Dental Root Canal Treatment

Root Canals Save Teeth
No longer does a tooth with infected roots have to be extracted. We now know that removal of a tooth can cause other problems that can be avoided by restoring the tooth with a root canal. Our dentists are very experienced in the latest advancements of this therapy. In the past, patients often dreaded having to have this procedure. But with today’s techniques and modern anesthesia, it is very manageable and easy for a patient.  

During this procedure, the interior pulp chamber of a tooth is completely removed and replaced with a special filling material, not the same as used for cavity restoration. Sometimes a crown is positioned over the tooth to give it added strength.


Watertown Dental Care
600 4th Street NE, Suite 207
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-0747
WatertownDentalCare.com

Tooth Cavities

Tooth cavities aren't uncommon - but with the right dental health know-how, you can help prevent them. It all starts with proper brushing, daily flossing, and fluoride. Get the details right here.

What Causes Tooth Cavities?
Cavities are holes in the teeth resulting from acid attack. They generally start in the enamel, but can spread to the softer inner layer of the tooth. Tooth cavities are caused by decay that can occur when foods containing carbohydrates become trapped between teeth, and are not completely removed with brushing and flossing. Bacteria living in the mouth digest these foods, generating acidic byproducts that can eat away at tooth enamel.

Help Prevent Tooth Cavities
Fluoride, which is found in most public drinking supplies, some mouth rinses, and Crest toothpastes, helps prevent tooth cavities by slowing the breakdown of enamel and speeding up the remineralization process. Check with your dental professional to see if your drinking water is fluoridated. If it isn't, he or she may recommend that you use high concentration fluoride treatments.

To help strengthen weak spots in tooth enamel, and help prevent the early stages of tooth decay, brush regularly with a fluoridated toothpaste, floss daily, and visit your dental office regularly for professional cleanings.

Above article from: Crest.com

Watertown Dental Care
600 4th Street NE, Suite 207
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-0747
WatertownDentalCare.com

Sedation Dentistry

IV Sedation for Easy and Worry-Free Treatments
We are understanding of all our patients’ needs and know the anxiety that shots, drills, and treatments can give the dentally challenged. We relieve all your fears and make it easy for you with sedation dentistry.  

Dr. Darin Bach is among the few qualified in the state to give IV sedation. This type of sedative provides the deepest level of calmness and takes effect in the shortest amount of time. As an IV is given directly into the bloodstream, we have complete control over the amount administered for the need required. You will not remember any of the procedure, and one hour will seem like just minutes. It is very safe and accurate.  

Patients who need extensive work completed but don’t want to keep coming back to the office can also choose sedation dentistry, which allows more work to be done in one session.  

It's easy to have confidence in Watertown Dental Care’s sedation dentistry program. Dr. Darin Bach has been a leader in the state of South Dakota, pioneering the use of IV sedation here. He has earned fellowship in both the Academy of General Dentistry and the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation, which means his level of experience and education is virtually unmatched. His knowledge and passion are not unique; our dental team is dedicated to providing you with the safest, most comfortable care. Dr. Bach also has Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification, allowing us to provide an exceptional level of safety to our patients. Your medical history review is extremely thorough, and our team monitors you constantly during treatment to ensure safety and comfort. 

We also offer lighter sedation as required with nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas. We want you to feel comfortable throughout longer appointments or relieved of any anxiety during any type of treatment.  

If you’ve been putting off necessary care for years, sedation dentistry may be just what you need to overcome your anxiety. With the use of sedation for every level of care, from routine visits to extensive procedures, we have made a high number of our patients extremely happy. You can join them!

Watertown Dental Care
600 4th Street NE, Suite 207
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-0747
WatertownDentalCare.com

What is Plaque?

Plaque is a sticky, colorless deposit of bacteria that is constantly forming on the tooth surface. Saliva, food and fluids combine to produce these deposits that collect where the teeth and gums meet. Plaque buildup is the primary factor in periodontal (gum) disease, including gingivitis.

How to Get Rid of Plaque

To help prevent plaque buildup, be sure to brush your teeth at least twice a day with an anti-plaque toothpaste such as Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste for around the clock protection against plaque buildup, and floss once a day.

Adding a mouth rinse such as Crest Pro-Health Multi-Protection Rinse to your routine can help against plaque buildup, without the burning sensation of alcohol. Eating well-balanced meals and brushing after snacks will reduce the formation of plaque. Visit your dental office regularly for oral exams and cleanings, during which your dental professional will scrape away any accumulated plaque with a special instrument.

Above article from: Crest.com

Watertown Dental Care
600 4th Street NE, Suite 207
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-0747
WatertownDentalCare.com

Common Myths of Gum Disease # 3

Having gum disease means I will lose my teeth
Not so! You don’t have to lose any of your teeth to gum disease if you practice good oral hygiene. That means brushing your teeth twice a day, cleaning between your teeth daily, eating a healthy diet, and scheduling regular dental visits. Even if you are diagnosed with gum disease, your dentist can design a treatment plan to help you keep it under control.

