Planning a dental visit as an adult can be a bit of a hassle. If you have to request time off from work or need to plan for childcare during the appointment, you may be tempted to put off your twice-annual cleaning visits. Yet skipping routine dental visit appointments can add up and threaten your oral health over time. It's essential to make all your dental visits, sometimes even more than two per year, to ensure you catch early warning signs of problems like gum disease.

The Value of Professional Cleaning

First, the deep cleaning you receive twice a year during your dental visit makes a big difference to your overall health. Removing tartar on the teeth before it hardens and becomes plaque is essential, and that's why you brush twice a day. But without the cleaning to remove the little bit of tartar that builds up even on perfectly brushed teeth, you'll eventually find the early stages of gum disease setting in. That's why you shouldn't go longer than six months without seeing the dentist, even if you think you're handling your oral care routine pretty well. Missing out on one or two cleanings here and there won't hurt, but don't make a habit of skipping them.

Finding a Flexible Dentist Near Me

If it's difficult to schedule your dentist appointments every six months, try looking for a more flexible dentist. Extended office hours or weekend appointments can help you get the care you need without having to completely rearrange your schedule. If possible, make it clear to your employer that you value your oral health and can't compromise on missing essential care visits. When the issue is family responsibilities instead, look for a dentist that offers care for your children or comfortable waiting areas for older parents while you're in the dentist's chair.

Dealing with Gum Disease

Missing out on a few dental visits in a row can certainly leave you dealing with the early stages of gum disease. But even just routine skipping of one visit per year can leave you dealing with gum inflammation that could have been avoided. A single dental visit a year is better than nothing, but it puts you at higher risk of developing gum disease due to the buildup of tartar at the gum line. It also makes it harder for the dentist to find problems like tooth decay or abscesses that lead to the need for a root canal. If you stop by every six months, you're helping to catch all of these issues early so they can be treated with minimal effort.

Treating Cavities at the Early Stages

Cavities can worsen quickly once tooth decay sets in. A quick dentist visit catches the decay at the start where only a minor filling is needed. Placing larger fillings to cover greater patches of tooth decay increases the likelihood of early failure or other issues. Keep your fillings small when they are needed by not avoiding any routine dental visits.

Making Time for Oral Healthcare

The key is finding time for an appointment every six months, even if it means rearranging your schedule a little. Prioritizing these routine visits can keep them even shorter by eliminating the need for extensive checking for potential tooth decay or other problems. Making time for taking care of your teeth has to be more than just an everyday decision. Scheduling at least two visits a year to the dentist will support your overall health by reducing inflammation that can be caused by gum disease. If you have an ongoing dental health concern, you may even need to visit more than twice per year until you've completed all of the necessary treatments.

King Dental is ready to help with flexible scheduling for your routine dental appointments. Choose us as your Huntsville dentist today.

If you are missing one or more teeth, you may have heard about dental implants and wondered if they provide more benefits than dentures or dental bridges. You will probably be glad to know that dental implants provide a wide variety of benefits.

Dental implants replace the roots of your teeth; topped with a dental crown, dental implants create very realistic looking teeth that function as well as real teeth. Dental implants feature a metal rod insert into your jaw bone. In time, this metal rod fuses with your jawbone to create a sturdy foundation for the dental crown. While dental implants require several trips to your dentist for placement, they can create smiles that last a lifetime. Dental implants cost a little more to have put in, but will last a lifetime.

Are dental implants painful?

The procedure to have the metal rod implanted into your jaw can be uncomfortable, but your dentist will administer local anesthesia to reduce discomfort.

The dentists at King Dental are the leaders in dental implants in Huntsville, Alabama. Here is what you need to know about the benefits of dental implants.

5 Jaw-dropping Benefits of Dental Implants

1. Maintains bone strength

Your natural teeth do more than just help you eat food and have a dazzling smile – your teeth also keep your jaw bone strong. Biting and chewing exerts quite a bit of force on your teeth, and this force travels down through the tooth into the root that holds the tooth in your jaw. The force of chewing then travels through the root into your jaw, where it stimulates a process known as bone remodeling. In this process, your jaw bone breaks down old tissue and rebuilds new tissue, which keeps your jawbone strong to hold onto your teeth securely.

When you lose one or more teeth, you also lose the beneficial pressure that stimulates bone remodeling. Over time, the affected area of your jaw loses bone strength and bone density along with its ability to hold onto your teeth; this puts nearby teeth at risk of falling out.

