One of the first pieces of advice professionals give when treating people with low self-esteem is: “Smile!” Smiling releases endorphins which make you feel better about everything, including yourself and your circumstances.

But what if you don’t like your smile? What if you have problems with your teeth and for whatever reason, have never had them corrected? What if you have a very good reason for not smiling? Is there no hope for your self-esteem?

Obviously, there is, or we wouldn’t be writing this article! Below are the most common complaints we hear from patients about their smile, and what you can do to fix them.

“I’m embarrassed by how crooked my teeth are.” Many people have grown into adulthood with crowded teeth and misaligned smiles. Unfortunately, this can lead to issues with the desire to display your pearly whites in public. While many are aware that orthodontics (braces) is an option, most don’t want to go through two to three years of treatment or be called “metal mouth.” But did you know that we now have options available that take much less time than traditional orthodontics, and some that would not be noticeable at all?

Invisalign® is a product that can be used in many adult cases to give the effects of traditional orthodontics. The difference is that the appliances are clear and virtually undetectable to others. Many famous actors, news casters, and other TV personalities have worn aligners on air and no one noticed!

The procedure for Invisalign is that plastic “aligners” are made for your teeth that will gently and gradually move them into proper alignment. Your teeth will become a little sore, just as with traditional orthodontics, but it’s not anything you can’t bear. In a few months, or some cases weeks, your teeth are straight!

Another option for correcting tooth alignment is veneers. Dr. Moorhead can remove a layer of your tooth structure and replace it in a way that straightens the alignment of your overall smile. Veneers are porcelain or composite (a mixture of about 75% glass dust and 25% acrylic) “shells” that are chemically bonded to the surface of a tooth to repair it or just change the tooth’s appearance, and are vastly considered the fastest way to straighten teeth.

“I often have bad breath. I don’t know what to do about it, so I just don’t risk it and avoid opening my mouth as much as possible.” While there are many causes of bad breath, the most common is a long hiatus from your dental hygienist! With that said, be sure to tell Dr. Moorhead if you’ve noticed breath problems so that he can help identify the cause professionally and refer you to the appropriate specialist if necessary.

When the problem is strictly dental related, there are lots of options, the first being to get regular cleanings. Most adults need regular dental cleanings every 3 to 6 months. Only a dentist or hygienist can determine the proper schedule for you, but they will be glad to do so.

Foods such as garlic, onions, and other strong substances contribute to objectionable breath odor. Once the food is absorbed into the bloodstream, it is transferred to the lungs, where it is expelled when you talk. Brushing, flossing and using mouthwash will mask the odor temporarily, but odors will continue until the body eliminates the food. Dieters sometimes develop unpleasant breath due to infrequent eating. Drinking water to keep your mouth moist will help with this problem.

Brushing and flossing daily helps to eliminate particles of food that can remain in the mouth, collecting bacteria, and causing bad breath. Food that collects between the teeth, on the tongue and around the gums can rot, leaving an unpleasant odor.

Since saliva cleanses the mouth and removes particles that may cause odor, bad breath can also be caused by a lack of saliva, or “dry mouth.” The clinical term for dry mouth is xerostomia, which occurs when the flow of saliva decreases. This problem seems to develop most often in older adults. Dry mouth may be caused by various medications, salivary gland problems or continuously breathing through the mouth. If you suffer from dry mouth, Dr. Moorhead can prescribe artificial saliva. Other suggestions include using sugarless candy and increasing your fluid intake.

Tobacco products cause bad breath. We’ve noticed that after awhile, a smoker’s breath will have a “stale” smell to it. If you use tobacco, consider quitting and ask your dentist for tips on kicking the habit. Dr. Moorhead has special training in this area and can offer everything from advice, to prescriptions as needed.
Mouthwashes are generally cosmetic and do not have a long-lasting effect on bad breath. If you find yourself constantly using a breath freshener to hide unpleasant mouth odor, see your dentist. He or she may recommend using a special antimicrobial mouth rinse.

