How Long Do Dental Fillings Last?

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Whenever you have a check-up with your dentist, do you find yourself crossing your fingers they won’t find a cavity? You are not alone.

Try as we may to take care of our teeth, sometimes we find ourselves in need of restorative dental work, or as it is more commonly called — a filling. Before we dive into the question of how long do dental fillings last, let’s first dive into what exactly they are and how Castle Valley Dental can help.

The 411 On Fillings

A filling is material a dentist uses to replace a damaged area of a tooth. There are a few reasons why fillings are required, the biggest one being there is a cavity. Other reasons for needing a filling include a cracked or chipped tooth.

Cavities, or tooth decay, are permanently damaged areas on the surface of teeth that develop into tiny openings or holes. Tooth decay is a common problem. Nearly 90% of adults ages 20 – 64 years have had decay in one or more of their teeth at some point in their life. Left untreated, a cavity will worsen and go deeper into the tooth. It can cause pain, abscess, and tooth loss.

At Castle Valley Dental in Castle Rock, Colorado, our team of experts specialize in restorative dental work and makes sure the process of getting a filling is as comfortable as possible. The entire procedure only takes about an hour for one to two cavities, and we apply a local anesthetic to the treatment area to ensure the experience is pain-free.

A Filling Can Last…

Fillings last for a long time. You may be wondering exactly how long do dental fillings last, and the answer is: that depends. If you practice good dental hygiene and take care of your teeth, the fillings can last 10 years or more.

Of course the absolute best thing you can do is to try and prevent cavities. Let’s take a look at how to avoid tooth decay with preventative dental care.

Oral Hygiene Best Practices

The best way you can prevent cavities is to have a good oral hygiene routine in place. This includes:

  • Brush every day, at least twice a day, for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste
  • Floss everyday
  • Have regular check-ups and cleanings with a licensed dental care provider
  • Replace your toothbrush at least every three months
  • Use a fluoride mouthwash

Do you have kids? Make oral hygiene a fun family routine and get your kids into good habits early. This includes eating healthy foods that don’t break down enamel. To see more on the topic, read our previous blog: 5 Tips For Teaching Kids To Brush.

Your eating habits are also interlinked with oral hygiene. Be mindful of what you put into your mouth as acidic and sugary food and drinks can harm your teeth. It’s best to avoid them, but when you do have them, make sure to brush your teeth afterward. Good habits and a good oral care regimen will help you stay cavity-free.

Learn More About Castle Valley Dental

We are a committed team of trained professionals who prioritize dental health and want to ensure your family has access to the care they deserve. Healthy teeth are important for everyone, and we want to help you and your family keep on smiling!

Contact us at Castle Valley Dental with any questions or to learn more about our practice. We offer a full range of services for the entire family and we are proud to serve The Castle Rock Community and The Douglas County Area.

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5 Tips For Teaching Kids To Brush

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As parents, we are tasked with the job of showing our children how to walk, talk, eat, and take care of themselves. Part of taking care of themselves is teaching them good hygiene practices including brushing their teeth.

We only get one set of permanent teeth in our life and teaching our children good brushing habits when their baby teeth are still in will hopefully cut down on the oral health issues when they are older.

Teaching kids to brush at a young age will leave them with the best chance for great oral health in the future and help them prevent any hygiene-based dental issues like plaque buildup, cavities, gingivitis, and more.

And even though we know that brushing our teeth is good for us, our kids may still be reluctant to brush their teeth. So we’ve got a few tips on teaching kids to brush and how to make it more enjoyable and instill good habits!

Tip 1: Teach Them About Their Teeth

Children’s minds go through an extreme amount of development between the ages of 2-5. When we decide it’s time to teach them to brush their own teeth they will most likely have a million questions. When you teach them about their teeth, preventative dental care (like brushing and flossing), and WHY it’s important in a positive way instead of acting like it’s a chore it will allow them to develop an understanding that:

brushing teeth = good

You can show them videos, sing songs, read a book and show them by having good brushing habits yourself!

