What is General Dentistry? General dentistry practitioners are the dentistry equivalent of primary care providers: They serve as your top resource for preserving and improving your oral health. Covering preventative measures and restorative procedures, general dentistry involves the application of a variety of useful skills.
What is Family Dentistry? Our professionals at Lake Hills Dental specialize in family dentistry and have learned how to treat people of all ages. This is a little different from general dentistry. Our family dentist has specialized training to treat specific ages, meaning their education includes treating children and elderly patients. A general dentist has been trained to perform general dental practices, but they haven’t received specific training for children or elderly adults. If you’re looking for a new dentist, our dental office in the Lake in the Hills area offers care for your entire family. It’s even better if you find one you and your children can visit for the foreseeable future.
Dental Emergencies Dental emergencies can happen anywhere, at any time, even if you take excellent care of your mouth and teeth. Around 22% of American adults have reported experiencing tooth or mouth pain in the last six months. This proves how common dental emergencies are. However, not every toothache or oral issue is considered an emergency. Therefore, you must understand what constitutes a dental emergency and what to do if you experience one.
What is a Crown? Just like the cap that covers your toothpaste bottle, a dental crown is a cap that covers your tooth. Typically made of porcelain or metal, dental crowns are placed over teeth to restore tooth function and cosmetic appearance. Here are a few things to know about dental crown procedures. What to Expect During a Dental Crown Procedure Most dental crown procedures at Lake Hills Dental involve two visits to the dentist’s office in Lake in the Hills. During the first visit, the dentist prepares the tooth by filing it down to remove its outer layer and then makes a mold of the tooth. The mold is used as the model to make the actual crown, which is typically made off-site at a laboratory and can take up to several weeks. In the meantime, your dentist will put a temporary crown on the tooth to protect it until the permanent crown is prepared, which will then be cemented on the tooth during the second visit. Lake Hills Dental has the technology to make the crown in the office the same day, in which case you only have to make one visit to the dentist and you’re done. It’s worth asking your dentist if this is an option and what the estimated cost would be.
What Is Cosmetic Dentistry? American writer Robert Hasting wrote, “Smile! It increases your face value.” But what if you felt that your smile wasn’t attractive enough to add value to your appearance or personality? Many people in Lake in the Hills are turning to cosmetic dentistry at Lake Hills Dental to improve the appearance of their teeth and regain confidence. Let’s look at what cosmetic dentistry is and how it can help you look and feel your best in any situation. Cosmetic dentistry is a method of professional care that’s elective rather than essential and can improve the appearance of your mouth, teeth, gums, and face. The most common cosmetic dentistry procedures are teeth whitening, inlays and onlays, implants and dental crowns, veneers, and bonding. Our cosmetic dentist at Lake Hills Dental can perform these procedures.
What Are Dental Implants? Dental implants are artificial tooth roots surgically inserted into the gums and jaw bone. The artificial tooth roots are metal screw-like posts used to hold a prosthetic or restorative tooth in place. Dental implants are permanent and allow the jaw to grow onto and fuse to them. They’re made to look and function like natural teeth and can be an excellent alternative to dentures or bridgework.
What Are Bridges? If you have one or more missing teeth, Lake Hills Dental can close those gaps with dental bridges. Dental bridges are natural-looking dental prosthetics that anchor to adjacent teeth. Dental bridges are one of the most commonly used treatments in Lake in the Hills for replacing missing teeth.
What are Cosmetic Dental Veneers? Cosmetic dental veneers are coverings placed over natural teeth to improve the overall appearance of one’s smile. The thin coverings are most commonly crafted from porcelain and/or composite materials and used to correct minor imperfections such as deep stains, gaps between teeth, and small chips. Veneers are a popular choice among patients looking to brighten their smiles, as they blend in well with the natural teeth, and the procedure is considered minimally invasive.
Invisalign is an Easy Fix for Crooked Teeth Getting straighter teeth is still a dream for many adults. Though braces are a common treatment used to improve teeth alignment, most adults are reluctant to get braces due to their unappealing look and underlying hassles. With Invisalign, people in Lake in the Hills can get straighter teeth without the discomfort of traditional braces.
The Missing Piece to a Perfect Smile When teeth are missing, it can significantly affect how a patient feels about themselves, especially if they have visible tooth gaps when smiling or talking. In addition to altering our patient’s appearance, missing teeth can also cause discomfort. Patients can lose teeth by accident, through infection, or from severe decay. Full dentures are an excellent alternative that Lake Hills Dental encourages for our patients who want to replace teeth when implants are not a viable option due to bone loss or expense. Full dentures require some getting used to and won’t feel exactly like the natural teeth, but today’s dentures can be removed and put back in the mouth as necessary. Plus, full dentures are more comfortable and natural-looking than ever.