Bad breath may be the sign of a medical disorder, such as a local infection in the respiratory tract, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment. If your dentist determines that your mouth is healthy, you may be referred to your family doctor or a specialist to determine the cause of your bad breath. Learning the cause and that there is hope will do wonders for your self-esteem.

“I have these spots on my teeth that have been there since I was a child. I just assume that since they’ve always been there, there’s nothing I can do.” Oh, but there are plenty of things Dr. Moorhead can do! Sometimes these spots are a decalcification of the tooth enamel that can be treated with a simple fluoride solution, or a new material called MI Paste. Special trays are made for your mouth, and then the fluoride solution or MI paste is placed in them so that it can be held against your teeth for several minutes. The length and number of treatments just depends on the severity of the problem. There is also a process called micro-abrasion. Dr. Moorhead can use a special substance and appliance to gently, but effectively, remove the trouble spots to give your teeth a smoother, more consistent appearance.

“My teeth have an overall gray (or beige) appearance. I’ve tried whitening, but it doesn’t work. I just don’t think a white smile is ‘in the cards’ for me.” What you probably have is the result of tetracycline treatment, or excessive fluoride that you encountered as a young child while your teeth were forming. It’s true that even some professional whitening systems are not effective against this condition, but we do have other methods of treating this problem. Some dentists use a resin material to bond over stained teeth. This method is quick and easy, but the material does stain and chip over time.

The best method, and what we use most in our office, is porcelain veneers. Veneers are like shells for your teeth, and are much more durable than bonding. Porcelain is more translucent than resin, meaning that it is more like a natural, healthy-white tooth, giving you a more natural-looking, beautiful appearance.

“Too much of my gums show when I smile.” Believe it or not, there is an answer for this, too! Crown lengthening is a procedure where the gum line is altered in order to expose more of the tooth structure, and less of your gums.

This operation is sometimes necessary in order to properly restore a tooth, but it can be purely cosmetic also to give the result of a better smile line. Some general dentists are performing this procedure in their own offices, but some cases still require referral to a specialist. Either way, the investment is well worth it.
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If you just don’t feel like smiling, do it anyway! Studies show that the act of smiling can actually boost confidence, and everyone knows that a confident person smiles. Try it; you’ll be glad you did!

Most importantly, whatever the reason for your not liking your smile, please discuss it with us. We’re professionals and take your trust in us very seriously. We never laugh, joke, or kid around when it comes to something as important as your smile, or your self-esteem.

One of the most common requests from our patients at Flemingsburg Dental Care is a “younger-looking smile.”  Most people start to notice a change in their smile sometime in their late 30’s or early 40’s, so the effects of aging on the teeth are generally slow.  Fortunately, there are lots of things that Dr. Moorhead can do to reverse the effects that have been building up over time.

​There you have it!  Everything you need to know about how to obtain a younger-looking smile.  If you have any questions or would like to discuss the possibilities for your treatment, please contact us at Flemingsburg Dental Care; we’d love to see you and help you achieve the smile you’ve always wanted and deserve!

The options for whitening or “bleaching” one’s teeth have become very common today and we have some wonderful techniques in our office for getting great results with our patients’ smiles.  However, we still get a lot of questions regarding “the truth” about all of those products you see at the grocery and drugstores, along with questions and doubts about their effectiveness compared to what might seem like “over-priced” professional options.  This article will dispel some common myths that we hear, answer some questions, and hopefully address some of the most common problems we see in our office daily with regard to teeth whitening.

How does whitening work? Basically, no matter which product you choose, the bleaching chemicals must get down into the tooth enamel and set off a chemical reaction known as oxidation.  To do this, most tooth whiteners use one of two chemical agents: carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide (the same stuff that will bleach your hair). When used in the mouth, carbamide peroxide breaks down into hydrogen peroxide and urea, with hydrogen peroxide being the active whitening ingredient.   The key to how effective any product is depends on two factors:  1) how strong the solution is, and 2) how long the agent remains against your teeth in order to allow the oxidation process to take place.  Typically, the longer you can hold it on there, the closer you can keep it, and the stronger the agent, the better the results.

