3340 Boylston Hwy Suite 30, Mills River, NC 28759

Mills River Family Dental

Are You Getting Veneers? Here’s Everything You Should Consider Before Making The Investment

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Getting veneers

In recent years, veneers have become much more popular, and for good reason. They are a great way to improve your smile, especially if you have fragile, discolored, or chipped teeth. However, they are a substantial investment, and you may not feel confident they are right for you. 

If you are looking to enhance your smile and are considering getting veneers, there are many things you should know before making the investment. Our team at Mills River Family Dental has compiled a list of everything you should know before you decide to get veneers. 

What Are Veneers?

Veneers are custom-fit shells applied over the front of your teeth to improve the overall appearance of your smile. These shells are made out of porcelain or a composite resin and come in a variety of shapes and colors to perfectly match your teeth. At the appointment, your dentist will bond them to your teeth using a cementing material and schedule a follow-up appointment to ensure a proper fit. 

Are You A Good Candidate? 

Getting veneers

While veneers are beautiful, they are not for everyone. It is crucial to understand whether you are a good option for your teeth before making the investment. Some things to consider when thinking about getting veneers include the following:

  • You Have Severe Staining: Many stains on your teeth can be lifted through whitening services. However, if professional whitening services are not enough to change the tone of your teeth, you are a good candidate. 
  • Chipped, Cracked, Or Misshapen Teeth: While some damage to your teeth can be addressed and repaired by your dentist, some are beyond repair. If this is the case, you are probably a good candidate for veneers. 
  • Your Teeth And Gums Are Healthy: It is important that they are healthy enough for this procedure. If they are not healthy enough currently, it may be a good idea to invest in restorative treatments before moving forward. 
  • You Have Plenty Of Enamel: When getting veneers, your dentist will grind off some of your tooth enamel to make room for the porcelain. You are likely not a good candidate if you don’t have enough enamel to protect the teeth beneath the veneer. 
  • You Grind Your Teeth: An estimated 10-15% of adults grind their teeth in their sleep. If this is something you do, you may want to speak to your dentist about remedies prior to getting veneers. Consistent grinding of your teeth can wear away at your veneers, so it is best to address this problem before making the investment. 

What Are The Benefits Of Veneers? 

If you have been thinking about getting veneers, it is probably a decision you’ve thought about for a long time, and there were many factors you considered before taking this step. But it is a worthwhile investment, that comes with many benefits. The benefits of getting veneers include the following:

  • They Improve Your Smile: As we have mentioned, the most substantial benefit of getting veneers is the improvement it makes to your smile. Getting them may make enhancements to your smile that you haven’t been able to achieve otherwise. 
  • They Still Look Like Your Teeth: While getting veneers helps improve parts of your smile that you may be insecure about, they still look like your teeth at the end of the day. With veneers, you’ll gain confidence without feeling like a completely different person. 
  • They’re Stain Resistant: Unlike our natural teeth, veneers are resistant to staining that we experience during normal day-to-day activities. This means you won’t have to worry about staining from coffee, wine, and food. 
  • They Are Low Maintenance: While your veneers are stain resistant, it is still important that you brush and floss your teeth twice a day. However, as long as you are maintaining the same standard of oral hygiene as prior to getting veneers, your veneers will not require more upkeep. 

How Do You Care For Them?

Getting veneers

There are a few changes you may need to make when getting veneers, though much of your oral hygiene routine should remain the same. It is important that you only use a soft bristle toothbrush after getting veneers and that you brush gently. Brushing your veneers too hard may wear them down more quickly than expected. You should also maintain your regular teeth cleanings with your dentist, as this can prevent you from unintentionally damaging your veneers. 

Your dentist may also recommend that you avoid chewing on hard foods, including ice, hard candies, and nuts, as they can damage your veneers in the same way they can damage your natural teeth. It is also crucial that you quit smoking prior to getting veneers. If you do not, you increase your risk of developing gum disease, which may cause your veneers to fail. 

How Long Do They Last? 

There are many factors that impact the longevity of your veneers. If you are not caring for them properly, it is not uncommon for their lifespan to significantly shrink. Porcelain or composite veneers last between 10 and 12 years. If your dentist offers composite resin veneers, however, they have an average lifespan of 4 to 8 years. You may also find yourself having to replace your veneers early if you don’t closely follow your dentist’s recommended care routine, so it is important that you take care of your veneers in the same way you care for your teeth. 

Can You Get A Cavity With Veneers? 

Even with veneers, it is crucial that you maintain proper oral hygiene. If you do not properly care for your teeth, you may notice they are sensitive, and you may experience cavities. Without appropriate treatment of the cavity, your veneer may fail, and the tooth may need to be pulled. After pulling, you may be able to get an implant, though you may have to wait if your gums and jawbone are not healthy. 

