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Dentistry/Questions Answered by Expert Steven C. Scherr, D.D.S.
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Tooth Ache, | 10/1/2008 |
| Q: Dr.Steven My name is Dalton Wiita and I am 19 years old. I am writing this because I have been ... A: Dalton, It sounds like you may have an impacted wisdom tooth that has become infected. This occurs ... | |
| 4 or 6 crowns | 5/31/2008 |
| Q: I'm having my four front teeth (2 discoloured and 2 old metal crowns) replaced with all porcelain ... A: Lizzie, It is true that matching crowns to veneers is challenging. The bottom line is that some ... | |
| broken tooth | 5/26/2008 |
| Q: I broke what seems to be the upper part of a back tooth yesterday on a popcorn kernel. Perhaps some ... A: David, Thanks for asking. It depends on how much of the filling and/or tooth actually broke away. ... | |
| After extraction questions | 5/25/2008 |
| Q: I had the second to the last molar on my right bottom side extracted 6 days ago. It was not a clean ... A: Clint, Thank you for asking. A dry socket develops when a poor blood clot forms in the socket. ... | |
| Bite after permanent bridge | 5/24/2008 |
| Q: 3 days ago I had a permanent bridge installed over teeth #19,20 and 21. At the same time, had a ... A: Ruth, Thank you for asking. Restriction in mouth opening can be due to only one of two causes. ... | |
| cracked filings | 5/7/2008 |
| Q: my son (age 8) went to the dentist last year and the dentist put in three fillings. The dentist said ... A: Liz, I wouldn't classify this as normal. However, many children tend to grind and clench their ... | |
| Pressure in ears and head following dentist | 4/29/2008 |
| Q: I began extensive dental work a few months ago...all permanent crowns to replace all lower teeth. ... A: Don, Thanks for asking. I'll give you the short answer first, followed by an explanation. It is ... | |
| TMJ, migraine pain, splint fitting | 4/24/2008 |
| Q: I've had TMJ disorder since I was a teenager, and I've also suffered from migraines for about as ... A: Amanda, I am sorry to hear you have been suffering with headaches and jaw pain for so long. ... | |
| snapping in ear | 4/22/2008 |
| Q: About a month and a half ago, I felt some pressure near the top of my jaw on my right side, near the ... A: Clint, Thanks for asking. This discussion will make the most sense if we first review the anatomy ... | |
| Post Root Scaling and Planing | 4/20/2008 |
| Q: I just had a root scaling and planing on the top and bottom right quadrants of my mouth 2 weeks ago ... A: Flossing effectively once per day is sufficient for most people. The key word is effectively. Many ... | |
| gum surgery | 4/20/2008 |
| Q: I have to have gum surgery on my gums because they are receding / I would like to know if an oral ... A: Deanna, It depends to the experience, education, and comfort level of the individual doctors. Most ... | |
| Post Root Scaling and Planing | 4/20/2008 |
| Q: I just had a root scaling and planing on the top and bottom right quadrants of my mouth 2 weeks ago ... A: Lisa, Thanks for asking. Inflammation occurs initially after having a scaling and root planing ... | |
| translucent teeth | 4/19/2008 |
| Q: All my teeth are see through and you can see a brown shadow of the tooth pulp in the middle. I don't ... A: Annette, Loss of enamel from acid erosion or grinding/ clenching of the teeth are the most common ... | |
| Jaw poping... not TMD? | 4/17/2008 |
| Q: My jaw muscles often feel tense. I first started noticing this about a year ago. I would try and ... A: Chris, This will make the most sense if we first review the anatomy of the TMJ (jaw joint). The ... | |
| Jaw popping | 4/15/2008 |
| Q: Since June of 2007 i have had a popping in jaw. Everytime i open my mouth to yawn or eat. i can pop ... A: Lisa, This will make the most sense if we first review the anatomy of the TMJ. The TMJ consists of ... | |
| Cusp Fracture? Need to Retreat Root Canal? | 4/15/2008 |
| Q: I recently had a bad cusp fracture in an upper first molar ... an endodonotically treated tooth that ... A: Lisa, It sounds like you have been treated in a very professional and competent manner. Short term ... | |
| TMJ | 4/11/2008 |
| Q: I began having headaches in October and was treated many times for sinus infection w/ antibiotics ... A: April, It is not possible to determine the source of your specific problem without a physical exam. ... | |
| Jaw/Teeth pain | 4/11/2008 |
| Q: I am hoping you can lead me in the right direction. Last summer I had root canal on the lower right ... A: Ron, I am sorry to hear that you have suffered with jaw pain. There are a number of possible ... | |
| Pain Following Cerec Crowns | 4/8/2008 |
| Q: I just had 2 Cerec Crowns done on my bottom right molars, #30 & #31. My regular dentist recommended ... A: I agree that the best course of action is to give things some time to clarify. The additional pain ... | |
| occlusal adjustment for tmj | 4/7/2008 |
| Q: My 20 year daughter was diagnose. with TMJ. Her dentist suggested she have occlusal adjustment done. ... A: Barb, Occlusal adjustment can be a valuable treatment if done for the right problem at the right ... | |
| Pain Following Cerec Crowns | 4/7/2008 |
| Q: I just had 2 Cerec Crowns done on my bottom right molars, #30 & #31. My regular dentist recommended ... A: Maryann, I am sorry to hear you are uncomfortable. Each tooth has an inner nerve that has a ... | |
| problems with canine teeth | 4/4/2008 |
| Q: I have healthy teeth and i have never had cavities. But for some time have been experiencing pain ... A: Francois, I am sorry to hear you have been uncomfortable. Tooth pain can have a variety of ... | |
| root canal | 4/2/2008 |
| Q: should my wife's dentist told us that root canal was a possibility before she drilled her tooth ... A: Eric, Unfortunately, it is not always possible to know the extent of the damage or the response of ... | |
| extreme tooth/jaw pain | 4/2/2008 |
| Q: about a month ago, I've experienced extreme pain in my right jaw, so severe that megadoses of ... A: Dee, I am sorry to hear that you are in pain. From afar, the best I can do is provide some ... | |
| Wearing of bottom teeth | 4/1/2008 |
| Q: I am 55 and for some years I have severe wearing down of my bottom teeth. It has reached the point ... A: Kat, It depends. I am certain you understand that this format can never substitute for a ... | |
| bridge | 3/29/2008 |
| Q: I had bridge put in upper left of mouth after two days a piece of porceline fell out ,the dentist ... A: Brian, A porcelain fused to gold bridge tends to be very durable under normal circumstances. ... | |
| Bad taste after wisdom tooth extraction. | 3/28/2008 |
| Q: I had all 4 of my wisdom teeth pulled on March 20th. About 4 days later I stared to get this really ... A: Amanda, This is actually quite common, and is not usually a sign of infection. It is related to ... | |
