FAQ
We've provided answers to a number of commonly asked dental questions. If you have a question that is not addressed here, please call us at (919) 968-0220. We look forward to resolving all of your dental concerns.
Q: How does sedation dentistry work? Is it safe?
A: Oral conscious sedation is most often achieved by taking a pill one hour prior to your dental appointment. You should avoid caffeine the day of your appointment, but should eat prior to coming in. You should have a companion bring you to the office, where Dr. Keyser and his staff will monitor you and your status, increasing your dose if necessary. You will be able to communicate with Dr. Keyser if you are uncomfortable or have any needs, but won’t remember much about the day. Upon completion of treatment, your companion will take you home. You should spend the remainder of the day relaxing, and avoid making any important decisions on the day of treatment. Sedation dentistry is very safe. Dr. Keyser will evaluate your medical history to ensure that you are a good candidate for the medications used. If you have ever had difficulty getting numb, sedation dentistry will eliminate that problem. It reduces the fatigue often felt after complex dental visits. Additionally, it allows the majority of your treatment to be completed in one visit, which means you only have to heal once from the procedures.
Q: What causes bad breath?
A: Most often, bad breath is a symptom of dental decay and periodontitis. Periodontitis is a disease that affects your gums and the bone that supports your teeth. It can be genetic or can result from inadequate tooth brushing and flossing. In this disease, irritated gums pull away from teeth and form pockets between the teeth and gums. They fill with bacteria, which give off the foul odor. If you have bad breath, we recommend a complete exam. If gum disease and/or decay are detected, we can help treat the source of the problem, helping you achieve oral health.
Q: Is there an easy way of repairing my chipped tooth?
A: Yes! Depending on the size and location of the chip, there are a couple options. If it is small area, bonding is an affordable, painless way to repair gaps and chips. It sculpts individual teeth by bonding composite material that blends with your natural tooth to the tooth. It rarely requires anesthetic and gives an immediate result. In a situation where the damage to the tooth is larger, our skilled laboratory technicians can make veneers or crowns that match your existing teeth and cover the damaged tooth.
Q: Is bleaching safe?
A: Bleaching is a safe, effective means of producing a whiter smile. Our lab makes customized trays that you can use at home until your desired level of whiteness is reached. You can use the trays to touch up your teeth when needed, as well. Even with the advancements in whitening technology, not everyone’s teeth will whiten to the same level. We would be happy to evaluate your situation and advise you accordingly.
Q: What are porcelain veneers?
A: Veneers are thin, durable shells designed to cover the front of your tooth. They are typically made of porcelain and are durable, stain resistant, natural-looking, and easy to maintain. Veneers are custom-fitted to your teeth by removing a small amount of enamel and bonding the lab-made veneer to your teeth using a polymer resin. They give you flexibility to lighten stains, close gaps, and change the shape, color, or length of your teeth.
Q: Why do I need an inlay or crown instead of a bigger filling?
A: Teeth are often restored using silver or composite fillings. If there is too much damage from decay, cracking, or chipping to your tooth, however, you may not have enough structure left to support this type of restoration. In that case, Dr. Keyser will recommend either a partial crown (inlay) or full crown. The best restoration is determined based on the amount of undamaged tooth structure remaining. If you are a candidate for an inlay or crown, you should expect two visits to our office. Dr. Keyser will prepare the tooth at the first visit and take an impression of it for our lab. After 3-4 weeks, you will return to our office for your customized restoration to be delivered.
Q: Why should I replace silver-mercury fillings?
A: Until somewhat recently, dentists often used a silvery and mercury amalgam filling material because of its durability. As amalgams age, however, the bond between the tooth and the amalgam breaks down. In some situations, there is also crack damage next to the amalgams. Both cracking and the breakdown of the bond leave an opening that bacteria can access, which allows decay to form beneath the amalgams. Because decay is pain-free until quite advanced, there often is extensive damage to your tooth structure present before any symptoms appear. Dr. Keyser will closely monitor any existing amalgams you may have and will keep you informed if it appears that they are beginning to leak or if he suspects that decay is present. He no longer places amalgams because a larger amount of tooth structure must be removed to place an amalgam than a resin composite and because of the difficulty of diagnosing when they are reached the end of their life span.
Q: What do I do if my tooth is loose or knocked out?
A: Know the proper first aid for saving a loose or dislocated tooth. If the tooth is loose, even extremely so, but is still attached in any way, leave it in place; do not remove it. If it is out of its socket completely and unattached, but still in the victim's mouth, it is best to have the person hold it there, if possible, until a dentist can attempt re-implantation. If it is out of the mouth, do not let it dry out. Handle it as little as possible. Do not attempt to disinfect the tooth, or scrub it, or remove any tissue attached to it. If it is recovered from the ground or other soiled area, rinse it off in lukewarm water. Preserve it in milk until a dentist is available. If milk is not available, lukewarm water will suffice. Time out of the socket is critical in the long-term success of re-implantation. After 30 minutes, the success potential begins to decline. However, re-implantation is still possible after several hours, so the attempt can still be made even if the tooth has been out for a long period.
Q: How do I manage dry mouth?
A: Many medications have dryness of the mouth as a side effect. Without the natural benefit of saliva to decrease bacterial action, we see an increase of cavities on the root surfaces of these patients. If you are experiencing dry mouth, please feel free to discuss it with any member of our team. We can help you find the resources that will be the most beneficial in your situation to alleviating the problem. It becomes especially important
Q: What is periodontal disease?
A: Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection that impacts your gums and supporting bone structure.
It is characterized by red, puffy gum tissue that bleeds easily when touched with a toothbrush, floss, or dental instrument. In advanced stages, periodontal disease causes bone loss, which in turn causes eventual tooth loss. Depending on the stage in which it is diagnosed, there are both nonsurgical and surgical options for treatment.
Warning signs of gum disease include:
- Permanent teeth that are loose or separating from each other
- Gums that are pulling away from teeth
- Changes in the way teeth fit together
- Changes in the way partials fit
- Persistent bad breath or foul taste
- Bleeding with brushing
Q: What are dental implants?
A: An implant is a secure, durable anchor used to support a crown when a natural tooth is lost. A titanium post would be placed in your jaw to replace the tooth’s root structure. After the surrounding bone has healed (anywhere from 6 weeks to six months), a custom abutment and crown would be made to restore “above the gum” part of the tooth, giving you a very natural look.
Q: What should I do if I lose a tooth?
A: Losing a tooth by accident or by extraction is not the end of the matter. When a tooth is missing, the resulting gap will allow nearby teeth to tilt or drift from their normal position, and the teeth above the gap will move downward. Aside from the obvious cosmetic problem, the changed positions of these teeth can lead to severe bite problems causing jaw pain and headaches. Missing teeth should be replaced to keep other teeth in their normal position. This can be done by means of a fixed bridge or a dental implant. Both of these treatments offer a good functional and cosmetic result.
Q: What is tooth decay?
A: Tooth decay occurs when bacteria in dental plaque damages the enamel of your teeth, leaving a hole or cavity. Any part of a tooth can decay, from the roots below the gum line to the chewing surface. If plaque bacteria reach and damage the pulp, the tooth will likely die, because the pulp contains nerves and blood vessels that supply the tooth. Tooth decay can occur due to a number of issues, including poor brushing and flossing habits, diets rich in sugar, the presence of risk factors such as smoking and lack of fluoride in the water supply.