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A waterpik water flosser next to a container of traditional string floss

Waterpik Flossing vs. Traditional Flossing

To see how far at-home dental care has come in modern times, all you have to do is walk down the oral health aisle of your local drugstore or grocery store! You’ll be greeted by shelf after shelf of dental products, from fancy toothpaste to electric toothbrushes. In particular, there are quite a few different types of flossing products on the market these days. You may be wondering which flossing tool is the best for your smile! In this blog post, we compare two popular options: flossing with a Waterpik^® and traditional flossing.

Water Flossing

Waterpik^® flossing is also referred to as water flossing. The tool itself is also sometimes called a dental water jet or an oral irrigator. With this flossing method, a pressurized jet of water is used to push out food particles and bacteria from between teeth and under the gumline.

Many patients who find traditional flossing difficult, such as those with arthritis, braces, or a bridge, enjoy the convenience and efficiency of using a Waterpik.

Traditional Flossing

Traditional flossing with a dental thread or string is a time-tested technique. You’ll probably notice there’s quite a range of material type and thickness available when choosing your floss.

This conventional method of flossing is cheap and effective—when used with the right technique, of course. Additionally, traditional floss is more portable than a water flosser and does not require an outlet or periodic maintenance. For these reasons, string floss may be easier to manage your dental health on-the-go.

Which Should You Choose?

At the end of the day, the answer hinges on personal preference. Whether you choose a water flosser, traditional floss, or a combination of both, the most important thing is that you floss daily! So we generally recommend going with the method that you’ll actually use every day.

Do Cavities in Baby Teeth Need Fillings?

You might think that if a child gets cavities in their baby teeth, they don’t require treatment. Those teeth are just going to fall out anyway, right? The truth is, even if baby teeth aren’t here to stay forever, cavities still need to be treated.

Importance of Baby Teeth

First, let’s discuss the critical functions of baby teeth so you understand why we want to protect and keep them whenever possible.

Healthy baby teeth protect your child’s underlying adult teeth from disease. Plus, they help them grow in properly by holding the space for where the permanent teeth should come in. Baby teeth also allow your child to smile with confidence, learn effective communication, eat with ease, and maintain good nutrition.

Cavities and infection in a baby tooth can cause pain. This discomfort can have a negative impact on your child’s day-to-day activities. For example, a toothache from an untreated cavity can disrupt their sleep, make eating difficult, and cause them to feel cranky and irritable.

How to Treat Cavities in Baby Teeth

Early-stage tooth decay can often be repaired through a natural process called remineralization. This is when saliva deposits minerals (such as fluoride and calcium) into the crystalline mineral structure of teeth. These minerals fortify and harden the enamel, the outer layer of teeth. However, remineralization only can repair enamel that is temporarily weakened.

Decay that has progressed to permanent damage is a hole called a cavity. This can’t be repaired through simple remineralization. A dental filling might be the next course of action. This is when the damaged area is cleaned out and filled with a special dental material.

Extracting a baby tooth is always the last course of action, because as mentioned before, we want to protect these important teeth whenever possible.

Cavity Prevention Tips

Check out these tips to help your child prevent decay and cavities!

Your Family Dentist in Raleigh, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham & Siler City

Do you have additional questions related to your child’s dental health? Contact Royal Oak Dental Group in North Carolina today! We provide dental care for the whole family. We have offices in Raleigh, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, and Siler City.

October 17, 2020 8:27 am Published by Royal Oak Dental Group

Closeup rendering of a cracked tooth in a patient's mouth

What to Do for a Chipped or Cracked Tooth

Sometimes all it takes is one wrong bite on a popcorn kernel or a hit to the mouth during a baseball game and you’re suddenly left with a dental emergency. If you’re dealing with a chipped, broken, or cracked tooth, the first thing to remember is don’t panic! Thanks to modern dentistry, there are ways to handle the situation so your smile will be back to great shape as soon as possible.

Call Your Dentist

The best thing you can do after you’ve damaged your tooth is to call your dentist as soon as possible. A chipped tooth may only be a cosmetic fix that is not as urgent as a broken or cracked tooth. In contrast, a break or crack can allow bacteria to access the sensitive inner portion of your tooth, called the pulp. However, even a chip can be coupled with a hairline fracture that increases your risk of infection. Waiting to treat a chipped or fractured tooth could open the door to greater pain and damage.

When you call Royal Oak Dental Group, we’ll be able to give you a specific set of instructions for what you can do until you’re able to come into our office. This might include taking an over-the-counter pain reliever or rinsing your mouth with a mixture of water and salt to ease any pain and reduce the likelihood of infection.

