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General Dentistry Care: Frequently Asked Questions

Q. When would you consider tooth bleaching?

A. You would consider tooth bleaching if your teeth have yellowed with age or are stained from tobacco, tea, coffee or food.

Q. What are the practical expectations of tooth bleaching?

A. Every case is different, but generally there is a two-shade improvement as seen on a dentist's shade guide. The success rate relies on the types of stain involved, your compliance, and the material and method used.

Q. How long does tooth bleaching last?

A. Depending on your personal habits such as smoking and drinking coffee or tea, tooth whitening should last from one to five years.

Q. Do over-the-counter bleaching products work?

A. Some over-the-counter bleaching products do whiten teeth, but many of the products can damage teeth with extended use or misuse because they are too abrasive or use ill-fitting trays. Some materials contain titanium dioxide that actually put a temporary pigment coating on the teeth. Although small doses of titanium dioxide are considered safe, the net effect is to put a layer of "paint" on the teeth that is soon lost.

Q. What is orthodontics?

A. Orthodontics, also known as malocclusion or “bad bite”, is the branch of dentistry that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and facial irregularities.

Q. What is an orthodontist?

A. An orthodontist is a dentist who has undergone specialized training to require the advanced qualifications and specialized skills required to give their patients quality treatment.

Q. What causes orthodontic problems?

A. Most orthodontic problems are inherited, but some are acquired.

Q. What is the importance of orthodontic treatment?

A. Orthodontic treatment is important because crooked and crowded teeth are hard to clean and maintain. This may lead to conditions tooth decay, but eventually cause gum disease and tooth loss. Malocclusion (bad bite) can also lead to pain associated with TMD.

Q. What does orthodontic treatment involve?

A. Orthodontic treatment usually involves wearing braces prescribed and designed by the orthodontist. You may feel some tenderness as the teeth start to move. By placing a constant, gentle force in a carefully controlled direction, braces can slowly move teeth through their supporting bone to a new desirable position.

Q. How long does orthodontic treatment take?

A. Generally, orthodontic treatment time with braces ranges from 1 to 3 years. Early treatment procedures may take only a few months. The actual time depends on the growth of the patient's mouth and face, the cooperation of the patient and the how severe the problem is.

Q. How much does orthodontic treatment cost?

A. The actual cost of treatment relies very much on the individual case and depends largely on the length and complexity of treatment.

Q. What toothpaste should your child use?

A. You should use a match-head sized amount of toothpaste. The use of toothpaste should not begin until 2 years of age.

Q. When should you start taking children to see a dentist?

A. It is recommended that children see a dentist by age one and definitely by 16 months of age.

Q. How often should a child see a dentist?

A. It is recommended that the child be seen every six months after the initial examination.

Q. Why is it important to care for primary or baby teeth?

A. It is important to care for primary teeth because they are much more susceptible to tooth decay than the permanent teeth. There are many other reasons.

Q. How are digitized X-rays beneficial?

A. Digitized X-rays reduce the exposure of radiation to the patient, and eliminate the film and darkroom processing within the dental office.

Dental Fees

Imagine this: a homeowner, to save a few dollars, decides the roof shouldn't be repaired, the broken windows replaced, the leaky pipes fixed. Think that's the best way to protect such a valuable asset? Of course not.

Yet many people put off caring for the most important asset they have - their health - because of economic reasons. Penny wise and pound foolish, wouldn't you agree?

When it comes to payment for treatment, your dentist's office is committed to helping you comfortably manage your treatment and dental costs through a variety of options.

Their first concern is - always - the state of your oral health. They start by evaluating your current and future needs, and then creating an individualized treatment plan. You may be given a detailed description of their recommendations, plus an estimate of the dental fees that may be incurred.

If you're covered by dental insurance, they will map a plan to achieve the most benefits possible from your carrier. For instance, they may plan to have treatment spread over two "insurance years" to take full advantage of your available benefit dollars.

While you are always responsible for your total obligation (even if insurance benefits result in less coverage than anticipated), your dental office is available to work on an individual basis to develop a dental financing program that makes sense.

Remember that your adult teeth are the last natural set you will ever have. Economics should not stand in the way of preserving and protecting them.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.