FAQs

Children Dental FAQs

WHY DO CHILDREN HAVE SPACES BETWEEN THEIR TEETH?

Why do children have spaces between their teeth?

Spaces between a child’s teeth are often a normal stage of development. In some cases spaces may indicate missing or extra teeth as well as abnormally positioned teeth.

Why do children have bad breath?

There are many potential causes for bad breath in children. Some common causes include a diet of aromatic foods, inadequate oral hygiene (including the tongue), infections in the mouth, infected tonsils, chronic nasal or sinus problems and other digestive tract problems.

Why do children have crowded or crooked teeth?

Depending on severity, crowded or crooked teeth can be a normal stage of growth and development or can indicate lasting problems with your child’s bite and appearance.

Why do children have discolored teeth?

As your child’s teeth erupt you may notice mottling of certain teeth or a difference in color between teeth. These color differences can be a normal stage of development as children’s permanent teeth are often naturally darker than their baby teeth. They may also indicate malformation of the teeth due to various influences.

Why do children grind their teeth?

Tooth grinding in children can be a normal response to jaw growth which resolves on its own over time or it can indicate more serious problems with your child’s dentition and airways.

Why do children get mouth sores?

There are a variety of reasons a child may get mouth sores. Trauma and stress may cause apthous ulcers, or “canker sores.” The herpes virus may cause cold sores and infected teeth may cause abscesses.

Why do children snore?

Occasional snoring in children is normal. If snoring is persistent or signs of sleep apnea exist, your child may be at higher risk for growth and development problems.

General Dental FAQs

Dental Sealants

A sealant is a protective coating placed on the chewing surface of back teeth to protect against cavities. Permanent back teeth have a significantly higher risk of developing decay as your toothbrush cannot reach the base of the groves and pits on the biting surface of these teeth to clean them.

Fluoride

Fluoride is a naturally occurring element that is used in dentistry to help prevent cavities.

Bite PRoblems

Bite Problems

A bite problem arises when the three parts of your chewing system - your teeth, jaw joint and chewing muscles - cannot function ideally because of the way your teeth fit together. Over time, the stress a bite problem puts on your chewing system may lead to muscle and jaw joint pain as well as headaches, ringing in your ears and worn, broken or loose teeth.

Kois Deprogrammer

KOIS Deprogrammer

The Kois Deprogrammer is a removable retainer-like appliance which allows your dentist to evaluate the stability of your bite. Every time you chew or swallow you must adapt your jaw to the best fit for your teeth. If this fit is not ideal for your jaw joint and muscles, you will be at higher risk for experiencing facial pain as well as worn, broken or loose teeth. The Kois Deprogrammer removes the influence of your teeth from your chewing system by preventing them from interlocking and reinforcing the position of your existing bite. This allows your lower jaw to relax into a more comfortable position. Once your lower jaw has fully relaxed, your dentist will be able to provide you with treatment options for maintaining your bite in this new, more comfortable position.

Equilibration

An equilibration is the very slight recontouring of the teeth to create a bite that is in balance with the chewing muscles and jaw joint, (Temporomandibular Joint, or “TMJ”). This exacting process is carried out by your dentist using a retainer-like appliance called a Kois Deprogrammer.

Jaw Joint Problems

A jaw joint problem arises when the temporomandibular joint, or “TMJ” connecting your lower jaw to the base of your skull becomes painful and is unable to function normally. People with jaw joint problems may not be able to open or close their mouths fully or chew hard, sticky food. They may also experience painful clicking or popping when they attempt to open and close their mouth.

Night time tooth grinding

Night Time Tooth Grinding

Night time tooth grinding is a sleep disorder also known as “sleep bruxism” that effects up to 8% of adults. It occurs much more frequently in children, but most will grow out of it by age twelve. Adults that grind their teeth at night may awake with headaches, sore jaw joints, sore jaw muscles or chipped and worn teeth. Occasionally there are no symptoms but the noise of your teeth grinding disrupts your sleep as well as the sleep of family members.

Cracked Tooth

A cracked tooth is a complete or partial fracture of the tooth structure.

Cracked Filling

A cracked filling is a dental restoration in your tooth that has failed because it has broken into pieces.

Discolored Filling

A discolored filling is a tooth filling that gets dark as it ages. The dark appearance may be around the edge of the tooth, underneath the filling or within the filling itself.

Discolored Tooth

A discolored tooth is a tooth that appears darker than the teeth besides it. Teeth naturally darken as you age, but the overall color of your teeth should be about the same.

