How Painful is the Dental Implant Procedure?

If you are receiving dental implants in the near future, our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center don’t want you to be frightened, we want you to be informed on what to expect. Pain is a common concern among individuals who are considering dental implants and we want you to know that while some discomfort is expected, it shouldn’t be your primary concern.

As with any major dental procedure, or surgery in general, some discomfort is to be expected during the recovery process since it is a surgery that typically involves removing teeth, cutting gums, drilling into the jawbone and inserting a titanium post. The procedure itself is not painful since it is performed with either general or local anesthesia to completely numb your mouth. If you’re anxious about the discomfort during the procedure and being aware of drilling noises and forces being applied to your mouth, please ask us about our sedation options.

If you are missing teeth and would like to discuss your restorative options, please give us a call. To learn more about the services provided at the practice, visit www.fairwooddental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, call 425-271-7725.

The Root Canal Procedure: Explained

When a tooth’s nerve tissue or pulp is damaged, it breaks down and bacteria begin to multiply within the pulp chamber. Before the bacteria can cause an infection or an abscessed tooth, our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center may recommend a root canal. A root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or becomes infected. If you’ve been told that a root canal is right for you, we’d like to explain the process to make you feel calmer about the procedure itself.

The root canal procedure itself requires one or more office visits and can be performed right here in the office. The first step in the procedure is to take an X-ray to see the shape of the root canals and determine if there are any signs of infection in the surrounding bone. Once anesthesia is administered, your doctor will make an opening in the crown of the tooth. Very small instruments are used to clean the pulp from the pulp chamber and root canals and to shape the space for filling. After the empty space is cleaned and shaped, your dentist will fill the root canals with a biocompatible material called gutta-percha. In most cases, a temporary filling is placed to close the opening. There may be some soreness after the procedure, but that is perfectly normal.

If you have a tooth that is causing you pain, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the services provided at the practice, visit www.fairwooddental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, call 425-271-7725.

Traditional Metal Braces

Straight teeth create a nice smile and healthy teeth. Here at Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, one of the options we have available for orthodontics is traditional metal braces.

Braces are a teeth straightening system that works by applying metal bracing to the teeth that apply continuous pressure. Over time, the pressure moves the teeth into the desired position. About once per month, you will visit us to have your wires tightened in a new direction.

Today’s braces are made of super-strong metal alloys, so they are smoother and faster than braces of the past. Metal brackets are bonded to the front of teeth and a metal wire is clipped in which applies pressure into a certain direction. The duration for wearing braces varies with each case; however, it is usually somewhere between one and three years. You will need to pay extra-special attention to your teeth while brushing and flossing. There will also be certain foods to avoid while you have braces on.

Straight teeth promote a beautiful smile, healthy teeth, and healthy gums. If you are looking to straighten your teeth, traditional metal braces are a very popular option. To schedule your appointment at Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, call our office at (425) 271-7725 or visit our website, www.fairwooddental.com. 

Gum Grafting

Gum disease can ruin your oral health and it can perpetuate the condition by changing the gum tissues. Deep pockets are formed that hold in bacteria and make gum disease hard to clear up. For this reason, at Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, we perform gum grafting.

Even patients with healthy teeth and gums can have recessed gums that need grafting to fix them; however, gum disease is a common reason why gums recess. It can even create those previously mentioned pockets that trap bacteria. A gum graft is needed to return the gums back to a healthy state and protective state.

The gums should fit around the teeth snugly. They should be loose enough so you can floss, but tight enough so that bacteria and other debris cannot fall down into them. To build the gum tissue back up, gum tissue will be taken from another area in the mouth and moved to the area where it is needed. Often, the tissue will be taken from the palate or another area of the gums where there is excess tissue. The tissue is then stitched down into place for healing. The tissue will also promote further growth from the gums. The end result is a gumline that is healthy, protective of the teeth, and does not allow a resurgence of gum disease.

To learn more about gum disease, recession, and gum grafting, be sure to visit our website. To schedule an appointment with Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, give us a call at (425) 271-7725 or visit our website, www.fairwooddental.com. 

Sinus Augmentation

Dental implants are the only permanent tooth replacement option; however, sometimes due to bone structure, they may not be possible. In order to make dental implants an option again, here at Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, we are able to perform a sinus augmentation.

When a tooth is missing for a while, the bone in the area where the tooth used to be can begin to deteriorate. If it deteriorates far enough, it will not be able to successfully hold a dental implant. A sinus augmentation adds bone to the area between the upper jaw and the sinuses, a common place to lose bone or simply not have enough of it to begin with. The sinuses on either side of the nose are commonly too low for placing an implant for a molar or premolar. The bone is taken from another area in the jaw or from a place like the hip bone or shin bone. This added bone will also promote growth so the area will be large enough for a dental implant.

The process begins with cutting the tissue where the implant will be. The bone is exposed and a small opening is created. The membrane separating the sinus cavity from the jaw is pushed up and away. The bone graft material is then packed into the space. Afterwards, the area is stitched closed. The area will need several months to heal, but the end result is a large and strong jawbone that can hold a dental implant for life.

If you are interested in learning more about the sinus augmentation process or dental implants, contact Fairwood Dental Center of Renton, WA. We can be reached at (425) 271-7725 or through our website, www.fairwooddental.com. 

Flossing with Traditional Braces

As our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center will tell you, flossing can be difficult when you have traditional metal braces, but it’s more important than ever to keep the gaps in your teeth clean when you have a mouth full of metal. Many folks who have braces don’t know how to floss with them or think that they can’t floss at all if they have braces and this is not true. Therefore, we thought we would share some tips with you for flossing effectively.

• Use waxed floss, because unwaxed floss is more likely to get caught and shred in your braces.


• Use about 18 inches of floss and thread it carefully.


• Take the floss and gently thread it under the main wire of the braces before passing it between two teeth. Then remove the floss and re-thread it under the main wire to pass between the next pair of teeth.


• Be sure not to snap the floss. Simply move the floss up and down carefully against the side of each tooth.

If you have questions about orthodontic oral care, please give us a call. To learn about other services we provide at our practice, visit www.fairwooddental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center here in Renton, WA, call 425-271-7725.

Brushing with Traditional Braces

If you have braces, you should be working overtime on practicing proper oral hygiene. This is because braces have tiny spaces where food particles and plaque get trapped, and inadequate cleaning while wearing these wires can cause enamel staining and tooth decay around brackets or bands. At Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, our doctors can’t stand behind you and monitor how you often you brush, but they can provide you with the following routine that will help make daily brushing and flossing both simple and effective.

• Prepare to brush – take off elastics, and any other removable parts of your orthodontic appliance.


• Clean your braces – use your brush at a 45-degree angle to clean around the wires and pins of your braces. Brush the top of each wire and then from the bottom. Take time to ensure that all plaque and debris are removed.


• Brush your teeth – clean each tooth individually. First, place your brush at a 45-degree angle to the junction between the tooth and the gum, and then apply gentle pressure as you move in a circular motion. Use the same brushing action on all outer and inner tooth surfaces, tilting the brush as needed to better reach the insides of smaller front teeth.

Last but not least, don’t forget to floss in between brackets!

If you have questions about orthodontic oral care, please give us a call. To learn about other services we provide at our practice, visit www.fairwooddental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center here in Renton, WA, call 425-271-7725.