Do you have a hard, bony lump along your gum line? If you do, we understand how terrifying it can be to experience something unusual. However, bony bumps along the gumline aren’t a cause for concern, as your dentist or oral surgeon can inspect your gums, diagnose them, and offer the best treatment for your condition. But why do bony protrusions occur along the gum line? In this article, we’ll go over the possible causes and provide ways to help you treat it. 

Why Do Hard Bony Lumps Occur On Your Gums? Here are Some Potential Causes:

Bony growths are referred to as osteomas or exostosis; these lumps can occur from some form of bone irritation, chronic bone injury, or even occur after a tooth extraction/surgery! However, it’s important to reach out to your dentist to get a proper diagnosis, as they will be the best available resource for treatment, especially if you are experiencing pain, swelling, and irritation along your gumline. Here are some of the most common causes of bony lumps along the gumline: 

Visit St. Clair Dental PLLC For Valuable Dental Care and Gum Treatment!

If you’re experiencing a swollen, hard lump along your mouth, then it’s essential to seek out treatment from your local dentist. At St. Clair Dental PLLC, our dentists can provide diagnosis and treatment for hard, bony lumps through our compassionate service under Dr. Maureen Karl. Visit our office in Granbury, TX, today by calling (817) 910-2880!

If you’re looking forward to getting dental implants or have recently gotten dental implants, then congratulations! Getting implants can be a wonderful, exciting time and help you have a lasting smile! It’s essential that during this time, you follow the instructions provided by your dentist or oral surgeon to ensure that you have a smooth healing process. However, one piece of information you should already know is that you should avoid dairy products.

Why Should You Avoid Dairy Products After Implant Surgery?

Feeling uncomfortable with your smile is perfectly normal, and getting dental implants can be a fantastic way to improve your smile and overall health. After your implant surgery, you may feel signs of discomfort and pain during the first few days of healing. It’s recommended that you should take the time to relax and recover from your surgery, using prescription or over-the-counter pain relievers. Making the time to ensure that you heal is very important, as it can help improve your surgery’s overall success. It’s also essential to eat soft foods during the first few days to help reduce the risk of damage to your surgical site and allow the site to develop blood clots. For a quick guide on what not to eat, here are some foods you should avoid: 

While these restrictions are temporary, one such food that you shouldn’t have is any dairy products. While it is a great source of protein and calcium, dairy is known to cause an inflammatory response throughout the tissues. Any inflammation can impact how your mouth heals during surgery and cause issues with implant placement and impact the osseointegration process. Dairy also can trigger nausea and vomiting in some people, similar to those with severe lactose intolerance. When this occurs, nausea and vomiting can cause the stomach acids to damage the enamel over time, which can be especially painful for a healing site. 

If you’re looking forward to your new implants, avoid dairy products in the days after your surgery is complete. If you’re looking for a speedy way to recover and make the most of your implant surgery, then eat plenty of protein! During your first few days of eating soft foods, good protein sources such as protein powder to your meals and smoothies. This is because protein works to help repair tissues, fight off infections, and manage your energy levels while you’re healing. 

Get In Touch With St. Clair Dental PLLC For Implant Care Tips and More! 

At St. Clair Dental PLLC, Dr. Maureen Karl and her team will be able to provide you with excellent quality dental care. If you are searching for dental care throughout the Granbury, TX area and require a consultation for implants, seek out St. Clair Dental by calling (817) 910-2880 today. 

General and cosmetic dentists provide similar procedures, including teeth whitening, veneers, and other dental restorations. But can general dentists perform cosmetic dentistry? Are they qualified to provide restorative treatments? Today, we’ll explore how both cosmetic and general dentists provide their services, their differences, and what you should consider when visiting your dentist for cosmetic treatment. 

Can A General Dentist Perform Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures? 

In short, yes, because the training required to perform restorations is part of every dentist’s education. All dentists can help you decide on the proper cosmetic treatment and perform it efficiently. But despite this, there are some significant differences between cosmetic and general dentists:

These dentists have different focuses on dentistry, and both are invaluable to dentistry. Many specialties offer services to help patients receive customized, personalized care based on their specific needs. While both can perform teeth whitening procedures, they will perform those procedures based on their knowledge and experience, meaning it’s essential to find the dentist you need most according to what they can provide. This means all cosmetic procedures, such as crowns and implants, often depend on the dentist’s experience, the patient’s requirements, and the overall standards of care set by their education. 

All restorative procedures have a cosmetic element because patients always seek to have a healthy smile and a beautiful one. If you’re faced with advanced problems that prevent your general dentist from treating your teeth, a cosmetic dentist can provide a wide selection of cosmetic treatments to improve your smile’s appearance. However, your general dentist will be able to perform all the necessary restorative treatments to keep your smile healthy. Most importantly, schedule an appointment for a routine exam! 

Contact Us And Learn About Our Cosmetic Dental Procedures Today!