Because they work as artificial tooth roots, dental implants are like real teeth in that the forces of biting and chewing transfer down to your jawbone to stimulate bone remodeling.

2. Protects oral health

Because it is wet, warm and dark, the mouth is the perfect breeding ground for many types of bacteria. When you lose a tooth, it leaves an exposed area of gum open – chewing food can introduce bacteria into the exposed gum. What’s more, the gum disease that caused you to lose your tooth can increase your risk for infection.

3. Makes oral hygiene easier

Brushing dentures and dental bridges is inconvenient. Cleaning dentures requires special brushes, cups, and soaking solutions in addition to the regular brushes and floss used to clean the rest of your natural teeth. Dental bridges attach to the two teeth on either side of the missing tooth – cleaning dental bridges requires the use of a floss threader and special technique to clean beneath the bridge.

Cleaning a dental implant is like cleaning your natural teeth: simply brush and floss as you normally do. Regular brushing and flossing improve your oral hygiene and reduces your risk for tooth decay, gum disease, and further tooth loss.

All types of dental implants, including dental implants all on 4 are even easier to take care of. These dental implants replace all your upper or lower teeth, and all the replacement crowns sit on four dental implants. Simply brush your teeth as usual.

4. Leads to better nutrition

Having one or more missing teeth makes it hard to eat fresh fruits and vegetables, so if you have lost teeth, you may be not getting the important nutrients you need from food. Some of these foods, especially popcorn, corn on the cob, raw carrot sticks, apples and nuts, can damage or even break your dentures and dental bridges.

While you should avoid crunchy or sticky foods immediately after receiving your dental implant, you can start introducing these healthy foods back into your diet within a couple of weeks. Speak to your dentist to find out when you can start enjoying crunchy, nutritious food again.

5. Improves your smile

There is nothing quite like dental implants to improve your smile! Missing teeth can ruin the cosmetic appeal of your smile, and poorly fitting dentures can slip and slide when you talk, smile, or laugh. What’s more, dental implants look and feel just like your real teeth – except better! You may even smile brighter and more often.

Where can I find dental implants near me?

For more information about the impressive benefits of dental implants in Huntsville, consult with the dental professionals at King Dental, where we marry modern technology with strong technology. We offer all dental implants types.

Invisalign® treatment uses the same orthodontic principles as metal wire and brackets to straighten teeth. Both teeth straightening approaches apply gentle, steady pressure to move specific teeth in a desired direction. Like traditional braces, Invisalign® addresses tooth imperfections, such as crowded, gapped, or moderately misaligned teeth.

The Invisalign® approach to teeth straightening is simple – just wear each clear plastic aligner tray for the suggested length of time (usually 2 weeks), and replace it when the new tray arrives in the mail. 

Getting started with Invisalign® is easy. The process starts with a visit to our dentist, who can help you determine if you are a good candidate for Invisalign®. Next, we will take photos, scans, and x-rays of your teeth, mouth, and face to help us develop your personalized treatment plan. We’ll send the records to Invisalign®, where technicians will create the series of plastic aligner trays you will wear over your teeth. You will start treatment when your first set of aligner trays are ready.

Each set of aligner trays moves your teeth a small distance in a predetermined direction. Replacing the aligners regularly keeps your teeth moving in the right direction until you achieve the desired outcome. You will visit our dentist once every 6 to 10 weeks to monitor your progress. Treatment typically takes 1 to 2 years, on average. 

To get the most out of treatment, you will need to wear your Invisalign® trays at least 20 to 22 hours each day. After completing treatment, you will need to wear a retainer to keep your teeth from drifting out of their ideal location. 

Benefits of Straightening Your Smile with Invisalign®

Invisalign® is different from traditional wire-and-bracket braces in a number of ways, including:

No metal wires and brackets

Metal wires and brackets are bulky, uncomfortable, and very obvious. Made from clear plastic, Invisalign® clear aligners are comfortable and nearly invisible. 

Ideal for a number of orthodontic issues

Invisalign® is effective for treating crowded teeth, gapped teeth, misaligned or crooked teeth. The clear aligner trays can also address overbite that causes your top front teeth to stick out beyond your lower front teeth and underbite in which your lower front teeth jut out in front of your upper front teeth. Invisalign® can resolve an open bite in which your top front teeth do not meet your bottom from teeth when your mouth is closed, and crossbite in which your top front teeth fit behind your lower front teeth. 

