Karen Neil, DDS Fort Worth Dentistry Blog

Tooth loss can detract from your daily quality of life because you rely on two complete arches to enunciate words to communicate, thoroughly chew food, and express authentic emotions. Thankfully, your dentist can restore your smile’s appearance and functionality with dental implants.

These prosthetics are the only ones embedded in your jaw for added strength and stability, giving them advantages over alternatives like dentures or dental bridges. However, they’re not invincible and can fail if they’re not cared for correctly. Continue reading to learn 3 ways to keep your new teeth in good shape!

While dental implants boast a 98 percent success rate, some people worry that they will fall into the unlucky less than 5 percent whose implants did not take. While it does happen, there are steps you can take to ensure that your story is a successful one. Read on to learn more about dental implants and what you can do to make them work.

Many people are frustrated due to unsightly stains or discoloration in their smiles, and this can make it difficult for them to speak and smile confidently at work and in social situations. Thankfully, your dentist can administer a brief and effective teeth whitening treatment that delivers stunning results, but some patients with extensive or severe staining may require multiple treatments to achieve their ideal smile. Here’s a brief guide to how teeth whitening works and how many treatments may be necessary.

For some patients, the idea of replacing teeth with dental implants can sound shameful. These folks assume their new prosthetics would make them “stand out” in a bad way. However, the truth is that you shouldn’t feel embarrassed to get dental implants. These special posts would only benefit your smile, providing your grin with many great perks. As proof, let your Fort Worth dentist share four reasons you shouldn’t feel ashamed of your dental implants.

Emergency dental services can address a wide range of oral health crises such as severe toothache, small oral lacerations, or dislodged teeth, and some dental emergencies can lead to significant discomfort in the face. While facial pain does not always indicate a dental emergency, there are cases where it means that you should head to your dentist’s office as soon as possible. Here’s how to tell if a dental health crisis is causing the pain in your face.

Do you have tender, puffy, or dark red gums that bleed when you brush and floss your teeth? If so, you may have gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. This condition can be hard to detect in the early stages, and so it frequently progresses to more advanced periodontal problems before it’s caught.

Understanding more about how you developed this condition can help you stop it in its tracks. Continue reading to learn more about what gum disease is and whether it’s contagious so you can safeguard your smile!

If you’ve lost some or all of your natural teeth and are looking for a reliable replacement, you might benefit from dentures. These versatile prosthetics can be adapted to meet your unique needs to restore your smile’s functionality. Plus, they can be customized to look just like the ones that went missing.

It can take about a month for new patients to become acclimated to wearing their dentures all day. However, once they do, it’s not uncommon to wonder whether they sleep with them in their mouths to avoid the hassle of removing them nightly. While this might be okay to do occasionally, it’s generally not recommended. Continue reading to learn three reasons why!

Gum disease is a menace, to say the least – it’s estimated that over half of all US adults ages 30 and above have some form of the condition, but it’s not unreasonable to assume that this figure is much higher due to undocumented cases! What’s worse is that this condition is also a leading cause of tooth loss, despite it developing in the gum tissue. Luckily, gum disease can often be managed and its symptoms curbed; it’s just a matter of seeking professional treatment and learning how to prevent infection. Here are a few key questions you should keep in mind as you visit your periodontist for gum disease treatment.  

Dentures have allowed many people to enjoy a complete and beautiful smile after tooth loss. While these incredibly lifelike and comfortable appliances are quite durable, they do not last forever and will eventually need replacement due to wear and tear and the changing shape of the patient’s mouth. Here’s a brief guide to help you recognize the signs that your dentures are ready to retire and be replaced.

Imagine this scenario: you’re savoring your morning coffee when you suddenly feel discomfort in one of your teeth, especially when it encounters hot or cold temperatures. This unexpected sensitivity can leave you puzzled and unsure of its origin. However, it might signal a cavity that needs filling. So, keep reading as we delve into five typical signs that indicate that you might need to get a dental filling.