While you may be familiar with more classic dental appliances, such as dentures and braces, you may not have heard about the Snap-On Smile appliance or all of its uses. This dental appliance can hide a variety of smile imperfections and it can be worn daily or on an occasional basis.

A Snap-On Smile is made of an acetyl resin, which is a strong, yet flexible material that is now also being used in the creation of some types of partial dentures. This dental appliance can be worn all day, even when eating, and must only be removed when brushing your existing teeth or sleeping.

Read on to learn about four surprising uses for a Snap-On Smile.

Technology is changing the way that dental procedures are being performed. A dental laser, called a Waterlase laser, is able to remove decay from a tooth, remove decay from the tooth root, and deep clean your roots and teeth to help prevent gum disease and treat existing gum disease.

If you have never heard of a Waterlase laser, you may be wondering what the benefits are to using this tool for your dental procedures, compared to traditional tools, such as a dental drill or dental scalpel. Here are four of those benefits. 

1. Reduces Pain During Dental Procedures

A typical toothpaste aisle at a grocery or drugstore contains dozens of toothpaste varieties. Like many people, you may think that all toothpastes are alike and their marketed differences are simply marketing gimmicks.

If your teeth and gums are perfectly healthy and no problems are typically revealed during your dental exams, you have no reason to overthink your toothpaste choice. However, if you would like to improve your dental health, then putting more thought into the toothpaste you purchase may help you meet your dental health goals.

Read on to learn how to choose the right toothpaste for you if you would like to improve your oral health.

Your teeth are important for a many reasons. While they help you chew, eat, and speak, your teeth also make up your smile, which greatly affects your appearance and self-esteem. Unfortunately, issues affecting the location of your teeth can lead to underlying dental problems, eating difficulties, speech impediments, discomfort, and even self-esteem issues.

Thankfully, orthodontic treatment can help. With this guide, you will learn a few common reasons why you may need orthodontic treatment.

1. Crooked Teeth

There are many causes of crooked teeth. For instance, your baby or permanent teeth may not have erupted properly. Or you may have suffered a trauma to the mouth that displaced or knocked out one or more teeth. Certain habits such as thumb sucking, a pacifier, or a bottle used for a long period of time after to primary teeth have erupted, can affect the location and alignment of teeth.

If you have an abscessed tooth or a tooth that decay has severely affected, your dentist may recommend that you do a root canal procedure. This procedure is often an alternative to pulling a tooth and keeps the tooth in your mouth, which is often better for your overall oral health in the long term.

Of course, if you’re like most patients, you probably have a few questions about root canal procedures. Hopefully, you will find the answers below.

1. Are Root Canals Painful?

Somewhere along the line, root canals got the unfortunate reputation of being painful. The idea of a dentist drilling into your tooth and removing the pulp — which is what happens during a root canal — does not sound pleasant. And it would not be if not for modern anesthetics.

Thankfully, your dentist will inject your gums with a local anesthetic prior to doing any work on your tooth. This won’t render you unconscious like general anesthesia, but it will ensure you don’t feel a thing during the procedure. You’ll just feel a mild pinch and stinging sensation during the injection itself.

Some patients do experience jaw aches from holding their mouth open during the root canal, but this tends to be minor. If you’ve dealt with toothaches and other dental discomfort, a root canal can actually ease that pain.