If you want cosmetic dental treatments in Granbury, TX, come to St. Clair Dental PLLC! Dr. Maureen Karl and her team can provide comprehensive dental care services for all her patients at our practice. To learn more about your options for cosmetic treatments, receive a dental checkup, or get referred to a specialist, call (817) 910-2880 to schedule an appointment. 

Even though we all wish things would stay the same every day, that is regrettably different from how life is. Things shift every day and occasionally several times in a single 24-hour period. But as we age, our bodies undergo alterations that may occur more gradually. But that doesn’t make them any less significant. Your dentist wants you to know that while men and women go through various phases and changes throughout their lifetimes, women’s hormonal changes can impact general and oral health.

How Women’s Dental Health Concerns Differ From Men’s 

Women and men go through almost the same stages of life. While men don’t go through menopause, they still age like anyone else. The stages in a woman’s life can present many dental health concerns:

When it comes to oral health, men and women are very comparable. For instance, they share the same structure, gum tissue, and tooth count. Men and women do, however, have slightly different oral health, which is caused by biological and societal factors. Women are more likely than men to visit the dentist, while men are more likely to acquire gum disease and oral cancer.

Clair Dental PLLC Can Help You With All Your Dental Concerns.

Being a woman is challenging enough without constantly worrying about dental visits. The staff at St. Clair Dental PLLC can help you with your concerns. Call Dr. Maureen Karl at (817) 910-2880 to schedule an appointment today!

For most people, orofacial pain is a common, everyday experience, and most go through it without treatment. Many people don’t know what causes their orofacial pain and often go through it without understanding what causes it. Some people, in particular, may face a condition called trigeminal neuralgia, an orofacial condition that causes severe, electrically shocking pain. It’s considered one of the most painful oral conditions known today and challenging to treat. However, it’s essential to know that orofacial pain can be treated, and through working with your local oral surgeons, they can provide oral surgery options to help treat it and give you pain relief. 

How Does Oral Surgery Provide Relief From Trigeminal Neuralgia and Orofacial Pain 

Orofacial pain can be dull and throbbing, sharp and stabbing, burning and lingering, or a combination of those symptoms. Some people face compounded symptoms such as headaches, jaw clicking, and muscle soreness alongside their orofacial pain. Orofacial pain may be caused by a variety of conditions, including: 

Some people face a condition called trigeminal neuralgia, an orofacial condition that’s caused by the malfunction of the fifth cranial nerve. Depending on the location of that nerve damage, shocking electric pain can occur along the teeth, gums, jawline, cheeks, side nose, and forehead. As an excruciating condition, it can occur at random intervals and be challenging to treat, depending on what causes it. 

However, many oral surgeons can provide effective oral surgery treatments to help treat orofacial conditions. Some of these surgical treatment options include: 

Learn About Oral Surgery Methods From St. Clair Dental PLLC

As dentists who care about their patients throughout our community, Dr. Maureen Karl and her team work to provide comprehensive dental care in Granbury, TX, through affordable dental care treatment plans. For more information about whether or not to get oral surgery for orofacial pain, speak to our dentists today by calling (817) 910-2880. 

Receiving a dental restoration can be one of the best and most cost-effective ways to care for your health. But what exactly is considered a dental restoration? How do dental restorations work? How do dentists provide dental restorations? At St. Clair Dental PLLC, we can provide a basic introduction to dental restorations, how they work, and how they can improve your smile.

What’s Considered a Dental Restoration? 

Dental restorations are treatment methods used to repair or improve teeth. Restorations work to improve your oral health and function by using various medical techniques to correct damage, remove decay, and improve your smile’s appearance. Restorations can be used for multiple purposes, and because of how flexible these treatments are, dentists have more available to customize their treatments for their patient’s needs. 

Dental restorations are classified into two different categories, which include: 

Many dentists are qualified to provide dental restorations, but many dentists will often provide these restorations depending on the patient’s goals. For instance, cosmetic dentists will often provide dental restorations that are more aesthetic-focused. In contrast, other dentists, such as endodontists or orthodontists, can provide restorations that are intrinsically focused on treatment within their expertise. 

Choose Your Dental Restoration With St. Clair Dental PLLC

If you’re having teeth problems, see our dentists at St. Clair Dental PLLC. Our dentists can provide you with many restorative treatments to ensure you have a healthy smile for years to come. Call our practice today to schedule an appointment with our team to learn more!

When most people think about their oral health, they most often think about their teeth. However, our gums are often one of the most neglected parts of our mouths, and when faced with the onset of bacteria, they can be affected by gum disease. Gum disease is a complex disease that’s difficult to treat in its later stages, and when it progresses to periodontal disease, people with this disease will often feel like they’re facing a life-long battle with their gums. We’re here to help you with your oral health by giving you the most up-to-date information about gum disease treatment, how often it needs to be done, and what you can do now to protect your gums from periodontal disease. 

What Happens When You Need Gum Disease Treatment? 

