Why did I wait so long have my teeth cleaned?

Dental cleanings should be performed at regular intervals. Most of us are aware of the general recommendation that teeth should be cleaned at least once every six months. After a prophylaxis most patients comment on how clean their teeth feel and when asked say they will return in six months for their next cleaning, many do not follow through with their intention. All to often when reminder messages are sent six months later, they are ignored.

When ‘AWOL’ patients do return they often sheepishly report they know it’s been too long and next time intend to come back sooner. In order to eliminate delayed recall and the uncomfortable ‘guilt’ that may be associated with it, why not pre appoint your next recall? You will be notified by postcard weeks in advance and have the opportunity to change the appointment if it’s inconvenient.

What does it mean if a child's baby teeth have dark spots?

It usually indicates that the deciduous teeth either have defects in their enamel or are developing decay. I usually recommend that parents of young children inspect their teeth to look for these. If a parent does notice any 'dark spots' a visit to the dentist is in order.

Young children can develop decay in their deciduous teeth even before the age of three and The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that a child's first visit to a dentist be no later than their first birthday.

What does 'Full mouth debridement' mean?

This is a term used to describe a partial cleaning done when a patient has a mouth having a great deal of calculus and inflammation. Inflamed gums are often swollen (edematous) and bleed easily during a cleaning. The hygienist does a general 'gross' scaling with the intent of removing most visible calculus and usually plans on having the patient return after a week or two for a 'finer scaling'.

The basic concept is that when the patient returns their gums will have healed and have experienced some resolution of their inflammation. At this point, a second cleaning can be accomplished with less discomfort and bleeding. Also, the hygienist should be able to better visualize any remaining calculus, some of which may have been previously hidden by a patent's swollen gums.

What treatment should be done for internal resorption?

Treatment for internal resorption is usually indicated. This condition involves cells from the tooth's own pulp causing slow resorption of the tooth. Although it may sometimes occur as result of trauma, the condition is often also called Idiopathic Internal Resorption since no one knows why it happens. Left unchecked it can cause a perforation of the tooth and can compromise the long term prognosis for a tooth.

The best treatment for this condition is to electively remove all the vital pulpal tissue by performing a conventional root canal. After the root canal is completed there should be not further resorption. Treatment of internal resorption after a perforation has occurred is more complicated and should be discussed with an endodontist. Appropriate treatment should be determined on a case by case basis, depending on the size and position of the perforation.

Can bleaching trays be used to whiten dark teeth that have darkened after a root canal?

Sometimes trays can be utilized for nonvital tooth bleaching The filling in the tooth is removed and a glass ionomer sealer is placed over the guttapercha. Then using normal tooth whitening trays, the patient is instructed to place whitening gel in the part of the tray corresponding to the dark tooth.

I usually request that the patient return to my office once per week, so that I can monitor the progress and to clean out any debris that has gotten into the access hole in the tooth. After the desired result is a achieved the permanent filling is replaced.

When will the office be closed over the holidays?

As usual our office will be on 'vacation' over the holidays. Our last day in the office will be Wednesday, December 23rd. The Office will reopen on Monday, January 4th. If you call our office during this time our message will give you instructions on whom to contact in case of emergency. If you do have end of the year dental work that you would like to accomplish, please do not wait until the last moment to schedule it.

On behalf of my staff and myself, we wish our patients a happy and healthy holiday season. We are grateful for their support and hope that we will be able to continue to serve them in the years to come!

What is a cantilever fixed bridge?

A cantilever bridge is dental fixed appliance that is anchored on only one side of a missing tooth. It can be utilized when there are not teeth available to support a bridge on both sides of a missing tooth. It is also sometimes used to replace a missing lateral incisor. The canine is prepared and a small two tooth bridge is attached to the prepared canine. Using the cantilever in this manner allows a dentist to avoid preparing the central incisor.

In general cantilever bridges are less desirable than implant supported restorations since the extra torque placed on the supporting teeth can damage them in the long run. It is not uncommon to see fractures of the abutment teeth supporting a posterior cantilever bridge. Also because of the flexing that these bridges experience, they are more prone to porcelain breakage. Cantilever posterior bridges require multiple prepared teeth to adequately support the bridge. Implant restorations do not involve the preparation of any natural teeth.