Tip 2: Let Them Pick Their Toothbrush

As silly as this tip may seem, when a child is excited about something they get to pick, they will be more eager to learn about it!

Take them and let them choose their first real toothbrush and tell them that it has the power to keep their teeth healthy and mouth for eating and talking!

Tip 3: Show And Repeat

We can’t just tell our kids how to brush their teeth, we have to show them! When you first start teaching kids to brush their teeth we want to show them how to properly do it.

Start by having them hold their brush and you holding it as well. Move their hand to show them the proper brushing techniques.

This ensures that you are teaching kids to brush the right way and now they understand HOW to brush instead of just putting the brush in their mouth and moving it around.

Once you’ve done it with them, allow them to try it on their own and start getting used to it.

Tip 4: Choose A Timer

How long are we supposed to brush our teeth? Good question!

According to the American Dental Association, you should brush your teeth for 2 minutes in the morning and 2 minutes at night.

For a child, 2 minutes can seem like an eternity. Help them understand that length of time by choosing a song or set of songs that last 2 minutes. Once they associate and learn these songs with brushing their teeth they can brush for the proper length anywhere, even without music!

Here is a great list of songs that you can use to help get your kids to brush their teeth:

Toothbrushing Tunes

Tip 5: Choose A Caring Dentist

Your child should be seeing a dentist as soon as their first tooth appears or your child’s first birthday.

Choosing the right dentist for your child will make all the difference in the world when it comes to good dental hygiene and care.

Obviously, if your child is scared of the dentist, it will make them more reluctant to take care of their oral health and not seek help when something like a cavity arises.

Choose a dentist that focuses on family dentistry (so you can all go!) and brings a positive light to dental and oral care and teaches them about their teeth and explains what they are doing as they are cleaning and assessing during their checkup.

Talk to your child after their appointment to understand their feelings about what happened during their cleaning and see if there are any fears or anxieties they are having.

Again, instilling a positive mindset on brushing their teeth and oral health and hygiene, in general, will make all the difference!

Need A Dentist For The Whole Family? Contact Castle Valley Dental Today!

If you live in the Castle Rock, CO area and are in need of a dentist for the whole family look no further than Castle Valley Dental!

We offer dental services for everyone from infants to grandmas and grandpas.

Our caring, dedicated, and experienced staff can assess your dental needs and answer any questions you may have.

To learn more about our dental practice and helpful oral health tips we encourage you to continue reading the articles on our blog page like our most recent which discusses why replacing lost teeth is important!

If you’re ready to set an appointment for you or a family member, contact us today!

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Why Replacing Lost Teeth Is Important

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Tooth loss isn’t just a cosmetic issue that leaves a gap in your mouth.

Currently, over 120 million people in the United States are edentulous, have at least one missing tooth/teeth, and struggle with the loss of those teeth and the problems that come along with it.

So are you missing a tooth or several teeth? Have you put off seeing a dentist because you think it’s just a cosmetic problem and not something that could do more harm than good if not resolved?

Well, it’s time to rethink your stance and read about why replacing lost teeth is an important part of your overall health!

Missing Teeth Cause Shifting

Even one missing tooth can cause your teeth to shift. Even though they are permanent teeth, they will begin to spread out to fill in the gap left by the missing tooth.

This causes them to become misaligned, which throws off your bite and can cause problems like TMJ (movement problems and pain in the jaw and surrounding muscles).

You will also notice that with the shifting, it can be harder to brush and floss, increasing your chances of tooth decay.

Problems With Chewing And Talking

Remember the classic Christmas song “All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth?”

When you have missing teeth, it can cause issues with your speech! For example, you might not be able to pronounce your words correctly, which could lead to anxiety in public situations where you need to speak.

Your chewing will also be affected! Harder foods to chew, like meat, beef jerky, caramel, and more, will become difficult to eat and could lead to muscle and joint pain (TMJ).

Bone Loss

When you lose a tooth, the root and everything disappears. This means your jaw and bone structure are not stimulated and supported.

