Invisalign in Enid, OK

Dreaming of straight teeth? Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS of Enid, OK offers Invisalign, the nearly invisible teeth straightening system, to his patients looking to straighten up their smile.

Invisalign is a teeth straightening process that works by using clear, plastic aligner trays to gradually shift teeth. Invisalign can treat mild and more difficult cases. Some of the main conditions Invisalign treats are gapped teeth, overcrowded teeth, overbite, underbite, crossbite, and openbite. Dr. Morehart will be able to tell you if your specific case will benefit from Invisalign.

The recommended amount of time to wear the aligners is twenty to twenty-two hours per day. You take them out when eating and when brushing your teeth. The aligners are switched every two weeks, and the new change to each set of aligners will gradually straighten your teeth. For adults, this process usually takes about a year. For teenagers, the average duration is two years.

Invisalign has major advantages over traditional metal braces. For one, the aligners are taken out while you eat, so there are no limitations on what you can eat. They are also taken out when you brush and floss your teeth, so there is no hassle keeping a good oral hygiene routine. Another large advantage is no metallic smile. Invisalign is nearly invisible.

If you are looking to straighten teeth and do not want the hassle of traditional metal braces, schedule a consultation with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS at our Enid, OK dental practice. Call (580) 237-2213 or visit our website, www.eniddentalcare.com. 

Dental Bridges to Replace Missing Teeth

Dental bridges are a popular way to replace a missing tooth and restore your smile and functionality of your teeth. Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS offers dental bridges to his patients looking to replace a missing tooth.

Dental bridges work by using the teeth adjacent to the space where there is a missing tooth. The adjacent teeth are reshaped and crowns are added to them with the replacement tooth in the middle. Replacing a missing tooth will prevent other teeth from shifting, it can restore your ability to talk and chew, and it will allow the jaw to keep its normal shape.

During your first appointment, Dr. Morehart will reshape the adjacent teeth. Impressions of the area will be taken to send to a dental laboratory so customized crowns and the replacement tooth can be created. During the time the laboratory is creating the bridge, a temporary bridge will be placed so you can continue normal use of your teeth. When the new bridge is ready, it will be cemented into place. Dr. Morehart may want to follow up with you to make sure bite and function is ideal.

Dental bridges are usually made of metal or porcelain, or a combination. With good care, dental bridges have been known to last over fifteen years.

If you are missing a tooth and looking for a long lasting way to replace it, dental bridges may be the option for you. To schedule a consultation at our Enid, OK dental office, call us at (580) 237-2213 or visit our website, www.eniddentalcare.com. 

Scaling and Planing to Fight Gum Disease

Gum disease needs to be taken control of before it becomes severe. It is for this reason that Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS of Enid, OK provides scaling and root planing to his patients with gum disease.

Scaling and planing is the process of cleaning the teeth between the gums, down to the root, and smoothing out rough spots on the root. Rough spots on the root can trap and harbor bacteria, making it difficult to clear up gum disease. When hardened plaque causes the gums to recede, bacteria can reach the gum pockets, deep down to the tooth’s root. In order to clear up the gum disease, the teeth need to be scraped clean.

A local anesthetic may be used to numb the gums and the tooth roots. A scraping tool is used to remove plaque and tartar. The tooth’s rough spots are then smoothed out. Scaling and planing can take a few appointments, as the mouth is usually worked on in sections. After the process is complete, a regular oral heal routine of brushing twice daily and flossing once daily will be recommended to continue on the way to healthy gums.

If you have red, irritated, or bleeding gums, do not hesitate to come in our Enid, OK dental practice to see skilled and extensively experienced, Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS. To schedule, call (580) 237-2213 or visit our website, www.eniddentalcare.com.

Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Having wisdom teeth removed has become somewhat of a notorious procedure. However, being a little more prepared for the procedure and the after-care can settle nerves and facilitate a smooth healing process, which is why Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS of Enid, OK would like to share information about wisdom teeth and the process of having them extracted.

