Dental Faqs

Make a list of any pain or issues you are experiencing, or questions you would like to ask the dentist during your appointment. You can start with this list below, or make up your own. The important thing is to tell your dentist about any concerns or issues you have, even if they are minor, so that they can treat them now and help prevent bigger problems later on.

• Do you have sensitivity or pain in your teeth? How bad is it?
• Do you have pain or bleeding in your gums, tongue or jaw? How bad is it?
• Do you have any unusual spots or sores in your mouth?
• Do you have dry mouth or a lack of saliva?
• Do you have an unpleasant taste or odor in your mouth?
• Are you taking any prescription or over-the-counter medications? Make a list of those to take to the dentist.
• Do you have any allergies?
• Do you have trouble breathing when you sleep?
• Do you grind your teeth when you sleep?

Here are the top general questions you could ask to help improve your overall dental health.

• Does my mouth look healthy?
• What can I do to improve the health of my teeth and gums?
• Is there anything I should tell my family doctor about?
• What foods can I eat to improve my dental health?
• Which treatments are absolutely necessary? Which are optional? Which are cosmetic? Which procedures are urgently needed, and which ones are less urgent?

It is always best to schedule a consultation to identify what the best option is for you, however here are some common recommendations:

• Use over-the-counter oral moisturizers, such as a spray or mouthwash.
• Consult with your physician on whether to change the medication or dosage.
• Drink more water. Carry a water bottle with you, and don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink. Your mouth needs constant lubrication.
• Use sugar-free gum or lozenges to stimulate saliva production.
• Get a humidifier to help keep moisture in the air.
• Avoid foods and beverages that irritate dry mouths, like coffee, alcohol, carbonated soft drinks, and acidic fruit juices.
• Your dentist may apply a fluoride gel or varnish to protect your teeth from cavities.

Many retirees don’t realize that Medicare does not cover routine dental care. Begin to plan for your dental expenses in advance of retirement so you don’t have to let your dental health suffer once you’re on a fixed income. Organizations like AARP offer supplemental dental insurance plans for their members. We also offer an alternative for those who do not have dental coverage. The Periodontal plan is available through our in-house Membership Club. Pay a low monthly fee for needed treatments, regular care, needed x-rays and much more. Learn more about the Perio plan here.

If you have a heart condition or artificial joint, be sure to tell your dentist. You may think it’s not relevant. After all, what do your heart and joints have to do with your teeth? But, there are conditions with a high risk of infection and an antibiotic is recommended prior to some dental procedures. Dentists follow recommendations that have been developed by the American Heart Association and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons in cooperation with the American Dental Association. Talk to your dentist about how these recommendations might apply to you.

Tooth sensitivity can be caused by many different things. If you are in pain due to tooth sensitivity, please schedule a consultation today so we can help get to the bottom of your pain. To learn more about tooth sensitivity and some of the causes, here: https://matthewsfamilydentistry.com/blog/tooth-sensitivity-what-you-can-do/

Yes, please plan to arrive 10-15 minutes early to fill out any patient forms or update your dental insurance.

For a knocked-out permanent or adult tooth, keep it moist at all times. If you can, try placing the tooth back in the socket without touching the root. If that’s not possible, place it in between your cheek and gums, in milk, or use a tooth preservation product that has the ADA Seal of Acceptance. Then, get to your dentist’s office right away.

For a cracked tooth, immediately rinse the mouth with warm water to clean the area. Put cold compresses on the face to keep any swelling down. See your dentist as soon as possible.

If you bite your tongue or lip, clean the area gently with water and apply a cold compress. See your dentist or go to the emergency room as soon as possible.

For toothaches, rinse your mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss to remove any food caught between your teeth. Do not put aspirin on your aching tooth or gums; it may burn the gum tissue. If the pain persists, contact your dentist.

If you think your jaw is broken, apply cold compresses to control the swelling. Go to your dentist or a hospital emergency department immediately.

For objects stuck in the mouth, try to gently remove with floss but do not try to remove it with a sharp or pointed instrument. See your dentist or go to the emergency room as soon as possible.

There are a number of simple precautions you can take to avoid accident and injury to the teeth:

• Wear a mouthguard when participating in sports or recreational activities.
• Avoid chewing ice, popcorn kernels and hard candy, all of which can crack a tooth.
• Use scissors, NEVER your teeth, to cut things.

