The brand of the toothbrush is not as critical as the type of bristle and the size of the head. A soft toothbrush with a small head is recommended because medium and hard brushes tend to cause irritation and contribute to recession of the gums, and a small head allows you to get around each tooth more completely and is less likely to injure your gums. It's unnecessary to "scrub" the teeth as long as you are brushing at least twice a day and visiting your dentist at least twice a year for cleanings.
back to top »Generally, no. However, it's advisable to use a fluoride containing toothpaste to decrease the incidence of dental decay. We recommend our patients use what tastes good to them as long as it contains fluoride.
back to top »Flossing of the teeth once per day helps to prevent cavities from forming between the teeth where your toothbrush can't reach. Flossing also helps to keep your gums healthy.
back to top »These are restorations to repair a severely broken tooth by covering all or most of the tooth after removing old fillings, fractured tooth structure, and all decay. The restoration material is made of gold, porcelain, composites, or even stainless steel. Dentists refer to all of these restorations as "crowns". However, patients often refer to the tooth-colored ones as "caps" and the gold or stainless steel ones as "crowns".
back to top »Both bridges and partial dentures replace missing teeth. A bridge is permanently attached to abutment teeth or, in some cases, implants. A partial denture is attached by clasps to the teeth and is easily removed by the patient. Patients are usually more satisfied with bridges than with partial dentures.
back to top »No. While most teeth that have had root canal treatments do need crowns to strengthen the teeth and to return the teeth to normal form and function, not every tooth needing a crown also needs to have a root canal.
back to top »Call us to schedule an appointment to have it re-cemented. In the mean time, go to your nearest drug store, to purchase a “temporary crown/cap cement kit.” If you have denture adhesive, i.e., Fixodent or Poligrip, this may be used as well. Clean the inside of the crown with a q-tip and rubbing alcohol. Dry and apply adhesive in the crown and place on tooth. Avoid eating or drinking for the next 15 minutes.
back to top »Depending on the procedure, your lips, teeth and/or tongue may be numb anywhere from 1-6 hours. TO AVOID INJURY, PLEASE AVOID CHEWING OR DRINKING ANYTHING HOT, UNTIL THE NUMBNESS HAS COMPLETELY WORN OFF.
back to top »Yes. Your jaw may get sore after being open for an extended amount of time. And it is common for areas of injection to feel tender and sore for several days. For gum discomfort, rinse with warm salt water three times a day. Take over the counter pain medication as needed.
back to top »If your bite feels uneven, it will need to be adjusted to avoid further discomfort and/or damage to the tooth. Please call to schedule an appointment.
back to top »It is not uncommon to have discomfort after a Root Canal is done. It may take several days for it to feel better, as your body begins the healing process. Over the counter pain medication can help alleviate any discomfort.
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