Helpful Articles.

Insight & Advice
for Your Oral Health

Why Are Some People More Prone to Cavities Than Others?

What Are Dental Infections?

October 23, 2020
A red emergency kit with a white cross sitting next to a model of a tooth

Dental infections usually involve an abscess. An abscess is a pocket of pus that has formed either within the tooth or on the gums. The cause of a dental abscess is usually poor hygiene. Not correctly brushing your teeth, neglecting to floss, and skipping regular visits to the dentist can cause cavities and gum disease to progress into abscesses. Dental abscesses are dangerous if left untreated. Infections can become dental emergencies and can even create further medical issues throughout your body.

Telltale signs of dental infection

The most common indication for a dental infection is feeling any pain surrounding a tooth. If you have any of these symptoms, please contact us as soon as possible.

  • Toothache or tooth pain
  • Fever
  • Pain when chewing or biting foods
  • Red or swollen gums
  • Jaw swelling
  • Sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures

Are dental infections considered a dental emergency?

Infections can be considered a dental emergency. Don’t put off visiting Springs Village Dentistry if you are in pain. We keep time in our schedule open for those that need to see a dentist immediately. Our team can examine your teeth and determine the root cause of the problem. We see patients for dental emergencies if they have any of the following issues:

  • Mild to severe toothache
  • Inflamed or infected abscess on gums
  • Broken or chipped teeth
  • Knocked-out teeth

Treatment options for dental infections

Here are some standard options to get rid of dental infections. Your treatment will be tailored to your specific issue so not all of these might apply.

  • Drain the abscess: A small cut will be made into the abscess to remove the pus. Our dentist can adequately remove the abscess while not reinfecting the area.
  • Root canal therapy: Root canals sound intimidating, but they provide relief from pain. A small hole is created on your tooth to remove the interior, infected pus.
  • Tooth extraction: If you went a long time with an infected tooth, the damage might be too severe to save the tooth. An extraction will allow you to create space for an implanted tooth and a healthier mouth.

Need an emergency dental appointment?

Our office is always ready to help with dental emergencies. Please call us to schedule an appointment. We can often see you on the same day to provide the relief that you need.

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Do I Need a Root Canal?

September 15, 2020
Graphic illustration of the steps involved to remove infection from the tooth's pulp in root canal therapy

Root canals are a fantastic procedure that can be used to save the tooth. But is it right for you? In this blog post, we’ll cover the basics of this amazing procedure and help you understand why you may need one. Keep reading for a closer look at the root canal.

What Is a Root Canal

Root canals sometimes get a bad rep, but they are actually a fantastic procedure that’s become very routine. With root canal therapy, a dentist goes in to repair damage or decay that’s posing a threat to the tooth. After a successful root canal procedure, the patient gets to maintain their natural tooth and avoid getting an implant. The pain that accompanies an infected tooth also goes away!

Reasons for a Root Canal

Root canals are employed when the pulp within the tooth becomes affected. This can happen due to damage, infection, or decay. During the procedure, the dentist will go in and clean out the infected pulp, maintaining the tooth and avoiding serious consequences like an abscess or tooth loss. The area is then sealed to prevent further infection. Depending on the extent of the damage, the tooth will be finished with a filling or strengthened with a dental crown.

How Do I Know I Need One?

Dr. Molta or Dr. Moore will be the one to suggest that it’s time for a root canal, but there are some signs that may let you know that you’re headed toward this routine procedure. These include pain while eating, bumps or “pimples” on the gums, damage or injury to the tooth, tooth sensitivity, swelling, or discoloration in the tooth or gums. If you notice any of these symptoms persisting, definitely give us a call!

Restorative Dentistry in Holly Springs, NC

Do you need a restorative procedure? Leave it to us! Springs Village Dentistry offers a variety of different restorative procedures to fit our patients’ needs and restore their smile to its original beauty. Give us a call or visit our website at any time to arrange for your consultation.

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Financial Tips for Dental Care

August 17, 2020
Hands shown adding up sums on a calculator with pen in hand

At Springs Village Dentistry, we understand how important it is to receive premium dental care without exceeding your budget. Here are some great tips to help you get the oral healthcare you need without breaking the bank!

Comprehensive Payment Options

Choosing the right dentist is the first step! After checking that they offer the services you need, take the time to ask questions or research their website to see which types of payment options they offer. The more choices you have, the better. If you have dental insurance, make sure the treatment you’re seeking is covered through your insurance and that the office works with your provider. If you don’t have insurance, inquire about financing options and payment plans if you can’t cover your treatment upfront. Our Holly Springs office is insurance friendly and we’ll file insurance claims for you. We also accept HSAs and FSAs in addition to VISA, Discover, AMEX and MasterCard.

Third-Party Financing Companies

Third-party financing is an option for patients looking to split their treatment costs into smaller, more manageable monthly payments. Springs Village accepts both CareCredit® and Lending Club™. For CareCredit, you complete a quick online application and receive a credit decision within minutes. Once approved, you will receive a CareCredit credit card in the mail. You’ll use this card to pay for your dental expenses and choose a repayment plan that best suits your financial needs. Lending Club is similar to CareCredit, except they offer personal loans that will be deposited directly into your bank account. There are many financing options out there! We recommend doing your research and finding one that works best for you.

In-House Dental Membership Plan

Some dentist offices provide an in-house membership plan. They are an awesome way to save big on the care you need, especially if you don’t have dental insurance! In-house plans cover most preventive treatments and offer great discounts on additional services. Springs Village Dentistry offers a Dental Wellness Club with plans for adults and children, plus a periodontal plan. The plan practically pays for itself after one teeth cleaning and exam. An added bonus is the free emergency exam if needed!

