AboutDr. Randolph Myerson Expertise Please limit your inquiry to questions about orthodontics (braces) and children's dentistry. I am both an Orthodontist and a Pediatric Dentist, having been trained in both of these dental specialty fields. Orthodontics is the dental specialty that treats problems of tooth, bite and jaw alignment using braces and removable appliances. Pediatric Dentistry is the dental specialty also known as dentistry for children, which deals specifically with the dental problems of this special age group from infants to adolescents. I am also experienced in Forensic Dentistry, the application of dentistry to law enforcement and identification using dental records.
Experience I have been in the private practice of orthodontics and pediatric dentistry for over 20 years. Prior to that I served for three years on the Cleft Palate and Cranio-facial Reconstruction team at Children''s Hospital of Philadelphia and was an Assistant Professor of Dentistry at University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. I also served as a dentist in the U.S.Air Force, stationed at Andrews AFB in Washington, DC.
Organizations I am a Fellow in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and a member of the American Association of Orthodontics, as well as a member of the American Dental Association and the Dental Society of the State of New York.
Education/Credentials I received my BA in Biology from Frankin & Marshall College in 1969, and my dental degree from University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in 1973. In 1978 I received both my Certificate in Orthodontics from University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, and my Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from Children''s Hospital of Philadelphia after completing a three year Teaching Fellowship in Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry in 1978.
Question My fiance recently had her teeth cleaned. The dentist was
apparently very rough and she believes that he damaged her
front tooth. She has several scratches or ridges running
horizontally across one of her front teeth. These ridges or scratches
were not there prior to the cleaning. Is this type of damage common?
What is the best way to repair or deal with this problem?
Answer It is not likely that the enamel of the teeth could be scratched in the process of tooth cleaning. Enamel is one of the hardest natural substances known...second only to diamond. It would take a diamond cutting instrument or one made of carbide steel with extremely hard pressure to scratch the surface of a tooth. It is also unlikely that the cleaning process caused horizontal motions across the face of the front teeth with any kind of dynamic that would result in the sort of damage you describe. Most cleaning procedure involves a rotating instrument which, if the tooth were made of relatively soft material, would result in a circular pattern.
I have often seen, on close inspection, the sort of pattern you describe...horizontal ridges across the face of the front teeth. Probably something that was never noticed before.
