How can we help you?
Questions about certain oral health topics are repeatedly asked in our office. The following are commonly asked questions. If you have a question that is not adequately addressed here, please contact us and we will do our best to answer your inquiries.
Dental Hygiene
We’ve come a long way with x-rays. Although it is always wise to keep radiation exposure to a minimum, x-rays are a wonderful tool in dentistry. Modern x-ray machines are highly filtered, low output machines. You should not be concerned about dental radiation. The benefits provided by routine x-ray screening far outweigh any perceived hazard. Our office also uses digital x-rays which use one twentieth of the x-ray power to image your teeth.
The American Dental Association’s protocol for a healthy adult calls for routine cleaning and checkup every 6 months. We find it best to set a patient’s routine checkup based on his/her personal needs. The majority of our patients get a cleaning and checkup every 6 months. Those with a periodontal condition will often have their teeth cleaned more frequently while others that have never had decay of calculus buildup might be on a one year recall.
Yes. Bad breath is frequently related to dental disease or systemic disease. An oral examination is the first step to solving your problem.
Yes. The main cause of gum disease is plaque, that sticky film that forms on the teeth. Plaque is a compilation of dead cells from your mouth, protein from saliva, food particles and bacteria. Brushing does not remove all the plaque from between the teeth but flossing does. Flossing removes plaque from between the teeth as well as stimulates the gums, keeping the gums pink and healthy.
Not really. The best type of floss for you is the one that works best in your hands. Come by the office and we’ll give you a sample of each type (Glide Floss, waxed floss, un-waxed floss, dental tape) and you can try them all.
Yes! Healthy gums don’t bleed. Bleeding is usually a sign of gum disease (periodontal disease). If diagnosed early, periodontal disease can be successfully treated without surgery. The longer you wait, the more difficult the treatment and the less predictable the outcome. More important are the links between periodontal disease and systemic conditions such as heart disease, stroke, respiratory problems and others.
A root canal is a procedure to treat the diseased nerve within a tooth. In earlier years, if you had a tooth with a diseased nerve you'd probably lose that tooth. Today, with root canal therapy you may save your tooth. Inside each tooth is the pulp which provides nutrients and nerves to the tooth, it runs like a thread down through the root. When the pulp is diseased or injured, the pulp tissue dies. Root canal therapy removes that infected or inflamed tissue, sterilizes the inside of the tooth then seals the canal chambers. A crown is subsequently placed to support the tooth. Most of the time a root canal is a relatively simple procedure, with little or no discomfort, involving one to three visits. Best of all, it can save your tooth and your smile!