How well do over-the-counter products work? For the most part, the products that you can purchase at your local supermarket do exactly what they claim.  The strips cover 6 to 8 teeth, and the effects will last anywhere from 3 to 6 months, with monthly touch-ups, depending upon your own personal habits, both oral hygiene, and the foods and drinks you consume.   They seem very affordable, given that your short-term investment is anywhere from $20 to $50, but the concentration is not always listed on the container, so if cost is an issue, try to compare apples to apples.

The problem with these systems is not so much in the products themselves, because as we said, they do exactly what they claim to do.  The problem we see in our office, is that patients have too high of expectations for these products.  Let us give you some examples.

Whether you’re using strips or decided to pay a little extra for the trays, the product is not custom designed for your mouth.  What does that mean?  It means that unless your teeth are perfectly straight, you’re going to get spotty results.  Some of the strips can be especially problematic in that they cover only 6-8 teeth per arch, leaving you with a two-tone mouth!

When you smile, most people show 10 to 14 teeth per arch.  This is especially true when you laugh.  Most patients want that younger-looking, beautifully-white, natural-looking smile, with no stain or discoloration showing at all when they’re at a party, wanting to relax and enjoy themselves, or especially at a networking event where impressions matter.  The more crowded your teeth are, the more you need the custom trays that only a dentist can provide.

Also, you are probably already aware that most over-the-counter medications are weaker, by law, than prescription meds.  The same is true for whitening agents.  What they are allowed to sell in the grocery store is not the same strength that your dentist can provide.  Why does that matter?  A stronger agent will give you longer-lasting results, which both makes you happier in the long run and saves you money in the long run.  With over-the-counter products, you’ll spend just as much, if not more, as you would with your dentist and you’ll have a lot more hassle with touch-ups as well.  The whitening systems used by dentists today can get very satisfying results that last up to 20 years.  And if you’re a smoker or heavy coffee drinker, touch-up kits are available in professional formulas as well.

What should I know before using an over-the-counter option? The biggest problem we see in our office is when a patient decides to use an over-the-counter method, and then comes in for a cleaning.  If you have tartar buildup on your teeth when you whiten, the agent cannot get through to the enamel, so when the tartar comes off, guess what – that’s right, those portions of your teeth are the same color as before you whitened.  Very disappointing!  So if you are going to use an over-the-counter product, at least get your teeth cleaned immediately before-hand so that you get the best results possible.

Another issue we commonly deal with is that even though the over-the-counter whitening solution is weaker than our professional brands, if you have cavities, you will likely experience some extreme sensitivity if you don’t get them taken care of prior to bleaching.  Likewise, if you have any issues with your gums, you’ll want to get that taken care of prior to whitening as well, as any amount of peroxide can be irritating to the delicate gum tissue.

What about “the light?” More and more patients these days are asking us about “the light.”  Some whitening systems have been developed that utilize a high-intensity light to expedite the oxidation process.  In our office, we use Deep Bleaching, which is now recognized all over the world as the most effective whitening technique ever invented.  The technique is so effective that it will even whiten tetracycline discolored teeth, (which were previously thought to be impossible to bleach), in a short period of time.  Just imagine getting your teeth MUCH whiter, and having it last for your ENTIRE life!  With very simple periodic maintenance at home, the results are entirely permanent.

Take-home whitening systems can be just as effective, but usually require wearing your custom trays with the bleaching solution for about 1 hour per day, for 14 days.  Newer professional products require only 3 minutes per day for 14 days.  There are many combinations of time frames and systems available, but Dr. Moorhead can help determine what is going to work best for you.

