Many people don’t realize they grind or clench their teeth while they sleep until they begin experiencing jaw pain, headaches, or worn teeth. These habits, often caused by bruxism, can place significant stress on your teeth and jaw over time. Fortunately, a custom night guard is a simple, comfortable solution that helps protect your smile while you rest.

If you’ve been waking up with discomfort or have noticed changes in your teeth, a night guard may be worth considering.

Signs You May Benefit From a Night Guard

Teeth grinding and jaw clenching can happen without you even knowing it. While some people notice these habits during the day, many only experience them while asleep.

You may benefit from a night guard if you frequently experience:

• Morning headaches or facial soreness
• Jaw pain or stiffness when you wake up
• Sensitive or worn teeth
• Chipped, cracked, or flattened teeth
• Clicking or popping in the jaw
• Neck or shoulder tension after sleeping

Even if your symptoms seem mild, addressing them early can help prevent more serious dental issues in the future.

How a Night Guard Helps

A custom night guard creates a protective barrier between your upper and lower teeth while you sleep. Although it doesn’t necessarily prevent grinding or clenching, it cushions your teeth and helps reduce the damaging effects of these habits.

Wearing a properly fitted night guard can help minimize tooth wear, reduce stress on your jaw joints, and decrease muscle tension. Many patients also notice fewer morning headaches and improved comfort after consistently wearing their appliance.

Unlike over-the-counter options, a custom night guard is designed specifically for your smile, providing a secure, comfortable, and effective fit.

Why Protecting Your Teeth Matters

Grinding and clenching may seem harmless at first, but they can gradually cause significant damage. Over time, excessive pressure can wear away enamel, crack teeth, damage dental restorations, and contribute to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discomfort.

Repairing damaged teeth often requires more extensive dental treatment than preventing the damage in the first place. A night guard offers a proactive way to preserve your natural teeth and existing dental work while helping you maintain long-term oral health.

Find Out if a Night Guard Is Right for You

If you’re experiencing jaw discomfort, frequent headaches, or signs of tooth wear, don’t ignore the symptoms. Your dental team can evaluate your teeth, discuss your concerns, and determine whether a custom night guard is the right solution for your needs.

Protecting your smile while you sleep can make a meaningful difference in your comfort, oral health, and overall well-being. With a custom night guard, you can rest easier knowing your teeth are protected.

A root canal is an important step toward relieving pain and saving your natural tooth. While the procedure itself is designed to eliminate infection and discomfort, proper aftercare is key to smooth healing and preventing complications. Knowing what to expect (and how to care for your tooth) can help you feel more confident during recovery.

Managing Discomfort and Sensitivity

It’s normal to experience mild soreness or sensitivity in the treated area for a few days after your root canal. This is often due to inflammation in the surrounding tissues, not the procedure itself. If necessary, take Ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) to minimize your discomfort.

Try to avoid chewing on the treated side until your dentist has completed the final restoration, such as placing a crown. This helps prevent unnecessary pressure on the tooth and protects it while it heals.

Eating and Drinking Guidelines

After your procedure, stick to soft foods for the first day or two. Options like yogurt, mashed potatoes, soup, and scrambled eggs are gentle on your teeth and gums. Avoid very hot or cold foods if you notice sensitivity. It’s also best to stay away from hard, crunchy, or sticky foods, like nuts, popcorn, or chewing gum, until your tooth is fully restored. These can damage the temporary filling or irritate the treated area.

Keeping the Area Clean

Good oral hygiene is essential for healing. Continue brushing and flossing as usual, but be gentle around the treated tooth. Keeping your mouth clean helps prevent bacteria from re-entering the area and causing reinfection. If your dentist recommends a specific rinse or provides additional instructions, be sure to follow them carefully. Even small steps can make a big difference in your recovery.

Watch for Unusual Symptoms

While most root canal recoveries are straightforward, it’s important to stay aware of any unusual symptoms. Contact our dental office if you experience severe pain, worsening swelling, an allergic reaction to medication, or if your temporary filling comes loose. Early attention to these concerns can help prevent more serious issues and keep your healing process on track.

Don’t Skip Your Follow-Up Appointment

A root canal is typically completed in stages. After the initial treatment, your dentist will place a permanent restoration (often a crown) to protect and strengthen the tooth. This step is essential for long-term success. Be sure to attend all follow-up appointments so your dentist can monitor healing and complete the restoration properly.

Supporting a Smooth Recovery

Taking care of yourself after a root canal doesn’t have to be complicated. By managing discomfort, eating carefully, maintaining good oral hygiene, and staying in touch with our dental team, you can support proper healing and get back to your normal routine with confidence.

