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The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Dental Health

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Andrew Slavin, DMD, FACS

Andrew Slavin, DMD, FACS

May 15, 2020

Dental health is something everyone needs to take seriously for a variety of reasons. Your dental health can impact your overall health, your ability to eat, your self-esteem and your sense of comfort. If you are unsure of where to start when it comes to understanding your dental health, this complete beginner’s guide will provide you with the facts and some of the options available to you.

Preventative Care

Your first line of defense against dental problems is good preventative care. Preventative care is very important to help prevent dental issues and costly work at the oral surgeon’s office. You have probably heard about the daily dental routine you should practice, which includes brushing twice a day and flossing once a day. Other products, such as mouthwashes, can aid in proper dental hygiene. Patients should visit their regular dentist twice a year, or once every six months, to have a professional cleaning done. At this appointment, the doctor will check for any abnormalities. If something is wrong, the doctor will inform you of your options and perhaps refer you to an oral surgeon.

Dental Diseases

There are a number of conditions that can develop in the mouth. By far the most common dental diseases are tooth decay and gingivitis. Gingivitis is the bacterial infection of the gums. The symptoms of gingivitis can include bad breath, gums that bleed easily, pain and loose teeth, among some others. If gingivitis is left untreated, it can develop into a more serious condition known as periodontitis. This serious gum infection begins to destroy the soft tissue of the gums and the bone of the jaw. Other conditions include abscessed teeth, oral cysts and oral cancer.

Minor Procedures

The idea of going in to have a cavity filled may be scary for a lot of people. However, it is something that needs to be done to prevent more damaging and costly tooth decay. When your dentist determines you have a cavity, he or she will schedule a minor oral procedure where the cavity is drilled out and replaced with a hard filling. Cosmetic surgery is another set of mostly minor procedures that can help restore your confidence and your smile. Cosmetic surgery can include placing veneers, bonding, and reshaping.

Major Procedures

Sometimes, even in spite of your best efforts, major dental work needs to be done. Perhaps you injured a tooth in an accident and there is no hope of saving it. Maybe a filling cracked the tooth and you need a crown or a root canal. Whatever the reason, our office is equipped to provide the treatments you need to maintain your dental health if you must lose one or more teeth.

If your tooth needs to be removed, we can replace it with a dental implant. Dental implants have become the standard treatment for replacing lost teeth, as opposed to bridges or dentures. This is because when a tooth is removed and nothing replaces it, the bone in your jaw deteriorates due to lack of support. Dental implants provide that support to prevent bone loss and the loss of other teeth. Replacing lost teeth with natural-looking ones can also help improve your self-esteem, your social life, your romantic life and even your professional life.

Getting dental implants is a cosmetic procedure, but also one that can significantly improve your oral health. The surgery usually happens in one stage after the tooth is removed, so your implant will have the best chance of taking hold and being successful.

Let our office in West Palm Beach, Florida, restore your teeth in a comfortable, convenient, state-of-the-art oral surgery facility.

Andrew Slavin, DMD, FACS

Andrew Slavin, DMD, FACS

Hello there, great choice moving towards the personal dental health care you desire!

Within 24 hours of completing this form, you will be receiving a phone call from one of our friendly Good Samaritan team members. The call to schedule will come from (561) 233-1810. We are looking forward to seeing you at our West Palm Beach office.

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