James Geer DDS Blog

You probably have bandaids, antiseptics, and peroxide handy to treat minor injuries at home, but do you have a first aid kit for your smile? 1 in 6 Americans has a dental emergency every year. You might not expect a dental emergency to happen to you, but accidents can happen. It’s best to be prepared, just in case. Here are a few must-haves to include in your oral health emergency kit.

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If you have a tooth that is severely infected, regular cavity treatment will no longer be enough to repair it. In this case, a root canal will be necessary. This treatment is used to remove the infected tissue and has a 95% success rate. Even so, root canal therapy is the most feared dental treatment by many people. this is due largely to misconceptions about the procedure. To help ease your worries, read on as we debunk five myths about root canals.

There are many drinks that hold memories of good times for a lot of people. Whether it’s stopping by a convenience store on a road trip or relaxing poolside on a hot summer day, many beverages hold some form of nostalgia. Others help you decompress after a long day or wake up enough to do it all again. Unfortunately, not all these drinks are good for your smile. Continue reading to learn about how beverages and oral health are related as well as five that can harm your smile.

Bacteria are microorganisms that can be found everywhere. They’re in the food we eat, in the plants we keep, and in different parts of the body, including the mouth. As abundant as bacteria are in the world around us, many people aren’t aware that not all bacteria are bad for you. In fact, there are oral bacteria that naturally occur in your mouth. Though some of these are the causes of gum disease or cavities, others can help keep your body healthy and functioning as intended. Continue reading to learn about how many oral bacteria the average person has in their mouth as well as how they impact your smile.

If you have jaw pain on one side, it can be alarming. Whether the discomfort came on quickly or has worsened gradually, it’s best to schedule an appointment with your dentist. Various factors contribute to jaw pain. Although most situations aren’t anything serious, your quality of life can be affected by the discomfort. You don’t want to ignore the problem for too long. Here are a few of the most common causes of one-sided jaw pain. 

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A dental bridge serves as a long-term solution to treat consecutive tooth loss. It’s held in place by cementing dental crowns to the adjacent teeth. You’ll have peace of mind knowing your new teeth will stay in place. You might never expect them to fall out, but it’s not uncommon. Although every situation differs, bridges and crowns last for about 10 years before needing to be replaced. If your dental bridge fell out, don’t panic! Here’s what you should do until you can see your dentist.

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If you’ve been putting off having your wisdom teeth removed, there isn’t any better time than the present to schedule your extractions. Summer provides the perfect opportunity to invest in your dental health. Life tends to slow down, and there are plenty of other perks to having them extracted before summer ends. Here are 5 reasons to schedule your wisdom tooth consultation. 

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Porcelain veneers are thin shells that cover the entire front surface of the teeth. To ensure that they properly adhere and blend with the rest of your pearly whites, a thin layer of enamel has to be removed. Since this is a permanent change, it’s important to make sure that this treatment option is right for you. Additionally, though veneers are durable and highly stain resistant, that doesn’t mean that they can’t become damaged or discolored over time. To make sure that your new smile lasts as long as possible, changing your diet a bit is one of the most effective things you can do. Read on to learn about three diet changes that can help.

If you’re like most people, the thought of getting a root canal may fill you with dread. If gossip is anything to go by, the procedure is annoying at best and painful at worst. It makes sense, given this reputation, that many decide to put off root canal therapy even if their dentist has highly recommended it.

Unfortunately, delaying a root canal will lead to more pain than the actual dental treatment. To learn why that’s the case, here’s a guide to what happens when you put off a much-needed root canal!