Does Your Tooth Still Hurt After a Root Canal?

If you’re still experiencing pain after a root canal, you may be wondering why. Aren’t root canals meant to take your pain away? There are many reasons why your tooth may still be hurting. It is possible that the base of your tooth root (periapical) is still slightly tender or that your pain is caused by a temporary filling that is a bit too high. In these cases, taking OTC painkillers, preferably ibuprofen, may be all you need to alleviate your pain while your root canal heals.

However, if you’ve had a root canal at our practice in Port Orchard, WA and are still experiencing pain that is severe or persistent, you should call our office immediately. The dentist may need to prescribe you an antibiotic to make sure the infection does not remain, or she may need to perform retreatment.

At your follow-up appointment, Dr. K. Singh will want to know what type of pain you are experiencing. Is your tooth sensitive to hot and cold? Is it the tooth root that is sensitive or the gums that are over the tooth? Is it a constant ache, or does it only hurt when biting? Is there any swelling, drainage or pus? The answers to these questions will give Dr. Singh the information he needs to diagnose your pain.

Root canals don’t always work, and there are many reasons for this, including fractures of the root, convoluted or twisted root structures and failure to protect the root canal after the procedure. If this occurs, you may need further treatment. If the root canal was successful, it should feel normal most of the time.

To schedule an appointment at Family Dental Care, call 360-874-6846. For more information about the dentists, visit www.singhfamilydentalcare.com.   

Bonding with Dr. K. Singh

Dental bonding is one of the easiest and most affordable dental procedures used for repairing teeth and enhancing the aesthetics of your smile. By bonding a tooth-colored resin to the patient’s teeth, Dr. K. Singh can correct smiles with unevenly-shaped, chipped or discolored teeth, prevent further enamel erosion and even fill cavities seamlessly and without the need for amalgam. If you’re looking to improve the health and look of your smile in Port Orchard, WA, come to our office!

Unlike other cosmetic dental procedures, bonding can usually be accomplished in a single visit to our office and doesn’t require enamel to be removed as veneers do. Bonding usually only requires light abrasion and an application of adhesive gel, which helps the resin adhere to the teeth. If being used as an alternative to amalgam fillings, tooth decay will also be removed in preparation for the filling.

Once your teeth are prepared, Dr. Singh will select the right color resin for your smile and apply the putty-like substance to your tooth or teeth. The resin is then molded and smoothed until it is in the desired shape and then hardened with an LED light. After it has been hardened, the dentist will trim and shape it even further, polishing the resin until it shines like a natural tooth. Altogether, the procedure usually takes between 30 minutes to an hour for each tooth.

If you’re unhappy with your smile but unwilling to go as far as veneers, bonding can be used to improve your teeth effectively, quickly and affordably. To schedule an appointment at Family Dental Care, call 360-874-6846. For more information, please visit www.singhfamilydentalcare.com.     

Treatment for TMJ Disorders in Port Orchard, WA

TMJ is an abbreviation for temporomandibular joint, which is the joint that connects your mandible (lower jaw) to your skull at the temporal bone. While many call disorders associated with this joint, TMJ, those disorders are more appropriately called TMD (temporomandibular disorder), and TMD can have symptoms that range from teeth grinding and headaches to trouble chewing and pain when opening and closing your mouth. TMD is not only an annoying disorder; it is also a destructive one and can cause serious damage to your teeth if left untreated. At our office in Port Orchard, WA, Dr. K. Singh can determine if you suffer from TMD and offer ways to treat the disorder.

The TMJ controls an assortment of jaw functions, including chewing, so if you’re chewing muscles or the joint itself is in pain, it is possible that you have TMD. TMD is often caused by stress, which leads to unconscious clenching and teeth grinding while awake and asleep. The disorder’s symptoms include pain, trouble chewing, lock jaw, headaches or ear pain and a popping or clicking sound when opening your mouth. However, these symptoms may be indicative of other health problems as well, so it is important to see a medical professional for a diagnosis.

Grinding your teeth is an especially worrisome TMD-associated behavior since it can lead to further problems with your mouth. If your teeth grinding is left unaddressed, you will cause serious wear to the enamel of your teeth and expose the dentin, which will make your teeth more sensitive to heat and cold and more susceptible to decay. However, you can work with Dr. Singh to relieve symptoms with mouth guards or night guards.

If you think that you might be suffering from TMD or teeth grinding, schedule an appointment at Family Dental Care by calling 360-874-6846. For more information, visit www.singhfamilydentalcare.com.

