Teeth Are Strong But Not Indestructible

General Dentistry, Patient Education, Vargas Dental Associates

When you think of the strongest substance in your body you might guess one of your bones, perhaps the tibia. The actual strongest substance in the body is your tooth enamel, which is the outer covering of your teeth. Your tooth enamel is even stronger than your bones and is designed to protect the inside of your tooth. Although your tooth enamel is strong and can withstand you chewing multiple times each day, it is not indestructible and can become damaged. Read on to learn more about what can damage your enamel.

Bad Oral Health Habits

General Dentistry, Patient Education, Vargas Dental Associates

At Vargas Dental Associates, our team works hard to ensure our patients have optimal oral health. Aside from treating our patients, we want to be sure that our patients of every age know how to properly care for their teeth. We see our patients so infrequently during the year, the majority of oral health care is in the hands of the patients. Unfortunately, there are some patients who have habits that may be negatively affecting the state of their oral health and can lead to serious issues in the future. We wanted to share some of the bad habits that you might want to change:

Teens And Oral Health

General Dentistry, Patient Education, Vargas Dental Associates

Each stage of parenthood seems to come with not only exciting milestones, but with challenges as well. In terms of your young loved ones’ dental health, each age comes with some challenges. Young children are learning how to properly care for their teeth and often need parental reinforcement to ensure they are removing all lingering bacteria. Teenagers come with a different set of dilemmas. Many teenagers are testing the boundaries of adulthood and have a tendency to push back on certain areas they feel are not important. Being that we were all teenagers at one point, we are sure you can remember doing the same. No matter what is going on in a teenager’s life, it is important for them to be mindful of their oral health. Decisions they make in their youth can have a big impact on the state of their oral health in the future.

Healthy Food For Healthy Teeth

General Dentistry, Patient Education, Vargas Dental Associates

We don’t know about you but we are loving the arrival of summer. There is so much to enjoy between the hot weather, longer days and nights, vacation plans, plans with family and friends, and the list can go on and on. No matter what plans you have this summer, we are sure there is going to be plenty of delicious food and drink to enjoy. Unfortunately, many of the delicious foods and drinks to enjoy at your festivities may not be the best for your oral health. We want to share some healthy foods that you should include in your diet that will help your oral health.

Take A Summer Trip — To The Dentist

General Dentistry, Vargas Dental Associates

Do you remember the last time you visited our office for a hygiene examination and cleaning? If you can’t remember, we would be happy to help you if you contact the office. If it has been longer than six months since you and your family visited our office, it is time to schedule an appointment. We know that life gets busy and it seems like there is always a conflict getting in the way, but the summer is the perfect time to visit our office. Read on to learn more about the importance of regular dental visits.

Make Gum Health A Priority

General Dentistry, Patient Education, Periodontics, Vargas Dental Associates

When patients mention visiting the dentist, the thought on most patients’ minds is about the state of their teeth and finding out whether they have decay and need a treatment, like a filling. It is very rare that we see a patient and their first question is about the state of their gums. From the time we are young, there is such an emphasis on how to properly care for our teeth that most of us don’t realize the importance of properly caring for our gums. You may be surprised to learn that gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss. Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, occurs when harmful bacteria infect and inflame the gum tissue.

Important Information About Tooth Extractions

General Dentistry, Vargas Dental Associates

At Vargas Dental Associates, we do everything we can to save your natural teeth. Unfortunately, even with our best efforts, it is not always possible. This is when a tooth extraction is required. A tooth extraction is when the entire tooth — the structure and the tooth root — is removed from your mouth. A tooth extraction may be recommended due to decay or injury and may also be suggested to patients who may be starting a complicated medical treatment and optimal oral health is required, including patients who are starting certain chemotherapy treatments, a stem cell replacement or transplant, or organ transplant.

Do You Need This Common Dental Treatment?

General Dentistry, Patient Education, Vargas Dental Associates

Did we recommend a dental crown during your last appointment and you have postponed scheduling the procedure? We know it can be a little nerve-racking if you have never received this treatment before, but we assure you there is no need to be concerned. The treatment to place a dental crown is a routine procedure that can restore the function of your mouth and eliminate the need for a more involved treatment. Read on to learn more about this common dental treatment and why we may have recommended this treatment method.

Root Canal Therapy – The Superhero Of Dental Treatments

General Dentistry, Vargas Dental Associates

At Vargas Dental Associates, we do everything we can to save your natural teeth. When a tooth is damaged beyond repair, we may recommend a dental crown to save your tooth, and when your tooth root is severely damaged or infected we may recommend a root canal. Many patients are fearful of this treatment before learning about the benefits of the procedure. Movies and TV shows often depict root canals to be something they are not. We are here to ease your mind and tell you more about the root canal treatment and how it can save your tooth.