Ten Questions to Ask Your Dentist

by Elizabeth Huynh | Jan 17, 2023 | Dental How To

Ten Questions We Encourage Your To Ask Now Dental

Now Dental is just about the friendliest dental practice serving the Carmichael, and the surrounding communities within Sacramento County. Yet we know that people tend to be apprehensive when it comes to all things related to dentistry. Well part of our friendly attitude towards your dental hygiene is our willingness to educate you on how to improve and maintain your teeth! Asking our staff questions is encouraged! Everyone that works at Now Dental can answer a broad range of questions related to dentistry.

1. What can I do to improve my smile?

– Sometimes the answer might be simple, sometimes Now Dental may suggest creating a dental plan with the specific goal of improving your smile!

2. What is the best kind of toothbrush and floss for my teeth and gums?

– Not everyone should be using the same kind of toothbrush or floss. Now Dental can make specific recommendations based on the structure of your teeth and gums.

3. How often should I have a dental exam and cleaning?

– This varies depending on oral health, dental appliances, and issues that your dentist or hygienist detect.

4. What kind of products should I use or avoid to keep my teeth whiter?

– Every year there is a new product promising whiter teeth. Your dentist and hygienist can help you pick the right product or regime!

Why do I have dry mouth and how does it affect my teeth?

-Dry mouth can be caused by numerous things. Medications and Cancer treatment being the most common ones. Dry mouth tends to not only be uncomfortable but increases the rate of decay. Over The Counter products can help some. Ask your dental professional for some recommendations and samples.

6. What can I do to prevent cavities?

– Cavities lead to a lot of problems and potential expenses. In many cases, Now Dental can suggest a regime that can help prevent the things most people fear when it comes to dentistry, the drill, pain, and big bills!

7. Can you tell if I am grinding or damaging my teeth, crowns, or fillings?

– Grinding of teeth happens! Sometimes it is a subconscious thing, sometimes it happens while you sleep. Best to be aware because a dentist can design appliances that can help protect your teeth!

8. I see blood when I floss, is there anything I can do to reduce or prevent bleeding gums?

– Bleeding gums can be a sign of many things you don’t want happening in your mouth! Your dentist will likely be advised of bleeding by the hygienist, but be prepared to ask how you can deal with bleeding between dental checkups!

9. What are the insurance, self-pay, financing, and billing of your dental practice?

– Regardless if you have the best dental insurance or paying out of pocket, it is always good to know what to expect when the bill comes!

10. Should I change my diet in any way?

– On top of impacting many aspects of health, one’s diet can directly affect the condition of teeth and oral health!

These are a few questions to the staff at Now Dental at your next dental appointment. Not only will you come away smarter about taking care of your smile, but it will help you build a more informative relationship with your dentist, hygienist, and even the dental practice receptionist! Taking care of your teeth is a cooperative effort! The staff at Now Dental is ready to answer all questions related to your dental hygiene and care!

Dental Checkups Save You Money and Save Your Teeth!

by Elizabeth Huynh | Dec 16, 2022 | Dental How To

Regular dental checkups are your first line of oral health defense!

The three most important things you can do to prevent small dental issues from becoming, painful, expensive ones are having regular dental checkups and cleanings, brush your and floss your teeth at least several times a day. These three activities can go a long way to maintaining optimum dental health and oral hygiene! While you can brush and floss after every meal, a visit with your dentist begins with making an appointment! Of course if your don’t have a regular dentist, NOW Dental in Carmichael, is a family-friendly dentist focused on helping you maintain a healthy smile!

What happens during a typical dental checkup and cleaning?

