CPAP is usually the first treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. A custom oral appliance is the guideline-backed alternative for adults who cannot tolerate CPAP or prefer another option. A sleep physician makes that call after a sleep study, not a dentist. Start With the Diagnosis Only a physician can diagnose sleep apnea, and the usual test is an overnight sleep... read more »
Dental crowns commonly last many years, often a decade or more, but no dentist can promise a number. Lifespan depends on the material, which tooth it covers, whether you grind and the health of the tooth underneath. Where the crown was made matters much less. What Decides How Long a Crown Lasts Most office websites quote a range of roughly... read more »
Dentures rest on the gums and come out each day. Implants anchor replacement teeth in the jawbone, and All-on-4 holds a full arch of fixed teeth on four implants. The right one depends on how many teeth are missing, which jaw, and how much bone is left. Five Ways to Replace Several Teeth Someone missing several teeth is really choosing... read more »
You do not always need a bone graft before a dental implant. Whether you do depends on how much bone is left where the tooth was, which a 3D scan can measure. Thin or short bone usually needs a graft first. Enough bone often does not. What an Implant Needs From Your Bone A dental implant is a post that... read more »
Receding gums do not grow back on their own. Once the gum has pulled away from a tooth, it stays back unless a dentist moves or adds tissue to cover the root. Treatment can stop the recession from getting worse and often cover the exposed root again. No rinse, oil or vitamin has been shown to rebuild a gumline. What... read more »
Bonding builds up a tooth with tooth-colored resin and usually needs little or no enamel removed. Veneers are thin shells that cover the front of the tooth, usually after a thin layer of enamel is removed. Bonding suits small repairs, and veneers suit larger changes. There Are Really Three Choices Most comparisons pit two treatments against each other, but the... read more »
For one missing tooth, an implant replaces the root with a post in the jawbone and leaves the neighboring teeth alone, while a bridge holds a false tooth on crowns fitted to the teeth either side. The health of those neighboring teeth usually decides which fits you better. How Each One Replaces the Tooth A dental implant has three parts:... read more »
Invisalign® treatment takes 12 to 18 months on average, according to Align Technology, the company that makes the aligners. How far your teeth need to move and how many hours a day you wear the aligners set your timeline, and only an exam can tell how long your own case will take. That range covers the months you spend wearing... read more »
Laughing gas is a light sedation you breathe through a nose mask; it works in minutes, can be adjusted during the visit, and fades soon after. Oral sedation is a pill taken before your appointment that usually relaxes you more deeply and lasts for hours, so you need a driver. Both keep you awake enough to respond, and neither one... read more »
A root canal usually takes one or two appointments of roughly 90 minutes each, according to the American Association of Endodontists. Most people go back to their usual day afterward and feel tender for a few days. In general, molars and infected teeth tend to take longer than front teeth. Your own timeline depends on which tooth is being treated... read more »
