Litchfield Dental Dental Blog

Dental Exam and Cleaning Near Me in Litchfield

Dental Exam & Cleaning Near Me

Dental exams are important for your oral health. Visiting your
dentist regularly is a sure way of getting a dental exam & cleaning.
We offer routine dental exams and cleanings.

Why go for dental exams & cleaning?

To prevent oral diseases

When you go for dental exams, your dentist is likely to spot
potential dental problems and stop them. Examples of such problems
include tooth decay, enamel erosion, and gingivitis.

To detect and treat oral diseases

During dental exams, your dentist uses X-rays and other imaging
technologies to study hidden areas of your mouth. This way they can
detect oral problems early and help start your treatment.

Cost of prevention vs. cure

Regular preventive care turns out to be cost-saving in the long run
compared to one advanced treatment. Also, why wait for a problem to
compound if we can prevent it?

What to expect with dental exams & cleaning

During your dental exam, your dentist will analyze your medical
history. It’s a good opportunity to mention if, you are on medication,
have gone through other dental procedures, or have allergies. You can
also discuss about habits that affect your oral health.

Your dentist will examine your teeth, gums, and jaw as well as all
the supporting tissues. Your dentist may even go further to examine your
face, neck, and head. Dental X-rays are useful at this point.

Your dentist will perform a dental cleaning to remove plaque and
tartar that build up on your teeth over time.

You will then receive important care tips for your teeth, gums, and
mouth in general.

Schedule a dental exam & cleaning

We offer comprehensive dental exam & cleaning services. Call us
to learn more.

Dental Crowns Near Me in Litchfield

Dental Crowns Near Me

We have resin, metal, porcelain, and ceramic dental crowns for your
tooth’s restoration. Dental crowns are used to cover damage to a tooth.
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is fitted on top of a damaged
tooth to protect the tooth from further damage. A crown is only placed
after treatment of your underlying problem. If you have tooth decay,
your dentist will first address the problem before placing the
crown.

A dental crown can be used in these situations

  • To protect a weak tooth

  • To support a dental implant

  • To support a dental bridge

  • To restore a broken tooth

  • To cover and support a tooth with a large filling

  • To cover a discolored tooth

Dental crowns are usually done in two appointments even though
single-appointment procedures are also possible.

Dental crown placement in two appointments

The steps involved include;

  • X-ray examination of the affected tooth

  • Filling the outer layer of the tooth

  • Creating an impression of the filled tooth and surrounding
    teeth

  • Temporary crown placement

  • Cementing the crown after a few weeks

Same-day procedure (one appointment)

With a same-day procedure;

  • Your dentist takes digital images of your mouth and creates your
    crown in approximately an hour or 2.

  • Once the crown is ready, your dentist fits it into
    place.

  • Approximate waiting time is 4 hours.

Care for dental crowns

  • Brush with care. We recommend brushing your teeth at least twice
    a day. Consider using toothpaste made for sensitive teeth especially if
    your natural teeth are sensitive to temperature changes.

  • Floss daily to avoid plaque build-up between teeth.

  • Avoid hard foods. While a metal crown can sustain hard biting and
    chewing, other types can’t. Chewing ice or hard foods might cause a
    crack on your crown.

  • If you grind or clench your teeth at night, request a night
    guard.

Are you a candidate for dental crowns? Call us to find out.

Teeth Whitening Treatment in Litchfield

Teeth Whitening Treatment Near Me

In cosmetic dentistry, teeth whitening is one of the most
sought-after treatments. Teeth whitening treatments offer a quick,
non-invasive, and affordable way to enhance a smile. Both men and women
can benefit from teeth whitening treatments. Virtually everyone who opts
for a teeth-whitening treatment sees significant improvement in the
brightness and whiteness of their smile. You need to maintain your
whiter teeth in order to preserve the result.

Teeth discoloration occurs as a result of;

  • aging

  • genetic predisposition

  • certain medications (such as tetracycline)

  • lifestyle habits (including smoking, drinking coffee or
    soda)

Teeth whitening has its own risks such as causing teeth sensitivity
but knowing the right amount of bleaching agents to use and the amount
of time the treatment should take is key to minimizing risks.