Root canal treatment is a procedure used to prevent tooth extraction. This treatment removes inflamed root pulp that could lead to an infection that spreads to the jaw. Getting rid of the inflamed material from inside the tooth eases the pain caused by the infection and protects the tooth from needing to be pulled. Root canal treatment starts with numbing the area. Typically, the anesthesia is administered through a small needle which is only a short pinching sensation and the last feeling the patient has in the affected area until long after the root canal treatment ends. The dental professional opens the tooth to get inside the root canals. Then they use tools to clean out the infected or inflamed pulp and remove bacteria. This step is crucial to the outcome of the treatment. If the dental expert doesn’t remove all the bacteria, the patient could have a future infection. Once all the infection is out of the tooth, the canals receive a sealant and temporary filling. Later, the patient will get a restorative dental crown over the tooth to provide protection and another seal against bacteria reentering the tooth. At Matthews Family Dentistry, we offer the unique opportunity for our patients to get CEREC single-visit crowns to cut down on the number of dental visits they need.

If a dentist recommends that you need root canal therapy, you should not avoid the treatment. At the stage when you need root canal treatment, your tooth’s damage has progressed beyond the ability of a simple cavity filling to fix it. Without removing the infection from inside the canals, you could lose the tooth. Don’t be afraid of root canal therapy. Most patients don’t feel any more discomfort than they do with a cavity filling, and the procedure could save you from losing a tooth.

The only alternative to root canal treatment is having the tooth pulled and an implant installed. If the tooth has sustained severe damage or the infection spread to the bone under the tooth, extraction may be the only option. However, extraction and adding an dental implant may cost more than root canal therapy, require more dental visits, and have a longer recovery time.

Root canal treatment does not hurt as much as people believe that it does. In fact, it causes about the same amount of discomfort as you would have when getting a filling. The only difference is some minor soreness for a few days after the root canal treatment. However, most people can take ibuprofen and acetaminophen for adequate pain relief.

Recovering from root canal treatment typically takes about a week for the pain to completely disappear. Some people feel better in a few days. If you have root canal treatment questions and experience pain that lasts longer than a week or is severe, call your dentist.

Usually, the numbness from the local anesthesia will last for up to four hours. Because the anesthesia used for the procedure is not a general one that affects the entire body, you should be able to drive yourself home or go back to work. Avoid eating anything while your mouth is still numb, though.

To avoid the need for future root canal treatments, you should do everything possible to maintain good oral hygiene. First, take care of your teeth and gums every day. Floss and brush twice a day to get food out from between your teeth. Root canal therapy is necessary when tooth decay worsens beyond needing a cavity. Therefore, if you can prevent decay and cavities, you can avoid root canal treatments. Another way to keep your teeth healthy is to have regular dental appointments. Preventative dental care keeps your teeth even cleaner than brushing and flossing at home. Plus, the dentist can x-ray your mouth to see if you have any minor areas of decay. By spotting cavities early and getting them filled while they are small, you can avoid the need for root canal treatment.

While many dental insurance plans pay for at least part of the cost of root canal treatment, you should contact your insurance company for more information. However, if you need help paying for your root canal therapy at Matthews Family Dentistry, we provide several payment options to help make it easier for you to cover the cost. For patients who use cash or check to prepay bills greater than $1,000, we provide a 5% adjustment to the total cost. Another way to pay is a 50/50 plan for treatments that require multiple visits, such as root canal therapy. You pay 50% at the first visit and 50% at the second or spread out the payments over all the visits, so you are completely paid off at the last visit. We will also take CareCredit or in-office financing with your personal credit card.

Dental phobia can be referred to as dental fear, odontophobia, dentophobia, dentist phobia and dental anxiety. Psychologically, it’s a general fear of dentistry, sitting in a dental office or receiving dental care. Because a mild dislike of dental care can lead to anxiety, a person can come to avoid dental care altogether. And when the anxiety heightens to a point where it affects an individual’s decisions to maintain their own health, he or she may experience dental phobia. Several factors can trigger heightened anxiety, and an individual can experience one or more of these factors simultaneously. Many of these stressors can be found in a dental office. These include the smells of dental compounds (especially strong-odored medicaments like eugenol and bleach), seeing dental instruments (especially needles and forceps) and hearing the tools of the dental office (such as the drill). Patients can associate these sensory responses to previous dental experiences, specifically if those experiences were negative and left a strong impression earlier in life.

Most dental experts suggest visiting your dentist every six months for a routine checkup and cleaning. Regular dental visits help prevent cavities, gum disease, and other oral health issues by catching them early. Your dentist will assess your teeth and gums, clean away plaque and tartar, and offer personalized advice on improving your oral hygiene.

However, if you have specific dental concerns, like a history of gum disease or frequent cavities, you should see your dentist more often. And believe it or not, some people who have low risk of disease and great oral health, may be ok coming in less than twice per year. For long-term oral health, routine dental exams are key, and they can also help prevent future, more expensive, and more involved procedures.

