4 Care Tips to Maintain Your New Dental Implant

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Your dental implant is an important feature in your mouth. Without your dental implant, your smile would not be whole, and your ability to chew and speak clearly might be impacted.

Now that your dental implant is in place, it’s important to take good care of it. You can do this with the help of your dentist in Grand Island, NE. Working with your dentist, you can help ensure that your dental implant will remain in good condition for years to come.

1. Brush Your Teeth Twice Daily

You should be adjusted to brushing your teeth twice daily. Now that your dental implant is in place, little should change about your routine. Use soft-bristle toothbrushes and brush your dental implant just as you brush your other teeth.

Use non-abrasive toothpaste to clean your teeth, as abrasive toothpaste can scratch your dental implant. If your toothpaste is a whitening product, it is likely an abrasive product. Consult your dentist to learn which toothpaste works best for you.

2. Floss

Floss your teeth once per day, including the area around your implant. Ask your dentist about any tips for flossing around your implant — the dentist can show you in the dental office while you’re there.

3. Don’t Whiten Your Teeth

Unfortunately, your dental implant can’t be whitened. If you choose to whiten your teeth, your dental implant will stay the same color. This can lead to a mismatch between your natural teeth and your new dental implant. To ensure that your teeth all match, avoid whitening your teeth.

4. Avoid Biting Anything That Isn’t Food

Your dental implant is topped by a crown that resembles a natural tooth. The crown is strong and durable, but it is not intended to bite non-food items. Don’t use your teeth to tear through packaging. Avoid biting your fingernails and anything that isn’t food.

Need More Information About Dental Implants in Grand Island, NE? Call Today

If you need more information about how to maintain your dental implants in Grand Island, NE, call today to speak with one of our dental professionals. You can also make an appointment to be seen by your dentist.

How to Overcome Dental Anxiety

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Feeling nervous about visiting the dentist is incredibly common. For some, it’s mild unease, but for others, dental anxiety can be strong enough to delay or completely avoid appointments.

Unfortunately, putting off care often leads to bigger problems down the line—which only makes future visits more stressful. Here are some practical ways to work through dental anxiety.

Identify the Root of the Cause

Start by figuring out exactly what triggers your anxiety. Is it the sound of the drill, fear of pain, a bad experience from the past, or just feeling out of control? Pinpointing the source helps you and your dental team come up with strategies that directly address your concerns.

Let Your Dentist Know What You’re Feeling

Letting the staff know you’re anxious isn’t something to be embarrassed about—it’s helpful information. A good dental team will take extra time to explain procedures, check in frequently during treatment, and offer breaks if you start feeling overwhelmed.

At Gentle Dental Care, we want you to let us know if you need a short break so you can feel comfortable again.

Try Calming Techniques

Simple relaxation tools can make a big difference. Deep breathing before and during your appointment helps slow your heart rate and calm tension. Bringing headphones and listening to soothing music or a podcast can distract your mind from the noises and keep you more relaxed. Visualization techniques—like picturing a favorite vacation spot—can also take your focus away from the dental work.

Consider Sedation Options

If you need it another option is sedation dentistry in Grand Island, NE is worth exploring. This helps you stay calm and reduce awareness of the procedure, making it easier to get the care you need without distress—all without actually being unconscious.

Overcoming dental anxiety doesn’t happen instantly, but small steady steps can build your confidence. By being open with your dentist, trying relaxation techniques, and exploring sedation when appropriate you can keep your oral health on track and make future visits something to look forward to—not fear.

If you’ve been putting off care because of anxiety, reach out to your dentist in Grand Island, NE at Gentle Dental Care—we’re here to help you feel as comfortable as possible so you can get the dental care you need.

What Is Dental Restoration? Who Needs It?

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If you have an injured or damaged tooth, you may need dental restoration. Dental restoration can help make your smile whole again after an injury occurs. The dentist in Grand Island, NE, can help. At Gentle Dental Care, we offer a range of dental restoration services to help our patients maintain healthy, beautiful teeth.

What Is Dental Restoration?

Dental restoration is a category of dental services that can help restore a tooth after it has become damaged. Some examples of the types of injuries that dental restoration can help with include chips, cracks, broken tooth enamel, loss of a permanent tooth, and cavities.

Cavity Fillings

A cavity is a hole in the tooth caused by tooth decay. Cavities happen primarily in people who have high-sugar diets and poor oral hygiene. Cavities can be filled with different materials, including composite resin and amalgam. Composite resin is tooth-colored and may last between 5 and 10 years.

Amalgam filling is silver-colored, but it eventually darkens to a color closer to black. Amalgam fillings can last a lifetime if they’re properly maintained. Your dentist can help you choose the best cavity filling material for your needs.

Dental Implants

A dental implant is an artificial tooth that your dentist can install in your mouth if you’re missing a permanent tooth. You may be a good candidate for a dental implant if you have a healthy jaw and good oral hygiene. Ask your dentist about dental implants.

Dental Crowns

If you have a damaged tooth, your dentist may install a dental crown. A dental crown is a cap that the dentist places over the tooth to reinforce the tooth enamel and prevent more breakage.

Dental Bridges

A dental bridge is an artificial tooth that is attached to dental crowns. The dental crowns attach to the teeth on either side of the missing tooth, thus holding the bridge in place.

Have An Injured Tooth? Contact Us Today

If you have an injured or missing permanent tooth, you may benefit from dental restoration in Grand Island, NE. Call today to make your next dental appointment.

I Have Bad Breath: What Can I Do About It?