Invisalign® cost

The cost of Invisalign® is comparable to, if not slightly less than, traditional metal braces. The national average for Invisalign® cost is $3000 to $5000, while metal braces cost $3000 to $7000.

Invisalign® makes it easy to care for your teeth

The wires and brackets of conventional braces can make it hard to brush your teeth, and flossing is a time-consuming chore that requires a special flosser. Invisalign® makes it easy to practice good oral hygiene: simply remove your Invisalign® and rinse it in cool water, brush and floss as normal, and then put the clear aligner tray back in your mouth. Clean the Invisalign® trays once a day to prevent bacteria and plaque buildup.

No special diet

Today’s braces are sturdier than ever before, thanks to advances in orthodontic technology, but certain foods can still damage the rubber bands, wires, and brackets. This is especially true of foods that are hard, sticky, or chewy. People who wear metal braces are often stuck with a soft diet consisting of mashed potatoes, noodles, yogurt, and peanut butter and jelly. What’s worse is that they often have to give up their favorite health and snack foods, such as popcorn, tacos, pretzels, hard cookies, raw vegetables, fruit, pizza, and corn on the cob. 

Invisalign® requires no special diet – just remove your aligner before you eat, enjoy your favorite foods, and rinse your mouth before putting the Invisalign® tray back in. 

Where can I find Invisalign® near me?

King Dental offers teeth straightening with Invisalign®, along with a wide variety of other dental services. We provide the Invisalign® treatment Huntsville residents rely on for appealing, beautiful, and healthy smiles – contact us today at (256) 880-1884 to schedule an appointment.

We know that nobody gets excited about dental extractions.

We completely sympathize! Whenever possible, we would prefer to save teeth, but sometimes a tooth needs to come out to preserve your overall dental health.

We will always take the time to make sure you are completely comfortable having dental extractions at our Huntsville, AL dental office. Dr. King is compassionate and gentle, as well as knowledgeable and skillful, and he will make sure that you are completely numb so that you don’t feel a thing during your procedure.

Your Dental Extraction Appointment

Knowing what to expect can also help reduce anxiety. Here’s what usually happens during a typical extraction appointment:

  1. We’ll get you comfortably situated in a treatment room. You are welcome to listen to music during your procedure if you find that this helps you relax.
  2. Dr. King will administer anesthetic to the area where we’ll be working. We’ll allow time for you to become completely numb before we begin the extraction.
  3. When we are sure you won’t feel a thing, Dr. King will begin by gently rocking the tooth back and forth. This helps to loosen the ligaments so the tooth can come out more easily. You may feel some pressure, but you won’t feel any pain or discomfort. If you have any concerns, raise your hand and we’ll stop and check on you.
  4. Once the tooth is loosened, Dr. King will use an instrument called an “elevator” to raise the tooth up and out.
  5. We’ll apply gauze to the area to stop any bleeding. Holding the gauze in place for a few hours after your procedure will keep bleeding to a minimum.

And that’s it! Patients are often amazed at how simple the process often is. Some extractions are more complex than this, and if we think your extraction will require extra steps (which may be the case if your tooth is broken or severely decayed), we will let you know what to expect. Nobody likes a surprise in the dental chair, after all!

Dental Extractions in Huntsville AL

If you have a tooth that is causing you pain or affecting your health in some other way, call our practice to schedule an evaluation with Dr. David King. We are looking forward to meeting you and helping you have a healthy smile for a lifetime! 

Related Services: Extractions

Dental implants are one of the most popular tooth replacement options today and with good reason. If you are in need of tooth replacement, learning more about dental implants should be your next step!

Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental Implants in Huntsville

No matter why you're looking at getting a dental implant, it's a great option for tooth replacement. The process begins with a consultation with your dentist. Then, if an extraction is needed, your dentist will remove the tooth in question. The implant itself is a titanium post, which will be surgically implanted into your bone. Most patients take about 6 weeks to heal the implant and to ensure that it has fully bonded with the jawbone. Then, your crown can be placed, and you can start using your tooth as normal!

If you have any questions about dental implants, or if you'd like to schedule a consultation, feel free to give us a call today for more information on getting started! We look forward to helping you get the smile you've always wanted. 

