Category: Restorative Dentistry

Understanding & Preventing Dry Socket After Tooth Extraction

Posted January 10, 2024 by Paris Mountain Dental

Sometimes, the path to your ideal smile involves tooth extraction. While the procedure itself is usually simple and relatively tolerated in most patients, appropriate aftercare is paramount in preventing complications like dry socket. Here are our tips on preventing dry socket following a tooth extraction.

What Is Dry Socket?

Dry socket, or alveolar osteitis, occurs when the blood clot that typically forms after a tooth extraction is dislodged or dissolves prematurely, exposing the underlying bone and nerves to air, food particles, and bacteria.

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene

Gently clean your mouth and teeth, being careful around the extraction site. If you wish to use an anti-bacterial mouthwash or saline solution, tilt your head and soak the area instead of swishing.

Avoid Tobacco, Alcohol & Hard Foods

Smoking increases the risk of dry socket. Nicotine and other harmful chemicals in tobacco can increase your risk of infection and prolong your healing time. Alcohol can affect your blood’s ability to clot and your hydration levels. Further, hard foods can dislodge the blood clot or cause trauma to the area, aiding the potential for infection.

Tooth Extraction in Traveler’s Rest, South Carolina!

Recovering from a tooth extraction can seem daunting, but following these tips can help ease that burden. If you have further questions or need to schedule an appointment, give the team at Paris Mountain Dental a call today!

Do Dental Implants Last Forever?

Posted February 24, 2023 by Paris Mountain Dental

If you are missing teeth, you have likely experienced associated changes with your bite, speech, diet, and confidence, and a decreased quality of life. But it doesn’t always have to be that way. Replacing missing teeth can improve oral function and restore your smile’s appearance! Dental implants, for example, are a fantastic long-term tooth replacement solution.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are one of the most secure, natural-looking restorative dentistry procedures available. An implant is a biocompatible dental screw that is surgically placed into the jawbone. Once the area is healed and fused with your jaw, an artificial tooth is attached to its top to restore full function and appearance.

How Long Do Dental Implants Last?

While the implant itself is permanent as long as you maintain good gum health, its accompanying dental crown will experience wear and tear and may need replacement within 15-20 years. But thanks to our advanced dental technology, we can quickly craft a replacement crown so you can continue enjoying a complete smile.

How to Prolong the Life of Your Dental Implants

A dental implant can last for many years when it is cared for with daily brushing and flossing, routine dental cleanings, and a balanced diet. Besides maintaining these habits, the following tips can also help you promote dental implant longevity:

Use a soft-bristled toothbrush when brushing

Wear a nightguard if you grind and clench your teeth

Wear an athletic mouthguard during sports

Avoid chewing on ice, nails, pencils, pens, and other objects

Avoid tobacco products

Dental Implants in Travelers Rest, SC

A dental implant may be the perfect solution for the gap in your smile. Contact our team at Paris Mountain Dental in Travelers Rest, SC, to learn more about restoring your smile with dental implants. We would be delighted to hear from you.

Dental implant image from Authority Dental under CC 2.0

Is It Safe to Pull Your Own Tooth?

Posted November 20, 2022 by Paris Mountain Dental

There are so many DIY solutions floating around on the internet. From how to create your own household cleaner to repairing certain things around the home without calling in outside help, some DIY recommendations are more manageable and helpful than others. One dental-related DIY job we’ve heard about is to perform a tooth extraction at home.

The Risks of Pulling Your Own Teeth

If your tooth is causing you agonizing pain, you shouldn’t remove it yourself unless you are experiencing some sort of bizarre scenario, like Tom Hanks stranded on an island in the movie Cast Away. If you have reasonable access to a reputable dentist, you should seek care for severe tooth pain as soon as possible.

Pulling a permanent tooth at home will be extremely painful and will significantly increase your chance of getting an infection. You don’t have the necessary tools and medication to properly numb and clean the area like we do in our dental office. In your effort to remove the tooth, you could wind up breaking the tooth (making it more difficult to remove) or damaging the surrounding teeth, or even your jawbone. Now instead of just one problematic tooth, you have even more dental issues!

Pulling Out Baby Teeth

So what about pulling out baby teeth? Maybe when you were a kid you remember your sibling, parent, or grandparent yanking out your loose teeth and now you want to help your child with their wiggly teeth. Regardless of whether you survived the experience as a child, it’s not a good idea to try and pull out your child’s baby tooth. Pulling a loose baby tooth can be painful and cause unnecessary bleeding and trauma to your child’s mouth.

