Helpful Articles.
Insight & Advice
for Your Oral Health
Why Are Some People More Prone to Cavities Than Others?
Diabetes & Oral Health
According to the CDC, around 1 in 10 Americans have diabetes. Around 1 in 3 have prediabetes, which is when you have elevated blood sugar levels not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis. Long-term effects of diabetes include an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, as well as problems with the nerves, kidneys, feet, and eyes. Your oral health is affected, too!
High Blood Sugar increases your risk of cavities
The bacteria that live in your mouth use sugar for food. When they eat, they produce acid that damages your teeth. High blood sugar levels, which are caused by diabetes, give this bacteria more fuel. Because diabetes increases your cavity risk, it’s especially important to maintain excellent brushing and flossing habits. Cleanings at the dentist are also essential. Depending on your cavity risk, you may need more than two cleanings a year.
Diabetes & gum disease reinforce each other
For people with diabetes, gum disease is the most common dental disease. Around 22% of those with diabetes get gum disease. When you get gum disease, which is an infection, it can cause your blood sugar to rise. This makes your diabetes harder to control.
Diabetes can cause dry mouth
Many people with diabetes also struggle with dry mouth. The disease itself can cause your mouth to produce less saliva, while many medications for diabetes also have dry mouth as a side effect. Without enough saliva to wash off plaque and food debris from your teeth, you’re more vulnerable to cavities.
Maintain great oral health at Springs Village Dentistry in Holly Springs, NC
Managing your diabetes is important for good overall health and good oral health! To counter the negative effects of the disease, drink enough water, brush, floss, and visit the dentist for regular cleanings and exams. If you have any questions about our services or want to schedule an appointment with Dr. Moore or Dr. Molta, please contact us today!
What To Expect From Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Wisdom teeth removal is seen as a rite of passage for many young adults. If you’re getting ready for a wisdom tooth extraction, you might have a few questions — especially if you haven’t had a tooth extracted before. Here’s some wisdom tooth “wisdom” so you’ll feel more informed.
Why Do I Need My Wisdom Tooth Extracted?
Your wisdom teeth erupt when you’re between 17-20 years old and they’re the final set of molars you’ll get. Because wisdom teeth are located far back in your mouth, they’re more likely to grow crookedly. Their location also can make it difficult to properly clean them which leaves you vulnerable to cavities, infection, overcrowding, and more.
On the other hand, your wisdom teeth may not even erupt at all. Often they will remain impacted under your gums. Wisdom teeth don’t really benefit your oral health or your smile, so we often recommend you have them removed in order to avoid infection or any issues they might cause to your smile down the line.
What Happens During a Wisdom Tooth Extraction
During a wisdom tooth extraction, your dentist will administer sedation to help you feel relaxed during your treatment. Depending on which type of sedation they use, you might have a numbness around your wisdom tooth, feel deeply relaxed yet conscious, or even be asleep during your extraction. Your dentist will then either extract the wisdom tooth if it has erupted or make an incision in your gums and remove the tooth piece by piece if it is impacted.
Wisdom Tooth Extraction Aftercare
After your wisdom tooth is extracted, you might experience bleeding at the extraction site for the next few hours. We’ll provide you with gauze and specific instructions on how to navigate the days and weeks following your extraction.
- Take any prescribed pain medication as directed
- Ice your cheeks to help ease any pain and swelling
- Avoid drinking with straws because they can rupture blood clots formed at the extraction site and cause bleeding
- Rinse your mouth with salt and warm water to keep the extraction site clean
- Eat soft foods until the extraction site heals
- Refrain from smoking
Affordable Wisdom Tooth Removal in Holly Springs, NC
At Springs Village Dentistry, we offer comprehensive dental services ranging from preventive to cosmetic to restorative. Plus, we offer flexible financing and a Dental Wellness Club to make our treatments affordable so you can have the healthy, beautiful smile you desire. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!