Related Services: Dental Implants

Legend has it that George Washington wore wooden dentures. Like many legends, the truth is actually somewhat different. In fact, our first President’s false teeth were made of ivory and even human teeth held together with metal fasteners!

Fortunately, denture technology has improved considerably in the last 240 years.

If it’s time to have a conversation about custom dentures with Huntsville, AL dentist Dr. David King, give us a call. You don’t have to be embarrassed or worried; we have this conversation with patients all the time and there’s nothing to be ashamed of. Millions of Americans across the country wear dentures!

Modern Dentures

In fact, chances are good that you already know people who wear dentures, and because denture technology has improved so much, you don’t even know it!

One of the main differences when it comes to denture aesthetics is that today dentures are custom-crafted to blend well with your facial features and skin tone. If you have delicate features but large, bulky teeth, it’s just not going to look right! Dr. King carefully assesses your bone structure and coloration and sends specific instructions along with digital images to the lab so they can construct beautiful, natural-looking dentures that look like the teeth you were born with.

While it’s important for your smile to look good, it’s also important that your dentures fit comfortably and securely. The base of your dentures is more flexible than it used to be, and suction helps to hold it in place. Because your dentures are designed to fit your mouth so well, you won’t have to rely on sticky, messy adhesives. If you want added security, talk to us about dental implants, which can actually be used to “lock” your dentures into place.

Dentures in Huntsville AL

We’re excited to provide up-to-date modern dentistry here at King Dental, including modern dentures. Give us a call to schedule your consultation today!

Related Services: Complete and Partial Dentures

Dental implants are a modern, state-of-the-art treatment for missing teeth. In fact, they’ve become the gold standard! We are proud to offer our patients dental implants at our Huntsville dental office.

But what makes dental implants unique, especially when compared to other teeth replacement options such as bridges and dentures, which are typically cheaper?

Dental Implants Defined

It’s important to think of dental implants as an investment in your long-term oral health. While both bridges and dentures replace the crowns of your teeth (the part that you see when you smile), dental implants go an important step further – they actually replace the roots of your teeth.

Although “out of sight, out of mind” might apply to the roots of your teeth, the truth is that they serve a crucial purpose when it comes to your dental health.

The roots of your teeth and your dental bone work together in a mutual relationship. The bone holds the teeth securely in place and the root gives the bone the signals it needs to consistently renew itself and stay healthy.

Periodontal (gum) disease attacks your dental bone and makes it weak. Missing teeth also contribute to bone loss. Once the root of your tooth is gone, the bone in that area is no longer stimulated to maintain itself and it begins to resorb, becoming diminished.

You may have observed for yourself that people who are missing many teeth often have a sunken appearance around their mouths. While the teeth themselves help keep your lips from sinking in, your dental bone also helps create the shape of your face. When you lose bone, your face changes.

Another important consequence of lost bone is that as the bone becomes weaker, you are more likely to lose additional teeth. As you might imagine, this can set off a devastating chain reaction.

Dental implants stop this chain reaction. Once the titanium root of the dental implant is in place, your dental bone will once again be signaled to keep itself healthy and stable. Bridges and dentures simply can’t offer this same advantage (although you can talk to us about having a bridge or denture held in place with dental implants!).

Dental Implants in Huntsville

Would you like to learn more? If you are missing teeth, please call King Dental today to schedule a dental implants consultation with Dr. David King and find out if implants are right for you! 

Related Services: Dental Implants

Have you heard the dental term “endodontics” and wondered what it meant? You’re not alone. Many people aren’t familiar with this field of dental treatments and look mystified if they hear they need endodontics at our Huntsville, AL dental office.

The truth is, you probably have heard of one specific type of endodontic therapy before. You just know it by its more common name – “root canal.”

Wait, don’t go!

Okay, we know that root canals have a bad reputation. But we want you to know that this reputation is actually unfair. Root canals (along with other endodontic therapies) are actually useful treatments that allow us to relieve pain, treat an infection, and even save your tooth.

It’s also not true that root canal therapy hurts. It’s actually the infection we are treating that hurts, and root canal therapy will relieve your pain so you can start to feel like yourself again.

What Is Endodontics?

Endodontics are a specific type of dentistry that deals mainly with the soft inner portion of your tooth, which is known as the pulp, and the roots that hold your teeth in place.

