Gentle Root Canal Therapy

An achy, sensitive tooth with a dark spot on it may mean you have a tooth infection and will need a root canal. However, do not worry. Root canals these days are now no more uncomfortable that having a cavity filled. Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS performs root canals in our Holmdel, NJ dental practice.

When a tooth becomes infected, the dental pulp is infected. Usually through a crack or decay, the bacteria enter the center of your tooth and infect the pulp. There is usually pain and sensitivity involved because the pulp is the nerve center of your tooth. Pain, sensitivity, red gums, and a dark spot on the tooth are good signs that the tooth is infected.

To perform a root canal, a hole is drilled in the tooth to access the center. A file is then inserted into the tooth to clean out the infected pulp. A sealant called gutta-percha is placed in the tooth to replace the pulp. A filling is then placed on the access hole. The tooth is now able to function normally. Pain and sensitivity will subside and the tooth will no longer be at risk of being lost.

If the thought of a root canal is scaring you away from seeking help with an infected tooth, there is nothing to worry about. Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS performs gentle and effective root canals here in her Holmdel, NJ office. To schedule your examination, call our office at (732) 264-8180 or visit our website, www.dentistnj.com. 

Veneers for a Brand-New Smile

Sometimes we wish we could just create ourselves a brand-new smile. Well, Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS can do just that with veneers. In our Holmdel, NJ dental practice, veneers are providing perfect smiles for our patients who are unhappy with the aesthetics of their smile.

Veneers are a wonderful way to almost instantly improve a smile. Veneers are great for fixing the look of gaps, cracks, chips, discoloration, crooked teeth, and more. They are a set of ceramic shells that are bonded to a patient’s existing teeth. They are created completely custom by a dental laboratory so that they look natural and fit perfectly in each patient’s mouth.

To begin the process of applying dental veneers, Dr. Shah will first need to prepare your teeth. A thin layer of enamel is removed from your teeth to accommodate the veneers. Impressions of your teeth are then sent to the lab so the set of custom veneers can be created. During this time, temporary veneers are worn to protect your teeth. A couple of weeks later, the custom veneers are bonded into place. With good care, they can stay in great shape for up to ten years.

Veneers are durable, strong, and stain-resistant. Therefore, you can enjoy all your favorite foods. You will also be able to enjoy a long-lasting white smile. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS in Holmdel, NJ, call our office at (732) 264-8180 or visit our website, www.dentistnj.com. 

Dental Bridges: What Are They?

Replacing missing teeth is important because teeth not only help us chew, but they help us speak and are a large part of our facial structure. One option for tooth replacement Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS offers here in her Holmdel, NJ dental practice is the dental bridge.

A dental bridge is quite literal to its name. It is a restoration that bridges the gap between teeth. Bridges work by attaching a replacement tooth, called a pontic, to two crowns on either side. The crowns are placed on the teeth that are adjacent to the open space. The pontic sits right in the middle where the missing tooth once was. Bridge may also be made for teeth that are missing with only one tooth adjacent to it, like in cases where the last molar is missing.

Dental bridges are able to be made to look just like your natural teeth, so no one will be able to tell the difference when you smile. We can take an impression of the open space and the adjacent teeth so that a dental laboratory can create a custom bridge. The adjacent teeth are first prepared, so the impression is taken after the teeth are reshaped for the crowns. While the custom bridge is being prepared, you will wear a temporary bridge. After the custom bridge is ready, it is permanently bonded into place. A bridge can last for over ten years with good care.

If you are missing a tooth, it is important to replace it. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS in our Holmdel, NJ dental practice, call our office at (732) 264-8180 or visit our website, www.dentistnj.com. 

The Psychological Research Behind Keeping New Habits

How are those New Year resolutions going? It’s February and studies show that by this time, many of us start to fall back into old habits. Starting oral health-related habits can be difficult, but good hygiene is vital to your oral and overall health. Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS of Holmdel, NJ wants to let her patients in on the secrets that help them start and keep healthy habits.

According to recent research, about fifty percent of the population make New Year resolutions. However, most people end up right where they started or further behind by the next New Year. This is mainly because people set unrealistic goals and expect unrealistic outcomes. Then, when they become discouraged, they slip back into their old ways.

Psychology researchers instead suggest making more specific goals with realistic expectations and smaller steps. For instance, if you want to make it a goal to have better oral health, create a more specific goal you can focus on like starting to floss every day. This is a small goal you can focus on daily that will, in turn, lead to cleaner teeth and healthier gums.

In addition, brain scientists Antonio Damasio and Joseph LeDoux and psychotherapist Stephen Hayes have discovered that habitual behavioral changes are made through creating new neural pathways and memories. These can be established with new thinking patterns. These new neural pathways will become your default thinking when you come face to face with a decision.

That being said, the next time you want to skip part of your oral hygiene routine, think of the short-term and long-term positive effects of doing it. Day by day, change your thought process!

Remember to brush twice per day and floss once per day. To schedule a cleaning and examination with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS, call our Holmdel, NJ office at (732) 264-8180 or visit our website, www.dentistnj.com.