FAQ
How often you go for dental exams depends on your oral health needs. The goal is to catch small problems early. For many people, this means a dental exam every six months. Your dentist may suggest that you visit more or less often depending on how well you care for your teeth and gums, problems you have that need to be checked or treated, how fast tartar builds up on your teeth, and so on.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Do I floss every day?
- Do I brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and follow my dentist’s instructions on how to brush properly?
- Do I eat a well-balanced diet, including food from all food groups, and limit sweets and sticky foods?
- Do I smoke?
- Do I have a history of cavities or gum disease?
- Is my overall health good?
The answers to these questions are all factors that affect your oral health. They will help you and your dentist decide how often you need to visit for dental exams. It’s worth noting that you should not determine your need for dental care on what your dental plan covers.
How often you need to have x-rays also depends on your oral health. A healthy adult who has not had cavities or other problems for a couple of years probably won’t need x-rays at every appointment. If your dental situation is less stable and your dentist is monitoring your progress, you may require more frequent x-rays.
If you are not sure why a particular x-ray is being taken, ask your dentist. Remember that dental x-rays deliver very little radiation; they are a vital tool for your dentist to ensure that small problems don’t develop into bigger ones.
Has it been awhile since you’ve been to the dentist? Are you embarrassed about how long it’s been, or about the state of your teeth. Are you afraid your dentist will judge you? Well, don’t be! It’s highly unlikely that we haven’t seen teeth which aren’t as “bad” as yours. Yes, we WILL objectively assess your oral health, but we won’t lecture or criticize you. Delaying or skipping dental visits will only compound the problem, requiring more invasive and costly treatments later on. Call us today! We make dental appointments a positive experience, not only for those whose teeth are in great shape! This means that your dentist is here to support you, give you options and help you to reach a state of feeling happy about your teeth again. You will love going to the dentist!
Root canals actually TREAT pain. The pain that causes you to need the root canal not the root canal itself. Signs of infected pulp include swelling, sensitivity and pain when you bite down or push on your tooth. Root canals are performed to save teeth. If the pulp (the soft tissue containing the blood vessels and nerves of your tooth) becomes infected or damaged, then a root canal procedure is carried out to remove the pulp. The root canal is the SOLUTION to the pain. In fact, most patients feel little to no pain while a root canal is being performed.Root canals are performed to save teeth. You will be able to resume your everyday oral habits, such as chewing, smiling, brushing and flossing.
Yes! Keeping baby teeth healthy IS important. Cavities are the result of tooth decay caused by plaque on the tooth surface. Cavities in baby teeth can be repaired with fillings, which prevent an infection from causing pain, spreading, and requiring the removal of the tooth.
It’s important to help children keep their baby teeth as long as they can because:
- Baby teeth are the only teeth children have to chew with, and cavities can affect their nutrition
- Baby teeth help children form words and help them learn to speak properly
- Baby teeth create a path for permanent teeth to come in correctly
- Damaged baby teeth can cause overbites or an improper jaw structure