Teeth whitening treatments mainly come in two forms; In-office
treatments and home treatments.

In-Office Teeth Whitening

In-office treatments significantly brighten your teeth up to eight
shades in a short period of time! Dentists use high-concentration
peroxide gel that is controlled to give results without damaging
teeth.

In-office treatment is done in sessions.

At-Home Teeth Whitening

Common home treatments involve the use of;

Tooth whitening toothpaste – These work
like normal toothpaste but they have additional whitening ingredients
that give them higher abrasion to brighten your teeth by at least one
shade.

Tooth whitening strips and gels – Applied
daily directly to your teeth using a toothbrush.

Tray-based tooth bleaching systems
Involves daily wearing of a guard-like tray filled with a bleaching
agent.

Want esthetically pleasing teeth? We can help you get the right teeth
whitening treatment.

Teeth Cleaning Near Me in Litchfield

Teeth Cleaning Near Me

The American Dental Association recommends that you should visit your
nearby dental office once every six months for dental exams and
cleaning.

There are different types of teeth cleaning procedures depending on
what your dental hygienist finds during a physical exam.

Teeth cleaning prevents bacteria populations from growing in your
mouth and causing dental disease.

We’ll tell you about the most common types of teeth cleaning
procedures you can expect at our dental office.

Prophylaxis Dental Cleaning

Prophylaxis dental cleaning is a preventive teeth cleaning procedure.
If your hygienist determines that you have healthy teeth, a prophylaxis
dental cleaning is sufficient to prevent disease. A prophylaxis cleaning
removes plaque and tartar from the front, back, and sides of teeth using
a dental scaler.

Scaling and Root Planing Cleaning

Also referred to as deep cleaning, scaling and root planing cleaning
involves cleaning your teeth and gum pockets in order to treat
gingivitis and moderate periodontitis. If you have advanced
periodontitis, you may require additional steps in your treatment.
Scaling removes plaque and tartar from the tooth’s surface and in the
gum pockets below the gum line.

Periodontal Maintenance Cleaning

For patients who have periodontal disease, routine periodontal
maintenance cleaning is important for teeth and gums to control
infection which in this case is not treatable.

Gross Debridement Cleaning

This is a heavy-duty teeth cleaning procedure suitable for teeth that
have huge amounts of plaque and tartar.

How long has it been since you last had your teeth professionally
cleaned? Speak to your dentist about teeth cleaning or set up a
consultation with us to plan your next teeth cleaning appointment.

Dental Exam and Cleaning Near Me in Litchfield

Dental Exam & Cleaning Near Me

We offer routine dental exams and cleanings that are vital to your
oral health. Regular visits to a dentist near you help maintain a
healthy smile which is linked to increased confidence and high
self-esteem.

The benefits of Dental Exams & Cleaning

Prevention of oral diseases

With regular dental exams and cleanings, you can prevent problems
such as tooth decay, gum disease, enamel erosion, and gingivitis.

Early detection of oral diseases

During dental exams, your dentist uses X-rays to create images of
your teeth and gums. This allows your dentist to detect any potential
problems early.

Cost savings

Preventive care is usually cheaper than corrective care. Dental exams
& cleanings save you money in the long run by reducing the need for
more costly advanced treatments.

Healthy habits

During your visits to the dentist, you learn more about healthy
habits to follow and unhealthy habits to quit. This makes your oral
health maintenance easy.

Improved appearance

Regular cleanings remove harmful bacteria from your mouth giving you
a healthy and whiter smile that is esthetically pleasing.

Management of dental issues

When you have a dental issue, you are bound to experience pain and
discomfort. Dental exams & cleanings are the best ways to manage the
situation. For example, if you have bad breath your dentist will help
get rid of it.

Schedule a dental exam & cleaning

Routine dental exams & cleanings give you peace of mind. You live
your life knowing that your oral health is at its best. Call us to
schedule a dental exam & cleaning.

Dental Crowns Near Me in Litchfield

Dental Crowns Near Me

What is a dental crown?

