Can you explain the meaning of some terms that I hear in the office?
Here are some common terms you may hear during your visit:
Amalgam - Typical silver colored filling made of silver, tin, mercury, and other trace elements like copper. Advantages included cost and placement is easier than other materials.
Composite - Tooth colored filling materials, many varieties, many uses. Main advantages include color and adhesives available to strengthen rather than weaken tooth.
Crown - Also called a cap, a crown is a cover for a decayed or damaged tooth made of porcelain and/or metal.
Bridge - One or more artificial teeth attached to neighboring teeth, usually joined by crowns on each side of an artificial tooth. It is used to maintain space and function for missing teeth.
Whitening - A bleaching process that lightens discolorations of enamel and dentin. The system uses a mild solution retained in a custom fitted appliance that is worn over your teeth while you sleep.
Sealant - A dental sealant is a thin plastic coating applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. It creates a barrier against decay that is highly effective.
Why do I need a recall appointment every six months?
To maintain your good health through quality care. If every six months we examine your mouth and provide an oral cancer screening, we will protect your overall health and dental health. A watchful eye on your health will prevent unpleasant surprises.
Do you sterilize your handpieces?
Certainly. It is an important part of our infection control program designed to keep you safe in the dental practice. In fact, every item used in your treatment is either sterilized or brand new.
With all the controversy over mercury fillings, do you think they are safe?
We do. Research clearly points to amalgam safety. Plus, dentists have an amazing track record on amalgam with 100 million patients over a century and a half. That's why we chose amalgam fillings for our own children.
I've heard that the mercury in dental fillings can leak out and enter the body. Is that true?
Almost all of the mercury in a filling is locked in as it hardens. As an analogy, you put eggs in a cake, but once the cake is baked, you can't get the eggs out! The tiny amount of mercury that may leak out of a filling is flushed out of the body through natural processes. And in comparison, it is a far smaller amount than we get from our food, air, and water.
How do I care for my child's teeth?
Infants - Even before your youngster's first tooth appears, wipe his or her gums with a clean, wet cloth after each feeding. This will help remove excess food and bacteria, and will acquaint your child with daily oral care.
After teeth appear, usually around six months, use a soft bristled tooth brush such as My First Colgate and gently brush your child's teeth with warm water.
Older children - By age three, your child should be able to brush alone with your supervision. Use just a pea-sized dab of fluoride toothpaste. Make sure your child brushes each side of every tooth.
Begin flossing when teeth are touching. Use an advanced, shred-resistant floss. By age eight, your child should be able to brush and floss unassisted.
Do you need to fill baby teeth? Won't they fall out anyway?
Some of the teeth we call baby teeth may stay in your child's mouth until the age of 12. While it is true that baby teeth do eventually come out, it is also true that they are important to your child in the meantime. Your child needs his baby teeth to speak clearly, eat comfortably, and smile with confidence. Also, the baby teeth are holding space for his permanent teeth. If one is lost, the others shift into the empty space. This often means a crooked smile in a child's future.