The questions and answers below are meant as an educational tool only and are not meant to diagnose any disease or condition. Please visit your dentist for a complete exam and answers to your questions.
Cosmetic Dentistry
How do I whiten my teeth?
Bleaching is process by which teeth that are discolored or stained are whitened using a hydrogren peroxide gel or like substance. Our office offers two ways to whiten your teeth.
- Zoom! In-Office Whitening- This option allows you to whiten your teeth in one visit with the Zoom! light. Click for more on Zoom whitening!
- Bleaching Trays- Bleaching trays are custom fit to your mouth and worn for about 2 weeks daily. Click for more on bleaching trays.
I don’t like the way my teeth look, do I need veneers?
There are many different types of cosmetic treatments that we offer to help improve the look of your smile. Sometimes, simple esthetic contouring or small composite fillings can improve minor chips or wear facets. Other times, we may elect to place composite to reshape teeth or fill in spaces.
Porcelain veneers may be ideal if larger scale changes in tooth position are desired, or your teeth are discolored. We have placed porcelain veneers in our office for years, with beautiful results.
In addition to veneers, you may also benefit from gum re-contouring, orthodontic tooth movement or porcelain crowns for previously restored teeth. See our smile gallery for examples of actual patients seen in our office.
What are veneers?
There are two types of veneers placed in our office-porcelain or composite. Porcelain veneers are thin pieces of porcelain that are bonded to the surface of the teeth to correct discoloration or malposition. They look just like enamel and can really enhance your smile. Composite veneers are directly bonded onto the teeth in one appointment. They can also change the color and sometimes the shape of teeth, but have more restrictions on when they can be placed. Composite veneers are less costly, but do not have the same look as porcelain. We are happy to have a consultation with you if you are thinking about veneers and give you information on the pros and cons.
What can be done to fix old and discolored fillings?
Sometimes silver amalgam fillings can leak through teeth and cause discoloration. Even older composite fillings can become discolored. Replacement of these fillings with white composite fillings can improve the look of your smile.
Pediatric Dentistry
When should I first bring my child to the dentist?
A lot of times, this depends on the child. We would like to see healthy children with no signs or symptoms of dental problems at least by age 3. We do recommend that the child come in before that time for a visit with their parent to get acquainted with the office. At this time the child can experience the office, meet the dentist and maybe have us take a quick look in a relaxed setting. This will make subsequent visits more enjoyable. If a child does exhibit signs of pain or you notice.
My child’s teeth are not coming in at a normal time, is there a problem?
Every child develops at a different pace, so there are quite a range of times at which teeth come in. The two things that we are most concerned about are that the same teeth on the opposite side of the arch are coming in within close proximity to each other and the sequence the teeth come in. It is important to go in for regular check-ups and x-rays when needed to check for missing teeth or teeth that are not erupting due to pathology or insufficient space.
Why and when does my child need braces?
Braces may be needed to correct functional and/or esthetic concerns. By placing the teeth in proper alignment, we can protect the teeth from excess wear, cavities due to crowding, and/or pain in the jaw joints. The American Association of Othodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic examinations by age 7. We can provide you with a recommendation of a trusted orthodontist in your area.
Endodontics
What is a root canal?
When the nerve of a tooth becomes excessively inflamed or dies due to caries, fracture or trauma, the tooth needs root canal treatment. The goal of root canal treatment is to remove the nerve and blood supply, clean the canal through chemical and physical means, and place a filling material to help make sure bacteria does not get back into the canal.
Once a root canal has been completed, a build-up must be done to replace the lost tooth structure and then a crown on posterior teeth to keep the tooth from fracturing. Root canal treated teeth are very susceptible to fracture and should be restored as soon as possible.
Crowns and Fillings
What is a crown?
A crown is a porcelain, gold or porcelain and gold cap or covering that goes over the top of the tooth. It is done when there is not enough tooth structure to support a filling, after root canal treatment, after excessive wear or when a tooth has a symptomatic crack in it.
