deJong and Plaisance Blog

In a perfect world, you could get dentures in River Ridge right this minute. You wouldn’t need to wait on anyone or anything to receive the appliance. However, the reality is that dentists need time to make and place these replacement teeth. Otherwise, there’s a good chance the dentures wouldn’t work well. As for how long it takes to get them, your local practice can give you an idea of the treatment time. Here’s a summary of the three major steps involved in getting dentures.

If you’re slated to receive dental implants in the near future, you’re probably looking forward to a bright new smile. And nothing can replace a missing tooth quite like a dental implant! These little guys can perfectly replicate your natural pearly whites in terms of look, feel, and functionality. However, as exciting as this sounds, you still might have a few concerns about the procedure and how you can prepare yourself for getting implants. Here are three useful tips to help you out.

If you’re self-conscious about the appearance of your smile and ready for a solution that can provide incredible results, porcelain veneers might be the answer you’re looking for. They can correct all sorts of minor aesthetic issues and flaws and are certain to improve the look and feel of your smile. Keep reading to learn more about five of the best benefits that porcelain veneers have to offer!

If you’ve had an injured tooth or needed a root canal, then you probably received a dental crown as your restoration. While they provide the support and function you need for regular daily eating habits, they can still potentially loosen or come off. This isn’t always considered a dental emergency, but you may want to see your dentist when possible. Keep reading to learn four things you should do with a lost dental crown!

They are the premier tooth replacement option for many reasons, but you’ll still need to make good choices after your dental implant surgery in River Ridge to ensure the best outcome for your oral health. You need to be taking all the right precautions to optimize your recovery so your implants can fully heal and strengthen. Read on to learn from your implant dentist about which things you should be avoiding so you can lower your risk of dental implant failure.

By now, you’ve probably heard time and time again how important it is to floss your teeth every night before you fall asleep. As often as this idea has been drilled into our heads, only about 30% of Americans actually do it. Though brushing your teeth once in the morning and once at night goes a long way in keeping your mouth healthy, flossing removes 40% of the plaque on your pearly whites. That means that choosing not to floss your teeth makes you way more likely to develop cavities between them. For people who wear orthodontic aligners like ClearCorrect, getting used to flossing can be a bit tricky. Even so, flossing is key to preventing oral health issues so there aren’t any delays in your orthodontic treatment plan. To help you adjust, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to clean your teeth with clear aligners.

You probably know the biggest offenders when it comes to tooth staining – like red wine, black coffee, and dark chocolate. Eating these foods after a teeth whitening treatment can be a quick trip back to what you experienced before you decided to have your smile brightened: stained, dingy teeth. But did you know that there is a variety of foods you can eat to actually help naturally whiten your pearly whites? It’s true. Keep reading to find out what they are, and enjoy your wonderful results from teeth whitening for a long time to come. 

Have you noticed your smile isn’t as bright as it used to be? Tooth discoloration is unavoidable because your teeth darken naturally from aging. Not to mention the role your oral hygiene and lifestyle habits have on your teeth can affect their color. If you’re ready to combat stains, several OTC remedies can be found right in your kitchen, like turmeric. Although it may add a little spice to your dinner, your dentist advises against the common DIY whitening method. Here’s why you may want to consider visiting a cosmetic dentist to get the results you want.

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Humans are often advised to chew a bite of food approximately 32 times before swallowing. That can bump up to 40 times for steak and nuts, or down to 10 for watermelon, but the bottom line is your teeth will be called upon millions and millions of times to chew your food throughout your life.

That is asking a lot of your teeth, and specifically it is putting stress on your enamel. The tough outer layer of a tooth that is the hardest substance in the human body, enamel is still vulnerable to wear and tear over the course of time.

Read on to learn how tooth enamel can be damaged, as well as how to prevent enamel erosion and even repair it.

Louisiana is the oldest of all U.S. sugar-producing areas, as sugar cane arrived in this state in 1751 and was first planted at what is now an intersection on Bourbon Street. Who doesn’t love indulging in some beignets when visiting New Orleans?

Unfortunately, sugars in food and drinks play a major role in the development of tooth decay. Bacteria within the plaque that forms over teeth uses the sugar as energy and releases acid as a waste product, which gradually dissolves the enamel on your teeth.

 There are alternatives to sugar when you are looking to satisfy your sweet tooth; one study found that approximately 85 percent of Americans use sugar substitutes in some form. And they are added to many processed foods.

But are they truly a superior option as it pertains to your oral health?