If you have a toothache, sensitive teeth, swollen gums, or other signs of tooth decay, you may have an infection caused by bacteria inside your tooth. Our dentist at Dental Care East Hanover might tell you that you need a root canal treatment to eliminate this infection.

The goal of a root canal is to eliminate the infection and make it less likely that it will come back. Root canal treatments can save an infected or badly damaged tooth, so your dentist doesn’t have to pull the tooth out to fix the problem and relieve your pain (which is a much more complex and costly procedure).

Even though we know it’s not ideal to have to go to the dentist more than once, it’s necessary to finish all three stages of root canal treatment and make sure your tooth is completely free of infection. Here are the three steps that will make up your root canal:

Stage 1: Evaluation and First Clean

In this first step, your tooth will be looked at to ensure you need a root canal. Then, the tooth will be cleaned to get rid of the bacteria that are causing the infection.

After our dentist numbs your tooth, they will cut a small hole in the top so that the root canal can be thoroughly cleaned. This will include using antibacterial solutions to rinse and apply medication.

Before moving to stage two, a temporary filling will be placed in your tooth.

Stage 2: Clean-up and Medications

The second part of your root canal treatment may be done the same day as the first part, but it may also be done a week or two later.

At this stage, the root canal is cleaned more thoroughly to get rid of any bacteria that may still be inside the tooth. Our dentist may also take x-rays to check the length of your root canal and make sure that the whole canal is cleaned.

To treat the infection, our dentist will also put medicine on the tooth.

Stage 3: The Filling

Once the root canal is completely free of bacteria and your symptoms have gone away, it’s time to fill it. This usually happens 4-6 weeks after the second stage of your root canal treatment.

Before the root canal is sealed, special rubber points are inserted into the root canals to fill them. Depending on the damage to your tooth and the situation, you may have a temporary filling or a permanent one put in.

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If you think you might need a root canal, it’s important not to put off your treatment. A root canal is one of the best ways to treat an infected tooth and get rid of the painful symptoms you’ve been having. Call Dental Care East Hanover to learn more or schedule an appointment by using the link below.

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Dentures are a normal, everyday part of life for many people all over the world. In fact, we know they’ve been in use for thousands of years! The oldest record of denture use dates back to 700 BC in Northern Italy, and they were used throughout the years of the roman empire. So, if we’ve talked with you about dentures or you suspect you will need them, know that you’re not alone! Men and women have been wearing dentures through some of the most momentous events in history.

Did you know there are many different types of dentures? No matter how you lost your teeth, there’s a set of dentures that can help you look and feel normal again. The cosmetic benefits of dentures are obvious, but they also can help people eat and speak, which is why they’ve been so popular for so much of the world’s history. Here are some examples of the different types of dentures you and your dentist might decide to use, depending on your individual situation:

Full Dentures

When you hear the word “dentures”, you probably think of these. Full dentures are used to help a patient who’s lost most or all of their teeth. This type of denture needs to be custom-molded to your gums, so we may need to remove existing teeth if some are still left in place in your mouth. After your dentures are properly fitted, an adhesive is used to hold them in place over the course of each day. You’ll take them out and clean them every night.

Partial Dentures

Not every case of missing teeth is extreme enough to require a whole new set of dentures. When only certain portions of your teeth are missing, we may evaluate them together and consider a set of partial dentures. These not only help your teeth look natural but also keep your remaining teeth from slowly drifting out of place and becoming crooked. Partial dentures are made of (1) a pink artificial root that matches the color of your gums, (2) false teeth to replace the missing ones, and (3) sometimes a clip or wire to hold everything in place.

Implant Supported Dentures

If you want your new smile to have a more solid foundation, you might consider implant-supported dentures. This style of denture includes four implants — titanium posts that fuse to your jawbone — which allow you to snap the dentures in and easily take them out for cleaning. The process of fitting and preparing implant-supported dentures is more involved than fitting a set of traditional dentures, but the result is very convenient. This type of denture does not require the use of adhesive. 

Our Goal is Your Beautiful Smile

We can help you find the right type of dentures for you, no matter what your situation. Modern dentures are more comfortable, convenient, and realistic than ever before — the result of more than two thousand years of innovation! If you believe dentures might be a right fit for you, give us a call at 973-975-0309 We’ll be happy to talk with you about the different types of dentures and what the fitting will entail, so we can get your smile to look the way you want it to.