Applegate Dental PLLC Blog

Losing baby teeth—it’s a rite of passage for kids that can be both sad and exciting for parents. From the first time your dentist has seen your child, they told you not to force these teeth out until they are ready to wiggle out naturally. As a result, it may take you aback or confuse you when your dentist says later on your child has a baby tooth that should be extracted.

As contradictory as they may seem, these two bits of advice can be perfectly sound at the same time. By and large, these first teeth can and should be allowed to come out naturally. Under certain circumstances, however, extraction of a baby tooth may be in order. What are those circumstances? Keep reading to find out!

Anyone who knows you knows to stay away until you’ve had your hot, morning cup of java. It not only wakes you up, but it also keeps you going when you hit the afternoon slump at work. In other words, you can’t imagine living without coffee! However, if you need to have a tooth removed, you may have to put your caffeine fix on hold for about a week.

Why is it not safe to drink coffee after a tooth extraction? Why is following your dentist’s instructions important? Read on to find out.

In a perfect world, nothing would mess with your travel plans, and getting to your destination would be comfortable and stress free. Unfortunately, that’s often not the case. Even when you have full health going in, travel can be nerve-wracking and interfere with your body’s usual rhythm.

If you need to undergo a tooth extraction, you may wonder whether it’s a good idea for you to take off in a plane so soon afterward. Is it even safe? Can you make flying after a tooth extraction a little more pleasant? Find out in this article!

From airport lounges to country clubs, from homeowners’ associations to fancy gyms, it seems like many high-quality things are for exclusive groups. If you’re not part of the in-crowd, you don’t get to partake. At first, you may think that improving the appearance of your smile like a celebrity means it’s out of your reach or just for a selective few. But cosmetic dentistry is accessible to everyone!

Meanwhile, there are some things you should know about cosmetic dentistry and being a good candidate for treatment. Continue reading to find out more about joining the stunning smile “club.”

Even if you aren’t a particularly vain person, you can feel self-conscious about how the years have affected your appearance. As you look in the mirror, you see the signs of aging on your face, and wrinkles, dark spots, and gray hair may stand out as needing attention when it comes to turning back the clock. Have you considered addressing your smile? Cosmetic improvements can actually help make you look younger! How? Continue reading to find out!

There’s no denying that dental implants have multiple health benefits. From allowing you to eat a variety of nutritious foods to helping you to maintain the structural integrity of your jawbone and gums, they serve an important role in your overall wellness. But did you know that dental implants also have cosmetic benefits? Here are a few surprising ways that they can improve your appearance, too!

For better or worse, traditional braces are associated with kids and teenagers, and like many that age, you had braces back in school. Your smile was corrected and perfectly straight, but since then, your teeth have shifted out of alignment again. You want to avoid having to wear braces a second time as an adult, if possible. After all, you’re not a kid anymore, and you shouldn’t have to look like one!

You know Invisalign is an option for straightening teeth, but can you get this treatment if you had braces before? The short answer is a resounding yes! In fact, Invisalign is perfect for those who have regressed for the following important reasons.

When you started Invisalign treatment, you agreed to a few conditions. Mainly, you agreed to wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours every day. But now that you have them, you may find it more challenging to meet this requirement than you thought it would be.

Keep reading to learn why you should stick to this obligation and how to make it easier to meet your 22-hour requirement.

You’ve always felt self-conscious about your overbite. Even if no one has commented on it directly, you think it draws the wrong kind of attention to your smile. Fortunately, you can correct your bite without getting metal braces. In other words, Invisalign can be used to fix a misaligned bite!

But why should you worry about resolving a bite problem? How does Invisalign work to correct it? Read on to find out!

Out with the old and in with the new—the saying goes. In some situations, this expression rings true. The old object needs to be replaced with a newer, more innovative, and more effective version. A prime example of this in dentistry is dental crown materials. For years, metal crowns were the standard, and they had their perks, including durability.

But times have changed, and metal crowns should be replaced with metal-free ones. Why? Here are just four reasons to consider!