Apicoectomy after Root Canal

A root canal is a treatment that is used to repair and save a badly damaged or infected tooth. During root canal treatment, your dentist cleans the canals using special instruments called files to remove inflamed or infected tissue. When an infection develops or won’t go away after root canal treatment or retreatment, Dr. Christopher Emuedue of Greenville Family Dentistry may recommend an apicoectomy.

Root canals may become re-infected for a variety of reasons. These include new or recurrent decay, previously undetected accessory (extra) canals branching from the primary canal at the root end of the tooth, and occasionally, calcification of canals. An apicoectomy is done only after a tooth has had at least one root canal procedure and retreatment has not been successful. It is a minor surgical procedure in which the very tip of the tooth’s root is removed and sealed.

If you have a tooth infection related to a root canal gone wrong, give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the services we provide at our office, visit www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Christopher Emuedue at Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, call 903-455-6701.

What is an Underbite?

The main cause of an underbite is a misalignment of the lower jaw, which is usually present at birth. An underbite, clinically called prognathism, is the malocclusion or “bad bite” that happens when the lower teeth overlap the upper teeth. Just because your mouth may have this problem doesn’t mean that it’s untreatable. If you have been diagnosed with an underbite, with Dr. Christopher Emuedue at Greenville Family Dentistry can correct the problem with dental braces.

Although far less common than overbites, underbites still affect 5-10 percent of the population. An extreme underbite can cause facial abnormality, resulting in an extended chin. In addition to the aesthetic problem, underbites including difficulty with chewing, swallowing, and speaking. Underbites may also wear down tooth enamel and increase your chances of developing tooth decay or other dental problems such as TMJ disorder.

If you would like to discuss malocclusion treatment options, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visitwww.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Christopher Emuedue at Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, call 903-455-6701.

Brushing and Flossing with Arthritis

Stiff and painful hands due to arthritis can make oral care a hassle. It may lead you to skip brushing and flossing more often. However, at Greenville Family Dentistry, we want all of our patients to feel comfortable taking care of their teeth. Take some of these tips for oral care with arthritis.

To make brushing easier, choose a toothbrush with a thick handle and a non-slip grip. It helps with grasp and manipulation of the brush so you can reach all areas of your mouth. There are toothbrushes made especially for those with arthritis. A small head will also help with reach. Electric toothbrushes may help you get a better brushing as they do most of the work. You just need to hold them in the right position.

For flossing, tying the floss into a loop will help you with grasp. For those who do not want to hold onto string floss, flossing picks are also available where other dental supplies are sold. These can make flossing easier for difficult hands.

Arthritis and other difficult hand conditions can change the way you do things, but it is still important to keep up with oral care! To schedule your next cleaning at Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, call us at (903) 455-6701 or visit our website, www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com. 

How Grinding Your Teeth at Night Makes Teeth Sensitive

Do you wake up with a sore jaw in the morning and realize you have been grinding or clenching your teeth at night? This condition called bruxism, can cause more than a sore jaw. It can actually harm your teeth by wearing them down. At Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, we offer night guards to protect our patients’ teeth from grinding. Keep reading to find out how grinding will cause pain and sensitivity to your teeth.

Continual grinding of your teeth can start to wear down enamel. When the enamel is worn down, it exposes nerve tubules which lead to the nerve center of the tooth. This will lead to that sensitive feeling that can be present when eating or drinking cold or hot foods, brushing your teeth, or even during air exposure. While there are toothpastes that can help decrease sensitivity, there is nothing that beats your enamel. In addition, the worn down enamel can make your teeth prone to cavities.

If you grind your teeth at night, a night guard can offer you protection. To set up an appointment with Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, call us at (903) 455-6701 or visit our website, www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com. 

Anxiolysis Sedation

At Greenville Family Dentistry we offer sedation options for a variety of reasons, ranging from tooth sensitivity during a procedure to patients who suffer from dental fear. Some people don’t look forward to dental appointments any more than they look forward to visits to their primary physician, but at our dental practice we promise to make you as relaxed as possible during your appointment.

The purpose of sedation dentistry is to allow a dentist to work more effectively by helping a patient become as comfortable as possible with the use of sedative medications administered orally and sublingually. Here at Greenville Family Dentistry, one of the types of sedation we offer is anxiolysis. The definition of anxiolysis is simply, “a reduction in anxiety,” to supply the patient with a light level of sedation and take the edge off. It is not as strong as oral conscious sedation, so it is recommended for those with mild to moderate anxiety. After the procedure, you will even be able to drive yourself home, since anxiolysis uses a light sedative, such as valium.

To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Christopher Emuedue at Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, call 903-455-6701.

Overbite Complications

If you have been diagnosed with an overbite, this simply means that your top teeth extend beyond your bottom teeth. It is a common dental problem that Dr. Christopher Emuedue at Greenville Family Dentistry can correct with dental braces. Overbite teeth are considered a type of “bad bite.” It can either be noticeable or unnoticeable, but it some extreme cases it can make your jaw look significantly larger or your bottom jaw look much smaller.

Most often, overbites are inherited as traits just as the color of your eyes or the freckles on your cheeks. Other causes of misaligned bites may result from an early loss of baby or adult teeth, gum disease, or common oral health problems in children, such as thumb sucking. Once Dr. Christopher Emuedue confirms your overbite with X-rays, he may take regular photographs of your face to further examine the relationship between the teeth, jaws, and head. From there, an individualized treatment plan will be developed to give you the smile you’ve always dreamed of.

To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Christopher Emuedue at Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, call 903-455-6701.

Straight Teeth are Healthy Teeth

 

Swollen red gums can often be the result of having teeth that are crowded or too widely spaced. When teeth are properly aligned, it helps the gums fit more securely around the teeth, allowing for the strongest and healthiest defense against potential periodontal problems. In Greenville, TX, Dr. Christopher Emuedue can provide you with a variety of options to straighten your teeth so that you can have a beautiful healthy smile.

When teeth are properly aligned, they’re easier to clean and when your teeth are clean and dental plaque free, you’re less likely to need a tooth filling or gum disease treatment. When teeth are straight, it helps the gums fit more securely around the teeth, allowing for the strongest and healthiest defense against potential periodontal problems. 

Tooth decay and gum disease are caused by bacteria. Left untreated, they can cause mouth sores, tender or bleeding gums, bad breath, and possible tooth loss. Correctly aligning your teeth can also alleviate the issues that can be caused by an improper bite, speech or chewing difficulties, jaw problems and increased wear on the tooth enamel. 

If you would like to discuss your orthodontic treatment options, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Christopher Emuedue at Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, call 903-455-6701.

Swollen red gums can often be the result of having teeth that are crowded or too widely spaced. When teeth are properly aligned, it helps the gums fit more securely around the teeth, allowing for the strongest and healthiest defense against potential periodontal problems. In Greenville, TX, Dr. Christopher Emuedue can provide you with a variety of options to straighten your teeth so that you can have a beautiful healthy smile.

When teeth are properly aligned, they’re easier to clean and when your teeth are clean and dental plaque free, you’re less likely to need a tooth filling or gum disease treatment. When teeth are straight, it helps the gums fit more securely around the teeth, allowing for the strongest and healthiest defense against potential periodontal problems.

Tooth decay and gum disease are caused by bacteria. Left untreated, they can cause mouth sores, tender or bleeding gums, bad breath, and possible tooth loss. Correctly aligning your teeth can also alleviate the issues that can be caused by an improper bite, speech or chewing difficulties, jaw problems and increased wear on the tooth enamel.

If you would like to discuss your orthodontic treatment options, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Christopher Emuedue at Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, call 903-455-6701.