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Frequently Asked Questions:
About Tooth Colored Fillings:
About Laboratory Processed Inlays & Onlays:
About Crowns:
About Root Canals:
About Bridges:
About Tooth Straightening with "Invisilign":
About Porcelain Veneers:
About Tooth Whitening:
About Dental Implants:
About Tooth Colored Fillings:
What are tooth colored fillings made of?
Tooth colored/white fillings are made of resin which are then highly filled with extremely hard micro-sized particles such as quartz or zirconium oxide. It is the filler particles which provide for strength and wear resistance. These light sensitive materials are initially soft and putty-like but then set extremely hard when they are exposed to special high intensity (curing) lights.
Do tooth colored fillings last as long as silver fillings?
Current tooth colored fillings may rival that of amalgam fillings. The compression and bonding strengths of resin materials have improved dramatically over the years increasing their life span to many many years.
Should I change all my silver fillings to tooth colored fillings?
Unless there is a cavity or leakage or cracks in the old silver amalgam fillings or remaining tooth structure, it is not usually neccessary to change silver fillings to tooth colored fillings. Many people are concerned about the mercury content of amalgams. The Canadian Dental Association has stated that amalgams are not harmful to the majority of patients who retain them.
FAQ’s About Laboratory Processed Inlays and Onlays:
Why should I get an inlay or onlay instead of a tooth colored filling?
An inlay is a laboratory fabricated filling which is bonded into a cavity to restore the tooth. It may be made out of gold, ceramic or reinforced composite. These restorations fit better and last longer than regular fillings. An onlay is an inlay that is extended to also cover the cusps of the tooth. There are some cases when there is insufficient tooth structure left to sustain a regular filling or inlay and would benefit from the extra reinforcement that an onlay provides. When there are large cavities leaving the tooth weakened, the best and most conservative restoration is an onlay. An onlay restores function and strength of the tooth better than a conventional filling and reduces the need for replacement in the future.
How long do onlays last?
An onlay may last as long as crowns do with proper dental maintenance (i.e flossing and regular check ups and cleanings). The life span of an onlay may be up to 10 years or longer. Many gold onlays can last in excess of 25 years.
Should I just get a crown instead of an onlay?
An onlay is more conservative than a crown. The tooth structure is preserved and only the part that is missing from the tooth (i.e. the cavity) is restored with the onlay. The rest of the tooth is not ground down. I f there is still sufficient tooth structure left, onlays are recommended because it is less irritating to the gum and the procedure is kinder to the pulp in the tooth.
FAQ’s About Crowns:
Will I need a root canal before a crown?
No, a root canal is not always necessary if you need a crown. Crowns are sometimes performed in order to avoid root canals by preventing further fracture of a tooth or filling or preventing leakage of an existing filling.
Is a crown permanent or does it come out?
A crown is cemented or bonded to place and is generally non-removable. On very rare occasions if the tooth stump is very diminutive and you are an aggressive bruxer or grinder of your teeth, the cement seal may give way and require re-cementation.
How long will crowns last?
Crowns may last anywhere in excess of 5-10 years and many times longer if the patient maintains proper dental care.
What if I need a root canal after?
There may be times when a root canal is necessary after a crown has been cemented. In such cases the crown may be detached from the tooth and have the root canal performed, then the crown is recemented. If the crown cannot be removed, the root canal may still be performed by drilling an access hole into the top of the crown, then root canal filling and sealing the access hole.
Is a crown harder to take care of?
Crowns are somewhat trickier to maintain than natural teeth, but with proper flossing, brushing and maintenance visits, patients usually have no problem taking care of their crowns.
Do crowns look like real teeth?
Yes, crowns are custom made to match your existing teeth and can look very natural.
FAQ’s About Root Canals:
Do root canals hurt?
In most cases root canals do not hurt. The pain associated with root canals is due to an infection or an inflammed nerve and this pain precedes the root canal. The root canal procedure removes the nerve and cleans out the infection. Root canal or Endodontic Treatment actually gets rid of the pain not vice-versa.
How many visits are necessary for a root canal?
Usually 1-2 visits may be necessary to complete a root canal.
