Southwest Dental Arts Blog

For many years, dentists relied solely on silver amalgam fillings (also called metal fillings) to treat cavities. Certainly, these fillings are strong, and they served their purpose. However, dentistry has evolved, and more and more people — both dentists and their patients — are gravitating toward other options. Why should you consider replacing your old metal fillings with a more modern alternative? As this blog post explains, your health could be at stake.

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages on the planet, and many people depend on it to perk them up in the morning. While you may be eager to get back to your normal routine after a tooth extraction, it’s usually best to delay resuming your coffee habit for a few days or so. Here’s a brief guide to the risks of drinking coffee too soon after tooth extraction and when you will be clear to enjoy a cup without fear of complications.

Have you ever been munching on a handful of popcorn only to realize a thin kernel just slid right between your teeth? Not only can this be incredibly frustrating and uncomfortable, but many people have also accidentally hurt their teeth and gums trying to remove stuck objects.

If you have something caught in your grin, continue reading to learn 4 ways you can try to safely dislodge and avoid a potential emergency!

Lasers may sound like something out of Star Trek, but they’re very much a part of today’s dental toolkit. These small, hand-held devices can deliver life-changing results for patients struggling with inflammation, infection, or gum recession. In fact, dental lasers are now considered one of the safest and most effective tools against gum disease. Keep reading to discover how laser treatment works and why it might be the right choice for your smile.

Even if you are the most diligent brusher and flosser in the world, regular dental visits are still a necessary step to achieve optimal oral health. However, many people put their routine dental visits on hold for various reasons. For many, it is an effort to save some cash. The truth is that by seeing your dentist every six months, you can save money in the long run. Here’s what you should know!

If you’ve got a teething baby, you likely already know how hard this stage of development can be, especially at night. After all, a tired infant plus an aching mouth is the perfect recipe for a sleepless evening. So, how do you get your baby (and yourself!) to rest comfortably at night despite a painful tooth eruption? Here are a few home remedies for helping your child get some relief at bedtime, so they can fall asleep faster and get the relief they need!

Dental implants are the gold standard in tooth restoration and can permanently replace one or more lost teeth. Often, patients wonder if they can use them to replace teeth in specific areas of the mouth, including their front teeth.  Here’s a closer look at where they’ll work in your mouth.

Do you have a severely damaged or decayed tooth or have you recently undergone a root canal procedure? If so, your dentist will likely provide you with a beautiful, customized dental crown to protect it while restoring your smile’s appearance and functionality.

Historically, your dentist would have needed at least two appointments over several weeks to fit you with one of these prosthetics, but that’s not the case today. Many providers utilize CEREC technology to provide on the same day as your initial visit. Continue reading to learn more about how long it usually takes to make them!

For a long time, metal crowns were the standard treatment that dentists used to protect and strengthen damaged teeth. While such crowns are very durable, they also have some big drawbacks! If you are tired of your old metal crown, you have several good reasons to get it replaced as soon as possible with a non-metal alternative. This blog post discusses just some of those reasons.

Now that the holidays are coming up, there is so much to look forward to. Whether you enjoy stringing up lights around your home, baking some of your favorite sweet treats, or spending some extra time with friends and family, you are bound to get some enjoyment from the season. However, with the holidays comes stress as well. Continue reading to learn about some of the ways that holiday stress can negatively impact your smile and what you can do about it.