In our office we try extremely hard to
make dental visits as comfortable as possible. Concerning injections, we
use a very small diameter needle and inject very slowly, both of which
decrease discomfort. Of course, a brand new needle is used with every patient.
Additionally, if necessary, we offer nitrous oxide (gas), oral relaxing
medicines, and even intravenous sedation administered by an oral surgeon
for long appointments.
Usually
not, unless it is really big. Small, yet symptomatic cracks in teeth are
often too little to be seen on an x-ray. Also, old fillings may mask the
crack. Remember, an x-ray is a two dimensional representation of a three
dimensional object.
A
root canal removes not only the nerve of the tooth, but also its blood
supply. Without nutrients, the tooth becomes brittle and more prone to
break. A crown serves to cover up the tooth and bind it together, thus
giving extra protection from fracture
Yes.
While the crown cannot decay, the tooth it is cemented to is as susceptible
to decay as ever. It is not uncommon for a tooth to get a cavity at the
edge of a crown or bridge, depending on the patient's hygiene. While these
areas can often be "patched" with a filling material, sometimes
the crown or bridge must be replaced.
Not
every wisdom tooth does need to be extracted, but if they do not erupt
properly, or if they are difficult for the patient to clean and maintain,
they probably should be. Left alone, they often cause gum and decay problems
for themselves and adjacent teeth. Additionally, they may create jawbone
or joint problems for the patient.
Every
insurance plan has a unique benefit structure designed by the carrier and
the patient's employer. Generally, plans pay the majority of "routine"
care, e.g. cleanings, x-rays, fillings, etc. They usually pay less (50%
is common) of "extensive" work like crowns, bridges, partial
dentures, etc. A consult with your benefits director or review of your
policy might help with specific questions. We would be happy to help secure
information, including doing pretreatment estimates for planned dental
work. Ultimately though, the insurance company's obligation is to the patient.
We
will be happy to arrange a payment plan to allow monthly payments so people
can get the dental care and treatment they need and want.
There
is still tooth structure under the crown onto which the crown is cemented,
and this tooth can get decay. Also, x-rays help us look at your bone level,
look for abscesses, and look at other teeth without crowns.
Generally
any type that has the American Dental Association seal of approval and
has fluoride.
There
are several different types on the market. We recommend floss that you
can move between the contacts of your teeth, and that will give you the
biggest cleaning surface area possible. The main point here is to floss
daily, in addition to regular brushing.
During
my fourteen years of practice, I have observed that children's behavior
in the dental office is almost always better if they are unaccompanied
by a parent to the treatment area. I strongly recommend that children age
six and older come back for their treatment alone. Almost invariably this
makes for a better experience for the child, for you, and for us. I assure
you that your child will be treated with compassion and respect, as I would
treat any of my own three children. Before any treatment is rendered, we
will explain the treatment to the child including showing them the instruments
to be used. We will never use physical restraint to perform any procedure,
although we may speak firmly to get them to behave. If we are unsuccessful
at achieving the cooperation needed, we will ask you to step back and talk
with your child so that we may proceed. If after your intercessions, the
child's behavior still prohibits us from doing the needed procedures, we
will probably refer the child to a children's dentist.
I trust the above outlines a protocol which will result
in a better dental experience for your child, one in which they receive
a high quality needed dental care, and in which they can grow and mature
as patients and people. Please feel free to ask me or my staff if you have
any questions or specific concerns.
A dentist that strictly deals with the nerve of the tooth.
They may perform simple to difficult root canal treatments as well as surgical
root procedures. They may perform an apicoectomy(surgically removing the
tip of the root) or a root amputation (removing a root on a multi-rooted
tooth), also. They have usually 2 or more years of continuing education
after graduating dental school, and most limit their practice to only endodontics.
A dentist that performs many aspects of surgery in and
about the head area. They can perform simple to extremely difficult (Completely-Bony
Impacted Third Molars (Wisdom teeth)) extractions. They also perform biopsies
and removal of tumors in the head and neck region. Most place implants
in the jaw for future restorations and do complex jaw realignmentsurgeries.
They have usually 4 or more years of continuing education after graduating
dental school, and most limit their practice to only oral surgery.
A dentist that straightens teeth. They analyze a mouth
and surrounding bone structures and determine where the teeth should be.
If there is enough room they will manipulate the teeth and bone through
the use of bands, wires, elastics, headgears and other appliances to achieve
a harmonius balance between facial muscles and teeth. If there is not enough
room teeth may have to be extracted to achieve the desired results. They
treat children as well as adults, so don't be afraid you are too old to
have braces. They have usually 2 or more years of continuing education
after graduating dental school, and most limit their practice to only orthodontics.
A pediatric dentist. They focus their dentistry to treating
the younger patients. They will usually treat children from as little as
1 or 2 to early adulthood. They can perform all aspects of dentistry on
this crowd. They can detect early on if there are problems with decayed,
missing, crowded or malpositioned teeth and correct them as well as spot
signs of child abuse.They have usually 2 or more years of continuing education
after graduating dental school, and most limit their practice to only pedodontics.
A dentist that deals with the supporting structures of
the teeth. Periodontists diagnose and treat gingivitis (Inflammation of
the gum tissue) as well as periodontitis (Gum Disease). They may perform
simple cleanings to complicated bone surgeries. They perform bone grafting
where indicated and do soft tissue grafts to treat gum recession. Most
also place implants in the jaw for future restoration. They have usually
3 or more years of continuing education after graduating dental school,
and most limit their practice to only periodontics.
A dentist that deals with simple to complicated full mouth
restorations. They may be crowns, fixed bridges, dentures, implant cases,
or mixed implant and fixed bridge cases. They sometimes encompass the majority
of the patients remaining teeth. They also perform needed restorative procedures,
such as obturators, after removal of cancerous portions of themouth.They
have usually 3 or more years of continuing education after graduating dental
school, and most limit their practice to only prosthodontics.