Dry Mouth

Dry mouth, or “xerostomia,” is an oral imbalance in which an inadequate amount of saliva causes an increase in tooth destruction and decreased tooth health. Saliva plays a crucial role in preserving tooth structure both by decreasing the risk of tooth decay and by protecting teeth from wear and acid erosion. It also hydrates oral tissues, protecting them from bacterial and fungal overgrowth. Decay, worn teeth and unhealthy oral tissues may be symptoms of dry mouth.

Loose Tooth

A loose tooth is one which moves or wiggles in the mouth. As a natural stage of dental development, children have loose baby teeth when their adult teeth are growing in. A loose tooth in an adult is not normal and indicates a problem exists.

Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is caused by an infectious disease called dental caries. Caries is the formation of homes, or “cavities,” in your teeth by acid-producing bacteria. It is the world’s most common infectious disease of children today.

Tooth ache

Tooth Ache

Tooth aches typically show up as sensitivity to temperatures, sweets or chewing, but may also present as throbbing, aching or sharp stabbing pains. Some tooth aches are quite mild and can go on for years while others are debilitating and must be addressed immediately.

Root Canal Treatment

Each tooth has a space within it that contains blood vessels and nerve tissues that supply the tooth. A root canal treatment is needed if this tissue becomes infected or has severe swelling. The procedure involves cleaning out and filling that space to prevent bacteria from re-infecting the tooth. Root canal treatment allows the tooth to remain in place instead of being removed.

Silver Fillings

A silver filling is an “amalgam” or metal filling that builds back missing tooth structure to its original form.

Tooth Extraction Care Instructions

After having a tooth extraction, there are some things you must do on your own to ensure the extraction site heals well in a timely manner.

Tooth Extractions

A tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth from the surrounding bone and gum. Extracting, or “pulling,” a tooth in adults is done for a variety of reasons. Often extractions are necessary because a tooth is so severely damaged from decay or trauma that is cannot be saved. Sometimes the nerve in a tooth dies and the tooth, as well as the gum and bone around it, become severely infected. Other times people’s mouths are not large enough to fit all their teeth, as is often the case with wisdom teeth.

Post and core

Post And Core

A post and core is a restoration that is cemented into the root canal chamber of a tooth and builds up the top of the tooth in order to hold a crown in place. It is cemented into place and cannot be removed.

Dental Bridge

A bridge is a dental restoration that replaces missing teeth. It is made of a false tooth attached to crowns which fit over teeth on both sides of a space. A bridge is cemented in place and cannot be taken out.

Dental Crowns

A crown is a dental restoration that covers up or caps a tooth. It is cemented into place and cannot be taken out.

Crown Build UP

Crown Build Up

A build-up is the addition of a restorative material to a broken down or decayed tooth before a crown, bridge, inlay, onlay or veneer is placed.

Implant and Dentures FAQs

Dental Implant

Dental implants are special posts which are surgically placed into the jawbone to replace missing teeth or to support a denture. The implant functions as the root of a tooth and, depending on the number of implants placed, it can be used to replace everything from a single tooth to A full complement of teeth. It takes an average of 3-6 months for the jawbone to integrate with the implant before it can be used to support a dental restoration.

Implant supported Crown

Implant Supported Crown

An implant supported crown is a dental restoration that replaces a missing tooth by inserting an artificial titanium root into the jawbone and attaching an artificial tooth to it. It is cemented in place and cannot easily be taken out

Implant Supported Bridge

An implant supported bridge is a dental restoration that replaces missing teeth by inserting two or more artificial titanium roots into the jaw bone and attaching artificial teeth to them. It is cemented in place and cannot easily be taken out.

Fixed/detachable (hybrid) implant supported bridge

Fixed/Detachable (Hybrid) Supported Bridge

Fixed/detachable hybrids are fixed restorations supported by 4-6 implants with cantilevered metal attached to the implants and pink acrylic with denture teeth cured to it on top of that. This restoration is removable by your dentist.

Implant Data Collection

Implant Supported Bridge Superstructure

An implant supported bridge superstructure with individually cemented crowns is a dental restoration that replaces missing teeth by inserting two or more artificial titanium roots into the jawbone and attaching artificial teeth to them. It is comprised of a substructure held in place by screws which attach to the implants. The substructure supports crowns which are cemented onto it.