While fees can vary from Practice to Practice, the cost of Invisalign and traditional braces are usually pretty similar. That said, there can be a significant cost difference between having Invisalign done with a Specialist versus a General Dentist, the latter typically being less expensive. Of course, the final price can also depend on your unique dental needs, how long you’ll need treatment, and even your location.

If aesthetics and convenience are high on your list, Invisalign might be the right fit for you. It really comes down to what matters most for your smile and lifestyle. And the majority of cases can be handled by an experienced General Dentist.

Many dental insurance plans treat clear aligners much like traditional braces. That means if your plan includes orthodontic benefits, you might receive partial coverage for Invisalign. However, the specifics can vary widely from one policy to another. Some plans have annual or lifetime limits on orthodontic care or might require pre-authorization before treatment begins.

It’s a good idea to review your policy details or give your insurance provider a call to see exactly what’s covered. Your orthodontist can also guide you through the insurance process and help explore payment plans if needed.

Invisalign provides several appealing advantages for those looking for a modern way of teeth straightening. First, it's clear aligners are practically undetectable, making them a discreet solution compared to traditional metal braces. Because the aligners are detachable, you can continue to practice good dental hygiene by brushing and flossing as normal and indulge in your favorite foods without any limitations.

The fact that there are no wires or metal brackets to hurt your mouth is another benefit that many patients value. Also, Invisalign treatment is very adjustable, which frequently leads to fewer office visits and shorter treatment durations. Because of these elements, Invisalign is a practical, comfortable, and successful option for getting a self-assured smile.

Invisalign aligners are made from high-quality, medical-grade plastic that is specifically designed to be BPA-free. This means you don’t need to worry about exposure to Bisphenol A while wearing your aligners.

The manufacturers use materials that comply with strict safety standards, ensuring that the aligners are safe for daily use throughout your treatment. If you have any concerns or want more details about the materials used, your orthodontist can provide additional information or direct you to the manufacturer’s safety data.

Veneers are a popular cosmetic dental solution for enhancing your smile without extensive procedures, such as crowns. These thin, custom-made shells fit over the front surface of your teeth, instantly improving their appearance. Whether you're dealing with tooth discoloration, small chips, uneven shapes, minor misalignment, or gaps, veneers can help create a more uniform and polished look.

One of the biggest advantages of veneers is their ability to deliver a natural yet noticeably enhanced smile. Unlike some dental treatments, veneers don’t drastically alter your teeth, they simply refine and improve their appearance. Designed to match the shade and translucency of natural enamel, they blend seamlessly for a flawless, long-lasting result.

Veneers generally last around 10 years, but their lifespan can vary depending on a few key factors. While porcelain veneers tend to last longer, sometimes up to 15 years or more, composite veneers typically need replacement after about 5 to 7 years. How long your veneers last depends on how well you care for them, the materials used, and your daily habits.

To get the most out of your veneers, it's important to maintain good oral hygiene with regular brushing, flossing, and visits to the dentist. Avoiding hard objects like ice or pens, and protecting your teeth with a mouthguard if you grind them at night, can also help prevent wear and tear. While veneers are a durable option for a beautiful smile, they aren't permanent, so taking steps to care for them will ensure they stay looking great for as long as possible.

A good candidate for dental implants is generally someone in good overall health with healthy gums and enough bone structure to support the implant. Since the implant needs a stable base to anchor into, sufficient bone density in the jaw is essential. If someone has lost bone mass due to missing teeth or other dental issues, a bone graft might be required beforehand. Ideal candidates should also be free from serious chronic conditions like uncontrolled diabetes or gum disease, as these can affect the healing process.

During the implant surgery, a local anesthetic is used to numb the area, so you won’t feel any pain while the implant is being placed. After the procedure, some discomfort, swelling, or bruising may occur.

Everyone’s pain tolerance is different, so while some people might feel more discomfort than others, most dental implant patients report that the pain they experience is mild and temporary. After the surgery, it’s common to have some swelling, bruising, or mild soreness in the treated area, but these symptoms typically subside within a few days to a week. The discomfort is usually manageable with over-the-counter pain relievers, and your dentist will provide specific aftercare instructions to help you through the healing process.

Dental implants are designed to be a long-lasting solution, with a typical lifespan of 20 to 30 years or even longer when properly cared for. The implant itself, which is made of durable materials like titanium, is highly resistant to wear and can last a lifetime. However, the crown or the tooth-like part of the implant, which sits on top of the implant, may need to be replaced after 10 to 15 years due to normal wear and tear, depending on how well you care for it.

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