| my jaw | 3/27/2008 |
| Q: My name is marty and a week ago or so I was yawning, and it was a pretty big one, but my jaw kind of ... A: Marty, It sounds like you may have dislocated your jaw joint (TMJ). This can stretch or tear the ... | |
| cap or filling | 3/26/2008 |
| Q: My husband's dentist put in a porcelain filling about 2 years ago into a molar tooth. The filling ... A: Kathleen, It is possible to put in a bigger filling. The question is how long will it last? The ... | |
| Intense shooting pain when chewing on certain tooth | 3/25/2008 |
| Q: Let me start out by thanking you for your generousity of answering questions for desperate, people ... A: Ben, I am sorry to hear of your difficulties. Each tooth has a limited capacity to heal. Each ... | |
| wisdom tooth removal-cavity | 3/25/2008 |
| Q: I would like to ask if it is ok to have your (top)wisdom teeth removed because of a cavity. I ... A: Tanya, You are right to think it through carefully before having any tooth removed. The value of ... | |
| tooth trauma | 3/24/2008 |
| Q: My son lost 1/2 a tooth last week in a ball playing accident. There was no nerve exposed and the ... A: Lisa, Darkening or pink coloration to the tooth is sometimes associated with nerve damage within ... | |
| 9 year old's new teeth | 3/24/2008 |
| Q: My son's new teeth are coming in yellowwer than his baby teeth. He gets regular dental care and ... A: Dave, I am glad you asked. It is normal for the adult teeth to be less white than the baby teeth. ... | |
| Decay in pits and fissures of teeth | 3/22/2008 |
| Q: my teeth are overall in good shape even though I had not been to the dentist in quite a few years. I ... A: Geena, Thanks for asking. Dark stain in the pits and fissures is not a health concern. This kind ... | |
| jaw teeth pain | 3/21/2008 |
| Q: first dr said inner ear infection and facial nuralgia, next dr said TMI the pain is primarirly in ... A: Renee, I am sorry to hear that you are in pain. Facial pain can result from a number of distinct ... | |
| How much pain is normal after filling? | 3/20/2008 |
| Q: I had every single tooth in the right upper of my mouth filled today. The dentist said when ... A: Kristy, I am sorry to hear that you are in pain. While it is possible that the teeth will settle ... | |
| cut inter lip and gums | 3/20/2008 |
| Q: I have a cut on my inter lip and gums. I know that you are a dentist and you may not have the answer ... A: James, Sorry to hear that. You don't mention where the cut came from. If there was physical ... | |
| Bite problem after filling | 3/19/2008 |
| Q: Two days ago, I got done a composite filling on my first molar (lower right jaw). The teeth on the ... A: Ada, I agree that it is best to give this a week or two to resolve on its own. Assuming you have ... | |
| fluorosis | 3/13/2008 |
| Q: I have 2 children (age 19 and 14)who both have a bottom molar tooth that came in with brown ... A: Tammi, It is sure confusing to receive opposing opinions. Fluoride is effective at hardening the ... | |
| Pain | 3/13/2008 |
| Q: I have been to 4 dentists in the last 6 months. 4 Endos on #26,#27,#28,#29. 2 Caps on #3 and # 4. ... A: William, There are a number of sources of the type of pain you describe. These include myofascial ... | |
| mouth burn | 3/13/2008 |
| Q: I burnt my mouth a week ago and it is not healing, is there anything over the counter I can use. I ... A: Heather, A minor burn from hot coffee, hot pizza, or the like will tend to take 1-2 weeks to heal ... | |
| Titanium implants | 3/12/2008 |
| Q: My brother had titanium implants inserted in July of last year- for the past 3 months he has had ... A: Tina, I am sorry to hear of your brother's difficulties. Titanium is the material used for most ... | |
| Is my daughter's tooth infected? | 3/12/2008 |
| Q: My 6.5 year old daughter's tooth (2nd from the middle) was loose and seemed ready to come out. Now ... A: Julie, Baby teeth become loose when pressure from the adult tooth causes the baby tooth root to ... | |
| burnt gums | 3/12/2008 |
| Q: I attempted to whiten my teeth with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide 12% and baking soda as advised by ... A: Antonio, The mixture you prepared has chemically burned your gums. As long as you don't apply any ... | |
| Lower dental injection | 3/11/2008 |
| Q: I had a root canal on tooth number #18 and was given a lower mandible shot, (on the inside of my ... A: Laura, Sorry to hear that. You don't mention how long it has been since you received the ... | |
| 8 year old's incisor teeth not coming in | 3/11/2008 |
| Q: my son just turned 8 this past September. His 2 top incisor teeth have not came in and fell out ... A: Julie, It is the sequence of eruption that is more important than the speed. If the adult teeth do ... | |
| How long can I wait before I have a root canal? | 3/11/2008 |
| Q: I went to the dentist earlier this year to find out that I had 3 root canals, 13 cavities and ... A: Jason, Tough choice! It really depends on how extensive the cavities are and how long you will ... | |
| toothake | 3/8/2008 |
| Q: i had 4 rooth canals in 2 month .none of them were infected .i just had sharp pain in them so they ... A: Nina, There are several possibilities. These include: 1. The root canal system within each tooth ... | |
| extracted wisdom | 3/7/2008 |
| Q: I had a wisdom tooth extracted 3 days ago and I'm still having moderate discomfort even when I'm ... A: Roxann, I am sorry to hear that you are in pain. Initial healing after wisdom teeth extractions ... | |
| root canals | 3/5/2008 |
| Q: Every time my dentist does a crown it ends up being a root canal. What can be going wrong. Thank ... A: Rosie, Sorry to hear that. Each tooth has an inner nerve. This nerve has a limited capacity to ... | |
| bite change | 3/5/2008 |
| Q: I recently asked a question of another Dr. as to why my bite is too close and tight on my front top ... A: Susan, There is a tendency of adult teeth to slowly erupt throughout life. However, there is a ... | |
| problem with a crown | 1/30/2008 |
| Q: About 10 years ago, I had a root canal on my front tooth. The tooth got dark over the years, and I ... A: Anna, I am afraid the only thing that can be done at this point is to replace the crown with a new ... | |
| diastema | 1/30/2008 |
| Q: My daughter is 10 month old and has had her front top four teeth in for about 4 months now. She has ... A: Melinda, Only time will tell. It is normal for the baby teeth to be spaced apart. The baby teeth ... | |
| root canal through crown | 1/29/2008 |
| Q: My husband had a root canal through his gold crown. The root was the incisor in the front, the tooth ... A: Root canal therapy is most often done through the crown as long as the current crown is serviceable, ... | |
| Fullness in Mouth | 1/29/2008 |