If you’ve ever needed a dental crown, you may remember the process requiring multiple appointments, temporary crowns, and weeks of waiting. Thanks to modern dental technology, that experience has dramatically improved. With CEREC same-day crowns at Sladky Family Dental, patients can restore damaged teeth in just one visit, without compromising quality or durability.

Let’s take a closer look at what CEREC same-day crowns are, how they work, and why so many patients appreciate this advanced treatment option.

What Are CEREC Same-Day Crowns?

CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. While the name may sound technical, the concept is simple: CEREC uses advanced digital technology to design, create, and place custom dental crowns in a single appointment.

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped “cap” that covers and protects a tooth that has decay, cracks, large fillings or has been weakened after a root canal. Traditionally, getting a crown required two visits—one to prepare the tooth and take impressions, and another weeks later to place the permanent restoration. CEREC streamlines this entire process into one convenient visit.

How Does the CEREC Process Work?

The CEREC system uses digital imaging and computer-aided design (CAD) and manufacturing (CAM) technology to create highly precise restorations. Here’s what you can expect during your appointment:

1. Digital Scanning: Instead of messy impression materials, your dentist uses a small digital camera to capture detailed 3D images of your tooth. The images are displayed instantly on a screen, allowing for exceptional accuracy.
2. Custom Design: Using specialized software, your dentist designs your crown to fit perfectly with your bite and blend naturally with your surrounding teeth.
3. In-Office Milling: Once the design is complete, the information is sent to an in-office milling machine. This machine crafts your custom crown from a solid block of high-quality ceramic. The milling process typically takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
4. Placement and Bonding After ensuring the fit and appearance are ideal, your dentist bonds the crown securely to your tooth, restoring its strength, function, and appearance.

All of this is completed in just one visit, often within a couple of hours.

What Are the Advantages of CEREC Crowns?

CEREC same-day crowns offer several benefits that make them an appealing option for many patients:

• Convenience: The most obvious advantage is time. With CEREC, there’s no need for multiple appointments or temporary crowns. You leave the office with your permanent restoration on the same day.
• Comfort: Digital impressions eliminate the discomfort often associated with traditional molds. The process is faster, cleaner, and more comfortable overall.
• Natural Appearance: CEREC crowns are made from tooth-colored ceramic that closely mimics the look and translucency of natural enamel. The result is a seamless, beautiful restoration.
• Durability: The high-quality ceramic used in CEREC crowns is strong and long-lasting. With proper care and regular dental visits, your crown can serve you well for many years.
• Preservation of Tooth Structure: Because the process is so precise, CEREC often allows for more conservative tooth preparation, helping preserve as much healthy tooth structure as possible.

Is CEREC Right for You?

CEREC same-day crowns are an excellent solution for many patients needing to repair damaged or weakened teeth. During your visit, our team can determine whether this advanced technology is the best option for your specific needs.

If you value convenience, comfort, and high-quality results, CEREC same-day crowns may be the perfect way to restore your smile, quickly and beautifully.

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Dental implants at Sladky Family Dental are a highly effective and long-lasting solution for replacing missing teeth. However, their success and durability depend greatly on proper aftercare. Once your implant is placed and restored with a crown, bridge, or denture, maintaining excellent oral hygiene and following our recommendations are essential to ensure it lasts for decades.

Why Aftercare Matters

Dental implants fuse with the jawbone through osseointegration, creating a stable foundation. Poor oral hygiene or neglect can lead to peri-implantitis, an infection similar to gum disease that can cause bone and implant instability. Regular care prevents complications, protects surrounding tissues, and maximizes the life span of your investment.

How to Care for Dental Implants

Daily cleaning is crucial. It’s important to brush twice daily using a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste to avoid scratching the implant surface. Floss carefully around the implant using implant-specific floss or interdental brushes to remove plaque where regular brushing cannot reach. Antibacterial mouth rinses may also help reduce bacterial buildup.

Avoid habits that may damage the implant, such as smoking, chewing complex objects, or grinding teeth. Regular dental checkups are equally important. Your dentist will monitor the implant, perform professional cleanings, and address any issues early.

Lifestyle Choices to Support the Health of Dental Implants

Healthy gums and bones support implant success. Eating a balanced diet, staying hydrated, and avoiding tobacco contribute to long-term implant stability. Patients with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, should work closely with their healthcare providers to manage their conditions well.

Improve the Longevity of Your Dental Implant

Dental implants can last a lifetime with the proper care. By maintaining excellent oral hygiene, avoiding damaging habits, and visiting us regularly, you can enjoy a strong, beautiful smile for many years. Need more information on dental implant aftercare or think you may be a good candidate for dental implants? Contact our team today!