Gum Disease Treatment at Family Dental Care

While many people realize that taking care of their teeth is necessary for a good oral hygiene routine, they can often forget or neglect their gums, which are an essential part of maintaining your oral health. To stay in peak condition, your gums require periodontal cleanings and early treatment if disease does develop, and with Dr. K. Singh, patients in Port Orchard, WA can be sure that both their gums and teeth will be well cared for.

Since periodontal disease is responsible for 75 percent of all adult tooth loss cases in the United States, it is vital to check for and treat periodontal issues when they first arise. Periodontal disease develops due to plaque build-up. As it accumulates on teeth, bacteria is able to thrive, collecting around the tooth and attacking the soft tissue. In its early stages, this disease is called gingivitis, and it can cause swollen or tender gums that bleed after regular brushing and flossing. If left untreated, gingivitis can become periodontis, a much more severe gum infection that causes inflammation and damages the soft tissue and bone supporting the tooth. If periodontis is not treated, it can cause tooth loss and even a loss of bone mass in your jaw.

It is important to prevent periodontal health or catch it in its early stages, and Dr. Singh is extremely knowledgeable and experienced with helping patients maintain healthy smiles. He will work closely with you to ensure that you maintain optimal oral health

The state of your gums affects the health of your entire body, and our office works hard to make sure you receive the dental care you need. Call 360-874-6846 to schedule an appointment at Family Dental Care. For more information, please visit www.singhfamilydentalcare.com. 

Bridges from Dr. K. Singh

If you’ve had one tooth or multiple teeth extracted due to damage, decay or disease, it is important to have the resulting gap filled or your remaining teeth can shift out of position and become more susceptible to further decay. However, with dental bridges, you can replace your missing tooth or teeth and prevent this shifting.  

Called a bridge because a prosthetic tooth is suspended between two crowns to fill in the missing space, this natural-looking tooth structure is usually made from gold, metal, alloys or porcelain to ensure a strong and durable smile that can last for many years.

The process of creating a bridge usually takes two visits to our office in Port Orchard, WA. During your first visit, Dr. K. Singh will create abutments out of the existing teeth on both sides of your gap. This is where the bridge’s crowns will be attached. After the abutments are in place, a mold is made of your mouth for creating the bridge, which will fit and feel as close to your natural teeth as possible. While you wait for the bridge to be fabricated in the lab, you will receive a temporary device for your convenience. Then, once the permanent device is completed, you will return to our office to have the crowns fixed to the abutments with an adhesive. The pontic between the crowns forms the bridge and replace your missing tooth or teeth.

To schedule an appointment at Family Dental Care, call 360-874-6846. For more information, please visit www.singhfamilydentalcare.com.        

Dr. K Singh Restores Patients Smiles with Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and onlays are two procedures that use the tooth structure as a base for restoration. Often called partial crowns, both inlays and onlays strengthen the tooth while restoring its shape and preventing further damage or decay. At our office in Port Orchard, WA, we use these procedures to repair teeth when decay is too extensive to support a filling but not extensive enough to use a crown.

When there is no damage to the cusps of a tooth, Dr. K. Singh uses an inlay for restoration, bonding it right on top of the tooth structure. Made of porcelain, inlays are both strong and natural-looking, providing an attractive solution for repairing your tooth. Dr. Singh uses onlays when damage is a little more extensive and repairs to the cusp of the tooth are required.

Inlays and onlays can be created at a lab out of porcelain, gold or composite resin. Fabrication normally takes between two to three weeks, and during that time, you will be provided with temporary restorations. Once your permanent restorations are ready, they will be cemented in place.

To ensure that your teeth get the best dental care available, schedule an appointment by calling 360-874-6846. For more information, visitwww.singhfamilydentalcare.com.

Bone Grafting with K. Singh

Some patients do not have the proper amount of bone mass in their jaws to allow for the placement of dental implants. However, thanks to recent developments in bone grafting, people who would not have qualified a few years ago are now able to receive dental implants to complete their smiles and protect their oral health. In Port Orchard, WA, our practice strives to help patients achieve their dental goals, and by performing bone grafting procedures, we can help patients receive the dental implants they need.

Bone grafting is a fairly common procedure that is performed by building up the jawbone with bone fragments to accommodate the dental implant. The bone used to graft to the area with too-little mass is usually take from the patient. Many times the bone is taken from another area of the mouth when the drilling takes place. The bone fragments are suctioned from the mouth and used for grafting. However, sometimes cadaver bones are also used. They are harvested by bone banks and are a very safe source.

Whether you need bone grafting or not, if you are looking to receive dental implants, Dr. K. Singh can make it happen. To schedule a consultation at Family Dental Care, call 360-874-6846. For more information about our practice, visit www.singhfamilydentalcare.com.