| Q: Dr. Scherr, I will try to keep this brief. Less than a year ago at age 33, I had a lot of work done. ... A: Erin, It is likely that you are experiencing neuropathic (nerve) discomfort. Many common dental ... | |
| root canal through crown | 1/28/2008 |
| Q: My husband had a root canal through his gold crown. The root was the incisor in the front, the tooth ... A: Jeanette, As long as the current crown fits well, is nicely sealed all around, and is otherwise in ... | |
| chipped tooth repair | 1/28/2008 |
| Q: My 11 year old son chipped one of his front teeth almost in half diagonally. Our dentist bonded his ... A: Michelle, It can be a good idea early on to keep the traumatized tooth a little shorter in order to ... | |
| A different question on White Strips! | 1/27/2008 |
| Q: Your question was Hello there! I just purchased Crest Whitestrips Premium Plus, In the instructions ... A: Travis, I recommend you follow the package directions. Misuse of the product could potentially ... | |
| unable to chew on temporary crown | 1/27/2008 |
| Q: I recently had a temp crown place on #30 two weeks ago- didn't have any problem at all until 4 days ... A: Brenda, Each tooth has a nerve that runs through the middle of the tooth. Each nerve has a limited ... | |
| fillings | 1/25/2008 |
| Q: I have multiple white fillings. In the last 6 months, I have had 3 of the filling chip & or break. ... A: Heather, I have no way of know the cause in your particular case. White fillings are relatively ... | |
| filling catching floss | 1/25/2008 |
| Q: I had a silver filling placed on my 2nd molar #18, two faces, distal and top. The cavity was at gum ... A: Casey, If the filling is smooth at the edges, it will not catch floss. If the rough edge is out of ... | |
| tongue blood blister | 1/23/2008 |
| Q: Yesterday I bit into a tic tac mint and the sharp edge of the candy poked the outer edge surface of ... A: Kathy, A blister forms when the tongue is traumatized, but the outer surface of the tongue is not ... | |
| 14 year old's front tooth, | 1/23/2008 |
| Q: Last year on mother's day, my son fell of his skate board and bumped his front top tooth. He had ... A: Kathleen, Lets take it one step at a time. A physical examination by his dentist will be needed to ... | |
| Resubmitted Question-Can Kenalog in Orabase cause BMS? | 1/22/2008 |
| Q: I recently finished a five day treatment of Kenalog in Orabase on my tongue. I was prescribed it ... A: Eric, It is more likely that the initial source of redness and irritation, that led to the need for ... | |
| receding gums | 1/22/2008 |
| Q: I have seen two periodontists--both advised me to get gum grafts. One wants to cut tissue from ... A: Michael, It depends. Tissue harvested from your own body is best accepted because it is a genetic ... | |
| swelling after wisdom teeth extraction | 1/21/2008 |
| Q: I had all 4 of my wisdom teeth taken out 4 days ago. The swelling on the outside of my face has gone ... A: Allie, Initial healing after wisdom teeth extractions takes 4-8 weeks. You are very early on in ... | |
| bad breath | 1/19/2008 |
| Q: i have bad breath. yes its true. brushing my teeth doesnt really help and mouth wash only helps ... A: Gupta, Mouth odor not related to specific foods is most often caused by gum disease, sulfur ... | |
| Extremely persistent open bite | 1/18/2008 |
| Q: Dr. Scherr, I am a 19 year old female. I had braces at the age of 11 (which were removed at 13). In ... A: I understand your frustration. First, I would suggest getting back with your TMJ dentist for ... | |
| Osteoarthritis of the jaw | 1/17/2008 |
| Q: Scherr, I'm a 24 year old girl who has been suffering from jaw pain for 6 years. In the beginning, ... A: Surgery should be reserved for severely painful and dysfunctional joints that are non-responsive to ... | |
| Osteoarthritis of the jaw | 1/16/2008 |
| Q: Scherr, I'm a 24 year old girl who has been suffering from jaw pain for 6 years. In the beginning, ... A: Gillian, You seem to be doing the right things. You may want to inquire about working with a good ... | |
| loose skin in my mouth | 1/14/2008 |
| Q: my name is Vicki, i have a top plate in my mouth, it's been in for 4 years now. the past month, my ... A: Vicki, It is important to have this checked out. This is most often associated with changes in the ... | |
| Migrating Pain | 1/14/2008 |
| Q: Three months ago I cracked the last tooth on the upper right side. It was crowned with white gold. ... A: Michael, Each tooth has a central nerve that has a limited capacity to heal. A little of this ... | |
| temporary crown pain | 1/9/2008 |
| Q: Two days ago, I had a temporary crown put in. Because I was so numb, I wasn't able to tell that the ... A: Heidi, Each tooth has an inner nerve that has a limited capacity to heal. Every time one chews, ... | |
| blue/black raised spot | 1/8/2008 |
| Q: I have had a raised black spot on the inside of my left cheek for about 1 1/2 - 2 yrs now. It hasnt ... A: Josh, This could be a vericose vein. If it hasn't changed over a couple year period, it isn't ... | |
| Root Canal or not | 1/7/2008 |
| Q: I am 82 1/2 years of age female. Just last Thursday ( 1/3/08) I went in and saw my dentist and she ... A: Helena, I have no way of knowing if your tooth needs a root canal. What I can tell you is that the ... | |
| Advice needed | 1/5/2008 |
| Q: I have an impacted bottom wisdom tooth, I believe it is considered partially impacted. There is a ... A: R, If infection is present, it is best to get it under control before removing the tooth to reduce ... | |
| cracked molar | 1/4/2008 |
| Q: I lost about a third of an upper molar on the inside (tounge side) due to fracturing caused by a ... A: Michael, You may want to ask if a gold onlay is an option. An onlay offers strong replacement for ... | |
| mouth blister | 1/2/2008 |
| Q: I did not receive your first reply because I mistyped my email address. Can you send it again? I ... A: Sharon, The sores should heal on their own within 2-14 days. There is no need or benefit to doing ... | |
| brown back of teeth | 12/31/2007 |
| Q: About a year ago, for some reason, I looked with a mirror at the back of my teeth. And I was really ... A: Crystal, I have no way of knowing if there is decay or not. It could also be stain that can be ... | |
| Filling | 12/27/2007 |
| Q: I had a filling put in a left bottom molar about 9 days ago and have dull jaw pain from my ear to my ... A: Carlos, There are several possible explanations for the dull jaw pain. These include: 1. Your jaw ... | |
| Tongue Numbness | 12/24/2007 |
| Q: I had 2 feelings about 7 days ago. They were on the lower right portion of my mouth. It's now been ... A: Tim, Persistent numbness following a dental procedure in that region of the mouth occurs in a very ... | |
| gum bleeding, pain on root canal crowned tooth | 12/17/2007 |
| Q: I am having problems with a new crown that was placed 2 months ago. I floss everyday, and my gums ... A: Dawn, Let's take a look at the possible causes: 1. The crown could be made of a material that you ... | |
