Shane Smith DDS Blog

Dental insurance can make it much easier to get the care your smile needs to stay healthy without putting unnecessary strain on your bank account. But do you have a clear idea of what exactly your plan covers? It’s important to make sure you completely understand your benefits so that you can get the absolute most out of them. To help you do that, here’s a closer look at the kind of coverage that you can typically expect your dental insurance to provide.

Many patients assume that when it comes to root canals and tooth extractions, the latter are far less expensive. However, the removal process and what is required afterward (replacement) can quickly add up. If you want to save more than just your smile, discover how keeping it fully intact can help your wallet stay full.

While root canals are often portrayed as grueling ordeals on TV and in movies, these depictions are not accurate. In reality, modern root canals are safe, completely painless, and often the best way to address a miserable toothache caused by untreated enamel decay. Here’s a quick look at a few reasons why they may be necessary and why you won’t regret receiving the treatment if your dentist recommends it.

A severe, throbbing toothache may be the result of an advanced dental infection that has reached the soft pulp tissue at the center of the tooth. This issue will not get better without the help of a qualified dental professional, but there are cases where severe dental pain suddenly disappears for seemingly no reason. Here’s why you will probably still need root canal treatment if this happens as well as a guide to how the procedure works.

When you hear the words “root canal,” you might automatically think of scary media depictions of this procedure. Those accounts are highly exaggerated! In fact, root canal therapy is nothing to be afraid of. In this blog post, you will learn some key facts about it that may assuage your anxieties and build your appreciation for this tooth-saving treatment.

SureSmile is a remarkable alternative to traditional metal braces that allows patients to straighten their teeth with removable and virtually invisible clear aligners. While many patients report that SureSmile is an easier and more convenient orthodontic method than braces, it still requires a fair deal of effort and discipline. Here’s a brief guide to how SureSmile works and how you can keep your treatment on track while preserving your oral health.

Dental crowns are a popular and effective solution for restoring damaged, decayed, or worn-down teeth. They act as protective caps that cover the visible part of the tooth, restoring its shape, strength, and appearance. But while crowns are designed to be durable, they’re not indestructible. So, how long do dental crowns really last? The answer depends on several factors, including the type of crown, your oral hygiene habits, and how well you care for your teeth. On average, dental crowns last between 10 to 15 years, but with proper care, many can last even longer – up to 20 years or more.

Let’s say you’re just trying to enjoy a good meal or hold a pleasant conversation, but your dentures keep slipping out of place. This isn’t just uncomfortable – it makes it really difficult to move your mouth the way you need to for these activities. By judging the name alone, you’d likely start to think that denture adhesive could help. You’d be right, but there are a few things you should know about applying it.

To learn more about this useful product and how to use it properly, keep reading!

It’s easy to think veneers don’t need care or maintenance at first. Since the shells lack enamel and won’t decay, you could assume they’ll never fail or fall off. However, there’s honestly such a thing as the best type of toothpaste for veneers. Using it will ensure your shells stay strong and last many years to come. If you’d like to learn more, just read this primer on the matter from your local Jonesboro dentist.

If you don’t practice good oral hygiene, you may end up with cavities, gum disease, and other dental complications. These issues are obviously already bad enough by themselves, but did you know they could potentially have a negative impact on the rest of your body? Poor dental health could put you at risk for a number of medical problems; your preventive dentist is here with 5 particularly noteworthy examples.