Indy Dental Group blog

Toothaches are uncomfortable at any time of day, but many people notice that the pain seems to intensify at night. This can make it difficult to fall asleep and leave you feeling exhausted by morning. If you’ve ever wondered why your toothache gets worse after dark, there are several reasons behind this nighttime discomfort, and knowing them can help you find relief until you can see your dentist.

The outermost layer of teeth is made up of dental enamel, which is the hardest substance in the human body. While this gives your pearly whites the remarkable strength they need to vigorously chew food for a lifetime if they receive excellent care, your smile is not indestructible. Here’s a brief guide to a few items that are hazardous to put in your mouth from your dentist.

Jaw pain can be frustrating, especially when it’s only on one side of your face. Whether it’s a dull ache or a sharp, throbbing pain, discomfort in your jaw can make it hard to eat, talk, or even concentrate. If you’re wondering why your jaw hurts on just one side, there are several possible explanations — some minor, others that may require professional attention. Understanding the cause is the first step to finding relief.

Imagine it’s a hot day outside, so you decide to treat yourself to your favorite ice cream. You get ready to dive into the cold dessert, but after your first lick, you have a tooth that’s starting to hurt. The discomfort lingers, preventing you from fully enjoying it. If that sounds all too familiar, then you know how tooth sensitivity can be an annoyance. However, does this require a visit to your emergency dentist? Keep reading to learn when it might!

Dental emergencies can happen at any point. Maybe you were playing a sport and chipped a tooth or accidentally tripped while you were walking. These situations can be stressful to deal with, but your dentist is here to help. You may be tempted to immediately search up “emergency tooth extractions near me” and prepare for the worst, but there are other treatments that can help. Keep reading to learn what happens in these urgent appointments to get your oral health back into shape.

One thing that makes dental emergencies tough to deal with is that they can occur suddenly. No matter if you are at home or working abroad, preparing for something unexpected can seem hard. Thankfully, there are some easy tips you can follow to help you feel confident about dealing with these situations. Here are some simple steps you can take, especially if you are working overseas in an area you aren’t familiar with.

It’s natural to assume that if you are experiencing an emergency, the best place to receive immediate help is the ER. Or is it? While there are times it’s essential to seek medical assistance for certain dental injuries (i.e., fractured or broken jaw, increased swelling, etc.), most issues related to your oral health can be addressed by your dentist. Read on to learn why you don’t need to spend hours waiting in the ER to get timely care.

Any time you are away from home, a dental injury can occur. When it happens, having the right items on hand can help manage your pain and reduce the potential of further damage. But what items are necessary when a toothache, a lost filling, a broken denture, or a knocked-out tooth occurs? Keep reading to learn what to pack in your dental emergency kit.

A dental emergency causes enough panic on its own, but if you begin to think about the potential cost associated with treatment, you may worry so much that you decide to avoid treatment out of fear. Don’t let this happen to you. Knowing what your policy will and will not cover can give you greater peace of mind should you experience an accidental chip, crack, or break in one or more of your teeth. Keep reading to learn how you can use your dental insurance to help you save.

Dental implants are unlike any other form of tooth replacement. Their success rate remains at 95% upon initial placement and in many cases, stays around the same even after 10 years. While most patients never experience issues with these permanent teeth, others may discover their custom tooth replacements begin to loosen over time. Why does this happen, and what can be done to address it? Keep reading to find out.

If you have missing teeth, the gaps in your smile may cause some self-consciousness. Not only that, but they can also affect your oral health through jawbone loss. When it comes to tooth replacement options, patients and dentists prefer dental implants because of their durability and reliability.

Dental implants are an investment in both your smile and oral health, so it’s important to take steps to help ensure they last. Did you know that vitamin D can help in this regard? It’s true! This essential nutrient can play a key role in the long-term success of your dental implants. Read on to find out what you can do to make the most of the benefits of vitamin D!

Although you may not be experiencing any pain, tooth loss can have a devastating effect on your oral and overall health, resulting in more money being spent on treatments to address everything from diabetes and osteoporosis to bone loss and cardiovascular disease. If you are thinking about replacing your missing teeth with dental implants, you may be searching for ways to lower your out-of-pocket costs, but before you choose a discount or bargain brand, learn why it could put your smile at risk.

You might be a good candidate for dental implants if you’re seeking a permanent solution for tooth loss. Unlike dental bridges and dentures, these replacement teeth involve surgically placing a metal rod into your jaw. As a result, they’re usually more resilient and longer-lasting than the alternatives.

However, you must consult your dentist to ensure you’re a good candidate for the procedure first. This is an ideal time to ask any pressing questions you might have, like whether your new teeth get cavities. If you’re considering dental implants and are concerned about tooth decay, continue reading to learn more!

Tooth loss can detract from your daily quality of life in several ways. For example, you might feel self-conscious about your looks, and you could develop anxiety if you’re overly worried about being judged. Plus, once-basic tasks like eating and speaking become more challenging.

Fortunately, your dentist can rebuild your smile’s appearance and functionality with dental implants. Unlike dentures and dental bridges, these replacement teeth are surgically embedded in your jaw for added strength and stability. If you’re like many others, you may want to know how safe the procedure is before committing. Continue reading to learn more about it!

You might be a good candidate for dental implants if you’re looking for a reliable solution for tooth loss.  Unlike dentures and dental bridges, this treatment involves surgically placing a titanium rod into your jawbone for added security.

Although implants are typically sturdier than the alternatives, they’re not completely impervious to harm. There are some foods you should avoid that might contribute to their failure if you’re not careful. Continue reading to learn 3 things to steer clear from to safeguard your recently restored grin!

Tooth loss can detract from your daily quality of life as once-basic tasks, like chewing food, enunciating clearly, and smiling confidently, suddenly become more challenging. Thankfully, your dentist can provide dental implants to replace one or more missing teeth.

Unlike dental bridges and dentures, these restorations include a titanium rod that’s surgically embedded into your jawbone for added strength and stability. However, some older adults worry that their bones are too frail for this treatment. Continue reading to learn why it’s not necessarily too late to get dental implants regardless of your age!

Many experts consider dental implants the gold standard of replacement teeth because, unlike dentures and dental bridges, they are placed directly into your jawbone. They include a support rod, usually made from titanium, that’s embedded into your jaw and fuses with the bone to function as a sturdy standalone structure.

However, that doesn’t mean they’re the best treatment to meet everyone’s unique needs. Before you can be fitted with one of these popular restorations, you must consult your dentist to ensure you’re a good candidate. Continue reading to learn more about what to expect from this initial appointment!

Dental implants are widely regarded as one of the best solutions for replacing missing teeth. With proper care, they can last for decades. However, like any medical procedure, implants can occasionally fail. Recognizing the early warning signs of dental implant failure is crucial for protecting your oral health and preventing more serious complications. Here’s what you need to know.

You might think of your mouth and lungs as being totally separate, but recent studies say otherwise! Poor oral health, especially gum disease, has been linked to several lung conditions, including pneumonia and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). While this may sound strange, the connection makes more sense than you might think. Continue reading to take a closer look at how unhealthy gums might be making it harder to breathe.

Gum disease might sound like something that only happens if you skip the dentist, but it’s more common than you think! While its early stages (gingivitis) can be reversed, allowing it to progress can make it hard to manage without professional help. The good news is, you don’t need fancy supplements or complicated routines to keep it from getting there. Just adding the right foods to your plate can help! Keep reading to find the perfect gum disease-fighting food for your menu.