Frequently Asked Questions
Q. I am missing several teeth. A friend told me that she recently had dental implants to replace her missing teeth and is very happy. What are dental implants?
A. Dental implants are an efficient way to replace missing teeth. They are permanent replacements that don’t rely on surrounding teeth for support. The replacement of missing teeth using dental implants frequently requires a team approach and our staff is experienced with this type of procedure.
Q. I have cracked a couple of teeth in an accident and was wondering whether I should get crowns or not. The damage is noticeable and I seem to be getting stains along the cracks. What are crowns and what are they made of?
A. Cosmetic dental crowns are protective covers that are fitted over the existing sub-structure of a damaged or broken tooth. It's a great way to improve the quality of your smile and porcelain crowns actually help strengthen teeth that are weakened by cracks and fractures.
Q. I am considering having my teeth whitened. I drink coffee and used to smoke and now they are stained. Should I have them bleached?
A. Your pearly whites not so pearly anymore? That can happen to any of us, for any number of reasons. The good news is that you don't have to live with a smile you're less than happy with. Tooth whitening can restore your teeth to their earlier brightness. It’s a very common procedure and I get a lot of requests for this service.
Q. I have a fear of visiting the dentist. How can you help me overcome this?
A. That’s a great question and I want you to know that it’s probably the one I get asked the most. We can start out by having a get-to-know one another appointment. That way we can go over your dental history with you and talk to you about our procedures and how we can assist you in calming your fears. Then we can set an appointment for teeth cleaning. It gives you an opportunity to see how we work with you to maintain your dental health. After that we can discuss future visits to continue to brighten and whiten your smile.
Q. I'm tired of looking at my old silver fillings. Can they be replaced with something that looks more natural?
A. Silver fillings darken with age and sometimes stain the tooth a grayish color. They also can crack and leak if not properly maintained. We can replace old and worn out fillings with new tooth colored materials that are actually space age composite that are bonded to the tooth. These durable materials require minimal preparation of the tooth in order to place them and blend in with the natural tooth structure.
Q. I have a tooth that hurts occasionally and someone said that I may need a root canal. I heard that root canals are horrible and I would rather have the tooth pulled than to go through the agony of something so frightening! What should I do?
A. Bad press never does the root canal procedure any favors. It's actually a simple but very tedious procedure and is accomplished to save a severely damaged or painful tooth. There are far more pleasant root canal appointments than bad ones. The extraction of a tooth is a big dental health setback so that we make every reasonable effort to prevent the loss of even a single tooth. If we can allay your fears and get you through the root canal, I'd say that it was well worth the time and distraction.
Q. When should I first bring my child to the dentist?
A. I would say that when the baby teeth first start to appear. The first 4 to 8 baby teeth can give us a good idea of how well the enamel is forming on the new teeth. This is also a good time to discuss the care of the baby's teeth.