Screw Retained implant Support Bridge

Screw Retained Implant Support Bridge

A screw retained implant supported bridge is a dental restoration that replaces missing teeth by inserting two or more artificial titanium roots into the jawbone and attaching artificial teeth to them. It is held place by screws which attach to the implants and can relatively easily be taken out.

Complete Denture

A Complete Denture is an appliance that replaces all the teeth in one jaw. It is not cemented in the mouth and can be taken out.

Removable Partial Denture

A removable partial denture (RPD) is an appliance that replaces one or more missing teeth. It is not cemented in the mouth and can be taken out.

Removable Partial Denture with Locator Attachments

A Removable Partial Denture (RPD) with Locator Attachments is an appliance that replaces one or more missing teeth. It is not cemented in the mouth and can be taken out. A traditional RPD is retained in the mouth by metal clasps that clip onto existing teeth. An RPD with locator attachments is retained by snapping the appliance onto implants that have been placed in the jawbone. This greatly improves stability and retention of the RPD.

Complete Denture with Milled Bar attachment

Complete Denture With Milled Bar Attachment

Complete Denture with a Milled Bar Attachment is an appliance that replaces all the teeth in one jaw. It is not cemented in the mouth and can be taken out. A Milled Bar Attachment is a metal bar that stays in the mouth and connects the Complete Denture to dental implants. The Milled Bar is usually attached to 4 dental implants that are placed in the jawbone. The Complete Denture has a metal substructure placed into it that connects it to the Milled Bar.

Complete Denture With Locator Attachments On a Bar

Complete Dentures With Locator Attachment On A Bar

A complete denture with locator attachments on a bar is an appliance that replaces all of the teeth in one jaw. It is not cemented in the mouth and can be taken out. A milled bar or cast metal bar is connected to 4 dental implants that are placed in the jawbone. Locator attachments are placed in the complete denture and connect the denture to the bar.

Complete Denture with 2 or 4 locator attachments

Complete Denture With 2 or 4 Locator Attachments

A Complete Denture with Locator Attachments is an appliance that replaces all of the teeth in one jaw. It is not cemented in the mouth and can be taken out. Locator Attachments are connected to dental implants that are placed in the jawbone. The Locator Attachments connect the Complete Denture to the implants. Generally, 2 implants and attachments are used for a lower jaw Complete Denture, and 4 implants and attachments are used for an upper jaw Complete Denture.

Cosmetic Dentistry FAQs

Veneers

A veneer is an extremely natural looking dental restoration that covers the outside or visible surface of teeth. A veneer can change shape and color of a tooth as well as hide defects. It is bonded into place and cannot be taken off.

Tooth Whitening

Tooth whitening is The process of removing stains from the enamel of your teeth by applying a special bleaching material. The bleach material penetrates the outer layer of the enamel and takes out stains that cannot be removed otherwise. Professional tooth whitening systems are administered and overseen by your dentist and dental team.

Inlay / ONlay

Inlay / Onlay

Inlays and onlays are dental restorations that cover back teeth. The difference between an inlay and an onlay is that an inlay covers a fairly small part of the biting surface of a back tooth while an onlay extends over the biting surface and on to other parts of the tooth. Both of these restorations are cemented into place and cannot be taken off.

Periodontal Surgery FAQs

Bone Grafting

When bone structure is missing, reconstructive surgery can add to existing bone. A tissue that is transplanted to become part of your body is known as a “graft.” Bone grafting is done in dentistry to build a solid foundation for dental restorations.

Gum Grafting

A gum graft is a procedure that replaces missing gum tissue around your teeth or dental implants. There are two types of gum tissue in your mouth: Thick, strong tissue found around your teeth and the roof of your mouth and weak, thin tissue that lines your cheeks and the floor of your mouth. Gum grafts restore the thick, strong tissue that is lost due to environment or genetic reasons.

Nonsurgical periodontal therapy

Nonsurgical Periodontal Therapy

Non-surgical periodontal therapy is the removal of plaque and calculus from above and below the gum line. It also may include oral medications and rinses to kill bacteria and aid in gum and bone healing.

Surgical periodontal therapy

Surgical Periodontal Therapy

Surgical Periodontal Therapy is the re-contouring of gum and bone to decrease the risk of further periodontal disease. Surgical procedures are designed to either remove diseased gum and bone for better cleaning access or to build missing tissue back to a more healthy state.

Frequently Asked Questions

Children Dental FAQs

General Dental FAQs

Implant and Dentures FAQs

Cosmetic Dentistry FAQs

Periodontal Surgery FAQs

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