| Sinus allergic reaction | 12/16/2007 |
| Q: In the past year I have had three restorations. Two on the upper right, and one on the lower left. ... A: D.A. Allergies to lidocaine are extremely rare. Even if an allergy were present, sinus congestion ... | |
| TMJ pain and cheek biting | 12/13/2007 |
| Q: I desperately need some advice on how to manage TMJ pain! One of my dentists had me using all these ... A: Meredith, I am sorry to hear that you are in pain. I will not be able to get you more comfortable ... | |
| Fracturing Teeth | 12/13/2007 |
| Q: I'm 19 years old, and for the past couple of years I have had horrible dental hygiene. It got so ... A: Tucker, Tooth enamel is like glass and can develop incomplete cracks. These can remain dormant, or ... | |
| Extractions on #2, 3, and 4 | 12/12/2007 |
| Q: I just came from the dentist this morning and found out that I either have to have root canals on ... A: Kristen, Root canal therapy is highly successful and has been used to save millions of teeth. ... | |
| root canal during pregnancy | 12/11/2007 |
| Q: .i just missed my periods and got a confirmation that i am pregnanct today and yesterday because of ... A: Pallavi, Elective dental care is best deferred until the second trimester, which is the safest time ... | |
| a topical pain syndrome | 12/9/2007 |
| Q: I had an abscessed tooth, it was pulled and 3 months later a bridge was put on. Once the bridge went ... A: Diana, Each tooth nerve has a limited capacity to heal. A little of this capacity is used up each ... | |
| Infected exploded wisdom tooth | 12/5/2007 |
| Q: I have an infected wisdom tooth and my dentist recommends extraction. I don't have insurance and ... A: Jules, There is no way to know for sure. If you are otherwise healthy, the infection may settle ... | |
| why does it hurt to chew? | 12/2/2007 |
| Q: I'm 27 and my dentist has recently retired and I have a new one. Every time I went to the dentist ... A: Crystal, It is normal for new fillings to be sensitive. Some people experience this more than ... | |
| Valium | 12/2/2007 |
| Q: I am going to the dentist in 2 days. I am having 2 root canals. One is under a crown which will ... A: Wendy, Congratulations for making the commitment to have your teeth fixed. Nitrous oxide is a gas ... | |
| Nose/Sinus problems as a result of dental work? | 12/1/2007 |
| Q: Scherr, About two weeks ago I had extensive dental repairs on my top 6 front teeth. As usual, ... A: Kat, I know of no pathway that would allow a standard dental injection in that region to enter the ... | |
| Abscess and Root Canal on Front Tooth | 12/1/2007 |
| Q: My dentist said that I had an abscess on my gum above my front tooth from a dead nerve and he then ... A: Janelle, The answer to your question depends on what is causing the swelling to expand. Do not ... | |
| dislocated mandibles | 11/29/2007 |
| Q: can having a dental cleaning and x-ray cause your jaws/mandibles to dislocate a few days later? A: Peggy, A dental cleaning and xrays cannot of itself cause the jaw to dislocate. I suppose, ... | |
| night guard | 10/18/2007 |
| Q: Scherr, I just got a night guard and my friend was shocked to learn that it does not surround the ... A: Leslie, There are different kinds of night guards. The more traditional appliance covers all of ... | |
| Can a filling change tooth alignment? | 10/15/2007 |
| Q: This almost seems silly, given how solidly teeth are rooted in the jaw. But after the anesthesia ... A: Jim, Unless the tooth was loose before the filling was placed, tooth alignment does not change ... | |
| abscess | 10/15/2007 |
| Q: is extraction an option for an abscessed tooth, or does the infection have to be treated first? A: Tony, It depends. If there is significant swelling present, or if one has a medical condition that ... | |
| Old silver filling replacement | 10/14/2007 |
| Q: I had a very large old silver filling replaced with the new clear/white filling material. It has ... A: Marci, I am sorry to hear that you have been uncomfortable. Each tooth has a limited capacity to ... | |
| Dry Socket | 10/13/2007 |
| Q: I had #30 molar extracted on Monday (5 days ago), it was a very difficult extraction. I have visably ... A: Sandra, A dry socket is caused by a defective clot. The defective clot fails to produce an ... | |
| Tongue Still Numb | 10/12/2007 |
| Q: about a week ago i had a root canal and extraction done. When i went in for the procedure the ... A: Joe, Persistent numbness is a side effect of local anesthesia that occurs after a very small number ... | |
| Normal to lose top lateral incisor first? | 10/12/2007 |
| Q: My son who is 3 months shy of his 6 th b-day came home from school with a sore tooth that was loose. ... A: Bobby, The central incisors (the very front teeth) are most often lost first. However, there is ... | |
| Help for Son's Dental Issues | 10/11/2007 |
| Q: My son, who is 31, had a horrible time with tooth decay as a child. He brushed twice a day, had ... A: Nora, Gum disease occurs because germs invade the gap between the tooth and gum. This will heal ... | |
| My teeth no longer get numb | 10/11/2007 |
| Q: Over the last 10 years I have had a great deal of dental work--I have many crowns and a brdge. In ... A: Rita, There are several possibilities. First, some dentists are more talented at giving injections ... | |
| To crown or not to crown | 10/11/2007 |
| Q: Do all teeth undergoing RCT need to be crowned afterwards? I may need a lower canine tooth root ... A: Kendra, Teeth are weakened following root canal therapy primarily because of past damage from prior ... | |
| Help for Son's Dental Issues | 10/11/2007 |
| Q: My son, who is 31, had a horrible time with tooth decay as a child. He brushed twice a day, had ... A: Nora, Jim is very fortunate to have someone like you that cares about him. Your encouragement and ... | |
| pain in tooth | 10/9/2007 |
| Q: I had a deep root canal about 1 year ago, I am having a dull ache in that same area, can I have ... A: Molly, Decay can form in a tooth previously treated with root canal therapy. However, the decay ... | |
| Deep cleaning | 10/8/2007 |
| Q: Scherr, How are you? In order to put brace on, I was told that I need a deep cleaning, so I did it ... A: Xin, It is not possible for a deep cleaning to directly cause the symptoms described. However, any ... | |
| locking, clicking and painful jaw | 10/6/2007 |
| Q: About 3 months ago, I couldn't open my mouth enough to take the toothbrush from my mouth. But it ... A: Charmae, It is likely that you have either a jaw muscle cramp from grinding or clenching the teeth ... | |
| Expander | 10/4/2007 |
| Q: I am 35 year old male. My upper jaw is narrow, and need expanding. The Orthodontist is planned to ... A: Elliott, The use of a palatal expander in an adult will typically tip the teeth without actually ... | |
