Frequently Asked Questions
1. When should I first bring my child to see the dentist?
Your baby's first teeth will usually appear between six and twelve months of age. It is a good time then to have a dentist examine their new teeth, and to discuss with parents a plan to keep their child's primary teeth healthy, including the importance of avoiding "milk-bottle" cavities. Keeping primary teeth healthy is essential to having healthy permanent teeth. Proper brushing will be demonstrated and, as your child gets older, dental flossing will be introduced. If any fluoride supplement is needed it is prescribed. Finally a plan for applying sealants early to new permanent teeth to prevent cavities will be presented. For information about sealants see question #5.
2. How often should I bring my child to the dentist?
How often do I need to see the dentist?
Children should see their dentist about every six months for an examination, cleaning, and periodic dental x-rays, unless they have symptoms requiring earlier visits. Adults need to visit at least as often too for cleanings, polishings, and examinations. Cleanings remove plaque and tartar buildup that contribute to cavities and gum disease. Some patients with gum disease will need more frequent visits. Good dental health also requires a home routine of regular brushing, flossing, adequate fluoride intake for children, and avoiding certain foods, such as "sticky" sugared candies. We also recommend chewing xylitol-containing gum between meals. Studies have shown this decreases the incidence of dental caries. We have samples of xylitol-containing gum available at no charge in the office.
3. What's the best toothpaste for my child and for me?
Fluoride-containing toothpastes design specially for children are best. Use about a "pea-size" amount of toothpaste on the brush. Children should not swallow the toothpaste after brushing. Adult toothpastes may also contain, in addition to fluoride, cleaning abrasives, whiteners, and anti-microbial medications to fight against gum tissue infections. Occasionally adults are prescribed dental rinses to treat gum diseases.
4. Electric or regular toothbrushes? Electric toothbrushes have been shown in clinical studies to be more effective than brushing manually. There are several good products available. We have found the Braun Oral B Professional series using an oscillating-rotating technology particularly good. Brushes should be replaced frequently and not shared with other members of the household. The best choice of brush has a soft rounded-end nylon bristle. Hard bristles can damage gum tissues and offer no improvement in cleaning tooth surfaces.
5. What are dental sealants?
Sealants are tooth colored plastic resin painted on the chewing surface of the newly erupted permanent back teeth (pre-molar and molars) of children. This occurs typically between the ages of 6 and 14. The sealant fills the tooth surface grooves providing a protective shield on the enamel during their cavity-prone years. This dramatically reduces the incidence of tooth decay (cavities) in many young patients. Children should have their permanent teeth sealed as soon as each emerges for maximal protection from cavities.
6. How safe are dental x-rays?
We are exposed to many sources of radiation in everyday life. Excessive exposure to radiation from the sun and nuclear radioactivity has been linked to damage to body tissue and cancer. Fortunately dental x-rays now expose patients to very low levels of radiation. We use new high speed digital films, shorter exposure times and a less scattered x-ray beam. We comply with federal and state laws which require inspection and registration of the x-ray machine to verify safety and accuracy.
7. How safe are silver amalgam-type fillings?
Dental amalgam has been used to treat dental cavities for over 150 years. The safety of dental amalgam has been studied for decades. There are currently no studies which show any dangers to patients from amalgam. The American Dental Association and the Food and Drug Administration have concluded that amalgam is safe. More recently alternatives to amalgam for treating dental caries have become available. These tooth-colored composite resins have become the most popular choice of dental filling material. They are the best choice for pregnant women, young children, and patients with metal allergies. They have great aesthetic appeal. We are pleased to offer tooth-colored composite fillings to all our patients and will discuss the pros and cons of all the treatment options available to treat dental caries.
8. What are my options to whiten my teeth?
All toothpastes contain mild abrasives that help remove surface stains. Some "whitening" toothpastes have additional polishing and chemical agents. Over-the-counter and professional whitening products contain hydrogen peroxide (a bleaching substance) that also removes deeper stains. Professional products will contain a higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide and are more effective whitening agents. None of the whitening toothpastes come close to the whitening effects a dentist can offer. Toothpastes can at best lighten your teeth by one shade. In contrast, a dentist can make your teeth three to eight shades lighter. Whitening is not for children or pregnant women, and will not whiten porcelain veneers or crowns.
There several whitening options our office offers:
At home whitening options: Professional strength whitening strips by Crest - more brightening than non-prescription products.
Custom whitening trays: In the office an impression is made of your teeth and a custom fitted tray is produced to hold whitening gel against your teeth. This will produce amazing whiteness. Products we use are DayWhite and NiteWhite.
Office whitening: The fastest method to a bright smile. Light-activated (laser) whitening by Zoom! in about an hour.
Sometimes it is not possible to whiten certain teeth, for example tetracyline-stained, fluorosis-damaged, or porcelain teeth (such as crowns). In these circumstances dental bonding,veneers, or crowns may be the treatment choices (See #9).
9. What are my options to improve my smile?
There are several options available to change the shape of your front teeth, make your teeth look longer, close the spaces between teeth, repair chipped or cracked teeth, whiten your teeth (see #8), and improve the alignment of your teeth (see #10).
Dental bonding is a procedure where a durable resin material is applied to the tooth surface and hardened with a special light which "bonds" the material to the tooth. This is sometimes done after reshaping or recontouring the tooth surface. It can be very useful to restore small defects such as chipped teeth or gaps between teeth.
Dental veneers. also called porcelain veneers, are wafer-thin, custom-made shells of white porcelain that cover the entire front tooth surface. These shells are bonded to the tooth after resurfacing the enamel covering. "Prep-less" laminates such as Lumineers involve bonding without removing any tooth enamel.
Dental crowns are a consideration when the use of bonding or veneers is not possible. Crowns are tooth-shaped, and tooth-colored caps made of porcelain-fused-to-metal or porcelain alone which are cemented in place to completely cover an existing tooth.
Each of the above options differ with respect to cost, durability, amount of enamel resurfacing involved, and amount of time required to perform the procedure.
10. How can I improve my teeth alignment?
There are several options to improve the alignment of your teeth. Orthodontists can apply full mouth metal braces. We will offer you the latest in modern orthodontics using Invisalign clear, removable braces. We also can provide custom appliances to help with minor tooth movement. It is very important if teeth are lost to repair the missing space to avoid movement of the surrounding teeth which can affect your smile as well as your bite.