FAQ

No Fear

The American Dental Association estimates that roughly 34% of the population has some form of dental phobia. Does this sound like you? We realize that many of our patients experience anxiety about dental treatment, which is why we take great measures to ensure your comfort while in our office. Read below some of our methods for making your visit more comfortable.

“I’m afraid of the injection!”
We actually numb you twice! Before we anesthetize any teeth, we paint a topical anesthetic on the gum or cheek which greatly decreases the feeling of touch in that area. Then, the dental injection is given very slowly while we jiggle your cheek. This jiggling blocks pain receptors in that area and the slowness of the injection allows the tissues to absorb the anesthetic rather than be pushed aside to make room for it (there’s not a lot of room in there!)

“All of the noise makes me nervous!”
Wouldn’t it be great if our dental hand pieces were noiseless (any budding entrepreneurs out there?)? Since this is not possible at this time, we provide our patients with headphones. Listening to music in an enclosed environment has a calming effect, and will make your visit with us more pleasant. Bring a CD of your favorite music or listen to one of our local radio stations.

“Is this going to hurt?”
Your comfort is our highest priority and you are in control at all times. Dental procedures do not hurt when you are properly anesthetized, although some sensation of movement or pressure is normal. Sometimes, we may need more anesthetic to obtain the desired effect. If so, just raise your hand; we’ll stop immediately and administer more anesthetic to get you comfortable.

“You make me sick”
(What?!) If the thought of dental treatment makes you this nervous, we can prescribe Triazolam, a mild sedative, to allow you to get your dental work done. This method is referred to as minimal conscious sedation, and you will be awake at all times (although you may not care!). To ensure your safety, we will ask that you have someone drive you to the office and take you home after the appointment. It is our preference to work with Triazolam due to the predictability of the sedative effect and it's lower cost to the patient.

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Dental Implants

There are presently more than 50,000 people in the U.S. over the age of 100. And over the next 50 years, it is projected that there will be more than 2 million people who reach this milestone. This is one of the fastest growing segments of the U.S. population! Studies show that if you can reach age 80 without a life threatening illness, your chances for reaching 100 are very good. Now, what are all of the people with missing teeth going to do if we are going to live that long? Traditional dentures are not always the best answer, because chewing ability with dentures is only 25 % of that of natural teeth and 40% of dentures need replacement within 5 years. Our belief is that people want to chew well and look good for as long as they live. This is why we are glad to have an excellent alternative to traditional dentures and partials. Here is some valuable information to help you decide if dental implants will work for you: www.biohorizons.com (PDF).

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Root Canals (Oh, My!)

Would you rather do almost anything than have a root canal? Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon had more fun with that line than maybe any other in their long-running domination of the late night talk shows. Fortunately, many things have changed in root canal therapy since Johnny’s experience years ago. See if any of the following questions help place root canals lower on your most-hated list (shouldn’t fingernails on a chalkboard be number one?).

“What is Root Canal Therapy?"
This procedure, also called endodontic therapy, treats disorders of the nerve (pulp) of the tooth. In the past a tooth with an infected or diseased nerve had to be removed. Today, however, 95% of these teeth can be saved!

“Why Do I Need A Root Canal?"
The most common reasons are trauma to the tooth by a physical blow or irritation caused by deep decay or a very large filling. Regardless of the initial cause, the tooth nerve becomes irritated and an abscess (infection) occurs. Bacteria from your saliva grow within the tooth pulp, causing pressure and pain. In some cases, your face may even swell. Eventually, the pulp dies, causing the bone around the tooth to be destroyed.

“How Is This Treatment Done?"
After completely numbing the tooth, an opening is made through the crown into the pulp. The infected nerve is then carefully removed and the empty canal is cleaned, shaped, and sterilized. Then, depending on your individual case, the canals may be permanently filled and sealed off. In some cases, a temporary medication is placed in the tooth for a few days to reduce infection before the procedure is completed.

“Will My Tooth Hurt Later?"
Usually, no. Discomfort later is typically due to the inflammation already there and not the procedure itself. We will prescribe antibiotics and pain medication if we feel there will be any complications, either before or after the treatment.

“What Do I Do After The Root Canal?"
Other than not having any sensation of hot or cold, your endodontically-treated tooth will be just like your other teeth. These teeth do become more brittle than vital teeth and will be more prone to fracturing. Therefore, we will usually recommend that your tooth be crowned (capped) following treatment. If the tooth was treated due to a physical blow, it may darken in color, which can be corrected by whitening.

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An Ounce of Prevention

Did you know that only 52% of the American population sees a dentist on a regular basis? Although the use of fluoride has greatly reduced the incidence of dental cavities, their occurrence is still very high. In addition to this, studies show that diseases of the gums and supporting bone are increasing. Only by regular examination and professional cleaning in a dental office can you be sure that your teeth and gums are healthy. Here are some other helpful hints to aid you in keeping your teeth in good shape.

BRUSHING: Each of us has bacteria in our mouths, and it is these bacteria and their acidic byproducts that eat away the enamel on our teeth and cause gum inflammation. Presently, our best means of keeping these bacteria under control is to brush and floss them away. So, brush your teeth at least twice a day, for at least two minutes each time. Brushing and flossing after every meal would be ideal since these bacteria are most active right after eating. Use a gentle circular motion, holding the brush at a 45-degree angle to the gums. And remember to brush the inner part of the teeth as well as the outside.