How Can I Reduce the Cost for Dental Care
Good oral health and hygiene play an essential role in your overall health. Without maintaining good oral health, the ability to speak, smile, or eat may become difficult. While it’s understandable that the cost for care comes into consideration, avoiding dental care due to the cost can result in a high price in the end.
Here are three ideas to help reduce the cost of dental care!
1. Routine Dental Visits
Preventive dentistry visits play a significant role in keeping your cost of dental care low. The American Dental Association recommends routine appointments every six months. While this frequency may change per individual, these dental exams are worth going to since addressing dental issues before they worsen can result in less expensive treatments.
2. New Patient Offers & Other Specials
If it has been a while since your last dental visit, or you have relocated, inquire about new patient offers. Offices that love to meet new patients may offer a special for an initial visit to help patients get the care they need at an affordable price. Sometimes dental offices may offer other deals like free consultations or reduced pricing on an electric toothbrush.
3. Payment Options
Are you aware of the many different ways to pay for your dental care? While many think the primary method of payment is dental insurance or out-of-pocket, some offices provide a dental membership plan. Others allow the work you need to be broken down into phases to fit your budget better. Don’t hesitate to inquire about payment options or work with the dentist to find affordable and effective treatments.
Affordable Dental Care in Holly Springs, NC
At Springs Village Dentistry, we never want patients to avoid dental care due to the cost. We provide a variety of financial options, including a new patient special. We also offer an in-house Dental Wellness Club! If you ever have financial questions, our friendly team can answer them and help you make the most out of available options. Call us today if you’re ready to receive affordable dental care or would like to learn more!
What Are the Most Popular Cosmetic Dental Procedures?
Cosmetic dental procedures can change your smile from dull to bright or enhance it in other ways. If you’re considering a cosmetic dental procedure, you may be wondering which are the most popular to help improve or restore the appearance of your smile. We’ve got you covered with some very popular cosmetic dental procedures!
Professional Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic dentistry treatments. Teeth whitening can change your smile from dull to bright in no time. This low-invasive treatment is often accessible at a lower cost than other cosmetic treatments. When you opt for professional teeth whitening with our office, you have the option to select from ZOOM! in-office whitening or custom take-home teeth whitening trays to complete whitening in the comfort of your home.
Porcelain Veneers
Veneers are thin coverings that bond to the front surface of the tooth. These thin coverings are tooth-colored and can improve the appearance of teeth and protect them from damage. Veneers are great if you’re looking to fix several cosmetic dental issues like chips, cracks, misalignment, and discoloration.
Clear Aligners
Patients looking to improve their appearance may want to straighten up their teeth. Maybe you had braces as a teen but your teeth have slipped out of alignment. Or you may have always wanted to straighten your teeth but never got around to it. One way to discreetly correct misaligned or crooked teeth is by opting for clear aligners. In most cases, they’re just as effective as traditional metal braces!
Cosmetic Dentistry in Holly Springs, NC
These aren’t the only dentistry procedures that can transform your smile. At Springs Village Dentistry, we offer a variety of cosmetic treatments, in addition to dental crowns and implants which can also improve the appearance and function of your smile. If you’re looking to change the appearance of your teeth, come in for a consultation so we can get started on your smile makeover!
How Sleep Apnea Can Prevent You From Getting a Good Night’s Rest
If you wake up groggy despite getting eight hours of sleep and suffer from chronic snoring, you may have sleep apnea, a disorder that affects 18 million Americans. You might be surprised to know that sleep apnea has close ties to your oral health. In this blog post, we’ll uncover more about this debilitating condition, along with treatments we offer at Springs Village Dentistry to help you find relief.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where your breathing stops or becomes extremely shallow while you sleep. There are two types of sleep apnea. The most common form is obstructive sleep apnea. This is when the muscles in the back of your throat become relaxed as you sleep instead of contracting. They block your breathing. The second form is central sleep apnea, which occurs when your brain is unable to send the correct signals to the muscles that help you breathe while you sleep.