Are there any “down-sides” to professional whitening? None of these systems, professional or over-the-counter, work on white fillings, crowns, veneers, and certain spots.  Only in-office deep bleaching can whiten tetracycline stains.  In the case of spots and stains that will not respond to the oxidation process, Dr. Moorhead might recommend crowns or veneers; the course of treatment most suitable for you.  If you’re having white fillings or veneers placed soon, you’ll want to have your whitening completed before choosing the final shade for your cosmetic work.

Sensitivity can be a problem with any of these systems.  Dr. Moorhead will work with you to find a solution that is acceptable to you, and can provide fluoride to help strengthen your teeth and reduce sensitivity.

Is whitening my teeth safe from an oral health perspective? Most studies show that tooth whitening is both safe and effective. If tooth sensitivity or gum irritation occur, it is best to stop using the whitening product for a few days, and then start again, but less frequently — say, every other day instead of every day — and reduce the amount of time spent with the whitening agent against your teeth.

These are the most common questions and concerns raised by our patients, but we’d love to hear from you!  If you have a question or comment about specific whitening options for your teeth, please contact us at Flemingsburg Dental Care.

Did you know that the #1 tool most people use for cleaning bacteria from their teeth, gums, and mouth, already contains millions, possibly trillions, of bacteria?  If you leave your toothbrush in the bathroom and never disinfect it, you’d better read this article.

In his book, Why Your Toothbrush May Be Killing You Slowly, James Song, a biochemist from Wisconsin University, suggests that a range of serious health problems, including heart disease, stroke, arthritis and chronic infections, could be linked to unhygienic toothbrushes.  Further research by Manchester University found that the average toothbrush contained around ten million germs, including a high percentage of potentially fatal bacteria such as staphylococci, streptococcus, E. coli and candida.  Other studies have shown that over time, a single toothbrush can be the breeding ground for trillions of bacteria specimen.

There are many ways these bacteria latch on to toothbrushes:  Use from an infected user, spray from a flushing toilet, a damp environment that allows the bacteria to breed and grow, and just a general lack of oversight.  Think about it for a moment; would you leave your eating utensils in the bathroom, use them over and over again, and never wash them?

As bad as it sounds, overcoming this potential time bomb is not complicated.  Below are Dr. Moorhead’s 5 simple tips to keep your toothbrush bacteria free.

1. Store your and your family’s toothbrushes in a closet or other dry area outside of the bathroom, where toilet spray and humidity will not be a problem.
2. Clean your toothbrushes daily in the dishwasher along with your eating utensils.  Make sure you have enough toothbrushes to last between dish washings.  If you run your dishwasher every three days, you should own four toothbrushes, unless it takes you 2 days to unload the dishwasher, in which case you would need 6 – you get the drift!
3. If you’re using one toothbrush, you should replace it at least every three months.  If you’re using four toothbrushes, for example, disinfecting them in the dish washer between each use, four brushes should last about a year.  But don’t be skimpy.  If the bristles feel or look weakened, replace it.  Fortunately, toothbrushes are still very inexpensive.
4. Don’t share your toothbrush with anyone.  While it may seem like common sense that the person you kiss daily you’re already sharing germs with anyway, there’s no need to add to that sharing.  We’ve also seen cases where children develop gum disease at an early age just because they use the same toothbrush as their parent who already has the disease.  Gum and bone diseases are not hereditary, but bad habits are often “passed down.”
5. Always use a soft-bristled brush on your teeth and gums.  Hard bristles are for specific dental appliances and Dr. Moorhead will tell you when you need a brush of this type.  Hard bristles on soft gums cause a myriad of problems, ranging from gum shrinkage to a greater risk of infection due to cuts and scrapes.

If you have any questions or would like further advice on disinfecting your toothbrush, please contact us using one of the methods below, or ask us at your next appointment.

One of the most commonly misunderstand concepts of good oral hygiene is that one should avoid sugar at all costs.  Why?  Well, sugar causes tooth decay.  Yes, that is true, but did you know that most diet sodas are one-tenth as strong as battery acid?  How good do you think that is for your teeth?  You guessed it, not at all!

