United Dental Centers of Hammond Blog

Cavities are extremely common. In fact, if you have never had a cavity, you are part of a rare minority!  If you have dental implants or are considering them, you may wonder whether cavities are still a concern. Can they be affected like natural teeth, and will you have to do anything special to protect your implants? This post will provide a clear understanding of cavities, explain why dental implants are immune to them, and offer guidance for maintaining excellent oral health after receiving your new prosthetic teeth.

Americans place a lot of importance on their smile aesthetics, and an incomplete grin can make you self-conscious about your dental lineup, especially when you have to eat or speak. Fortunately, in today’s day and age, you have plenty of replacement options to choose from!

While you could settle for a traditional bridge or denture, dental implants come with several unique advantages that make them stand out. So why not count all the ways they can boost your confidence? Keep reading to learn how they could improve your grin.

Dental implants are quite the impressive tooth replacement option. The posts are made from biocompatible titanium, the crowns look flawlessly natural, and they were created by a Swedish physician who was experimenting with a rabbit femur.

If you liked those fun facts, here are four more that you probably didn’t know about!

Dental implants are successful in the vast majority of cases. However, they do fail in rare instances. How can you make sure that does not happen to you? You can greatly reduce your risk of complications by adhering to some good habits that will protect your new teeth and the surrounding tissues from harm. What exactly do you need to do? Here are some helpful tips:

When it comes to replacing missing teeth, dental implants are normally thought of as the gold standard since they’re capable of replacing lost pearly whites in terms of look, feel, and functionality. That said, as fantastic as they are, it’s natural to still have questions when considering any type of treatment. Continue reading to learn more about three of the questions you shouldn’t hesitate to ask your dentist during your dental implant consultation; having more knowledge about the treatment can give you the confidence you need to undergo it!

If you have a sudden or severe toothache caused by an obviously decayed or damaged tooth, you might expect your dentist to recommend an extraction. However, if you’ve been told that this procedure is recommended but you aren’t currently experiencing discomfort, it’s natural to wonder why.

The truth is, there are several instances in which it might be necessary to have a troublesome tooth removed, and pain isn’t necessarily a pre-requisite. Continue reading to learn 3 circumstances in which your dentist might recommend this treatment even if you’re not hurting!

Typically, your dentist does everything they can to strengthen your smile to prevent problems like tooth decay, gum disease, or injuries. Then, if you have cavities, chips, or cracks, they can fill them using tooth-colored materials so no one’s the wiser.

However, there are some circumstances where a damaged tooth is too far gone to be treated effectively. In these cases, your dentist will likely recommend an extraction. Many patients hesitate to move forward with this procedure because they’ve heard horror stories, but removing a troublesome tooth is usually nothing to worry about. Continue reading to learn about three myths about dental extractions to set your mind at ease!

Preventing accidental injury isn’t always possible. Sometimes we take a baseball to the mouth or slip on a patch of ice. But there are still many ways you can protect your oral health and reduce your risk of needing an urgent dental appointment. If you’re looking to stay healthy, here are a few best practices to ensure your teeth and gums stay out of trouble!

There’s never a good day to have a dental emergency, but if you experience one while traveling abroad, a difficult situation can be much more stressful. You can’t wait until you return home to visit a dentist or you may suffer repairable damage, like tooth loss. Whether you’re heading overseas for vacation or work, here’s what you should do if you have a dental emergency.

If you’re a coffee drinker, you likely rely on your cup of joe each morning to get up and motivated. When you’re tired or groggy, that first delicious sip can seemingly turn things around. If you’ve just had a tooth extracted, however, your dentist might have directed you to take a break for a little while.

It’s natural to be frustrated that you’ll have to put a hold on your daily dose of caffeine, but it’s in your best interests. Taking a brief break can help prevent complications so that you can heal more quickly. If you’re annoyed that you can’t enjoy coffee immediately after your tooth extraction, continue reading to learn why this may be necessary!