Emergency Dental Care at Royal Oak Dental Group

At Royal Oak Dental Group, we provide a wide range of dental procedures, including emergency dentistry. When you come to us with a chipped or fractured tooth, you can rest easy knowing that we work quickly and effectively to repair your smile and restore your oral health. We can also provide tips to help you prevent the same thing from happening again in the future.

Call us today to arrange your visit to one of our North Carolina locations!

October 10, 2020 3:47 am Published by Royal Oak Dental Group

Older woman in a burgundy blouse smiles with dentures in NC triangle

What Is the Process of Getting Dentures?

The gaps from missing teeth are not only harmful to your self-esteem, they also can have a major impact on your oral health and appearance.

Partial or full dentures are a great tooth replacement option for those missing several or all of their teeth. At Royal Oak Dental Group, we provide removable partial dentures and complete dentures.

In this blog post, we provide an overview of dentures, along with some at-home care instructions.

What Are Dentures?

Dentures are composed of a gum-colored acrylic base and natural-looking artificial teeth, which replace some or all of your missing teeth. They also help maintain your face shape and restore your ability to talk and smile as you would with a full set of natural.

Removable partial dentures can replace several missing teeth. When constructing your partial dentures, we carefully consider the natural contours of your remaining teeth and gums to ensure a natural, comfortable fit.

Complete dentures are designed to completely replace an arch of teeth. This enables you to talk, smile, and eat with ease.

Process of Getting Dentures

During your first consultation, our team will help you decide whether dentures are the right tooth replacement solution for your mouth, lifestyle, and dental needs. If you decide to move forward with dentures, we’ll carefully create a denture treatment plan that is perfectly suited for you. Your dentures will then be custom-crafted in a special dental lab. When they are complete, we’ll make sure you are satisfied with their fit and appearance, and make adjustments as needed.

Caring for Dentures

Dentures can last many years if well cared for. Remove your dentures every night to give your gums a rest and to soak your dentures in an appropriate denture-cleaning solution. Daily brush them with a denture toothpaste and soft-bristled toothbrush to remove any food particles or debris. In addition, brush your gums, tongue, and the roof of your mouth.

Affordable Dentures at Royal Oak Dental Group

If you are missing multiple teeth or all of your teeth, our team at Royal Oak Dental Group can help restore your smile! Schedule an appointment today at one of our North Carolina dental offices in Raleigh, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, or Siler City.

September 30, 2020 8:14 am Published by Royal Oak Dental Group

Woman relaxes with a nose mask administering nitrous oxide dental sedation

Relax at the Dentist with Sedation Dentistry

For some, the sights and sounds of the dental office can cause feelings of discomfort, anxiety, or panic. This can lead them to avoid visiting the dentist. But your oral health will suffer if you skip out on your twice-yearly dental visits. Fortunately, dental sedation can help you receive the dental care you need!

Sedation dentistry is designed to help patients feel relaxed and at ease no matter what kind of dental treatment they’re receiving. Additionally, sedation dentistry is completely safe and there are several options depending on your needs.

At Royal Oak Dental Group, we offer three levels of dental sedation to help you feel comfortable during your dental treatments.

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide, also commonly known as “laughing gas”, is a gas that is inhaled through a nose mask during your treatment. This sedation allows you to be conscious, relaxed, and distracted from pain throughout your procedure.

The effects of nitrous oxide wear off soon after the mask is removed, so you won’t have any lingering side effects to worry about.

Oral Conscious Sedation

Administered via a prescription pill, oral conscious sedation is more powerful than nitrous oxide. It promotes feelings of deep relaxation and has a slight amnesic effect which helps your appointment time fly right by. Some patients even fall asleep during their treatment!

Because it takes time for oral conscious sedation to wear off, you’ll need to arrange for a ride home and rest after your treatment is over.

IV Sedation

If you have extreme dental anxiety or need to undergo multiple lengthy treatments, then IV sedation might be the best option for you. Administered intravenously, IV sedation essentially lulls you into a deep sleep. Most patients don’t have any memory of their treatment upon waking.

Like oral conscious sedation, it takes time for the effects of IV sedation to wear off, so make sure that you have a ride home after your appointment.

Sedation Dentistry at Royal Oak Dental Group

You can have a healthy and beautiful smile, even if you struggle with dental anxiety. Our friendly and understanding team will provide you with a safe, relaxing environment as you receive high-quality dental care at our office. Schedule an appointment at Royal Oak Dental Group in Raleigh, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, or Siler City. We look forward to seeing you soon!

September 23, 2020 8:51 am Published by Royal Oak Dental Group

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