Are you aware that dentures, partial or full, could also accumulate plaque? Just like natural teeth, they can become stained if not properly cared for. Although your dentist, Dr. Ralph Mazzuca of Ralph T. Mazzuca, D.D.S. in Washington DC, can perform adjustments to your dentures as required, the rest of the time, caring for them will be up to you. Here’s what you can do.

How Should You Clean Your Dentures?

You must care for your dentures the same way that you do your natural teeth. This means cleaning it daily to ensure that bacteria and food particles do not accumulate. This will also help to prevent staining. To start:

1. Remove denture adhesive and loose food particles by rinsing under running water.
2. Use commercial denture cleanser in either cream, tablet, gel, paste, or solution form.
3. For cleanser tablets, drop the tablet in warm water and soak the denture in the cleaning solution to reduce bacteria and odor.
4. For pastes, gels, or creams, use a soft-bristled brush to clean the denture while it is out of your mouth.
5. Rinse the dentures based on the instructions of the manufacturer.

Proper Storage for your Dentures

When storing your dentures, you need to keep them moist to prevent them from drying out or losing their shape. Place your denture in a solution specifically made for soaking or clean water when you are not using it. For dentures that have metal attachments, consult with your dentist on how to properly store them. It is important to remember that dentures must never be put in hot water since they can easily warp.

Why You Should Frequently Visit Your Dentist

It is best to maintain a regular visit schedule based on the recommendations of your dentist in Washington DC. This is especially true if your dentures don’t fit properly, as this can lead to mouth sores and irritation. Make a visual inspection of your dentures daily to check for cracks, chips, breaks, or loose teeth. You need to visit your dentist immediately in any of these instances.

However, it’s vital to note that even if you properly care for your dentures, they will eventually have to be remade after a couple of years. This is because the bony ridge that it rests on will naturally shrink after some time. Rebasing or relining the dentures should be performed every five to 10 years depending on its condition.

For Advice or Concerns About Your Dentures, We Can Help

Dial (202) 537-1088 to arrange an appointment with your dentist here in Washington DC, Dr. Ralph Mazzuca.

Are you doing everything you can to keep your teeth healthy? Preventive and family dentistry services offered by your Washington, DC, dentist, Dr. Ralph Mazzuca, can help you and you entire household lower the risk of tooth decay and other dental issues.

How preventive dentistry can help your smile?

When it comes to homeownership, it is a common belief that it is better to prevent problems then deal with a major repair issue down the line. After all, a small leak is much easier and cheaper to fix than a major flood caused by a burst pipe.

The same principle applies to your teeth. Tooth decay, gum disease, and other dental issues can be avoided in some cases simply by taking a few preventive measures. For instance, a cavity may seem like a fairly minor issue, but tooth decay weakens the structure of your tooth and might increase the likelihood that you'll need another procedure or restoration at some point in the future.

Regular visits to your dentist help you protect your oral health in several ways, including:

• Removal of Plaque and Tartar: When you visit our Washington DC dental office for regular checkups, you'll receive a dental cleaning that will eliminate plaque and tartar in your mouth. Plaque causes cavities and can be a factor in gum disease, along with tartar. Gum disease causes pain, redness, and swelling in your gum tissue and can even lead to tooth loss if it's severe.
• Diagnosis of Dental Problems: Regular examinations help your dentist spot cavities while they're still small and haven't done too much damage to your teeth. He also looks for signs of other potential issues, such as cracks, loose fillings, dying nerves, receding gums, infection, and gum disease.
• Identification of Oral Cancer Signs: Checkups also include oral cancer screenings of your mouth and jaw. If your dentist notices any suspicious spots or lumps, he'll may recommend testing or refer you to a specialist. The exams can also provide valuable information about general health problems. (Eroding tooth enamel can be a sign of acid reflux, while bleeding gums can be caused by diabetes in some cases.)

In need of family dentistry services? Give us a call

Protect your smile with preventive dentistry! Call your family dentist in Washington, DC, Dr. Ralph Mazzuca, at (202) 537-1088 to schedule an appointment.

There are many ways to renew your smile with cosmetic dentistry. For example, you can quickly and easily brighten your smile with in-office or take-home teeth whitening treatment. Other cosmetic procedures can conceal or repair a wide range of issues, including cracked or chipped teeth. At our dental office in Washington, DC, Dr. Ralph Mazzuca can recommend specific cosmetic dentistry procedures to help you achieve the smile you desire—read on to learn about just some of our options.

Cosmetic Fillings

Cosmetic fillings are an aesthetically pleasing option for filling cavities. The filling material can be color-matched to your existing tooth color so that the filling easily blends in, making it unnoticeable to others. Once the cavity is treated and filled, no one will even be able to tell the difference between the cosmetic filling and your tooth. Existing metal fillings can also be replaced with cosmetic fillings for a more subtle look.

Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is a cosmetic dentistry option for repairing cracked or chipped teeth, closing small gaps between teeth, or improving the shape oddly-shaped teeth. Bonding can even be used to conceal discolorations on teeth. A tooth-colored resin material is applied directly to the problem area. The resin permanently bonds with the tooth as it dries. At our office for cosmetic dentistry in Washington, DC, our skilled dentist can determine if dental bonding is the best procedure for creating the smile you desire.

Dental Veneers

Dental veneers are thin laminate covers for teeth with cosmetic flaws, such as chips, cracks, or stains. Veneers are placed against the front surface of problem teeth to give them a flawless appearance. Each veneer is custom created so that it fits perfectly in place on its corresponding tooth. Veneers look and function like natural teeth so all that anyone will notice is your flawless smile.

Teeth Whitening

Professional teeth whitening is a quick and easy way to completely renew your smile. Professional whitening is available as an in-office procedure or as a take-home treatment. In-office whitening delivers the fastest results. Your smile could be up to eight shades whiter after a single office visit. Take-home whitening kits produce noticeable results after a few treatments and are a convenient option for those who prefer to whiten their teeth in the comfort of their own home.

Interested? Give Us a Call

Cosmetic dentistry makes it easy to renew your smile. A variety of procedures are available to help you achieve your desired results. To learn more about the different cosmetic dentistry options available at our office in Washington, DC, schedule an appointment with Dr. Mazzuca by calling (202) 537-1088.

A root canal from your dentist in Washington D.C. can relieve your tooth pain

You’ve probably heard a lot about root canal treatment, but did you know it can save your smile? It’s true! When you undergo root canal therapy, it can relieve tooth pain for good and still allow you to keep your smile intact. Dr. Ralph T. Mazzuca in Washington D.C. offers a full range of dental services, including root canal therapy to save your smile.

More about Root Canal Treatment

You may need a root canal because you have suffered an injury to the face or acquired severe tooth decay. In these scenarios, the innermost layer of your tooth (where the nerves and the blood supply are located) has become infected, causing inflammation, fluid build-up, pressure, and pain. The only way to relieve this pressure and avoid removing the tooth is by undergoing root canal treatment.

A smile-saving procedure, root canal treatment begins with your dentist creating a small opening in the top of your compromised tooth. He will then draw the inflamed pulp tissue out through the opening and replace it with a sedative material. The sedative material then eliminates inflammation and helps to dry up the fluid inside your tooth.

Once the inflammation and pain are gone, the sedative material is removed and replaced with an inert material that is left inside your tooth. The small opening is sealed with a permanent filling, and your root canal is complete.

Need Dental Work? Give Us a Call

You deserve to enjoy a complete, healthy smile. You also deserve to enjoy a beautiful smile without annoying tooth pain. Now, you can have it all, thanks to root canal treatment from Dr. Ralph T. Mazzuca. To learn more about the benefits of root canal treatment, call your dentist in Washington D.C. today by dialing (202) 537-1088.

If you have spaces and gaps in your smile due to tooth loss, consider having them filled in with dentures. Nowadays, these specialty appliances are so realistic that others won't even be able to distinguish them from your natural teeth. Read on to learn of the different types of dentures that are available so that you can be prepared to discuss them with Dr. Ralph Mazzuca, your dentist in Washington DC.

Benefits of Dentures
Dentures aren’t just for seniors—many young to middle-aged adults can also benefit from wearing these appliances after tooth loss. Think about the advantages of being fitted for a specialty denture device:

- They allow you to eat your favorite foods again.
- They look very natural and can be shaped to resemble your original smile.
- They cover and protect your gumline throughout the day to minimize the chance of gum infections.
- They can be refitted and adjusted over time to ensure a comfortable fit.

Types of Dentures
There are two main categories of dentures—full and partial. The full dentures are created to cover the entire gumline and stay in place through tight suctioning. The partial dentures are made to fill in spaces where one or a few teeth are missing. They are anchored by the remaining teeth. Other denture types that your Washington DC dentist can provide include immediate dentures, which are placed immediately after extraction, and implant-supported dentures, which are anchored by a few well-placed dental implants.

Adjusting to and Maintaining Your New Dentures
It could take some time for you to get used to your new dentures—especially if you’ve been living with tooth loss for an extended period of time. However, you will eventually return to speaking and eating normally. It’s important to pay attention to both your dentures and your oral health by keeping everything clean with brushing and flossing (if you have remaining teeth). Your denture should be soaked in a solution recommended by your dentist each night.

Call for a Denture Consultation
Call (202) 537-1088 today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Ralph Mazzuca at his office in Washington DC.