GENERAL FAQ | COSMETIC DENTISTRY FAQ | CHILDREN'S DENTAL HEALTH FAQ

General FAQ
We've answered lots of questions for our patients over the years. Maybe we can answer some of yours. In this section you'll find what a comprehensive exam entails, why your gums bleed and how you can prevent it, which filling material might be the best choice for you and why your teeth are sensitive to hot or cold temperatures. Do you know what periodontal disease is? Are x-rays harmful? Learn all that and more!

Why do I need to have an exam? Why can't I just have my teeth cleaned?

What does a comprehensive exam entail?

Why do I need x-rays?

Are x-rays harmful?

Why do my gums bleed?

What can I do to prevent my gums from bleeding?

What is periodontal disease?

What is a "deep cleaning?"

Why do I still need to have my teeth cleaned 4 times per year after a deep cleaning?

Which filling material is better; silver or tooth colored?

Why are my teeth sensitive to hot, cold, and sweets? What causes biting sensitivity?

Why do I need a crown after the root canal procedure?

Can I get a cavity on my crowned tooth?

20615 Bothell-Everett Hwy. Suite A, Bothell, WA 98012-8556
Phone: 425.485.2942 Fax: 425.398.5933
Email: tcfdadmin@tcfdental.com

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Why do I need to have an exam? Why can't I just have my teeth cleaned?
A comprehensive examination is necessary in order to determine if there are potential tooth or gum problems that could cause you serious problems in the future. It is much better to treat problems early BEFORE they cause pain. Often times, the delayed detection and treatment result in more complicated and costly the treatment. Prevention and early treatment is the best course of action.

What does a comprehensive exam entail?
- Review of your medical and dental history
- Evaluation of your teeth
- Evaluation of your gums and screen for gum disease
- Oral cancer screening
- Evaluation of the head and neck region
- Evaluation of your jaw joints (TMJ)
- Address any dental concern you may have

Why do I need x-rays?
Dental x-rays are crucial for providing information about areas that we can not see directly by a visual exam. X-Rays allow us to see decay forming under the gums and between the teeth. Often thse areas are hidden from direct view. The x-rays also allow us to see tooth and gum infections by viewing the destruction of surrounding bone. We recommend that you have a full mouth set of x-rays about every 5 years and bitewing x-rays (cavity detecting x-rays) once a year.

Are x-rays harmful?
According to federal and state guidelines, excessively large doses of radiation (greater than 5,000 mrem per year) can be harmful. Routine dental x-rays are much lower. A full mouth set of dental x-rays (21 films) can deliver a maximum dose of approximately 13 mrem. This is equivalent to approximately 16 days of exposure to naturally occuring environmental radiation. Natural background radiation is something that we are all exposed to every day. It is estimated that each of us is exposed to about 300 mrem of radiation per year from the natural environment.

In our office, the exposure issue may be of minimal concern since we now have digital x-rays which are about 1/10th the exposure of a regular high speed dental film! This means that the exposure is minimal and that the images taken can be stored digitally and will not degrade over time. We also have the capability to email the images to specialists that may see you for care and to your insurance company to expedite your claims. No more misplaced x-rays in the mail or poor quality duplications. We also are able to be more ìGREENî by getting rid of our chemicals used for processing films. All of our x-ray equipment is tested and certified on an annual basis by a state radiation inspector.

Why do my gums bleed?
The most common reason for bleeding gums is inflammation (gingivitis) which is caused by not brushing and flossing teeth effectively on a regular basis. This causes plaque to be left on the surface of your tooth along the gumline. Bleeding gums is your body's natural reaction to the chronic presence of bacterial plaque. It is very important to have a professional evaluation of your mouth, as bleeding gums may indicate the possibility of gum disease (periodontitis).

What can I do to prevent my gums from bleeding?
The solution is to brush and floss daily and to have your teeth professionally cleaned on a regular basis. This is a simple but often neglected treatment. Believe it or not, gum problems and decay can often be prevented by self treatment. Consistent brushing and flossing is the best and most inexpensive way to prevent most dental problems from occurring in the first place. Another effective home remedy is to use an ADA approved fluoride toothpaste, fluoride rinse (not regular mouthwash or plaque rinse), and to drink fluoridated water (i.e., water that is naturally or artificially fluoridated).

