Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

While teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, is very common among adults, it can cause serious damage to your teeth and jaw joints. If you wake up with sore muscles or you have noticed that you clench or grind your teeth, we can make a night guard to help protect your teeth.

Absolutely not! You are never too old to have a beautiful smile. Call us today to find out what we can do to help you. We'd be happy to show you pictures of some of our other cosmetic transformations.

Dental crowns are designed to be very durable and to function much like your own teeth. You need to use common sense, however, and avoid biting down directly on foods like hard candy or nuts. A broken crown is not just costly to replace, but you may also damage underlying healthy tooth structure.

Dental implants are intended to blend in seamlessly with your natural teeth.

One of the advantages of this is that you can brush them and floss them the same as you would with your regular teeth. While implants never get cavities (and never need root canals!), you still want to continue brushing and flossing to keep your natural teeth and your gums healthy.

We will do our very best to get you in the same day for dental emergencies. 

Both your pediatric specialist and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) state that your child's dental visit should be at one year of age, or at least six months after the first tooth comes in. There are many reasons to start dental care early on such as:

• It allows your pediatric dentist to begin monitoring your son or daughter's oral health and development so they can detect any concerns at an early stage.
• It helps your child acclimate to visiting the dentist and to understand that it's a safe and welcoming place.
• This is an excellent time to ask questions about your son or daughter's oral development so you can make the most of your routine at home.

You can prepare your child for his or her dental visits by talking about it beforehand in a positive way. Reading books or stories to them about visiting the dentist can also be helpful in preparing them for what's going to happen during their appointment. You might also consider bringing your child along with you to your cleaning and checkup so they can see what visiting the dentist is like. 

We are happy to help! Contact our office for more information on preparing your son or daughter for their first dental visit.

In its earliest stages, we can reverse gum disease by improving your hygiene routine and adding in an antimicrobial treatment. Once gum disease has progressed past a certain point, however, the disease is not reversible. We can still provide treatment that will stop the disease in its tracks and prevent further deterioration of your gum and bone tissue.

Coming in for regular cleanings with one of our excellent dental hygienists will help keep your gums in great shape, but what you do at home matters as well. Brush twice daily and floss every evening. Our hygienists will be happy to show you good brushing and flossing technique.

Other steps you can take to prevent gum disease include:

• Don't smoke or chew tobacco.
• Eat a healthy diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Use an antiseptic mouthwash. We'll be happy to recommend one.

If you have a health condition that can affect your dental health such as diabetes, heart disease, or cancer, please let us know so that we can take extra steps to help keep your gums healthy.

Root canals are not surgical procedures, and the recovery time is about the same as a tooth filling. Most people even say the procedure affects them less than a tooth filling! When you have a root canal, your endodontist specialist will clean and seal the tooth to remove any infection.

Root canal treatment takes about 60 to 90 minutes, depending on the severity of your infection and the accessibility of your tooth’s canals. You should be able to drive or return to work right after your appointment.

Your endodontist will give you specific instructions for allowing your tooth to heal, but here are some general guidelines:

• Once the numbness wears off, you may feel some soreness or tenderness for a few days. Some people have a sore jaw after keeping it open for an extended period. Use over-the-counter pain reliever to manage pain. 
• You can eat after the numbness wears off, avoiding sticky or crunchy foods. If you have a temporary dental crown, it’s especially important to be careful about hard foods.
• Continue to brush and floss your teeth normally, though you may want to use care around the tender areas.
• Return to your dentist for your permanent restoration, if instructed to do so.

We are in the business of protecting teeth. When we recommend a dental extraction, it is only because no other option exists and we need to remove your tooth to relieve symptoms or to protect your oral health.

A dental extraction is not the end of the world, though it does create some concerns for our patients. We are here to help. While you may have some anxiety about you dental extraction, we always strive to provide gentle, comfortable treatment by using appropriate levels of anesthetic to make sure you don’t feel any pain.

Losing a tooth can cause concern about your smile and being able to eat the food you need to stay healthy and that you enjoy. We offer many tooth-replacement options to complete your smile. We will go over all of your options at your appointment and start an appropriate plan to have you feeling yourself again as quickly as possible.

Dental extractions are sometimes avoidable with preventive and restorative dentistry. If you notice something is wrong or if you feel any symptoms, including pain or swelling, contact us right away. Acting fast will often give us the opportunity to save your tooth.

Give us a call to schedule a dental appointment.