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is placed on top of your
tooth to cover damage on the tooth. If you have an underlying problem,
your dentist will fix the problem before placing the crown. It can also
be used to replace a missing tooth together with a dental implant or
dental bridge. There are different types of crown according to the
design material such as metal, porcelain, resin, and ceramic.

You may need a dental crown to;

  • Protect a weak tooth

  • Restore a broken tooth

  • Cover and support a tooth with a large filling

  • Hold a dental bridge in place

  • Cover a discolored tooth

  • Support a dental implant

You can get dental crowns in one or two appointments. The most common
treatment is the one administered in two appointments.

Dental crown placement (two appointments)

It involves the following steps

  • The dentist examines and prepares the tooth that needs the crown.
    X-rays may be done.

  • Your dentist then removes part of the outer layer of the
    tooth.

  • Your dentist then creates an impression of the filled tooth and
    surrounding teeth.

  • The dentist will put a temporary crown over your tooth to protect
    it after which the next appointment is set.

  • After a few weeks, you return for the second appointment to have
    your crown fitted.

Same-day procedure (one appointment)

With a same-day procedure, you skip the temporary crown step.

  • Your dentist takes digital images of your mouth to create your
    crown in approximately an hour or 2.

  • Once the crown is ready, your dentist fits it into place. The
    entire process takes approximately 5 hours.

Are you a candidate for a dental crown? Find out by calling us to
speak to dental crown specialists near you.

Teeth Whitening Treatment in Litchfield

Teeth Whitening Treatment Near Me

Teeth discoloration occurs as you age, from genetic makeup, or as a
result of other habits such as smoking. If you have yellow teeth you can
benefit from teeth whitening services.

Teeth whitening treatments are very common and while there are many
options, always speak to your dentist before you start any
treatment.

Teeth whitening has its own side effects such as causing teeth
sensitivity but knowing the right amount of bleaching agents to use and
the amount of time the treatment should take is key to minimizing side
effects.

When it comes to teeth whitening treatments, you have two options;
In-office treatments and home treatments.

While home treatments are available over the counter, it is difficult
to know which product to use. Most people end up wasting time and money
with no results. Worse, they end up with teeth and gum irritation.

In-office treatments use stronger bleaching solutions that’s why they
are done under the supervision of your dentist.

In-Office Teeth Whitening

In-office treatments significantly brighten your teeth up to eight
shades in a short period of time! Dentists use high-concentration
peroxide gel that is controlled to give results without damaging
teeth.

At-Home Teeth Whitening

Common home treatments involve the use of;

Tooth whitening strips and gels – These are
applied daily directly to your teeth using a toothbrush. After about 4
months of usage, you start noticing results.

Tray-based tooth bleaching systems
Involves wearing a guard-like tray filled with a bleaching agent. The
tray is worn over teeth daily for about 4 weeks.

Tooth whitening toothpaste – These work
like a normal toothpaste but they have a higher abrasion that can
brighten your teeth by one or two shades.

Whiter teeth are appealing but get the right information before you
consider starting any treatment. Speak to your dentist or call us.

Teeth Cleaning Near Me in Litchfield

Teeth Cleaning Near Me

Teeth cleaning is a good way to prevent bacteria populations from
growing and causing dental issues like tooth decay and gum disease.
According to the American Dental Association, individuals should visit
their nearby dental offices once every six months for dental exams and
cleaning.

We’ll tell you about the most common types of teeth cleaning
procedures you can find at our dental office.

Prophylaxis Dental Cleaning

This is a preventive teeth cleaning procedure done on healthy teeth.
A prophylaxis cleaning removes plaque and tartar from the front, back,
and sides of teeth using a dental scaler or water stream. If you already
have a healthy dental regime, a prophylaxis cleaning is an additional
teeth-cleaning procedure to help prevent disease.

Scaling and Root Planing Cleaning

Scaling and root planing cleaning is commonly referred to as deep
cleaning. In this procedure, we clean your teeth and gum pockets in
order to treat gingivitis and periodontitis. We do a deep cleaning
treatment in a single appointment. If you have advanced gum disease, you
may require additional steps which are administered in multiple
appointments. Scaling removes plaque and tartar from the tooth’s surface
and in the gum pockets below the gum line.

