Have you noticed something is off about your smile?
Our smiles are often one of the first things someone notices about us, so it’s important to keep a close eye on yours. If you notice something is off about your smile, don’t hesitate to contact our office. As your trusted family dentist in Laurel, MD, we are here to provide you with the answers and solutions to all of your dental concerns. Whether your smile has dulled with age or you’ve noticed your jaw hurts when you wake up in the mornings, our experienced doctors are happy to examine the current condition of your smile and provide our professional advice on the best possible procedure to meet your needs.
COMMON DENTAL QUESTIONS & CONCERNS
We receive a variety of dental questions and concerns, all of which we are happy to discuss with you more in-depth at your next appointment. Here are some common questions our patients ask us at Laurel Smiles Dental Care:
IS IT NORMAL FOR MY GUMS TO BLEED AFTER BRUSHING MY TEETH?
Teeth bleeding when brushing is a sign of gingivitis or the early stages of gum disease. While this is a common issue, it does not mean that it isn’t a serious one. If you notice your gums are bleeding after you brush your teeth, this is a sign that plaque or tartar has begun to build up around your gum line and is irritating your gums. You should schedule dental teeth cleaning near you at your earliest convenience to stop this build-up from progressing to gum disease. Bad breath treatment is also available, so feel free to address any concerns during your visit.
WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT A MISSING TOOTH?
While most patients do not realize that they still require dental care if they are missing teeth, it is important to see your dentist regularly so that they can monitor the overall health of your mouth, gums, and jawbone. If you are missing one or more teeth, our office can provide you with implants, bridges, dentures, and partials as a method of missing tooth replacement.
MY TEETH ARE CROOKED. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?
Depending on the current condition of your smile, you have a variety of orthodontic options for straightening crooked teeth. For patients looking for a more discreet orthodontic solution, our experienced doctors often recommend Invisalign. Crooked teeth treatment with Invisalign involves multiple sets of clear teeth aligners that slowly apply pressure to your teeth and encourage them to shift into your desired position. Our office also offers other orthodontic options for patients with more severe misalignment that cannot be resolved with Invisalign.
WHY DOES MY JAW HURT WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING?
Patients should report any pain or soreness of their face or jawbones to their dentist. Jaw pain can be a sign of teeth grinding or a TMJ disorder. Luckily, our office has a variety of treatment solutions, including a night guard for teeth grinding, that we can suggest to help alleviate your jaw pain.
Often, our patients with a history of teeth grinding will also develop sleep apnea. It’s important to discuss these issues with your dentist at your regularly scheduled appointments so that they can fully understand any issues you may experience outside of the dentist’s office.