How Can I Tell If I Have Oral Cancer?

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Oral cancer is a serious condition. If not caught early, oral cancer can be fatal. Getting early treatment can help you survive this condition. Early treatment starts with early identification. If you think you may have oral cancer, it’s important to speak with your dentist in St. Paul MN. At St. Anthony Park Dental Care, we provide oral cancer screenings that can save lives.

Signs of Oral Cancer

If you have oral cancer, you may notice the following symptoms:

  • Rough spots or crusty areas inside your mouth or on your gums
  • Some areas in your mouth bleed for no reason
  • You have chronic bad breath
  • You have difficulty chewing, talking, swallowing, or moving the parts of your mouth like jaw and tongue
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Unexplained pain and tenderness on your face or neck

Many people who get oral cancer have a history of using tobacco products, but many others do not.

What To Do If You Think You Have Oral Cancer

If you think you may have oral cancer, it’s important to get help from your dentist as soon as possible. Get an oral screening with St. Anthony Park Dental Care. We provide thorough examinations to help patients identify the cause of their symptoms, and if you do have oral cancer, we can discuss next steps.

Need an Oral Cancer Screening? Call Us

If you need oral cancer screening in St. Paul MN don’t wait. Delaying treatment can make surviving cancer more difficult. To schedule your oral screening with St. Anthony Park Dental Care, call today to make an appointment.

How Can I Tell If I Have a Cracked Tooth?

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A cracked tooth can get uncomfortable. Your dentist in St. Paul, MN can help treat your cracked tooth, thus saving you from pain and a tooth infection. Before you can get treatment, you first need to know that you have a problem. Knowing the signs can alert you that it’s time to get help from your dentist. Here’s what you need to know.

Symptoms of a Cracked Tooth

If you have a cracked tooth, you may not notice any symptoms. In fact, you may discover your tooth is cracked when you go to the dentist for a dental examination and cleaning. If you do notice symptoms, it may not be clear that you have a cracked tooth, because the signs of a cracked tooth can resemble symptoms of other problems.

  • Pain when chewing
  • Swelling around the affected tooth
  • Sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures

Depending on how large the crack is and what tooth it’s on, you may also see the crack in the enamel. A hairline crack on a back tooth can be hard to spot, but a crack on a tooth near the front of your mouth can be easy to see.

What To Do If You Have a Cracked Tooth

A crack in your tooth enamel can lead to an infection in your tooth, ultimately leading to a root canal procedure. To avoid a painful infection, it’s important to see the dentist as soon as possible. If you’re noticing the symptoms of a cracked tooth, treat it like a dental emergency.

Are you experiencing the symptoms of a cracked tooth? Sounds like it’s time for a dental examination in St. Paul, MN. Call St. Anthony Park Dental Care to make an appointment with your dentist.

 

What Is a Solea Laser?

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People often put off going to the dentist in St. Paul, MN, because they don’t want to think about what will happen when they get there. Despite the advancements in technology, the vast majority of procedures often involve a longer recovery time than most people want. Of course, this is a generalization that glosses over a lot and lumps all dental practices in the same category.

At St. Anthony Park Dental Care, you’ll meet a staff that cares about whether you want to go to the dentist. It’s just one of the reasons we’ve invested in the Solea laser, also known as a way to replace the anesthesia and the drilling that often keep patients at bay.

What Is Solea?

Solea is a dental laser that was developed in Massachusetts after three decades of research. The combination of laser light and computers allows dentists to perform a number of procedures, from filling a cavity to removing soft tissue in the mouth.

The laser offers a few major perks to patients, including faster treatments and less recovery time. The laser was designed to not only reduce the physical pain the patient is in while in the chair but also the recovery time needed before they can get back to their lives.

Dentists in St. Paul

The staff of a dental practice has to make countless decisions every day, not just about how to best help patients today, but also how they can move their practice into a modern era without overwhelming patients and staff alike. At St. Anthony Park Dental Care, our goal is always to study the markets so we understand which products will offer real value to our patients. If you want to learn more about the Solea laser in St. Paul, MN and whether it can work for you, contact us today for more details.

 

What Happens if I Don’t Get My Wisdom Teeth Pulled?

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Are you searching for a dentist in St. Paul, MN to discuss your wisdom teeth? Or perhaps you are just wondering if you should have your wisdom teeth taken out even though they are not giving you problems? Either way, finding the right dentist to care for your teeth is extremely important.

What Are Wisdom Teeth?

Your wisdom teeth are the third molars at the very back of your upper and lower jaws.

What Happens If I Don’t Get My Wisdom Teeth Pulled? 

Many dentists recommend having your wisdom teeth pulled even if they are not giving you problems and here’s why. Sometimes wisdom teeth don’t have enough room in your mouth to grow properly. And this causes problems such as erupting wisdom teeth which grow at different angles in your jaw. Sometimes erupting wisdom teeth even grow horizontally, which leads to additional problems such as the following.

