Dental Implants in Rochester, MN

Dental implants are the state-of-the-art way to replace missing teeth and are about the closest thing to what nature created as we can get. Dental implants can be used to support a single crown/tooth, to replace multiple teeth, or even support a denture. The advantage of using dental implants instead of traditional bridges is the adjacent teeth do not have to be crowned (to support the bridge).  Dental implants offer other important advantages over traditional fixed bridges in that caring for implants is very much the same as with natural teeth. Do You Already Have a Denture That Just Won’t Read More →

A First Hand Experience: Getting A Dental Implant

Implants: As stated by the American Dental Association, nothing can take the place of a healthy set of natural teeth. However, when disease or an accident ends in tooth loss, it’s comforting to know there are options for restoring your smile. Implants are posts that are surgically placed in the upper or lower jaw, where they function as a sturdy anchor for replacement teeth. They are made of titanium, a strong, lightweight metal. Dental implants can be used for single tooth replacement or as an option to secure dentures.                 The first step for treatment is Read More →

What is Air Polishing?

At Family Dentist Tree, we are always striving for the best. We frequently look at new products, tools, equipment and techniques to ensure we are able to provide each of our patients with the best care. We are excited to announce that we now have an air polisher to aid in teeth and implant cleanings! What is air polishing? The air polishing technique has been around since the late 1970’s; however, advancements have since been made in these units and in the way we use them. The handpiece uses air, water and non-toxic powder to remove plaque and stains. This Read More →

No More Gooey Impressions – Easy as One, Two, TRIOS!

What is it? We are excited to announce that we have adopted a new way of taking impressions for crowns, night guards, retainers, bridges, implants and Invisalign®! We now have a 3Shape TRIOS® Intraoral Scanner that eliminates the need for goopy impression material, saving time and providing comfort to both the patient and clinician. How Does it Work? The scanner takes several images to create a 3D image of your teeth. This scan is sent to a dental lab that uses it to create the 3D models needed to create most of the items listed above. The scan takes around Read More →

Pros and Cons of Saving vs. Extracting a Tooth

We’ve all had that dreaded dream of losing teeth in our sleep. What happens when we are truly faced with this situation? While we may not want to think of needing to have a tooth extraction, there are many circumstances that can require this treatment. Traumatizing events can happen in the blink of an eye. A piece of workout equipment lands on our face and knocks out a front tooth. You bite down on a hard candy and hear a crunch that crumbles your tooth. You hit a tooth with a fork while eating a salad. These are all real-life Read More →

Root Canals vs. Extractions: Pros and Cons

When tooth pain strikes, our instinct is to get relief quickly. Toothaches seem to happen at the most inconvenient times and can put a damper on our plans. But often, there are options, such as root canals and extractions, to treat a tooth that is causing severe pain. If a tooth has been injured from previous trauma, dental work or decay, your dentist will assess the extent of the injury and determine whether the tooth is savable. If there is enough tooth structure left and the tooth hasn’t already been previously treated with a root canal, your dentist may recommend Read More →

What to Do When You Chip a Tooth

From Christina, Dental Hygienist: We all know someone who took a bite out of an apple and heard that dreaded crunch that signified a chipped tooth. Check out our tips for what to do when you chip a tooth and how each solution depends on the size and extent of the fracture. Smooth Over the Teeth If your tooth doesn’t have a deep fracture or if the neighboring teeth were already a bit shorter than the fractured tooth, smoothing over the chipped tooth to match the teeth around it may be a great option to consider. Even a smallest chip Read More →

PRO’S and CON’S of saving vs. extracting a tooth

via GIPHY When a patient arrives with an aching tooth, their first thought may be to “TAKE THIS THING OUT”! For some cases an extraction may be the only option; however, that is a decision that you and your dentist can make together. Making the best choice now could save you time and money in the long run. Many times when a patient arrives with a constant, throbbing tooth, it likely needs a root canal. A root canal replaces infected pulp in a tooth’s canal and may be completed by your General Dentist or by an Endodontist. Once the root Read More →

Dentures in Rochester, MN

Having no or several missing teeth presents multiple challenges. Appearing in public without any teeth can have social and professional consequences.  Loss of teeth also creates functional deficits related to both chewing food and speech. Complete dentures are appropriate for patients without any natural teeth, while partial dentures may be used instead when there are some healthy natural teeth remaining for support. Dentures are a removable prosthetic device. To a certain extent, all dentures move during function to varying degrees.  Most patients are able to adapt and tolerate this arrangement quite well, but  some patients require more retention (“staying-put” power). The Read More →

Tooth Extractions in Rochester, MN

Tooth extractions are a common dental procedure and can be necessary for a variety of reasons. While no one wants to experience a tooth extraction, this simple procedure can improve the overall health of your mouth. Reasons for Tooth Extractions Crowded Mouth: Some patients have a crowded mouth in which the teeth begin to encroach upon each other. This can be caused by extra teeth, abnormally shaped teeth, or even genetics. Crowding is often corrected with orthodontia, but can also necessitate tooth extraction to make space for the teeth. Decay or Infection: If tooth decay becomes so severe that the tooth can’t Read More →