Q How often should I have Dental Exam and cleaning?
A

You should have your teeth checked and cleaned at least twice a year, unless your Dentist or Dental Hygienist recommends more frequent visits. These appointments will include:

  • Medical history review
  • Diagnostic x-rays (radiographs)
  • Oral cancer screening
  • Gum disease evaluation
  • Detecting a tooth decay
  • Examination of existing restorations
  • Removal of calculus (tartar)
  • Removal of soft plaque
  • Teeth polishing
  • Oral hygiene recommendations
  • Review dietary habits:
Q Do I need to floss regularly?
A

Brushing teeth removes, plaque, food particles and bacteria from all tooth surfaces, except in between the teeth.  Unfortunately, our toothbrush can’t reach these areas. Flossing will help to clean these spaces, preventing damage to the gums, teeth, and bone. We recommend daily flossing, especially before going to bed.
Q Are metal fillings safe?
A By the standard of American Dental Association, metal (Amalgam) fillings are safe fillings to get. However, there are several other reasons to choose tooth-colored (composite) fillings instead of metal.One of them is appearance. Another reason is bonding of composite to the tooth which helps to make the tooth stronger. Also, it takes less preparation (tooth grinding) for the composite filling than it does for amalgam.
Q Can I get rid of these ugly metal fillings?
A Absolutely! More and more people these days choose tooth-colored composite restorations. It naturally blends with the tooth making the final result very attractive.
Q Should I choose a bridge or an implant?
A

When discussing options for replacing missing teeth, we will always offer more than one possible solutions.
The biggest benefit of an implant is that it does not require preparation of adjacent teeth. Implant looks and works like a natural tooth. However, often implant restoration requires 4-5 month of waiting before it can ba restored.
A bridge can be made much faster. Usually it takes two appointments 2 weeks apart. However, at least two adjacent teeth have to be repared for crowns.
Q

My teeth are crooked. Do I need to fix them?
A Not only misaligned (crooked) teeth affect personal appearance, they may influence gum and bone health. If teeth in the front area of the mouth are overlapping, it will create and unfavorable condition for gums and bone. There are several methods of correcting misaligned teeth: traditional braces, clear aligners (like Invisalign, ClearCorrect, Essix etc) and removable appliances. We can discuss these methods during exam or during FREE consultation.