This causes the jaw bone to shrink and deteriorate.

Bone loss is irreversible; as it starts to disappear, it changes shape. As a result, you’ll find that your facial shape looks different, and this change can even make you look older than you actually are.

How Missing Teeth Can Be Replaced

There are several options for replacing lost teeth, and these options can be discussed with your dentist to determine the best course of action for your health and needs!

Bridges are great for replacing a tooth that is surrounded by two strong, healthy teeth. A false tooth is anchored between the two teeth and gives you the appearance of a healthy natural tooth that no one would suspect is fake!

Dental implants are stand-alone, permanent replacement teeth that are attached to a screw, which mimics the root of a tooth and helps to re-strengthen the jaw and minimize bone loss (and jaw shape change)!

Dentures are a solution that replaces several missing teeth all the way to the entire mouth. There are different types of dentures, and they can be implanted for a permanent fix or removable, which are the traditional, most common types of dentures.

Want To Discuss Options For Replacing Missing Teeth? Visit Castle Valley Dental!
If you’re ready to discuss your options for replacing missing teeth, it’s time to schedule a consultation with our dedicated team here at Castle Valley!

We are located in the Castle Rock, Co area and are ready to help you with any general, cosmetic, surgical, or dental needs!

Contact us today to schedule an appointment and learn more!

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What Are the 4 Types Of Dentures?

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Did you know that 23 million Americans are completely edentulous (missing their teeth), and 12 million Americans are missing all of their teeth in at least the top or bottom of their mouth?

You might not ever know, though, because of the advancements made to dentures which now look and feel like natural teeth!

When you hear the word “Dentures,” you probably think of the false teeth that are removable that many older adults have.

However, the term dentures is an umbrella term for multiple types of replacement teeth. Dentures, in its simplest definition, is a plate or frame that holds artificial teeth.

There are permanent dentures and removable dentures (these types are the ones you are most likely familiar with), and which type a person has mainly depends on what their needs are!

So what types of dentures exist, and how do you know which is right for you?

If you’re struggling with lost teeth or know that you might lose your teeth in the future, this article is for you! We are going to discuss 4 types of dentures and how they can help you get your smile, confidence, and quality of life back!

Full Mouth Removable Dentures
These are the most common type of dentures that you are used to seeing. These are also called traditional dentures because this type has been around since the 1700s!

If you have lost all of your teeth and are looking for an affordable solution that allows you to continue living your life without spending thousands of dollars on permanent dentures, this is the option for you.

Traditional dentures are completely removable and are adhered to the gums by denture paste or gel.

Here at Castle Valley, we offer an option called Immediate Teeth, which allows you to leave the dentist with a full set of dentures the same day you get your teeth removed. We measure and create dentures before the procedure takes place so that you can have your teeth pulled and leave with a brand new smile in one day!

You can also wait until your mouth has healed from the tooth extraction procedure to get fitted for dentures as well! It is truly up to what you want and how you feel!

Partial Mouth Removable Dentures
Partial mouth dentures are for those who still have healthy teeth but might be missing front or noticeable teeth.

Anytime you lose a tooth, it makes it harder for you to chew foods and stifle your self-esteem, so when you’re missing multiple teeth, you may not even want to smile anymore!

That’s where partial dentures come into play!

Partial dentures are affixed to the teeth, similar to that of a retainer or mouth guard. They have artificial teeth attached to the wires, and you simply place the guard around your other teeth to hold them in place! You can also use denture glue or gel to add extra hold.

Permanent Single Implants
If you’re missing one or several teeth and want a more permanent option, dental implants are a great option!

Dental implants mimic natural teeth and are affixed permanently into the mouth by the implant, which is a screw or post that is placed into the gums and the bone. Once that is healed, your replacement tooth will be permanently attached. This is a fantastic option if you have the bone density and gum health to handle this type of denture.

Permanent Full Mouth Implants
A full mouth of implants takes dentures to the next level. A plate of replacement teeth is made and is attached to 4 or 6 points throughout your mouth where implant posts are placed. This can be done for the top or bottom arch of teeth or both!

