Frequently Asked Dental Questions in Topsham ME

We definitely recommend making time for a dental checkup and cleaning at least once every six months. These visits can help you protect your grin from issues such as tooth decay and gum disease. On top of that, if you have dental insurance, there’s a chance that your plan will fully cover the cost of a dental checkup and cleaning, meaning you don’t have to worry about preventive care putting too much of a strain on your budget.

If the damage to the tooth seems to be minor, you don’t necessarily need a same-day appointment, but you also shouldn’t wait too long for treatment. Make arrangements to visit our office as soon as you can. In the meantime, you will need to take care not to make the damage even worse; be very gentle when cleaning your teeth, and stay away from hard foods that tend to be harsh on enamel.

Despite its reputation, root canal treatment is not an especially painful procedure. In fact, many patients compare it to what they might experience when having a filling placed. If anything, root canal treatment will actually help put a stop to the pain caused by infected dental pulp. There will typically be some discomfort after the procedure, but taking over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen can often help. Generally speaking, the discomfort should fade after three days.

Your dental implants will support a crown, bridge, or denture made out of materials that closely resemble natural tooth enamel. Meanwhile, the actual implant posts themselves will be concealed by the gums. As a result, your new smile will indeed be very natural-looking, and it will feel natural as well due to the implant posts acting as new tooth roots.

You might be a candidate for a smile makeover if most or all of your teeth are suffering from serious cosmetic dental imperfections, but the only way to know for sure is to visit our practice for a consultation. Let our team know if there are any flaws that have been bothering you; once we have examined your smile and confirmed that your mouth is in generally good health, we can help you decide whether pursuing a smile makeover is the right choice in your case.

Our practice is in-network with a number of PPO dental insurance companies in order to help our patients save money on their dental care. If you let us know what dental insurance plan you have, we can review your policy with you and give you an idea of how you can make the best use of your benefits when you visit our office.

Dental implant surgery will be absolutely pain-free, as your mouth will be numbed with local anesthetic before the procedure starts. In more complex cases, IV sedation may also be used to make sure you remain comfortable throughout your procedure. Afterward, you’ll likely experience some pain, bleeding, and swelling, but these side-effects can typically be handled with solutions found around your home, like a cold compress, over-the-counter pain medication, etc.

Because research has shown that smoking can increase the risk of dental implant failure, our team at Androscoggin Dental Care highly recommends taking steps to quit at least two weeks before undergoing surgery. Smoking can cause dry socket, gum disease, and increase the risk of infection by reducing blood flow within the mouth, so for these reasons, quitting is highly recommended to ensure the long-term success of the procedure.

Are you concerned about having a mouth with dental implants but no teeth following your surgery? Fortunately for you, dentists are often able to place a temporary “healing denture” atop the implants as they undergo osseointegration and fuse with the jawbone. These dentures don’t attach directly to the implants, allowing the gums and implants to heal without risking post-operative complications.

The answer to this question depends on your individual situation. If your jawbone is healthy enough and there are no underlying concerns, dental implants may be able to be inserted into the jawbone soon after a tooth extraction. However, in many cases, dentists typically recommend waiting a few months so the mouth can completely heal before undergoing an additional surgical procedure.

Because rheumatoid arthritis treatment often involves taking prescriptions that can suppress the immune system, it’s crucial for us to collaborate with your primary care physician if you’re looking into undergoing dental implant treatment. Together, we can plan to minimize your risk of post-operative infection and coordinate your medications to boost your treatment success rate and help manage your rheumatoid arthritis.

If you feel like your smile is too “gummy,” then we recommend meeting with Dr. Lina to see if you’re a candidate for gum recontouring. With this cosmetic dental treatment, we can remove the excess tissue and meticulously sculpt your gumline to be more proportionate. The end result will be a balanced, beautiful smile!

The aesthetic benefits of smile-enhancing treatments are obvious. However, there are other ways services like gum recontouring and smile makeovers benefit you. SureSmile clear aligners are a great example because they improve the alignment of your teeth and your bite, reducing your chances of premature wear, TMJ dysfunction, tooth decay, and other dental problems. With all of that said, investing in cosmetic dentistry is so much more than simply investing in your confidence!

If your initial consultation is rapidly approaching, you might be wondering what to expect. First, one of our friendly team members will welcome you into our office, take you to your treatment room, and help you get comfortable in the treatment chair. Then, you’ll meet with Dr. Lina. In addition to learning all about your smile goals, she will perform a full assessment. Only then will she be able to review the available treatment options that can achieve the result you’re looking for in a way that benefits your oral health as well.

There are two main factors that impact the longevity of your results: the treatment itself and how well you care for your smile. The reason the treatment matters is that some simply last longer than others. For example, the results from SureSmile clear aligners have the potential to last a lifetime if you consistently wear your retainer.

The second factor was how well you care for your smile. That’s important because stains, chips, cracks, and other imperfections will arise if you don’t implement good habits like brushing twice a day and getting a checkup and cleaning twice a year.

There are actually several ways cosmetic dentistry can change your life! To begin, smile-enhancing treatments can transform your self-esteem. This can create a domino effect that can boost your confidence whether you’re giving a presentation at work, networking for your new business, or going on a first date.

As we touched on above, cosmetic dentistry can also improve your oral health by improving the position of your teeth and the alignment of your bite. It can also benefit the health of your teeth and gums in another way: by giving you a newfound commitment to brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash consistently.