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Gammon Location 7001 Old Sauk Rd. Madison, WI 53717 (608) 833-2578 |
Old Sauk Location 7017 Old Sauk Rd. Madison, WI 53717 (608) 833-1889 |
West Orthodontics Location 7007 Old Sauk Rd. Madison, WI 53717 (608) 833-6112 |
South Location 2971 Chapel Valley Rd. Fitchburg, WI 53711 (608) 661-6400 |
East Location 49 N. Walbridge Ave. Madison, WI 53714 (608) 246-2555 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
People naturally have a lot questions for their dentist. For your benefit, we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions so that you may find the answers you are looking for.
Is there a filling material that matches tooth color?
Do I have to get a crown, bridge, or dentures? Is there an alternative?
What should I do if I experience a toothache?
What should I do if a tooth gets knocked out?
What is baby bottle tooth decay?
How do I get rid of my bad breath?
I occasionally have pain upon biting, should I be concerned?
I am fearful and anxious about dental treatment, what are my options?
I have been told that I need root canal treatment to save the tooth. What is a root canal and is it painful.
I don't have dental insurance. Can I still come to your office and be seen?
I've heard about dental implants for replacing teeth. Does this really work and how is this procedure performed?
If I need a crown, does that tooth also require a root canal?
When will my children lose their baby teeth?
Is there a filling material that matches tooth color?
Yes. Composite resins are tooth-colored, plastic material (made of glass and resin) that are used both as fillings and to repair defects in the teeth. Because they are tooth-colored, it is difficult to distinguish them from natural teeth. Composites are often used on the front teeth where a natural apearance is important. They can be used on the back teeth as well, depending on the location and extent of the tooth decay. Composite resins are usually more costly than amalgam fillings.
Do I have to get a crown, bridge, or dentures? Is there an alternative?
Yes. Crowns and conventional bridges or dentures may not be your only options when replacing missing teeth. For some people, dental implants offer a smile that looks and feels very natural. Surgically placed below the guns over a series of appointments, implants fuse to the jawbone and serve as a base for individual replacement teeth, bridges or a denture. A thorough evaluation by your dentist will help determine whether you are a good candidate for dental implants.
What should I do if I experience a toothache?
Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently floss the affected area to insure that food isn't lodged between the teeth. Do not place an aspirin on the site as this can cause a chemical burn. If pain persists, call our office.
What should I do if a tooth gets knocked out?
Do not hold the tooth by the root! Hold at the crown and gently rinse off the tooth if the root is dirty. Do not scrub the tooth. If possible, gently reinsert and hold the tooth in its socket. If that can't be accomplished, then put the tooth in a cup of milk and get to your dentist as soon as possible.
What is baby bottle tooth decay?
This is tooth decay in babies that occurs from prolonged exposure to sweetened liquids. Many sweet liquids cause problems including milk, formula, and fruit juices. Bacteria in the mouth utilize sugars as food and create acids which attack the teeth. Avoid allowing your baby to nap or sleep with a sweetened liquid. Hold your baby when bottle-feeding and remove the bottle when the child falls asleep. After regular feedings and snack times, wipe the child's teeth and gums with a damp washcloth or gauze pad to remove plaque and sugar residue.
How do I get rid of my bad breath?
Bad breath can occur for a variety of reasons. You should talk to your dentist about this. Generally, bad breath is cause by the foods we eat, oral bacteria collecting on particles of non-removed food, tobacco products, dry mouth conditions, infections, or medical disorders.
The foods we eat like garlic and onions impart strong odors that are temporary until the body fully eliminates these foods.
Retained food particles are removed by brushing the teeth and tongue twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, and flossing once a day.
Saliva is an important mouth cleanser. If you have chronic dry mouth, you should talk to your dentist. A salivary substitute or sugarless candy may be recommended.