  • Wisdom teeth that can’t emerge properly and remain in your gums. This can cause them to become impacted within your jaw. Oftentimes, this results in infection and sometimes can damage your other teeth’ roots or jawbone support.
  • Partially emerged wisdom teeth are hard to keep clean, giving way to food to enter which can create bacteria that cause gum disease.
  • Unpulled wisdom teeth can also crowd your other teeth, which can result in them not coming in properly. It could also damage your nearby teeth.

When Is Having My Wisdom Teeth Pulled Absolutely Necessary?

If you experience reoccurring infections, damage to your nearby teeth, pain, tumors, gum disease, cysts, extensive tooth decay, or any other damaging or reoccurring dental issue, your dentist might recommend having your wisdom teeth removed.

Talk with a Dentist in St. Paul, MN to Discuss Your Wisdom Teeth

Whether or not you are having problems with your wisdom teeth, it’s a good idea to talk with your dentist in St. Paul, MN about their recommendations. Contact St. Anthony Park Dental Care today. We would be happy to address all your questions and concerns.

3 Often-Overlooked Signs Your Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed

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While most people do end up seeking wisdom teeth removal in St. Paul, MN, a lot of patients put off the procedure for a long time. The fact is, your wisdom teeth can cause a lot of problems when they don’t have room to grow. However, some issues are easily blamed on something else. Take a look at some of the most commonly overlooked signs that your wisdom teeth should be removed.

Ongoing Sinus Issues

The roots of your wisdom teeth can be pretty substantial. If there is no room for these roots to grow, it can cause inflammation and undue stress on the jaws and the sinuses. You may start to notice that you have sinus pressure, congestion, or even consistent headaches.

Earaches

The added tension around your jaws can sometimes lead to pain in other areas of the body. Specifically, it is not uncommon for wisdom teeth issues to bring about pain in the ears in the form of an earache.

Swollen and Tender Gums

Crowding in the gum line can generate a few problems with your gums. For example, when the wisdom tooth is trying to erupt, but there is no room, a small flap can form over the tooth. Small food particles can get trapped here, which can lead to an infection. You may notice inflammation of the gum tissue in different parts of your mouth, and, certain spots may feel sore and tender.

Talk to an Oral Surgeon in St. Paul, MN About Wisdom Teeth Removal

When you visit a St. Paul, MN dentist for regular exams, they can point out when wisdom teeth start to grow and if this could cause problems. If you suspect that you need wisdom tooth removal surgery, reach out to us at St. Anthony Park Dental Care to set an appointment.

Do I Need an Orthodontist or a Dentist?

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This is a question that’s often asked when people get serious about dental treatments. You may know that an orthodontist in St. Paul has specialty training, but you might not know which professional you should see when you have a dental-related issue. We’ll look at how to choose between the two.

Education and Background

A dentist in St. Paul has a similar education to an orthodontist. Both need to earn their bachelor’s before going onto a 4-year program. However, an orthodontist will then go onto complete a residency in orthodontics after earning either their DDS or DMD degree.

When You Need a Dentist

Dentists perform general treatments, such as fillings, crowns, gum cleaning, general cleaning, and bridges. So if you have a cavity and you need X-rays, you can count on a dentist to make it happen. It should be noted that some dentists will have crossover education without having done the whole nine yards of orthodontic treatments. This means they may offer low-level orthodontic services, though most will refer their patients to a specialist. It all depends on the extent of the problem and what’s been done to fix it.

When You Need an Orthodontist in St. Paul

Crowded teeth, severe overbites, or gaps in the teeth are all reasons to see an orthodontist. These professionals have been trained to straighten teeth, align your jaw, and work with your facial muscles. If you need braces, clear aligners, wires, retainers, or other major appliances, they can help you decide which course will be right for you. At St. Anthony Park Dental Care, we’re here whether you need a cleaning or a full round of braces. Contact us today to learn more about our services or if you want to set up an appointment with either specialist.

Dental Implant Recovery – What to Expect

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Whether you are missing all of your teeth or just a few, dental implants in St. Paul, MN can be one of the most desirable smile restoration options. While the procedure of getting dental implants does not take that long, the recovery process can take a little time. Here is a look at what you can expect at different points after implants are placed.

Immediately After the Procedure

Right after the procedure, you can expect to have some swelling and soreness. This is a typical experience due to the placement of the implant into the soft tissue and bone. Your dentist will likely send you home after the procedure with medication to keep you comfortable, but many patients find the discomfort subsides relatively quickly.

A Few Weeks After the Procedure

A few weeks after the dental implant procedure, a lot of the inflammation and redness will start to subside. At this point, the soft tissue is well on the way to enclosing around the new implant. You may still be more comfortable with softer foods, especially if multiple implants have been placed. However, you will also be fitted with a temporary crown to protect the area until the area is fully healed.

Three Months After the Procedure

At around three months after the dental implant procedure, most patients are fully healed. At this time, the dentist will bring you into the office to create your permanent crown and secure it to the new implant. You should have no issues eating whatever you want, but each individual’s experience can vary.

Talk to a St. Paul, MN Dentist About Dental Implants

Even though recovery after dental implants can take some time, the end result is well worth it. Ready to discuss dental implants with a St. Paul dentist? Reach out to us at St. Anthony Park Dental Care.