Periodontal Maintenance Cleaning

This involves routine teeth and gum cleaning for people who have
periodontal disease. When gum disease starts, it is treatable but when
it is already advanced, your hygienist will only perform routine
cleaning to control the disease.

Gross Debridement Cleaning

This is a heavy-duty teeth cleaning procedure suitable for teeth that
have copious amounts of plaque and tartar.

You wouldn’t know which type of teeth cleaning is suitable for you.
That’s why you need us! Set up a consultation to discuss about your next
teeth cleaning appointment.

Dental Exam and Cleaning Near Me in Litchfield

Dental Exam & Cleaning Near Me

Your smile is the only one you have, receive the best dental care
from us to preserve it. We offer routine dental exams and cleaning to
help you stay on top of your oral health. Dental exams and cleaning are
important because they help you in;

  • Maintaining healthy teeth and gums

  • Preventing potential dental diseases

  • Early detection and treatment of dental diseases

What to expect during dental exams &
cleaning

During dental exams and cleaning, we check the structure of your
mouth and look for signs of gum disease as well as cancer. Here’s what
you can expect;

Initial examination

During an initial examination, we use X-ray imaging technology to
create images of your teeth, gums, and surrounding tissues. We also
physically examine your jaws, cheeks, tongue, neck, face, and head to
check for potential problems. An Initial examination is usually
non-invasive. The initial examination also involves a discussion between
you and the dentist about your oral health with regard to lifestyle
habits, eating, brushing, flossing, etc.

Dental cleaning

Dental cleaning involves cleaning your teeth and gums by removing
plaque and tartar that build up over time and can cause tooth decay.
Having healthy gums is just as important as having healthy teeth. A
dental cleaning can reduce the risk of getting gingivitis (an initial
stage of gum disease).

Oral cancer screening

With increasing cases of oral cancer, we screen our patients for the
disease during regular dental exams to detect and treat it early.

Schedule a dental exam & cleaning

Call us to find a dental exam & cleaning dentist near you. We are
happy to give you a dental exam to determine your oral health status
after which we will routinely clean your mouth.

Dental Crowns Near Me in Litchfield

Dental Crowns Near Me

What is a dental crown?

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is placed on top of your
tooth to cover the tooth. It can also be used to replace a missing tooth
together with a dental implant or bridge. A crown can be made from a
variety of materials such as metal, porcelain, resin, and ceramic.

You may need a dental crown to;

  • Protect a weak tooth

  • Restore a broken tooth

  • Cover and support a tooth with a large filling

  • Hold a dental bridge in place

  • Cover a discolored tooth

  • Support a dental implant

Dental crowns for children?

Dental crowns are mainly for adult teeth but your child can also
benefit from a crown if;

  • They have suffered tooth decay; which is very common in
    children.

  • They basically have poor oral hygiene and are exposed to decay,
    and you want to protect their teeth.

Types of dental crowns

Your dentist will discuss the types of dental crowns and advice you
according to your preferences. The most common types are;

Metal crowns

They are known for their durability. They can be made of gold,
platinum, cobalt-chromium, and nickel-chromium. They can last up to 15
years as they are less susceptible to cracks.

Stainless steel crowns

These are mainly for children who need to protect baby teeth. They
are temporary crowns placed while you wait for longer-lasting
crowns.

Resin crowns

Compared to metal crowns, these are generally less expensive but they
wear down quickly.

Porcelain crowns

They look like natural teeth and are arguably the most appealing.

Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns

These are made of porcelain and metal. They combine the strength of
metal with the aesthetics of porcelain.

Pressed ceramic crowns

These are similar to porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns but they
use ceramic in place of metal.

Do you want a dazzling smile? We will give you exactly what you need.
If you have a cracked, chipped, or discolored tooth, call us to learn
more about how you can benefit from a dental crown.

Litchfield Dental Dental Offer

6 Month Smiles

Six Month Smiles is a short term orthodontic treatment that involves wearing clear braces to straighten and improve tooth alignment. This alternative treatment is a convenient approach to a straighter smile without the time commitment.

Learn more