Seacrest Dental

If you live in the Santa Rosa Beach area, then you want the best when it comes to finding quality dental care.

Sometimes, providing the best dental treatment involves getting a dental crown.

At Seacrest Dental, we have combined decades of experience in placing beautiful and long-lasting crowns. How do you know if you need one?

Reasons Your Tooth May Need A Crown

Dental “caps” are usually placed because a tooth has lost some of its strength or beauty. So some of the reasons may include:

• Tooth fracture
• Decay or an abscess
• Deep stain
• Roughened enamel
• Worn chewing surface

To find out whether a dental crown is the restoration of choice for your smile, you’ll need to visit one of our dentists here at Seacrest Dental.

Dental Crown Alternatives

Whether or not you should get a crown is mostly determined by the amount of tooth structure you have. Basically, the less tooth there is, the less choice you have. That’s because a crown could be your tooth’s last chance to stay in one piece.

If your tooth has only minor damage, other restorations such as inlays, onlays, veneers, or composite fillings may suffice.

What It’s Like To Get A Crown

Having a dental crown placed is no worse than getting a filling. You won’t feel a thing during treatment. Your restoration may require a couple of separate appointments to finish it, though.

Once your new crown is in place, you’ll continue to care for it just as you would any other tooth with daily brushing and flossing. Dental crowns are ideal restorations for patients of all ages. To find out more, schedule your smile consultation with Seacrest Dental.

Posted on behalf of Seacrest Dental

With years of experience in treating urgent dental cases, Seacrest Dental knows how to handle such dental emergencies.

Loose Crowns or Lost Fillings

Check your tooth to make sure it’s clean. You should also clean out the inside of the crown. Using a temporary cement from the local drugstore, carefully replace the cap (after ensuring it goes on the right way). The cement can also temporarily replace a filling. Call us to find out the next step.

Fractured or Knocked-Out Tooth

A loosened tooth should be stabilized (don’t chew on it!) until you can see the dentist. Recover any loose pieces, take a painkiller, and ice the gums to bring down swelling.

If you’re brave enough, replace a dislodged tooth as quickly as possible. Gently wash the root in clean water (without soap or scrubbing). Push it back in place and gently bite down to keep it there until you can see us. Or, bring the tooth to us in a container of milk within the first hour.

If have bleeding that won’t stop or pain or an infection so severe that you can’t sleep, it’s best to visit the local emergency room.

Emergency Dentist Near Miramar Beach

As popular tourist destinations, Miramar and Santa Rosa beaches attract a lot of guests. But while our visitors take vacations, their dental problems don’t!

That’s why our team at Seacrest Dental is happy to provide emergency dental services to all in the area. We have a phone system in place that directs community members to the help they need. We also prioritize getting those emergency cases into our schedule ASAP.

Make Seacrest Dental your go-to dentist in an emergency!

Posted on behalf of Seacrest Dental

As a general rule, when it comes to dental health, you want things to remain the same if you have a healthy mouth. Maintaining that health is important. When changes begin to occur in your mouth, it could be a sign of gum disease. Typically, when your normal appearance, feel, smell and brushing experience change, there is a problem. Here are some changes to watch for that could signal that you have gum disease.

Changing Color

If you’re noticing your gums change to red, this is a sign that you might have gum disease. Healthy gums should be firm and pale pink. Bacteria cause inflamed gums, which is known as gingivitis, the early, mild stage of gum disease.

Changing Shape

If your gums begin to become swollen and puffy, this could be an early sign of gum disease. With your puffiness, you may also have exceptionally swollen and painful gums.

Changing Results

Typically, after brushing you spit in the sink and see signs of toothpaste and clear spit. If you’re seeing blood in the sink when you spit after brushing, this is an early signal that you may have gum disease.

Changing Odors

Nobody likes bad breath. Everyone wants to smell minty fresh! Bad breath, or having an exceedingly bad taste in your mouth can be an early sign of gum disease. Plaque buildup on the tongue is usually the culprit to bad breath.

At Seacrest Dental, we are proud to serve our patients. If you’re experiencing an unexpected change in your dental health, book an appointment with us. We will help diagnose and treat all of your dental needs.

Posted on behalf of Seacrest Dental

The good news is that mouthwash can be an essential part of a routine to combat gum disease. The bad news is that mouthwash alone won’t cut it.

Gum disease is inflammation that affects not just the gums, but the bone and ligaments surrounding teeth, as well. It can weaken those structures so much that your teeth get loose and fall out. Clearly, it’s something you want to get rid of.

