Shane Smith DDS Blog

If you don’t practice good oral hygiene, you may end up with cavities, gum disease, and other dental complications. These issues are obviously already bad enough by themselves, but did you know they could potentially have a negative impact on the rest of your body? Poor dental health could put you at risk for a number of medical problems; your preventive dentist is here with 5 particularly noteworthy examples.

Dentures are a versatile solution for tooth loss with a long history of successfully rebuilding smiles. These restorations are customized at every step of their creation to fit like a glove and look just like your natural teeth and gums.

However, it often takes new patients about a month to adjust to wearing their new teeth all day. It’s common to develop raw spots in your connective tissues that can become achy or inflamed until your mouth acclimates. Continue reading to learn 3 ways to address discomfort from denture sores and help them heal!

Dentures have been helping people restore their smiles and improve their lives for centuries. However, they’re also surrounded by plenty of myths that can make patients hesitant or unsure about getting them. It’s time to set the record straight! Continue reading to see five common denture myths debunked so you can feel confident about restoring your smile.

A dental bridge should suit your needs if you need to replace several teeth. After all, that device is great at “bridging” large smile gaps formed from tooth loss (pun intended)! Still, you likely have a question you want to ask first: How long do dental bridges last? Knowing its answer would help you decide whether treatment is right for you. With that said, here’s a primer on dental bridges and their lifespans from your Jonesboro dentist.

Root canals have long been associated with fear and pain, but is this reputation deserved? Thanks to modern dental practices, this once-dreaded procedure is now much more comfortable. Here’s whether root canals are as painful as commonly believed by looking at the procedure itself, the role of anesthesia, and the recovery process.

As the back-to-school season kicks off, parents are busy with school supplies, schedules, and the excitement of a new academic year. Amid the hustle and bustle, it’s easy to overlook one critical area—dental safety. With kids participating in sports, recess, and lunchtime snacks, the chances of dental emergencies can increase. Here are some smart tips to help keep your child’s smile safe and sound throughout the school year.

There’s no time to waste during a dental emergency, so if you don’t already have a dentist to turn to for urgent oral health issues, now is the time to look for one. Of course, there’s no shortage of emergency dentists to choose from, so how can you narrow down the one that’s right for you? Below are 5 key traits that you should be looking for.

Nothing is more exciting than getting your dentures. You no longer have to deal with insecurities about your appearance or struggle to chew food. Your dentures will fit like gloves for maximum comfort and function. However, don’t expect to chomp into a hamburger right away. It will take time to get used to eating with your dentures. Here are a few tips to make that transition process easier.

Dentures have been used for generations to treat tooth loss. They are often associated with being elderly, but adults of all ages can experience missing teeth. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, almost 27% of adults aged 20 to 34 years have lost at least one tooth. You don’t have to wait until you retire to treat tooth loss. Here’s why more younger adults than ever before are investing in dentures.

Denture adhesives are an excellent way to provide comfort and confidence to denture wearers. With so many options available, however, choosing the best kind can be overwhelming. If you’re curious about how different denture adhesives work, continue reading. You’ll learn about several common types so you can choose the best one for you.