| Crown done by two doctors? | 10/3/2007 |
| Q: Dr. Scherr, I have three questions for you. I scheduled to do a crown on a tooth that had root canal ... A: Angelica, There is no problem flying after a crown procedure. The trouble is that should some type ... | |
| lock jaw | 10/3/2007 |
| Q: last time I whent to the dentist I had to re due my cavities. I had all my silver fillings replaced ... A: Therese, In order to serve as many people as possible, I limit responses to 2 questions per person ... | |
| should work be done on infected tooth? | 10/2/2007 |
| Q: I saw a dentist on an emergency basis. The dentist took one Xray and said I had a cavity. I had ... A: Malencie, I don't know Dr. Price. However, if he is saying these things he is doing a tremendous ... | |
| TMJ & Nightguard | 10/1/2007 |
| Q: I have been wearing a night guard now for a couple of months and can definitely feel an improvement ... A: Rayanne, It depends. The faster the appliance wears out, the more it was needed. A nightguard ... | |
| should work be done on infected tooth? | 9/30/2007 |
| Q: I saw a dentist on an emergency basis. The dentist took one Xray and said I had a cavity. I had ... A: Malencie, It depends. If the tooth is infected in an otherwise healthy individual and there is ... | |
| Immediate partial helps healing, or not? | 9/27/2007 |
| Q: Scherr I would like to know what is the best procedure for optimum healing of a socket. I am 54, dx ... A: Skye, Partial typically refers to any removable tooth replacement for one or more teeth, but less ... | |
| post extraction infection | 9/26/2007 |
| Q: I had my 4 wisdom teeth extracted last Friday. Since then an infection developed in the socket of ... A: Joanna, Sorry to hear that you have had so much trouble with this thing. If the swelling doesn't ... | |
| Immediate partial helps healing, or not? | 9/26/2007 |
| Q: Scherr I would like to know what is the best procedure for optimum healing of a socket. I am 54, dx ... A: Skye, An extraction socket tends to heal faster if left uncovered. However, complete initial ... | |
| toothache after cap | 9/25/2007 |
| Q: I recently had a cap put on a broken tooth. My tooth broke over 10 years ago and more than half the ... A: Elise, I am sorry to hear that you are uncomfortable. Every tooth has a limited capacity to heal. ... | |
| dentures in ultraviolet light | 9/20/2007 |
| Q: when i am in a disco and ultraviolet light is present it shows my own teeth white, but my dentures ... A: Pat, Certain types of denture teeth fluoresce in ultraviolet light. The only way to correct this ... | |
| veneer and crown color match | 9/20/2007 |
| Q: I recently had 5 veneers and 3 crowns placed on my teeth. The veneers are darker than the crowns. My ... A: Sally, I am sorry to hear that you are not happy with the esthetic result achieved. This can be ... | |
| overbite | 9/19/2007 |
| Q: I have been told in the past that I have TMJ but recently ( im 28) dentists have not mentioned it. ... A: Aubrey, At the age of 28, the use of a palatal expander would require surgery to open the ... | |
| Tooth growing downward in to jaw | 9/18/2007 |
| Q: my wife and I just got back from taking our children to the dentist/orthodontist, and are quite ... A: Jim, This is actually a common situation. I have never heard of the permanent tooth root growing ... | |
| crowns | 9/11/2007 |
| Q: What is the difference between procera crowns and procelain high noble crown? A: Denise, The porcelain high noble crown has a precious metal frame (usually gold) beneath the tooth ... | |
| Pain In Amalgam Filled Teeth | 9/7/2007 |
| Q: Approximately one month ago, I went to a dentist without having been to one in over 3-4 years. ... A: Ryan, I am sorry to hear you have been having problems with your new fillings. I cannot tell you ... | |
| root canal | 9/6/2007 |
| Q: I have a question about my mouth as ia had a root canal done 2 months ago it was the front tooth and ... A: Mona, I agree that 3 months is a long time to wait with an infection. This is the part where we ... | |
| impressions on bone graft area | 9/5/2007 |
| Q: I've recently has a few of my teethe extracted due to periodontal disease (although 3 of them were ... A: May, When impressions are made before the teeth are removed, determination of the healed shape of ... | |
| Occlusion | 9/4/2007 |
| Q: I have been having problems with my front bite, it feels terribly wrong. I have a bottom partial ... A: Linda, Sight unseen, it is not possible for me to know whether the bite on your partial can be ... | |
| pressure after a composite filling | 9/3/2007 |
| Q: I had a filling on Wednesday on my bottom right molar I think it was #31. I have since felt a dull ... A: Kathy, This is normal. The tooth may need a liitle time to get used to the new filling. Give it a ... | |
| Trigeminal Neuralgia and Antibiotics | 9/2/2007 |
| Q: I've been told by 2 dentists and an ENT that I have Trigeminal Neuralgia. Problem is, I only have ... A: Sophia, I am sorry to hear you have been suffering with this. There are many possible sources of ... | |
| removing all wisdom teeth at once | 8/30/2007 |
| Q: this mymy husband needs to have his wisdom teeth removed.His surgeon told him that all 4 should be ... A: Liza, This is a personal decision. There is no right or wrong answer. Here are the facts. The ... | |
| chemical burn from ZOOM bleaching | 8/30/2007 |
| Q: I had the ZOOM bleaching on my teeth two days ago and the bleach connected with my gums above my ... A: Lisa, The gum will heal fine in 7-10 days. You don't need to do anything special. Brush gently in ... | |
| TMJ | 8/30/2007 |
| Q: I have recently visited the dentist concerning TMJ which I believe that I have. I do not have ... A: Mellisa, I agree that your symptoms are consistant with a TMJ problem. Xrays are an important tool ... | |
| root canal and breastfeeding | 8/29/2007 |
| Q: my dentist would not perform root canal while i was pregnant but i now have an appointment. is it ... A: Krystal, Congratulations on your new addition. Yes, root canal therapy is extremely safe while ... | |
| daughter's broken tooth | 8/29/2007 |
| Q: My daughter is age 7 and had an accident today whilst she was sailing and her front 2 teeth ... A: Natalie, This is a very individual thing. You know your daughter best and what she is likely to ... | |
| temporaries and pain | 8/28/2007 |
| Q: I'm in the process of having two bridges (each 3-units; I'm missing #7 & #10) and two veneers done ... A: A high spot occurs where the temporary is a little too thick and causes the bite to hit heavy. This ... | |
| temporaries and pain | 8/28/2007 |
| Q: I'm in the process of having two bridges (each 3-units; I'm missing #7 & #10) and two veneers done ... A: Michelle, There are a number of possible causes of the kind of pain experienced. This could be due ... | |
| Dental Night Guard | 8/27/2007 |
