Every December, millions of dollars in unused dental benefits go to waste nationwide. If you’re looking to maximize dental insurance in New Orleans, year-end is an excellent and final opportunity to use coverage you’ve already paid for. At Downtown Dental, Dr. Richard Rathke and our exceptional team help patients plan treatments in a way that makes financial sense while keeping ...
Dental emergencies come in all shapes and sizes. They do, however, generally have one thing in common. More often than not, a tooth injury or other oral health issue requiring emergency dental care in New Orleans will usually send you some warning signs. Sadly, these warning signs often involve distractingly severe pain.
This is why it’s crucial to know beforehand how ...
Everyone wants a healthy, beautiful smile, but if you have orthodontic issues that are keeping you from the appearance you deserve, clear aligners may be the answer you’ve been looking for.
With Invisalign® clear aligners, you may not have to wear bulky, uncomfortable braces to straighten your teeth. Clear braces allow you to comfortably and discreetly shift your teeth into the ...
Imagine for a moment that you're at a business lunch or on a date, but instead of focusing on the conversation, you're worried about hiding that damaged tooth when you smile. Or maybe you're avoiding your favorite beignets because missing teeth make chewing difficult. It might be time to consider a dental crown or bridge.
Benefits of dental crowns and bridges:
Looking for a convenient dentist near me New Orleans location that's easy to find and accessible from anywhere in the city? Downtown Dental New Orleans is perfectly positioned in the heart of the action at 307 Tchoupitoulas St., Suite 200, New Orleans, LA 70130.
Our prime location in the Central Business District (CBD), a subdistrict of the world-renowned French Quarter, ...
Had a tooth pulled recently? Take a deep breath; you made it through! That's a big step toward better oral health, and we're happy you got through it. Tooth Extractions can sound intimidating, but they're often the first move toward long-term comfort and healing. As your mouth starts to recover, you might wonder: "When can I rinse or swish ...
Dental implants have become the go-to solution for replacing missing teeth—and for good reason. They're long-lasting, stable, and designed to look and feel like natural teeth. But for many patients, one of the biggest questions is about cost. Specifically: how much does a full set of dental implants actually cost in New Orleans?
If you're researching the ...
Getting a molar tooth extracted might not be on your list of favorite things to do, but knowing what to expect can make the recovery process much more manageable. Are you dealing with a painful wisdom tooth, a stubborn infection, or severe decay? Our team at Downtown Dental in New Orleans is here to make sure you feel comfortable, ...
How would it feel to see the straight, stunning smile you’ve always dreamed of every time you looked in the mirror? With Invisalign, your dream smile can become a beautiful reality. Now, if you’ve been looking into Invisalign, you’ve probably come across the “22-hour rule.” While it may sound like a strict guideline, it’s actually the secret sauce behind Invisalign’s ...
A bacterial gum infection, also known as periodontal disease, can start subtly but quickly progress into a serious oral health concern. Early signs might go unnoticed, but without treatment, this condition can lead to gum recession, tooth loss, and even affect your overall health. Seeking periodontal disease treatment in New Orleans promptly can prevent complications and restore gum health. But ...
If a picture’s worth a thousand words, dental digital x-rays are all that, plus some extra time and money!
Digital dental x-rays are essential in modern preventive dentistry, helping detect oral health issues in their early stages. However, parents and pregnant women often worry about their safety. Fortunately, modern technology facilitates these precise diagnoses through lower radiation x-rays for kids ...
When it comes to oral health, gum infections are a frequent concern for many people. Among these, gingivitis is the most common gum infection. While it might start with mild symptoms like redness or bleeding gums, it can quickly escalate into more serious conditions if left untreated. For residents in New Orleans, recognising the early signs and seeking prompt care ...
You get your gorgeous tooth crown in less than two short weeks!
During that time, your tooth is closed with a temporary filling to promote healing and prevent reinfection.
A root canal infection causes the tooth to lose stability and become brittle, so your New Orleans dentist crowns the tooth a week or two after treatment. In rare cases, if the root ...
