Below are answers to some common dental questions by Dr. Manuel Englander.
Frequently Asked Dental Questions
What Is A Dental Implant?
Q: Who is a candidate for dental implants?
A: Anyone who has missing or badly diseased teeth. In fact, anyone who has a removable appliance and wants a permanent option.
Q: Why are dental implants important for dental health?
A: Without all your teeth, chewing and eating can destabilize your bite and cause you discomfort. A dental implant offers comfort, support, stability, and is as close to a natural tooth that a restoration can be.
Q: What are some of the benefits of dental implants?
A: There are several:
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- Implants improve your ability to chew food properly.
- Implants fill out an otherwise sunken look caused by missing teeth.
- Implants are permanent and do not need to be removed.
- Implants help to maintain bone that would otherwise deteriorate if a tooth is lost.
- Implants give you a more confident smile.
Q: How do I know if dental implants are right for me?
A: Call our office at (612) 926-2100 and we will schedule a visit to determine the best option to restore your smile to its absolute best.
Does Having A Root Canal Hurt?
No, root canals actually aren’t painful, but putting one off might be.
Why? Root canal therapy treatments are usually performed in order to save a tooth that is infected, and about to die. Sometimes the pain in an infected tooth is so strong that patients are fearful that the treatment will cause even more pain.
It’s actually been proven that extracting a tooth would cause more pain than having a root canal in most cases. Putting off a necessary root canal can prolong your pain. However, even the term “root canal” conjures up fright in many people. Truly a root canal relieves more pain than it causes. Done correctly, a root canal is often a blessing rather than a curse.
Are You A Family Dentist Too? Can I Have My Teeth Cleaned?
Dental Cleaning – What to Expect at Englander Dental
A dental cleaning is a fairly routine procedure that should not be painful. However, patients dental who have not had their teeth cleaned in a while may experience a longer cleaning, with some extra work to remove plaque from teeth. You normally don’t need pain medication for a dental cleaning. From time to time, however, there is the exception to the rule and some patients are so nervous about seeing us that they request nitrous oxide. In some extreme cases of anxiety, we may use a method known as sleep dentistry, where a patient is medicated to the point that they sleep through the entire procedure.
Most dental cleanings take between 30 and 60 minutes. If the cleaning is part of your yearly check-up, our hygienist may take X-rays to check for cavities and any other changes in the bone structure. I will normally perform the last look, and perhaps perform some difficult plaque removal toward the end of the cleaning, evaluate the gums for gum disease, as well as examine for oral cancers.
We wrap up your cleaning with advice about how to better care for teeth at home, and scheduling any appointments needed for additional services, like filling cavities. With today’s busy schedules, it’s best to schedule your next cleanings well in advance to keep regular six-month cleaning appointments. If you are regularly caring for your teeth at home, and plaque build-up is still significant, you may need to have more frequent cleanings.
Is Your Sleep Apnea Driving Your Spouse Crazy?
Many people don’t realize they have a problem with sleep apnea on their own. In most images cases, their partner urges them to get help otherwise threatens to move into a separate bedroom. A person with sleep apnea may startle their partner several times a night as they appear to be gasping for air. Snoring is usually quite loud.
Some people opt to use a sleep apnea machine called a CPAP machine on the advice of their family doctor. This involves a mask and tubes attached to a machine. It delivers a steady flow of steam and keeps airways open.
Sleep apnea sufferers with mild to moderate severity can also opt to inquire about available oral appliances that can help, too. These fit in the mouth and aren’t attached to any sort of tubes or machine. By positioning the jaw and tongue in a specific way, the sleeper doesn’t have airway obstruction. There are fixed and adjustable sleep apnea appliances as well.
Many people don’t realize just how disruptive their sleep apnea is to their own sleeping habits until they start to work on a solution and find that they feel better rested in the morning. Sleep apnea does carry some health risks so it is worth talking to your physician about.
A short time after being fitted for or purchasing a sleep apnea oral appliance your physician may ask to do a sleep study to determine whether or not it is effective. We can help ensure that your appliance isn’t negatively impacting your tooth alignment or jaw position.
How Do I Know If I’m A Candidate For Cosmetic Dentistry?
Q. What is cosmetic dentistry?
A. Cosmetic dentistry describes any dental procedure designed to improve the overall appearance of one’s teeth and smile. It can be in the form of cosmetic dental resin bonding, porcelain veneers, all-ceramic crowns or even dental implants with porcelain crowns over them. There are numerous options and the pros and cons should be discussed with Dr. Englander prior to treatment.
Q. How quickly will I be able to complete my cosmetic dentistry treatment?
A. Cosmetic dental procedures can usually be performed in as little as one or 2 visits. Consult with Dr. Englander to see what procedures are right for you and determine how many visits your procedures will take.
Q. How long will my new smile last?
A. It depends on the type of procedure you have performed and how well you take care of it- including proper home care and regular dental cleanings. Resin bondings for example tend to wear and discolor with time as opposed to porcelain work which is virtually maintenance free. Again, consult with Dr. Englander to find out which procedures are best for you.
Common Questions About Teeth Whitening
Why do teeth turn yellow?
Various foods and the acid from sugar breaks away enamel and makes teeth look more transparent. This results in the core of the teeth, which is yellow, being seen through the transparent enamel.
Does Teeth Whitening work for everyone?
Nearly every person can benefit from whitening. Results vary depending on the severity of the stains on the enamel.
Is there a downside to teeth whitening?
Downside to Whitening: temporary cold sensitivity while doing it, however it goes away after completion.
How does the whitening process work?
Special trays are fabricated for the teeth , the whitening gel is place in the trays and then on the teeth. Ideally the trays are worn for a minimum of 3 to 4 hours, or can be worn while sleeping. After two weeks the results would be significant!