Dental
Conditions

There are many potential causes of bad breath (halitosis), including tooth decay and gum disease. The bacteria that cause cavities or infections can turn otherwise fresh breath noticeably stinky. Halitosis is a common symptom of dental or periodontal problems. Visit your Zelienople dentist now for treatment that can remove the foul odor and correct any tooth or gum issues – before they get worse.

Find out more: Family & Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics / Gum Therapy

Early stage gum disease (gingivitis) can cause your gums to bleed and become inflamed. Left untreated, gum disease can result in infection and tooth loss. Brushing and flossing can help remove the bacteria that leads to gingivitis – although if bleeding or swollen gums don’t improve, you may require a deep cleaning to remove plaque before your gums can properly heal.

Find out more: Periodontics / Gum Therapy

In addition to being unsightly, a fractured or cracked tooth is considered a dental emergency. That’s because it’s often difficult to tell from sight alone whether the inside of the tooth is damaged. In some cases, a broken tooth has caused significant damage such that the tooth cannot be saved, must be extracted, and a crown, bridge, or implant inserted in its place. If you have the piece of tooth that has broken off, wrap it in wet gauze, and bring it with you to the dentist’s office.

Find out more: Restorative Dentistry, Cosmetic Dentistry

A cavity is a decayed area that has developed into a tiny hole in a tooth. You may or may not experience tooth pain with a cavity. Left untreated, a cavity can damage deeper layers of your teeth, and may lead to toothache, infection, and tooth loss.

Find out more: Family & Pediatric Dentistry

Your teeth may become crooked or misaligned for a variety of reasons, including premature tooth loss, overcrowding (too many teeth for the size of your mouth), gum disease, or injury. Depending on the severity of your misalignment, fixing their appearance may be as simple as veneers or the use of removable clear aligners. Braces are no longer your only option for crooked teeth.

Find out more: Cosmetic Dentistry

Being anxious about an upcoming dental appointment or procedure is not uncommon. At Marion Smile Center, however, we strive to provide the information you need ahead of time, as well as treat you in an inviting, comfortable, and family-friendly environment. Our dentist and hygienists are skilled and compassionate and will take the time to ensure your ease and comfort above all.

For patients who prefer conscious sedation (nitrous oxide gas) during their visit, we offer that, too. Our Comfort Menu lists calming options you might enjoy during your visit.

Find out more: Sedation Dentistry

When the inside of your mouth is not sufficiently moist, it can cause discomfort, bad breath, as well as increase your risk of cavities. Saliva helps to wash away food particles; without adequate moisture, bacteria can multiply and lead to tooth decay. Dry mouth can occur due to dehydration, intense exercise, or as a side effect of many different medications.

Find out more: Preventive Dentistry, Periodontics / Gum Therapy

You may be grinding your teeth – a condition called bruxism – without even being aware you’re doing it. That’s because many people engage in teeth grinding while asleep. However, excessive grinding and jaw clenching can damage the surface of your teeth, and can cause headaches, jaw pain, and more. Dental night guards (occlusal guards) can help preserve your teeth and alleviate other bruxism-related symptoms you may be experiencing.

Find out more: Preventive Dentistry

Experiencing a loose tooth during childhood is common, as baby teeth make way for the permanent adult teeth coming in. However, for adults, a loose tooth can indicate other, more serious dental issues. It may indicate bone loss in the jaw or periodontal issues such as infection, gum disease (gingivitis), or significantly receding gums that require dental treatment.

Find out more: Family & Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics / Gum Therapy

Losing a tooth can happen for a variety of reasons, including tooth decay or trauma to the mouth. No matter the cause, you’ll want to see your dentist about replacing missing teeth. Surrounding teeth tend to move over time into the gap left by a missing tooth. This can result in crooked or otherwise misaligned teeth, jaw pain, and other problems. The good news is you have many dental options when it comes to replacing lost or extracted teeth.

Find out more: Restorative Dentistry

The presence of sores and unusual patches in the mouth may indicate oral cancer. Your dentist will automatically check for these during every routine dental checkup.

Oral cancer often develops slowly over time and without any prominent symptoms – except for mouth sores and patches. These appear as a thickening of the skin, white or red patches, or nonhealing sores. Sores or patches can develop on the lips, gums, tongue, or inside the cheeks, as well as the roof or floor of the mouth.

If you notice a mouth sore or patch, contact Dr. Marion for an oral cancer screening. At Marion Smile Center, we use a special instrument called a VELscope, which allows our dental staff to assess your gum tissue and identify the presence of any potentially abnormal cells before they can be detected by the naked eye alone.

Find out more: Oral Cancer Screening

If you suspect oral cancer, don’t delay getting a screening. When oral cancer is discovered in its later stages, it may require removal of portions of the jaw, tongue, and lips. That is why early detection is key to successful treatment of this serious health condition.

Receding gums can be a problem if your gumline recedes enough such that the root of your tooth is exposed. This increases your risk of tooth decay, tooth sensitivity, and infection. Your teeth may also become loose as your gums become unable to adequately support your teeth. Treating receding gums depends on how early it is detected. In some cases, a deep cleaning is all that is needed to reverse the condition. Other times, a tissue graft may be necessary.

Find out more: Periodontics / Gum Therapy, Preventive Dentistry

Tooth sensitivity is fairly common. It’s the frequency, intensity, and type of sensitivity that may indicate that you need to see your dentist. For example, nearly everyone will experience some type of sensitivity when biting into something cold or hot. This type of sensitivity isn’t usually severe and goes away quickly when the tooth is no longer exposed to extreme temperature.

Tooth sensitivity that causes significant pain or pain in just one area of the mouth may indicate a dental problem that requires treatment, such as cavities, worn enamel, an exposed root (due to receding gums), or a cracked or broken tooth. Our hygienists can apply fluoride treatments during your routine cleanings, which will reduce sensitivity. What is best is to visit Dr. Marion to find out what is causing your tooth sensitivity.

Find out more: Preventive Dentistry, Family & Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics / Gum Therapy

Your teeth may ache for a wide variety of reasons – and at the top of that list are cavities, tooth sensitivity, and a gum infection. Don’t ignore a toothache. Even something like a piece of a popcorn kernel that has become stuck under your gums can lead to more serious dental concerns. Any type of pain is an indicator that something is wrong in your body. If you have a toothache, see Dr. Marion to not just relieve your pain but to also treat its cause.

Find out more: Family & Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics / Gum Therapy

Your teeth may become yellow over time as your outer tooth enamel wears away, so that the yellow-gray dentin layer inside your tooth shows through. The normal aging process results in yellowing of the teeth. Notice how white and bright young children’s teeth are. We have an expression here at Marion Smile Center: “If you’re not whitening, you’re yellowing!”

Your teeth can also become stained by smoking as well as by acidic foods or drinks that soften tooth enamel, making the surface more susceptible to staining. Typical tooth-stain culprits include soda, sports drinks, red wine, coffee, and tea.

At Marion Smile Center, we offer a variety of teeth whitening options guaranteed to have you wanting to show off your pearly whites – instead of hiding your yellow or stained teeth.

Find out more: Cosmetic Dentistry