Dental crowns are remarkable dental restorations that restore the integrity of a person’s bit without compromising their smile aesthetics. To effectively do this, a crown must blend in with their smile. This begins by precisely matching a crown’s color to that of the natural teeth surrounding it.
Achieving a perfect color match for dental crowns is essential to a natural-looking smile. ...
Dental crowns are crafted to be durable and provide long-lasting protection for damaged teeth. However, like natural teeth, they can wear down over time. Identifying early signs of wear in dental crowns is essential for maximizing their effectiveness and preventing serious problems in the future.
One of the first indicators of a dental crown issue is increased ...
Tooth extraction in New Orleans doesn't have to be stressful when you know what to expect and how to recover smoothly. Here's our guide on what you can expect each day after oral surgery.
After your tooth extraction, your dentist will give you gauze to bite down on to apply pressure to the extraction ...
Diet soda might appear to be a healthier choice for those seeking to reduce sugar intake while still enjoying soda. However, the potential risks to dental health and gut bacteria posed by diet sodas are often overlooked.
As a trusted dental practice in New Orleans, Downtown Dental is dedicated to enlightening our patients about the impact of their dietary decisions on ...
Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you, so it’s unsurprising that so many people have turned to cosmetic dentistry to help them achieve the look they want. When your teeth are shiny and white, you will be more likely to feel confident with your smile.
You may have heard that activated charcoal can work wonders to ...
Professional teeth whitening has become an increasingly popular way to improve the look of your smile. It is safe and effective, but it can cause your teeth to be sensitive for a short time after the whitening procedure. If you want a whiter, brighter smile but need some tips on dealing with your sensitive teeth afterward, keep reading to ...
When you visit your New Orleans dentist, the last thing you want to hear is that your wisdom teeth are impacted and need to be removed. Whether you suffer from dental anxiety or not, you will likely be curious about how your wisdom teeth became impacted in the first place and how your dentist plans to comfortably and safely remove ...
While dental procedures like root canals and crowns in New Orleans are generally safe, some people may experience allergic reactions to medications or materials used during these treatments. At Downtown Dental, we prioritize your health and safety, and we take the appropriate precautions to ensure you have a worry-free experience at our dental office.
Recognizing the signs of an allergic reaction ...
Gum disease is the result of an untreated buildup on the gums and surfaces of the teeth of bacteria, which causes plaque and, ultimately, tartar. Left untreated, gum disease can lead to, severe discomfort in the gums, tooth loss, or even infection that can spread to other parts of the body.
Whether you’re interested in treatment options because you or someone ...
When you are experiencing pain, your main objective is to get the pain to stop; unfortunately, you may not know which doctor to call if the pain is in your jaw. Do you contact your regular physician, or do you call your dentist? If you have jaw pain, it could be a temporomandibular disorder or TMD. So, what is TMD, ...
Today’s dentistry practices focus on saving your teeth, if at all possible. Dentists consider tooth extraction a last resort in most cases, but sometimes your dentist in New Orleans has run out of options and may tell you that your tooth needs to be removed. If that’s the case, the dental team at Downtown Dental will ensure you are ...
If you're considering enhancing your smile with dental veneers, you may wonder about the downsides and problems they could cause for your teeth. However, cosmetic dentistry in New Orleans can help you achieve your best smile. The good news is that getting porcelain veneers does not weaken your tooth since it only requires the removal of a minimal amount ...
Modern root canals are more gentle and pain-free than ever. If you have infected or inflamed tooth pulp, your dentist may recommend root canal therapy to remove the infection and save your natural tooth. Root canal treatment may seem scary or painful, but they often get a bad reputation due to the pain an infected tooth causes. In reality, root ...
Healthy gums are essential for lifelong oral health. However, many people forget about or ignore their periodontal health. Those with poor oral hygiene, some medical conditions, and certain lifestyle habits like smoking have a higher risk of developing gum disease. Gum disease should be treated in its earliest stages. At Downtown Dental, we can help prevent and treat gum disease, ...
Some dental emergencies pose a significant risk to your oral health and can leave you in pain. For these reasons, our emergency dentist in New Orleans is happy to treat these situations as soon as possible.
