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Having a fear or phobia of the dentist is more common than you might realize. More than 30 percent of Americans claim to have some level of dental fear that can keep them from having regular dental treatment designed to keep the mouth and teeth healthy. 

When you put off your dentistry, more serious conditions can arise and lead to tooth loss, gum disease, or a damaged smile.

Finding a Springfield, IL sedation dentist can protect your mouth and your smile by eliminating the fear associated with dental procedures.

We offer two sedation dentistry options.

Nitrous Oxide Sedation

Because nitrous oxide is a safe and mild form of sedation, almost anyone with dental fear can ...

We hear about broken teeth a lot. Patients will contact us and explain that they were eating something normal, not particularly hard at all, and crunch. Suddenly they have a broken tooth because of a bagel, sandwich, or other relatively harmless food. Most of the time, patients want to know if they need to come by our Springfield, IL practice for a dental crown.

When You Need a Dental Crown

A broken tooth can hurt, or you may feel no pain at all. It depends on the severity of the fracture. One thing is for certain; leaving a broken tooth untreated can lead to more fractures and even tooth loss. Compromised enamel ...

You have made your way to your dentist only to find that you need a dental crown to repair your tooth. If this is the first time you need a dental crown, you might be wondering what precisely the crown consists of and what the procedure might entail.

Crowns are typically made of porcelain, porcelain and metal, or full gold varieties, depending on the health of the bite and what that patient prefers.

Dental Crowns Replace Damaged Enamel

At our Indianapolis, IN dental office, we create dental crowns made of tooth-colored materials whenever possible to minimize the effect that the dental crown has on your smile. A crown, sometimes called a cap, fits ...

With all of the talk of dental implants, patients who need or want an alternative may forget that dental bridges can also complete the smile and that they have done so for many decades. We create gorgeous dental bridges in our Indianapolis dental office.

What Can a Dental Bridge Do for You?

If you have medical conditions that prevent you from having jaw surgery, or if you want to avoid implant surgery, dental bridges may be the answer for your missing teeth. We offer modern dental bridges in our Indianapolis dental office to give you your smile back.

Replace missing teeth — A dental bridge fills in the gap left by a missing ...

As your sedation dentist in Indianapolis, Dr. Kyle Shank is committed to ensuring a comfortable experience for patients – both physically and emotionally. Since many of our patients face dental anxiety and have difficulty getting numb, sedation dentistry has become an invaluable service in our practice.

A Brief History of Sedation Dentistry

While dental anxiety is a serious matter, it is entertaining to look back over the years at what passed as sedation in the past.

1000 BC – Dentists in India administered wine to patients to decrease their awareness. Though it might have made the patient more comfortable, it was probably not the healthiest option since wine can increase bleeding.

1540  – Ether ...

With all of the advertisements on television and radio supporting practices that offer dental implants, finding an Indianapolis, IN dentist who offers dental implants is easy. Finding one who will be honest with you about all of your options is essential.

Dental implants have a high success rate and work well for most patients. Here are three situations when dental implants are an excellent choice, and one that may make you reconsider.

#1 Pro – You Want a Long-Term Solution to Missing Teeth

Bridges and dentures are still reliable ways to replace missing teeth. Dental implants have one huge advantage over both: bone retention. A dental implant replaces the entire tooth and root. ...

Your smile is a highly personal part of your identity, so it makes sense that replacing missing teeth is also a serious decision that can impact your smile for years to come.

In many cases, patients in Perry Township opt for dental implants because, aside from regular home and professional dental hygiene, they don’t require much upkeep and are incredibly reliable.

Some cases when you might choose dental implants include:

• You recently lost a tooth
• You have healthy bone
• You are young and healthy
• You don’t want to mess with dentures
• You want to avoid any denture mishaps
• You enjoy eating an unrestricted diet
• You want a permanent solution to tooth loss

In other cases, you might choose to go ...