Nothing makes us happier than answering our patients’ questions, because in our experience, the more you know, the healthier you are! We’ve gone ahead and answered some of our frequently asked dentistry questions below, but if there is anything else you’re curious about, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’re always eager to talk to you and make sure you have all the knowledge you need to take great care of yourself and your family.
Children’s smiles are still developing, meaning they have all sorts of unique dental needs that adults don’t. At our Leesburg office, we provide a wide range of general dentistry services that will keep your little ones smiling. In addition to regular dental exams every six months, we’ll also help teach them about oral hygiene and ways they can take care of their mouths. Let us know if your child is suffering from dental pain or showing signs of tooth decay so that we can treat the problem as soon as possible.
Teeth whitening is probably the most requested type of cosmetic dental service; the procedure can be done in an hour, but the change in the shade of your smile can be dramatic. Other cosmetic services include cosmetic bonding and dental crowns. We can also use veneers for more extensive changes. Let Dr. Pham know what kind of improvements you want to make so that they can start planning a treatment that’ll have your grin gleaming.
Teeth will naturally wear down over time through everyday use, but if it happens particularly quickly, it might be a result of bruxism – the act of grinding your teeth together. Bruxism is often a side effect of a TMJ disorder, which can lead to facial pain and issues with the functionality of your jaw. In any case, worn down teeth could be indicative of a serious issue, so make an appointment with us as soon as possible so that we can examine the state of your teeth and your jaw. Depending on the situation, we can provide a customized oral appliance that will alleviate your symptoms.
The good news is that if you’ve lost a tooth, you have a few different options to consider. You could get a dental bridge to replace one to three teeth in a row, or you could get partial dentures that can replace multiple teeth throughout the mouth or full dentures that replace an entire arch. Of course, if your prosthetic tooth can be supported by a dental implant, it will be much stronger and more stable. Let us examine your mouth and help you choose the right type of restoration.
It depends on the cause of the snoring. While it’s normal for everyone to snore on occasion, loud, frequent snoring might be a sign that you have sleep apnea. This disorder interrupts your breathing while you’re asleep, forcing your body to wake up for air. As a result, you’ll feel exhausted throughout the day, and the lack of quality rest (along with the frequent drops in oxygen levels) will eventually have severe health consequences. Fortunately, in many instances of sleep apnea, we can give you a customized oral appliance that helps you breathe normally – and of course, it will also stop the snoring that’s keeping the rest of your family up!
Bleeding gums should always be considered a cause of concern as they’re one of the most common early symptoms of gum disease. When gum disease is caught early, it can be reversed with a deep cleaning and proper oral hygiene; however, if it reaches the more advanced stages, you might require treatments such as root scaling and planing or antibiotics; otherwise, you might end up losing the tooth or suffering from bone loss. Call us as soon as you have reason to think you have gum disease.
We offer both nitrous oxide sedation and oral conscious sedation at our practice. Nitrous oxide – which you probably know as laughing gas – takes effect quickly once you start breathing it in through a mask placed over your nose. For oral conscious sedation, you’ll take special medication a set amount of time before your procedure. Keep in mind that nitrous oxide will wear off quickly after your visit, but for oral conscious sedation you’ll need someone else to drive you home.
Wisdom teeth actually don’t always need to be removed; your child may be able to keep them as long as they can erupt without damaging the other teeth and can be cleaned normally. More often than not, though, wisdom teeth become impacted or erupt improperly, causing pain and putting you at risk for dental decay. We can examine your child’s oral health and determine well in advance whether an extraction will be necessary.