For most people, dental care during pregnancy is safe and can help prevent small problems from becoming harder to manage. Pregnancy alone is not a reason to skip a checkup or needed treatment. Let your dentist know you are pregnant so they can consider your health, stage of pregnancy, and care plan.

Gum disease can cause lasting damage to your mouth, but most cases do not become a life-threatening emergency. The clearest answer is that it rarely kills directly. The more common concern is that untreated disease can worsen, and that oral health may be connected with health conditions elsewhere in the body.

What Digital Dentures Are and How They Work

Digital dentures use a computer-guided workflow to plan and produce removable teeth replacements. Instead of relying only on physical molds and hand adjustments, the dental team can combine scans, photographs, measurements, and clinical records in a digital design. The result is still a denture, but the path from examination to finished prosthesis is more digitally organized. For many patients, digital dentures can make the process easier to understand and repeat.

Understand What Causes Gingivitis

Gingivitis begins when plaque, a sticky film of bacteria, remains along the teeth and gumline. The gums can become irritated before the problem feels painful, which is why early changes are easy to overlook. Learning what is happening makes it easier to choose gentle, useful care rather than chasing a quick fix.

Dental bonding and porcelain veneers can both improve the appearance of chipped, discolored, or gapped teeth, but they work in different ways and suit different situations. Understanding how each option differs in cost, durability, and the amount of tooth structure involved can help you have a more informed conversation with your dentist. At Spokane Dental, Dr. Trason Shoquist, DMD, helps patients decide which cosmetic option best fits their goals.

Invisalign uses a series of clear, custom-made aligners to gradually move teeth into a straighter position, offering an alternative to traditional metal braces for many patients. Because the aligners are removable and much less noticeable than brackets and wires, Invisalign has become a popular option for both teens and adults who want to straighten their smile discreetly. At Spokane Dental, Dr. Trason Shoquist, DMD, and our team walk patients through what the Invisalign process actually involves from start to finish.

Understanding how your teeth change over time is essential for keeping a bright, healthy smile. Decay often starts silently, but catching it early makes treatment simple. Knowing exactly where your dental health stands helps you decide when to schedule a visit. At Spokane Dental, our team walks patients through each stage of decay so they know what to watch for and when to act.

When mouth pain becomes severe, one of the most common questions patients ask is whether the infection might clear up without professional care. The short answer is no. When a bacterial infection settles into the roots or gums, the body is rarely able to resolve it on its own. Assuming that time will heal the problem is a dangerous bet that usually leads to worsening pain and complications throughout the jaw. At Spokane Dental, our team helps patients recognize an abscess early and treat it before it becomes an emergency.

You might think fluoride treatments are just for kids, but guess what? Adults can totally benefit too! It’s not just about those baby teeth; keeping your adult chompers strong is a lifelong game. So, why is fluoride treatment important for adults? Let's break it down.

Do adults really need fluoride or is it just for kids?

It’s a common question, especially since many dental insurance plans stop covering fluoride treatments after age 18. But here’s the scoop: your teeth are still susceptible to cavities and decay as an adult. Think about it – life happens! You might experience:

Are dental sealants only for children or can adults benefit too?

So, what exactly are dental sealants? Think of them as a super thin, protective shield that dentists paint onto the chewing surfaces of your back teeth, like your molars and premolars. These teeth have all sorts of tiny grooves and pits where food bits and cavity-causing bacteria love to hang out, and honestly, brushing alone can't always get them all. Sealants fill in those nooks and crannies, making it way harder for decay to start.