During my 28 years of practice, I have gained valuable experience answering questions from my patients regarding their dental care and treatment options.   I understand that taking the time to address a patient’s concerns is the best way to ensure that they are making knowledgeable and informed decisions about their health care.  Here are a few questions that I commonly hear from my patients:

Why did my root canal tooth fall apart?

A root canal is a predictable and useful treatment to allow the patient to keep a tooth that has either been injured, has tooth decay, or has an infection.  A root canal is only the first step in saving a tooth.  The final restoration that is placed on a root canal tooth is very important and keeps the tooth from breaking apart.  If the final restoration, such as a crown, is not placed on the tooth after the completion of a root canal, the tooth could break apart, develop another infection, or develop a serious cavity.  Some teeth should not have a root canal to begin with.  These teeth are either fractured through the entire tooth or have tooth decay so severe that a crown cannot be placed on the tooth after the root canal is done.  If the root canal is done well and there is enough solid tooth structure to place a crown over and the tooth does not have a fracture through it, this tooth should last for many, many years.

Why do I need X-rays so often?

The average adult should have x-rays taken of their mouth every 5 years.  This is necessary to detect any developing abnormalities or infections in your jaw or teeth.  Check up x-rays should be taken once per year.  Today’s new digital x-ray technology has greatly reduced the amount of radiation exposure a patient receives when having their dental exam.   Patients are often surprised when they learn that they have developed a cavity in as little as one year. 

What can be done to make the filling in my front tooth look good?

A filling in a front tooth can match the existing tooth structure very well if done correctly.  All the tooth decay has to be removed and the correct color of filling material has to be selected and it has to be feathered into the remaining tooth so that the border between the filling and the tooth cannot be detected.  Today’s dentistry offers excellent tooth colored restorations. 

Do wisdom teeth always have to be removed?

A common perception is that wisdom teeth have to be removed.  In many cases a wisdom tooth does not have to be removed.  Either they are fully functional teeth that have already come in or they are completely impacted and they are never exposed at all and never pose a problem. Wisdom teeth only have to be removed if they are just breaking the surface of the gums and cause irritation or they present an abnormality around the tooth when they develop.  Sometimes it’s more risky to remove wisdom teeth then to leave them in place if they are causing no problem. 

What does it mean if my tooth is sensitive to cold?

You may have tooth decay, although many times, it is due to a slight amount of gum recession or a small worn spot on the tooth.  There are easy solutions to that problem.  Rarely does a small cavity cause your tooth to be sensitive to cold.