This is a permanent option that lasts up to 20 years or longer, depending on your overall health, oral health, and oral hygiene practices!

Healthy Mouth Tip: Read our article about 5 Reasons Why Dental Cleanings Are Essential To Your Health!

Many people who lose their teeth at a young age and still have strong bone density and good gum health are perfect candidates for this option as it is long-lasting and looks and feels as natural as their original teeth!

Want To Know More About Which Types Of Dentures Will Work Best For You? Visit Castle Valley Dental Today!

If you live in the Castle Rock, CO area and are looking for options for replacement teeth, it’s time to connect with Castle Valley Dental!

Our goal here at Castle Valley Dental is to provide you with the best oral care so you can continue living a healthy, confident life!

Our team is dedicated and ready to help you with whatever oral health issues or conditions you are dealing with, including sleep apnea issues, teeth whitening, and cosmetic dentistry services!

Contact us today to learn more about all of our services and schedule a consultation!

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5 Reasons Why Dental Cleanings Are Essential To Your Health

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Oral hygiene is important. This simple statement, however, gets tossed aside and forgotten.

However, we shouldn’t approach any type of care that way.

Don’t you take your car in for yearly inspections?

Why don’t we do the same for our bodies?

We tend to only seek medical or dental help when we are in pain. Why? Because the rest of the time it’s “out of sight, out of mind.”

Well, here at Castle Valley Dental, we think it’s time to change that narrative and discuss why dental cleanings are essential to your health and why it’s important not to wait years in between your cleanings and checkups!

Preventative Care
By the time we feel pain or figure out something is wrong with our teeth or gums, it’s usually too late. At that point you will need to have a procedure done to fix the problem and that isn’t fun.

The American Dental Association recommends visiting the dentist for a cleaning 2 times a year or as your dentist recommends for preventative dental care.

Read our latest article How Often Do I Need A Teeth Deep Cleaning for further information!

By doing so, your dentist can catch potential issues and consistently analyze your oral health. They might note something at one cleaning and follow back up at the next to see if any changes occur.

This ensures your teeth, gums and mouth overall stays as healthy as possible!

Oral Cancer Detection
Did you know in the United States alone one person dies every hour from oral cancer? Oral cancer (and variations of this cancer) can be curable if caught in the early stages which is why it’s essential for a dentist to review your oral health! It is especially crucial if you have a history of oral cancer in your family or other markers that could indicate a potential cancer diagnosis.

If caught too late you might end up losing parts of your mouth including teeth, gums, tongue or jaw!

Health Issues
Certain health conditions can affect your teeth and gums more than you think. Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis and Parkinson’s disease can all play a role in affecting your oral health. This means that dental cleanings are essential to health and your overall wellness.

If you have a progressed version of these conditions your dentist might suggest you come in for more frequent visits to ensure your mouth health doesn’t become a problem.

Tooth Loss & Gum Disease
One of the most important reasons that dental cleanings are essential for health is that you have a lower risk of tooth loss and gum disease! This ties in with preventative dental care but deserves its own section because of how important it is!

You need your teeth to chew, and talk and live a high quality of life. And what houses your teeth? Your gums! Periodontal disease can take over if not treated and you run the risk of losing your natural teeth.

This then turns into the decision of getting permanent replacement teeth like implants or choosing to go with dentures. These options are great if necessary, but wouldn’t you rather keep your own teeth as long as possible?

Don’t wait until it’s too late and your tooth is loose, gums are painful and sensitive to get checked out. Schedule your regular cleaning and keep smiling with your own teeth!

Dental Cleanings Are Essential To Health – Schedule Your Cleaning At Castle Valley Dental Today!

You know that it’s important to visit your dentist just like you would a doctor, chiropractor or any other wellness practitioner.

If you’re in the Castle Rock, CO area and you can’t remember your last dental cleaning it is imperative that you come in to get a good check up and deep cleaning!

Contact us today to schedule an appointment!