We never want to risk your oral health or allow you to suffer from a toothache!
Of course, some dental emergencies are not straightforward. For ...
Did you know that the American Dental Association recommends that you visit your dentist every six months for routine teeth cleanings and checkups? Even if you don't feel like any concerns are going on with your teeth, these visits are of the utmost importance in protecting your dental health, beautiful smile, and overall well-being.
Here are also some additional benefits ...
Technological breakthroughs emerge in numerous ways. Some, like smartphones, are entirely new and result in whole industries that previously didn’t exist. But other inventions take on age-old challenges with new approaches. One example of this type of technology is clear braces like those found in the Invisalign® system.
This leading-edge orthodontic treatment replaces the conventional bracket and wire technique with precisely ...
Gum disease is a prevalent condition that impacts nearly half of all Americans in some form, and unfortunately, that percentage increases as we age. This is important to know because gum disease affects more than just your oral health.
Science has linked gum disease with many non-dental related conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and dementia, making the importance of your ...
Thanks to cosmetic dentistry, there's really no aesthetic dental flaw you can't improve! In many cases, there is more than one option to address an issue, and achieving whiter, brighter teeth is a perfect example.
Updated on September 16, 2025
Noticing blood when you brush or floss can be alarming. While it might be caused by something simple, it could also be a sign of a more ...
At Downtown Dental, Dr. Richard Rathke, performs gentle tooth extractions to protect your oral health and relieve pain caused by advanced tooth decay, infection, or injury. While many patients fear that a tooth extraction will be painful, the procedure shouldn’t actually hurt.
Dr. Rathke will thoroughly numb the area before your extraction begins, so the most ...
When you lose a tooth or multiple teeth, it’s essential to fill the gaps to preserve your oral health. There are a variety of tooth replacement options available, but many patients choose dental implants as their tooth replacement solution.
Patients often prefer dental implants over tooth replacement options for a variety of reasons. Due to the fact that dental implants are ...
Teeth whitening is one of the most popular and inexpensive dental treatments you can get. In a few simple steps and just one hour in the dental chair, you can achieve a whiter, brighter smile. Downtown Dental’s state-of-the-art whitening systems can lighten teeth yellowed or discolored from smoking, stains, aging, or genetics. And the best part? We offer in-office and ...
Routine dental cleanings and exams are a crucial part of excellent oral health.
Aside from polishing your teeth and keeping your gums healthy, dental cleanings allow your dentist in New Orleans to observe your smile and look for dental problems like tooth decay or gum disease. The earlier we can catch oral health issues, the quicker we can treat them ...
If you’ve ever dreamed of having bright, white, and dazzling teeth, maybe you’ve considered dental veneers.
Veneers are tiny, thin, wafer-like shells of porcelain that attach to the front of your natural teeth. These shells hide imperfections and cover unwanted blemishes in your smile, leaving you with a beautiful, movie star-like look.
In this blog, our New Orleans dentist briefly outlines ...
Whether you’ve had several root canals before or are visiting us for your very first root canal treatment, it’s normal to feel some level of anxiety and nervousness before your dental appointment. We understand having butterflies before a dental visit, which is why we do everything we can to educate our patients about their treatment to help ease any lingering ...
Was a better smile on your list of New Years’ resolutions for the new decade? It can be exciting to think about the ways cosmetic dentistry can help you achieve a beautiful, confident new smile.
Your first step is to find a cosmetic dentist in New Orleans who you can work with and who will put your needs first when ...
Are you looking for a dental practice in New Orleans who offers all the oral health care your family needs? Patients searching “dental services in 70130” will find a wealth of preventive, general, and cosmetic dentistry here at Downtown Dental.
Patients with a wide range of oral health problems turn to Dr. Richard Rathke ...
Have you wanted a straighter smile? Are you considering braces to help align your teeth? At Downtown Dental, we recommend our in-house ClearCorrect invisible braces for patients who wish to straighten their teeth.
ClearCorrect invisible braces in New Orleans are an excellent cosmetic treatment option that also offers ...