What Are The Most Common Dental Problems?

Problems with your oral health can be troublesome, especially if they are causing you pain. However, most of them can be easily treated or prevented. Prevention includes regular brushing and flossing, maintaining a proper diet, and routing dental checkups with your Boise dentist at Summit Dental Group. That’s why we’d like to provide you with a list of the most common dental problems to look out for and how they are treated.

Gum Disease

Gum disease, also known as gingivitis or periodontal disease, is an infection caused by bacteria due to the accumulation of plaque in your mouth. Affecting 8 out of 10 people in the Treasure Valley, the symptoms of gum disease include bad breath and red, swollen, painful, or bleeding gums. If you have any of these symptoms, it’s best to visit your Boise dentist at Summit Dental to prevent further complications associated with gum disease like tooth loss. Treatment can include either surgical and non-surgical options. Non-surgical involves your dentist carefully removing plaque and tartar from the root of your tooth. Surgical treatment entails eliminating the infection from your gums or regenerating lost bone through surgery.

Tooth Decay

Tooth decay, also known as cavities or dental caries, is an extremely common dental problem in the Treasure Valley. Tooth decay occurs when the plaque in your mouth is exposed to acidic or sugary foods that you eat or drink. This creates acid that slowly eats away at the enamel of your teeth, forming small holes. The risk of developing cavities depends entirely on your diet and how you care for your teeth. By brushing and flossing regularly and limiting sugary or acidic foods from your diet, you will have less chance of developing cavities.

Cavities are treated by your Boise dentist, numbing the area surrounding the affected tooth. Once the area is sufficiently numb, any decay will be removed with a drill before replacing the decay with a filling. After the filling process, your mouth may remain numb for a couple of hours after the treatment. This is very common as it takes a little time for the anesthetic to gradually wear off. During this time, it’s important to be careful of what you eat and drink.

Tooth Infection

A tooth infection or root infection occurs when a tooth becomes infected and starts to swell with bacteria. Eventually, a tooth infection will reach the nerves and inner tissues of a tooth, resulting in damage and/or abscess. Cavities, cracks, and fractures in a tooth’s enamel are often the culprit behind a tooth infection. Symptoms of a tooth infection include chronic pain. The area will also be sensitive to chewing and hot and cold substances. Facial swelling near the infection is also common.

Treatment for a tooth infection often includes a root canal procedure. While a root canal is something many people fear, it is, in reality, a safe and painless procedure. During a root canal treatment, your Boise dentist will carefully numb the area around your tooth to prevent you from feeling any pain or discomfort. He will then drill a small hole in your tooth and examine the pulp (the soft tissue inside a tooth). He will then remove any infected tissues and replace it with a material called gutta percha. Last but not least, the area will be sealed with an inlay, overlay, or crown, depending on what is needed.

Wisdom Teeth

Some people never have to worry about their wisdom teeth, while others need to have them removed. It all depends on the space in your mouth and how or if they come in. Those who don’t have enough jaw space for wisdom teeth can end up experiencing pain and/or infection. When this happens, the best course of treatment is the removal of the wisdom teeth. During a wisdom tooth removal, your Boise dentist will completely numb the area before the wisdom tooth is surgically removed. Once a wisdom tooth has been removed, you may need to take an over-the-counter pain reliever for a day or two, and an antibiotic may be prescribed. If you have a wisdom tooth that is partially erupted, it’s best to make an appointment at Summit Dental Group to see if it should be removed.

Avoid Common Dental Problems by Visiting Your Boise Dentist

Maintaining optimal oral health is a lifelong commitment. At Summit Dental Group, your Boise dentist will teach you how to care for your teeth and gums properly. We believe that preventative care and education are extremely important, and we focus on thorough exams, checking the overall health of your teeth and gums.

Not only are we concerned about the beauty of our patient’s smiles, we are also concerned about the overall health of our patients. Whether your dental needs are a complete exam and cleaning, a full-mouth restoration, or anything in between, Summit Dental Group will provide exceptional care as we restore and enhance the natural beauty of your smile.

Contact us today by filling out our online form or give our downtown office a call at (208) 314-2275 to schedule an appointment.