EXPERT
Dr. Kelley Ryals, DDS
Dentist
Dr. Kelley Ryals is a Dentist practicing in Santa Fe, NM. Dr. Ryals specializes in preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases and conditions associated with the mouth and overall dental health. Dentists are trained to carry out such treatment as professional cleaning, restorative, prosthodontic, and endodontic procedures, and performing examinations, among many others.
13 years
Experience
Dr. Kelley Ryals, DDS
- Santa Fe, NM
- Creighton University
- Accepting new patients
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Can surgery fix gum recession?
Yes, gingival grafting can be performed by a periodontist. They will take gum tissue from your palate area and cover the area of recession. There are areas and reasons why grafting READ MORE
Yes, gingival grafting can be performed by a periodontist. They will take gum tissue from your palate area and cover the area of recession. There are areas and reasons why grafting can not be done. I recommended a periodontal consult with a periodontist.
Do fixed retainers stop teeth from moving?
Yes, they should. That’s the point of having a retainer. The nice thing about a fixed retainer is that you don’t have to remember to wear it. On the down side, they can break or READ MORE
Yes, they should. That’s the point of having a retainer. The nice thing about a fixed retainer is that you don’t have to remember to wear it. On the down side, they can break or bend which can move the teeth. They need to be maintained well and clean.
How often should I get my braces checked?
Normally, an orthodontist would check on average between 4-8 weeks. I usually check my patients every 6 weeks but I might bring them in 4 weeks if I needed to move a specific tooth READ MORE
Normally, an orthodontist would check on average between 4-8 weeks. I usually check my patients every 6 weeks but I might bring them in 4 weeks if I needed to move a specific tooth or 8 weeks if patient needs longer appointments.
Why does my tooth smell bad?
Teeth smell bad because of Bacteria. Same reason why we had bad breath. There is bacteria getting in or around the tooth. The most common cause is periodontal disease which is READ MORE
Teeth smell bad because of Bacteria. Same reason why we had bad breath. There is bacteria getting in or around the tooth. The most common cause is periodontal disease which is a gum tissue infection.
What can I do about my cracked tooth?
It depends on how you cracked your tooth. If it’s just a small chip, then it might be able to be smoothed down or it may require a filling or a crown. If it’s a large cracked tooth READ MORE
It depends on how you cracked your tooth. If it’s just a small chip, then it might be able to be smoothed down or it may require a filling or a crown. If it’s a large cracked tooth it may require e root canal or even an extraction. My fecommendation is to have it evaluated bu a dentist.
How long does dental bonding last on front teeth?
It depends, it can last a lifetime or it can last a few days. Composite material is bonded to the tooth but it depends if there is an internal retention to hold the filling in. READ MORE
It depends, it can last a lifetime or it can last a few days. Composite material is bonded to the tooth but it depends if there is an internal retention to hold the filling in. I find that a lot of times composite fillings don’t last as long on anterior teeth because they are used so much. If they are taken care of and not used in high function, they should last you awhile.
How do you get rid of an infection in your gums?
There are many reasons for gum infections from bacteria to genetics. The first thing you always want to do is scaling and root planing which is a deep cleaning. From there, it’s READ MORE
There are many reasons for gum infections from bacteria to genetics. The first thing you always want to do is scaling and root planing which is a deep cleaning. From there, it’s imperative that you maintain regular check ups. An infection won’t go away just with Scaling and root planing, it’s trying to eliminate the bacteria causing the problem. Sometimes genetics plays a role or habits like brushing correctly, smoking or drinking alcohol are the root cause. There is no easy way to get rid of the infection, it’s a life long battle.
Which straightens your teeth better?
It depends on how much de tam correction you need. My personal experience with a 19 year old would be to use braces over Invisalign. I use Invisalign for patients that have had READ MORE
It depends on how much de tam correction you need. My personal experience with a 19 year old would be to use braces over Invisalign. I use Invisalign for patients that have had previous braces and just need a small amount of correction. Braces are better for more advanced movements. My recommendation is to see an orthodontist and have an evaluation. Usually traditional braces will be less expensive.
Why are teeth whiteners so expensive?
Bleaching is very safe as long as you do not have open fractures of cavities in your teeth. Office bleaching is expensive because it takes a lot of time and monitoring of the patient. READ MORE
Bleaching is very safe as long as you do not have open fractures of cavities in your teeth. Office bleaching is expensive because it takes a lot of time and monitoring of the patient. However, over the counter bleaching is much more affordable and can give you a good result if used consistently.
What could be the cause of my dry mouth?
There are many reasons for dry mouth from an autoimmune condition to medications or other conditions. I would assume if you’re waking up with a dry mouth but not struggling with READ MORE
There are many reasons for dry mouth from an autoimmune condition to medications or other conditions. I would assume if you’re waking up with a dry mouth but not struggling with dry mouth throughout the day then I would think you are mouth breathing during the night. There may be an underlining condition of deviated septum that causes you to mouth breathing, sleep apnea or just the dryness from summer time. If you’re on medication, that is the usual cause of dry mouth. I would recommend a lot of water intake and chewing gum or sucking on xylitol based hard candy to help increase your saliva. Also supplements like Biotene products will help.
Can I sleep in my dentures?