Causes Of Gum Disease

Gum disease is a combination of a bacterial infection and an inflammatory reaction from your own body. As germs invade gum tissues, your gums swell and pull away from the teeth. This creates pockets of space around the teeth which can host even more bacteria and debris. As the inflammation progresses, all the action happens in areas out of reach of a toothbrush, floss, and yes, mouthwash.

How To Get Rid Of Gum Disease

For antibacterial properties to actually have any effect on the bacteria hanging out below your gums, you may benefit from an antibiotic placed directly in those pockets around teeth. This is best preceded by a deep cleaning, however, to remove plaque and tartar that host the troublesome bacteria. You can find all of the latest in gum disease-fighting techniques right here at Seacrest Dental.

What’s Mouthwash Good For Then?

An anti-plaque or anti-gingivitis rinse will help prevent new bacteria from setting up residence in your mouth. Whether you have gum disease or not, this kind of mouthwash is really good to have in your oral hygiene routine.

A mouthwash might not easily rinse away your gum problem. But the dental experts at Seacrest Dental can help. Call us today to schedule your appointment.

Posted on behalf of Seacrest Dental

There’s never been a better time than the present to finally move forward with your smile makeover. When ultimate dental aesthetics are a goal, porcelain veneers are an excellent choice. Here are four reasons why:

Get Instantly Straighter Looking Teeth

Often referred to as “instant braces,” veneers make your teeth look straighter without you ever having to wear orthodontic appliances. They’re perfect for hiding areas of mild crowding or even gaps between teeth.

Address Tooth Size, Shape, and Color

Veneers mask everything about your natural teeth. This gives you the freedom to change what color they look like, their shape, and even the size of specific teeth. Ask to see some of our before and after pictures for inspiration during your smile design process.

Complete Your Smile Makeover in Just a Couple of Appointments

From designing your ideal smile to having your permanent veneers bonded to your enamel, the entire process takes just two or three trips to our Emerald Coast dentist office. The first is your consultation, the second is the prep visit, and the final appointment is when we bond your veneers in place.

Experience a Huge Boost in Your Self-Confidence

Improving your smile’s appearance affects your entire life. From who you date to how well you do at a job interview, feeling proud of the way your teeth look can open new social and professional doors. Veneers aren’t just an investment in your smile…they’re an investment in your quality of life.

Looking for a great cosmetic dentist in the Emerald Coast? Call Seacrest Dental to schedule a veneer consultation today. Be sure to ask about our financing options!

Posted on Behalf of Seacrest Dental

Do you cringe when you hear the words “root canal?” Well, you’re not alone. Almost everyone would take the alternative . . . if there was one.

Do you have any other options when it comes to getting out of endodontic therapy?

Why A Root Canal?

A root canal is a procedure in which our dentist removes a dead or injured nerve from inside your tooth. This is the best solution for relieving infection and pain without removing the tooth entirely.

If You Don’t Get A Root Canal

Not taking a professional’s recommendation to get a root canal will probably only leave you in more pain. An infection in a tooth can spread to other parts of the body. The tooth will eventually need to be extracted, and you’ll be faced with having to decide between a denture, bridge, or an implant.

Root Canals Aren’t That Bad!

Years ago, when dental anesthetic wasn’t so common, a root canal like any other dental treatment would have been uncomfortable. Thanks to the various anesthetics and sedatives available today, a root canal is no more uncomfortable than a basic dental filling.

If anything, people associate pain with root canals because it’s usually extreme pain that puts them in the position of needing the procedure. Endodontic therapy, as mentioned earlier, is meant to relieve pain, not cause it.

So you have these options:

• Root canal treatment to buy your tooth several more years
• Pull the tooth
• Risk the infection

Get the facts on root canals right here at Seacrest Dental. If you suspect you have a bad tooth in need of endodontic treatment, look no further than the Emerald Coast’s best root canal dentist!

Posted on behalf of Seacrest Dental

Many folks only think to get their teeth cleaned before a special occasion. Most feel that once a year is enough to stay healthy, but twice is best if you want to stay on top of your dental health.

Why Visit More Often?

Some patients agree to come in for one or two extra cleanings in the year when recommended even if it comes at extra cost. An extra cleaning may be advised, for example, if you:

• Have braces
• Are highly cavity-prone
• Suffer from gingivitis
• Have frequent heavy tartar buildup at your cleaning appointments

But there is one other even more important reason some patients come in for extra visits.

Periodontal Maintenance

The most common reason for having multiple dental visits a year is to maintain gum health. If you’ve had periodontal therapy to treat gum disease, then you’ll likely be on a specific dental cleaning schedule for quite a while.

Gum disease can be difficult to manage and the inflammation can have far-reaching effects on your body. That’s why frequent visits with a dental hygienist are so important. The dental hygienist checks for signs of the disease worsening or returning and cleans the debris that your toothbrush can’t reach.