Affordable Dentistry in Holly Springs, NC

At Springs Village Dentistry, we proudly offer a wide range of financial options. You shouldn’t have to sacrifice your financial health in order to maintain your oral health. We currently have a new patient offer. Please contact our office to learn more!

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Most Common Sleep Apnea Symptoms

July 16, 2020
A man covering his ears with his people while his wife snores next to him

When you wake up in the morning, do you find yourself just as tired as you were before you went to sleep? Do you wake up gasping for air? You may suffer from a sleeping disorder known as sleep apnea.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

There are two types of sleep apnea, central and obstructive. Central sleep apnea occurs when your brain doesn’t send proper signals to your muscles that control your breathing while you sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea is when the soft tissues relax in the back of the throat and obstruct your airway. Both types of sleep apnea cause your breathing to repeatedly stop and start throughout the sleep cycle.

Common Sleep Apnea Symptoms

While proper diagnosis needs to be done through a certified healthcare professional, here are some common symptoms you should look out for. Some of the symptoms occur while you sleep, so we recommend having a loved one keep an eye out for these symptoms as well:

  • Daytime Drowsiness
  • Dry Mouth or Sore Throat After Waking Up
  • Forgetfulness
  • Loud & Frequent Snoring
  • Morning Headaches
  • Shortness of Breath
  • Sudden Mood Changes

If you are currently experiencing any of the above symptoms, we recommend contacting a healthcare professional to schedule a sleep study. Sleep studies can determine whether or not you have sleep apnea and, if so, which type. If left untreated, sleep apnea can have negative effects on your overall health and well-being, such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disorders, and more.

Sleep Apnea Treatment at Springs Village Dentistry

For those who have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, our experienced team at Springs Village Dentistry can help you get the sleep you deserve! We offer sleep apnea therapy, with our custom oral appliances. They are specifically designed to reposition your jaw and keep your airway open while you sleep. To learn more, please contact our office to schedule your sleep consultation!

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What Is Considered a Dental Emergency?

June 12, 2020
Attractive young black woman with a toothache

Imagine you’re sitting at home, enjoying your day, and then you notice something wrong with your teeth. You don’t think it’s such a big deal so you try and push it out of your mind and go about your business. Then, come to find out later on that the problem has just gotten worse. Maybe something that was an easy fix is now a bigger problem because you waited too long to seek professional care. We definitely don’t want this to happen to you!

We know that some people may be hesitant to rush to the dentist because they think what they’re experiencing is just a small problem and they don’t want to inconvenience themselves or their dental office because they got worried for no reason. But, on the flipside, there are some situations that are actually dental emergencies and it’s best to get help as soon as possible. Our Springs Village Dentistry team wants to help you know the difference between the two so you never have to put your health on the line.

Questions to Ask

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to determine whether your dental issue is an emergency. If you answer yes to any of the following, you should seek emergency dental care.

  • Have you lost a tooth?
  • Are you in severe pain?
  • Is one or more of your permanent teeth loose?
  • Is a large part of your tooth missing?
  • Do you have oral bleeding that will not stop?
  • Are your gums severely swollen?
  • Do you have a major crack in your tooth?

Non-Urgent Issues

These are some examples of dental issues that should be taken care of, but don’t count as an emergency:

  • Dull toothache
  • Small chip in your tooth
  • Small crack in tooth, but not severe pain
  • Missing filling, crown, or bridge
  • Food stuck between teeth

When in doubt, contact Springs Village Dentistry so we can walk you through what to do next, whether that means some simple at-home care or coming into our office. Our Holly Springs, NC office offers same-day emergency dental care. It’s always better to be safe than sorry! But don’t wait for an emergency to come see us. We offer a wide range of preventive, restorative, and cosmetic services too.

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How Our Office is Responding to Coronavirus

May 8, 2020
Photo of two bronze statues wearing face masks due to coronavirus
Image by Mohan Nannapaneni from Pixabay

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, people around the world are focusing on ways to stay safe and healthy. That rings true for us here at Springs Village Dentistry. Like many other businesses, we are making necessary adjustments as the situation develops to protect the well-being of both our patients and our own team. Here’s a little bit more about how our Holly Springs dental practice is responding in light of our current situation.

Assistance by Phone or Web-Conferencing

In order to stop the spread of coronavirus, we’ve all had to make changes to adhere to social distancing. Instead of you physically coming into our office, we’re happy to address your concerns and discuss your treatment over the phone or via web-conferencing—all during our regular business hours. If you’re worried that you might have a dental emergency, please go ahead and contact us so we can offer specific advice on your situation.

Emergency Treatment Available

While we may not be providing a full schedule of routine services at the moment, we know that some emergencies just can’t wait until things go back to normal. You can still count on Springs Village Dentistry for emergency dental treatment! Just call our office at 252-303-2598 or shoot us an email at dentist@svdentists.com. We’ll get in touch with you as soon as possible to discuss next steps. Rest assured that if it’s deemed necessary for you to visit us for emergency dentistry, we’ll have proper health protocols in place for sanitation and disinfection.

We Hope to See You Soon!

Our practice family looks forward to the day that we can welcome you and your family back through our doors for all your dental needs. We also want to ensure that it’s safe for everyone involved. We’ll continue to stay up-to-date with the latest developments. You can check out our website or Facebook page for any additional updates.

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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.