Helpful Articles.
Insight & Advice
for Your Oral Health
Family Block Appointments: Save Time, Smile Together
In this post, we’ll look at how family block appointments can simplify your schedule, reduce stress, and keep everyone in your household smiling—without multiple trips to the dentist.
Is Dental Sedation Safe for Children?
Dental sedation is a common technique for patients who feel anxious or nervous in the dental chair. This feeling, often referred to as dental anxiety, is especially common among children. Our practice offers a wide range of dental services for children to achieve and maintain great oral health, some of which can be assisted by dental sedation.
Sedation Dentistry
Visiting the dentist can trigger anxiety or stress in any patient. To help patients, even children, cope with their anxiety, sedation dentistry can make the treatment and visit more comfortable. There are several types of sedation, including:
- Oral conscious sedation
- Nitrous oxide
- IV sedation
Springs Village Dentistry offers oral conscious sedation and nitrous oxide (laughing gas.) Nitrous oxide is the most common type of dental sedation and is considered one of the safest kinds of sedation in children’s dentistry.
Preparing Your Child for Dental Sedation
Preparing your child for any type of dental sedation will ensure they have the safest and best possible experience. While our Springs Village Dentistry team will provide you with detailed information for preparing your child, typically, you should:
- Avoid giving your child solid foods
- Dress your child in comfortable clothing
- Provide your child’s current health information
Dental Sedation Aftercare
After sedation, especially nitrous oxide, your child may feel perfectly normal. However, sometimes children feel confused, nauseous, or emotional. These side effects are normal, and your child will need time to rest and recover. Once your child returns home, we encourage you to:
- Monitor your child after treatment
- Feed your child soft foods
- Encourage your child to drink plenty of water
Dental Sedation in Holly Springs, NC
Dental sedation, especially nitrous oxide, is safe for children. We offer dental sedation to help patients feel comfortable and relaxed. If you’d like to learn more about sedation dentistry to see if you or your child is a candidate, contact us today!
What Is Considered A Dental Emergency?
Dental emergencies can be frightening, but knowing what qualifies as an emergency and what to do helps reduce your stress. You may think you should go to an emergency room, but if an injury involves your teeth in any way, you need to see an emergency dentist. Here are the most common types of emergencies.
Chipped, cracked, or broken teeth
You can chip, crack, or break your teeth while eating, chewing on things that aren’t food (like pens), falling, or experiencing another type of injury. Depending on how severe the issue is, you may not need to come in immediately. As soon as you break your tooth or notice symptoms like increased sensitivity or pain, please give us a call. We may recommend a same-day appointment or one within the next few days.
Severe tooth pain
Cavities often don’t cause symptoms early on, but as they get larger, you’ll experience a toothache. If the pain is severe, it could mean your cavity has led to a tooth infection. Dental trauma, like getting hit hard in the face, can also cause infections. If you don’t get treatment, tooth infections can spread to other parts of your body and lead to tooth loss. It’s essential to get emergency care quickly. A root canal, which removes the infection while saving the tooth, is usually the best treatment.
Knocked-out teeth
Losing a tooth is probably the scariest dental emergency you could experience. If possible, find the knocked-out tooth and pick it up by the crown. Rinse off any dirt or debris and try to place the tooth back in its socket. Bite down on a piece of gauze to hold it. You may be in a situation where you can’t put it back, so try putting it in a cup of milk or your own saliva. The key is not letting the tooth dry out. Call us right away and bring the tooth with you to the office.
Emergency dental care at Springs Village Dentistry in Holly Springs, NC
Breaks, toothache, and knocked-out teeth are all considered emergencies. If there’s something wrong with your mouth, odds are we’re the ones to call. Have questions or worry you’re experiencing an emergency? Please contact us today!
What Are the Benefits of Veneers?
Have you always wanted a smile upgrade? Treatments like teeth whitening can enhance your smile’s appearance, but if you’re looking for a dramatic transformation, veneers are a great option. What are the benefits of these thin, tooth-colored shells?
Veneers Hide Discolored Teeth
Many people have deep stains or permanent discoloration on their teeth. Veneers are a great way to hide these imperfections forever and make your smile brighter and whiter. We’ll design the veneers so you get a natural-looking shade. Veneers also resist stains more than natural teeth, so you can smile confidently.
Veneers Fix the Shape and Size of Your Teeth
Do you have teeth that are oddly shaped or uneven with the rest of your smile? We can change the shape and size of a tooth with a veneer, making your smile uniform and consistent. Veneers can even address small gaps.
Veneers Protect Worn-Down or Chipped Teeth
Veneers don’t only make your teeth look better, they can strengthen them. If you have worn-down enamel or small chips, veneers protect your teeth from further harm and add a protective shield.
Veneers Are a Permanent Treatment
Many people like that veneers are permanent. Before we bond the shell, we shave a tiny bit of enamel off your teeth. This makes it easier to bond the shell and helps the veneer sit flush against the tooth so it doesn’t look bulky. Because some enamel is removed, you’ll always need to have veneers. Veneers last 10-30 years, so the positive effects of veneers are permanent.
Getting Veneers at Springs Village Dentistry in Holly Springs, NC
Dental veneers transform your smile’s appearance and guard your teeth against problems like sensitivity. As a cosmetic treatment, veneers can be expensive, so our office has a variety of flexible payment options. If you have questions or want to schedule a consultation for veneers, please contact us today!
