How can we help you?
Dr. Olvera is a strong proponent of ongoing education – for both patients and providers. With better education comes a better understanding of how all the pieces of ongoing dental care and treatments come together to create total dental health. This allows you, the patient, to make better, more informed decisions about your own healthcare.
As part of our goal in increasing the knowledge and understanding of each of our patients, we have selected a number of common questions we are often asked about general dental health and the services that we provide. We hope that you will take a moment to read through them.
We also believe in caring for each of our patients on an individual basis. We want to get to know you and understand your individual needs and what we can do to help you meet your dental and healthcare goals.
Please let us know if your question isn’t answered here or if you have further questions. We are always happy to discuss your dental care with you, and we want to make sure that all your questions are always answered. Give us a call or fill out our convenient online form.
Thank you for choosing Dental Dimensions!
Other
With all of the red carpet, celebrity smiles on television and social media these days, you might be having some smile envy. Few people are born with a perfect set of bright white, straight, uniform teeth. Veneers can give you that perfect look, however.
Porcelain veneers are incredibly versatile. They can cover a damaged, discolored, or oddly shaped tooth. Veneers can also improve slightly misaligned teeth without the need for orthodontics. We can place a single veneer to cover one tooth or create a whole new smile that makes you Hollywood ready while looking completely natural.
Talk To Your Dentist
A complete examination is required to determine whether dental veneers are an appropriate restoration to use. While veneers are often quite effective, they do have limitations. For example, veneers cannot predictably mask darkly discolored teeth, teeth that are moderately to severely misaligned, and teeth that have existing large fillings.
If your teeth are stained, you may wish to whiten your teeth prior to beginning any restorative dentistry. This will allow us to create brighter veneers and an overall whiter appearance.
If veneers are not the best solution for you, Dr. Olvera will go over other treatment options that can give you the smile of your dreams. If you've still got questions, please feel free to give our St. Petersburg, FL office a call today!
You should brush your teeth at least twice daily – once in the evening after your last meal or before bed and in the morning. Of course, if your teeth feel like they need to be brushed an additional time during the day, that’s fine. As long as you are using a soft-bristled toothbrush and proper technique, brushing an extra time or two during the day will only be beneficial.
Using a soft-bristled toothbrush will protect your gum tissue and enamel. You can hold the toothbrush gently in one hand. You do not need to have a strong grasp, as it may encourage brushing too hard. It is the tips of the bristles that actually clean the teeth and pressing harder will not clean your teeth better, but it may damage your gums.
Tips On Brushing
Angle the brush at a 45-degree angle toward the gum-line, where plaque collects first. Be sure to brush every surface of the teeth, including the chewing surface.
Use a fluoride toothpaste to help protect enamel. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that helps enamel stay hard, preventing decay. A healthy diet that avoids many sugary snacks, soda (diet or regular), and energy drinks will help teeth stay decay-free.
For more info on brushing your teeth, contact the team here at Dental Dimensions! We'll be excited to answer your questions here at our St. Petersburg, FL office.
Gum Disease Prevention and Treatment
We make treatment recommendations based on the needs of our patients, and since every patient is different, they require differing dental treatment.
In most cases, healthy patients should have at least two professional cleanings a year. It is also important to remember that your oral health needs can change over time and reflect your overall medical health.
In some cases, it may be appropriate for a patient to have more frequent cleanings. Here are some of the scenarios that may cause us to recommend three to four, or more, dental cleanings per year.
Pregnancy
Because of the hormonal changes occurring within the body during pregnancy, we might suggest that you come in more often for a professional cleaning. Pregnancy gingivitis affects up to 50 percent of soon-to-be-mothers.
Your oral health has an impact on the health of your baby. Addressing your condition can help to prevent low birth weights and other complications.
Periodontal Disease
Patients who have undergone a deep dental cleaning after a bout of periodontitis will need to remain diligent as gums heal. We frequently recommend additional hygiene appointments to help you stay healthy.
Reduced Dexterity
As patients age, arthritis and other medical conditions can make it more difficult to brush and floss teeth properly. Dental cleanings can help patients stay healthy during their senior years.
For more info on dental cleanings, please don't hesitate to contact our St. Petersburg, FL dental office today!
