If you've ever had a wisdom tooth removed, you're probably familiar with oral surgery. Maxillofacial surgery, on the other hand, tends to be less understood, although it can be just as beneficial as oral surgery for some patients. It's a type of surgery performed by maxillofacial surgeons. These are dental professionals specializing in the treatment of defects, injuries, or conditions that affect the appearance and function of teeth, the mouth, the jaw, and parts of the face.

Prosthodontists are dentists who receive specialized training in one of the areas of dental specialty known as prosthodontics. Prosthodontics is the field of restoring damaged or replacing missing teeth with artificial substitutes. The goal is to improve oral function and appearance.

Endodontists are dentists that specialize in conditions inside of the tooth, or the pulp. In other words, these specialists perform root canals. Root canals are performed on someone tooth when the pulp has become infected.

Simply put, a periodontist is here to help patients that may be suffering from gum disease. Gum disease is fairly common in adults, and it can lead to things like sensitive teeth, chronic bad breath and teeth moving out of alignment. Periodontists spend an extra three years in dental school training for these unique problems, so they know just how to address them and get your gums back to normal.

Getting good dental care is extremely important when it comes to maintaining the health of your mouth. Here at Signature Dental in Meridian, ID, you can count on us to perform your routine examinations, teeth cleanings and cosmetic dentistry.

You may not have noticed it before, but it's very difficult to look at a smiling person without smiling yourself. Not only are smiles highly contagious, but they are a long-standing source of fascination and study. While smiles might mean something slightly different in different cultures, smiles are a universal expression in every culture across the world.

Learning to brush their own teeth is an important milestone. Parents should brush their child's teeth for the first two years or so. Parents should talk about the brushing process and have their child imitate their movements. Introduce proper teeth brushing techniques by playing a made-for-kids video or reading a story about the subject. Many recognizable children's entertainment characters offer books or DVDs on brushing.

When an adult loses a tooth, it is important to consider replacement. Failure to replace a missing tooth can cause other teeth to tilt, tip, and loosen, possibly leading remaining teeth to come out and worsen the problem. Consulting a dentist or orthodontist to discuss feasible options is the first step to addressing the problem.

Proper oral hygiene will help preserve the appearance and function of your teeth. Good oral hygiene starts with a regular home schedule of brushing and flossing.

Regularly brushing and flossing your teeth at home is essential for your dental health. Getting regular teeth cleanings helps you protect your dental health, saves you money, keeps your smile bright, and protects your overall health.