Instead, encourage your child to wiggle their baby tooth with a clean finger or tissue. Baby teeth will fall out when they are ready. Something as simple as biting down on an apple can nudge them out completely when they are very loose. If you’re concerned that your child’s baby tooth isn’t falling out, consult with our team.

Your Trusted Dentist in Travelers Rest, SC

Need a gentle tooth extraction or some extra dental advice? Contact our dental office in Travelers Rest today! Paris Mountain Dental is here for all of your family’s smile needs.

How Do I Know If I Need a Root Canal?

Posted August 26, 2022 by Paris Mountain Dental

A tooth infection can start as increased sensitivity, followed by a slight toothache, then bad breath and throbbing tooth pain. At this point, you may have developed an abscess, which is a pus-filled sac at the root of your tooth. Root canal therapy is necessary to treat a tooth infection.

Infections typically stem from trauma that causes a crack or break in your tooth or an untreated severe cavity. The pain can spread throughout your jawbone, and you can experience a bad smell and taste around the tooth, as well as swelling and a fever.

Root Canal Procedure

Root canal therapy is nearly painless procedure, despite its bad reputation. Before the procedure, your dentist will make sure you are properly anesthetized and feel comfortable. They will then drill a small hole into your tooth to access the innermost areas of your tooth, the pulp and root. This allows them to remove the infected tissue, clean out your tooth, and fill it with a special substance called gutta-percha. Your tooth will be sealed and covered with a crown to reinforce it when you chew. This procedure will have eliminated the source of your pain to protect your oral tissues from damage, while saving the outer structure and roots of your natural tooth.

How to Avoid Root Canal Therapy

There are several steps you can take to protect your teeth from infection and the need for root canal therapy. Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time, floss your teeth every day, visit Paris Mountain Dental twice a year, consume a balanced diet, stay hydrated with water, wear a mouthguard if you play sports, wear a nightguard if you grind and clench your teeth, and avoid tobacco products.

Affordable Root Canal Therapy in Travelers Rest, SC

Paris Mountain Dental offers comprehensive dentistry, including preventive, restorative, and emergency dental care to help you prevent and treat tooth infections. We also offer flexible financing to make our personalized treatments affordable.

Are you experiencing tooth pain? Please contact us today to schedule an emergency appointment.

Things to Know If You Have Dentures

Posted July 8, 2022 by Paris Mountain Dental

Are you getting dentures to replace your missing teeth? If so, congratulations! Dentures are a great way to repair your smile, restore your bite, and boost your self-confidence. Here’s what you need to know about your dentures to keep them in tip-top shape!

1. There Is an Adjustment Period for Dentures

When you first get your dentures, it will take a while for you and your mouth to get used to them. At first, your mouth will feel like there is an alien object in it and you may find your tongue rubbing against your dentures frequently. You may also get ulcers on your gums while your mouth is adjusting. However, don’t stress. The discomfort is temporary and should subside over time!

2. Cleaning Your Dentures Is Crucial

When you wear your dentures every day, they will get dirty and gather bacteria just like natural teeth. In order to avoid gum disease and cavities in any of your existing teeth, you have to clean your dentures. There are special denture cleaners that you can use daily to disinfect your dentures.

3. Practice Makes Perfect

While your mouth is getting used to your dentures, you will have to practice eating and speaking, too! It can take time to get it down, but you will soon feel confident using your new teeth. You can practice eating certain types of foods to figure out the most comfortable way for you to chew. You may also have to practice saying your “s’s” because you may have a slight lisp when you first start wearing your dentures.

4. Don’t Put Off Repairs

Over time, your dentures may get damaged from regular wear. Don’t put off getting them repaired. The longer you wear them when they’re broken, the more damage that can occur to the appliances and potentially to your mouth.

Start Your Denture Journey

Are you ready to get started on your denture journey? At Paris Mountain Dental, we are pleased to offer a variety of tooth replacement options, including full and partial dentures. Please contact us to schedule your consultation!

Dentures are a great way to restore your missing teeth!

How Dental Bonding Can Improve Your Smile

Posted June 19, 2022 by Paris Mountain Dental

It’s not common to have naturally perfect teeth. In fact, most people have at least one thing they would aesthetically change about their smiles. Whether you have a small gap between two teeth or a chipped tooth, dental bonding is a great solution to enhance your smile’s appearance! Here’s what you need to know about dental bonding and how it can improve your smile.

What Is Dental Bonding?

