Ask Your Dentist: The Most Common Dental Questions

For many dentists, the hardest questions are the most common from our patients. From dental implants to dealing with children’s dental health, we have seen and heard some great questions over the years. This is why we decided to put together a selection of our most popular questions and look at how dentists in their dental office handles these procedures. Naturally, things will be a little different dentist to dentist, but these are the most common practices among our peers.

How are dental implants put in?

When it comes to a dental implant procedure, your dentist will be able to walk you through the exact process. However, in general terms, all of dental implants procedure office start with:

• x-rays of your jaw, head and teeth and an exam of your mouth. Your dentist needs to determine if dental implants are the right decision for your oral health, and will discuss the best way forward with you. Once your dentist concludes that you need new dental implants, you can move to the next step.
• Next, your dentist will place a dental implant into your jawbone just below the gum tissue. The tissue itself is stretched around the implant to allow for a bond between the implant and the living tissue to form over months. 
• Then you will arrange your next appoint which is typically a month or two later, sees one of the dentists attach an abutment to the implant. An abutment is a post that connects the implant and the replacement tooth. In some cases, your dentist may choose to do both step one and two in one visit, but it will depend on the complexity of the case among other factors.
• An artificial tooth will be created and attached to your abutment. As teeth are an exact science, you may need to visit the dentist a couple of times to ensure that you have a good fit going forward.
• Finally, your dental team will go over your dental implant care best practices and will send you off with a clean bill of health. 

When you are looking for the best place to get dental implants, it will depend on what kind of service you are looking for. Make sure to sit down with your dentist to discuss the procedure, and only commit to a dental practice that will be able to meet your expectations, and answer any questions you may have!

At what time should my child go to the dentist?

As you may expect this question comes up quite a bit, and when it comes to dental care for children, it all depends. The consensus of kid dentists that we have talked to suggest that you either bring your child in for their first check-up at one-year-old or within six months of their first tooth appearing in the mouth. The first dental service for a child at your typical dentist office is generally quite short, as the office will want to make sure that your children feel comfortable with the office, the dentist, the dental hygienists and the overall look and feel of our offices. During the first exam, your dentist will examine:

• the existing teeth for decay,
• examine the child’s bite for overbite or other issues, and;
• check for any potential issues with the jaw, gums and oral tissues.

Finally, most offices believe that when it comes to dental care for children, both the child and the parent need to be involved in their oral health. This is why hygienists will sit down and go over the best way forward, and some of the best practices for children’s dental care and overall oral health. As well, they will go over any dental developmental issues that we will want you to look for, and will ensure there is a fair bit of time for questions from you.

When it comes to children’s dental services, you should look for a dental clinic that will set your child up for a path to success in terms of dental health. From checking up with their little patients, to discussing oral care practices with the parents, your favourite dental practice for children should do this and more!

How do dentists whiten teeth?

Don’t worry there are no nasty whitening strips to awkwardly place in your mouth when it comes to professional dental whitening! Most dental offices have been completing teeth whitening procedures since opening their respective practices, and generally, all dentists follow the same procedure for each client. The process itself will last between 30-60 minutes and will have you shades whiter in a single treatment.

• The first step is to make a record of your current shade.
• Next, start the procedure with a polishing. Dentists generally use pumice for polishing, which is a grainy material that is used to remove any plaque on the surface and make sure they are working with a clean tooth.
• Then, dentists will isolate your teeth from the rest of the mouth with gauze or retractors to ensure that your teeth are dry throughout the procedure and ensures your cheeks, lips and tongue away from the powerful whitening solution.
• Next, they will place a barrier, typically rubber, along your gum line to protect that sensitive tissue from exposure to the solution.
• It is time for the dentist to start the whitening! A dentist will start painting the solution on the front of the tooth and depending on the solution that they use; they may need to cure it with a curing light or laser to activate the peroxide within the solution.
• The solution is then left on the teeth for up to 60 minutes, and once finished dentist will rinse the teeth with water and utilise fluoride to minimise any tooth sensitivity.

