You likely need a night guard if you grind or clench your teeth while you sleep and it is causing jaw soreness, morning headaches or worn, chipped teeth. A custom guard cushions the teeth and keeps them from grinding together overnight. Many people find out they grind only when a partner hears it or a...
The dental implant process usually takes several months from consultation to final tooth, because the jawbone needs time to fuse with the implant. The surgery itself is one visit; most of the timeline is healing, plus any grafting your bone needs first. When people ask how long implants take, they are usually asking two different...
A tooth extraction is usually a short procedure done under local anesthesia, and most people feel back to normal within a few days. What matters most is protecting the blood clot for the first day or two and planning how to replace the tooth. Nobody looks forward to having a tooth pulled, and a lot...
You likely need a dental crown when a tooth is too damaged, cracked or weakened for a filling to hold it together. A crown is a custom cap that covers the whole visible tooth, and getting one usually takes two visits a few weeks apart. Crowns are one of the most common things a general...
Spark and Invisalign are both doctor-directed clear aligner systems, and both can treat the same range of common cases. The real differences are the tray material and how visible it stays; the bigger variable is the orthodontist planning your treatment. Patients almost always arrive having compared brands online and having never compared treatment plans. That...
A dental membership plan is a discount program you buy directly from your dental office, not insurance. You pay the practice a flat annual or monthly fee, preventive visits are included, and other treatment is discounted with no claims or annual maximum. If you do not have dental benefits through an employer, the choice usually...
Most wisdom teeth are removed because there is not enough room in the jaw for them to come in straight, not because they hurt. Removal is a same-visit oral surgery procedure, and the swelling-and-soft-food phase usually lasts about three to five days. Wisdom teeth arrive last, usually between the late teens and mid-twenties, into a...
Gums are not supposed to bleed when you brush. Healthy gums tolerate brushing and flossing without complaint, so blood in the sink is information, not an inevitability of getting older. The good news is that the earliest stage is fully reversible. The less good news is that the later stages are not, which is why...
Losing several teeth changes eating, speaking, and how you feel about your own face. Dentures remain one of the most effective ways to get all of that back, and they are far better than the ones your grandparents complained about. There is still a real range in comfort and stability depending on which type you...