3 Ways To Keep Your Gums Healthy
When people think of taking care of their smile or their oral health, their first thought always goes to teeth. But the important thing to keep in mind is that things shouldn’t just stop there. You have to take care of your gums too! After all, your gums are what’s keeping those teeth in place and they’re an important connection between dental wellness and the wellness of the rest of your body. Here are three ways to keep your gums healthy.
1. Don’t forget to floss
It’s something you hear your dental hygienist say all the time, and it’s for a valid reason. Flossing doesn’t replace brushing your teeth, but it’s an essential part of a healthy oral hygiene routine. Flossing cleans away any food debris or bacteria that may be building up in and around your gums that your toothbrush can’t reach. You should floss at least once a day to maintain your gum health.
2. Avoid using tobacco products
Smoking is bad for your overall health, and that includes your gum health. Smoking or chewing tobacco can increase your risk of getting gum disease. It can also prevent gums that are infected from healing properly.
3. Consider rinsing with mouthwash
Mouthwash is another great tool in your dental arsenal. You can buy mouthwash specifically designed to prevent gingivitis, adding extra protection on top of your brushing and flossing. If you’re not sure what kind of mouthwash to get, look for ones that have the ADA (American Dental Association) seal of approval.
Promoting Gum Health in Holly Springs, NC
Regular dental exams are also an important way to ensure gum health. Gum disease is much easier to reverse when it is caught in its early stages. Prolonged gum sensitivity or regular bleeding when you brush are signs of gum disease. Do you have a concern about your gums? Contact us at Springs Village Dentistry! Our experienced and caring dentists provide periodontal care. Our friendly front office team will be happy to schedule an appointment for you.
What You Can Do About Recurring Toothaches
A toothache could be a mild throbbing feeling or it could be a severe, sharp pain. Either way, it’s not something you want to deal with on a regular basis. Toothaches are a sign that there’s something going on with your dental health that needs to be addressed. Tooth pain can come and go. It might be aggravated by things you eat, especially hot or cold foods. Here are some things you can do if you’re experiencing recurring toothaches.
Use Pain-Management Techniques
There are few simple things you can do at home to manage any pain or discomfort you might be feeling from your teeth. For starters, you can try a rinse of warm salt water to clean away any bacteria and debris. You can also use a cold compress and apply it to the outside of your cheek near where the toothache is. Additionally, there are over-the-counter pain medications you can take. Be sure to use the medication as instructed on the label.
Maintain Your Dental Routine
If your tooth hurts, you might be tempted to avoid touching it, even with a toothbrush during your dental routine. That’s not the way to go! It’s important to keep gently brushing and flossing as normal. Sometimes trapped food can aggravate the discomfort. And if you don’t keep bad bacteria at bay, it might make the toothache worse.
See the Dentist ASAP
Toothaches that persist for more than a day or two, or come back regularly, shouldn’t be ignored. Tooth pain is generally a sign of tooth decay and it won’t go away on its own. In fact, the longer decay is left untreated, the worse it will become. If the pulp inside your tooth becomes infected it can result in an abscess. The result is severe pain that can turn into a dental emergency.
Taking Care of Tooth Pain in Holly Springs, NC
Many different things can cause tooth pain therefore it’s very difficult to self-diagnose the problem. Save yourself the stress of wondering what might be wrong and visit the dental professionals at Springs Village Dentistry. Our state-of-the-art technology will allow us to pinpoint the cause of your toothaches and restore your oral health. Our team is ready to get you back to a pain-free smile!
Join Our Dental Wellness Club Today!
Getting high-quality dental care when you need it shouldn’t put a strain on your budget, even if you don’t have insurance. At Springs Village Dentistry, it’s important to us that our community is able to access the dental treatments they need without feeling held back because of financial limitations. That’s why we created our Dental Wellness Club. An alternative to dental insurance coverage, our Dental Wellness Club could be just the thing you’ve been looking for if you’ve been wishing for a way to lower your out-of-pocket costs while taking care of your oral health.
How It Works
Our Dental Wellness Club is very straightforward and easy to figure out, unlike many dental insurance plans. You first decide which membership tier you should join. Each one has a different monthly cost, and each one has different preventive services included in that price. For example, if you decide to join the adult membership tier, you’ll pay $30/month. Covered services include two dental cleanings, two dental exams, routine X-rays, a yearly emergency exam, and a yearly fluoride treatment. If you need any other treatment outside of those included costs, you’ll get a 10% discount, so the savings keep coming.
How It’s Different from Dental Insurance
While our Dental Wellness Club may seem like it has some similarities to dental insurance, there are some major differences. For starters, there are no deductibles or yearly maximums that you have to worry about. You also won’t have to deal with any waiting periods, claim submission forms, or rejected claims. Essentially, it’s like you get the benefits of more affordable treatments but without any of the things that can make insurance feel confusing and overwhelming.
Affordable Dental Care in Holly Springs
If you’re ready to join our Dental Wellness Club, there’s no reason to wait one more day without access to the big savings it provides. Our dentists can help you choose the right plan for you and your family. Contact Springs Village Dentistry in Holly Springs to speak with a member of our team about enrollment.
Connect with us
We can’t wait to meet you.
Call (919) 825-3131 or request an appointment online to set up your first visit. We’ll be in touch soon.