Month: February 2017

Cracked teeth are a common occurrence that we deal with in life. The right amount of pressure while chewing on solids such as popcorn kernels or ice can lead to a crack in your teeth. Bad habits such as teeth grinding or clenching your jaw can also start the process of cracking your teeth. If this happens to you, there are several remedies available.​

Teeth with minor cracks can typically be repaired by having filling material placed inside the crack or a dental veneer. Having a filling is an affordable and easy treatment that can be applied to the tooth in one visit to your dentist. A dental veneer costs more, but it also offers more stability to a cracked tooth. A follow-up visit is necessary to apply a dental veneer.​

A dental crown is the most used treatment in cases of larger cracks. A dental crown will replace the structure and strength the tooth lost due to the crack. If the pulp of the tooth has been damaged, a root canal will be necessary. The pulp contains the soft material of the tooth, including nerve endings and blood vessels. A root canal is necessary to prevent the pulp from becoming infected.​

If the crack is severe, it may require the tooth to be extracted and replaced. The replacement can be done with either a dental bridge or implant.​

To learn more or to schedule an appointment, please call us at Pell City Dental in Pell City, Alabama today.

Do you remember when you believed in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny? Think back on the excitement the prospect of losing a baby tooth brought. Knowing that the Tooth Fairy was going to come to take the tooth and leave money, whether it was a dime, quarter, or dollar, is a highlight of childhood. Bringing the wonder of the Tooth Fairy to life with your own children is a whole new, exciting experience.​

As the Tooth Fairy once again becomes a prominent part of your life, you may wonder how the Tooth Fairy came to be. There are many traditions relating to the loss of baby teeth going back thousands of years. When a child lost a baby tooth, they would do one or more of the following:​

– Throw it into the sun
– Throw it into the fire
– Throw it between their legs
– Throw it onto or over the roof of a dwelling
– Place it in a mouse hole
– Bury it in the ground
– Hide it out of sight of animals
– Put it inside a tree or on the wall
– Swallow it, or have their mother or pet swallow it​

There are many versions of the tooth deity. In some countries, a mouse would enter children’s rooms and remove baby teeth. The mouse is the tooth deity in many cultures because rodents continue to grow their teeth throughout their lives. In other cultures, the tooth deity varies to include beavers, dogs, cats, and squirrels. The tooth deity would take the lost baby tooth that was “buried” under a pillow and replace it with gifts like money.​

Our beloved Tooth Fairy was inspired by the legend of the mouse combined with legends from Europe of a good fairy that originated in fairy tales. In about 1927, a book made our current idea of the Tooth Fairy popular in America.​

We invite you to call Pell City Dental today to learn more and to schedule your next visit with our dentist in Pell City, Alabama. Dr. Scott Barnett and our team are dedicated to serving you and your family.