Dentist and patient

How Facial Spasms Affect Your Teeth

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Facial spasms refer to any involuntary contraction of your facial muscles. For the most part, they’re uncommon occurrences, though it’s worth noting that they’re likely more common than we think.

Because facial spasms can occur for any number of reasons, including an extra cup of coffee or an unexpected stressor, we don’t always even notice them (which means they’re never reported to a dentist in Owensboro, KY). Below, we’ll look at how facial spasms affect more than the muscles in your face.

Facial Spasms and Your Teeth

Facial spasms come in a variety of flavors, with some affecting your eyelids and others affecting your jaw. Bruxism and Meige syndrome are medical terms that refer to involuntary movements of the jaw and mouth. With Meige syndrome, you’ll probably have a heads up about your facial spasms because it happens when you’re awake.

With bruxism, though, you’re grinding and clenching your teeth while you’re asleep. Sometimes, the only way you’ll know that this is occurring is if a partner tells you or if you start to have visible wear and tear on your teeth. With bruxism, you’re slowly grinding your teeth down, which can not just weaken the tooth, it can eventually cause you to either need a root canal or to lose it entirely.

How to Treat Facial Spasms

Treating facial spasms starts with diagnosing them. If you’re not sure what’s causing your facial tics or jaw pain, it helps to have the right professional evaluate you for damage and (potentially) restorative rehab in Owensboro, KY. At the very least, standard dental exams can reveal changes from your teeth over the years.

Can Teeth Enamel be Restored?

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Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body and works as a protective layer on the surface of teeth, shielding teeth from the wear and tear of daily use, as well as from damage caused by bacteria and acid. When teeth enamel erodes, it jeopardizes the health of the teeth. Can it be restored?

What is Enamel Erosion?

Teeth enamel erosion occurs when acid from food or drink, or from stomach acids, attacks the surface of the teeth. This can cause the enamel to soften and lose some of its essential minerals. If you notice that your teeth enamel is eroding, contact your dentist in Beaver Dam, KY for help.

Can Enamel Be Restored?

Unfortunately, once tooth enamel is damaged, it can’t be restored to its original state. However, weakened enamel can be restored to some degree by improving its mineral content. Certain toothpastes and mouthwashes containing fluoride or high concentrations of calcium phosphate may help with remineralization.

Remineralization Process

Remineralization is the process of introducing minerals, such as calcium, back into the teeth. These minerals bond to the surface of the teeth and are drawn to weak points in the enamel. Certain restorative dental treatments in Beaver Dam, KY may also help.

Tips for Preventing Tooth Enamel Damage

Prevention is always better than cure. Here are some tips to prevent tooth enamel damage:

  • Avoid acidic foods and drinks, such as citrus fruits, soda, and sports drinks.
  • Finish a meal with cheese or milk, as they help to restore the pH balance of the mouth.

Tooth enamel cannot be fully restored once it is damaged. However, remineralization can help to restore some of the minerals lost due to dental erosion. By taking steps to prevent enamel damage, such as adjusting your diet and practicing good oral hygiene, you can help to keep your teeth healthy and strong. Contact us to learn more about safeguarding your dental health.

Conversation between two dentist in dentist's clinic

Is Restorative Dentistry Right for You?

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It’s easy to confuse restorative and cosmetic dentistry, but both serve different purposes. While cosmetic dentistry is intended to improve the appearance of your teeth and gums, restorative dentistry focuses on restoring their function. Therefore, you require restoration services if you have dental issues that make it difficult to chew, bite, or speak without impairment. Your dentist in Owensboro, KY, can help you learn more about restorative dentistry.

Which Services Fall Under the Umbrella of Restoration?

Restoration includes many procedures. If you receive a filling to alleviate toothache and repair the structure of a tooth, you have a restoration. Similarly, this is also considered a restorative procedure if your dentist fits you for a bridge after tooth extraction. Other dental services are considered necessary to restore function, too. They include:

  • Crowns
  • Implants
  • Bonding
  • Root canals
  • Extractions

Any procedure that serves more than just a cosmetic purpose may be considered restorative. And the good news is that most insurance carriers are more likely to cover services that are necessary to relieve pain or restore function to your teeth and gums, at least in part.

