Our team at Perry Dental gets this question a lot. Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to come in once young people get their adult teeth. Because they are the last teeth to break through the gums, they are also called the third molars. There are four wisdom teeth: two on each side of the top and bottom of the mouth.
Read MoreSometimes cavities are hard to avoid. Our team at Perry Dental wants you to know you aren’t alone when it comes to getting cavities. They can appear in both children and adults, and in order to avoid the pain and hassle, you need to understand how they form and what to do to prevent them from developing in the first place.
Read MoreThanksgiving marks the start to the holidays—a season filled with feasting, indulging, and spending time with family and friends. Thanksgiving is a holiday meant for giving thanks, and while this may seem like such a natural celebration, the United States is only one of a handful of countries to officially celebrate with a holiday.
Read MoreThe wisdom teeth are the last of the permanent molars to emerge from the gums. This can occur as early as age 17 or as late as 21. Though some teens and young adults experience a completely normal tooth eruption with ideally aligned molars that pose no health threat, this is not the case for everyone.
Read MoreDiabetes is a chronic disease that increases the risk for many serious health problems, including severe gum disease. November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and it’s a great time for us at Perry Dental to remind our patients that the way you care for your teeth at home doesn’t just affect your oral health; keeping your mouth healthy is vital to your overall health, too.
Read MoreHalloween is fast approaching and Drs. Mackley, Esplin, and Spackman wanted to be sure to wish our patients a happy day, no matter how you might celebrate this holiday. The Halloween that is familiar to most people today bears little resemblance to the original Halloween. In the "old days," it wasn't even called Halloween!
Read MoreSleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax to the point where they inhibit your natural breathing. It can cause your breathing to stop for anywhere from ten to twenty seconds. In the worst cases, it can even stop your breathing for up to a few minutes.
Read MoreThe human heart truly appreciates it when we eat healthy foods, don’t smoke, and exercise regularly. But there’s something else that can improve your heart’s longevity that you may not know about: keeping your teeth and gums in tip-top shape.
Read MoreScientists have discovered tooth decay in specimens that are more than 15,000 years old. The ancients once thought that cavities were caused by something called “tooth worms” … Eew! They didn’t exist, of course, but how else could humans explain the holes that cavities make in teeth?
Read MoreHow better to spend the fall months than inside by the fireplace with a warm cup of cider and a book in hand? Drs. Mackley, Esplin, and Spackman and our team at Perry Dental encourage you to warm up your mind this fall season with a few great books. Sure it may be easy to put off reading when balancing a hectic schedule, but reading is vital to brain development, and it’s usually a lot of fun too.
Read MoreAccording to the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry, roughly one in five children suffers from canker sores. Canker sores are small sores that appear inside the cheeks, on the lips, on the surface of the gums, and under the tongue.
Read MoreTMD occurs when your bite is not properly aligned. It can cause the jaw to experience unnatural stresses and prevent it from resting properly when your mouth is closed. If you have TMD, you may have noticed a clicking noise when you chew, speak, or yawn; you may even experience pain and discomfort during these actions. In some cases, your jaw may feel “locked” following a wide yawn.
Read MoreA shopping mall is a great place to get lots of errands done in one trip. Department stores, clothing boutiques, specialty shops? So many tempting options all in one place. But teeth whitening? Maybe not.
Read MoreFor many individuals, autumn brings with it a number of new beginnings. Fall is the time that many people return to school, get back to the daily grind after an enjoyable summer, and even get married. As the weather cools down, it’s easier to enjoy the outdoors. And regardless of what fall-related events are on your calendar, Drs. Mackley, Esplin, and Spackman and our team at Perry Dental know you’ll want to look your best.
Read MoreLabor Day is upon us, and that means the non-official end to summer. Before the kids head back to school and temperatures start to cool down, take the chance to barbeque in the beautiful Perry community, head to the lake, and wear your favorite pair of white pants.
Read MoreNobody can predict a dental emergency. That’s what makes them so terribly inconvenient. The good news is that our office is always available to assist you, so there’s no reason you should minimize an emergency.
Read MoreA lot of patients go at their teeth like they were sanding an old floor—that is to say, way too hard! Brushing too hard is probably the most common mistake patients make in their oral care routine, and it can be detrimental to the gums and teeth.
Read MoreIn our office, we customize treatment for every patient. We’d like to talk about three dental treatments you should be aware of: dental implants, bite guards, and teeth whitening.
Read MoreIf you have a hard time understanding your dental insurance plan, particularly the treatments and services it covers, you’re not alone. That’s why Drs. Mackley, Esplin, and Spackman and our team have put together a cheat sheet to help you through them.
Read MoreX-rays have been a function of dental healthcare for a long time. That in and of itself should be good news, because it means we've had plenty of time to improve them. While there is always some risk in exposure to radiation, dental X-ray exposure has decreased significantly due to all the advances in technology. So there’s risk, but X-rays are quite safe.
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