What is periodontal disease?
If the soft plaque has not been cleaned off your teeth on a consistent basis, your body may undergo localized inflammation which causes your gums to bleed and will cause you to lose the bone surrounding your teeth. The plaque can begin to harden and turn into tartar (calculus). This build up of tartar sticks tenanciously to the root surfaces of your teeth like barnicles on a piling. The surface of this is very porous and rough and can lead to increased accumulation of soft sticky plaque which in turn can cause inflammation and destruction. Unfortunately, once you loose this bone it will never grow back. This destructive process is called PERIODONTITIS (pyorhea, gum disease, periodontal disease). Periodontitis is thought to affect 50% of the population. Some individuals are more suseptible than others. The good news is that it can be slowed and prevented no matter how suseptable you are.

What is a "deep cleaning?"
A deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) is a conservative procedure to treat gum disease. It is usually performed by the hygienist where by the plaque and tartar are thoroughly cleaned off of the root surfaces of your teeth and the infected gum pocket lining surrounding each tooth is removed. This is usually done while the patient is numb to minimize any discomfort. Doing this procedure allows us to remove the source of the irritation so that healing can occur. Most patients find the procedure comfortable and very tolerable. The end result will be improved health of the gum tissue and prevention of further bone loss.

Why do I still need to have my teeth cleaned 4 times per year after a deep cleaning?
Once the deep cleaning is completed, it is crucial to maintain gum and bone health by consistently cleaning off the plaque and tartar to prevent them from accumulating and starting up the disease process again. It is a constant battle but consistent and diligent home care on your part will greatly improve your treatment success. We will see you for a professional cleaning and evaluation every 3 months to clean the areas that you may miss and to assist you in being more effective in your efforts. We will also evaluate your progress to dental health. By seeing you more frequently, we will be able to catch problem areas before they snowball into full-blown periodontal disease.

Which filling material is better; silver or tooth colored?
Silver fillings (amalgams) have been used successfully and safely since the early 1800's. It is one of the few inexpensive materials that can withstand the wear and tear of your mouth. It is an excellent choice for large buildup fillings prior to crowning or for larger fillings where you want to get more chew miles before crowning. There has been some controversy about one of the ingredients (mercury) in silver fillings. When combined with the other ingredients, silver, zinc, tin, and copper, it becomes bound down in a non-toxic form. There have not been any scientific studies that have shown silver fillings to be a great health hazard.

Plastic tooth colored fillings (composites) have not been around as long so they don't have the same long term track record as amalgams but they seem to be holding up quite well if placed in the right instances. The ideal indication for composite fillings is in instances where the area to be filled is relatively small and the need for cosmetics is great. The composite fillings are slightly more expensive than amalgams but are very beautiful. In selecting the type of filling material you wish to have placed, considered whether it's in an area that will show, if the tooth will need a crown in the future and whether or not the cost difference between the two is a factor for you.

Why are my teeth sensitive to hot, cold, and sweets? What causes biting sensitivity?
Persistent tooth sensitivity can be caused by any of the following:
- tooth decay
- cracked tooth or filling
- grinding or clenching of your teeth
- a dying pulp within your tooth
- exposed root surfaces of your teeth

A toothache is much like a stomach ache. It can be caused by many things and is your body's way of warning you that something is not right. It's always best to be evaluated by a dentist to determine the cause of your discomfort. There are various simple tests that can be done by your dentist to help determine the cause of your sensitivity. Ignoring these signs can lead to further complications.

Why do I need a crown after the root canal procedure?
Teeth that have had a root canal treatment are extremely brittle as they no longer have a nerve and blood supply. Often times, these same teeth have large fillings in them which also makes the remaining tooth structure weak and prone to breaking. However, the reverse is not true. Not all crowned teeth will need root canals.

Can I get a cavity on my crowned tooth?
YES! Although the crown itself can't become decayed, the root surface below the edge of the crown can develop a cavity. To prevent this, it is crucial to brush and floss around the crown just as you would with your other teeth to removed any bacterial plaque that would cause decay.