If you are diagnosed with gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease, this form of inflammation is reversible.
However, periodontitis, which has several advanced stages of infection, is not reversible. But it can be managed with the proper treatment and periodontal maintenance program.
A special deep cleaning will remove tartar and bacteria from your teeth and the roots below the gumline. We use a topical anesthetic, eliminating the need for needles while providing comfortable treatment. We use a combination of instruments and an ultrasonic cleaner to gently and thoroughly remove debris and tartar, which will promote healing.
Periodontal cleanings typically take longer than one hour. We will provide you with an estimate of treatment time, so you can plan accordingly.
Once this special dental cleaning is complete, our hygienist will arrange a periodontal maintenance treatment plan, customized to meet your needs. For most patients managing periodontitis, this will mean three to four visits per year.
The Risks Of Gum Disease
The earlier your periodontitis is diagnosed and treated, the more favorable your long-term prognosis will be. Gum disease puts your smile at risk and impacts your overall health.
Research links periodontal disease to a number of systemic conditions:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Certain types of cancer
- COPD and other chronic lung conditions
- Low birth weight babies
- Erectile dysfunction
Recent research shows that aging women are more likely to develop cancer of the breasts, lungs, and esophagus, as well as melanoma when they also have gum disease. If you think you have periodontal disease, give our St. Petersburg dental office a call today and setup a consultation.
Preventing gum disease is important to your overall health at any age, and the risk increases as you age. The CDC estimates that over 30 percent of Americans over 30 have some level of gum disease. Once people reach the age of 65, this number soars to over 70 percent. This is an alarming statistic since gum disease is preventable with proper home and professional care.
Brush Teeth at Least Twice Daily
Skimming a toothbrush over your teeth is not enough to remove plaque and protect your gums. Using the proper technique and brushing for a full two minutes will help you get the most out of your home hygiene.
Floss Teeth Daily
People commonly skip flossing, though it is essential to your gum health. We recommend waxed floss to prevent fraying and for ease of use. Be sure to floss in between each tooth and behind the back teeth.
Professional Dental Exams and Cleanings
Even if you are dedicated to brushing and flossing each day, tartar will still develop between teeth and below your gumline. Professional dental cleanings remove tartar before it causes inflammation in the form of gum disease. You will have a fresh clean smile to show off by the time you leave our St. Petersburg dental office.
If you think you're coming down with gum disease, give our office in St. Petersburg a call today, and schedule an exam. Dental exams will identify any oral health concerns when they are less serious and easier to treat.
We recommend that you use waxed dental floss because it makes it easier to ease the floss between your teeth and prevents fraying of the string, which can become lodged between teeth.
If your teeth have wider spacing, woven floss may help you do a better job of removing debris and plaque from your teeth. The most important thing is that you find a dental floss that works best for you.
Make sure you have a long length of floss – enough to use a clean section in between each tooth. Most patients find that 18 to 24 inches is enough.
Wrap floss around each index finger and pull it tight. Wrap the floss around the tooth like a horseshoe and gently move it up and down. Make sure to go slightly into the gumline, but never force the floss.
Be sure to floss on either side of the papilla, the v-shaped gum tissue between teeth. Don’t forget to floss behind posterior teeth (the teeth in the back of the mouth) as well. Gum disease can develop anywhere plaque collects.
Talk to your dentist
Regina, our hygienist, will review flossing techniques with you at your regular cleaning appointments and can even provide hands-on demonstrations. For our patients who have trouble flossing, we highly recommend using the WaterPik system. For more info on this, and other dental questions, please don't hesitate to contact our St. Petersburg, FL dental office!
Tooth-Colored Composite Fillings
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the United States Department of Public Health have conducted multiple studies and determined the mercury found in amalgam fillings is not chemically active. No adverse health effects have ever been linked to amalgam dental fillings.
In spite of the research available, many patients prefer composite, tooth-colored fillings either because they have metal allergies, want to avoid the appearance of dark fillings, or simply based on the presence of mercury. We respect the wishes of our patients and often talk to patients who want to replace their silver amalgam fillings with esthetic tooth-colored options.
