Blog

Jul22

The Rate of Bone Loss After Extraction Can Be Slowed or Stopped With an Implant

The alveolar bone

The bone surrounding the teeth is called alveolar bone. Its main job is to support the teeth and provide a durable foundation for tooth roots. Normal mouth function maintains bone health. As you chew, it stimulates bone cells to continually generate new bone.

What can cause alveolar bone loss?

Extraction

When a tooth is extracted, the bone at the extraction site is no longer needed.

It’s not just that the root is gone, the forces of chewing no longer stimulate the bone at that site. First, the bone gets narrower. Then it gets shorter.

Studies have shown that a significant amount of alveolar bone loss can transpire within six weeks after an extraction.

Periodontal disease

Gingivitis is not just a problem with the soft tissues. The infection caused by gingivitis (gum disease) can destroy alveolar bone. Advanced periodontal disease can result in the loss of teeth. The rate of bone loss caused by periodontal disease may be accelerated when the tooth roots are gone.

What if I can’t get an implant immediately after a tooth extraction?

If you plan to get a tooth implant after having a tooth extracted, it’s best to do it as soon as your implant dentist recommends. Bone recedes quickly.

Some implant dentists use socket preservation grafts. With this service, your dentist fills the extraction socket with bone grafting material. The grafting material should start integrating with the surrounding bone. This won’t halt all bone loss, but it may slow it down.

Dentures don’t preserve alveolar bone

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25% of adults over 65 have no remaining teeth. Many people with missing teeth or no teeth at all choose dentures. This is understandable. It’s difficult to eat and speak with no teeth in the mouth. And nobody wants a toothless mouth.

It’s critical to understand, however, that dentures don’t replace the roots of the missing teeth and they don’t preserve alveolar bone. Dental implants are the only tooth replacement option that helps preserve jawbone structure.

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

ArticleID 8267

Jul15

Preventing Facial Injuries

Facial injuries occur all too often in the Tampa area. Apollo Beach Little Leaguers get hit by inside pitches, Lithia construction workers suffer falls and other accidents at the worksite, and Florida motorists sustain injuries in detrimental collisions every single day. Accidents at home can also result in serious injury to the face.

Serious facial injuries can affect the victim’s ability to eat, breathe, and speak. Because of the critical physical processes at risk, a person who has suffered a facial injury should receive medical care as soon as possible. Injuries to the mouth are treated by general dentists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons.

At Your Time Dental Urgent Care, we are committed to the use of protective equipment for every type of sport, whether it is a team sport or individual activity. Call us at 813-519-0128 to talk to us about mouthguard recommendations regarding your (or your child’s) specific sport.

Likewise, the Tampa workplace injury rate can be reduced with increased use of appropriate protective equipment and adherence to vital safety procedures. With respect to Gibsonton motor vehicle injuries, the following instructions bear repetition: Wear your seatbelt and don’t send or read text messages while driving!

If you have suffered a recent injury to your face, mouth, or jaw, schedule a dental consultation with Richard Kernagis of Your Time Dental Urgent Care. If you are having dental problems (functional or aesthetic) due to an untreated past injury, we can develop an effective treatment plan.

My office is located at 13145 Kings Lake Drive Ste 105B in Gibsonton.

Dr. Kernagis

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

ArticleID 1479

Jul8

Yes! You Can Replace Old Fillings

Superficial cuts in the skin subside without a trace, infections are eradicated with antibiotics, broken bones mend, and inflamed tissues recede. Our teeth, unfortunately, can’t regenerate. Decay can be halted in its progress, but scientists are still years away from actual enamel regeneration. That’s why the team at Your Time Dental Urgent Care strongly emphasizes preventative dentistry.

Few People Avoid Cavities

The healthiest mouths have all teeth intact and free of current or former cavities. But how many smiles can boast such an admirable record? Very few.

In fact, most individuals in Florida probably don’t even know someone who has never had a cavity. Tooth decay is second only to the common cold as the most frequent health dilemma in childhood. When we reach middle age, many of us have even had a root canal or two.

Depending on the size of the cavity, after cleaning and preparing the tooth, your dentist can fill it, place a crown, or complete a root canal (usually followed by a crown).

