Q: How many times per day should I floss?
A: Flossing between your teeth once per day is enough to help prevent cavities from forming where your toothbrush can not reach while helping to prevent gum disease.
Q: What should I look for when choosing a toothbrush?
A: When choosing a toothbrush, it is more important to focus on the size of the head and the type of bristles than it is to focus on brand names. Hard and medium bristles can lead to gum recession and irritation. Therefore, soft bristles are recommended. A small head allows you to brush each individual tooth more thoroughly. As long as you are are getting regular checkups and brushing daily after meals, there is no need to use a lot of force to scrub your teeth clean.
Q:What is the best toothpaste to use?
A: Fluoride decreases tooth decay. The best toothpaste is one that contains fluoride and tastes good to you.
Q:Is it true that “white” fillings are better than “silver” fillings?
A:In 1993 the U.S. Public Health Service issued a report that stated that there is no health reason not to use “silver” fillings. However, patients and dentists alike usually prefer “white” fillings. “White” fillings tend to be less sensitive to temperature changes than “silver” fillings. “White” fillings also bond to the tooth structure strengthening a tooth weakened by decay. However, it is not possible to use “white” fillings in all situations.
Q: Can you explain the difference between “crowns” and “caps”?
A: When teeth are severely damaged, dentists cover most or all of the salvageable tooth structure with a restoration material made of porcelain, gold, stainless steel or composite. All such restorations are called “crowns” by dentists. However, it is common for patients to refer to only the gold or stainless steel restorations as “crowns” and to call the tooth-colored restorations “caps”.
Q: Can you explain how a “bridge” differs from a “partial denture”?
A: Both are means of replacing missing teeth. Partial dentures are designed to be removable, while bridges are permanently affixed to a patient’s existing teeth.
Q: Is a root canal necessary in order have a tooth crowned?
A: No. While it is true that most of the time when a tooth needs a root canal, it also needs a crown in order to strengthen it and return functionality, the reverse is not true. If you need a crown, you do not necessarily need a root canal.