Depending on your dentist, the first thing that happens is you are given a mouth rinse to swish around. Then the dental checkup and cleaning begins with an x-ray which gives your dentist an detailed view of your teeth and the jaw bone surrounding the roots of your teeth. This x-ray is really important because it is often the first warning of small cavities and abscesses that are not either creating pain or visible due to location. While dentists and dental hygienists are experts at spotting cavities and decay, an x-ray leaves no doubt. An x-ray can identify cavities under crowns or bridges. Yes, you can get a cavity on a tooth that has a crown or is supporting a bridge! Also, where there is an old cavity, there could be an issue with the root of the tooth, including an abscess! One thing for sure, it is better to identify and make a plan to deal with an abscess. Short of childbirth, it is said a “mad” tooth abscess is one of the more painful experiences a person can experience.

After a series of x-rays has been taken, your teeth get a deep cleaning. A dentist, or more likely, their dental hygienist, will start by measuring pockets in the gums around your teeth. Measuring pockets around your teeth and x-rays set (or reset), baselines that your dentist will use to create dental plans to maximize your oral hygiene. Periodontal pockets generally start due to plaque build-up, but there are other factors that can contribute to their development. Ideally periodontal pockets should be in the range of 1 to 3 mm. Periodontal pockets 4mm or deeper are a call to action since your teeth depend on healthy gums!

After all the probing of your gums, the cleaning begins! There may be a bunch of scraping to remove plaque. High powered jets of water and sharp implements scrape the teeth clean. Once the teeth have been scraped clean of plaque, they will be polished and then flossed. All the time, your mouth is getting rinsed and that water is being suctioned out. In most cases, the last thing that happens during the dental cleaning is a final rinse.

A chat with your dentist after a cleaning…

After your teeth are cleaned, dentist will come in and poke around in your mouth for a few minutes. Then he or she will sit down and discuss what needs to be done help maintain or remedy any issues detected by x-rays or during the cleaning. Typically you can expect to hear two things! “Brush your teeth and floss more often!” Heed your dentists advice because while a dental checkup and cleaning can help maintain your teeth and identify issues, brushing and flossing are inexpensive things you can do to prevent many dental issues!

If you do not have a dentist and live in Sacramento, Carmichael, Citrus Heights, Fair Oaks, Orangevale, or even Roseville or Folsom, call Now Dental! Not only are we family-friendly, but we are passionate dental care providers. It is important to us that small dental issues do not become expensive and painful ones. If you have dental insurance, we can help you make the best use of your plan. If you don’t have dental insurance, we can help you apply for specialized credit financing specifically designed for dental care. If you are paying for dental care out of pocket, call us, we will work with you honestly and transparently.

Call Now Dental at 1-916-966-2009

7 Interesting Things You Should Know about Dentures

by Elizabeth Huynh | Nov 16, 2022 | Restorative Dentistry

Dentures have come a long way in the last few decades, and there are now a wide variety of options available to replace natural teeth. Read on to learn more about dentures, their care, and other interesting facts about dentures and general dentistry in Carmichael, CA.

Partial Dentures vs. Full dentures
When most people think of dentures, they think of full dentures where the dentures replace all of your natural teeth. They can be fitted for your upper and/or lower jaw, are stuck into place with suction or a temporary adhesive, and can be removed as needed. Partial dentures, on the other hand, are able to replace teeth when the other remaining teeth are not able to support a bridge or other tooth replacement method. Partial dentures are fastened to the gum line and remaining teeth, and like full or complete dentures, they are easily removed.

Denture Materials
Historically, dentures were made of porcelain or plastic. More modern dentures are made of hard resins, however. These resins are not as durable as natural teeth, which is why they have to be periodically replaced. You should also be careful not to drop or break your dentures as the hard material can crack or chip if not cared for properly.

More Than Teeth
While dentures are commonly used to replace missing teeth and make your smile look complete, they actually serve more purposes than just that. They support the structures in and around the cheeks and lips where missing teeth create problems, they allow you to eat foods that wouldn’t be possible with missing teeth, and they can help with pain management and gum exposure. Dentures are often an important part of your oral and overall health.

