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FREQUENTLY
ASKED
QUESTIONS
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Q: Which type of toothbrush
should I 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 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?
Generally, no. However, it's advisable
to use a fluoride containing toothpaste to decrease
the incidence of dental decay. We recommend our patients
use what tastes good to them as long as it contains
fluoride.
Q: What's the difference between a "crown"
and a "cap"?
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".
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Q: How often should I
floss?
Flossing of the teeth once
per day helps to prevent cavities from forming between
the teeth where your toothbrush can't reach. Flossing
also helps to keep your gums healthy. |
Q: What about "silver" fillings versus
"white" fillings?
Although the U.S. Public Health
Service issued a report in 1993 stating there is no health
reason not to use amalgam (silver fillings), more patients
today are requesting "white" or tooth-colored
composite fillings, but we prefer ceramic restoration
posterior instead of composite light curring material.
While fillings are also usually less sensitive to temperature,
and they also look better. However, "white"
fillings cannot be used in every situation, and if a tooth
is very badly broken-down, a crown will usually be necessary
and provide better overall satisfaction for the patient.
Q: Do I need to have a root canal just because
I have to have a crown?
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.
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