Many of us had our wisdom teeth removed right around the end of high school. It’s so normal it’s almost a rite of passage, if not an unpleasant one. But why do almost all of us need a wisdom tooth extraction? Well, believe it or...
Many of us suffer from dental anxiety, a kind of unofficial term for that fear you get about sitting down in that chair and having someone poke around inside your mouth. Some of dental anxiety is just cultural, but if you’ve had a bad experience...
Well, any emergency is scary. And anytime something involves the mouth, people tend to freak out. Your mouth is vital for everything – chewing, swallowing, talking – so any threat to your dental health is important to get checked out. Last year, the ADA put...
Everyone knows someone who has had a root canal. Chances are, whoever it was didn’t exactly explain the process in a positive light. But what exactly is a root canal? And why might someone need one? If the pulp of a tooth becomes infected, the...
A filling can crack for many reasons. Maybe it wasn’t fitted correctly and now interferes with your bite. Perhaps it’s old and needs to be replaced. Another common issue is jaw clenching or teeth grinding, especially during sleep, both of which wear down your natural...
Dental bonding and tooth veneers both fall under the practice of cosmetic dentistry, but they aren’t the same procedure, and they serve different purposes. Veneers cover an entire tooth or several teeth, and they’re primarily used to permanently whiten a smile, whether you have discolored...
Did your filling fall out? It’s a common issue, but it does need attention. Sometimes you bite down too hard, and an old filling breaks and comes out. Anyone who’s had an old filling come loose will tell you it’s more of an inconvenience than...