No matter where you end up completing your teeth whitening, chances are you will need to spend a few sessions in the dental chair. Professional whitening is not instant, but rather, is designed to be a process over a number of treatments. It does not matter if you are prepping for your wedding day, or are back on the dating circuit, everyone could use a little whitening in their life! 

What are dental veneers and crowns?

As these are two separate types of restorative dental services that happen to provide the same outcome, check the explanation of both below!

Dental Veneers

Dental veneers are typically used to hide discolouration’s and will help alter the shape of a tooth of a patient. When it comes to a porcelain veneer procedure, the average dental office has got it down to a science.

• Your dentist will complete an examination and ensure that a veneer is the right choice moving forward.
• If they are, the dentist will take off roughly ½ millimetre of your enamel, and then take a mold of your tooth. This mold will be used to build the veneer which will take between two to three weeks to complete.
• Once shipped in, the veneer will be bonded to your existing tooth with a special cement and cured with a curing light.
• Once set, the veneer and original tooth will be able to exist in harmony, and the dentist will arrange an appointment in a couple of weeks to check up on your gumline and the overall bond to ensure that your veneer and its bond will last. 

Dental Crowns

Dental crowns, on the other hand, are designed to strengthen an existing tooth structure or will merely be able to help the overall ascetics of a patients smile. Porcelain crowns fit like a cup over your existing tooth and become your tooth’s outer surface until removed. The procedure itself is almost identical to veneers and includes an examination, fitting, building and bonding the crown. Patients can opt for removable crowns or cemented crowns, but it is best to chat with your dentist to see what type of crown is best for your lifestyle and current habits. 

What is a dental emergency?

For those who are questioning whether you need emergency dental treatment or not, here is the list of handy questions that if you answer yes to any of them, you need to ask Siri where an emergency dental service near me is!

• Are you currently bleeding from the mouth?
• Are you in severe pain?
• Have you lost any teeth, or are on the verge of losing one? Do note this is only for adult teeth.
• Have you been hit in the face or the facial area?
• Do you have any swelling around your facial area or mouth that is unexpected?
• Do you have any bulges, swelling, knots or pain in your gums or around your teeth?

If you have answered yes to any of the above questions, you need to look at some options for an emergency dentist near you. There are some options in the area, and when you are looking for a dentist that is open on Saturdays or Sundays make sure to check for emergency numbers as well as back office numbers during your search. These clinics act as a specialised clinic on weekends that can deal with emergency dental services. The team of dentists on staff will be able to diagnose, treat and start the process to fix your dental issues in a matter of minutes. Stop searching for emergency dental services near me, and find a clinic that can do it all. 

Does Invisalign work?

As a dentist that has specialised in providing affordable Invisalign services here in Richmond Hill, we have been asked this question dozens of times, and the answer is always the same, it depends. Invisalign is an excellent treatment for most patients who are looking to correct crooked teeth or some bite issues, but for some patients, it is not the ideal option. Patients who need to move their teeth vertically, or need to rotate their canines or premolars, for instance, are best suited for traditional braces due to the limitations of the Invisalign technology. However, for those who are looking for a simple correction without the look of traditional braces, Invisalign is one of the best options on the market.

How long does Invisalign take? It depends on your specific case. The consensus around the office is that for Invisalign treatments you should expect to wear the trays for 22 hours per day for between six and eighteen months. However, that is the real trick with Invisalign; its success is not up to a cosmetic dentist, but rather the user of the treatment. Invisalign braces need to be worn by the patient as much as possible, except when eating or brushing your teeth. A failure to do so will result in delays in your treatment, and time added to your overall treatment plan.

Thus, Invisalign does work, but it depends on if your issues are well suited for the technology and how regimented you will be when it comes to wearing the trays. 

From dental implants to Invisalign braces, our team of family dentists is here for you! We are proud to call Richmond Hill home, and with our commitment to quality dentistry, you will be in good hands in terms of your overall dental and oral health. Call our team today, and see how your next trip to the dentist can be a great experience, and only with Tower Hill Dental!