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1904 Richardson Rd, Arnold, MO 63010
(636) 464-6668
1904 Richardson Rd, Arnold, MO 63010

A Root Canal Is No Longer a Painful Procedure

August 31, 2015

Filed under: Uncategorized — jldental @ 9:42 pm
Root canals have received a bad rap over the years. Often the butt of jokes in movies and various television programs, they’re stereotyped as extremely painful procedures that often leave patients reeling in pain and will do anything to relieve said pain. Well, we’re here to tell you that root canals aren’t the painful procedures that you’ve been coerced into believing. With the help of many advancements made throughout the years, this procedure is highly effective, virtually painless, and can bring harmony back to your oral health.
There are many reasons why people lose teeth, but the important thing to take away from that is knowing that just because a tooth is lost doesn’t mean the rest of your oral health has to suffer. Most often, a root canal is performed on teeth that have either “died” or become infected. Once an infection occurs in a tooth, the only way to save it is by receiving a root canal. Dr. Jonathan Mears and Dr. Laura Mears form the perfect team that can perform gentle root canals in our Arnold, MO office. With their help, and the friendliness of our dental staff, you’ll enjoy fantastic root canal treatment that can help promote excellent oral health. We have the dentists Arnold residents can trust! 

Root Canals Made Easy 

It doesn’t matter how your teeth became infected, what matters is getting in there and removing any signs of an infection. It’s a painless procedure that is designed to save your tooth. How did it come to this, you ask? Large cavities are usually to blame. However, a past dental injury could also cause a pulp to become infected.
The process is fairly complex, but basic:
  • First, we will remove the diseased tissue from inside the tooth. This helps to stop the spread of an infection and ridding your mouth of pain.
  • The nerve is also removed if it has been infected.
  • We will seal the just-cleaned area with composite material to help keep it protected.

There are several signs to look out for if you think you may need a root canal:

  • Excessive pain in a tooth
  • Pain or tenderness in your gums
  • Dental trauma
  • Abscess tooth

 Any type of excessive pain or tenderness should be looked at immediately. 

Schedule a Root Canal Today

You’ll soon discover that a root canal is painless and can bring maximum comfort to your mouth. A smile that’s suffering from a deep cavity or excessive pain needs to be treated, and we’re just the ones to do it. If you’re looking for the best root canal in Arnold, MO, look no further than our office. We invite residents in Merrimac, Imperial and Oakville to experience the JL Dental difference!

August 6, 2015

Filed under: Uncategorized — jldental @ 6:07 pm

Your Arnold, MO orthodontist at JL Dental uses traditional braces to create straight, healthy smiles

Doctors Jonathan and Laura Mears of JL Dental are family dentists who offer orthodontic treatment as part of their practice. They use traditional metal brackets to correct bite, tooth function and smile aesthetics in a typical 1 to 2 year process for youngsters and adults.
Traditional metal braces change facial appearance, improve the health and function of teeth and correct bite and alignment problems that can lead to gum disease, dental decay, tooth grinding and TMJ dysfunction later in life. Averaging 1 to 3 years, orthodontic treatment with metal brackets and archwires remains the fastest process with the most predictable and satisfactory results. 

Treatment from your Arnold, MO orthodontist should start early

While individuals of all ages get braces these days, the American Association of Orthodontics recommends children get orthodontic screening by age 7. This early evaluation forestalls future dental problems almost before they start. Plus, teeth are just easier to reposition when the mouth is young.
Dr. Mears begins evaluation with a simple oral examination, looking the number and alignment  of teeth and how the top and bottom jaws bite together. X-rays and photographs are often part of this initial evaluation, too.

Treatment proceeds in 2 parts 

At first, braces should move teeth to correct bite and align the top and bottom jaws. The Arnold, MO dentist also wants to ensure emerging teeth come in as straight as possible and to protect teeth that may be protruding or overlapping and crowding other teeth.
As treatment continues, goals change. The brackets and wires maneuver teeth into permanent position, and appearance becomes a priority.
Traditional orthodontic treatment corrects issues such as:
l  cross bite
l  over bite
l  under bite
l  open bite
l  overlapping, crooked and crowded teeth
l  teeth that are emerging improperly or not at all
l  facial imbalances
l  jaw misalignment

How are braces installed?

During a 1 to 2 hour dental appointment, Dr. Mears cleans and dries the teeth and then bonds the metal brackets onto the tooth surfaces. Metal archwires connect the brackets. While this process is not painful, teeth will be sore for a week or so afterwards as the mouth adjusts to the vector forces exerted on each tooth.
Periodic soreness continues through
out treatment, and sometimes mouth sores develop from the friction of the appliances against the soft tissues of the mouth. Placing special wax on selected areas alleviates friction, and products such as Orajel relieve pain.