An Alternative To Metal Fillings
If your fillings are breaking down, opting to replace them with composite makes perfect sense. It is important to remember that removing a large amalgam fillings may require restoration with a dental crown rather than a filling depending on how much tooth structure remains. Dr. Olvera will offer all of your options and the benefits of each so you can make the decision that works best for you.
Replacing metal fillings for cosmetic reasons may be part of a comprehensive smile makeover and can brighten the overall appearance of your teeth.
If you have questions about the metal components in your dentistry, give us a call! We will be happy to discuss your concerns with you.
Durable, tooth-colored composite fillings eliminate the need for visible metal components of dentistry. Composite fillings have four primary benefits that our patients appreciate:
1. Composite fillings blend into the natural tooth structure to become invisible.
Composite comes in a variety of tooth-colored options to complement the appearance of teeth. Because composite does not whiten in the same way as natural teeth, if you plan to whiten your teeth, doing so before fillings are placed will help ensure a good match.
2. Your tooth can be prepared more conservatively for a composite filling compared to an amalgam (silver) filling.
Silver amalgam fillings require the removal of more tooth structure to anchor to the tooth. Composite material bonds directly to the tooth structure, requiring only the removal of diseased or damaged portions of the tooth.
3. Most patients have less sensitivity following the filling procedure with composite fillings because composite fillings are not good conductors like their metal counterparts.
Tooth-colored fillings are also less susceptible to expansion and contraction with temperature changes.
4. Composite provides a solution for small cosmetic problems such as filling small chips or reshaping teeth.
Composite bonding is an affordable and non-invasive way to improve the appearance of teeth without complex procedures or multiple appointments.
Reach Out To Your Dentist
If you've got questions about fillings, don't hesitate to call your dentist. They will be happy to setup a consultation with you, and answer any questions that you may have regarding your dental health. For more information on fillings, and other dental procedures, call our St. Petersburg, FL dental office today!
Dental Restorations
Dental bridges can blend in very well with your surrounding natural teeth thanks to the aid of color photography. When creating bridges and other restorations, Dr. Olvera provides his dental laboratory with color photographs of your teeth to capture the color and contours so that the laboratory can fabricate the most natural-looking restoration possible.
A highly esthetic dental bridge is about more than just matching the color of the adjacent teeth. Different people have differently shaped teeth that give their smiles a unique look. Dr. Olvera will take all of this information into account when creating a dental bridge, so that your bridge looks natural and seamless.
If you have stained teeth and would like a brighter smile, teeth whitening before beginning the dental bridge process will give you better results. If you wait to whiten your teeth until after you have your bridge permanently placed, it might stand out against the brighter color of your natural teeth.
Give Us A Call
If you want to learn more about what to expect if you choose to move forward with a dental crown, contact us for an appointment with Dr. Jason Olvera.
We also offer dental implants, partial dentures, and complete dentures to complete your smile.
How long your dentistry lasts depends on a number of factors. Perhaps the best way to protect your dentistry is to care for it properly. When you care for your teeth and smile, your dental crowns and onlays can last between five and fifteen years. In some cases, dental restorations can last even longer.
Good Home Care
Practicing excellent home care, including brushing, flossing, and regular dental cleanings will prevent secondary decay, which can put any dental restoration at risk. We will take diagnostic x-rays to identify any problems.
Gum disease will not only put your teeth and dentistry at risk but also your overall health.
Wear a Night Guard
If you have a teeth clenching or grinding habit, called bruxism, your natural teeth and dentistry can break down quickly. Just like your natural teeth, a dental crown can fracture or fall out when placed under extreme stress. A quick way to reduce the longevity of your dental crown is to sleep unprotected while you grind your teeth all night. A custom night guard will place a barrier between your upper and lower teeth and make your crown less likely to fracture.
For patients with a heavy bite or grinding habit, we may recommend full gold crowns for posterior teeth (those in the back of your mouth).
Looking for more info on dental crowns and on lays? Go ahead and give our dental office in St. Petersburg, FL, a call today!
A dental crown is a fixed dental restoration that covers the entire tooth and is cemented permanently in place. Crowns come in a variety of materials.
- Full gold crowns
- All-ceramic crowns
- Blended crowns
Many patients choose to have all-ceramic or porcelain crowns, especially on teeth that are visible when you smile. Each dental crown is a customized restoration designed to fit and look just like natural teeth. Porcelain crowns can be colored and shaded to look just like adjacent teeth. Modern materials even have natural-looking translucent options.