Furthermore, once tooth enamel has become weakened by sugar and acid, we see a lot of damage caused by hard candy or other tough foods.  Throw in the double-whammy of the fact that most people with a diet high in sugar and diet sodas are not getting enough of the right nutrients, and you’ve created an environment that will very likely lead to cavities.

Here’s what happens:  You get up in the morning and brush your teeth before leaving for work.  On the way to work, you stop for a cup of coffee, maybe a muffin.  If you’re like most people, you don’t have or take the time to brush your teeth immediately.  What’s happening in your mouth is that that food leaves a film that becomes bacterial in nature, also known as plaque.

The next thing you know it’s time for lunch.  You grab a sandwich, maybe some chips, and a diet soda.  When the plaque that has been building up all morning comes into contact with these new sugars, (from the sandwich and chips), acid is produced which attacks the enamel on your teeth.  This process takes about 20 minutes, and, if nothing is done, the attack can eventually result in tooth decay.  The more often you eat and the longer foods are in your mouth, the more damage occurs.

Now imagine that you skip the step of the bacteria and sugar and go straight to the acid attacking the enamel.  That’s what you’re doing when you drink diet sodas.  Even if no plaque is present, for each sip of diet soda, the acid gets to eat on your enamel for 20 minutes.  Getting the picture?

So what’s the answer?  Here are 8 suggestions for good dental-diet habits.

1. Whenever possible, as often as possible, brush and floss after each meal and snack. Eliminating the bacteria is the best defense.
2. Strive for a healthy diet. Balance is the keyword here.  It’s not about avoiding sugar at all costs; it’s about enjoying the sugar, but taking care of your teeth, too.
3. Drink water whenever possible.  Most other drinks are either going to be high in sugar, or high in acid.  Remember, every sip of pop attacks your teeth for 20 minutes per sip.  Most importantly, once you’ve brushed and flossed after that meal, don’t go back to your desk and sip on a sugary or acidic drink.  Sip on water – it’s better for you in many ways!
4. Limit the number of between-meal snacks. When you must snack, choose nutritious foods that are low in sugar and skip the diet drinks.
5. Brush thoroughly twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel and helps protect against, and even helps reverse, the effects of nutritional acid.
6. Floss and/or use a floss substitute such as a Hydrofloss daily to remove plaque from under your gums and between your teeth.
7. Schedule regular dental visits for checkups and cleanings. You cannot get all of the plaque off by yourself.  After plaque sits on your teeth for about 24 hours, it absorbs calcium from your saliva, hardens and becomes tartar.  Just like dust clings to more dust, the more tartar buildup you have, the more difficult it will be for you to get the plaque off as well.  Most people need professional teeth cleanings every three months.
8. Keep a food journal for a couple of weeks and ask your dentist or hygienist to evaluate it with you to see if there are any potential pitfalls you can avoid just by changing a couple of food habits.
   

If you have further questions about how your diet affects your dental health, please contact us at Flemingsburg Dental Care.

Ever wonder how dentists know whether there is a cavity in a tooth?  We use x-rays to look for cavities in-between teeth, but how does a dentist know if there’s decay in the grooves of your teeth?

In the past, the dental profession has traditionally used a dental explorer to feel for soft spots in the grooves of teeth.  Unfortunately, there was often some guesswork involved.  Before fluoride was added to our community water supplies to help prevent cavities, decay would often be a large hole and easy to spot.  Since fluoride has been used, dental decay in the grooves of teeth now is very narrow and more difficult to diagnose.

A newer technology that is now available in our office is a laser device called a Diagnodent.  This device shines a laser light into the grooves of your tooth, and a numeric value is displayed that indicates how much decay is present.  It’s completely painless, and even very small cavities can be detected at their earliest stage, so that decay can be caught before more tooth structure is damaged.
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Cavities can start in the grooves of teeth even before a child’s tooth fully appears.  In almost 90% of molar teeth, the grooves aren’t formed completely.  A dental sealant can be placed soon after the tooth erupts to protect these incompletely formed grooves in the teeth from developing cavities.

