that hook onto surrounding teeth and require daily maintenance. Fixed partials, also known as bridges, are partials that are anchored to surrounding healthy teeth by a dental bridge. Dental bridges require the surrounding teeth to be shaped and fitted with dental crowns (caps) to allow more room for the bridge and partial denture to fit comfortably in the mouth. Partial dentures can also be attached to a dental implant. Dental implants are tiny titanium rods that replace missing tooth roots and maintain the integrity of the jawbone. Partial dentures attached to dental implants are securely snapped onto the implant but can be easily removed.
Quality Partial Dentures in Brookfield, WI
Although dental implants offer the most benefits, individual medical factors may affect your eligibility to get dental implants. In some cases, removable partial dentures may be the best option. The choice should be made in a consultation with your dentist. Make an appointment with the gentle dentists of Elmbrook Family Dental today. Elmbrook Family Dental currently serves patients throughout Brookfield, WI, Elm Grove, Milwaukee, Pewaukee, Waukesha, New Berlin and surrounding communities.
Bulimia and Teeth: How Much Damage Does it Cause?
May 4, 2012
While the detrimental effects of eating disorders on the human body are very well documented, it is often overlooked that bulimia can also have a serious effect on dental health, and it can happen quickly, within a matter of months. Bulimia nervosa is a physical and psychological disease which involves discrete periods of overeating (binge eating) which may occur several times a week or at its most severe, several times a day. During the binge, sufferers may feel completely out of control. They may gulp down thousands of calories often high in carbohydrates and fat. The amount of food consumed would be considered excessive in normal circumstances. After the binge comes purging designed to compensate for overeating and to avoid weight gain. Those behaviors may include self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, enemas, and diuretics. Studies have found that up to 89% of bulimic patients show signs of tooth erosion. (ADA.org) The information contained within this blog post is intended to not only help suffers from this disease, but also anyone with a history of recurrent vomiting whether it be from pregnancy, acid erosion from GERD, or cyclic vomiting syndrome. If you suffer from any of these, please do not be afraid to speak with your dentist about it. Your health history will remain confidential and we will help devise a plan to save your teeth.
Stomach acid is highly corrosive on teeth and prolonged exposure can cause enamel breakdown and will eventually lead to tooth loss.
An example of lingual erosion of tooth enamel due to excessive vomiting
Image from ADA.org
You may be tempted to brush your teeth immediately after a vomiting episode but please wait; the abrasiveness of toothpaste can only assist in the weakening of tooth structure. Instead, rinse with plenty of water. Baking soda can also be added to water for rinsing to help neutralize the effects of stomach acid.
Other things that may help:
Chew sugar free gum. Sugar free gum helps stimulate saliva production, which helps protect the teeth.
Brush with a high fluoride toothpaste. Your dentist can prescribe a highly concentrated fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride will help decrease sensitivity, strengthens teeth, and helps reduce enamel erosion.
See your dentist regularly. Please do not feel too ashamed to call. We will work with you to find a plan to save your teeth, repair any that are damaged, and prevent further damage. Call our Brookfield, Wisconsin office at 262-784-7201 today.