How early should my child start seeing a dentist?

We like to get started early to make sure that you are caring for your child’s teeth in the best possible way. We want to begin by seeing them at age 1 and at that time we talk about diet and the importance of a good diet and avoiding excess sugar. We also talk about what parents can do to avoid spreading “cavity germs” through the family. If you like, we can place fluoride varnish on their teeth to strengthen. Bring them with you to your 6-month visit and we can begin a process of acclimating them to the dental office.

How can I prevent getting cavities?

This is truly a complex question. Some simple guidelines are: 1) never miss brushing at least twice every day. 2) Be certain to floss at least once each day. (This is where most people fall down. Our work load and your cost would be cut in half if we could win on this one.) 3) Watch how much sugar intake you have each day. 4) Utilize fluoride or other rebuilding minerals frequently. (Fluoride is best absorbed with the tooth recently cleaned. Little ones should be sure not to swallow the topical gels or solutions of fluoride, especially if your water is already fluoridated.) 5) Studies show that chewing sugarless gum with the primary sweetener called XYLITOL at least five times a day, reduces the number of cavity causing bacteria dramatically.

What do I do if my child’s tooth is knocked out or broken?

First, locate the tooth as quickly as you can. Do not scrape any surface. If it is contaminated with dirt or gravel, you can gently wash off the debris and then immediately replace the tooth into the socket. Time is of the essence here so get the tooth back in place ASAP. Following this step, you should call your dentist and arrange for him to see you. Stabilizing the tooth is very important. The longer the tooth is out of the mouth, the more important it is that you seek the advice of a professional. Keep track of the time the tooth is out of the mouth and report it to your dentist. If there are other injuries more pressing, place the tooth in the mouth under the tongue or in a jar of milk or water. Hank’s balanced salt solution is actually the ideal medium to place the tooth in. (Some pharmacies have this and we have it available here in our office.) Again, call us as soon as you can.

Why are my teeth sensitive after dental treatment and what can I do?

There are many reasons for post dental treatment sensitivity. Sometimes the treatment is very traumatic to the tooth and it takes time for it to resolve. In this case, time will resolve the issue. Sometimes the dental restoration is not evenly balanced to your “bite” and frequent pressure with eating or grinding your teeth will cause the nerve to become inflamed. If this is the case, call your dentist and allow him to check and adjust the bite to even out the pressure and allow the nerve inside to calm down. Other times treatment added to previous treatment, can add up to an irreversible nerve injury that will cause the tooth to die. If this happens, the dead tissue inside can become a focus for bacteria to multiply, causing a dental infection or abscess. Be sure to check with your doctor immediately.

What is root canal and how do I know if I really need one?

A root canal is what we call an endodontic treatment (meaning within the tooth.) We access the center chamber of the tooth where the nerve (or infection) is present. We determine the length of the root and then make sure to clean out all tissue and infection until the chamber is clean and dry. At that point we place sealer and filler to close off the chamber and space, sealing it to prevent any future bacteria from finding its way into the chamber. Once a root canal is complete, it is imperative that follow-up treatment be accomplished to make sure that the tooth does not fracture; causing complicated restorative care or even tooth loss. If you are having swelling, pain, or fever, be sure to check with your dentist at your earliest convenience.

I had a tooth pulled and the bleeding won’t stop. What should I do?

Most bleeding can be controlled with three things...pressure, pressure and more pressure. The more often you release the pressure to ascertain if the bleeding has stopped, the longer you will have to wait for success. Keep constant pressure in place for at least one hour before checking. If you get a few hours into that approach, you can moisten a tea bag and bite on that. The tannic acid in tea acts as a clotting focus. Sometimes, the frequent placement of things to bite on acts as an irritant that keeps the bleeding going. If you have attempted to stop the bleeding for more than a few hours, the next step might be to do nothing for an hour and see if Mother Nature does her job. This is, of course, if the bleeding is not unusually severe. If bleeding continues after following these instructions, or is unusually severe, call us.

My dentist wants to use white fillings. Are these okay?

YES. White fillings are now very durable. They are, however, very technique sensitive. This means that the dentist placing them needs to control the conditions under which they are placed, being sure to have the cavity dry at critical times to avoid contamination that would prevent bonding from taking place. To help control moisture, your best dentists will frequently use a “rubber dam” to keep tongues and saliva from reaching the cavity preparation while he is trying to get the bonding and filling in place. If white fillings are properly placed, they can last equally as long or longer than the old silver. And, yes, they look much better than silver.

My dentist says I need a crown. How do I know if this is true?

Fillings work well where they are supported by a healthy, strong tooth. When the size of the filling begins to exceed the amount remaining tooth to support it, the tooth is likely weak and needs something that will protect the tooth and help it to avoid breaking and having to be pulled. If you think your tooth is weak or if the filling in the tooth looks very big, he is probably right.