Frequently Asked Dental Questions

The number one frequently asked dental questions has to do with fear. A visit to the dentist does not have to be painful or scary. New dental methods are comfortable and careful. Local anesthesia is used to numb the mouth for most procedures. Many of my patients are those who had once neglected dental visits for years and now have no more fear.

Yes. New advances in tooth-colored composite materials and porcelain make it possible for your fillings to go completely unnoticed, plus they will be stronger and more wear resistant than silver or gold. More patients add this to the list of frequently asked dental questions today. Removing your old fillings and replacing with composite is easily done in one visit.

Sometimes this is due to a shadow created by the metal at the margin of a porcelain crown. The metal is necessary for strength as a foundation for the overlying porcelain. There is a solution to this problem. For my patients, I work closely with the lab to fabricate either an all-porcelain crown or a metal-and-porcelain crown with an all-porcelain margin to create a natural cosmetic appearance.

This is another very one of the common frequently asked dental questions patients have for us. The cost of restorative and cosmetic dental work is determined by how much work is required. A treatment plan can be made which can allow work to be performed in phases. When you invest in cosmetic dentistry, you are making an investment in your self esteem and overall confidence. Many of my satisfied patients say that this was the best investment they have ever made – that they only wish they had come to see me sooner. An improved dental appearance can not only change how you feel about yourself, but how others feel about you, as well.

This is another very one of the common frequently asked dental questions patients have for us. The whiteness of your teeth can change with age, medications, and specific foods and beverages that can stain your teeth such as Cola drinks, Coffee, Tea, Red wine, Tobacco products, Curry, Soy and Minerals in well water. Many stains can be removed or diminished by a thorough professional cleaning in our office. And for whiter teeth, I recommend our at-home professional whitening kit.

Dental implants are used to replace single missing teeth or anchor multiple teeth together like a bridge or a denture. Implants can also be used as a permanent solution for those wearing upper and/or lower dentures. Whether you are a candidate for implants is decided on an individual basis, I will explain all tooth replacement options with you.

This is a very common problem and one of our most frequently asked dental questions by our patients that I treat quite often. It is caused by the fluoride in the water you grew up drinking. Concentrations of fluoride can cause severe pitting and/or permanent brown to brownish gray stains on teeth. The solution is a cosmetic treatment called veneers which are ultra-thin shells of ceramic material bonded to the front of your teeth.  The wafer-thin veneer results in an aesthetically pleasing naturalness that is unsurpassed by other restorative options. In most cases I can enhance your smile in as little as two appointments.

Another common frequently asked dental questions to our office staff has to do with the type or brand of toothbrushes. The brand of the toothbrush is not as critical as the type of bristle. A soft toothbrush is recommended because medium and hard brushes tend to cause recession of the gums. It’s unnecessary to “scrub” the teeth as long as you are brushing at least twice a day and visiting your dentist at least twice a year for cleanings.

This is another very one of the common frequently asked dental questions patients have for us. Flossing of the teeth once per day helps to prevent cavities from forming between the teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach. Flossing also helps to keep your gums healthy.

Both bridges and partial dentures replace missing teeth. A bridge is permanently attached to abutment teeth or, in some cases, implants. A partial denture is attached by clasps to the teeth and is easily removed by the patient. Patients are usually more satisfied with bridges than with partial dentures. This is another very one of the common frequently asked dental questions patients have for us.

Although the U.S. Public Health Service issued a report in 1993 stating there is no health reason not to use amalgam (silver fillings), more patients add this to the list of frequently asked dental questions today. They are requesting “white” or tooth-colored composite fillings. We also prefer tooth-colored fillings because they “bond” to the tooth structure and therefore help strengthen a tooth weakened by decay. White fillings are also usually less sensitive to temperature, and they also look better. However, “white” fillings cannot be used in every situation, and if a tooth is very badly broken-down, a crown will usually be necessary and provide better overall satisfaction for the patient.

This is another very common frequently asked dental questions. The anser is No. While most teeth which have had root canal treatments do need crowns to strengthen the teeth and to return the teeth to normal form and function, not every tooth needing a crown also needs to have a root canal.