You need at least 8 hours without your dentures in a day. It’s the easiest to just remove dentures at night so that’s why we recommend you to remove dentures at night. If you leave READ MORE
You need at least 8 hours without your dentures in a day. It’s the easiest to just remove dentures at night so that’s why we recommend you to remove dentures at night. If you leave your dentures in all day and night, the bacteria in your mouth will over grow. It needs the air to help kill the anaerobic bacteria that grows under the dentures. Think about it like this, when you wear a bandage, you only want to wear it a day or two. If you wear a bandage meet than that, the skin gets mushy and bacteria begins to grow. It needs air to heal a wound. This is the same for under a denture, if not you tend to get recurrent infection of fungal, bacteria etc. The obese way to clean your dentures is with dentures cleaner from a store. You can use a soft bristle brush by never use toothpaste. It is very abrasive and it can scratch your dentures. There are also use an ultra sonic cleaner too. Do not use wire brushes that are advertised for dentures.
What can I take for my tooth pain?
The best thing to take for tooth pain is high strength ibuprofen and Tylenol. The mixture of these two over the counter pain medications have been proven to almost as effective READ MORE
The best thing to take for tooth pain is high strength ibuprofen and Tylenol. The mixture of these two over the counter pain medications have been proven to almost as effective as a narcotic. You want to take 800mg every 8 hours and Tylenol every 4 hours after you have taken the ibuprofen. If the dental pain continues to worsen, you can go to urgent care for antibiotics.
How long does it take to get your dentures replaced?
It depends what kind of dentures. If the doctor is doing it correctly, he or she should start with an impression for a custom tray, then in a week they take a final impression READ MORE
It depends what kind of dentures. If the doctor is doing it correctly, he or she should start with an impression for a custom tray, then in a week they take a final impression with the custom tray, then an additional week do a wax bite relation, then additional week do a full wax try in and then in a week deliver your denture. So, it can take 5-6 weeks form start to finish. However, they can make immediate dentures in a week.
What procedures require an oral surgery follow up?
I usually have my patients follow up after extractions, bone grafts, implants or any surgeries. Especially if you are placing an implant to replace your tooth, it is important READ MORE
I usually have my patients follow up after extractions, bone grafts, implants or any surgeries. Especially if you are placing an implant to replace your tooth, it is important to follow up with a dentist or oral surgeon. The highest failure rate for implants is in the first few months so we want to make sure everything is healing well and there is no infections.
Do you have to be put to sleep for wisdom tooth extraction?
No, you can request to stay awake. Going to sleep for dental surgery is for your comfort only.
What keeps causing sporadic jaw pain?
Jaw pain can be caused from several things. Usually when it comes and goes, it usually means it’s caused by something you’re doing to inflame the joint. Usually grinding, clenching, READ MORE
Jaw pain can be caused from several things. Usually when it comes and goes, it usually means it’s caused by something you’re doing to inflame the joint. Usually grinding, clenching, stress induced or trauma to the jaw can cause this. When you chew, your bone presses into a disk and if the disk is inflamed it causes pain. When your jaw gets inflamed, evaIuate if you’re under a lot of stress recently or if you might have been grinding or clenching. I would try put heat packs on your jaw when it’s in pain, massage the muscles around the joint, over the counter ibuprofen and don’t over use your jaw. No chewing gum, hard or chewy candy, steak etc. until the pain goes away. I would highly recommend a nightguard that your dentist makes too to help prevent further flare ups
How long does a dental crown last?
They can last a life time or they can last a few years. They are a very strong material and needs to be kept even cleaner and more careful then your teeth. Insurance companies READ MORE
They can last a life time or they can last a few years. They are a very strong material and needs to be kept even cleaner and more careful then your teeth. Insurance companies will change out a crown every 5 years.
At what age do wisdom teeth start coming in?
Normal age for wisdom teeth to erupt us 16-24. I would highly recommend getting to your dentist or Oral surgeon to evaluate wisdom teeth. When wisdom teeth erupt, essentially your READ MORE
Normal age for wisdom teeth to erupt us 16-24. I would highly recommend getting to your dentist or Oral surgeon to evaluate wisdom teeth. When wisdom teeth erupt, essentially your son is “teething” again. It can be very painful. Further, there is usually not enough room for most people so it also puts a lot of pressure on other teeth to try to make room for the new erupting teeth. It can cause a lot of complications if the wisdom teeth are not evaluated. This is the perfect time to remove them if they are there.
On and off jaw pain?
Have you been stressed lately? TMJ pain is usually a sign of the joint being traumatized and the disk of the joint is inflamed. So every time the joint is pushed into the inflamed READ MORE
Have you been stressed lately? TMJ pain is usually a sign of the joint being traumatized and the disk of the joint is inflamed. So every time the joint is pushed into the inflamed disk, it causes pain. Usually we traumatize our jaw by over using like grinding or clenching in our sleep or chewing something extra hard. I would recommend not
To overuse your jaw, softer foods, 600 mg of ibuprofen every 6 hours, heating pad on the cheek and massaging the muscles around the joint. If it progresses, seek a dentist.
To overuse your jaw, softer foods, 600 mg of ibuprofen every 6 hours, heating pad on the cheek and massaging the muscles around the joint. If it progresses, seek a dentist.
Can you eat normally with a dental bridge?
For the most part, yes. What is bad for your teeth is bad for your bridge. You should really avoid chewing hard foods like ice, peanut brittle etc and really chewy things like READ MORE
For the most part, yes. What is bad for your teeth is bad for your bridge. You should really avoid chewing hard foods like ice, peanut brittle etc and really chewy things like hard caramel, etc. If you can, I would highly recommend an implant over a bridge. It’s a little more of an investment but it will be the best long term treatment especially with you being so young.