What types of fillings do you use at your office?
We place primarily white composite fillings in our office. We believe these restorations are esthetically attractive, but also allow conservative cavity preparation that will help preserve the tooth for years to come. For primary/baby teeth we often use a material called a compomer that, although not as strong, releases fluoride and helps fight recurrent decay. The decrease in strength is not an issue, because primary teeth will be lost before the filling wears away.
Gum Disease
What is periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and teeth. Periodontal disease can result in loose teeth, lost teeth, root exposure, and has also been linked to preterm and low birth weight babies. There have also been connections studied between heart disease and diabetes and periodontal disease.
How do you get periodontal disease?
The main cause of periodontal disease is bacterial plaque. Secondary causes are smoking/tobacco, genetics, diabetes, pregnancy, puberty, stress, medications, occlusal trauma (clenching, grinding, “bad bite”), poor nutrition, systemic diseases and poor oral hygiene.
Regular cleanings and exams are an important part of controlling periodontal disease. Please contact us if you have any questions or see our dental library.
Insurance
Why doesn’t my insurance cover this procedure?
Dental insurance plans may have restrictions on the benefits they will pay for. This may include crowns, occlusal guards, or dental implants. Since there are so many different insurance plans, it is important that you have a good understanding of what your insurance will pay for. Our office can usually send a predetermination of benefits to your insurance company before we start your treatment so you have a good idea of what can be expected.
How do I know what my insurance benefits are?
Your insurance company should be able to give you a list of covered procedures and what level they pay. You can call to request this information. Our office can also usually submit a predetermination of benefits for you, although this may delay the start of your treatment a few weeks.
Missing Teeth
How can I replace missing teeth?
There are several procedures we perform in our office to replace missing teeth. These include dental implants, bridges, and partial dentures.
Dental implants essentially consist of a titanium screw that is placed in the bone. The bone then grows around the implant and locks it in. After a period of healing, an abutment and crown is placed on the implant. Advantages of dental implants include: ability to floss around the tooth without special implements, ability to replace a tooth without touching adjacent teeth, high success rates, and others. There are times that dental implants cannot be placed or have a lower success rate. These instances include: a deficiency in the quality or quantity of bone (this can sometimes be remedied with bone grafts or sinus lifts), systemic diseases such as uncontrolled diabetes, insufficient space between teeth and others. See our section on dental implants for more information.
Bridges are made by placing crowns/caps on teeth adjacent to one or more missing teeth. Bridges have less initial cost than an implant and can usually be placed in less time so you will go without a missing tooth for less time. Bridges can also be very esthetic and can last a long time when taken care of properly. Disadvantages of a bridge are the need to prepare adjacent teeth and the need to redo the bridge of something goes wrong with either tooth.
Partial dentures utilize remaining teeth for anchorage and retention of a cast or plastic framework with teeth on it. Partial dentures are generally the least expensive of the options to replace teeth, can usually be added onto if another tooth is lost and can replace many missing teeth with one solution. The main disadvantage is that they are fixed to the teeth and can slide around. They also may need to be relined if the bone or soft tissue changes form. A good solution to add retention to a partial denture is to use a precision attachment or anchor them to one or multiple implants. This provides a more fixed feeling.
Dentures
When do I need dentures?
You may need dentures when there are not enough teeth to adequately eat and or speak. We make every effort to save teeth, because dentures (especially without implants) are usually unstable and inefficient for chewing. But there are times when dentures are the best way to go. Please contact us and set up an appointment, we would be happy to give you all the options possible.
My dentures are loose, what can I do about it?
Sometimes a simple denture reline is all that is needed to get dentures to fit better. Although, even new dentures, especially lower dentures, do not stay in well. This is because there is not a lot of natural retention for lower dentures. Dental implants can alleviate a lot of the problems associated with loose dentures by attaching them securely to the jaw. See our page on dental implants for more information on this topic.