Wisdom teeth often come with problems. Sometimes they will grow in at an angle, only partially erupt, or stay stuck within the jawbone. These issues can cause damage to other teeth, pain, and cause decay and gum disease. Even if wisdom teeth grow in correctly, sometimes it is still recommended that they be taken out for preventative reasons. Wisdom teeth are so far back in the mouth that cleaning them can be difficult, which can lead to decay and gum disease.

The procedure starts by Dr. Morehart making an incision in the gums to access the bone tissue holding in the tooth. The bone is removed and the tooth is rocked back and forth until it is pulled free. Incisions are not always needed, but if they are, before the area is stitched up, Dr. Morehart will clean the extraction site. Afterwards, instructions to lessen bleeding and allow a clean healing will be given. A soft foods diet is recommended until healing has progressed.

If you suspect your wisdom teeth are growing in, schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart DDS of Enid, OK by calling (580) 237-2213 or visiting our website, www.eniddentalcare.com.

Night Guards

Teeth grinding, called bruxism, is a disorder that can damage teeth, restorations, and cause a lot of pain. Here at Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS, we have been protecting our patients that grind their teeth by creating a custom night guard to wear while sleeping.

Bruxism can be especially bad at night when you are unware you are grinding your teeth. Clenching and grinding wears away and loosens teeth and restorations. The pressure from the clenching can also cause jaw pain, facial pain, and headaches. This can eventually lead up to TMJ dysfunction.

Dr. Morehart creates a custom night guard to protect your teeth and alleviate the pain caused by grinding. He first takes an impression of your teeth. Acrylic, a hard, durable plastic is then molded over the impression, forming the shape of the mouth piece. This way of custom creating the night guard assures a comfortable fit in your mouth. When night guards are taken good care of, they can last up to ten years.

If you suspect you grind your teeth at night, come see us at our Enid, OK dental practice for an evaluation. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS call us at (580) 237-2213 or visit our website, www.eniddentalcare.com. 

Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are a great option to restore teeth that are weak or fractured but still have the root structure intact. Tooth restoration is a vital part of keeping oral health. Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS has been repairing the health and the smiles of his patients here at our Enid, OK dental practice.

A dental crown is a cap that goes on top of an existing tooth. The porcelain finished crowns have a natural look to them, so they blend in with the rest of your natural teeth, restoring your smile. To begin applying a crown, Dr. Morehart will file and reshape the enamel of your tooth. An impression of your tooth and the surrounding teeth will be taken and sent to a laboratory so a custom crown can be created. This laboratory process usually takes between two and three weeks, so during that process Dr. Morehart will place a temporary crown. When ready, the crown is then bonded to your tooth permanently. Crowns will usually last about ten to fifteen years with a regular oral hygiene routine.

If you are looking to restore a weakened or fractured tooth and are interested in learning more about dental crowns, call us at (580) 237-2213 or visit our website, www.eniddentalcare.com. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS and restore your smile!

Root Canal

Infected teeth are painful and leaving them untreated can lead to much worse problems. Root canal therapy often has a scary reputation. But with modern advances and appropriate pain medications, root canals can be performed with only mild discomfort. Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS has been helping his patients restore their oral health by performing root canal therapy.

When the center of a tooth, dental pulp, becomes exposed due to a crack or decay in the tooth, bacteria can build up. This can cause an infection or an abscessed tooth, as well as major swelling and bone loss at the tip of the root.

To begin a root canal procedure, Dr. Morehart will first drill an access hole to the pulp. The pulp and other decayed tissue and debris are removed and the tooth is cleaned out. Dr. Morehart will then fill the tooth with gutta-percha, a sealant. A filling is then placed over the access hole. In some cases, Dr. Morehart may want to place a crown on top of the tooth for extra protection.

Signs that root canal therapy is needed include prolonged sensitivity, pain while chewing, and a dark spot on the tooth. Signs the gums may show include swelling, tenderness, or a reoccurring pimple near the affected tooth.

If you are experiencing prolonged tooth pain and sensitivity, make sure to come visit us at Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK. To schedule an appointment, call (580) 237-2213 or visit our website, www.eniddentalcare.com.