Yes. Fluoride treatments are very important for young children and adolescents. Fluoride works by hardening the outer layer of the tooth (called the enamel), which helps protect teeth from decay. The food and water you eat contains small amounts of fluoride. Fluoride toothpastes, rinses and treatments contain a more fluoride. Fluoride treatments given in your dentist’s office are more highly concentrated than home fluoride toothpastes and rinses and thus have more decay preventing power.

Is it important for pregnant women to visit the dentist for routine checkups and cleanings?

Yes. An old wife's tale claims a woman could expect to lose a tooth for each birth. Do not believe this tale: no woman must lose teeth to gum disease because she is having a baby! Pregnant women do have an increased chance of developing gingivitis (the beginning stage of periodontal disease) due to hormone changes in their bodies. That is why routine cleanings and check ups are especially important during pregnancy to help ensure a healthy mouth.

Can I skip the check up by the dentist? Isn't a professional cleaning by a hygienist enough?

No. The hygienist isn’t licensed to diagnose dental disease. During your examination, the doctor looks at your teeth and gums as well as your entire head and neck area. The doctor studies any films taken to look for areas of decay, abnormal growths, cysts or tumors as well as the beginnings of gum disease. The check up is not painful and takes only a few minutes. Without it, a problem could go unnoticed and untreated.

Do fillings ever need to be replaced?

Yes. Filling material, like most things, wears out eventually and needs replacement. Fillings become worn, chipped or cracked due to the huge forces exerted as we chew. Unstable fillings trap bacteria that cause decay. Untreated, decay can progress until the tooth needs extensive treatment such as a root canal, crown or even an extraction.

What are the warning signs of gum disease?

Unfortunately, people can have gum disease (also known as periodontal disease) without knowing it! Be sure to tell your dentist if you have any of these signs: red, swollen gums, gums that bleed after brushing, loose teeth or constant bad breath. Periodontal disease may not feel painful and without prompt treatment can progress quickly. Periodontal disease affects about 5% of all adults and you may not experience any warning signs at all. If caught early, it can be treated in your family dental office without surgery.

I brush twice a day. Do I still need to floss?

Yes. No matter how often you brush, your toothbrush just will not reach some areas. To remove the plaque that builds up between the teeth and under the gum line, you need to floss. Gently ease the floss between the teeth, form a “c”, and slowly rub the sides of each tooth from under the gum line up the tooth. Move to a new piece of floss for each tooth to keep bacteria from spreading from one area of the mouth to another.

How often should I change my toothbrush?

Change your toothbrush every 3 months or sooner if the bristles look worn or have started to flare. If you catch a cold or the flu, change your toothbrush when you get well so you will not re-infect yourself.

How much toothpaste should children use?

Oftentimes, children cannot spit out toothpaste and instead swallow it, so use just a pea-sized dab on the brush. Children need help from an adult to brush their teeth properly until they have mastered the technique.

My child is seeing an orthodontist. Are routine visits to our family dentist still needed?

Yes. An orthodontist does the placement and adjustment of the brackets and wires that straighten the teeth. It is very important that your child continues to see the family dentist for routine cleanings and check ups.

How can I find out more about an upcoming procedure I have scheduled?

Patients can learn about the procedure that will take place at their next appointment right from the Dentists On Main website. Simply click HERE and you can watch the step-by-step movies in the comfort of your own home.

Q. My jaw pops and snaps when I eat. It’s embarrassing; can anything be done about it?

A. This is a difficult question. The best answer is “sometimes”. Dentists are very successful treating pain and restriction of movement in the jaw joint, but less successful treating noise. If the noise has been there for a long time, then it is less likely that it can be corrected. If it has just started occurring, then chances are better that something can be done about it. At any rate, it’s very important that you see your dentist as soon as possible for a full TMJ (temporal-mandibular joint) examination.

Q. I am missing a tooth on the bottom towards the back; the doctor wants to put in a bridge or an implant. Why can’t I just leave it as it is?

A. You can leave it as it is. To do nothing is always a treatment option, albeit, not always a good one. If you do not replace the space with a bridge or an implant then the teeth on either side of the space will drift into that space, tipping over as they do so. The tooth above the space will extrude out of the socket and get longer. This can throw off your bite and cause TMJ (temporal-mandibular joint) problems (see the previous question). The tipping and extrusion can also cause food impaction around those teeth and thus lead to decay and gum disease. This can result in a continuing cycle of tooth loss and bite instability.

Q. I was told that I should have my teeth cleaned every three months. That is 4 times a year! My insurance will only pay for 2 cleanings a year. Is my doctor just trying to make more money? If my insurance company says twice a year is enough, why should I go more?

A. Your insurance company is not saying twice a year is enough; they are saying that their benefits only allow for two cleanings a year. Remember that insurance companies are businesses, not doctors. They want to save as much money as possible. If your doctor says that you need a cleaning every three months, then you probably have gum disease or the start of gum disease. Numerous studies have shown that one of the most effective ways to combat gum disease is with more frequent cleanings. The evidence reveals that after 120 days the bacterial levels build up to the level where they start to damage the supporting tissues and cause gum disease. By removing the accumulated plaque and tarter before they get to those levels, we cause those bacteria to have to start from scratch again to build up to that toxic threshold. Do not endanger your dental health and lose teeth over the cost of two extra cleanings per year. Will it cost you about $200 extra per year? That is less than a dollar a day to insure that you keep your teeth. Don’t shortchange your oral heath for that.