Dental bonding is a treatment that uses a malleable, tooth-colored composite resin that can be molded into any shape necessary. Bonding is applied directly to teeth and can be cured in place with a blue light. The composite resin material comes in a variety of shades, so it can be closely matched to the shade of your teeth.

What Can Dental Bonding Fix?

Bonding is extremely versatile and can be used to correct a variety of aesthetic tooth imperfections.

Chipped teeth
Cracked teeth
Discolored teeth
Short teeth
Small gaps between teeth

Taking Care of Your Bonding

Even though bonding is strong, it is not as strong as natural teeth and enamel. It’s important to be mindful of your bonding to prevent it from breaking off. Avoid chewing on hard foods like ice and jawbreaker candy or opening packages with your teeth. You also want to ensure you refrain from staining your natural teeth as this will make the shade of the bonding stick out since it will no longer match your tooth. When playing sports, opt for a mouthguard to prevent anything from hitting your teeth and breaking your bonding.

Schedule Your Cosmetic Dentistry Consultation

Dental bonding can’t fix all smile flaws but Paris Mountain Dental offers many other cosmetic and restorative treatments in addition to bonding. We have lots of options available to help patients achieve their ideal smiles. Please contact our office to schedule your cosmetic dentistry consultation to see if dental bonding is right for you!

Dental bonding can fix many smile flaws!

How Restorative Dental Services Can Restore Your Quality of Life

Posted December 15, 2021 by Paris Mountain Dental

Losing a tooth can impact your confidence — and losing multiple teeth can impact the way your smile functions altogether. But if you’ve lost one or more of your teeth, you don’t need to give up hope in your smile. Restorative dentistry is designed to help improve the appearance and function of your smile if you’ve experienced damage due to decay, injury, or other concerns. Here is a review of the restorative treatments we offer at Paris Mountain Dental.

Dental Fillings

Dental fillings are used to fill cavities. It’s important to fill the small holes in your teeth caused by cavities in order to prevent further damage in the future. Dental fillings are made from sturdy, composite materials that blend in with the natural appearance of your tooth.

Dental Crowns

Crowns, or caps, are placed over the top of an existing tooth for various reasons to enhance and strengthen your smile. After a root canal, a dental crown can strengthen the existing tooth. Crowns can also improve the appearance of weak teeth. The original tooth stays in place so your jaw density remains strong, however the part of the tooth that doesn’t look too great is covered up. The crown will look like a strong, natural tooth and hide the tooth that is chipped, cracked, or misshapen. Crowns can also replace missing teeth when they finish off a dental implant.

Bridges & Dentures

If you are missing multiple teeth in a row, a dental bridge is a convenient and affordable way to replace the string of teeth and fill out the empty space of your smile. Dentures are designed for those who have lost all of their teeth, whether in one jaw or both.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are as close to replacement natural teeth as you can get. They are composed of a titanium rod that is surgically placed under the gum line. Over time it fuses to the jaw and becomes a strong base for a crown, bridge, or dentures depending on how many teeth you’re replacing.

Root Canal Therapy

If you have an infected tooth, root canal therapy can clear out the infected tissue and salvage your natural tooth, allowing you to have a pain-free smile.

Wisdom Teeth Removal

When your wisdom teeth are impacted, they can grow in at a wrong angle and pose damage to your existing teeth. They can even cause straight teeth to move out of alignment. Oftentimes people develop infections around their wisdom teeth since they are hard to keep clean when they’re so far back in the mouth. Wisdom tooth removal helps keep your smile clear of any issues down the line.

Tooth Extractions

If no restorative treatments can help salvage your tooth or teeth, we may opt for a total tooth extraction. This is especially common if that particular tooth is preventing other teeth from growing in properly or is severely infected. After a tooth is extracted, we’ll work with you to determine the best replacement solution.

Affordable Restorative Dentistry in Travelers Rest, SC

Your smile is designed to help you chew, talk, and smile with confidence. Unfortunately sometimes patients lose teeth either to injury or infection. Whatever the problem, we can find a solution through restorative dentistry. Our friendly staff will work with you to determine the right course of action from our extensive treatment options. We’ll help you develop a plan that will make your treatment affordable. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and get ready to smile with confidence again!

Restorative dentistry will have you smiling again!

When Are Dental Bridges Necessary?

Posted October 20, 2021 by Paris Mountain Dental

When you are missing multiple teeth in a row, it can be difficult to chew, talk, or smile with confidence. Dental bridges are a restorative option that can fill in the gaps left by multiple missing teeth. Paris Mountain Dental offers dental bridges as part of our restorative services. If you are missing teeth, a dental bridge might be the best option for you.

What Are Dental Bridges?

