FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Which type of toothbrush should I use?
A: We always like to answer this question with, "Any kind you will use!" The brand of the toothbrush is not as critical as the type of bristle and the size of the head. A soft toothbrush with a small head is recommended because medium and hard brushes tend to cause irritation and contribute to the recession of the gums, and a small head allows you to get around each tooth more completely and is less likely to injure your gums. It's unnecessary to "scrub" the teeth as long as you are brushing at least twice a day and visiting your dentist at least twice a year for cleanings.
Q: Is one toothpaste better than others?
A: Generally, no. However, it's advisable to use toothpaste containing fluoride to reduce the incidence of decay. We recommend our patients use what tastes good to them, contains fluoride, and has the ADA seal of approval.
Q: How often should I floss?
A: Flossing the teeth once per day helps to prevent cavities from forming between the teeth that your toothbrush can't reach. Flossing also helps to keep your gums healthy.
Q: Should we use an electric toothbrush?
A: YES! We really like the OralB IO and recommend it to all of our patients interested in "going electric". Once you try it, you will see for yourself the difference in how clean your teeth look and feel. We can see positive results in our patients who have converted! Their gums are pink and firm, and the benefits of this type of plaque removal are noticeable.
Q: What's the difference between a "crown" and a "cap"?
A: These are restorations to repair a severely broken tooth by covering all or most of the tooth after removing old fillings, fractured tooth structure, and all decay. The restoration material is made of gold, porcelain, composites, or even stainless steel. Dentists refer to all of these restorations as "crowns". However, patients often refer to the tooth-colored ones as "caps" and the gold or stainless steel ones as "crowns".
Q: Who should use a Waterpik?
A: We recommend a Waterpik for a few reasons. Some patients just can't floss, so a Waterpik is the perfect tool to help them clean between their teeth and below the gum line. We also encourage a Waterpik for patients with gum inflammation. Waterpiks can stimulate the gums and antibacterial solutions can be used to bring healing to gum tissue. Waterpiks are also great for areas that trap food between the teeth and are hard to reach with a toothbrush. We have seen improvement in our patients using the Sonic-Fusion Waterpik.
Q: What's the difference between a "bridge" and a "partial denture"?
A: Both bridges and partial dentures replace missing teeth. A bridge is permanently attached to abutment teeth and is not removable. A partial denture is attached by clasps to the teeth and is easily removed by the patient. Patients are usually more satisfied with bridges than with partial dentures.
Q: Do I need to have a root canal just because I have to have a crown?
A: No. While most teeth which have had root canal treatments do need crowns to strengthen the teeth and to return the teeth to normal form and function, not every tooth needing a crown also needs to have a root canal.
Q:Why didn't my insurance pay for all of the treatment?
A: There's a lot of fine print in the contract between your employer and the dental insurance company. We work hard to help you plan for the estimated out-of-pocket costs before scheduling any treatment. The most common reason for a larger than expected co-pay is usually due to a cap an insurance company places on the amount they will cover. For example, your coverage may be for 100% of a dental cleaning, but if your insurance plan only allows a $72.00 maximum for this service, you would be responsible for the difference between their cap and what we charge.