Getting veneers

Getting Veneers At Mills River Family Dental

If you are considering getting veneers, you should work with a dental team that can create your most beautiful, improved smile. At Mills River Family Dental, we are confident that we can create your perfect smile with our porcelain veneers. In addition to our cosmetic dentistry services, we provide root canals, general dentistry, and denture services to patients across the Mills River, NC, area. If you are interested in getting veneers and would like to speak with a member of our team, contact us today. 

cracked tooth

With summer sports in full swing, it’s too common to go from playing a game with your team or friends to dealing with a cracked tooth. We know all too well just how painful it can be; sometimes, it’s hard to remember what to do in the moment. 

At Mills River Family Dental, we want to provide you with all the information you’ll need to know about a cracked tooth and what you need to do to take care of it before the pain worsens. 

What Kind Of Cracked Tooth Am I Dealing With?

Unfortunately, several parts of your tooth can crack in several ways, causing a lot of unfortunate pain. 

  • Cracked Tooth: Some tooth cracks start the biting edge of your tooth and travel up towards the root of the tooth. This can include a partial crack, only going partially up the tooth. Sometimes the crack can go up the tooth and under the gums, closer to the root. 
  • Craze Lines: Craze lines are small, vertical cracks to the teeth. They may be translucent and are common among most adults. These do not generally require any treatment, as they do not cause pain. 
  • Split Tooth: A split tooth is caused by untreated cracked teeth. The untreated crack causes the tooth to split in two vertically. 
  • Cracked Cusp: The cusp is the part of the tooth used to bite. These may crack due to injury or tooth decay. You may experience pain with a cracked cusp when biting down on something. 

How Do You Get A Cracked Tooth? 

There are several causes for a cracked tooth, including the following:

cracked tooth
  • Age: As we age, our teeth become more susceptible to damage. Our enamel will naturally begin to wear away, which may leave teeth at risk of tooth decay or damage, including cracks. 
  • Biting: If you often eat many hard foods or chew on ice, you may experience cracks in your teeth. Because they are fragile, teeth biting down on foods like hard candy, popcorn kernels, hard bread, and frozen treats may experience cracking. 
  • Grinding: If you are a tooth grinder, you may experience a cracked tooth. Because of the grinding against one another, your enamel breaks down, making your teeth more fragile. Over time this may lead to a cracked tooth. 
  • Trauma: One way to crack a tooth is through trauma to the tooth, including sports injuries, car accidents, or physical injuries. Depending on the severity of the trauma, you may experience chipping or cracking of your tooth. 

Symptoms Of A Cracked Tooth

When dealing with a cracked tooth, your symptoms may vary based on the severity of the crack. There is a possibility that, like with craze lines, you won’t experience any discomfort. However, if the crack is more severe, you may experience pain when chewing, sensitivity when consuming warm or cold foods and drinks or sugary substances, swelling of the gums surrounding the tooth, or pain that may or may not go away. When dealing with these symptoms, it is essential to check with your dentist, as they may be signs of other dental problems. 

What To Do If I Have A Cracked Tooth

If your tooth is cracked, you’re experiencing tremendous pain, or your tooth is bleeding, you must go to your dentist as soon as possible to prevent further damage to the tooth, gums, or surrounding teeth. When dealing with an injury like a severely cracked tooth, there is a potential for infection, which, if left untreated, could cause you to lose the tooth.

cracked tooth

While waiting to see your dentist, ensure that you only eat soft foods if you must eat. Eating soft foods will prevent additional pressure from being added to the compromised tooth. Consider taking an over-the-counter pain medication to make yourself more comfortable. Additionally, rinse your mouth with salt water to kill bacteria near or on the injured tooth. 

If the cracked tooth is sharp, it might be best to adhere a small piece of paraffin wax or sugar-free gum to the tooth. The wax will act as a cushion between the tooth and the sensitive skin inside your mouth. 

What Will My Dentist Do?

Treatment for a cracked tooth will vary depending on the severity. The treatment for a cracked tooth can include the following:

  • Dental Bonding: Your dentist may apply a tooth-colored resin to your tooth. The resin is then cured, shaped, and polished to match the tooth and surrounding teeth. 
  • Crown: If a tooth is too weak to be restored, your dentist may reshape it for a crown to fit over it. 
  • Cosmetic Contouring: The tooth may be rounded and polished to remove any cracks or other irregularities. 
  • Extraction: When too much damage has been done to the tooth and the dentist cannot repair it, sometimes the best option is to remove the tooth entirely. 
  • Root Canal: Your dentist may choose to perform a root canal, removing any damaged pulp from the tooth to prevent further damage. 
  • Veneers: When there is still a substantial portion of the broken tooth, a dentist may adhere a porcelain veneer to the front of the tooth.  
cracked tooth

How Mills River Family Dental Can Help With A Cracked Tooth

Our team of professionals can help you with any problems with a cracked tooth, starting with scheduling a cleaning appointment. At this appointment, our team will be able to assess any damage to your teeth and advise you on how best to care for them. If you are dealing with a cracked tooth or would like to schedule an appointment with our Mills River Family Dental Team, contact us today. 