Bad breath can stem from medical problems and/or infections. Local infections of the respiratory tract, mouth, sinusitis, bronchitis, diabetes, kidney or liver ailments can cause bad breath as well. Your dentist might refer you to your physician if your oral health appears normal.
I occasionally have pain upon biting, should I be concerned?
Yes. You probably have the beginnings of a cracked tooth. It is common to experience this chewing pain on occasion when you eat certain foods or when you chew in a specific way. You usually win not have a constant pain as is typical with a decay-induced toothache or abscess. You may notice the tooth is more sensitive to cold temperatures.
Diagnosis is difficult because the crack can be hard to see. In fact, it usually cannot be seen on an x-ray. Your dentist will do a thorough exam and usually reproduce the symptoms by having you bite down on a plastic stick that will apply pressure to one point on your tooth at a time. If you feel pain, the tooth being tested most likely has a crack. Another diagnostic tool is to shine a fiber-optic light on the tooth to illuminate the crack.
If a crack is diagnosed, treatment depends on the severity of the crack. Cracks that are limited to enamel or cusps of the teeth are usually restored with a crown. Deeper cracks involving the inner portion of the tooth, called the pulp (the center of the tooth, which contains nerve and blood vessels) will require a root canal treatment as well as a crown. The deepest cracks that extend onto the root surface itself cannot be treated and would require extraction.The prognosis of cracked teeth is guarded. In most cases a restoration with a crown will relieve all symptoms. In others, root canal treatment usually resolves the problem. However, there are a small percentage of people that will continue to have problems and need to have the tooth extracted.
Conditions that increase the change of experiencing a cracked tooth are those that have had fillings or previous root canals. These teeth are structurally weaker than a fully intact tooth. However, even intact teeth can crack under the increased forces of someone that is clenching or grinding their teeth.
I am fearful and anxious about dental treatment, what are my options?
Although you might think that you are alone in feeling this way, many people chare this common concern. There are many options for making your dental treatment comfortable and anxiety free.
A mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen can be administered through a comfortable and unobstrusive nasal mask during the procedure. Commonly called "laughing gas," this provides the patient with a warm, relaxing effect in addition to some pain relief. Driving to and from the appointment is possible as the effects wear off in minutes.
Higher levels of anxiety and fear can be alleviated with an oral sedative medication taken before the appointment. This is by prescription and requires an escort to and from the appointment and no driving is permitted for hours following the administration of the medication.
Profound anxiety and true dental phobia can be treated with intravenous medication or daycare outpatient hospitalization. A consultation with your dentist is recommended to determine the best alternative for you.
I have been told that I need root canal treatment to save the tooth. What is a root canal and is it painful.
Root canal treatment is nothing more than a filling that seals the whole inside of the tooth, including the roots of the tooth. With situations vary according to the condition of the tooth at the time of treatment, modern medications and techniques allow rapid and pain free sealing of the internal tooth structure, usually in one appointment.
I don't have dental insurance. Can I still come to your office and be seen?
For years preventative dental care has been designed to be affordable for patients even if they are paying out of pocket. You may be pleasantly surprised to find that routine recal visits and preventative treatment is no more costly than any other personal service you might receive in the market place.
I've heard about dental implants for replacing teeth. Does this really work and how is this procedure performed?
Dental implants are a very successful method of replacing teeth. They are composed of a "screw-like" implant surgically placed into the jaw. A crown is then attached to the implant which then looks and functions just like a natural tooth. Patients often remark about how comfortable and natural this form of tooth replacement feels. A consultation with your dentist and the dental surgeon will answer all the questions you might have regarding this exciting treatment option.
If I need a crown, does that tooth also require a root canal?
No. The tooth would only require root canal therapy if its pulpal tissue (nerve) has been traumatized to the point where it has necrosed (died) or is on the process thereof.
When will my children lose their baby teeth?
The front incisors, eight in total, are lost around the ages of 6 or 7. The remaining twelve canines and molars are generally lost between the ages of 10 to 12.