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Dental Care FAQs
What are the benefits of a dental X-ray examination?
Many diseases of the teeth and surrounding tissues cannot be
seen when your dentist examines your mouth. An X-ray examination
may reveal:
- small areas of decay between the teeth or below existing
restorations (fillings)
- infections in the bone
- periodontal (gum) disease
- abscesses or cysts
- developmental abnormalities
- some types of tumors
Finding and treating dental problems at an early stage can
save time, money and unnecessary discomfort. It can detect
damage to oral structures not visible during a regular exam. If
you have a hidden tumor, radiographs may even help save your
life.
What is Bruxism?
Bruxism, commonly known as tooth grinding, is the the
clenching together of the bottom and upper jaw accompanied by
the grinding of the lower set of teeth with the upper set.
Although it can occur during the waking hours, bruxism most
frequently occurs while we sleep.
Bruxism can lead to pain and cause damage to gums and other oral
structures. This includes:
- Sore Facial Muscles, Headaches, and Ear-Aches
- Cosmetic Damage
- Sensitive Teeth
- Fractured Teeth and Fillings
- Temporomandibular Joint Damage
If you suspect that you suffer from bruxism see your dentist.
They can tell you if your symptoms are in fact due to bruxism.
In most cases, they can create a custom mouth guard for you to
wear while you sleep. The mouth guard takes the punishment that
your teeth would normally endure during your bruxism. This will
minimize the damage associated with bruxism.
It is now well known that stress and anxiety play the major
role in causing bruxism. If you suffer from bruxism try to more
effectively manage the stress in your life. By carefully
monitoring and controlling the stress you can often dramatically
reduce bruxism.
Why is it important to floss?
You've probably heard that you need to floss at least once a
day, but has anyone ever told you why? It has to do with
bacteria. Bacteria likes to hide between teeth where it
continues to produce cavity causing acid. If bacteria are
allowed to remain for a long time, they can invade and destroy
gum tissue as well as the bones and ligaments which support
teeth. Flossing removes bacteria from between teeth to help
alleviate long-term problems caused by leaving bacteria
undisturbed.
What is the correct way to floss?
Flossing is an essential part of the tooth-cleaning process
because it removes plaque from between teeth and at the gumline,
where periodontal disease often begins. If you find using floss
awkward or difficult, ask your dental hygienist about the
variety of dental floss holders or interdental cleaning devices
that are available.
What are Veneers?
Veneers are thin, custom-made shells crafted of tooth-colored
materials designed to cover the front side of teeth. They're
placed on top of your teeth and are used to correct nature's
mistake or the results of an injury. Veneers can be used to
create a beautiful smile by hiding gaps in your teeth, teeth
that are stained, badly shaped or crooked.
Because it's necessary to remove a small amount of enamel from
your teeth to accommodate the shell, it's important to know
veneers are a permanent and normally irreversible solution and
that it is best to avoid some foods and beverages that may stain
or discolor your veneers such as coffee, tea or red wine.
Sometimes a veneer might chip or fracture. But for many people
the results are more than worth it.
What is a root canal?
A root canal is a dental procedure that removes the pulp or
nerve tissue from the inside of the tooth and fills it with a
material much like rubber. This procedure is typically performed
on heavily decayed teeth in order to save them.
Why do people need root canals?
Before the root canal became an acceptable procedure for saving
teeth, people with large cavities and other problems were forced
to have their teeth pulled and replaced with fake ones. Now,
root canals help to maintain your real teeth while killing off
infection that results from tooth decay. The pulp inside your
tooth-often referred to as the "nerve"-detects pain and
temperature. Once the root canal procedure is performed, you
should no longer have any feeling in the tooth, but still have
the benefit of its function.
What happens during a root canal procedure?
A root canal is a fairly routine procedure. Most of the time,
your general dentist can perform it. However, if your tooth
structure is irregular or you have a particularly complicated
case, you may be referred to an endodontist, or a root canal
specialist.
Essentially, during a root canal, you are first given local
anesthetic. Next, your dentist will drill through the top of the
tooth if it is a molar or the back if it is a front tooth to
gain access to the infected pulp. The dentist then uses files to
scrape out all of the core material from the tooth and may take
several x-rays along the way to ensure he is conforming to the
canals of your tooth. Once the tooth is thoroughly cleaned out,
the dentist will fill the open canals with a filling material
called gutta percha. A few weeks after the procedure you will
typically have to go back to your general dentist to be fitted
with a crown in order to seal out bacteria and give you complete
usage of the tooth once again.
How much does a root canal cost?
Because of their complexity, root canals can be quite costly.
With a good insurance plan you may only have to pay $80. Without
insurance, a root canal can cost any where between $500 and
$850.
520-296-8549
Knuth & McFarland, D.D.S.,
P.L.L.C.
Cosmetic & Family Dentistry
6828 E. Broadway Blvd · Tucson, Arizona 85710
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