Different Stages of Gum Disease

If you want to keep your permanent teeth for a lifetime, then you need to practice a proper oral hygiene routine on a daily basis. If you don’t, you’re already headed down the road toward gum disease. Gum disease is an inflammation of the gums that can progress to affect the bone that surrounds and supports your teeth and there are three stages that you should be aware of. Additionally, you should always schedule professional cleanings and oral exams with Dr. Greg Fort at Top Choice Dental twice a year to avoid this condition.

• Gingivitis – This is the earliest stage of gum disease, an inflammation of the gums caused by plaque buildup at the gum line. If daily brushing and flossing do not remove the plaque, it produces toxins that can irritate the gum tissue, causing gingivitis. This is when you’ll notice blood in the sink after you complete your brushing routine. However, at this early stage, damage can be reversed, since the bone and connective tissue that hold the teeth in place are not yet affected.


• Periodontitis – This is the second stage of gum disease. By this point, the supporting bone and fibers that hold your teeth in place are irreversibly damaged. Your gums may even begin to form a pocket below the gum line, which traps food and plaque.


• Advanced Periodontitis – This is the final stage of gum disease, and the fibers and bone supporting your teeth are officially destroyed. In this case, your teeth may begin to shift or loosen and your bite may also be affected. If aggressive treatment can’t save them, the teeth will need to be extracted.

If you are suffering from inflamed gums, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.hoptowndental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Greg Fort at Top Choice Dental in Hopkinsville, KY, call 270-886-8585. 

Details on Dental Emergencies

Dr. Greg Fort at Top Choice Dental understands that accidents happen. Being informed about what to do in case one occurs can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth. If you or your child experience some sort of trauma to your mouth for whatever reason, please give us a call immediately. We promise to assist you quickly and help put your mind at ease. Meanwhile, in the midst of a dental emergency, utilize these tips to ensure a smooth recovery. 

• For a knocked-out permanent or adult tooth, keep it moist at all times. If you can, try placing the tooth back in the socket without touching the root. If that’s not possible, place it between your cheek and gums, or use a tooth preservation product that has the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of acceptance.


• For a cracked tooth, immediately rinse the mouth with warm water to clean the area.


• If you bite your tongue or lip, clean the area gently with water and apply a cold compress.


• For toothaches, rinse the mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss to remove any food caught between teeth.

If you suffer a dental emergency, please give us a call as soon as possible. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.hoptowndental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Greg Fort at Top Choice Dental in Hopkinsville, KY, call 270-886-8585. 

Reasons Teeth May Be Tender

If you avoid eating cold foods or drinking hot beverages because your teeth are a little tender, it may be time to get to the overcome this obstacle. If you experience tooth sensitivity, Dr. Greg Fort at Top Choice Dental may recommend dental sealants or fluoride treatments to decrease tenderness. Sometimes the solution is simply breaking bad habits. If you catch yourself performing any of the following, do your best to discontinue.

• You’re brushing too hard – over time, if you brush with too much force, you can wear down the protective layers of your teeth and expose the microscopic hollow tubes or canals that lead to your dental nerves. When these tubules are exposed, tooth sensitivity is a result.


• You’re eating too many acidic foods – If the pathways to your nerves are exposed, acidic foods will leave you in pain.


• You have tooth decay – If you have tooth decay, it’s easy for bacteria to accumulate in these tiny crevices, which causes acid build-up and enamel breakdown.


• You’re a tooth grinder – Grinding your teeth can wear down your enamel. This exposes the dentin and causes sensitive teeth.

If you have sensitive teeth, please call us to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.hoptowndental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Greg Fort at Top Choice Dental in Hopkinsville, KY, call 270-886-8585. 

Dental Bridge Basics and Benefits

 

At Top Choice Dental, Dr. Greg Fort may recommend a dental bridge if you are missing one or more teeth. This is because gaps left by missing teeth eventually cause the remaining teeth to rotate or shift into the empty spaces, resulting in a bad bite. A bridge, also known as a fixed removable denture, is made to replace one or more of your missing teeth. Bridges can be supported by natural teeth, implants, or a combination of both.

Dental bridges have the ability to restore your smile, restore the ability to properly chew and speak, prevent remaining teeth from drifting out of position, and distribute the forces in your bite properly by replacing missing teeth. There are three main types of bridges, and Dr. Greg Fort will discuss them with you during your consultation. Placement of the bridge requires two visits and the result will be a brand new, confident smile.  

If you have missing teeth, please call us to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.hoptowndental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Greg Fort at Top Choice Dental in Hopkinsville, KY, call 270-886-8585.

At Top Choice Dental, Dr. Greg Fort may recommend a dental bridge if you are missing one or more teeth. This is because gaps left by missing teeth eventually cause the remaining teeth to rotate or shift into the empty spaces, resulting in a bad bite. A bridge, also known as a fixed removable denture, is made to replace one or more of your missing teeth. Bridges can be supported by natural teeth, implants, or a combination of both.

Dental bridges have the ability to restore your smile, restore the ability to properly chew and speak, prevent remaining teeth from drifting out of position, and distribute the forces in your bite properly by replacing missing teeth. There are three main types of bridges, and Dr. Greg Fort will discuss them with you during your consultation. Placement of the bridge requires two visits and the result will be a brand new, confident smile.  