Will my tooth change color following a root canal?
Yes, in most cases a tooth does darken over time following a root canal because the tooth is no longer vital; however, the tooth may be bleached internally or restored with a crown or veneer to correct this.
Does that mean that I keep my tooth?
Yes, the root canal procedure is performed to allow you to keep your tooth. Only the nerve and blood supply to the tooth are removed but the rest of the tooth remains and feels like a normal tooth.
Wouldn’t it be easier to just extract the tooth?
Extracting a tooth may sometimes be more difficult and painful. Additionally, when a tooth is extracted, the adjacent teeth start to shift and cause more problems in the long run. Replacing that tooth will also be more costly compared to performing the root canal.
Will I need a crown afterwards?
In most cases, crowns are indicated following root canal procedure in order to restore the tooth to proper strength, function and esthetics. Following a root canal, the tooth becomes more brittle and is more likely to fracture. Having a crown performed afterwards prevents this. Occasionally a restorative post will also need to inserted into the root canal.
FAQ’s About Bridges:
Are bridges harder to maintain than natural teeth or implant teeth?
Yes, bridges are more difficult to maintain because flossing is more difficult for the patient. Special dental floss devices will be given to the patient for proper maintenance of bridges.
Are implants better than bridges?
In most cases implants are better restorations than bridges because implants are easier to maintain than bridges and perform better longer. However, not all patients are good candidates to receive implants. Sometimes due to a patients oral anatomy implant placement is not easy or advisable. A thorough evaluation is necessary before recommending either of these options.
How soon after an extraction should a bridge be made?
Approximately 4-6 weeks following an extraction a bridge may be fabricated in order to prevent any shifting of the adjacent teeth. It also takes about that amount of time for an extraction socket to heal adequately; however, a temporary bridge can be started immediately after the extraction to replace the missing tooth. The final bridge should be cemented in about 4-6 weeks or longer if required.
How long do bridges last?
If maintained properly bridges last about 5-10 years and many times longer.
FAQ's About Tooth Straightening with "Invisilgn".
How does Invisalign® work?
Invisalign® uses 3-D computer imaging technology to depict the complete treatment plan from the initial position to the final desired position from which a series of custom-made "Aligners" are produced.
Invisilign is the invisible way to straighten your teeth without braces. Invisilign uses a series of clear removable aligners to straigten your teeth without metal wires or brackets. You wear each set of aligners for about 2 weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move - little by little, week by week - until they have straightened to the final corrected position. You'll visit your dentist about once every 6 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned.
How long does Invisilign take to work?
Total treatment time averages 9-15 months and the average number of aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30, but both will vary from case to case.
Are there restrictions on what I can eat while in treatment?
No. Unlike traditional wires & brackets, you can eat whatever you desire while in treatment because you remove your Aligners to eat and drink. Thus, there is no need to restrict your consumption of any of your favorite foods and snacks, unless instructed otherwise by your doctor. Also, it is important that you brush your teeth after each meal and prior to re-inserting your Aligners to maintain proper hygiene.
How much does Invisalign® cost?
As with other types of orthodontic treatment, the cost of Invisalign® is heavily dependent on the complexity of a patient's case. The cost is generally more expensive than traditional braces.
FAQ's About Porcelain Veneers:
What is the difference between resin veneers (bonding) and porcelain veneers?
“Bonding” is the layering-on of resin filling materials onto the surface of the enamel. The “Bonding” style of veneering is not as durable as laboratory processed porcelain veneers because bonding basically utilizes filled resin or plastic product. Bonding will tend to stain, darken and chip over time. Porcelain veneers on the other hand, are lab processed and are custom made to fit perfectly over the existing tooth. Both procedures require some reduction of the enamel to make room for the attached layer. Porcelain veneers require two visits since lab work is involved; whereas the resin veneers may be performed in one visit.
Do porcelain veneers last longer than the resin veneers?
Yes, porcelain veneers are much stronger than the resin veneers and have a lifespan comparable to crowns, which is usually 5-10 years and in many cases significantly longer. All normal eating and speaking functions can be done with porcelain laminate veneers. However, because porcelain laminates are a glass-ceramic material they are not indestructable and they can chip or crack if the veneered teeth are used as tools or otherwise abused.