Dental bridges are designed to replace multiple missing teeth in a row. They are composed of realistic-looking false teeth which are usually made of ceramic or porcelain. The bridge is secured on either side by permanent teeth or dental implants topped with dental crowns. Dental bridges are designed specifically for each individual patient to naturally fill in their smile.

Process for Dental Bridges

The dental bridge procedure usually takes place over the course of two appointments. During your initial consultation, you and Dr. Ghimire will determine if a dental bridge is the right option for your needs and budget. Next, our team will take impressions of your teeth so that the bridge will be custom made for your smile. You may also receive a temporary bridge while your permanent bridge gets made.

During your second appointment, we will place your permanent bridge in your mouth and make any necessary adjustments to it. You will also receive instructions on how to properly care for your bridge. Dental bridges can last up to ten years when cared for well!

Affordable Dental Bridges in Travelers Rest, SC

Wondering if a dental bridge is the best option for you? The best way to find out is to set up a consultation with Paris Mountain Dental. If a dental bridge won’t solve the problem with your teeth, we’ll find a restorative option that will! We look forward to your visit.

A dental bridge can fill the gaps in your smile!

Dental Crowns Myths & Facts

Posted March 11, 2021 by Paris Mountain Dental

If you have one or more teeth that have suffered from severe damage or decay, a dental crown could be the procedure you need to save your smile. Dental crowns restore not just the function, but also the appearance of your teeth. Millions of people have benefitted from this procedure, however, there are still a lot of misconceptions floating around. To help set the record straight, we looked into the most common myths about dental crowns.

Myth #1: Getting dental crowns is a painful process.

Fear of pain is often one of the biggest reasons people put off dental procedures, even when they’re badly needed. Fortunately, modern dentistry makes use of dental sedatives to make the process comfortable and stress-free.

Myth #2: Dental crowns look unnatural.

Porcelain or ceramic are most often used to make dental crowns. They offer a durable and natural appearance, and we go even further by using an impression of your tooth to make sure that the crown will fit in with your smile. They can blend in so well, that friends and family won’t even notice.

Myth #3: Dental crowns are prone to stains.

Dental crowns are actually more resistant to staining than your natural teeth. It’s worth keeping in mind however that crowns can’t be put through whitening treatments. Fortunately, they’ll still benefit from regular professional teeth cleanings.

Myth #4: Fillings are a valid substitute for dental crowns.

Fillings can sometimes prevent you from needing a crown, but they need to be done very early on. If tooth decay has advanced past a certain point, a crown will be necessary to stabilize the tooth.

Myth #5: Dental crowns are too expensive.

The actual cost of dental crowns can vary quite a bit depending on factors unique to the patient. Fortunately, dental insurance often offsets the costs associated with dental crowns. At Paris Mountain Dental we also offer affordable treatment options including our Dental Savers Plan. Most importantly we want to work with you to make sure you can get the treatment you need. Contact us in Travelers Rest to schedule your dental crown.

Dental crowns are a great tooth repair solution!

Am I a Good Candidate for Dentures?

Posted August 13, 2020 by Paris Mountain Dental

Thinking about dentures? They might be a great solution for you! Paris Mountain Dental offers many solutions for restoring your smile. Read more about dentures to help you make an informed decision about your choices.

What Are Dentures?

Dentures are a tried-and-true way to replace multiple missing teeth. They’re custom made for a snug and comfortable fit, and a natural look and feel. Depending on your smile’s needs, we can create a full or partial set of dentures for you.

Traditional vs. Implant-Supported Dentures

There are two different types of dentures that you’ll be able to consider. Traditional dentures are designed to fit perfectly on the gums, and they’re held in place with the help of extra-strength dental adhesive. Implant-supported dentures are, like the name says, supported by implants. Implants, which are an incredibly stable and durable tooth replacement option, help the dentures stay in place permanently. They provide a very reliable fit with a completely comfortable feel. When it comes to choosing which option is best for you, we’ll help you consider important factors such as your oral health, jaw bone integrity, and budget.

The Benefits of Dentures

There a number of different reasons why dentures will benefit your oral health, your smile, and your quality of life! Dentures can restore your smile to one that’s natural and beautiful. They can help you feel more confident, and allow you to speak and eat with ease. And finally, dentures are a cost-effective option that yields a desirable result!

Dentures & More in Travelers Rest, SC

If dentures sound like a great fit for your smile, it’s time for us to talk. Call us or request an appointment online and we’ll get you started with a consultation. You can look forward to a smile that looks and feels great in your not too distant future!