Long Family Dental Blog

Flossing is often one of the most tedious components of an oral hygiene routine. However, it is essential when it comes to minimizing your risk for gum disease and tooth decay. If you struggle to make it a regular part of your routine, you might consider an alternative technique, such as a Waterpik. If you’re unsure whether it is as effective as traditional dental floss, read on to discover the differences and which one is best for your smile.

A healthy smile requires more than just brushing and flossing. You must also visit your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings to maintain good oral health. If you suffer from dental-related anxiety, you may dread attending these bi-annual visits and even put off scheduling them. However, preventive dental care is critical to your health. It can spare you a lot of pain, suffering, and money down the line. Continue reading to learn more about the importance of preventive dentistry.

The Invisalign clear aligner system is known for its ability to quickly shift teeth into proper alignment, producing results that are long-lasting and life-changing. While they prove to be an ideal solution for individuals looking for a more subtle method of orthodontics, there are a few things that can temporarily change when starting treatment, one of which is your speech. In this article, we’ll discuss what you can expect when it comes to how you talk and what you can do to quickly sound “normal” again.

Living with missing teeth can take a serious toll on your mental and physical health. Not only do you feel self-conscious about the way others see you, but there’s a good chance you’re also experiencing difficulty eating and speaking. When examining your options for tooth replacement, you may be considering permanent prosthetics as opposed to regular dentures or a dental bridge. But before you start treatment, a dental implant consultation is necessary. Read on to discover why this initial appointment is crucial to the success of your future smile.

It’s important to recognize that once a dental implant has been placed, it can no longer feel sensitivity or any sensations at all for that matter because of the nature of the integration. Dental implants are a combination of a crown, abutment, and metal post that has fused with bone. None of these components contain nerves, which means the sensitivity you’re experiencing is definitely coming from somewhere else. To learn where this sensitivity in your dental implant could be coming from, keep reading!

It is highly unlikely that you will experience dental implant failure after having your new prosthetics secured into place within your jawbone. With a success rate of around 98%, you can expect your new teeth to provide the restorative smile you deserve without complications. However, just like all oral surgeries, there are risks involved. Should you fall into the small percentage of individuals who experience a loose dental implant or one that is failing altogether, you may wonder why it is happening in the first place. A local dental is here to explain what can cause this unfortunate incident to occur and what you can do when seeking help.

If you struggle with a dental phobia, then you already know how unpleasant even visiting your dentist for a six-month dental checkup can be. Therefore, your natural reaction may be to skip your visits altogether. Unfortunately, this can negatively impact both the function and aesthetic of your smile, requiring more restorative and cosmetic dental work down the line. To prevent this from happening, the best place to start is by identifying the source of your dental-related anxiety. Unsure what it is? Keep reading for a few common causes, tips for managing your nerves, and how your dentist can help.

About one in four deaths in the United States is due to heart disease, according to statistics from the Centers from Disease Control and Prevention. Since February is American Heart Month, it is the perfect time for all of us to pause and consider what we can do to protect our hearts. Of course, exercise and nutrition are both vital. But did you know that your gums also play a role in heart health? Let’s talk about the connection between gum disease and heart problems.

If you are like nearly 50% of Americans, the weeks leading up to the new year are spent jotting down goals to tackle in the coming months. In the spirit of having a fresh start, you may be committing to flossing consistently in 2021. After all, it is a crucial component of keeping your oral health and beautiful smile in pristine condition. But how can you prevent this New Year’s resolution from sliding to the back burner? Here are three tips to help!

(more…)

Even if you work in the dental field, there’s a good chance you are surprised by the changes that occur each day in technology, science, and research. From equipment that makes procedures quicker to machinery that produces higher resolution images for more accurate treatment planning, most professionals are shocked to see how different dentistry is today in comparison to even 20 or 30 years ago. If you’re interested in what is to come, read on to learn about the 5 new dental trends that are expected to make their mark in the next decade.

(more…)