| Q: Steven Scherr: Why is dental night guard typically fitted on the upper instead of the lower teeth? ... A: J, A dental night guard can be fitted to either the upper or lower teeth. I find most people ... | |
| Gums Bleeding at Night Only ... | 8/26/2007 |
| Q: I have been diagnosed as having sensitive gums that show advanced gingivitis and a periodontist also ... A: Jay, If your gums are inflamed but don't bleed when you brush then it means one of two things. ... | |
| jaw ache | 8/26/2007 |
| Q: I had a filling on Monday (it is now Saturday) and I've had a progressively worse jaw ache ... A: Shannon, Every tooth has a limited capacity to heal. A little of this capacity is used up every ... | |
| tooth pain | 8/25/2007 |
| Q: I went to the dentist because I sometimes have pain when chewing something hard. It's been going on ... A: Lauren, While there are a number of possibilities, the most common would be a crack in the tooth. ... | |
| Wisdom Tooth Extraction aftercare | 8/24/2007 |
| Q: I recently had my 2 lower wisdom teeth removed. The dentist said it was probably the most difficult ... A: David, I can provide only partial information I am afraid. A drain is placed when there is deep ... | |
| crown replacement | 8/24/2007 |
| Q: The crown seems too big for the tooth and food has been getting stuck between the teeth since then. ... A: Jenny, I understand your caution and concerns. Unfortunately, the only way to be absolutely sure ... | |
| husband's crown falling off | 8/23/2007 |
| Q: My husband had a crown put on in early 2003. He noticed a funny taste after a few months and then ... A: Holly, I am sorry to hear of your husband's troubles. A crown can come loose for a variety of ... | |
| TMJ dysfunction after filling done | 8/22/2007 |
| Q: I had a tooth filled about 2 weeks ago. After the freezing wore off, I experienced excruciating ... A: Isidora, There are a number of possibilities. However, it is most likely due to a bruise at the ... | |
| oral flora | 8/22/2007 |
| Q: My 19 yr old daughter was just told her enamal is being "eaten away" (I saw pictures that show ... A: Melanie, There are no magic pills. The solution is to develop daily home care skills so the ... | |
| after extraction | 8/22/2007 |
| Q: got my tooth pulled #20 on 8/20/07. everything went fine bleeding stopped within a few hours. woke ... A: Patrick, A little swelling at the immediate extraction site is normal. The tissue may appear ... | |
| tori/torus | 8/22/2007 |
| Q: I am 70 years old and in excellent shape. I have all my teeth with several crowned molars and see ... A: Kaycee, Tori are slow growing nodules of bone. They are considered a variation of normal. The ... | |
| Jaw Pain after 2 Crowns | 8/21/2007 |
| Q: It has been one month since I have had 2 gold crowns placed. Sorry I don't know the correct numbers ... A: Karen, There are several possibilities: 1. The crowns are too high. This can cause the teeth to ... | |
| dental implant | 8/21/2007 |
| Q: I've had a dental implsnt for a number of years and the other night I felt that it had become ... A: Louis, It depends. A "slightly" loose implant is like being "slightly" pregnant. The attachment ... | |
| Should I switch dentists? Or is there anything I can do? | 8/20/2007 |
| Q: I've had good experiences with dentists, in 4 states! However, I'm not so sure about my new ... A: Cynthia, I am sorry to hear of your difficulties. With the degree of swelling described, you need ... | |
| Ongoing numbness after WT extraction 17 y/o | 8/20/2007 |
| Q: My daughter had all 4 wisdom teeth removed mid-June. She is complaining that her right-side jaw/chin ... A: Laura, As the lower wisdom teeth often sit very close to the main sensory nerve trunk in the jaw, ... | |
| Baby Teeth | 8/20/2007 |
| Q: I am 23 years old and I still have one baby tooth left. I've lost 2-3 in the past 6 years or so. ... A: Hoan, At the age of 23, there is little likelihood that your permanent tooth will move into place ... | |
| external resorption | 8/18/2007 |
| Q: I HAVE EXTERNAL RESORPTION ON #25. THERE IS A HOLE BY THE GUM LINE ON THE INSIDE. IS A ROOT CANAL ... A: Dan, People who have resorption of one tooth are more susceptible to developing resorption on ... | |
| pain after wisdom teeth removal | 8/18/2007 |
| Q: I had my wisdom teeth removed 10 days ago. The first 3 days seemed to go fine. On the 4th day i ... A: Magdalene, Initial healing following removal of wisdom teeth tends to take 6-8 weeks. Soreness and ... | |
| veneer vs crown | 8/18/2007 |
| Q: I had a root canal done on an upper incisor in 2003. The tooth began darkening at the top about 2 ... A: Kathy, Both a well made veneer or crown will require irreversible reshaping of the tooth. Some ... | |
| Lump on Gum After Getting Braces On | 8/16/2007 |
| Q: My daughter got braces on on Monday. She now has a pea-sized lump on the gum next to the bottom ... A: Kim, The lump could be due to irritation from the procedure, a small piece of extra glue trapped ... | |
| How to prevent cavities + fillings | 8/16/2007 |
| Q: I went for my dental appt last week and got a filling on my upper right last wisdom tooth on the ... A: Susan, As the filling was near the gum line, the gum was likely traumatized in order to can access ... | |
| cavities after cleaning | 8/15/2007 |
| Q: I had a cavity when I was about 13yrs old. I'm pretty sure it was caused from when I went to sleep ... A: Tina, There is an old saying that if you ask ten dentists, you will get eleven different opinions. ... | |
| Primary second molar extraction | 8/15/2007 |
| Q: I have a six year old daughter who unfortunately has a fear of dental treatment. Six months ago she ... A: Jonathan, It can be a challenge to treat a fearful and uncooperative child. In the process of ... | |
| discomfort from high filling | 8/14/2007 |
| Q: I recently had two fillings on the lower left side back two molars. The dentist left the filling ... A: Carmen, I am sorry to hear of your difficulties. A high filling is sometimes an unavoidable ... | |
| root canal | 8/14/2007 |
| Q: i have never been to see a dentist before. i am 24 years old. Recently, i started feeling this ... A: Ade, Not at all. Root canal therapy is done very routinely today with success rates exceeding 90%. ... | |
| Sensitivity or cavity | 8/10/2007 |
| Q: I have a couple of fillings - one deep, one not so deep on either side of my mouth. They seem to be ... A: Ann, Sensitivity can be the result of several possibilities: 1. Each tooth has a limited capacity ... | |
| Tooth Pain | 8/9/2007 |
| Q: Some Background information is important before I ask so I am not limiting the answer. I had a ... A: Julie, At this point, it makes the most sense to wait a few days and see what happens. Teeth ... | |
| white marks on teeth | 8/9/2007 |
| Q: I've recently had my braces removed after having them for about 3 years. I have noticed 2 small ... A: Kate, You have described well the typical cause of white spots after the removal of braces. Braces ... | |