Your tooth is made up of layers. The outermost layer, the part you can see, is the enamel, which is the hardest material in your body. Beneath the enamel is a slightly softer and more porous layer, called dentin. Both of these layers protect the pulp, which contains the nerves and blood vessels of your tooth. These nerves and blood vessels connect with the rest of your system through the roots of your teeth.

When Is Endodontic Therapy Needed?

When bacteria reach the pulp of your tooth, infection and pain are likely to be the results. This can occur in a few different ways, but the most common are through a deep cavity or damage to the tooth like a crack.

Infections in the teeth generally don’t resolve on their own. The pain may eventually stop, but this usually means that the nerve has died – the infection is still there and can still create major problems such as spreading to other teeth or into your bloodstream.

What Happens During Endodontic Therapy?

While a root canal isn’t the only type of endodontic therapy, it’s probably the most common. Before beginning this procedure, Dr. King will make sure that you are numb and completely comfortable. He’ll begin by accessing the pulp of your tooth. Once there, he’ll use a special set of tools designed specifically for this treatment to clean out the infection and remove the damaged nerve.

Finally, he’ll fill the tooth and seal it to prevent reinfection.

Teeth often become brittle following root canal therapy, so Dr. King may recommend a crown to protect the tooth. He will discuss your options with you so you know what to expect and can make informed decisions about your dental health.

Endodontics in Huntsville AL

Do you have more questions about endodontics? Are you in pain and wondering if this therapy could help?

Call King Dental in Huntsville, Alabama, at (256) 880-1884 today to schedule your next appointment with Dr. David King!

Related Services: Endodontics (Root Canals)

Is it time to up the wattage of your smile?

If you are considering cosmetic dentistry in Huntsville, AL, be sure to call us here at King Dental and schedule a cosmetic consultation with Dr. David King. We offer beautiful personalized esthetic treatment plans designed around your goals and needs.

We have plenty of options available, but if your goal is to conceal damaged, discolored, or unusually shaped teeth, the decision may come down to crowns vs. veneers. Both of these options are great, and they each have their own advantages. Dr. King can review the pros and cons of each choice and provide a recommendation as to which will be best for you.

In the meantime, we’ve broken each option down a bit for you so you have an idea going in of what to expect.

Crowns

Pros:

Cons:

Veneers

Pros:

Cons:

As you can see, there is plenty to consider with both options. At King Dental, we are dedicated to listening to your needs and helping you find the solution that works best for your lifestyle.

Call Your Huntsville AL Dentist!

To schedule your consultation with Dr. King, please call our Huntsville dental office today at (256) 880-1884. 

Related Services: Cosmetic Dentistry

Small chipping and wear take a toll on the appearance of your teeth. If you have gaps and spacing between your teeth, you may even feel self-conscious about your smile.

Dr. David King, your premiere Huntsville cosmetic dentist, has solutions for you. 

Cosmetic Bonding

Cosmetic, or direct, bonding can be a great way to repair minor chipping and wear to your teeth. Dr. King uses composite resin to restore your teeth – the same material he would use for a dental filling. Composite is pliable, easy to work with, and can be custom shaded to perfectly blend with your natural tooth, making it esthetically appealing.

Cosmetic bonding can be completed in one visit, and the result is a beautiful and functional smile once again.

Porcelain Veneers

If your teeth are in need of more extensive repairs, porcelain veneers may be the ideal option. Fabricated from a thin layer of porcelain, veneers bond directly to your tooth, covering your natural tooth structure. They can be custom shaded so they will match your existing teeth and enhance your entire smile. They're also stain-resistant, which means they won't discolor like your natural tooth does, and you won't need to whiten them.

Veneers can repair dental issues such as:

Invisalign

For patients living with large gaps and spacing or crowded and crooked teeth, Dr. King may recommend Invisalign. Using clear plastic aligners, Invisalign straightens teeth with discretion and efficiency. Our patients love the freedom from traditional metal brackets that Invisalign offers, and you won't experience the restrictions to your diet or changes to your home care that braces require since the aligners are removable.

Cosmetic Dentistry in Huntsville AL

Dr. King has many options available for patients who have teeth in need of repair. We encourage you to contact King Dental today if you're living with worn or chipped teeth – or even if you're just not satisfied with the appearance of your smile.

Related Services: Cosmetic Dentistry

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