Restorations Have Come a Long Way

Modern restorations have many advantages over those in years past. There are stronger and more natural-looking materials. Many of our patients at Your Time Dental Urgent Care who have not had a filling for a while, are not aware that white fillings are available. You can even replace old amalgam fillings with white fillings and give your mouth a makeover!

As we said before, when a tooth is compromised by injury or decay, it is never exactly the way it was before. But now, with modern fillings and crowns, it can regain strength and beauty.

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

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ArticleID 8479

Jul1

Crown Or Veneer?

I am Richard Kernagis of Your Time Dental Urgent Care in Gibsonton. Your Time Dental Urgent Care offers multiple cosmetic dental procedures for creating brilliant smiles. Two of the most popular procedures are dental crowns and porcelain veneers. Many patients don’t understand the difference between the two. Generally, a crown strengthens a compromised tooth while a veneer is used mainly for cosmetic improvements.

Let’s discuss it in more detail.

Dental Crowns vs. Porcelain Veneers

A dental crown covers the entire visible part of the tooth. A veneer is an ultra-thin layer for the front of a tooth. Ceramic laminate is used to create durable veneers. Crowns can be made of all-porcelain (ceramic), porcelain fused to metal, or gold. Both crowns and veneers are affixed to the tooth with a special adhesive. Crowns and veneers are durable and can last many years if properly cared for, though they are not stronger than natural enamel.

Both of these procedures improve the tooth aesthetically, but dental crowns are typically a better solution for a tooth that has been compromised by decay, damage, or a root canal. Veneers can repair the shape of a tooth, repair a minor crack, cover stains, or straighten the appearance of teeth that are slightly misaligned.

Your Dentist and the Dental Lab Technician Work Together

The success of a crown or veneer procedure depends on expert professionals at the lab and in the dentist’s office. Your cosmetic dentist must prep the tooth, create a precision mold, and submit an accurate order to the lab.

The role of the dental lab technician is equally critical. Highly skilled lab technicians fabricate custom dental crowns and veneers to the specifications of the cosmetic dentist. They must have the proficiency to meet the precise standards necessary for successful restorations.

A veneer has everything you want: the exact shape, the exact size, the precise color, and the proper placement in the mouth. This is a case of all or nothing—each aspect must be perfect or it needs to be reconstructed.

The team at Your Time Dental Urgent Care and the marvelous staff at our dental lab work together to provide the highest quality dental restorations for our valued patients.

We are accepting new patients!

If you would like more helpful specifics about crowns, veneers, and other cosmetic dental procedures, I invite you to reach out to us to schedule a cosmetic dental consultation. I can help you achieve a smile that is both healthy and remarkable. Call 813-519-0128 today!

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

ArticleID 7129

Jun24

Affordable One-Visit Tooth Fix

Some Tampa people are unhappy with the way their teeth look but many mistakenly assume that cosmetic dentistry is far too pricey to pursue.

Sure, a complete mouth reconstruction can be an expensive investment. Consider the cost of dental school and post-graduate training for a master level cosmetic dentist. Consider the expense of individually creating multiple restorations at a high-tech dental lab. Consider the cost of setting up and maintaining a full-service dental practice or laboratory.

Before you give up on improving your smile, however, think about a less celebrated but extremely effective and affordable cosmetic dental remedy: dental bonding.

Dental bonding has a wide range of applications for unsightly teeth. Bonding can repair a tooth that is damaged, chipped, short, or discolored. It can also fix teeth that have gaps in between them.

How does the dental bonding procedure work?

First, your tooth will be slightly (but painlessly) roughed up to help the resin adhere. Your dentist will use a shade guide to ascertain the precise color of the composite to match the existing teeth. Your dentist will apply liquid composite resin on the tooth, layer by layer. He or she will carefully shape and polish it before it hardens. The tooth is then covered with a conditioning liquid that assists with adhesion.

Once the resin is bonded, it is further molded to the exact shape for your bite and appearance. A laser helps quickly bond the resin in place as it hardens. Further shaping and polishing, if required, complete the procedure. The result is a beautiful smile.

Bonding is a simple and cost-effective method for perfecting your smile. Call today at to set up an appointment at 813-519-0128.

We invite you to meet the fantastic team at Your Time Dental Urgent Care in Gibsonton. We are proud of our esteemed reputation for important personalized attention and first-rate care. Our comfortable team can answer any questions you have about our top services: urgent dental care, emergency dental care, and sedation dentistry.

