FAQ
Answering Dental Care FAQs
You’ve got questions, and we’ve got answers! We aim to thoroughly educate patients so that they can better understand their condition and feel empowered to make decisions about their dental care. Some common dental concerns that we discuss with patients are bruxism, sleep apnea, missing teeth, crooked teeth, gum disease and more. Explore our frequently asked questions about these dental concerns below. Don’t see an answer to your question? Call our office at (704) 376-2404.
Bruxism is characterized by the grinding and clenching of the teeth. This can occur both during the day and at night during sleep. Many patients do not realize that they are grinding their teeth, as it is often unconscious. Accompanying symptoms of bruxism include jaw pain, chronic headaches, lockjaw, tooth sensitivity, damaged teeth and more.
Left untreated, bruxism can cause irritated nerves and facial pain, weakened tooth enamel, worn-down teeth and damage to the teeth, gums and jaw joints.
Most cases of bruxism can be treated with physical exercises. The goal of these exercises is to align the tongue, teeth and lips to prevent excessive grinding or clenching. Treatment may also include oral appliances, which take pressure off of the jaw and encourages proper alignment of the teeth and lips. Some patients may require medications such as anti-inflammatories or muscle relaxers to alleviate jaw pain. If patients have suffered tooth damage as a result of bruxism, dental crowns may also be recommended.
One of the most common sleep disorders is sleep apnea. Patients with sleep apnea will experience partial or total blocks of their airways as they sleep, causing them to wake frequently throughout the night. This impacts patients’ overall quality of sleep, which can cause irritability, difficulty focusing and increase their risk of developing chronic conditions such as heart disease.
Patients with sleep apnea experience both daytime and nighttime symptoms. Nighttime symptoms include night sweats, snoring, frequent waking throughout the night, gasping or choking sounds while sleeping and trouble staying asleep. During the day, patients may feel irritable and anxious, have difficulty concentrating and experience morning headaches.
Left untreated, sleep apnea can affect both mental and physical health. Patients are at risk of developing chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.
Missing teeth not only affect the appearance of your smile, but can impact its health and function. Missing teeth put excess pressure on surrounding teeth, expose the gums to bacteria and increase your risk of diabetes and heart problems.
Losing back teeth can change the bone structure, causing the face to shrink or push forward.
At Stewart Dental Group, we offer several different treatment options for missing teeth. Options include dental implants, bridges, and dentures and partials. The treatment option that you choose will depend on your specific needs, smile goals and budget.
Many adults who have had crooked teeth their whole lives may wonder why it is necessary to straighten them now. Straighter teeth not only enhance the appearance of your smile and boost your confidence, but can improve the health of your smile. Straight teeth are easier to clean, helping to prevent gum disease, tooth decay and other dental issues. Furthermore, straight teeth ensure that equal pressure is applied to the teeth when chewing and biting, preventing unnecessary wear and tear.
It is never too late to get a straighter smile! While most orthodontic patients are teenagers, 1 in 4 patients is an adult. With teeth-straightening options like Invisalign®, adults now have the option to transform their smiles without drawing too much attention to their appliances.
The most common cause of crooked teeth is genetics. However, crooked teeth can also be caused by injury to the face, missing teeth or tooth decay.
At Stewart Dental Group, we offer several treatment options to straighten teeth. One of the most comprehensive options is Invisalign®, which uses custom-fit, clear plastic trays to gradually straighten the teeth over time. Patients may also opt for porcelain veneers or tooth bonding.
Bleeding gums, particularly when brushing and flossing, is a telltale sign of gingivitis. Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease, also known as periodontal disease. The most common cause of gingivitis is poor oral hygiene. By not properly brushing and flossing your teeth, plaque can build up on the teeth’s surfaces and along the gumline. Over time, plaque hardens to tartar, and can only be removed by a dentist. This causes the gums to become inflamed, swollen and sensitive. The good news is that gingivitis is reversible—however, once your gums have progressed to periodontitis, there is no definitive cure.
Since bleeding gums are caused by poor oral hygiene, the best way to stop them from bleeding is by taking care of your teeth every day. Additionally, patients can rinse their mouths with a saltwater or hydrogen peroxide solution. Another cause of bleeding gums is stress and consuming a diet that is high in carbohydrates. Patients should attempt to eliminate sources of stress where possible and aim to eat a balanced, nutritious diet.
Also known as periodontal disease, gum disease causes swelling, inflammation and infection of the gums. It is caused by poor dental hygiene, which results in tartar forming underneath the gum line, infecting the gums. It has two stages—gingivitis and periodontitis.
In the gingivitis stage, gum disease can be reversed through good oral hygiene. Once the disease has passed into its last stage, periodontitis, it is no longer curable, only treatable. Periodontitis causes the gums to recede and pull away from teeth, resulting in bone and tooth loss if left untreated. At Stewart Dental Group, we treat periodontal disease with antibiotics, scaling and root planing, gum graft surgery and flap surgery.