Can I change the color or shape of my teeth with veneers?
Yes, veneers can be made to perfect the shape and color of teeth.
When can ultra-thin veneers be used?
If teeth are not trimmed or reduced, the bonding-on of veneers will make most teeth look bulky and fat even if the thinnest of veneers are used. However, if teeth are already very thin or diminutive, or tipped inwards, not much reduction of the tooth surface will be required. In these instances no-prep or only a very small amount of preparation may be all that is necessary.
FAQ’s About Tooth Whitening:
Will it harm my gums and teeth?
No, great care is taken to block out/protect your gums and any sensitive areas on the teeth. The bleaching procedure if performed correctly and according to instructions, will not damage either of these structures.
How long will the effects last and do I have to do it again?
The bleaching results vary from patient to patient and the results also depend on a patients habits such as smoking, foods and drinks that stain teeth etc. Usually the results last 2-3 years and if touch ups are necessary they may be performed at regular intervals.
What is Power Whitening?
There are several systems that whiten teeth in a single office visit. The usual way is to take home bleaching trays and bleaching gels and do it yourself at home over a one week period. For Power Whitening, we utilize the “BriteSmile” and “Zoom” systems which whiten your teeth up to five or six shades within an hour by combining stronger whitening agents with special activating light lamps.
Can I get the same results with the over the counter products?
Most of the whitening products (such as the strips) on the market will either take much longer (3 weeks) to obtain less/similar results and some products such as the whitening toothpastes or gels are just not effective. A lot of the whitening toothpastes are very abrasive and are meant to just get rid of surface stains and not to actually whiten the teeth.
FAQs About Dental Implants:
What is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant is an artificial root, made of titanium, which serves as an natural root substitute to anchor a replacement tooth crown. Dental Implants can be used to replace as few as one missing tooth or the entire dentition. Implants can be used to support non-removable crowns and bridges. They can also be used to support and retain dentures eliminating those loose and wobbly false teeth. Implants are usually placed into the jawbone after teeth have been removed and the gum tissues have healed over.
What is an immediate implant?
On occasion, when there is no infection present and the base bone is good, a bad tooth or tooth root can be extracted and an implant placed immediately. This strategy greatly reduces the treatment time before the crown can be inserted (often by several months).
What Is A Sinus Lift and what is Grafting?
Sinuses are normal hollow bone spaces which are located in the back of the upper jaw. If sinuses cavities in the upper jaw are very large restricting the placement of implants, sinus bone grafting may be done first. In this procedure, the width and height of the bone is expanded into the sinus zone, creating a new, elevated sinus floor for the implant. A six month waiting period allows the bone graft to mature after which the implants can be placed. Grafting may be done in other areas where implants are desired, but where there are bone deficiencies. A variety of graft materials can be used in these procedures ranging from harvesting your own natural bone to using processed human donor bone, to using processed cow bone or even synthetic products.
What Dental Implant System Do You Use?
We utilize Nobel Biocare (Swedish) or Zimmer (American) or Straumann (Swiss) or other mainstream implant manufacturers which are world leaders in dental implant manufacturing, education and research.
How Long Does It Take?
To perform a single implant surgery may take somewhere between 45 min. to 90 min. The more implants that are placed the more time it takes. Following the placement of the implants you have to wait for the bone to calcify around the implant and stabilize. The entire treatment can take from four to nine months. It should be understood that this procedure is technically advanced, requiring patience, and can be a longer process than with many other surgical procedures to assure its success. Patients often receive temporary teeth to wear during this time frame. Virtually at no time do you need to be without teeth unless you elect to do so.
Does It Hurt?
A gentle surgical procedure is performed to place the dental implant. Generally, there is very little post-operative pain. In fact, single implant patients can return to work immediately or within a day and multiple implant cases can return in few days! During the procedure local anesthesia is used. Approximately 95 percent of patients report discomfort of 0-2 on a scale of 0-10 the day after the implants are placed. We will prescribe medications to ease any discomfort that you may experience.
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