Do I Need a Restoration in Owensboro, KY?

If you currently have a dental problem that’s causing you pain, making it difficult to bite or chew, affecting your speech, or causing your facial structure to change, you may need restorative dentistry. This could include having a root canal to save an infected tooth or the placement of a crown to repair and stabilize a tooth that’s cracked. Your dental professional may have other solutions for you, as well.

If you’re having dental problems that affect the way your mouth functions, call Dr. Travis Wilson, D.M.D., in Owensboro or Beaver Dam, KY, today. Dr. Travis Wilson sees patients of all ages and is a one-stop shop for restorative services in the Northwest Kentucky area.

I Think I Cracked a Tooth – What Now?

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Have you cracked a tooth? Then you need to see your dentist in Owensboro, KY! A cracked tooth can be managed, but you’ll need to see the dentist as soon as possible. Knowing the signs of a cracked tooth and what your dentist can do if you have a cracked tooth can help you. Here’s what you need to know.

Signs of a Cracked Tooth

Sometimes it’s hard to tell when you have a cracked tooth, because you may not be able to see the crack. Some common symptoms for people who have cracked teeth include:

  • Infrequent pain in the tooth
  • Pain that appears suddenly while chewing, but goes away quickly
  • Swelling around the tooth
  • Sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures

What Your Dentist Can Do

If you have a cracked tooth, there are many procedures your dentist may use to treat your tooth. The first thing that your dental professional will do is diagnose the problem. Once this is done, your dental professional may use any one of the following methods to treat your tooth:

  • Crown installation – a dental crown is a cap placed over the tooth to protect the fragile tooth enamel beneath.
  • Veneer installation – a dental veneer is a cover placed over the front of the tooth.
  • Root canal – if the tooth has become infected, your dentist may clean out the infection with a root canal, and then will cover the tooth with a crown.

Contact Your Dental Professional As Soon As Possible

A cracked tooth can be a serious problem, and if it isn’t treated right away, it’s likely to get worse. If you have a cracked tooth and believe you may need dental crowns in Owensboro, KY, call your dentist at Dr. Travis Family Dentistry today.

Restorative Dental Rehabilitation: A Look at the Steps Involved

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Are you happy with your smile, or are there things about your smile that make you apprehensive about showing your teeth to the world? If you are in the latter group, you are not alone. Millions of people seek restorative dentistry every year because they want a smile that they can be confident about. Here is a look at the steps involved in restorative dental rehabilitation.

Eradicating the teeth that can’t be saved.

Many times, restorative dentistry will start with extracting teeth that are beyond saving. Many teeth can be saved, even when they may seem like they are beyond treatment. For example, if a tooth has a severe level of decay, it may only have to be extracted if the root of the tooth has also deteriorated and cannot be restored through a root canal.

Treating oral health issues linked to obvious problems.

Most people who start to develop decay have other problems at play. For example, someone who has gum disease may have problems with their teeth being loose or developing cavities because the tooth is not getting the proper level of support from the soft tissue of the mouth. Through restorative dental rehabilitation, the dentist will diagnose and properly treat issues that could be generating problems with your teeth.

Creating a strategy to restore the smile.

Once damaged teeth are removed and underlying oral health conditions are treated, the dentist will get to work creating a plan to restore your smile. Depending on the level of damage done, your overall health, and even how much you want to invest or what insurance you have, there can be a range of options available for smile restorations, such as:

  • Dental implants
  • Crowns
  • Veneers
  • Partial dentures or dentures
  • Dental bonding procedures

Your specific plan may include several different types of restorative treatment, especially if you have most of your teeth left and are open to different treatments.

Learn More About Restorative Dental Rehabilitation in Owensboro, KY

The smile you have is a big part of your personality and your appearance. If you are not happy with your smile because of dental health issues, it can change your life to have your smile repaired or restored. Reach out to us at Travis Wilson Family Dentistry in Owensboro or Beaver Dam, KY to schedule an appointment.