| Tooth Pain | 8/8/2007 |
| Q: Some Background information is important before I ask so I am not limiting the answer. I had a ... A: Julie, I am sorry to hear that you have been uncomfortable. Sinus pain can refer to the upper back ... | |
| Night Guard | 8/3/2007 |
| Q: Good evening! What is the usual thickness of a night guard to "reprogram" me to stop ... A: Michael, Actually, neither is correct. A well made and adjusted night guard is beneficial to those ... | |
| Braces and tongue position | 8/3/2007 |
| Q: I have been trying to correct my tongue thrust as I am expecting to have braces fitted in the next ... A: Mike, An anterior tongue thrust would be expected to have the greatest impact on the position of ... | |
| crown | 8/1/2007 |
| Q: Doctor i had a root canal done on my lower wisdom tooth ,46 days back.However the dentist put only a ... A: Dinesh, A specific answer to your question would require a physical exam and is beyond the scope of ... | |
| Damage? | 7/28/2007 |
| Q: In a soccer game recently I got hit in the mouth by another persons head. Afterwards 4 of my teeth ... A: Kara, It is important to see a dentist promptly and have an xray made. This will both serve to ... | |
| Burning sensation in root canal tooth | 7/26/2007 |
| Q: I've had TMJ problems for about 5 years. I Have spent several Thousand of dollars with differant TMJ ... A: Tara, There are a number of different possibilities. It may be that the root canal is not yet ... | |
| severe teeth and jaw pain | 7/24/2007 |
| Q: My drama started in Sept 06- Severe pain and pressure on top right teeth, I had a CT scan that ... A: Terri, I am sorry to hear of your difficulties and ongoing pain. The problems you describe involve ... | |
| Impacted Wisdom Teeth | 7/19/2007 |
| Q: What is your take on removing impacted wisdom teeth just because? Do they really need removed? ... A: Marie, Wisdom teeth should never be removed without a good reason. Though serious complications ... | |
| Wisdom teeth removal side effects. | 7/18/2007 |
| Q: I heard that remove wisdom teeth can have bad side effect such us facial collapsing and appearance ... A: Kenny, This can occur following removal of the first and second molars (the teeth immediately in ... | |
| dental dam pain | 7/16/2007 |
| Q: I went to the dentist for a routine replacement of an old filling ~ first time with this dentist in ... A: Maree, While I can't tell you for certain, I suspect the clip for the dam grabbed the gum instead ... | |
| Hole in my tooth | 7/13/2007 |
| Q: In one of my very back teeth, I have a massive hole..it's very painful and I do believe the hole ... A: Sam, It sounds like you have a big cavity in your tooth. It is important to see a dentist ASAP. ... | |
| dentures | 7/3/2007 |
| Q: I have problems with my teeth. I have all crowns except for one, plus permanent bridges. My problem ... A: Cheryl, Unfortunately, most complete dentures will need to cover the roof of the mouth for support. ... | |
| Extraction/Implant | 7/2/2007 |
| Q: I'll try to ask two simple questions. 1) I was told an old crown was "leaking" and needed to be ... A: Matthew, Perfect. Naturally, I have no way of knowing the condition of the tooth. There are times ... | |
| Cosmetic Dentistry | 7/2/2007 |
| Q: I am interested in becoming a Cosmetic Dentist. I have been looking online to find information, but ... A: Cindy, Before one can become a cosmetic dentist, one must first become a dentist. This entails a 4 ... | |
| Scaling and Root Planing Post Procedure Headache | 7/1/2007 |
| Q: I had scaling and root planing work done on the top right side teeth and developed a headache on the ... A: Paul, The teeth are part of the same trigeminal nervous system that is responsible for most ... | |
| What is the best mouthrinse and diet softdrinks | 6/29/2007 |
| Q: Of the following mouthwashes which do you recommend to prevent dental cavities: ACT or generic ... A: James, As you have suggested, the best mouthrinses for cavity protection are those that contain ... | |
| Pain in left upper and lower jaw after 2 temp crowns | 6/27/2007 |
| Q: I had two temp crowns in back molars on left side (one on top, one on bottom 0 because my teeth are ... A: Roberta, A dental injection is a blind procedure that is guided by "usual" anatomy. The dentist ... | |
| filling/crown after root canal on front tooth? | 6/27/2007 |
| Q: I've had a root canal done on a front tooth, which has a temp filling in it. Endo said I could just ... A: Steve, Based on your description, there would be no compromise in doing the filling now and the ... | |
| Pain after extraction of #19 not dry socket | 6/26/2007 |
| Q: Why am I having pain in my left ear and face after extraction of #19. I went back to the Dentist ... A: Pam, I am sorry to hear you are in pain. There are several possible causes of your pain. Three ... | |
| temp crown and ruxism | 6/25/2007 |
| Q: Dr. Scherr, Hi, I had a large amalgam removed from my rear molar and prepped for a crown one week ... A: Hanna, It is best to take your night guard to your dentist and have it checked before wearing it. ... | |
| abscess- getting better or worse? | 6/25/2007 |
| Q: My husband has an abcsess, finally went to the dentist Thursday who gave him PCN and Lortab. Even ... A: Leslie, Dental abscesses are not very successfully treated with antibiotics alone. Antibiotics are ... | |
| Biting Pain with Crowns | 6/24/2007 |
| Q: I had a permanent crown replacement about four weeks ago. When they finished it, there was ... A: Rocky, Sorry to hear you have been uncomfortable. Each tooth has a limited capacity to heal. A ... | |
| Tooth knocked out of place | 6/23/2007 |
| Q: One of my front teeth was knocked backwards 7 days ago and the root of the tooth went forward ... A: Dale, Unfortunately, the tooth is not likely to be successfully repositioned at this point. If the ... | |
| crowns | 6/20/2007 |
| Q: Is it normal for a dentist to drill down a crown that I have had for a long time to make a new crown ... A: Mindi, Lets take your questions one at a time. Is it normal for a dentist to drill down a crown ... | |
| Burning Mouth Syndrome | 6/19/2007 |
| Q: I was hospitalized a year ago and suffered respiratory distress syndrome. As a result, I had to be ... A: Victoria, I am sorry to hear of your troubles. Burning mouth syndrome is really a diagnosis by ... | |
| Novacaine injections | 5/31/2007 |
| Q: I has 4 iinjections yesterday and could not be numbed for a root canal. Procedure went on and I am ... A: Patricia, The area that is injected for an upper molar has a rich plexus of blood vessels that may ... | |
| can root-canals cause systemic health problems | 5/30/2007 |
| Q: Scherr, Apologies in advance for this involved question, but this issue has de-railed my dental ... A: Thomas, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO TRUTH TO WHAT YOU HEARD FROM THESE "UNASSOCIATED DENTISTS". Root ... | |