Signs of Sleep Apnea
Of course, you can’t tell if you have sleep apnea because it occurs while you’re sleeping. A sleep study will give a definitive diagnosis. But there are a few telltale signs to look out for.
- Grogginess or fatigue despite getting enough sleep
- Waking up in the middle of the night
- Chronic snoring
- Persistent headaches
- Chronic dry mouth
- Bad breath (halitosis)
- Insomnia
Since sleep apnea disrupts your sleep cycle, it can be extremely damaging to your health. Sleep apnea is known for increasing your chances of developing liver disease, diabetes, and stroke, and can accelerate dental issues including decay and tooth loss.
Sleep Apnea Treatments
Two of the most common ways to treat sleep apnea are through oral appliance therapy and CPAP therapy, both of which we can guide you through at Springs Village Dentistry. Oral appliance therapy uses a device that looks similar to an athletic mouthguard to help guide your mouth to the correct position as you sleep. It promotes proper airflow to your lungs throughout the night. CPAP therapy uses a breathing machine that helps push air directly into your lungs through a mask as you sleep. It takes some getting used to and may cause bloating, facial irritation and sore throat to start.
Consistent exercise to aid weight loss, reducing alcohol consumption, and adjusting your posture at night can all help prevent or alleviate the symptoms of sleep apnea.
Affordable Sleep Apnea Treatment in Holly Springs, NC
Sleep apnea can be debilitating and reduce your quality of life — but Springs Village Dentistry has treatments that can help you sleep soundly again. We don’t want the cost of your visit to stop you from getting the treatment you need. We offer flexible financing to help make your treatments budget-friendly and will work with you to maximize any applicable insurance benefits you might have. Contact us to schedule a consultation today!
Use Your Dental Benefits Before They Expire!
Balancing a variety of health care appointments during the year is challenging and may leave you behind in your dental care. Besides that fact that ignoring preventive care can lead to the need for more expensive procedures later on, it’s also financially wise to take a look at your insurance plan to make sure that you are maximizing your dental benefits!
Dental Benefits
There’s a lot to remember as the holiday season approaches so it may have slipped your mind that dental benefits expire at the end of each year. These dental benefits often help cover the cost of necessary procedures so that you can keep your smile in good shape. When dental benefits aren’t used by the end of the year, they can’t be carried over into the next year. You may have met a deductible or threshold that would allow you to pay minimal for certain necessary procedures. If you don’t get the treatment before the end of the year, you’ll either have to wait to get it later or pay more than you would have.
Dental Exams & Cleanings
Most dental insurance plans cover two preventive dental visits per year. If you haven’t scheduled your second visit, now’s the time to do it. During a dental exam and cleaning, Dr. Moore or Dr. Molta will thoroughly examine your teeth, gums and mouth. One of our professional hygienists will thoroughly clean your teeth. Depending on your prior visit or time in-between visits, X-rays may or may not be taken. These visits to the office can prevent tooth decay, screen for oral cancer, and allow our team to help treat or prevent any existing dental problems from worsening.
Restorative Dentistry
During your preventive visit, our team may find an issue like a cavity or chip. Then you may need to select a restorative dental procedure to ensure the health and longevity of your natural teeth. Options for restoration include tooth fillings, dental crowns, root canals or tooth extractions. There is the possibility to use dental benefits to help cover the cost of these necessary services.
Affordable Care in Holly Springs, NC
At Springs Village Dentistry, we offer affordable dental care for our patients and accept a variety of dental insurance and payment options, including but not limited to HSAs, FSAs, credit cards, CareCredit and Lending Club. To find out more about how you can take advantage of your dental benefits at our office, visit our financial page. If you need help determining if you have used your dental benefits our financial team can help. If you don’t have insurance or are not planning to renew your insurance next year, consider joining our in-house Dental Wellness Club. This is an affordable way for your family to get the dental care they need. Give us a call to ask questions or to schedule your appointment today!
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