Patient Info : Dentistry FAQs

WHY DO I HAVE TO BRUSH AND FLOSS?

The best way to remove decay-causing plaque is by brushing and cleaning between your teeth every day. Brushing removes plaque from the tooth surfaces.

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IMPORTANT TIPS FOR BRUSHING

• Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small strip of fluoride toothpaste.
• When you brush your teeth, move the brush in small, circular motions to reach food particles that may be under you gum line. Hold the toothbrush at an angle and brush slowly and carefully, covering all areas between teeth, between braces, and the surface of each tooth. It will take you several minutes to thoroughly brush your teeth. Brush up on the lower teeth, down on the upper teeth, and the outside, inside, and chewing surface of your front and back teeth.
• Brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth before you rinse.

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IMPORTANT TIPS FOR FLOSSING

• Use dental floss regularly to remove food particles and plaque for areas between the teeth that a toothbrush can’t reach.
• Flossing takes more time and patience when you are wearing braces, but it is important to floss your teeth every day. Use care around your archwire and do not floss too forcefully around it or put too much pressure on it. After you floss between your archwire and braces, floss between your other teeth and gums.
• Put a small length of floss and slide it up and down between your teeth. You will be able to feel when the tooth is clean and hear the squeak of the floss against your clean teeth.

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WHAT IS PLAQUE?

• Many of the foods you eat cause the bacteria in your mouth to produce acids. Sugared foods, such as candy and cookies, are not the only culprits. Starches, such as bread, crackers, and cereal, also cause acids to form. If you snack often, you could be having acid attacks all day long. After many acid attacks, your teeth may decay.
• Plaque also produces substances that irritate the gums, making them red, tender or bleed easily. After a while, gums may pull away from the teeth. Pockets form and fill with more bacteria and pus. If the gums are not treated, the bone around the teeth can be destroyed. The teeth may become loose or have to be removed. In fact, periodontal (gum) disease is a main cause of tooth loss in adults.
• One way to prevent tooth decay and periodontal (gum) disease is by eating a balanced diet and limiting the number of between-meal snacks. If you need a snack, choose nutritious foods such as raw vegetables, plain yogurt, cheese or a piece of fruit.

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WHAT TO DO IN A DENTAL EMERGENCY?

There are a number of simple precautions you can take to avoid accident and injury to your teeth. One way to reduce the chances of damage to your teeth, lips, cheek and tongue is to wear a mouthguard when participating in sports or recreational activities that may pose a risk. Our office can fabricate a Sports Mouthguard for you. Avoid chewing ice, popcorn kernels and hard candy, all of which can crack a tooth. Cut tape using scissors rather than your teeth.

Accidents do happen, and knowing what to do when one occurs can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth.

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WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE A DENTAL EMERGENCY?

Bitten Lip or Tongue
Clean the area gently with a cloth and apply cold compresses to reduce any swelling. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, go to a hospital emergency room immediately, as stitches may be needed.

Broken Tooth
Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area. Use cold compresses on the area to keep any swelling down. Call your dentist immediately.

Knocked Out Tooth
Hold the tooth by the crown and rinse off the root of the tooth in water if it’s dirty. Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If possible, gently insert and hold the tooth in its socket. If that isn’t possible, put the tooth in a cup of milk and get to the dentist as quickly as possible. Time is of the essence! Remember to take the tooth with you!

Objects Caught Between Your Teeth
Try to gently remove the object with dental floss; avoid cutting the gums. Never use a sharp instrument to remove any object that is stuck between your teeth. If you can’t dislodge the object using dental floss, contact your dentist. Avoid the use of toothpicks!

Toothaches
Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss or an interdental cleaner to ensure that there is no food or other debris caught between the teeth. Never put aspirin or any other painkiller against the gums near the aching tooth because it may burn the gum tissue. If the pain persists, contact your dentist.

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DO YOU TAKE MY INSURANCE? 

Our office participates with many insurance companies, but depending on your individual plan determined by your employer and the insurance company, your coverage will vary. Ultimately it is your responsibility to get familiar with your particular plan, as we can only give you a ballpark cost for a procedure until we know your plan number. Every plan is different, and there are, literally, thousands of variations on a dental plan. For instance, someone with Delta Insurance may be covered for 70% of the cost of a crown, while someone else whose employer has negotiated lower costs for his company will have a plan that covers 50%. If you work for a large company you should check with your Human Resources Dept. with any questions, or if you don’t have an H.R. Dept. you should call your insurance company directly. If we don’t accept your plan, and you decide to come to us out of network , we will generate and submit an insurance form to your insurance company and you will get reimbursed. You will be reimbursed an amount based on the negotiated fee that the insurance company has with your employer. Please be prepared to pay for your dental work when the services are provided

We are very fortunate to have a very capable and knowledgeable front desk staff. Kris and Valerie have had many years of experience dealing with insurance related issues and will be happy to help you with your insurance questions; please understand, however, that this can be a very time-consuming process, and that most of your questions can be answered by either your H.R. dept or insurance company. Please be prepared to pay for your dental work when the services are provided.

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I HAVE SOME RECENTLY PLACED CROWNS (CAPS) IN THE FRONT OF MY MOUTH, BUT I SEE A BLACK LINE AT THE GUM - WHAT IS THAT?
Usually this is either the shadow of the tooth showing at the edge where the crown meets the tooth or the crown has a metal core and the edge of the metal is showing. This is a result of placing the margin in the wrong place, or using metal instead of all porcelain type materials. These crowns can usually be replaced with all-porcelain crowns, or other more esthetic porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns.

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I HAVE A MISSING TOOTH IN THE BACK OF MY MOUTH. NOBODY CAN SEE IT. IS THIS A BIG DEAL?
Slowly but surely the other teeth will shift and drift, leading to many serious problems; such as disrupting the way you bite and chew, causing spaces to open up all around your mouth, and leading to cavities and gum disease. Loss of your teeth and an unattractive appearance is inevitable, if the balance in your mouth is not regained. 

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DOES YOUR DENTISTRY HURT?
There are procedures that can hurt. However, with proper planning and use of our modern, state of the art techniques, most of our procedures are painless. I will not treat you if you are feeling pain. I will address the cause and remove it so that you are safe.

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I HEAR THAT QUALITY COSMETIC DENTISTRY IS EXPENSIVE. IS IT?
Like any quality service, the costs are commensurate with the skill, training and experience of the individual. The hardware of dentistry is roughly similar for most doctors; it is the kind of treatment that you get that is what you value. Dentistry is not crowns, fillings, surgery etc. but a difficult technique sensitive, artistic service that depends on superior skill and talent to be successful and easy for the patient.

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I HAVE CROWNS (CAPS) THAT ARE MORE THAN 5 YEARS OLD. I CAN SEE MY TOOTH SHOWING BETWEEN THE CROWN AND THE GUM. IT LOOKS HORRIBLE. WHAT CAN I DO?
You probably have gum-recession.  Sometimes the gum tissue can be replaced by a periodontist, or gum-specialist, many times we simply have to fabricate a new crown. Sometimes we have to do both to get the best result. In these cases we work closely with a nearby periodontist.