Frequently Asked Questions

Hygiene

  1. What does my initial visit consist of?
    Please arrive several minutes early to complete new patient paperwork and insurance information.  Regular hygiene appointments are essential in detecting periodontal disease at an early stage.  During your exam, we will screen for periodontal disease and also do an oral cancer screening. We will check your head, neck and oral tissues for anything suspicious.  X-rays will be taken to check for signs of tooth decay and are a necessary part of your exam in order to help assess tooth decay and periodontal disease.  We will teach you the best way to keep your smile healthy by reviewing brushing and flossing techniques as well as good diet habits.
  2. How often should I visit the dentist?
    Daily brushing and flossing will keep the plaque and tartar formation to a minimum for some people, but it will not completely prevent gum disease.  A professional cleaning at least twice a year is necessary to remove bacteria and hard deposits from places your toothbrush and floss have missed.
  3. How often should I brush my teeth?
    The American Dental Association officially recommends that individuals brush twice daily.  However, several things may affect the rate at which it becomes necessary for an individual to brush their teeth, such as sugary and acidic drinks, food consumption and presence of periodontal disease.
  4. My gums bleed when I brush, what should I do?
    Think of gum tissue as the skin on your hand.  If your hands bled every time you washed them, you would immediately have them checked and treated. You should treat your gums the same way.  Bleeding is usually the first sign of periodontal disease.  However, if you are a smoker, your gums may not bleed as much or maybe not at all.
  5. Is smoking or other tobacco products bad for my teeth?
    These habits have been shown to be one of the largest risk factors in the development of gum disease.  Smokers are much more likely to have calculus (tartar) form on their teeth, have deeper pockets between the teeth and gums and lose more of the bone and tissue that support the teeth.
  6. Why do my teeth look longer than before?
    This also can be a sign of gum disease.  Your gums begin to recede or pull away from the teeth, causing them to look longer.
  7. My dad had periodontal disease, does that increase my risk?
    Research proves that 30% of the population may be genetically susceptible to gum disease.  Despite aggressive oral hygiene habits, you may be six times more likely to develop periodontal disease.
  8. I have recently been diagnosed with heart disease, how is my dental health related?
    Being diagnosed with heart disease, diabetes or other serious illness may be linked to periodontal disease.  Ongoing research suggests that bacteria associated with periodontal disease may travel into the blood stream and pose a threat to other parts of the body.  Keeping your gums healthy may lead to a healthier body.

Bridges

  1. What is a bridge?
    A bridge is a dental restoration that replaces or spans the space where one or more teeth are missing.
  2. How do I care for my bridge?
    Brush twice a day and floss using an interdental cleaner.  These measures help in removing plaque.  Pay close attention to clean the areas under, around and between the teeth and bridge.
  3. If I have a missing tooth, what are my options for replacement?
    Bridges
    Implants
    Partial – If more the one tooth missing

Cracked Tooth

  1. What causes a tooth to crack?
    A cracked tooth can result due to several reasons.
    -chewing on hard foods such as ice, nuts or hard candy
    -brittleness from root canal
    -exposing tooth to sudden temperature changes
    -stress on a tooth
  2. How would I know if I have a crack in my tooth?
    It could be difficult to know if you have a cracked tooth. When you bite down and you feel a sharp pain, but it quickly disappears, you may have a cracked tooth.  The pressure from the biting caused the crack to open.  When you stop biting, the pressure is relieved and a sharp pain results from the crack closing quickly.
  3. What are common treatments for a cracked tooth?
    The treatment that is recommended depends on the size and location of the crack. Treatment could range from bonding to a crown.

Root Canal

  1. What is a root canal?
    Find out more about root canals.
  2. Why should I get a root canal compared to just removing the tooth?
    When a tooth is removed, a space is left which can allow remaining teeth to shift from their position.  Teeth can become crooked or crowded which decreases the efficiency of chewing and biting.

Invisalign

  1. How does Invisalign work?
    Invisalign uses 3-D imaging technology to plan your treatment.  A series of custom-made aligners are designed from this plan.  Each aligner is worn approximately two weeks before moving on to the next aligner in the series.  Over time, your teeth move to their final position.
  2. How much does Invisalign cost?
    Because invisalign is a customized treatment, cost will vary from case to case. Please make a free consultation appointment with our office to determine the cost of your treatment.  If cost of treatment is a major concern for you, we have payment options available that may make Invisalign affordable.  Find out more about Care Credit.
  3. What is the minimum age of a patient who can be treated with Invisalign?
    Invisalign Teen is appropriate for patients who have shed all of their baby teeth and have second molars at least partially erupted.

Implant

  1. What is an implant?
    Find out more about implants.
  2. Would I be a good candidate to get an implant?
    Having healthy gums and jawbone that can support an implant as well as being in overall good health are the most important requirements rather than age.  Some chronic illnesses, such as diabetes or leukemia could interfere with healing after surgery.  Also, if you use tobacco, you are at a greater risk for gum disease, which can weaken the bone and tissues needed to support the implant.

Periodontal Disease Treatment

Watch the video to the right for answers to all the questions below.

  1. What if I miss one of my treatments during the day?
  2. Can I get additional trays?
  3. Can I wear only one tray at a time?
  4. How much medicine should I put in the tray?
  5. Where can I get more gel, medicine or another brush?
  6. Why do I store my medicine in the refrigerator?
  7. My trays have been stained.  What can I do?
  8. Where is the best place to store my trays?
  9. What does it mean if the dentist says I need new trays?
  10. Why might I need new trays so soon?
  11. Will my trays wear out and when?
  12. What is the difference between maintenance trays and treatment trays?
  13. Will the medicine affect my birth control medicine?  Any other medications I am taking?
  14. Are there are other health effects of the trays?
  15. Can children use the trays?
  16. What do I do if I think I have contaminated the dropper?
  17. Is it okay to wear the trays overnight?
  18. What if I get a sore or burning sensation in my mouth?
  19. What if I break out in a rash?
  20. When will I be finished with the trays?