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Tooth Out? Don’t Freak Out! Your Quick Guide to Saving a Knocked-Out Tooth

Contrary to what the movies might tell you, there are other ways to knock out a tooth than getting into a fistfight. As one of the most common dental emergencies knocked out or avulsed teeth can occur due to simple falls, face injuries, contact sports, and more. While this ailment is common, only about 9 percent of adults in the U.S. know what to do if it happens. If you find yourself with an avulsed tooth, not all hope is lost but you must act fast. Ideally, you should see your dentist within 30 minutes after losing the tooth or teeth, however, reimplantation has occurred after over an hour. With these steps, you can be prepared and have greater chances of salvaging your lost tooth!

Find the tooth and it up by the crown (white part). 

Under NO circumstances should you pick the tooth up by the roots. Hold the tooth at the crown (chewing surface). Be very gentle when handling the tooth and do your best not to damage the roots for greater chances of reimplantation.

If the tooth is dirty, rinse gently with water.

Rinse the tooth very briefly, no more than 10 seconds, only using lukewarm water. Do not use chemicals or soaps. Even too much tap water can kill the root cells that are needed for successful reimplantation. Do not dry the tooth, wipe it off, or place it in a paper towel.

Try to place the tooth back in the socket.

Placing the tooth back in the socket is the most important next step until you can get to your dentist. If the lost tooth is wholly intact from root to crown, attempt to place the tooth back in the socket right away. Holding it by the crown, push the tooth into the socket gently. Hold the tooth in place with your fingers or very gently bite down.

Keep the tooth moist at all times.

Do NOT let the tooth dry out, keeping it moist at all times. If the tooth will not go back into the socket, you have a couple of options. According to the Mayo Clinic, placing the tooth in your cheek is the best and most natural alternative to placing it back in the socket. You can also place the tooth in milk or an over-the-counter emergency tooth preservation kit if you have quick access to it.

See your dentist immediately—every minute counts!

After your tooth has been knocked completely out of the socket, the nerve is severed and the blood supply is lost, meaning you do not have much time before that nerve dies completely, hence the urgency. Call Sladky Family Dental immediately to inquire about our emergency services. Though it’s unlikely, if the dentist cannot see you in time, go to the emergency room.

Depending on the damage, it can take a tooth anywhere from 1-8 weeks to successfully reattach into the socket. After the tooth has healed, there should be no need for further services besides your regular check-ups. If the tooth is unable to be reimplanted, your dentist will most likely discuss tooth replacement options, such as a dental bridge or dental implant, with you after the socket has healed.

Additional tips:

• Stay calm! With quick action, you have a good chance of saving your tooth
• Don’t eat or drink anything until you’ve seen your dentist
• Apply a cold compress to your cheek to reduce swelling and pain
•  Don’t swallow the tooth!

Knocked Out Tooth Prevention

To prevent having to do any of this in the future, make sure you’re always taking precautions to protect your mouth. If you play a contact sport, be sure you are wearing a mouthguard not only in games but in practice as well. When life happens, however, you can now be prepared and potentially save yourself from a much more invasive and costly procedure. At Sladky Family Dental we want you fully equipped with the knowledge you need to take care of your oral health.

Additional Resources

American Association of Endodontists 

Mayo Clinic 

Stop Plaque in its Tracks

Flossing should be an integral part of everyone’s dental health routine. You should be flossing in addition to brushing to ensure your teeth and gums stay healthy. While many people know they should be flossing, they still have many other questions about flossing. That’s why at Sladky Family Dental in Glendale, WI we have put together this list of answers to some of the most common questions about flossing.

How Often Should You Floss?

You should floss at least once per day. While flossing once per day is sufficient, the American Dental Association notes that flossing 2 or 3 times per day can be excellent for your oral health. If you are having trouble remembering to floss it can be helpful to leave a visual cue for yourself, such as leaving your floss on the counter or placing a sticky note on your bathroom mirror.

Should You Floss Before or After Brushing?

A study by the American Academy of Periodontology suggests that the order of brushing and flossing can have an impact on your oral health. This study found that flossing first followed by brushing with a fluoride toothpaste was more effective than brushing first and flossing after. The study also found that flossing before brushing resulted in more fluoride retention between the teeth. Although it may be best to floss before brushing, it’s important to remember that flossing at all is more beneficial for your dental health. Even if you floss after you brush, your dental health will be much better off than if you didn’t floss at all.

Can I Use a Waterpik Instead of Flossing?

Waterpiks, also known as oral irrigators, have become very popular in recent years. They use a directed, forceful stream of water to remove food debris and plaque from between teeth. Oral irrigators can be very useful in helping people reach hard-to-get places and make it easier for people with braces or other oral appliances to clean around them. We recommend that you floss immediately before or after using an oral irrigator to ensure optimum oral health.