In our office, we use the Diagnodent laser to tell us if a sealant can be used. When the Diagnodent’s digital reading displays a reading of 23 or higher, we know there is an actual cavity present that requires a filling.  For a reading of 22 or less, we can place a sealant to keep the tooth from getting a cavity in the first place.
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For more information on the Diagnodent, or to schedule your next appointment, contact us today.

You’re seeing commercials on television that talk about a product’s ability to reverse cavities. So can these products really work? And what works best?
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First a little bit of background. A tooth actually develops a “cavity” when bacteria eats through the outer enamel layer of the tooth and gets into the softer dentin layer that lies below the enamel.

We’ve known for several years that you can use fluoride to reverse a pre-cavity, but it requires repeated regular applications of fluoride to accomplish this reversal. Two of the best ways to accomplish this are with application of fluoride varnishes or the daily use of custom fluoride trays at home.
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Fluoride varnish is a highly concentrated temporary dose of fluoride. The varnish holds fluoride close to the tooth surface for a longer period of time than other concentrated fluoride products. The varnish, usually tooth colored, is applied by a dental professional. When the varnish is used repeatedly, it can actually reverse the pre-cavity by remineralizing the tooth.

To use the custom fluoride trays, we recommend the following regimen:

1. Brush and floss sometime in the evening, close enough to bedtime that you won’t be eating again.
2. Apply 6-8 drops of prescription strength fluoride gel (5000 ppm fluoride), such as Prevident or Fluoridex, to both the upper and lower trays.
3. Place the trays over your teeth, seating them completely, and wear the trays for 5-10 minutes. The longer the dose, the more effective the product, and the better the results.
4. Remove the trays, rinse your mouth out with water, spit, and go to bed without eating. If you live in an area that does not have fluoride in the drinking water, you do not need to wash the excess fluoride out of your mouth. In this case, spit out the excess fluoride and go to bed without eating anything. This leaves a thin layer of fluoride on the teeth all night.
5. After removing the trays, wash them out with water and place them in your case to let them drain out and dry before the next use.

​There are some newer products that are even more effective at reversing pre-cavities. A product called MI Paste can reverse the pre-cavities and often reverse the opaque white spot caused by the pre-cavity. MI Paste works by releasing calcium and phosphate ions into your tooth enamel. It can be brushed on, or can be worn in the custom fluoride trays already mentioned.
There are many effective tools for fighting cavities before they start. Give us a call today so that we can help give you the smile you want.

If you have or might have periodontal disease, also sometimes called “gum and bone” disease, we know that you are at risk for other health problems.  For instance, researchers have now shown us that untreated gum and bone disease directly increases your risk for heart disease and strokes.  The bacteria under your infected gums release toxins into your bloodstream that ultimately travel to the heart.

​According to one theory, when the bacteria travel into the blood stream, the microbes attach to fatty plaque in the blood vessels of the heart.  The artery walls thicken with the buildup of fatty proteins, ultimately causing clots to form. When your normal blood flow is restricted by clotting, the heart’s function is impaired, keeping it from taking in oxygen and nutrients as efficiently. As heart function gradually diminishes, a diseased condition eventually develops that can eventually lead to a heart attack.  Even the slightest amount of gum inflammation in your mouth causes bacteria to enter the bloodstream that can cause all of these problems.

Diabetics are more prone to periodontal disease.  If left untreated, gum disease makes it harder for diabetics to control their blood sugar.  When gum disease is eliminated, diabetics improve their blood sugar control and make diabetic complications less likely.  And with diabetes, it’s kind of a two way street.  Periodontal disease makes it harder to control blood sugar levels (making diabetes worse), and diabetic patients have a harder time fighting off infection when it occurs, including periodontal disease.

Gastric ulcers are caused by bacteria.  When your gums are inflamed, bacteria from the mouth can travel to the stomach and cause ulcers to become active.  If you have been treated for ulcers, you should make sure your gums are as inflammation free as possible.

