Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the most common questions I receive about oral health symptoms and dental procedures. If your question is not answered here, feel free to contact the office.

Color and Appearance

Q: There are a lot of products for Whitening.  Do you have any recommendations?

A: We use either Deep Bleaching or Zoom Advanced Power for whitening in our office.  Deep Bleaching is used when patients want to get their teeth the whitest possible.  Zoom Advanced Power is used when people want the easiest and fastest method.

For more info, see: Cosmetic Dentistry

Q: I have discolored teeth and I’m very self-conscious about it. What can I do so I can smile with confidence?

A. The first thing we have to do is look at why the teeth are discolored.  They may be discolored because of decay, old fillings, developmental defects, stain, or maybe it is just the color of the teeth themselves.  Correction may involve having the teeth professionally cleaned at a dental office, fillings, veneers, crowns or whitening.  You should have a dental exam to have the teeth evaluated to determine the best course of treatment.

For more info, see: Preventive Dentistry, Restorative Dentistry, Cosmetic Dentistry

Dental Care and Prevention

Q. How can I prevent decay in myself and my family?

A. One of the things you have to control is the type of foods and drinks you ingest daily.  A diet rich in carbohydrates and acidic drinks creates a great environment for decay to grow.  When sugary foods (and/or carbos) are consumed the bacteria in the mouth interact with the sugars and produce acids that begin to weaken the teeth.  The more frequent the sugars are ingested, the weaker the tooth becomes and decay results.  Most beverages are acidic, that of vinegar and lemon juice, such as flavored waters, diet pops, and sports drinks. People view some of these as “safe” to drink, which in fact, they can be quite harmful to teeth if ingested frequently.

Another area of concern is proper home care, that means how do you take care of your teeth?

• Are you brushing for 2 minutes, at a minimum of, twice daily?
• Do you use floss or a water pik daily?
• Do you brush your tongue?

One way that dentists can monitor weakening of the teeth is by using a Diagnodent.  This newer technology allows a harmless laser light to be directed on the tooth surface to measure the tooth density.  The tooth can then be monitored at each dental visit, which would indicate if the tooth is weakening or if it is stable.  By using this technology, much of the tooth structure can be saved by treating the decay early rather than waiting until much of the tooth has been destroyed leaving a large hole.

For more info, see: Preventive Dentistry

Q. Should I be concerned about this white spot on my tongue?

A: YES!  You should be concerned!  There is a chance that the white spot could be oral cancer. Most people are surprised to learn that one American dies every hour from oral cancer; a death rate that has remained virtually unchanged for more than 40 years.  In fact, recent statistics published by the American Cancer Society indicate that while the incidence and death rates for cancers overall has decreased, the incidence of oral cancer has increased by 5.5% and the death rate has increased by 1.5%.  In our office, we use 2 different tests to test for oral cancer.  One is the Vizilte test and the other is the Oral CDX test.

For more info, see: Preventive Dentistry

Toothaches, Tooth Restoration, and Oral Therapy

Q. I have a missing tooth. What are the options to fix it?

A: There are two ways to replace a missing tooth.  The first way is an implant, which is a metal cylinder that replaces the missing root.  A crown is then attached to the implant to replace the tooth.  The second way is with a bridge.  A bridge attaches the missing tooth to the teeth on either side of the space.

For more info, see: Restorative Dentistry

Q. I have an old silver filling from my old dentist and it doesn’t look good.  What can I do about it?

A: An old sliver filling can have many problems associated with it.  Poor appearance is the most common, but also there is almost always decay around it.  Another frequent problem is fractures in the tooth around the old silver filling.  The best thing to do is have the filling removed, cleaned out of any decay, eliminate any fractures and evaluate the remaining tooth.  The tooth can be restored with composite, porcelain or gold depending on which one is the best suited to the situation.

For more info, see: Restorative Dentistry

Q. I have a constant headache.  A friend told me that I might have TMJ.  Can you explain the symptoms of TMJ?

A: There are many physical symptoms that can be associated with temporal mandibular joint syndrome or TMJ. One of the most common symptoms can be headaches, both migraine and tension headaches.  Other symptoms associate with TMJ can be any jaw noise when opening or closing your mouth, such as popping or clicking, warn teeth, difficulty when opening or closing your mouth, ear pain or ringing, neck pain, shoulder pain and even numbness and/or tingling of  your fingertips, or a combination of any of these symptoms.  There are many methods that we use to treat TMJ.  Depending on your symptoms, we would choose the method best suited for you.  My advanced studies at the Las Vegas Institute have been particularly focused on relieving TMJ symptoms.

For more info, see: Oral Therapy

Cosmetic Dentistry

Q. Many dentists advertise that they do cosmetic dentistry. What is the best method in choosing a cosmetic dentist?

A: Most dentists receive some cosmetic training in school, and may go to some cosmetic lectures to enhance their cosmetic training, however, they receive no additional hands-on patient experience.  My advanced training at the world renown Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Skills taught me cosmetic techniques, hands-on with live patients.  My instructors are the world’s best cosmetic dentists.  What you should also do is ask to see the before and after pictures of patients the dentist has treated.  Many dentists use stock cosmetic photos to demonstrate cosmetic technique.

For more info, see: Cosmetic Dentistry

Q. I’ve read that there’s a lot happening in cosmetic dentistry. Can you explain?

A: There has been an explosion of new materials in the past few years. These newer materials can provide you a wonderful new smile.  Such things as bleaching, new composite (tooth colored) fillings for not only the front teeth but the back teeth as well, porcelain veneers and all porcelain crowns are the big changes.  These all provide very natural restorations.

For more info, see: Cosmetic Dentistry

Finances

Q. I’m not certain if I can afford my dental procedures. Do you have finance service?

A: Yes, we always try and make the dental treatment fit your budget.  For People needing extended payments, we recommend Care Credit Financing.