Immediate Dentures
During the healing process after tooth removal, immediate dentures can be used to give you function in your mouth and offer a temporary solution until permanent dentures can be fitted and made. These dentures are more easily refitted than permanent dentures during periods of adjustment and swelling, which can last up to 6 months after extraction. Immediate dentures are then discarded and replaced with more permanent options.

Overdentures
For people with few natural teeth remaining or who experience aversion to or extreme discomfort with typical dentures, overdentures are another option. Overdentures are created to fit over existing teeth, dental implants, gums, or roots. They are more easily removed and are often found to be more comfortable than traditional dentures.

Cleaning Your Dentures
Just like natural teeth, dentures need to be regularly cleaned and cared for daily. Rinse them with clean water after meals, brush them with a soft toothbrush and denture cleaner daily, and clean your gums and remaining natural teeth while your dentures are out.

Denture Care
In addition to regular rinsing and brushing after meals, remove them at night, keep them from drying out by soaking them in water or a denture-safe solution, and avoid dropping or melting your dentures.

For more information about caring for your dentures or to schedule your next appointment for general dental care in Carmichael, CA, reach out to Now Dental by calling 1-916-966-2009!

Things You Should Know about Root Canal Therapy

by Elizabeth Huynh | Oct 31, 2022 | Dental Emergencies, Restorative Dentistry

Why Do I Need A Root Canal?

No one wants to hear “You need a root canal”! The need for a root canal may be discovered during routine dental care or most likely alert you through a range of discomfort indicating there a problem. The need for a root canal often presents as an emergency such as an infection or abscess. Root canal therapy is often done as soon as possible. In emergencies, a root canal may be delayed to allow antibiotics reduce inflammation and swelling caused by an infection.

Here are seven things you need to know about root canal therapy!

1. Why is root canal therapy called for?
A root canal is used when the root of a tooth becomes infected. If the infected pulp isn’t removed, the decay can progress to areas around the tooth. This can cause the loss of other teeth and worse, migrate to the jaw bones. While antibiotics can suppress an infection in the root of a tooth, it is just a matter of time before an infection returns.

2. Are there alternatives to a root canal?
Also, depending on the condition of surrounding teeth and finances, many opt to have a tooth removed. A root canal removes the root of the tooth which stops the infection without the need for extracting the tooth. The generally least desirable way to deal with a root infection is to extract the tooth. While that is financially expedient, it also leads to other issues that can be more expensive to mitigate.

3. When do you need root canal treatment?
Root canal treatment is necessary when a cavity has progressed far enough to reach the tooth’s pulp chamber. Symptoms of an infected root canal can range from a dull ache or pressure to sharp pain when biting. You also may experience lingering sensitivity to hot or cold foods and even swelling or tenderness in the gums around a tooth. There may be no pain or sensitivity at all, but an X-Ray may show a small abscess at the end of a tooth’s root.

4. What happens during a root canal?
The root canal is the chamber inside the tooth that contains pulp and the pulp’s nerves and blood vessels. The infected tissue in the chamber needs to be removed in order to prevent the spread of infection and decay. Root canal treatment is how this is achieved.

5. The basic steps of root canal therapy
After the doctor has determined with an exam and X-rays that you need root canal therapy, you’ll be numbed with a local anesthetic. An opening is made in the tooth so that different sizes of files can be used to clean out the infected pulp from each canal and chamber. The number of canals in the tooth varies depending on which tooth is affected. The impacted tooth’s canals are rinsed out and disinfected. They’re then cleaned roots are filled and sealed.

6. What else may I expect as part of a root canal therapy?
Depending on the extent of damage to the tooth, you may need a crown. If this is the case, a root canal therapy may extend into several visits. If the tooth is damaged or a crown has to be removed, a temporary crown may be placed. A permanent crown will be put on at a second visit.

