We Care about your Smile!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Why would I want a silver filling? Don't they have mercury?
A: Silver fillings are very durable, economical, and safe. In some instances, they are preferred. Most mercury is condensed out when the dentist places the filling. Virtually all the rest is bound up or "trapped" in the filling along with silver, copper, and tin in a mixture called amalgam.
Q: Can I have white fillings?
A: We use several kinds of tooth-colored filling materials. We consider these the standard on all but the furthest back teeth, the molars. Silver is often best under the gum line or often if the cavity is very big.
Q: Why should wisdom teeth be taken out?
A: Wisdom teeth or third molars often do not fully erupt into the mouth, are then prone to gum infection around the tooth, cavities, and certain cysts that grow around the roots. It is easiest remove them when a patient is young because the bone is more spongy and people are generally more healthy, and most of the above mentioned problems have not yet occurred.
Q: My teeth have been a problem for years, can you pull them all and give me dentures?
A: Unless you have about 5 or less good teeth on top and sometimes as few as 1 or 2 on the lower, losing all your teeth and getting complete dentures is a bad idea! It has been said chewing proficiency of full dentures is only 20% of that of someone with all their teeth. Dentures move around! Especially the lower.
Q: I see whitening toothpaste, whitening places in the mall, in cosmetic surgery offices, etc. What's the best?
A: Often something simple and cheap such as Crest white strips. The so-called whitening toothpastes are largely ineffective but the manufacturers have to claim it to keep up with their competitors. Some dentists or bleaching clinics use a light. There is research that shows the light does nothing but provide a high-tech "wow" factor to impress the patient, other data show it accelerates the process minimally. Hydrogen peroxide or some derivative is the most common active ingredient. We sell prescription-strength white strips, they are stronger and so work faster than store bought, but the slower, OTC version still work fine. The best, but also most costly is bleaching trays, which we also make for patients. A clear gel is placed in trays, placed on the teeth, and left in for half an hour. 2 weeks to a month is all that is needed. Also worth noting, you may experience sensitivity after a bleaching session, if so take a day or two off your regimen, it will go away with time.
Q: Do I really need to floss?
A: Yes! (what did you expect a dentist to say?) Flossing gets in between teeth where your brush can't. It helps prevent cavities that start in areas that are difficult to see and reach otherwise. It also helps prevent gum disease. Floss at least once a day, and brush at least twice a day for two minutes.
Q: I haven't had cavities for fourty years, now I have them every time I come in to the dentist, why?
A: The leading reason for this and the toughest problem I face today is xerostomia, or "dry mouth," and is often caused by drugs a patient takes. You may or may not notice it, but even a small reduction in saliva can give the cavity bugs the upper hand. The best things we can do for the decay aspect of this problem are fluoride supplements. We often recomment ACT or similar product that is a fluoride rinse; for severe cases we will ususally recommend a special prescription-strength toothpaste.
Q: Should I get a bridge or implant to replace my missing tooth?
A: Implants are now often considered best for many cases. An implant can replace one particular tooth, allowing a patient to floss to keep the area clean. A bridge will require removing tooth structure on the teeth next to the missing tooth, and takes just a bit more work to clean under, because it is often 3 or more teeth connected together. Bridges can take as little as two weeks start to finish where an implant can take 3-4 or more months. Something like a partial denture that can be removed may be a more economical choice if you are missing multiple teeth.
Q: My child has cavities, but they're just baby teeth, why fix them?
A: Besides tooth pain, one should remember that cavities are an infection, and they can spread to permanent teeth. Loss of a baby tooth prematurely can cause other teeth to shift, causing misalignment that may require braces to correct. If a tooth must be lost, sometimes a metal wire called a space maintainer is used.
Q: Are sealants really necessary?
A: That depends. If a child has deep grooves and has had cavities in baby teeth, we strongly recommend sealants. If the child has very shallow grooves and never had a cavity, there is still justification for sealants but not as strong. It is still possible to get cavities with sealants in place, but less so than without.
Q: Why do I need x-rays?
A: X-rays show cavities under the tooth surface and between teeth where they can be hard to detect early. X-rays can also show tumors, cysts, and the results of infection in the bone. X-rays can show loss of bone over time by comparing x-rays from different dates. Incidentally, dental X-rays are very low in radiation and are considered quite safe. In fact, we use digital X-rays which drastically lowers the radiation needed to take an X-ray even more.
Q: Why should I get fluoride treatment at my cleaning appointment? Isn't it in the water and my toothpaste?
A: Everyone should use fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride in water helps with kids when their teeth are forming. Fluoride gel in trays at the dentist helps to remineralize decalcified areas of our teeth, slowing or stopping progression to cavities. When used as directed, fluoride is recognized as safe.
Q: I have sensitive teeth, what can I do?
A: Often sensitivity is caused by exposed root surfaces. This can be cause by gum disease, so routine dental appointments and home care is very important. This can also happen from brushing too hard or not using a soft bristle toothbrush. Stay away from acidic food and drink, and toothpaste with whitening and tartar control agents. Always use a fluoride toothpaste, though. You may benefit from a sensitivity toothpaste - be advised it may take 2 weeks for you to see a benefit. There are also protective coatings that can placed by your dentist. If you have just one sensitive tooth instead of generalized sensitivity, you may have another problem with that tooth, so see a dentist.