We are now accepting new patients and look forward to meeting you.

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

ArticleID 7045

Jun17

Cavity Fighting Chewing Gum?

I’m Richard Kernagis DMD of Your Time Dental Urgent Care in Gibsonton. My patients often ask me if chewing xylitol gum is an effective substitute for tooth brushing and regular dental exams.

Before I answer that question, let me tell you a little bit about xylitol:

Xylitol is a natural sweetener that was first discovered in birch tree bark but is also found in many fruits and vegetables. Unlike most other sweeteners (natural or synthetic), xylitol is actually beneficial for your teeth.

Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated that xylitol prevents the growth of the bacteria that initiates cavities. It also lessens plaque and strengthens tooth enamel.

Xylitol has other benefits, as well. Because it is low on the glycemic index, many of my patients with diabetes enjoy it as a healthy alternative to sugar. For my patients that cope with frequent dry mouth, I recommend xylitol gum or mints to stimulate saliva production while protecting against cavities.

Now, back to the golden question. Is xylitol gum just as effective as brushing your teeth and seeing your family dentist regularly? Absolutely not! If you cannot brush your teeth after a meal, chewing xylitol gum for five or ten minutes is probably a good idea. However, you should still brush your teeth thoroughly (with a soft brush) after meals and get twice-yearly exams and dental cleanings.

At Your Time Dental Urgent Care, our goal is to keep your smile healthy and beautiful for life by preventing dental issues before they start. If you postpone dental visits until you feel pain, you risk losing teeth and most certainly will require more extensive treatment than if the dilemma was caught earlier.

Is it time for a dental exam? Call us at 813-519-0128 to book an appointment. Our comfortable team is waiting to take care of all your dental needs.

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

ArticleID 1368

Jun10

Teeth Look Too Short? Lengthen Them!

Most Gibsonton people who are considering cosmetic dentistry are aware of the cosmetic dental procedures that are frequently advertised in the Tampa area.

There are porcelain veneers: a custom made wafer-thin covering permanently attached to the front of a tooth to make it stain-free and perfectly shaped. Veneers can repair small chips and crack in teeth that are free of decay. Many Your Time Dental Urgent Care patients get minimally invasive veneers on their top six teeth for a dramatic improvement.

Orthodontia has received a lot of attention in Florida in the past twenty years with the introduction of invisible and short-term braces. And braces are not only for ‘tweens and teenagers. At Your Time Dental Urgent Care, we have seen more adults straighten their teeth to achieve stunning smiles with discrete orthodontic treatment.

Porcelain crowns have been around for generations but continue to restore decayed or damaged teeth while providing beauty, strength, and natural function. Porcelain crowns are also used with innovative dental implants to restore missing teeth.

A cosmetic dental procedure that is lesser-known in the Gibsonton area is crown lengthening. If you feel that your teeth appear too short or that your smile exposes more gum than you would like (a ‘gummy smile’), you may be interested in crown lengthening.

Crown lengthening surgery is a safe and effective procedure that exposes more of the visible part of the tooth while minimizing the vertical length of exposed gum tissue.

When a gummy smile is corrected, our Gibsonton crown lengthening patients are often surprised at how it positively affects their whole face. They love their new smile which reveals pleasing, symmetrical portions of their upper teeth that have been hidden under gum tissue their whole life.

Sometimes, crown lengthening is used when a tooth is fractured at the gumline. The surgery makes tooth structure accessible for the required restoration.

Digital imaging helps Tampa dental professionals perform crown lengthening with exactness. A highly-detailed, 3-D image of tooth and bone structure allows the cosmetic dentist to contour a gumline to the patient’s exact specifications.

If you would like to find out if crown lengthening is right for you, schedule a consultation by calling Your Time Dental Urgent Care at 813-519-0128. We are located at 13145 Kings Lake Drive Ste 105B in Gibsonton. We look forward to showing you photos of crown lengthening patients who are enjoying their new look.

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

ArticleID 6900

Jun3

Why Is Dry Mouth Risky For Your Teeth?

Hello, welcome to the Your Time Dental Urgent Care blog. Today we are going to talk about Dry Mouth, an unpleasant condition that can actually impact oral health.

