5 Common Dental Issues
The ultimate goal for dental care is to help people enjoy a perfect smile.
As much as we’d like to say that our patients never have a single cavity, the truth is that most people have some type of issue that arises over the years.
Learning more about the five most common dental issues we see in patients helps you be proactive about your oral health care.
Prevent and Treat Tooth Decay
No one likes hearing that they have a cavity during their dental appointment. Proper oral hygiene goes a long way to prevent cavities, yet most people get at least one during their lifetime.
We use dental fillings to remove tooth decay so that it does not get worse. If you have lots of cavities, we can prescribe special treatments to reduce plaque and bacteria in your mouth.
Soothe Tooth Sensitivity
Sensitive teeth are one of the most common complaints that we hear about in our office. Tooth sensitivity can have many different causes. This is why we recommend a full exam as the first step to solving the problem.
Tooth decay, gum recession and enamel erosion are common reasons why your teeth may hurt. Hairline cracks in the tooth surface can also cause sensitivity. All of these issues are easily treated in our office.
Heal Gum Disease
Gum disease may not cause symptoms in the early stages. However, those who do notice symptoms tend to see swelling and bleeding along the gum line first. We check for gum disease during your preventative exams.
Patients with early gum disease may need us to show them how to brush and floss better. If you have more advanced gum disease, then we can do deeper and more frequent cleanings to bring them back to health.
Straighten Crooked Teeth
Most people’s teeth are not completely straight. Teeth that are slightly crooked may cause you to feel uncomfortable with how you look when you smile.
Severely crooked teeth can also cause other dental issues. For example, teeth that fit together too tight trap food between them. You may find this hard to get out with normal tooth brushing and flossing.
We offer Invisalign in our office to help straighten out your smile - let us know if you are interested and we’ll explain how Invisalign works.
Correct Stains and Discolorations
Tooth stains tend to accumulate over time. If you love coffee or tea, then you may notice that your teeth develop brown or yellowish stains. People who drink red wine and other dark-colored beverages may also notice similar staining.
Professional teeth whitening is more effective than what you can find in stores, and it usually takes only a few minutes in our office to whiten your smile.
Some people are naturally born with yellower teeth than others. If we find that your tooth enamel is the cause of the discoloration, then our Tempe dentist will have other options to help.
Veneers are thin coverings that we place on top of your teeth to improve their appearance. We can also use these to correct stains that do not lift with regular in-office whitening treatments.
The most common dental issues are often preventable with routine exams and cleanings. We can also treat issues that arise despite your best efforts easier when we catch them early.
During your visits, we’ll let you know when to return for preventative care. We also encourage you to let us know if you notice changes with your teeth so that we can recommend an appropriate treatment.
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