Blue Coast Dental Group Blog

Tooth extraction is sometimes the best way to preserve a patient’s oral and overall health, but it can lead to unpleasant complications if they do not comply with their aftercare instructions. In particular, dry socket is a miserably uncomfortable condition that happens if the protective clot forming over an extraction site is broken or dislodged. Here’s a brief guide to what dry socket is as well as a few tips for preventing it.

Do you have a special event coming up where you’d like to look your best? Perhaps you’re getting married, have a major presentation, or will be taking senior photos for graduation. If you’re considering whitening your teeth to prepare your smile for your big day, you may be wondering when you should start, and which method works best. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most popular products, and a suggested timeline for smile success!

Do you have a gummy smile that makes your teeth look shorter and smaller? While this could be genetic, it can also be caused by a condition called gingival hyperplasia. But while excess gum tissue may seem harmless and strictly cosmetic, leaving it overgrown can cause a variety of oral health problems. Here’s why it’s important to treat it at the source.

If you have minor spacing or alignment issues in your smile, you may be wondering what your best options are to fix them. Thankfully, there are often several choices. Both Invisalign and porcelain veneers can correct these problems, each with their own specific pros and cons. Here’s some more information to help you decide which method makes more sense for your lifestyle!

Normally, the upper teeth should slightly overlap the lower teeth when you bite down. But if they’re protruding too much, you have what is known as an overbite. Many people with this condition are tempted to ignore the problem – but this is often a mistake. Your dentist is here to explain the consequences of an overbite and why you should have it corrected with Invisalign as soon as possible.

Dental emergencies such as broken teeth and severe oral pain can definitely be stressful –especially if you’re not sure how you’re going to pay for your treatment. Can you expect your dental insurance plan to cover an emergency dental visit? And if so, what will that coverage look like? Here’s what you need to know in order to make sure that you’re as prepared as possible for the worst-case scenario.

If you have any level of familiarity with the world of orthodontia, you likely know that Invisalign uses a series of clear, custom aligner trays to shift teeth into their proper places. But did you know that Invisalign attachments are sometimes necessary for the treatment to be successful? This blog post discusses what those attachments are, how they work, and how they may affect your overall treatment experience.

Invisalign is famous because it offers a convenient, discreet, and effective way to straighten teeth. If you are thinking about undergoing this treatment, you might be curious about what the process entails. How can you get started, and what can you expect along the way? In this blog post, we provide a step-by-step overview of the road ahead.

After you finished your treatment with braces or Invisalign, you were instructed to wear a retainer. Perhaps you complied with directions for a while, but maybe your good habits fell by the wayside over time. Now, you might have noticed that your teeth have started to drift out of place. Can you use your old retainer to straighten them? This blog post explains what you should know.

If you are tired of the inconveniences that come with dental misalignment, you have probably thought about getting Invisalign treatment to straighten your smile. However, if you grind your teeth, you might wonder if that will interfere with your candidacy for Invisalign. Will bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching) cause your aligners to wear down faster? This blog post discusses some important points that you should keep in mind.