A dental crown provides protection and stability for damaged and fractured teeth. Unlike a filling, they fit completely over the tooth, like a helmet, and take on much of the force from chewing.
Typically, dental crowns take two appointments to complete. The first appointment will be to prepare the tooth and remove any damaged tooth structure or decay. We will also make space for your dental crown to fit.
The Process Of Getting Dental Crowns
We will take impressions of the tooth and send it off to our trusted dental lab to create your final restoration. In the meantime, we will place a protective temporary restoration on your tooth to keep out food and bacteria.
The second appointment is to place your final crown and make any small adjustments to ensure a comfortable fit. If you've got more questions about dental implants, please feel free to give our St. Petersburg, FL dental office a call today! We'll be happy to help you out.
Dentures and Partials
Dentures should be removed at night to provide your gums and other soft tissues a chance to “relax” while you sleep.
Store your dentures in a denture case with a little bit of water to prevent the denture from drying out. This is essential, as dentures will no longer fit comfortably if they become too dry.
A regular toothbrush can be used to clean your dentures on a daily basis. For removing tough stains, Dr. Olvera recommends soaking your denture in a baggie of Sno Bol and water for five to ten minutes. Be sure to rinse your dentures after cleaning them or if food becomes lodged between the denture and your gums.
Additional Care
Caring for yourself is important, too! We recommend a minimum of a yearly exam for people with complete dentures. We will check your denture for damage or cracks, which can collect bacteria and foul odors.
Dr. Olvera will also check your gums for signs of denture sores and make minor adjustments to keep your denture feeling comfortable.
Another vital component of your yearly exam is an oral cancer screening. Dr. Olvera will look for any suspicious lesions that may indicate cancerous or pre-cancerous cells. Early detection saves lives! So if you're wondering more about dentures, give our St. Petersburg, FL dental office a call.
Root Canal Therapy
Of all dental procedures, root canals have the most negative reputation. This is an unfair conclusion since root canal therapy actually relieves pain and swelling caused by an infection and is a valuable procedure designed to save your tooth.
At Dental Dimensions, we believe that all dental treatment can be comfortable – including root canal therapy.
Usually, patients will feel little-to-no discomfort during the root canal procedure because we thoroughly numb the tooth before we begin. Every patient is different. Rest assured that we will check in with you to make sure you stay comfortable while receiving treatment.
Modern techniques, materials, and local dental anesthetics make the root canal procedure more comfortable. Some post-treatment sensitivity is normal for a few days and can usually be managed with an over-the-counter pain medication, which will also assist with any inflammation left by the infection.
What To Expect
We will go over what to expect for your treatment and how to care for your tooth after you have a root canal so that you have all of the information you need to stay comfortable and healthy until your follow-up appointment.
If you are experiencing a dental emergency in St. Petersburg, FL, contact our dental office. We strive to treat emergencies quickly.
Tooth Extractions
We strive to provide comfortable treatment, no matter the procedure. Part of the treatment process is following post-op instructions closely to enjoy proper healing without complications.
Post-op discomfort and swelling can occur after a dental extraction and usually lessen after about the third day of the procedure. Over-the-counter or prescription medication will help you recover more comfortably. It’s best to take your medication at regular intervals for the first couple of days. This will assist in managing inflammation.
You should also avoid a couple of habits during the healing process:
- Smoking
- Drinking through a straw
The suction from these activities may dislodge the beneficial healing tissue at the extraction site, causing a painful condition called dry socket.
Gently cleaning the area will also keep the tissue in place. Never use a water flosser or electric toothbrush directly on the healing area until the extraction site closes.
It will take another three to six months for the extraction site to heal fully. Generally, the discomfort will resolve after about one week following your extraction. If you ever have severe pain or need advice about how to take care of your extraction site, give us a call. We are always here to help.
Contact Your Dentist
If you've recently gotten a dental extraction, or are thinking you may need a dental extraction, give your dentist a call. They will be able to take a look at your specific situation, and recommend the best course of action for your smile. For more info on extractions, call our St. Petersburg, FL dental office today!