Use fluoride

In dentistry and local water sources has been commonplace for many years to use fluoride. But as more natural, fluoride-free toothpaste and mouth rinse options appear on the market, consumers have begun questioning whether they should use the ingredient.

We understand the desire to know all you can about these products before continuing to use them every day. At Mills River Dentistry, we want our patients to understand what fluoride is, its benefits, and why they should use it to maintain their oral health. 

What Is Fluoride? 

Fluoride is a mineral naturally released by rocks into our soil, water, and air. Fluoride can be found in any local rivers, lakes, and oceans, though there isn’t generally much fluoride in these water sources. It can also be found in drinking water, though the amount of fluoride varies based on where you live and is decided by state and local officials. 

In dentistry procedures, and the mineral is found in many dental products. It is most commonly used to strengthen our enamel, which is the protective outer covering of your teeth. When consumed, fluoride is absorbed by our gut and stored in our bones and teeth.

Why Is There Fluoride In Drinking Water?

using fluoride

In the early twentieth century, scientists discovered a link between communities with high levels of naturally occurring fluoride and lower levels of tooth decay. Grand Rapids, Michigan, became the first community to add fluoride to tap water in 1945.

Following the addition of fluoride to their water supply, studies of the community found that their school-aged children had fewer cavities than children of the same age in surrounding communities. After this discovery, other cities and states began to use fluoride in their local water. By 1948, almost 600,000 Americans had access to fluoridated tap water; by 1980, half of the U.S. population received fluoridated water. 

What Are The Benefits of Using Fluoride?

Using fluoride is often associated with lower levels of tooth decay. It rebuilds weakened enamel and slows down the loss of minerals from tooth enamel. It also helps to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria in our mouth that may be responsible for remineralization. 

By removing this bacteria from our mouth, fluoride helps prevent cavity development. When fluoride was introduced to local water supplies, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found a 68% drop in the average number of missing and decaying teeth in 12-year-old children. 

When Can My Child Use Fluoride? 

using fluoride

Your child can use fluoride, though it is vital to understand how much they should be using and when they should begin. The CDC recommends that children use fluoride toothpaste at two years old. For children under 2, it’s recommended that you seek the advice of your dentist. Children under six should use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and spit out the excess, and unless a dentist recommends it, they should avoid fluoride mouth rinses. 

It is important to understand how much fluoride your child should consume. The National Institute of Health lists appropriate amounts recommended for children between 6 months and 16 years. Based on their recommendations, children should use the following:

  • 1.2-1.6 mg for infants and toddlers younger than four years
  • 2.0-2.2 mg for children aged 4-11 years
  • 2.4 mg for those aged 11-14 years
  • 2.9 mg for adults

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that parents use breast milk, ready-to-feed formula, or prepared formula with fluoride-free water to prevent potential enamel fluorosis, even if their child does not have visible teeth yet. 

Is It Safe To Use Fluoride? 

using fluoride

Like many things, using fluoride excessively can be harmful. However, in many cases, this overuse will only result in unwanted cosmetic issues. According to the ADA, for someone to experience actual fluoride toxicity, they would need to consume 5 liters of water per kilogram of body weight. 

If you have a well-filtered water system in your home, you should be able to safely consume your home’s drinking water without fear of excess fluoride. If you are unsure about your home’s water filtration system, it is best to purchase test strips. However, it is safe to continue using fluoride in dental products and drinking water.  

General Dentistry With Mills River Dentistry

Our dentistry office seeks to help patients of all ages have the best oral health possible. To maintain our patient’s oral health, we teach proper brushing and flossing techniques, recommend regular dental appointments, and eating healthy food. Mills River Dentistry offers various dental services, including fluoride treatments to protect your teeth’s enamel and prevent tooth decay. 

Our dentists can advise on whether fluoride treatments can help you improve your oral health, what must be done to prevent demineralization, and recommended dental appointment timelines. If you have questions about fluoride use or would like to schedule an appointment with our office, fill out a form on our website.

Hours

Mills River Family Dental
3340 Boylston Hwy Suite 30
Mills River, NC 28759
Monday 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Tuesday 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Thursday 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Friday 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed

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