Anxiety, Phobia and a Fear of the Dentist

What is your reason for not coming to the dentist this year? 

Most People can live with having some anxiety about going to the dentist. For those with dental phobia, however, the thought of a dental visit is terrifying. 

 Don't let this be you, missing the dentist can cause not only pain if you have active decay that doesn't get diagnosed but sometimes a costly amount of money to fix it.

Depending on the severity of fear and anxiety, nitrous oxide (laughing gas) can be combined with oral medication which is taken before your treatment to help you relax even further. It is a great choice for people who fear needles. You will be awake and aware of your surroundings but relaxed and free of anxiety. It also helps create short term partial memory loss, so most patients do remember discomfort, smells or noises associated with the dental procedures performed.

Nitrous oxide is administered through the nose by simple inhalation while your dentist works on your teeth. The amount of gas is regulated by the dentist so he has full control over the amount of anxiety control which is needed for each individual patient.

Fear of needles?

Inhalation sedation is very safe and there is almost no side effect of it. The effects of the laughing gas wear off quickly as so that you can drive yourself home after finishing your procedure without the need of an escort.

The ADA recommends going to the dentist every 6 months for the proper preventive care. If this is fearful ask your dentist for nitrous oxide during your check up appointments. This will help you prevent future decay and prevent unwanted time in the dental chair. 

Schedule your appointment today 8012624662
Monday-Saturday with evenings and early morning available.

Hartley RDH 

Cottonwood Family Dental 

Merry Christmas from the team at Cottonwood Dental

Have you ever wondered why we take X-rays?

 #CottonwoodFamilyDental #Dentist #DentalClinic #GeneralDentistry #DentalCare #CosmeticDentist #Orthodontist #Orthodontics #Braces #OralHealth #Teeth #DentalHealth #DentalCare #Floss #Flossing #Cavity #TeethCleaning #OralHygienist #MurrayDentist #MurrayOrthodontist #MurrayDentalClinic #MurrayUtah #Utah

Are you brushing your teeth thoroughly? Check out the image below to find out.

 

 #CottonwoodFamilyDental #Dentist #DentalClinic #GeneralDentistry #DentalCare #CosmeticDentist #Orthodontist #Orthodontics #Braces #OralHealth #Teeth #DentalHealth #DentalCare #Floss #Flossing #Cavity #TeethCleaning #OralHygienist #MurrayDentist #MurrayOrthodontist #MurrayDentalClinic #MurrayUtah #Utah

Why You Grind Your Teeth At Night—and How to Stop

 If you’re waking up with a dull headache, your teeth might be to blame

Feeling stressed can start in your mind, but the effects of it can quickly travel a few inches south to your jaw.
Since we tend to hold tension in our jaw and neck, continual anxiety can cause us to grind our teeth when we sleep. Dentists call this condition bruxism, and it can range from mildly annoying to seriously damaging. It's actually pretty common: 10 to 20 percent of adults deal with it, says Randy N. Downing D.D.S. So how do you know if you’re guilty of grinding? If you find yourself waking up with a dull Headache or an especially tense jaw, bruxism is probably to blame. The most common cause is stress, but bruxism can also be a side effect of a misaligned jaw or even some medications.
The issue with constant grinding is that it can really mess with your tooth enamel, making your teeth more sensitive.
The night grind can also cause or worsen temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), a painful chronic inflammation of the jaw joint and surrounding muscles.
TMJ is not necessarily a cause of grinding, though.
“People who have chronic TMJ pain are more likely to grind their teeth,” says Dr.Downing. “However, it’s a chicken and egg argument. We don’t know if TMJ pain causes one to grind their teeth or vice versa.”
So how can you avoid the painful effects? Aside from working on reducing your stress, avoid caffeine and alcohol, as they tend to worsen the jaw tension.
You can also have your dentist fit you with a mouth guard to keep your jaw relaxed and prevent your teeth from grinding at night.
Even though getting one from your dentist might cost you a little more money than the ones you find at the drugstore (they can be up to a few hundred dollars), it’s worth it.
Ill-fitting night guards often don’t cover the back molars, and since teeth tend to move if something isn’t stopping them, you could end up with a misaligned bite.

Randy N. Downing, D.D.S.
Cottonwood Family Dental

Dentists call this condition bruxism, and it can range from mildly annoying to seriously damaging.

Having a mouth full of dark-colored metal is so commonplace that many people don't know there's an alternative.

 

Metal-free restorations

For years, silver amalgam was the filling material used in dental practices. While amalgams are a perfectly reasonable restoration choice, they can have certain shortcomings. Metal fillings do not bond to the tooth and can actually mask decay in x-rays.

Teeth with large metal fillings in them can also develop cracks over time due to expansion and contraction of the mercury. Left untreated, thee cracks get larger and can eventually require root canal treatment. Replacing metal fillings with tooth-colored composite fillings that form a stronger bond to the tooth can dramatically decrease tooth cracking, the chances for decay and the need for possible root canal treatment due to a fractured tooth.

Fillings aren't the only metal-free restorations available today. Dr. Downing also uses crowns made from the latest in modern ceramics as opposed to traditional crowns which are made from porcelain fused to metal. Over time gum tissue can recede which causes the metal inside the crown to become visible at the gum line. These ugly gray lines can make a once beautiful smile lose its luster.

Ceramic crowns are incredibly strong and long lasting restorations. and because they are completely bio-compatible there are no allergic reactions or tooth sensitivity problems. They look so natural that even dentists have a hard time spotting them!

If you want the option of modern, state-of-the-art restorations that are natural looking, contain no metals and can actually strengthen your teeth, give us a call today.

You deserve a smile that looks better and more natural without all the metal!
Call (801 262-4662 today!


 

 We Love to see you Smile!


Randy N. Downing, D.D.S.

Why Your Gums Bleed After You Brush Your Teeth

Spitting pink into the sink every time you brush? It could signal a serious dental problem

 If you spit pink every time you brush your teeth, you probably have gum disease. 

Mild gum disease—or gingivitis—is the chronic buildup of bacteria-laden plaque and tarter on your teeth that only a dentist can remove. 

How Gum Disease Gets Worse 

The longer plaque stays there, the more inflammation and swelling it’ll cause around your gums. The simple act of brushing your teeth irritates the swollen gums, and makes them bleed. 
 
The problem: Most guys don’t even know they have gingivitis because it normally doesn’t cause pain until it worsens.

And you definitely don’t want it to get that point. If gingivitis is left untreated, it can turn into periodontitis, says Murray, Utah dentist Randy N. Downing D.D.S. Your teeth may loosen, or in extreme cases, fall out or need to be removed.
It can also affect more than your mouth: Gum disease is linked to an increased risk of heart disease diabetes, and stroke, too, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

How to Keep Your Teeth and Gums Healthy 

The only way to get rid of or avoid gingivitis is to practice good oral hygiene. You should brush twice a day and floss every night to discourage plaque buildup.

Sounds like simple advice, but you’d be surprised how easy it is to screw up.

Make an appointment with your dentist, too. Guys with bleeding gums or signs of cavities—toothache, pain when you eat hot or cold food, or pain when you bite down—should get a cleaning every three months, says Dr. Downing.
A buildup of plaque—the cause of gum disease—also causes cavities.
If you don’t have any symptoms now, but have had cavities in the past, you should make an appointment every six months to a year, Dr. Downing says.