FAQ's
Is prevention important?
The old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is nowhere more important than in the practice of dentistry. In the long run, prevention can save a considerable amount of money, aggravation, and embarrassment. In my practice, we focus on three main areas of prevention: dental decay, or cavities, periodontal, or gum disease, and occlusal, or bite and jaw problems. Decay, which almost everyone is familiar with, can lead to problems such as tooth loss, discoloration, nerve abscesses, or severe facial infections. Periodontal disease can lead to bad breath, bleeding gums, or tooth loss, and is associated with problems in other parts of the body and pregnancy complications. Occlusal problems can present themselves as sensitive teeth, difficulty eating, cosmetic issues, or head and neck pain. |
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What does F.A.G.D. stand for?
F.A.G.D. stands for Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry. In order to earn this designation, I had to accumulate a certain number of continuing education hours and pass a rigorous examination. In order to maintain my membership in this organization, I need to attend a minimum of 25 hours of continuing education every year. I average well over twice that amount, and my staff also attends several courses annually to make sure we are all familiar with current concept and practices. You can learn more about the Academy of General Dentistry and how it benefits the public at www.agd.org.
What can I do to improve my smile?
We have many ways of improving a patient’s smile. Some are very simple, such as tooth whitening, or tooth reshaping. Composite bonding is a very popular method of changing tooth shape. Porcelain veneers are thin ceramic pieces that can be bonded in place to cover or reshape the teeth. Sometimes we need to get involved in more complex treatments, such as crowns, onlays, orthodontics, implants, or a combination of these treatments in order to satisfy a patient’s requests.
What types of filling materials are used today?
The most-used material in my practice is bonded composite. This material can be nearly undetectable from the tooth. I stopped using silver amalgam several years ago because of mercury and esthetic concerns. We also employ ceramic materials, such as porcelain veneers, onlays, and crowns to restore teeth. Other technologies, such as porcelain fused to gold or gold crowns, are still used in some circumstances.
What’s the story with X-rays?
Dental radiographs, commonly known as X-rays, are a very important aspect of our examination of the teeth, gums, and jawbone. They allow us to see areas that are not visible to the naked eye. In my office we strive to reduce the radiation exposure of our patients as much as possible. First of all, we employ digital radiography, which off the bat allows us to reduce radiation exposure by over 50% compared to conventional film. Digital radiography also has the advantages of seeing the image within seconds of making the exposure, allowing us to communicate with other doctors faster and more easily, and is far more environmentally friendly than conventional film processing. We tailor taking X-rays to our patient’s specific needs and conditions, not to some arbitrary schedule.
What if I haven’t been to the dentist in a long time?
The most important thing is to take that first step and schedule an examination appointment. We always try to make the patient feel comfortable and congratulate him or her for coming in. I feel it is very important to take the time to discuss a patient’s condition with them, and show them with pictures what is going on inside their mouths. Often a patient is afraid of some aspect of dental treatment, and we try to address or work around that fear to make their experience less daunting.
What if I’m grinding my teeth?
Tooth grinding, or bruxism, can result in some very serious damage to the teeth and temporomandibular joint, or TMJ. Grinding can cause teeth to wear excessively, chip, crack, loosen, or become sensitive. We can often pick up early signs of bruxism before the patient is even aware it is occurring. Treatment of bruxism can be as simple as a bite adjustment or an appliance to wear at night, or as complicated as orthodontics and complex restorations.
What ages do you treat?
We take care of patients from three to 103. In fact, I’ve treated four generations in a few families! Each patient has special needs and concerns, which can change over time. We customize preventive and treatment plans according to the patient’s medical and dental conditions, and cosmetic and functional requirements.
Why is oral cancer screening important?
There are over 35,000 new cases of oral cancer in the U.S. every year. It can be a very serious disease. In order to be treated successfully, it must be caught early. Unfortunately, there are often no symptoms in the early stages. Smokers and heavy drinkers are most at risk. We use a special light called Vizilite to detect surface changes before they are visible to the naked eye.
Is fluoride helpful?
Fluoride is one of the strongest weapons we have in preventing cavities. Children can benefit from fluoride in drinking water or prescription fluoride supplements to strengthen their teeth from the inside. Adults should brush with fluoride-containing toothpaste to strengthen their teeth on the surface. In severe cases, or where there are a lot of root surfaces exposed by recession, prescription strength fluoride toothpastes are available.
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