These periodontal maintenance appointments are usually schedule every 3-4 months depending on your individual needs.

Are you looking for a general dentist on the Emerald Coast? You won’t find better than our family affair here at Seacrest Dental. We’ve got an office in Miramar Beach and one at Santa Rosa Beach, so you’re guaranteed to find a location near you. Call us today!

Posted on behalf of Seacrest Dental

If you live on the Emerald Coast, there’s a good chance you’ve taken a trip across the Gulf to visit more exotic climes. But is it a good idea to seek dental treatment while abroad?

Here are a few things to think about before you do.

1. Will you really save money?

The cost of travel and lodging may negate anything you save by seeking dental treatment in another country.

2. Can you trust the quality of the care?

Not all countries maintain the same standards of cleanliness in medical facilities. A dentist could be skilled and cheap, but you’d regret going if you picked up an infection.

3. What if something went wrong?

In the States, there is a constant threat of lawsuit hanging over the heads of virtually every medical professional. But the same protections aren’t guaranteed to patients in every land. Think twice if there’s no legal or financial protection for patients at your destination dental office.

4. Is there any way to accurately transfer records between your local and foreign dentists?

Don’t rely on your own memory to recall which tooth was filled when! You have a better chance of getting quality care if both dental offices can collaborate, to an extent.

5. Are you sure of getting the quality you’re promised?

It is a shady practice in some dental offices (yes, it’s even happened in the United States) to use sub-par dental materials while billing for a more expensive one. If you have no way of confirming that you’re not being ripped off, then maybe you should rethink the trip.

For the best local dentistry in Miramar Beach, call Seacrest Dental.

Posted on Behalf of Seacrest Dental 

Are you currently stressing out over something unusual going on with your tooth?

The following points could help you decide whether it’s time to see a dentist.

Sensitivity

It’s normal for teeth to hurt in the presence of extremely hot or cold food items. However, the sensation should go away when the stimulus does. If a tooth continues to throb after the offending item is removed, then that could signal a cavity.

Pain

Teeth shouldn’t hurt when you chew normally. But any pain on biting means that there’s something bothering the nerve chamber of the tooth.

Bad Taste in Your Mouth

A cavity is decaying tooth material. Nothing that dies gives off a pleasant scent. If you have a strange taste in your mouth, that could mean you do indeed have a cavity.

Stain

Not every brown spot on your tooth is a cavity, but areas of stain are a good place for cavities to take root unnoticed. Keep an eye on dark spots to make sure they don’t get bigger.

Hole or Chip

Suddenly noticing something “missing” in a tooth is a sure sign of damage. A new cavity may feel like a hole, chip, or groove in a tooth that just wasn’t there before.

Pimple on Your Gums

It’s possible to have an abscess without pain. If you notice what looks like an odd swelling on your gums near the root of a tooth, that could be the drainage point of a severe dental infection.

If you’re worried that you may have a cavity, then you should plan a checkup with our Emerald Coast restorative dentist. Contact Seacrest Dental to schedule an appointment.

Posted on Behalf of Seacrest Dental

Here at Seacrest Dental, we’re all about helping Emerald Coast residents stay on top of their oral health. If there’s a way for you to avoid getting a cavity in the first place, we want you to know.

With these six key tips you can ward off the need to get a tooth filled or crowned. 

Use Fluoride

It’s still popular because it works. Fluoride is a mineral that helps reinforce tooth structure against acid wear and decay. Get plenty of it in your toothpaste and mouthwash.

Limit Exposure to Sugar and Other Simple Carbs 

Sugar and other carbohydrates fuel acid-producing bacteria which make cavities. So the less time these carbs are in your mouth, the less damage they’ll do. Limit snack sessions and keep them brief. Reach for water more often than soda or sweet tea.

Rinse 

Swishing with a little water after a meal, snack, or beverage will help wash acids off your teeth. Rinse with baking soda and water after vomiting to neutralize acids that can wear away enamel.

Remineralize

Restore tooth minerals with remineralizing products. Look for toothpastes that contain things like calcium, phosphate, and hydroxyapatite.

Brush and Floss Daily

Our list wouldn’t be complete without these! Daily brushing and flossing remove plaque bacteria that eat away enamel.

Get Regular Dental Checkups with X-Rays

You can stop and even reverse spots of initial decay if you catch them early enough. You need a Destin, FL dentist to help you out there. X-rays and other dental tools can detect weak areas long before an ugly cavity shows up.

Call us at either of our Santa Rosa Beach or Miramar Beach locations to plan your visit!

Posted on Behalf of Seacrest Dental