FLOSSING: Unfortunately, your brush cannot clean between the teeth, which mean that other methods must be used for this purpose. Bacteria begin to recolonize within four hours of their removal, but flossing only once a day will ensure that the chances of gum infection and cavities are minimal. Take an eighteen inch piece of floss and wrap it around both index fingers. Slide the floss between each tooth and gently move it in a back and forth, up and down motion (don’t saw the teeth!), cleaning the side of each tooth. Use a fresh section of the floss for each tooth. With practice, this exercise should only take about two minutes a day, a small investment of time that gives great benefits!

SEALANTS: Our back teeth have a wide surface area which allows us to chew food. The sharp points are like mountains, while the rest of the tooth resembles valleys between the peaks. It is in the deep fissures of these valleys that bacteria and debris can accumulate without worry of being removed by your toothbrush. We are able to fill in these fissures with a strong resin material which we call a sealant. This sealant is bonded to the tooth which leaves a smooth biting surface and makes it much harder for bacteria to do any damage here.

FOR KIDS: Parents can begin brushing children’s teeth as soon as they start coming in. For infants, plain cotton gauze is fine. For older children, place a pea-size drop of toothpaste on a small toothbrush, and let them brush their own teeth as soon as they show an interest. This will help build self-esteem and you can always finish the job to be sure all of the teeth are clean. Have your child spit the toothpaste out since fluoride can upset a child’s stomach. Never put a child to sleep with a bottle unless it is filled with water; sleeping with a bottle is a sure way to invite dental cavities. And bring your child to see the dentist when he/she is three years old. At this age, a child is usually more cooperative which means a better initial dental experience.

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Something to Smile About

Our society places a lot of emphasis on feeling good and looking good. A quick glance at any magazine or television show will reveal the high priority we place on our physical features. At the center stage of our facial features are the teeth. Think about it, what is the first thing you notice on a person who is smiling? With the amazing advances in cosmetic dentistry in the past few years, we can now give you the smile you have always wanted. We have included below some of the exciting procedures we use to create a million dollar smile.

Dental Bonding: In cases where the teeth can be cosmetically improved by restoring small chips or spaces, a tooth colored filling material can be used with great effect. This material matches the tooth color perfectly and will usually last 5 to 7 years.

Porcelain Crowns: Sometimes, large existing fillings or spaces will keep us from placing a porcelain veneer. In these cases, we place a crown which completely covers the tooth. We can totally control the shape and color of the teeth with this method. The same porcelain and adhesives are used for these crowns as for porcelain veneers, so these restorations are meant to be permanent.

Contouring: Are your teeth almost the way you want them? If you could just make a minor change here and there they would be perfect? One of the simplest methods we can use to improve the appearance of teeth is contouring. If a tooth is a little too long, rotated or has jagged edges, we can buff some of the enamel from the tooth and make big changes with only a minor effort. This method does not damage the tooth since only a small amount of enamel is removed, and we won’t even need to use any anesthetic!

X-Rays

The high standard of care practiced at Timothy Gillespie, DMD, FAGD, necessitates that dental radiographs (x-rays) will be part of your new patient examination, and on a periodic basis thereafter.

Dental radiographs are a vital tool for the diagnosis of multiple diseases of the oral mouth and jaws that cannot be detected by simply looking into the mouth. Without dental x-rays, these conditions may go unnoticed for a long period of time, potentially leading to extensive damage.

The dentist will prescribe x-rays as part of your initial examination for the purpose of the detection of potentially harmful oral diseases and conditions. Typically, the dentist will require a full series of x-rays for an adult patient consisting of 18 small films. A panoramic film displaying the entire jaw structure may also be recommended. Even if a patient has a healthy mouth, these radiographs can be very beneficial for future comparison, particularly should a dental emergency arise.

Depending on multiple factors such as presence of active dental disease, periodic x-rays will be prescribed, typically 4 bitewing x-rays every 12 to 36 months. In accordance with the current American Dental Association recommendation, your dentist will individualize the prescribed x-rays based on your individual radiographic needs as determined by your dental condition and history. For more infomation, please see: www.ada.org (PDF).

At Timothy Gillespie, DMD, FAGD, we are very sensitive to patient concerns about radiation exposure, and take every effort to limit such exposure to that necessary for the detection and diagnosis of dental diseases and conditions.

All x-rays are taken by highly qualified and trained dental professionals who have received specialized training in the operation of modern dental x-ray equipment.

During the x-rays, a thyroid collar and lead apron, and fast radiographic film will be used to protect you from excess radiation. Good technique and careful processing of the x-ray film will also be employed to limit your exposure to x-ray radiation.

Although we concede that any type of radiation exposure is not completely safe, it is important to keep exposure limits from dental x-rays in perspective. We all receive radiation exposure on a daily basis from many background sources, particularly cosmic and atmospheric radiation, with the level of radiation depending upon altitude.

A person in an average location in the US, if subjected to a dental full series and panoramic radiograph for every four months for the rest of their life, would incur only the same risk from radiation as a person living in Denver, Colorado who had no dental x-rays.

We look forward to serving your dental needs and welcome any questions you may have regarding your dental treatment.

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