After care of Arnold, MO braces takes some time and effort

The team at JL Dental recommends a soft diet for a few days and also use of over the counter ibuprofen or acetaminophen to alleviate discomfort. Patients should brush and floss 2 times daily, taking extra care to clean around brackets and between the teeth. Interdental brushes and water flossing devices remove plaque and food particles efficiently when used each day.
Patients see their Arnold, MO orthodontist every few weeks or so for adjustments on their braces.
They also should eat a healthy diet and avoid extra-hard, sticky or sugary foods.

Orthodontics could help your smile

You may have questions about braces for your child or for you! Contact the office at JL Dental to arrange a consultation. Bring your questions because Doctors Jonathan and Laura Mears will be happy to answer them.

 

Everything You Need To Know About Braces

July 23, 2015

Filed under: Uncategorized — jldental @ 10:11 pm
There are lots of people who have had to wear braces at some point in their lives, and they all have had roughly the same experiences. Everyone knows before they get braces what they’re getting into, they just don’t know exactly what it is that is in store for them. It’s been a tradition to outfit young or older mouths with braces when there are teeth that are misaligned. Not everyone is born with beautiful teeth. There are alternative teeth-straightening methods that have been introduced to the market over the years, but a good chunk of patients still opt for traditional metal braces. Our office in Arnold, MO specializes in putting patients in braces, so if you think it’s the treatment choice for you, we’d love to see you in for a visit.

Metal Braces

When you walk around and see someone wearing braces, how long would you guess they’ve been wearing them? A year? Maybe two? The average braces-wearer is in braces for roughly five years. That’s a long time, but it makes sense. Your teeth can’t be moved to a different area in the blink of an eye; these things take time, and it’s all worth it in the end. Not only do metal braces shift teeth into their rightful places for a beautiful look, but your bite can be corrected as well. Having beautiful teeth doesn’t mean a thing if they don’t operate correctly, and having a correct bite will help bring serenity back to your oral health.
As far as pain is concerned, yes, there is some. It makes sense — your teeth are shifting. Naturally, there is going to be soreness and pain, but it isn’t anything you can’t handle. Most pain can be eliminated with a simple antibiotic or ibuprofen. If you can stand a little pain and stay dedicated for the long haul, then you’ll have no problem getting through braces treatment.
It is possible for some patients to wear braces for a much shorter time, but it depends on several factors like age, your present dental health, how severe the misalignment has become and the distance between teeth. It’s possible you may be able to receive Invisalign or alternative ceramic-braces treatment. It all comes down to the decision our dental team makes.

Schedule an Appointment

Having straight teeth doesn’t have to be a pipe dream for patients. It can be a reality when you come to our office in Arnold, MO. Our dental team will go over your options and inspect your mouth before any recommendations are made. Getting you the smile of your life is what we care about most. Here’s looking at you Liguori, Oakville and Antonia residents.

We Can Handle Any Dental Emergency

June 22, 2015

Filed under: Uncategorized — jldental @ 9:54 pm

A dental emergency can happen at any time. Seriously, you could be out and about at the grocery store and a dental emergency could occur. We always like to say that everyone needs to be prepared, but sometimes nobody can every really prepare themselves for a traumatic experience. The important thing to know is that we can handle the emergency. We have seen plenty of emergencies come through our office and we always handle them with the utmost care. Time is of the essence whenever a dental emergency arises and we want you to be in great hands. Our office in Arnold, MO can handle your dental emergency, all it takes is a call. Saving your tooth is our goal and in order to do that you will need to see us immediately. 

Dental Emergencies 101 

We’ve treated a lot of dental emergencies. But, sometimes patients think what could fall under the dental-emergency category sometimes doesn’t. It’s possible for a regular toothache not to be a dental emergency and instead should be looked at for possible cavities. Severe toothaches, on the other hand, need prompt service. How do you know if you’re dealing with a dental emergency?
Below are the most common dental emergencies:
·         Chipped teeth
·         Fractured tooth
·         Tooth or teeth that have been knocked out
·         Severe toothache
·         Missing crown, filling or other type of dental restoration device
We’d love to treat everyone who has minor toothaches, and we can. But, it’s important to know the distinction between what is and isn’t a dental emergency. With children, dental emergencies can be traumatic experiences for them. It’s easy to see why children are more susceptible to dental emergencies – they’re a lot more adventurous. We’ve seen many cases of children falling on the ground or slipping that results in their teeth being affected. Knowing there’s a dental office that can provide them with the best treatment should help keep you reassured in our expertise. You want to keep your family healthy and happy, and we’re committed to keeping their oral health in tip-top shape.
You can yourself prepare better by keeping items in a first-aid kit like a small container with accompanying lid, handkerchief, gauze, and a list of contacts and their phone numbers. Staying prepared is the first step in dealing with a dental emergency.

See Us for Any Dental Emergency Assistance 

Don’t waste time – it’s the one thing you need. Our staff in Arnold, MO is at-the-ready for any dental emergency. Patients in and around the area are encouraged to see us if one occurs, especially those of you in Merrimac, Imperial, Liguori, Oakville, Fountain, Mehlville and beyond.

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