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Brunette woman smiles in the dental chair after root canal therapy relieves her pain

What Is Root Canal Therapy?

Unfortunately, root canal treatment has received quite a bad reputation. Unlike what you may have heard, root canal therapy is a safe procedure that is all about alleviating pain, not causing it.

The Purpose of Root Canal Therapy

Root canal treatment is used to save an infected or damaged tooth that has a compromised pulp, the inner layer of the tooth. The pulp is a bundle of soft tissue, blood vessels, and nerves. The treatment gets its name because the procedure involves cleaning out the root canals of a tooth. This procedure allows your natural tooth to be saved instead of being extracted.

The Process

First, we will numb the area around your tooth. After you are comfortable and relaxed, we will make a tiny hole in your tooth. This allows us to remove the infected or damaged pulp. After the compromised tissue is removed, the inside of the tooth is cleaned and shaped. Next, the affected area is filled with a special dental material called gutta-percha for support and protection. Then, the tooth is sealed and sometimes topped with a dental crown.

Patient Comfort During Root Canal Treatment

We know that many patients are worried that they’re going to feel pain while getting a root canal. Rest assured that your comfort and safety are our top priorities. Your treatment will be virtually painless; the most you should feel is a bit of pressure. In addition to the use of local anesthetic, there are also dental sedation options available to help you get through your procedure with ease.

Stress-Free Care at Royal Oak Dental Group

As part of our comprehensive dental services at Royal Oak Dental Group, we provide root canal therapy and same-day dental crowns when necessary. If you have questions or concerns about the root canal procedure, please contact us today! Our team is here to help you have a comfortable dental experience from start-to-finish!

October 28, 2020 8:00 am Published by Royal Oak Dental Group

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

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