Tuesday, April 28, 2015

What’s Better – Clear Braces or Metal Braces?

Advancements in dental and orthodontic treatment have given patients more options than ever for helping their smiles look and feel healthier. These new treatment options are often more comfortable and discreet, and in the case of clear braces vs. metal braces, can leave you wondering which is best.
The truth is that both clear braces and regular metal braces are capable of straightening your teeth, but consider some of the pros and cons below:

Metal braces treat the widest variety of dental problems – If you have severe orthodontic issues, such as complicated bite misalignment, regular braces are often the best way to address these problems and leave you with a stunning new smile. However, complex bite and alignment issues don’t happen to everyone, which means that…

Clear aligner therapy can treat most patients – Orthodontic systems that use clear plastic aligners to move your teeth, such as Invisalign® does, are able to treat moderate orthodontic problems, such as crowded teeth or teeth that are spaced too far apart. But for your clear aligners to do their best…

You have to be diligent about wearing your clear aligner trays – Systems like Invisalign® work their best when you wear them for the recommended time. Your clear aligners should be kept on for at least 22 hours a day and they should only be removed for eating and brushing your teeth. If you’re worried about being able to keep to a regimen of wearing your aligner trays, but still want to keep a low profile for orthodontic treatment, consider that…

You can choose tooth-colored metal braces for straightening your teeth – Dr. Carr offers Six Month Smiles, which is a twist on modern braces. With tooth-colored brackets and wires, Six Month Smiles blends in with your natural teeth and treats orthodontic problems without the high visibility of metal braces and in a shorter amount of time.


No matter what your dental issue may be, Dr. Carr has options to help you with metal braces, Invisalign®, and Six Month Smiles in Temecula and Hemet. Contact one of our offices today to learn more about getting braces for a more beautiful smile. 

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

What You Might Not Have Known about Root Canals

Out of the more common dental treatments that patients receive, root canal therapy unfairly gets the worst rap. You might have heard someone compare a particularly unpleasant life event as preferable to getting a root canal, but root canal therapy isn’t what most people make it out to be.

Root Canals Restore Your Oral Health – When you have an infected or damaged tooth, a root canal removes affected material and prevents the spread of infection and decay to other, healthy teeth.

Getting a Root Canal is Painless - Contrary to popular belief, getting a root canal is a comfortable procedure. Before beginning treatment, Dr. Carr thoroughly numbs the area around your tooth to ensure that you don’t experience any discomfort. Many patients equate the root canal process to the routine procedure of getting a cavity filled.

With a Root Canal, You Avoid Tooth Extraction – For some patients, teeth that are damaged or infected need to be removed entirely to prevent damage to healthy teeth – and choosing the best way to replace an extracted tooth comes with its own set of problems. If you get a root canal before it’s too late, the procedure actually allows you to keep your natural tooth. By removing the infected material from inside your tooth, your natural tooth structure is preserved and can remain in place.

Here’s What Actually Happens During a Root Canal:

Dr. Carr accesses the dentin (the material inside your tooth) via a small hole he’ll create in the tooth enamel. The infected dentin is removed and your tooth is filled with a kind of dental cement that helps your now decay-free tooth stay strong.

Treatment is complete when Dr. Carr places a custom-made dental crown over your tooth so your smile looks healthy and free of damage.

Do you have an infected tooth? Have you been putting off treatment because you’re worried that you might need a root canal? Dr. Carr offers root canal therapy in Temecula and Hemet to help you restore your oral health and keep your natural teeth. Contact us today if you have a tooth ache or a damaged and sensitive tooth, as these issues may need to be addressed with root canal therapy.