What is a Nightguard and Why Do I Need
It?
A nightguard appliance in one of the best
preventive tools we have in dentistry. The
appliance is made of a special type of
plastic and is carefully adjusted to fit
comfortably in your mouth, balanced in your
bite. The appliance does two things-
prevents wear on your teeth and provides a
balanced and stable bite position to
minimize jaw joint trauma. Once wear on
your teeth or negative changes at the
gumline show you are either clenching or
grinding your teeth, it is important to
actively limit the progressive danger that
will occur. Research has shown that when
you have settled into a pattern of clenching
and grinding, the damage is magnified when
you are not awake due to your inability to
consciously control it. The nightguard
appliance does not specifically stop the
pattern, either, but is the best way to stop
the damage caused by the clenching and
grinding. With careful adjustment and
education, a nightguard appliance is a
comfortable and valuable tool to maintain
the structural health of your teeth for a
very long time. |
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Why do I
need X-rays every year?
The relationship you have with any health care provider is based on your trust in their ability and how well you can communicate. As dentists, our responsibility is to inform you of negative changes in your mouth and educate you in ways to make improvements, hopefully before the negative changes become significant problems. A thorough oral exam allows us to identify surface changes to the gums and teeth, and your description of anything that may have been bothering you is another important piece of information. But there are simply things we cannot see without the aid of x-rays, most notably between teeth and underneath fillings and crowns. We cannot see the levels of bone, which reflects the gum health, or changes within that bone which may indicate an abscess or possibly a cancerous growth. Our office makes use of the latest digital x-ray technology which greatly reduces the amount of radiation you are exposed to, and also improves both our diagnostic capability and our ability to show you what we are talking about. In fact, the radiation you are exposed to with a complete set of x-rays is similar to the radiation you receive standing outside on a sunny day for about two hours, so the dangers are minimal. So if you are hesitant to complete your next set of x-rays, please ask us what we are specifically looking for and we would be happy to discuss things with you. |
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What kind
of toothpaste should I use?
We recommend toothpaste with fluoride in it
as our first criteria. The benefits of
fluoride in terms of enamel strengthening
and limiting bacterial growth are
significant. The other ingredients and
treatment claims of the different pastes and
gels blossom from there. For the most part,
any brand and taste combination that you
like is usually acceptable. In some
circumstances, it is inappropriate to use a
"tartar control" or "whitening" paste in
order to limit damage if you are an
aggressive brusher. Also, you may have
sensitivities to some brands or flavors and
these should be avoided as they are
discovered. If you have a specific
question, don't hesitate to ask us. |
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Are hand-held flossers as good as floss?
First of all, they are MUCH better than not flossing. Hand-held flossers are fantastic devices to aid in the placement and usage of floss, and many people cannot floss without them. The drawback of flossers can be that they hold the floss very straight which does not allow the floss to curve around and hug the tooth. So we have to say that proper use of floss, well adapted to the teeth, can clean better, but by all means the most important fact is using the floss in any way you feel most comfortable. |
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How do you handle after-hours emergencies?
When calling our office after hours, the voicemail message gives our pager numbers which should then be called. We are always very understanding that emergencies do occur and will do anything we can to aid the situation, including making arrangements to meet at the office if needed. |
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Can I use nitrous in the office for my cleaning or filling work?
Absolutely yes. We have the availability to use nitrous in any of our treatment rooms and we understand it may be a valuable tool in making the visit easier on you. We are well-trained and comfortable administering nitrous and have many patients who use it. |
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How does tooth whitening work?
Whether you use an in-office whitening procedure or elect to wear the at-home custom trays with gel, the actual whitening process is the same. Both the in-office and at-home use gels have a buffered peroxide gel which works to open small channels in the enamel of the tooth which have calcified over time. Additionally, the gel will lighten the enamel itself. This is a very predictable outcome, although some people will see it happen more quickly than others. Many factors such as the thickness and size of the teeth, dietary factors, and age can influence how quickly the gel lightens the teeth. Ask us which method might work best for you and what other factors might influence your whitening treatment. |
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Do you work Saturdays?
Our office is open one Saturday each month for your convenience. We also maintain hours beginning at 7:00AM two days a week and we also work through the "lunch hour" two days a week to make scheduling easier. |
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Can you see our whole family?
We are very comfortable seeing all patients, and we have many small children in the practice who we began seeing usually around three years of age. And of course, once we have established a working relationship with someone, we want to keep them as a patient for life! |
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Is it better to use an electric toothbrush?
There are two things we are concerned about when talking about brushing teeth. First is how thoroughly you are reaching all the surfaces of the teeth and second is whether you are brushing long enough. For most people, it is not a problem to move the brush correctly to reach all the teeth. The problem is how quickly people will rush through their routine. An electric toothbrush usually will have a timer built into it which will remind you how long you need to brush, generally accepted as two minutes. Additionally, because of the thicker handle and the fact that the tip does all the work for you, the electric toothbrush can be much easier to manipulate around and clean the teeth. We most often recommend powered brushes for older patients who may have difficulty holding and moving a toothbrush or those people who repeatedly demonstrate high plaque levels. |
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Is chewing gum good or bad for my teeth?
Mostly good, sometimes even great! If you have been under the regular care of dentist and have not been shown to be an excessive tooth grinder or clencher, then chewing gum can have several benefits. First, you need to be sure it is a sugar-free gum. There are literally dozens of sugar-free options on the shelves in almost any flavor you can imagine. The sugar-free gums actually contain several ingredients which work to inhibit plaque from sticking to your teeth. And chewing gum promotes saliva flow which bathes your teeth in a healthy wash to clean and lubricate them and again helps to remove plaque. If you have questions about whether chewing gum may or may not be a good idea for you, please ask us. |
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Why do my teeth seem to be shifting as I get older?
Many people notice their teeth changing position as they get older and wonder why this occurs now and why it wasn't "fixed" when they had braces earlier in life. You teeth will always slide forward in what is called mesial drift. This is a movement which works to close any spaces that might be created as teeth are lost. Since we now maintain our teeth throughout life, the movement can create crowding as a result. The good news is that orthodontics is not just something for kids. Orthodontics, including the Invisalign we do here in our office, is a conservative way to maintain your teeth and to reposition them in a more favorable way to get your smile back! Just ask us what might be good options for you. |
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