The above article is from: MouthHealthy.org

Watertown Dental Care
600 4th Street NE, Suite 207
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-0747
WatertownDentalCare.com

Sports Safety: Avoiding Tooth and Mouth Injuries

A few years ago, a dental newsletter published what seemed like an unusual story. A boy snagged his teeth on a basketball net while doing a slam-dunk.
A freakish accident? Not quite. After the article appeared, nearly 40 dentists wrote in with their own stories. They all told of would-be Michael Jordans who sacrificed their front teeth in pursuit of the perfect dunk.
In older children and adults, sports injuries are common. Dentists estimate that between 13% and 39% of dental injuries occur while playing sports.
About 80% of all dental injuries affect at least one of the front teeth. Damage to the tongue or cheek is common, too.
Basic Protection
Even if a tooth has been knocked out, it often can be saved if you get to a dentist quickly enough. Minor chips and cracks can be repaired. Dentists use tooth-colored materials that are nearly as strong as the original tooth. However, even "minor" injuries can cause serious and costly damage. If you enjoy sports or other high-risk activities, protect yourself. The use of mouth guards among football players, for example, is believed to prevent about 200,000 mouth injuries a year.
Depending on the sport, two types of protection are available:

• Helmets- A helmet is a must for activities that involve speed or impact. These include football, hockey, skating and bike riding. The helmet should fit correctly. It should also be appropriate for the sport you are playing.
• Mouth guards - Wearing a mouth guard is one of the best ways to prevent injury to your teeth, tongue and lips. A custom-fit mouth guard from your dentist is recommended. This type of mouth guard usually fits better than a ready-made one (found in sporting-goods stores). That means it may protect your teeth better.

If a custom-fit mouth guard isn't an option, try a "boil-and-bite" mouth guard. You can buy one in a sporting-goods store. You place the mouth guard in boiling water. Once the plastic is soft (but not too hot), you bite down on the mouth guard and mold the softened plastic around your teeth. If the mouth guard doesn't fit comfortably the first time, you can reheat it and do it again.

©2002-2013 Aetna, Inc. All rights reserved.
09/25/2013

The above article is from: Colgate.com

Watertown Dental Care
600 4th Street NE, Suite 207
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-0747
WatertownDentalCare.com

Common Myths of Gum Disease # 2

I don't have cavities so I can't have gum disease
Being cavity-free doesn’t ensure you are in the clear where gum disease is concerned. That’s because gum disease is painless and many people have no idea they have it. Gums that bleed easily or are red, swollen or tender is a sign of gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease and the only stage that is reversible. When caught early gingivitis can usually be eliminated by a professional cleaning at the dental office, followed by daily brushing and flossing.

The above article is from: MouthHealthy.org

Watertown Dental Care
600 4th Street NE, Suite 207
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-0747
WatertownDentalCare.com

Tooth Anatomy

What Are the Different Parts of a Tooth?

• Crown- the top part of the tooth, and the only part you can normally see. The shape of the crown determines the tooth's function. For example, front teeth are sharp and chisel-shaped for cutting, while molars have flat surfaces for grinding.
• Gumline- where the tooth and the gums meet. Without proper brushing and flossing, plaque and tartar can build up at the gumline, leading to gingivitis and gum disease.
• Root- the part of the tooth that is embedded in bone. The root makes up about two-thirds of the tooth and holds the tooth in place.
• Enamel- the outermost layer of the tooth. Enamel is the hardest, most mineralized tissue in the body - yet it can be damaged by decay if teeth are not cared for properly.
• Dentin- the layer of the tooth under the enamel. If decay is able to progress its way through the enamel, it next attacks the dentin - where millions of tiny tubes lead directly to the dental pulp.
• Pulp- the soft tissue found in the center of all teeth, where the nerve tissue and blood vessels are. If tooth decay reaches the pulp, you usually feel pain.

What Are the Different Types of Teeth?
Every tooth has a specific job or function (use the dental arch in this section to locate and identify each type of tooth):

• Incisors- the sharp, chisel-shaped front teeth (four upper, four lower) used for cutting food.
• Canines- sometimes called cuspids, these teeth are shaped like points (cusps) and are used for tearing food.
• Premolars- these teeth have two pointed cusps on their biting surface and are sometimes referred to as bicuspids. The premolars are for crushing and tearing.
• Molars- used for grinding, these teeth have several cusps on the biting surface

 

The above article is from: Colgate.com


Watertown Dental Care
600 4th Street NE, Suite 207
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-0747
WatertownDentalCare.com

Common Myths of Gum Disease # 1

Gum disease is not that common
On the contrary, gum disease is extremely common. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half of adults age 30 and older suffer from some form of gum disease. Gum disease, an infection of the tissues that surround and support your teeth, is caused by plaque, the sticky film of bacteria that is constantly forming on our teeth. Plaque that is not removed with thorough daily brushing and cleaning between teeth can eventually harden into calculus or tartar.

The above article is from: MouthHealthy.org

Watertown Dental Care
600 4th Street NE, Suite 207
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-0747
WatertownDentalCare.com

Tooth Decay and Sensitivity

What Causes Tooth Enamel Damage?

What happens when tooth enamel is damaged? The exposed part underneath becomes vulnerable to decay. Cavities aren't the only problem.

Teeth with damaged enamel can become sensitive to extreme temperatures. Suddenly, eating ice cream or sipping hot coffee can be painful or unpleasant.

Above article from: WebMD.com/oral-health

Watertown Dental Care
600 4th Street NE, Suite 207
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-0747
WatertownDentalCare.com