Why Do My Gums Bleed When Flossing?

The most common cause of bleeding gums when flossing is a buildup of plaque, tartar, & bacteria around your gums. This buildup can inflame and irritate your gums, causing them to bleed when you floss. However, bleeding gums can also be caused by periodontal disease, hormonal changes, certain medical conditions, and flossing the wrong way. If you have concerns about your gums bleeding, you should have a conversation with your dentist. 

Hopefully, we were able to answer some of your pressing questions about flossing. If you have any other questions about flossing or dental health, give our office a call at 414-332-5450. We are always happy to answer your questions.

Recognizing Signs You Need Immediate Dental Attention

Damage to teeth and gums can’t be ignored. It’s always important to act quickly if something is wrong, but some dental issues are more pressing than others. How can you know the difference between a dental problem that needs to be solved soon and a problem that needs to be solved now?

We never want our patients to put off a dental procedure when it could lead to lasting harm, so we’ve compiled a list of important warning signs that mean you should get your teeth checked out as soon as possible. After all, you’ve only got so many teeth — it’s best to keep them all in good shape.

Dental abscesses

A dental abscess is a small collection of pus inside of a tooth or gums that is caused by a bacterial infection. If your symptoms include shiny red swollen gums, a fever, or pain that spreads to your jaw or neck, you may have an abscess, even if you don’t see it. Try to see us as soon as possible, but, in the meantime, you can reduce the pain of the abscess by avoiding cold drinks. Use a soft toothbrush to very gently clean the area until we can get you into the office.

Broken or missing teeth

Obvious physical damage to your teeth is one of the most urgent dental emergencies you can experience. If your tooth has been damaged, rinse your mouth with warm water immediately and call us as soon as possible. If your tooth has come out, gently try to put it back into the socket (without touching the root!) or keep it in your mouth to protect it until we can see you.

Significant pain or swelling in the teeth, gums, or jaw

Constant pain or swelling in your mouth is never normal! This symptom may seem vague or common, but it could be a sign of major damage or an infection that could have nasty results if left untreated. Don’t tough it out. Call us and we will decide together whether you need to come in for an appointment.

Lost filling or crown

A crown or filling can become loose or even fall out for a variety of reasons. If you lose a crown or filling, it’s important to try to save it — we may be able to reuse it. Rinse the area with warm salt water and continue to brush the damaged tooth (gently!) until we can see you.

Ignoring any of these four dental problems could result in the permanent loss of teeth. Infections can even spread to other parts of your body and cause serious general medical issues, so it’s extremely important to get your teeth examined if you experience any dental emergency on this list!

Get the Relief You Need

First and foremost, if you are in pain, we want to help you get some relief. Then we can address any underlying causes to solve the problem using dental best practices. If you believe you’re experiencing a dental emergency, give us a call as soon as possible.

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Replacing Your Toothbrush in Glendale, WI

Toothbrushes don’t last forever, but it can be difficult to figure out when the time has come to replace it. Surprisingly, your toothbrush should be replaced every 3-4 months according to manufacturer guidelines. 

Signs You Need A New Toothbrush:

• Frayed bristles
• Your teeth feel fuzzy even after brushing
• You were recently sick
• A bad smell
• You can’t remember when you last replaced your toothbrush

Your toothbrush is the first line of defense against bacteria that cause bacteria, tooth decay, and bad breath. Brushing your teeth between each meal is an excellent way to prevent tooth decay. If you are brushing your teeth for two minutes twice per day, then you are already taking actionable steps to protect your teeth from cavities. 

If you are using a manual toothbrush, the bristles will start to fall out and become mangled or twisted within about 3 months. The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) also advice to replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months or whenever they appear to be worn out. 

Once the bristles of your toothbrush start to lose their stiffness, Sladky Family Dental advises that you should throw it out. Without bristles that brush aside food and plaque, your toothbrush quickly loses its efficiency. 

What if I have an Electric Toothbrush?

Electric toothbrushes clean the surface area of your teeth by vibrating and rotating quickly. The heads on your electric toothbrush still have nylon bristles that will wear down after regular use. These bristles are also shorter, which can lead to fraying more quickly. 

You should plan to change out your electric toothbrush head every 12 weeks, or even earlier. You should be watching for signs of wear and tear on the bristles to know when it’s time to say goodbye to a brush head. 

All in all, your toothbrush is an important oral hygiene tool. To make the most out of your toothbrushes lifespan, you should use only your own toothbrush and store it upright and let it air dry. You should plan to replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months. It might be beneficial to mark your calendar on the date of your purchase so you remember when it’s time to replace it again. If you have any more questions about oral hygiene, call our office at 414-332-5450.