Gum disease occurs in three stages of development, and your treatment depends on your current stage. These stages include: 

Because of the severity of this disease and how it progresses, your gum disease treatment will depend on your gum disease stage. If you’re faced with periodontitis, you will most likely need regular maintenance cleanings, about four times a year, to help clean out signs of deep pockets and prevent bacteria growth. For early periodontal disease and plaque buildup, the number of cleanings and treatments you get will depend on your condition and how well your oral hygiene is maintained to see successful results. 

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene With St. Clair Dental PLLC

If you’re having trouble maintaining good oral hygiene, then our team at St. Clair Dental PLLC can help. Through our caring, compassionate team of dentists, we can help clean your teeth and protect your mouth from the effects of gum disease and give you excellent resources for treatment options. For more information, make sure to schedule an appointment with St. Clair Dental PLLC by calling us or scheduling an appointment online.  

Patients have various dentists to choose from for their oral health – endodontists, prosthodontists, orthodontists, and even oral surgeons. However, most specialties work to treat more complex conditions. Oral surgeons are considered a valuable asset in dentistry due to the specifics of their field. Choosing between a general dentist or oral surgeon for your concern can be challenging when it comes to your treatment. That’s why we’re here to help you decide if seeing an oral surgeon is best for you!

General Dentists vs. Oral Surgeons: What’s The Difference? 

Oral surgeons and general dentists are both irreplaceable in dentistry – just like many other specialties, these two groups of dentists focus on different aspects of your care to improve your oral health. However, they both makeup parts of what’s considered complete dental care, as each person’s oral health is unique. When it comes to these two dentists, they’re vastly different in many ways, including:

Oral surgeons provide valuable experience and treatment for patients everywhere, like endodontists, periodontists, and pediatric dentists. All of these specialties make up the whole that is dentistry, and by learning about them, you can find what you need and care for your teeth easily. 

Find The Best Dental Professional For You

Always talk with a dentist first, especially if you are experiencing issues that are impacting your oral health. If you want to learn more about what treatments will work best for you, speak with an oral surgeon or contact your primary dentist for more information. 

Malocclusion, also known as misaligned teeth, is a vast oral health problem that affects between 39% and 93% of children and adolescents yearly. One of the best methods orthodontists have for treating this problem is with braces. However, these devices can be uncomfortable and painful, especially for those getting used to their first braces. For those new to wearing braces, we have some tips to help ease the transition and ensure that your teeth are healthy and aligned. 

How Do We Treat Orthodontic Pain From Braces?

Symptoms such as mild tenderness, puffiness, and sensitivity are expected during the first few weeks of adjustment. For children and adolescents, it takes work to get comfortable wearing their braces. This occurs because the archwires and brackets used to straighten the teeth can irritate the gums and mouth, causing discomfort and swelling. But there are options for treating these symptoms, and we recommend the following: 

These approaches are common ways to treat pain experienced from braces, but in more severe cases where the braces cause bleeding, chipped enamel, and excruciating pain, seeking immediate attention from your orthodontist or dentist is the best course of action. Always check your symptoms because it could indicate that the braces are not placed on correctly or some other problem with treatment that needs to be addressed. It is also important to know that certain foods, poor hydration, and poor brushing habits can lead to mouth irritation, so always brush your teeth, floss regularly, and have a healthy diet to keep your teeth healthy. 

Ask Your Dentist For More Tips For Braces Pain

By contacting your dentist, they will be able to identify the causes of your discomfort and suggest methods and treatment options for reducing your pain and helping you gain the most out of your orthodontic treatment. In the meantime, schedule an appointment with your primary dentist to learn more about braces, how to take care of your teeth, and other factors that go into your dental care.

Many dentistry devices are considered essential, and for cosmetic dentists, their tools of the trade are their lifeline. Cosmetic and restorative dentists need the right tools to create a seamless, enjoyable visit for their patients. Through the list of tools below, cosmetic dentists can provide their patients with excellent care.

The Tools Cosmetic Dentists Use For Perfect Smiles

While most dental products you may be familiar with are toothbrushes and toothpaste, dentists work with loads of tools and equipment manufactured by famous brands to give patients the treatments they need for healthy teeth. Treatments such as implants, crowns, veneers, and even dentures rely on the aesthetic skill of the dentist, but the other half of the equation works with the technology they use in today’s offices to give you a smile you want most. Some of the tools your dentists will rely on to help create your smile include:

These pieces of equipment are just a few that your dentist relies on to deliver excellent oral health care. Each of these machines serves a different purpose but is known and respected by the dental community.

Consult Your Dentist About Their Technology and Cosmetic Care

Creating a beautiful dental restoration requires that your dentist has the right tools on hand for the job. Using state-of-the-art equipment is one of the most important aspects of your dentist’s ability to create beautiful restorations. Dentists are experts in the forms of oral health care equipment and products available today. They research and deeply understand the value of these products and how effective they truly are for your smile. If you want to experience quality restorative dental care, consult with your provider during your next visit, and they’ll be able to refer you to a cosmetic or restorative dentist that you and your family can rely on.