Reduction of saliva flow resulting in a dry mouth is a common dilemma, especially among older adults. However, individuals of all ages experience the symptoms of dry mouth at one time or another. These symptoms include a dry, red tongue, difficulty swallowing, and persistent sore throat.

Sometimes dry mouth is caused by a disease or infection, but a more frequent cause of dry mouth is prescription medications.

It is common for allergy-prone Your Time Dental Urgent Care dental patients to complain of dry mouth when they start taking antihistamines during the hay fever season.

If you are unsure of the cause of your dry mouth, or if you are looking for dry mouth treatments, call Your Time Dental Urgent Care to schedule an appointment with Dr. Richard Kernagis.

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

ArticleID 3085

May27

Six 10-Second Healthy Tooth Helps

It doesn’t have to take a lot of time to improve your oral hygiene. In fact, you can form a new habit to benefit your oral health in 10 seconds.

I’m Dr. Richard Kernagis with Your Time Dental Urgent Care writing to offer my patients 6 ways to add vital dental care to each day in 60 seconds or less.

Find a better place for your toothbrush.
Look around. In 10 seconds you can probably find 5 places to set your toothbrush that will permit air drying and can inhibit the growth of microorganisms that a closed, moist environment would encourage.

Leave the floss on the counter.
If you want to build consistency, you need reminders. Deliberately setting out the floss will give you more commitment to use it. And if you see it, you’ll remember that commitment.

Swish.
If you’re in 20 seconds already, might as well grab the fluoride rinse and rinse away bits of food after flossing and freshen your breath at the same time. 10 seconds is the minimum but 20 is twice as good.

Smile in the mirror.
Check out those chompers. Examine for 10 full seconds. Inspect gums for bleeding or tenderness, missed fragments of food, staining, or other concerns.

Have a water chaser with dark beverages.
Rinse your mouth with a sip of water when drinking cola, tea, or coffee throughout the day. A mere 10 seconds will suppress discoloration.

Call Your Time Dental Urgent Care.
10 digits, 10 seconds, a short conversation and you can secure yourself a consultation with me and my comfortable staff. I will examine your teeth for far more than 10 seconds and help keep your smile healthy and beautiful.

We can answer questions about the cost of emergency same-day dental care, urgent dental care, or sedation dentistry. Trusted since 2001 to promote healthy smiles and educated hygiene, we will take care of all your dental needs.

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

ArticleID 7142

May20

Osteoporosis And Oral Health

If you are a woman, you have probably heard about the high rate of osteoporosis in the country, and the state of Florida is no exception.

Did you know that many studies have suggested a connection between osteoporosis and oral health? Osteoporosis can often progress without any outward symptoms. However, there may be clues in a person’s mouth that indicate compromised bones in the rest of the body.

The following dental and periodontal conditions may indicate the presence of osteoporosis:

DetachedGumCAP
Ill-fitting dentures
Jaw bone recession and erosion
Difficulty with normal mouth function such as eating or speaking

Women over 50 with a family history have the greatest risk of developing the disease, but it is not unheard of in men.

Dr. Kernagis can establish the presence of jawbone deterioration with x-rays and other diagnostic tools. If we suspect the possibility of osteoporosis, we can refer you to a local medical professional.

Dr. Kernagis is trained in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of the oral health problems connected to osteoporosis. Schedule a consultation by calling 813-519-0128.

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

ArticleID 921

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The alveolar bone

What can cause alveolar bone loss?

What if I can’t get an implant immediately after a tooth extraction?

Dentures don’t preserve alveolar bone

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

South Shore – Gibsonton

FishHawk – Lithia

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

South Shore – Gibsonton

FishHawk – Lithia

Few People Avoid Cavities

Restorations Have Come a Long Way

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

South Shore – Gibsonton

FishHawk – Lithia

Dental Crowns vs. Porcelain Veneers

Your Dentist and the Dental Lab Technician Work Together

We are accepting new patients!

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

South Shore – Gibsonton

FishHawk – Lithia

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

South Shore – Gibsonton

FishHawk – Lithia

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

South Shore – Gibsonton

FishHawk – Lithia

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

South Shore – Gibsonton

FishHawk – Lithia

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

South Shore – Gibsonton

FishHawk – Lithia

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

South Shore – Gibsonton

FishHawk – Lithia

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

South Shore – Gibsonton

FishHawk – Lithia

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