Which type of toothbrush should I use?
Our recommendation is an electric toothbrush (not just the ones that spin). The Sonicare FlexCare electric toothbrush is currently the best electric toothbrush on the market. It has been proven to remove more plaque, reduce gingivitis, and is more gentle on the teeth than any other toothbrush. This specific toothbrush comes with a UV sanitizer to kill all the bacteria on the brush head after each use and also eliminates the acquired bacteria from sitting on your bathroom counter. For these reasons, we have decided to offer this toothbrush to our patients for a professional discounted fee.
What’s the big deal with flossing?
Believe it or not--flossing is more important than brushing! 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. Food can remain lodged between your teeth for who knows how long (until you floss). This can promote ‘bad breath’ --the food is basically fermenting between your teeth. This is what can cause decay and breakdown of the tooth enamel.
What is Periodontal Disease?
What should I have my missing teeth replaced with?
YES! A missing tooth is like a set of books on a shelf with one missing. The teeth surrounding the area of the missing tooth start to collapse into the hole because they have no supporting contact to keep them upright. The opposing tooth can start to drift down into the hole as well because it will just keep ‘growing in’ until it finds something to stop it (usually the other teeth). When the teeth start all that shifting, it changes the bite and may eventually cause jaw problems. As they move, they become more difficult to clean and maintain which leads to decay and gum disease due to the awkward angles that they have now formed.
What are the benefits of updating my“silver” fillings?
Why do I need to have a crown after I’ve had a root canal?
When a root canal is completed, the nerve of the tooth is completely extracted. The vitality of the tooth is removed thus making the tooth become very brittle. It is like taking a piece of fiberglass and removing all the fibers—all you have left is glass. The inside of the tooth structure is usually hollowed out in some form in order to gain access to all of the roots for the root canal. This essentially creates an unstable hollow piece of glass. In order to structurally restore the tooth there needs to be at least two procedures done: a buildup, and a crown. A buildup is exactly what it sounds like-the hollowed out part of the tooth needs to be built up with filling material to be able to support and retain the crown. A thin shelf is then sculpted around the outside edge of the tooth/buildup for the crown to sit on. The crown acts as a protective structure that holds the whole tooth together.