Several other health conditions can make you more prone to periodontal disease, including:

1. Tobacco use is the most significant risk factor for gum disease.  When nicotine is in the blood stream, it decreases your body’s ability to fight off infection, including periodontal disease.
2. Obesity:  Being overweight has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and gum disease.
3. Rheumatoid Arthritis:  The causes of gum disease and rheumatoid arthritis may be related.  One doesn’t cause the other, but when one is present, the other is more likely to be going on.
4. Osteoporosis:  Osteoporosis can affect the jaw bone.  If you have osteoporosis, you are more likely to lose teeth if you allow gum disease to persist.
5. Medications:  A side effect of some medications can cause changes in your gums.  The seizure medication Dilantin causes gum tissue to become fibrous and overgrown unless home care is exceptional.  Many blood pressure medicines make it easier for gums to bleed.
6. Stress:  Major stressors have a very definite affect on your immune system.  If your immune system doesn’t stay healthy, it can’t fight off the bacteria that causes periodontal disease.
7. Contagious contact:  The bacteria that cause periodontal disease is mildly contagious.  If anyone in your family is treated for periodontal disease, other family members should also be checked.

If you have conditions that make you more prone to periodontal disease, why not give us a call today?  Contact us at 606.845.2273, or toll-free at 888.917.2273.  Click here for a special offer for new patients in our practice.

Endodontic, or more commonly called “root canal” therapy, is a highly successful procedure – an overall 85% success rate.  If the nerve and blood vessels inside your teeth, also known as the “pulp,” become infected, endodontic treatment can be used to save your tooth.

Endodontic procedures are usually needed if deep decay has progressed far enough that it infects the pulp chamber of your tooth, or if the tooth receives a blow or other severe trauma.

The question Dr. Moorhead gets asked most about root canal therapy is one you’d probably expect:   “Does it hurt?”  We’ve all heard the stories told from years ago where someone had a root canal procedure performed and encountered lots of problems.  Comedians and late night talk show hosts routinely refer to “root canals” as procedures to be avoided.

But endodontic treatment has changed so much with today’s technology that it can’t even be compared to the stories people talk about.  Endodontic treatment used to involve two to three appointments, and at the very least, the tooth was very sore.  With the techniques we use in our office, at least 98% of endodontic procedures can be completed in just one appointment.

Dr Moorhead routinely phones patients at night to make certain that they are doing well after their dental procedures.  When hw phones our patients who have had a “root canal” earlier in the day, Dr. Moorhead routinely hear one of two responses – either the tooth feels “great,” or at worst, it’s “just a little tender to bite on.”  That's quite a difference from what most patients expected!

There are a couple of other things we do at Flemingsburg Dental Care to make certain our patients are comfortable during and after endodontic procedures.  When necessary, Dr. Moorhead will prescribe an antibiotic in advance so that there aren’t any problems getting the patient numb.  In addition, we routinely recommend that the patient take a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, such as Aleve, one hour before the procedure, and for two to three days after the appointment. For patients who have always had problems getting numb or are highly anxious about their procedure, we use sedation dentistry.

If you’ve been putting off root canal therapy, why not give us a call today?   Click here for a special offer for new patients in our practice.

​Many people wonder why it’s necessary to replace missing teeth. Let’s see what happens when a tooth is lost and is not replaced.

​When we’re young and our teeth are erupting, they’re programmed to keep erupting until they meet something.

​So when you lose a tooth and don’t replace it, the process starts again. The corresponding tooth in your opposite jaw will once again start erupting. Unfortunately, when the shifting occurs, the tooth moves, but the bone that holds in the tooth does not move with it. This results in a loss of bone support for the opposing tooth

There are solutions for replacing teeth that Dr. Moorhead will cover in a future article. But if you have a choice on whether to save a tooth, you’ll have less cost and a better result if you save your tooth. If you know your teeth need attention, give us a call today! You’ll be glad you did.