Q. How often should I have x-rays taken?

A. There are four different types of x-ray pictures, (radiographs), which general dentists take. They are bitewings, periapicals, a full mouth series and a panoramic film.

Bitewings are the most common. They are the check up films that the doctor takes during your cleaning visit. They allow the doctor to check between the teeth for spots of decay invisible to the naked eye. They are usually taken every 6-12 months depending on the individual’s decay rate.

Periapicals are films that the dentist uses to evaluate a certain tooth or group of teeth. Unlike the bitewing radiograph, which just shows the crown or biting portion of the teeth, the periapical shows the entire tooth from the tip of the root to the top of the crown. The dentist uses these to evaluate individual areas; they are taken on an “as needed” basis.

The full mouth series is a set of periapicals and bitewings that show all the teeth. It is invaluable to the dentist to help diagnose gum disease and check to see that all the teeth are healthy. These are usually done on a regular schedule, normally every 3-5 years.

The panoramic radiograph, sometimes called a panorex, is taken with a special piece of equipment that rotates around your head. It takes one large film that shows all your teeth and your jaws. In some cases it can substitute for a full mouth series if it is coupled with 2 or 4 bitewings. It is an excellent film for detecting abscesses, cysts, tumors and other diseases of the teeth and jaws. The panoramic film, like the full mouth series, is taken on a regular schedule, usually every 3-5 years. It is also used for children during the eruption of their permanent teeth to insure that all of the permanent teeth are present and that they are in the proper location. Frequently dentists take a panoramic film on children between the ages of 9 and 12.

Q. What are sealants?

A. Sealants are white or clear plastic coatings that dentists apply to teeth to seal off the grooves on the top of a tooth in order to prevent those grooves from decaying. Dentists frequently place them on children’s molars as soon as they have erupted enough to allow the procedure to be done. Sealants do not prevent all decay, some decay can start on the smooth surfaces between teeth, but sealants prevent one of the most common types of decay and that is in the deep grooves on the biting surfaces of the teeth. Sealants are sometimes placed on baby teeth; however, because of the difference between the enamel on baby teeth and the enamel on permanent teeth, sealants don’t stick well to baby teeth. At Dentists on Main, our standard is to seal all first molars and all second molars as they erupt, at ages 6 and 12 respectively.

Q. My dentist wants over $400 to whiten my teeth. I can get a bleaching kit in a catalogue for $40. What’s going on?

A. Remember that you get what you pay for. You can buy eyeglasses at the drugstore for a lot less than you would spend at an optician’s office, but what do you get? You get magnifiers with cheap frames. The same is true with over the counter bleach kits. When you have whitening done in a dentist’s office, the dentist will take an impression of your teeth and custom fit a tray using a special vacuum-forming machine. This tray will then be trimmed precisely to match the outline of your teeth so that it doesn’t cover your gums at all. The dentist will then bring you into the office and check the fit of the tray and explain how to apply the whitening solution. The dentist will have you back for 2-4 more appointments to check on the progression of the whitening process and insure that your gums aren’t reacting unfavorably to the whitening solution. If the whitening isn’t progressing properly, the dentist may change solutions and use a different strength. The bleach that the doctor uses is supplied by a company that has put in a lot of testing and research in order to insure that their product is safe and effective. They have conducted large-scale tests of their products and submitted the results to the FDA and the American Dental Association. Because over the counter whitening products are considered cosmetics, these companies are not required to submit any such test results to anyone. They can formulate their product however they want to. There are no controls. By investing the additional money and whitening your teeth under the supervision of the dentist, you ensure that your results will be satisfactory, safe and as long lasting as possible.

For a list of products that are accepted by the ADA go to the ADA "Seal of Acceptance" program web page.

Q. I believe in using natural products, what toothpastes are available for me?

A. I like the Tom's of Maine brand pastes for natural toothpastes. These toothpastes are all natural and approved by the American Dental Association. Approval by the ADA is important because it shows that the company has submitted test results to the ADA showing that their product is safe and effective. Tom's also has a nice line of children's toothpastes. Just be sure to use the fluoridated pastes. Fluoride is very important in the prevention of decay in children and adults. In addition to the Tom's website, you can find these products at many stores, including Whole Foods.

Q. My 21 year old had orthodontics and now her lower teeth are crowded. Is it because we didn't get her wisdom teeth removed?

A. No. This is a common misconception. For many years it was thought that the crowding of the lower anterior teeth that occurred in the late teens or early twenties was caused by pressure from the eruption of the third molars, (the wisdom teeth). We now know that this is due to a late growth spurt of the lower jaw that occurs at that time. We see lower anterior crowding in people who don't have third molars and in people who have paces between the molars and the front teeth. The lower jaw is contained inside the upper jaw, and likewise, the lower teeth are contained within the upper teeth. Therefore, if the lower jaw grows outward, the lower front teeth have to tip backwards, resulting in the crowding that you see. However, even if third molars don't cause crowding of the lower front teeth, there are still numerous reasons to have them removed. See my article on the reasons for wisdom teeth removal.

You may search our website for all pages containing matching words or patterns.