If you have missing teeth, please call us to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.hoptowndental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Greg Fort at Top Choice Dental in Hopkinsville, KY, call 270-886-8585.

 

Tips for a Camera-Ready Smile

Here at Top Choice Dental, we realize that keeping teeth their whitest is a lot harder than it sounds. After all, with the coffee, wine and other foods that have the ability to stain our teeth on a daily basis, even proper maintenance sometimes leaves them a little lackluster. Teeth whitening is an excellent way to restore the natural color of your teeth or even make them whiter than your natural color, if you would like. However, if there is any reason you can’t go the cosmetic route at this moment, we will provide you with these tips that will give you a photogenic smile. 

• Be natural – when it’s picture time, smile gently. That way, your face looks relaxed. Your mouth opens slightly, and your lower lip matches the curve of your upper teeth.

• Check your teeth and gums – getting your smile camera-ready sometimes calls for a little behind the scenes prep work. If your pearly whites have yellowed with age, try an over-the-counter whitening product or pay us a visit! Also, don’t forget about taking care of your gums. They play a critical role in your nice smile. So keep them in good shape by brushing, flossing, and rinsing with a mouthwash every day. 

• Practice – your perfect smile may not happen overnight, but if you have a big photo event like a wedding or a graduation coming up, it doesn’t hurt to try out your grin in front of the mirror! 

If you have questions about our whitening services, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide here at our practice, visit www.hoptowndental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Greg Fort at Top Choice Dental in Hopkinsville, KY, call 270-886-8585.

Here at Top Choice Dental, we realize that keeping teeth their whitest is a lot harder than it sounds. After all, with the coffee, wine and other foods that have the ability to stain our teeth on a daily basis, even proper maintenance sometimes leaves them a little lackluster. Teeth whitening is an excellent way to restore the natural color of your teeth or even make them whiter than your natural color, if you would like. However, if there is any reason you can’t go the cosmetic route at this moment, we will provide you with these tips that will give you a photogenic smile.

• Be natural – when it’s picture time, smile gently. That way, your face looks relaxed. Your mouth opens slightly, and your lower lip matches the curve of your upper teeth.

• Check your teeth and gums – getting your smile camera-ready sometimes calls for a little behind the scenes prep work. If your pearly whites have yellowed with age, try an over-the-counter whitening product or pay us a visit! Also, don’t forget about taking care of your gums. They play a critical role in your nice smile. So keep them in good shape by brushing, flossing, and rinsing with a mouthwash every day.

• Practice – your perfect smile may not happen overnight, but if you have a big photo event like a wedding or a graduation coming up, it doesn’t hurt to try out your grin in front of the mirror!

 

 

 

If you have questions about our whitening services, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide here at our practice, visit www.hoptowndental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Greg Fort at Top Choice Dental in Hopkinsville, KY, call 270-886-8585.

Tooth Shapes and Functions

Our teeth are critical when it comes to providing nourishment to our bodies. After all, they help us chew and digest food, play an important role in speech, and impact our health overall. If you’ve ever stood in front of a mirror and wondered why all of your teeth look different it’s because they all serve a different purpose in your mouth. Dr. Greg Fort at Top Choice Dental thought it would be fun to inform you all about the different types of teeth and their functions. Read on to learn more!

• Incisors – located at the front of the mouth, these teeth have a sharp biting surface and are used for cutting or shearing food into small chewable pieces.


• Canines – located at the ‘corners’ of the dental arches, these teeth have a sharp pointed biting surface. Their function is to grip and tear food.


• Premolars – Unlike incisors and canines, these teeth have a flat biting surface. Their function is to tear and crush food.


• Molars – The molars are the largest teeth in the mouth and they too have a large flat biting surface. The function of these is perhaps the strongest of all as they chew, crush, and grind food.

If you have questions about your teeth, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide here at our practice, visit www.hoptowndental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Greg Fort at Top Choice Dental in Hopkinsville, KY, call 270-886-8585.

Intraoral Camera

At Top Choice Dental, we know that advancing our technology means our patients will get the best, most accurate diagnoses. One of the ways we have updated our technology is by utilizing the intraoral camera here in our Hopkinsville, KY dental practice.

The intraoral camera allows us to look at a spot in the mouth closer than ever before. The camera is a pen-like device that can go into the mouth and take close-up pictures and video. In the past, we may not have been able to clearly view a spot in a hard-to-reach area. Now, the images are displayed onto a monitor so we can instantly take a look and better diagnose any problems found. We can zoom in and use software that helps us detect issue the human eye may have missed.

Using these pictures, we can refer back to them at future appointments, upgrading efficiency. Since these photos are digital, we can save, print, or email them as easy as ever. Patients can even take the pictures home with them so they can report back any changes. We can also instantly send them to another doctor or an insurance company.

Routine oral examinations by your dentist are recommended for keeping great oral health. To schedule your next appointment or to learn more about Top Choice Dental in Hopkinsville, KY, give us a call at (270) 886-8585. Appointments may also be made through our website, www.hoptowndental.com.