Finding a Good Largo Dentist for Periodontics

Finding a good periodontist can mean the difference between a dazzling smile and months – or even years – of misery wearing the wrong dental appliances. If you’re looking for a Largo dentist with excellent periodontic services, these tips can help you find one who will work with you to ensure a comfortable experience and a smile that suits your face perfectly.

While many of the services provided by a periodontist fit under the heading of cosmetic dentistry, not all cosmetic dentists are experts in the periodontics. A Largo periodontist specializes in treating problems with your gums. Often, a general or cosmetic dentist will refer you to a gum specialist if he finds signs of early gum disease or if you are considering dental implants. A periodontist will evaluate your gums and the underlying bone structure to help determine whether you’re a good candidate for implants, and what gum treatments you might need improve your chances of success.

Ask your Largo general dentist for recommendations. Most dentists who don’t specialize in periodontics themselves work closely with other dentists who do. Get recommendations for local peroidontists he has worked with in the past. He’ll know which dentists do the best work.

Check with the American Board of Periodontists. The ABP administers the certification tests for periodontists and maintains an online database that lists dentists who have achieved the diploma in periodontics. You can search their database online to find nearby dentists who hold board certification.

Be prepared to travel. The best choices may not be in your city. Your dentist may recommend a Belleair periodontist, for example, if you’re living anywhere in Pinellas County. It’s worth the extra travel time to make sure you’re being treated by the best.

Choose a dentist who clearly explains the procedures, risks and associated costs. Always choose a dentist who will discuss all the particulars of your treatment with you, including the costs. The more you know, the better equipped you’ll be to make the best choice.

Finally, remember that the Largo dentist you choose will be responsible for more than the appearance of your smile, though that may be the most important thing in your mind. The health of your gums has a direct bearing on your overall health, so take the time to find the best periodontist in your area.

When to See a Largo Cosmetic Dentist for New Dentures

How often should your dentures be replaced? While there’s no specific answer to the question, there are guidelines that can help you decide when to see a Largo cosmetic dentist to have your dentures replaced.

• On average, people who wear dentures have them replaced somewhere between four and eight years after the dentist originally fitted them. While some people need a replacement after as little as a year and others wear the same dentures for over 20 years, those are outside the norm. If you’ve been wearing your dentures longer than four years, you should make an appointment with a Bellair dentist to have their condition evaluated.
• Over the years, your jaw may change and your dentures lose “vertical dimension” – that’s a measure of the distance between your upper and lower jaws when your teeth are touching. Your dentures originally are fitted to the proper vertical dimension for your mouth, but as your mouth changes over time, they’ll lose vertical dimension. This may happen so slowly over time that you don’t even notice it – but it makes a very big difference in your appearance, the way you chew and even the way you speak. At its worst, ill-fitting dentures may even be responsible for headaches and neck pain. If you’ve developed a lisp or hissing “s” sound, or if your teeth no longer seem to meet properly, an appointment with a Largo denture specialist may be in order.
• The surface of your dentures can become worn and discolored over the years, making them look more and more artificial. Newer materials look more natural and last longer, but even those can wear out over time. If your teeth’s surfaces have worn down or if you’re dissatisfied with the color or appearance of your dentures, make an appointment with a Bellair cosmetic dentist or Largo cosmetic dentist to see if it’s time for a smile upgrade.

And of course, you should always make an appointment with a denture specialist if your dentures slip, feel uncomfortable or need to be repaired. A local Largo cosmetic dentist can evaluate your needs and help you make the best choice for your mouth.

Can a Largo Dentist Help Relieve My Migraines?

You may see your Largo dentist for many reasons – to whiten your smile, fix your dentures or give your teeth a new look – but to relieve your migraines? The principles behind neuromuscular dentistry suggest that fixing your smile can have some surprising benefits in other areas. Here’s a quick summary of one of the possible benefits of neuromuscular dentistry in Largo.

TMJ Dentistry

The Academy of General Dentistry estimates that more than 10 million Americans suffer from temperomandibular joint disorder, often shortened to TMJ or TMD. The symptoms of TMJ include:

• Pain in the jaw that’s worse in the morning or late afternoon
• Swelling on the side of the face
• Sensitive teeth with no dental problems
• Earaches with no infection
• Difficulty chewing
• Frequent tension headaches
• Waking up with headaches frequently

A TMJ dentist can diagnose the causes of your jaw pain, headaches and other TMJ symptoms and recommend appropriate treatment, which may include jaw realignment and restructuring your teeth to correct any misalignments that are causing problems.

So what about migraines? TMJ dentists believe that jaw joint disorders are the cause of many different kinds of craniofacial pain – pain in your head and face. The big reason is that one of the major nerves that serves your brain functions – the trigeminal nerve – interacts almost constantly with the temperomandibular joint. It constantly sends information back and forth between your brain and your face, jaw, tongue, cheeks, lips and mouth. In fact, it accounts for up to 40 percent of your brain’s activity everyday. Neurologists know that the trigeminal nerve is responsible for migraines and many other headaches – but they’re not always sure how and why.

A Largo neuromuscular dentist can help pinpoint areas where dysfunctions in the temperomandibular joint may be compressing or otherwise interfering with the proper function of the trigeminal nerve. He will then devise a treatment strategy that will realign your muscles, bones and teeth to relieve the dysfunction and eliminate the pain. If you suffer from migraines, and a doctor has been unable to determine a cause or help you, a consultation with a Largo dentist may put you on the road to a cure.