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FAQ - Part 1

FAQ - Part 2

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About Us

Services

FAQ - Part 1

FAQ - Part 2

FAQ -Part 2

#11. My 2 ½ year old son’s front teeth have started turning black recently. What’s causing this?
There can be many causes of teeth turning dark or black. The most likely cause is trauma from a fall that damaged the nerve and blood vessels inside the pulp of the tooth. Generally, you’d recall that your child fell, had a swollen or bloody lip or nose. 
If you don’t recall anything like this happening, the next most common problem is baby bottle mouth. Many children develop decay of the 4 or 6 front teeth from drinking sugar containing beverages at bedtime. Even milk contains sugar.  It’s best to put plain water in your son’s bottle when putting him down for a nap or at night.
Children this age need help with tooth brushing before bedtime. You should place a pea-size amount of fluoride-containing toothpaste on your son’s toothbrush and help him brush his teeth, including the back teeth on the outside and inside. Brushing should take 2-3 minutes by the clock. Most people brush less than one minute.

#12.  What options do denture wearers have for cosmetic restoration of missing natural teeth?
Fortunately, you have several options today.  First, there is one particular brand of denture, called Geneva 2000™ that uses customized hand-made teeth that contain the many colors of natural teeth.  Many denture teeth are mono-chromatic (one color).  Geneva 2000™ teeth are poly-chromatic (many colors) so they look more natural.  Furthermore, Geneva 2000™ molds are based on the individual person’s facial characteristics and personality and are arranged in a very natural pattern, instead of the teeth being lined up like a picket fence.  You can learn more about these specialized dentures at http://www.geneva-dental.com/.

#13. Why do dentures fit poorly as the years go by?
The mouth is in constant change, especially once the natural teeth are removed.  Pressure on bone from dentures causes it to shrink, creating gaps between the denture and gums which leads to loosening and slipping. In addition, the denture teeth wear and not always evenly, depending on chewing habits, and the presence of natural teeth or crowns. Generally, the looseness problem can be corrected by relining the denture with new plastic.
 Eventually however, there’s too little bone for an adequate foundation for any denture and remaking the denture only helps to a limited degree.  Consequently, the 2nd and 3rd sets of dentures generally don’t provide the same chewing ability as the first. 
There are several alternatives for denture wearers, and those considering dentures, to protect the bone and make dentures more secure and comfortable, such as saving a couple roots of teeth or placing implants to secure the denture. 
If a patient has bad teeth and wants to have dentures, it is advisable to save the canine teeth in both jaws to support and retain the denture.  This protects the bone from shrinking and the lower canine teeth can have snap-attachments placed to hold the denture in place.
If a person has no teeth, then implants can be used to stabilize and secure a denture. Dental implants offer a variety of alternatives for replacing missing teeth.  Some patients have 2 implants to hold a full denture in place; others have 4-6 implants to support either a removable denture that clips onto the implants or is attached permanently to the implants as replacement teeth. 

#14. Recently I went to a new dentist and was told I need scaling and root planing instead of a cleaning. What’s the difference and why does is cost so much?
A standard “cleaning” involves removal of soft bacterial plaque, hard calculus (tartar) and stains from the teeth ABOVE the gumline. This is really only a cosmetic procedure. 
If the crevice around your teeth (called the “sulcus”) is deeper than 3 mm (about 1/8”) you can not clean the bacterial plaque from the bottom of the sulcus.This is called a “pocket” and is infected because of the bacteria you can’t remove. Without treatment pockets get progressively worse, destroying bone around the roots of the teeth. Eventually the teeth can fall out.
Root planing or a “deep” cleaning involves carefully removing the bacteria, calculus and bacterial toxins which penetrate the root so these pockets can heal. This procedure is “therapeutic” (not cosmetic) because it treats the disease process. It takes more skill and time and often is completed over 2, 3, or 4 appointments. Once root planing is done you should continue to have periodontal maintenance scaling every 3 months to control the gum disease and prevent bone loss.

#15. Why should I have a missing tooth replaced if it’s in the back and no one can see it?
Teeth function like a Roman arch. Each brick in the arch has pressure from the bricks on both sides. The keystone is the last brick added to an arch to stabilize all the other bricks. Our dental arches are similar in many ways. If a tooth is lost the teeth on either side and the tooth above can shift and drift, including growing longer into the space where the tooth is missing. Shifting creates gaps where more food can be trapped which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Also the tooth that grows into the space can only fit in that one place which changes the bite. This can create stress and pain in the teeth and TMJ (jaw joint) and muscles of the jaws which can contribute to muscle-tension headaches and migraines.

16.  What options do I have to replace a missing tooth or several missing teeth?
There are 3 ways commonly used to replace missing teeth.  The best method depends on which tooth (teeth) is missing, how many teeth are missing, how strong the other teeth are and the health of the gum and bone around the adjacent teeth. 
 One method that’s been used for many years is to make a “fixed” bridge.  The teeth on either side of the space are shaped for crowns and a false tooth (or teeth) is connected in between the anchor crowns.  This is “fixed” because it is cemented to the anchor teeth and doesn’t come out.
Another newer technique for replacing missing teeth in a “fixed” manner is to surgically place metal cylinders in the jaw bone.  These replace the roots of your natural teeth.  After healing, crowns can be attached to these implants, which are secure and strong and function just like your natural teeth.
The oldest, and least secure method, involves using a removable partial denture.  A partial denture uses a metal frame to support teeth.  The appliance is held in place by clasps which grip the remaining teeth.  This prosthesis is removed to clean it and your remaining natural teeth.  Unfortunately, partial dentures trap bacterial plaque underneath and against natural teeth which often leads to tooth decay or gum disease of the anchor teeth.  Extra home care is required to maintain the natural teeth in a healthy condition.