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Bad breath can be frustrating, especially if you can’t get it to go away. If you have bad breath that can’t be eliminated with brushing, this could mean that you need to see a dentist in Grand Island, NE. Your dentist can help you determine whether your bad breath is happening because of something you’ve eaten or if you have bad breath because of poor dental health.

What Causes Bad Breath?

Bad breath can have many causes.

  • You haven’t brushed your teeth recently. Often, bad breath happens when bacteria builds up in your mouth overnight.
  • You ate something that caused bad breath. Some foods, like onions and garlic, cause bad breath hours after they’ve been eaten. These foods get into your bloodstream and cause bad breath that can’t be fixed by brushing your teeth.
  • You have a cavity or infection. Bad breath can be a symptom of a cavity, gum disease, or dental infection.

Is Bad Breath a Symptom of a Problem?

Bad breath can be caused by bacteria, which may be present when you’re having a dental problem. This is why it’s important to see your dentist if you can’t determine the cause of your bad breath. Your dentist can diagnose any dental conditions and give you treatment.

What Does It Mean If My Bad Breath Won’t Go Away?

If your bad breath won’t go away even after you brush your teeth, it’s important to discover the cause. First, ask yourself what you’ve been eating. Take notice of whether your bad breath happens when you eat certain foods. If you can’t discover a link between the foods you just ate and bad breath, this could be a sign that you have a dental problem and need help from a dentist.

When Should I See a Dentist?

If you’re not sure what’s causing your bad breath, get help from a dental checkup in Grand Island, NE. Call the dentist today to schedule your next dental appointment. During the appointment, you can ask your dentist about your problem and find out what could be the cause.

4 Things to Know About Caring For Your Dental Veneers

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Cosmetic dental problems can leave some people feeling self-conscious about their appearance and the way they smile. There are many ways that you can correct cosmetic issues, including dental veneers.

This permanent solution to cosmetic dental problems can restore your smile. Your dentist in Grand Island, NE can help. At Gentle Dental Care, we provide dental veneers to people who want to improve the appearance of their teeth. Here’s what to know.

What Are Dental Veneers?

A dental veneer is a thin cover that’s placed over the front of your tooth to hide cosmetic imperfections. To install a dental veneer, your dentist must shave down the front of your tooth to make room for the veneer. Veneers can hide problems like cracks in tooth enamel, chips, gaps between teeth, and stains. Dental veneers can give your teeth a very even, consistent appearance, and can cover up a range of cosmetic defects.

How Do You Maintain Dental Veneers?

Maintaining dental veneers is easy.

  1. Clean dental veneers every day. Brush your dental veneers at the same time as your other teeth. Brush them twice daily.
  2. Use non-abrasive toothpaste to clean dental veneers. Abrasive toothpaste can scratch dental veneers. Scratches on dental veneers can lead to stains. Use gentle, non-abrasive toothpaste to clean your dental veneers. Avoid toothpastes that say they whiten or brighten teeth.
  3. Avoid chewing on anything that isn’t food. Avoid chewing anything that isn’t food, such as ice, pen caps, pencils, and so on. Don’t chew your fingernails if you have dental veneers!
  4. Visit your dentist regularly. Visit your dentist twice annually to have your teeth examined. Your dentist will examine your veneers at the same time, and will let you know if your veneers need repair or replacement.
  5. Don’t get your teeth whitened. Dental veneers can’t be made whiter with tooth whitening. If you get your teeth whitened, your teeth will no longer match your dental veneers.

How Long Do Dental Veneers Last?

How long your dental veneers will last depends on how well you take care of them and what they’re made of. Many dental veneers can last 10 to 15 years before they need replacement. If you want dental veneers in Grand Island, NE, contact Gentle Dental Care to get started.

What to do if a Crown Falls Off

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Ideally, crowns are meant to be a permanent solution, but occasionally, dental crowns do come off. If you find yourself in a situation where your dental crown has fallen off, your next steps are very important. Taking care and following dentist instructions will save you from worry and stress.

Save the Crown

First, don’t panic. Losing a crown doesn’t mean you’ll lose the tooth. Remember, the crown is simply a kind of prosthetic, and it can likely be put back in place by your dentist. If you happen to be eating at the time and bite down on the crown that’s come off, immediately take action to save the crown. This may mean spitting out the food in your mouth into a napkin. Whatever you do, don’t swallow, as you could accidentally swallow the crown along with the food.

Clean the Crown

Place the crown in a clean glass of water, either distilled or at least purified. Even better, place it in water inside a jar, where you can close the lid to avoid having it spill.

Inspect the Damage

Next, see if you can view the tooth. Crowns are often in the back of the mouth, so you or your family member may need to use a flashlight to see if there’s bleeding. If there is, pack the tooth with some first aid gauze. Don’t use cotton, as this will leave cotton fiber in the cavity, which will complicate the restoration.

If you have associated pain, consider taking an over-the-counter painkiller such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Only do this if your primary care physician has approved you for over-the-counter meds. Avoid aspirin, as this thins the blood and may increase bleeding.

Contact Your Dentist

Contact your dentist as soon as possible and let them know what happened. Chances are, your dentist in Grand Island, NE, will make room in their appointment book to have you come in the same day. If it’s not deemed to be an emergency, ask what you should do while you await your appointment date.

Having a crown fall off can be shocking, but it doesn’t mean your natural tooth is going to come out next. A dental crown in Grand Island, NE, can be put back in place in most cases. Contact us today to learn more.