Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who’s the BEST dentist for you?
2. How often should I go to my Dentist for a Check-up?
3. How do I keep my teeth?
4. Do I really need x-rays?
5. Is it Safe to have X-rays taken?
6. What is Root Canal Therapy?
7. What is Gum (Periodontal) Disease?
8. What are Dental Implants?
9. Why should I Replace a Missing Tooth?
10. Why do I need a Crown (Cap)?
11. I don’t like my Smile, is there anything I can do about it?
12. Why does the Floss shred and get caught in my teeth?
13. How can I avoid getting Cavities?
14. At what age should I start taking my Child to the dentist?
15. What should I do if my Child’s Tooth is Knocked Out?
16. I’ve got these lacy-white streaks, white patches, and ulcerations in my mouth, what can they be?
17. When do Baby and Permanent teeth erupt?

You can either call or visit these offices to find out such things as: How do they answer their telephone? What are the office hours? Are they convenient to your schedule? Will they work with your insurance plan if this is important to you? Do they treat children if you have any? Are they available in case of an emergency? Does the dental staff make you feel comfortable? Are they courteous and helpful? Are the answers to your questions direct or evasive? Paying a visit to the office will help you to assess the atmosphere of the office and help you decide whether or not you would be comfortable there.

Your visit to the dentist should be pleasant and comfortable. You need to feel relaxed with your dental team in order to ensure that you can work together in maintaining a healthy happy smile. Take the time to ask around for a dental office that can meet your needs.

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How do I keep my teeth?

 Your second set of teeth is your last, proper care will ensure that you keep them for life. In spite of what you may have heard Dental Disease is not only controllable, it is also correctable and most of all preventable. A thorough brushing and flossing routine is important for maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Flossing is important because it reaches the areas a toothbrush can’t reach, between the teeth and under the gum line. Your teeth need proper nutrition just as your body does. Fresh fruit and vegetables are a sure bet for healthy teeth and gums. Natural sugars however act the same way on teeth as refined sugars, so be sure to brush or at least rinse with water if a toothbrush is not handy after eating even a piece of fruit. It is important that you find a dental team that you feel comfortable with and who you can work with in order to maintain a healthy smile for life. Routine visits to your dentist for a check up and cleaning will help to maintain healthy teeth and gums.

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Do I really need x-rays?

Dental x-rays are taken routinely by your dentist. There are many diseases and dental defects, which cannot be seen by the naked eye, especially where teeth are concerned. These may include such things as decay under old fillings, teeth trapped below the gums, cavities between the teeth, bone loss as a result of gum disease and changes in either jawbone structure, which can be affected by many systemic diseases.

If you are a new patient, your dentist may recommend x-rays to check the current status of your mouth and to check for hidden problems. Upon your first visit to the dentist he or she will usually take those x-rays that will be necessary to comprehensively assess your oral health. A full series of x-rays usually consists of 14 - 18 films. A Panoramic x-ray film showing a much greater areas of your jaw bones may be needed as well in order for your dentist to comfortably and competently examine you. Every six months or so your dentist may take a small series of x-rays consisting of four to six films. A six-month period is a long time in the life of a cavity and it is for this reason that a visit to the dentist every six months is so important.

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Is it safe to have x-rays taken?

Yes. Numerous precautions and advances in x-ray equipment help protect patients from receiving unnecessary radiation. The amount of radiation received from a dental x-ray exam is extremely small compared to other naturally occurring sources of radiation, including minerals in the soil, radon and cosmic radiation from outer space. Unlike their medical counterparts dental x-rays are very low in radiation. A full-mouth series of films, using state-of-the-art digital technology, will deliver an effective dose that is equivalent to about 19 days of exposure to naturally occurring environmental radiation. The reason for this is that the amount of radiation needed to expose a film as small as a dental x-ray is very small. Also the areas in your mouth that are being x-rayed are far less dense than other areas of your body and therefore require very little radiation in order to pick up the image. Also the beam of radiation is a very small narrow one and literally passes through the cheek and out of your body. The rest of your body is also shielded from any stray particles with a lead apron or shield.

With the advances in computer-aided dentistry, dentists can now provide patients the latest in diagnostic imaging. Digital means a fraction of the traditional x-ray exposure yet provides greater image resolution and clarity. The results include more exact diagnosis, greater confidence in treatment and patient/staff protection.

X-rays are an extremely useful and important diagnostic tool and can aid in preventing many major problems. The importance of routine thorough examinations by your dental team will do much to avoid major problems.

Dental X-rays may reveal:

the number, size, and position of teeth
unerrupted or impacted teeth
the presence and extent of dental caries
bone damage (such as from periodontitis)
abscessed teeth
fractured jaw
gingivitis
impacted tooth
malocclusion of teeth
other abnormalities of the teeth and jaw bones

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What is Root Canal Therapy?

RCT is a method of saving a tooth by removing a damaged part of the tooth and placing a filing material inside the tooth.

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What is Gum (Periodontal) Disease?

Periodontal disease is chronic infection of the supporting structures of the teeth.

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What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are titanium tooth form replacements that are surgically placed in the bone of the mouth to which a crown, bridge, or denture can attach in order to make a stable restoration.

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Why should I Replace a Missing Tooth?

The empty space in your mouth starts to cause many problems including periodontal disease, an unbalanced bite, and stress on the remaining teeth. Also, the teeth around the area where the tooth is missing will begin to shift, resulting in a more imbalanced bite and possibly losing the existing tooth if it tilts forward exposing the root.

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Why Do I Need a Crown/Cap?

A crown is needed on a tooth when the tooth is weakened by decay, a fracture or a very large restoration.

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I don’t like my Smile, is there anything I can do about it?

Besides braces, there are three common procedures available; bonding, bleaching (whitening) and veneers.
Periodontal disease is chronic infection of the supporting structures of the teeth.

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Why does the Floss shred and get caught in my teeth?

 Floss can shred if the contact between the teeth is tight or there is a rough or broken surface between the teeth. Also, previously placed fillings that are rough can catch the floss.

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How can I avoid getting Cavities?

The best way to avoid cavities is by eating a low carbohydrate diet, brushing with a fluoridated toothpaste, flossing daily and visiting your dentist on a schedule recommended by the dentist’s office. Children and some adults can benefit by having Sealants placed.

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At what age should I start taking my child to the dentist?

Some say at 1 year of age, but definitely by the child’s 3rd birthday. Take your child with you for a regular cleaning visit at about age 2 and let him/her experience the sounds, smells and surroundings while seeing your positive attitude toward having your teeth cleaned. This will encourage him to follow your example.

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What should i do if my child's tooth is knocked out?

Call your dentist immediately. Place the tooth in cool milk or if the child is old enough, under the child’s tongue. Be very careful not to swallow the tooth and get to the dentist within 30 minutes so it can be reimplanted with a greater possibility of success.

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I’ve got these lacy-white streaks, white patches, and ulcerations in my mouth, what can they be?

It is possible that you have a condition called Lichen Planus. It has an unknown cause but can be an allergic reaction. Have you changed your toothpaste brand, medications, etc? Another condition, which is precancerous, is leukoplabiac and should be checked immediately by your dentist.

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When do Baby and Permanent teeth erupt?

Typically the first teeth erupt at 6 month’s and the entire baby dentition by 2 years of age. The permanent teeth usually start erupting at 6 years of age and are completed with the wisdom teeth (or third molars) at about age 21. These are, of course, approximations.

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