Pleasant Dentistry at Westbrook Village

What to Expect Before, During, and After a Root Canal

Once bacteria have entered the interior of your tooth, they can quickly damage the soft tissues and nerves inside. These structures typically cannot regenerate after deterioration, which means that they must be removed. This procedure, called a root canal, enables the dentist to remove the bacteria and infection without having to extract your entire tooth.

Assessing Your Needs
Prior to having a root canal, your dentist carefully evaluates your tooth decay to confirm whether this procedure is necessary. After taking an x-ray of your tooth, he can examine the health of the tooth interior and view where bacteria have caused deterioration. He may also perform diagnostic testing that determines your sensitivity to pain.

Administering Care
Your comfort is of primary concern during your root canal treatment. To ensure that you feel no pain, your dentist can provide painkillers to numb the tooth and surrounding tissues. After the anesthesia takes effect, your dentist drills into the tooth to access the infected pulp. He removes the pulp with files that manually extract interior tissues and nerve endings. Your dentist then fills the tooth with an artificial material that keeps the tooth strong and free from future infection. Lastly, he applies a crown to seal the tooth and protect it from sensitivity and breakage.

Acclimating to Your Root Canal
Because you no longer have nerve endings in your tooth, you cannot feel hot or cold sensation against it. Otherwise, your treated tooth will function just as your normal teeth do. Once your infected pulp is gone and your artificial crown is in place, it’s important to practice proper oral hygiene habits to protect your tooth from future decay.

If you’re suffering from chronic tooth pain, you may be in need of a root canal. To alleviate your discomfort and obtain the care you require, call Pleasant Dentistry at (623) 208-5384. Our office provides a wide array of family dentistry service—including root canals, crowns, and extractions—for patients in the Peoria community. 

How to Have Your Best Looking Smile on Your Wedding Day

As your nuptials draw near, it’s important to make time for your dental needs. This video explains how a cosmetic dentist can transform your smile before your big day.

If you have mild misalignment problems, tooth chipping, or stubborn discoloration issues, your dentist can mask these concerns with porcelain veneers. Bonding is another option for minor chipping. For a brighter smile, consider teeth whitening. In-office whitening can make your teeth gleam in your wedding photos.

Pleasant Dentistry can help you put your best smile forward on your wedding day. We offer multiple cosmetic dentistry services—including porcelain veneers, bonding, and teeth whitening—for Peoria residents. Call (623) 208-5384 to make an appointment.

Understanding the Causes of Dental Anxiety in Adults

Some people don’t consider the benefits of going to the dentist worth the fear they suffer during the experience. What they may not realize is that dentists now have a diverse range of sedation dentistry practices and advanced treatment techniques that can make their visit much more comfortable. If you suffer from one or more of the following issues, talk to your dentist. Together, you can formulate a treatment plan that addresses both your oral health needs and dental anxiety concerns.

Personal Space Invasion
Whether they’re in the dentist’s chair or not, many people dislike having others too close to them. If you avoid situations that involve someone invading your personal space, you likely put off your dentist appointments. Given the small confines of the mouth, a dentist often must get close to accurately assess the health of your teeth and gums and administer the proper care. Rather than forgoing your checkups, tell your dentist about your personal space considerations. He can likely adjust his positioning to make you feel more comfortable during treatment.

Fear of Pain
Physical discomfort is a significant reason why so many people fail to keep up with their dentist appointments. While certain procedures might be unavoidable, multiple options exist to make these treatment measures pain-free. Also, keep in mind that by maintaining your regularly scheduled checkups, you have a better chance of avoiding these extensive processes.

Needle Apprehension
Many people have a phobia of needles that keeps them away from both the doctor and dentist’s office. If you become overwhelmed at the thought of receiving an injection from your dentist, discuss your concerns. Your dentist may be able to provide a topical or oral anesthesia to calm your fears while still providing painless dental care.

Pleasant Dentistry wants you to have a positive experience each time you come to our Peoria office. That’s why we provide several dental options to ease your anxiety and guarantee your ultimate comfort. To schedule an appointment with a dentist, call (623) 208-5384.

Click Through These Resources For Tips On Proper Oral Care

Your mouth is the window to the rest of your body. When your smile is bright and white, chances are good that the rest of your body is healthy, too. Be sure to check in with your dentist for regular teeth cleanings and click on the links below to learn how to maintain the best oral health.

• You can learn more about the health complications associated with tooth decay by reading this Mayo Clinic article.
• Do your wisdom teeth need to be extracted by a dentist? Find out with this helpful guide to impacted wisdom teeth from the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.
• Check out this Huffington Post article to find out how improving your smile’s cosmetic appearance can make you look younger.
• Review Reader’s Digest magazine’s 10 tips for healthy, white teeth by clicking on the link.
• This Yahoo! Voices article explains why invisible braces are the top choice for adults.

Are you looking for a family dentist in Peoria or Lake Pleasant? The team of general and cosmetic dentists at Pleasant Dentistry offers a wide range of state-of-the-art procedures for clients of all ages. Visit us online or call (623) 208-5384 today to learn more.

Exploring the Clinical Benefits of Popular Cosmetic Procedures

You already know that cosmetic dental procedures can improve your overall appearance, boost your self-esteem, and even make you look younger. But did you know that visiting your dentist for cosmetic contouring, porcelain veneers, or orthodontic care can also improve your overall health? Here are just some of the clinical benefits of these three popular procedures.

Cosmetic Contouring
A bright, white smile can give you the self-confidence you need to land a job interview, score points on a first date, and enjoy yourself around friends and family. If you suffer from broken teeth, cosmetic contouring can both fix chips and fill in gaps between teeth in just a single dentist’s visit. Because chipped teeth can lead to more serious conditions such as tooth decay, cosmetic contouring will both beautify your smile and prevent more serious dental problems from developing later on.

Porcelain Veneers
While many clients select porcelain veneers for aesthetic reasons, dentists recommend veneers for their lifelike appearance and durability. If you have worn tooth enamel, uneven tooth alignment, spacing between teeth, or chips and cracks, these thin shells of tooth-colored porcelain can make your teeth appear straighter, whiter, and more even. While porcelain veneers will significantly improve the cosmetic appearance of your smile, they also help restore your teeth and prevent the dangers of tooth decay.

Invisible Braces
When food particles become trapped in the tight spaces between overlapping teeth, the resulting plaque build-up can lead to cavities, gum disease, and the more serious periodontal disease. Thanks to new developments in modern dental technology, today’s cosmetic dentists can offer clients of all ages a nearly invisible way to straighten teeth and correct gaps. Invisalign relies on smooth and comfortable plastic trays to gradually shift your teeth into place and correct overbite, underbite, and crooked teeth.

Pleasant Dentistry is proud to provide cosmetic, general, and emergency dentistry services to the greater Lake Pleasant and Peoria areas. To find out more about our available cosmetic services, which include teeth whitening, call our team of dentists at (623) 208-5384 today or visit our website for more information and special offers.