7. Does root canal therapy hurt?
While root canal therapy sounds painful, there’s actually very little discomfort involved. Depending on type of sedation, the most you may experience is the momentary prick and even that is numbed before hand! You will be numb throughout the procedure. Following the treatment, you may have some discomfort, which can be managed with over-the-counter medications. To reduce chances for pain after a root canal treatment, it’s important to follow all your dentist’s instructions after the procedure!

Choosing a dentist for root canal therapy
NOW Dental of Carmichael, CA is ready to help you with root canal therapy! In some cases, when there is a need for root canal therapy under a crown, Now Dental may refer you to a specialist to save the crown. We will always make the recommendation that provides the best care for your dental health. We treat every patient on a case-by-case need. You and your families optimal dental care come first at Now Dental!

Taking the best care of your teeth and regular checkups can prevent the need for root canal therapy!
Remember, regular dental checkups, extreme diligence in your personal dental and oral hygiene care are two steps you that can prevent the cavities, that if left untreated, are the number one cause for the need of root canal therapy.

Protect your oral health, reduce dental expenses, set up an appointment for routine care at Now Dental now! You can reac Now Dental of Carmichael, CA at 916-966-2009

Three Common Causes of Child Tooth Decay

by Elizabeth Huynh | Oct 17, 2022 | Children's Oral Hygiene

Cavities can happen in children of any age!

It is important that you pay attention to the health of even your child’s first set of teeth!
Tooth decay affects people of all ages, from seniors to children. Even toddlers can experience decay in their baby teeth, which is often a shocking discovery for their parents. Though the signs of deterioration should be a cause for concern, they can be prevented if you know what to look for and instill good oral health habits early on.

Keep reading to discover the three factors a parent can control, that can lead to tooth decay in children.

It is important for parents to pay attention to a child’s teeth as soon as they break through the gums! While there are many factors beyond a parent’s control that can affect a child’s teeth, early detection of any issues can prevent pain and other issues.

Sugary Drinks
Sugar (and more specifically, sugary beverages) is one of the biggest leading causes of tooth decay in people of all ages. However, sugary drinks pose an especially troubling problem for toddlers because of bottles and sippy cups. Though these cups may be convenient, many parents leave them with their children nearly all the time. And while this may seem like an excellent method of pacifying an active toddler, it also opens them to harmful sugar for long periods. Mouths dry out while sleeping, which means anything your child ingests before bedtime will be more likely to stick to their teeth, and their chances of developing decay increase. This phenomenon is also known as bottle rot. To avoid overexposing your child’s teeth to sugar, fill their bottles and sippy cups with water or milk. Also, try not to give them a bottle when putting them down to sleep. If you do need to provide them with a bottle before a nap or bedtime, make sure it is full of water, not juice.

Sharing Saliva
Eating and drinking sugar isn’t the only way tooth decay can form. The bacteria that initiates tooth decay can also be passed along through saliva. If you or anyone who comes in contact with your child has these bacteria, they can easily be transmitted to your baby. This can happen by sharing utensils, drinking from the same cup, or using your mouth to clean off a baby’s pacifier. To avoid spreading bacteria, refrain from doing the activities mentioned above or anything else that involves passing saliva from your mouth to theirs. Additionally, try to stop your child from sucking on or putting objects that are not designed for teething purposes in their mouth. You never know where those items have been or if any other children have gotten their saliva on them recently.

Improper Oral Health Care
The best way to avoid tooth decay is by instilling good oral health habits early on in life. Implement a regular cleaning routine starting at a young age. Even before their first tooth grows in, clean the infant’s gums with a washcloth after they eat. Once their first tooth appears, you can begin gently brushing their teeth with a baby toothbrush and water. You should also schedule their first appointment for family dental care in Carmichael, CA, within six months of their first tooth appearing. Once your toddler turns two years old, you can start brushing their teeth twice daily using fluoride toothpaste. By instilling oral health values early, you can create habits that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

If you believe your child is showing the signs of tooth decay or you want to schedule a dental appointment, contact us at Now Dental today!

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