| Second set of vaneers... | 5/29/2007 |
| Q: Scherr, I originally had veneers done ten years ago and then recently I began having them done in ... A: Mindi, Sorry to hear of your difficulties. Sensitivity following the placement of new veneers can ... | |
| burning mouth | 5/27/2007 |
| Q: About two weeks ago Istarted gettinga burning sensation mostly on the tipp ofmy tongue. about 3 ... A: Bob, The red dot on your tongue could represent many different things. Some of the most common ... | |
| Novacaine | 5/26/2007 |
| Q: Hola, I've read quite a bit about Novocaine and the soreness associated with it, but I ... A: Kiara, Sorry to hear of your discomfort. It is likely that the muscles were bruised during the ... | |
| Cosmetic crowns | 5/26/2007 |
| Q: I had horrible front teeth. I decided to have crowns put on 5 front teeth. The problem now is that I ... A: Dorothy, The shape and position of the front teeth do impact the speech pattern. Cosmetic ... | |
| pain in teeth | 5/21/2007 |
| Q: I was wondering if it was possible for tooth/jaw pain to become heightened during menstruation? ... A: Jillian, This is not a silly question at all. Pain from the face is managed primarily by the ... | |
| bite problems after dental work | 5/20/2007 |
| Q: Would a TMD specialist be the right kind of specialist to diagnose and help resolve bite problems ... A: Stephanie, The American Dental Association does not recognize a specialty in TMD. As a result, ... | |
| Loose Front Teeth | 5/19/2007 |
| Q: I'm a terrible grinder and for the last 2 years a horrible clencher. I've read one of your other ... A: Angela, It depends. A night guard appliance stops night clenching and grinding for 15-20% of ... | |
| Cosmetic Dentistry? Am I able | 5/17/2007 |
| Q: I am 27 years old, and have horrible teeth, runs in the family. If their not missing their rotting, ... A: Lea, Lumineers are meant for teeth with little or no damage. However, there are many options ... | |
| Success Rate for Cracked Teeth | 4/17/2007 |
| Q: What is the success rate in treating cracked teeth with Root canal and crown? Am I better extracting ... A: Randy, It depends on the orientation and location of the crack. In general, vertically oriented ... | |
| Maryland Bridge w/ Underbite | 4/16/2007 |
| Q: I have an underbite and was wondering if it would be feasible for me to get a maryland bridge to ... A: B., An underbite typically refers to little overlap of the upper and lower front teeth. If the ... | |
| numb tongue after crown replacement | 4/16/2007 |
| Q: Scherr, Eight days ago I had a crown replaced because a cavity had developed under the crown. (I ... A: Don, I am sorry to hear that you had a rough experience. Though some are more gentle about it than ... | |
| Empress v Procera crowns | 4/13/2007 |
| Q: I need to have 8 top teeth crowned due to grinding my teeth while sleeping. Please give advice in ... A: Valia, Both Procera and Empress are all-porcelain crowns and provide excellent esthetics. ... | |
| jaw pain after extraction | 4/12/2007 |
| Q: Dr, over 4 months ago I had tooth # 1 extracted to try to relieve what the oral surgeon thought was ... A: Michelle, It is likely that your discomfort will continue to improve with time. It isn't clear to ... | |
| TMJ deviation | 4/10/2007 |
| Q: When I open and close my mouth my jaw really deviates badly. I have pain after eating. I had braces ... A: If a splint is used as a part of therapy, it will act like a retainer in that it will keep the teeth ... | |
| TMJ deviation | 4/10/2007 |
| Q: When I open and close my mouth my jaw really deviates badly. I have pain after eating. I had braces ... A: Your problem requires a physical exam. The best I can do in this format is to offer some general ... | |
| During Bridge Fitting I Bit My Tongue from Being Numb | 4/9/2007 |
| Q: Scherr, I am pretty upset right now. I just came from the dentist where he fitted my permanent ... A: Gloria, I am not an endocrinologist, but I know of no connection with the novocaine experience. ... | |
| abscessed tooth | 4/9/2007 |
| Q: Scherr, I broke a tooth off sometime after they had performed a root canal on it. When I went in ... A: Linda, You are right on top of it. An abscessed tooth is an active infection in the jaw bone. The ... | |
| Temp Crown for 6 months | 4/6/2007 |
| Q: My endodontist wants to remove a molar crown, do the root canal, then replace the SAME temporary ... A: Renee, If the teeth and gums are kept very clean, and the temporary crown fits well, there should ... | |
| Teeth cleaning ( Hygenist) | 4/5/2007 |
| Q: How often should one get their teeth cleaned by a hygienist? A: John, It depends. A young healthy person with a clean dental history should see a hygienist every ... | |
| Tool mbroke off during root canal | 4/5/2007 |
| Q: I had a root canal done this morning and when the doctor was finish he told me that he broke off a ... A: Rose, I doubt the instrument broke off in the gum. It is much more likely to have broken off ... | |
| Burning tounge | 4/3/2007 |
| Q: Over a year ago I open up cleocin capsules and mixed it with applesauce because I could not swallow ... A: Michelle, Sorry to hear that you have been uncomfortable. If an entire week went by after taking ... | |
| Gum, jaw and neck pain | 4/1/2007 |
| Q: I have been having constant jaw and gum pain...lower gum and jaw. I don't have TMJ. Most of my ... A: Karen, I am sorry to hear that you have been uncomfortable. There are a number of possibilities. ... | |
| Bruxism, loose front teeth | 3/30/2007 |
| Q: Recently, I discovered that my two upper front teeth are loose. I am 32 years old and no trauma has ... A: Paige, It is important how the teeth fit together. However, it is probably much more important ... | |
| X-rays | 3/29/2007 |
| Q: How often should dental patients get a FULL set of x-rays? A: Mike, It depends. Age, dental health, past dental history, and medical health all play a role in ... | |
| Bruxism, loose front teeth | 3/29/2007 |
| Q: Recently, I discovered that my two upper front teeth are loose. I am 32 years old and no trauma has ... A: Paige, Grinding and clenching can occur during sleep and/or during the day. Night bruxism is a ... | |
| Nitrous Oxide | 3/28/2007 |
| Q: I am considering the use of this for my upcoming dental work as I tense up when the shots are ... A: Susan, Nitrous oxide doesn't stop pain, it just makes one not care so much about it during the ... | |
| silver vs porcelian | 3/28/2007 |
| Q: My new dentist says he has only done one silver filling is his life and recommends a porcelian ... A: Ted, This is a matter of personal preference and some controversy within the dental profession. ... | |
| Temp Crown | 3/27/2007 |
| Q: My dentist put a temp crown on a tooth, ordered the permanent crown and now it may need a root canal ... A: Kaitlyn, Not to worry. Your dentist can fabricate a core that will fit within the crown. Even in ... | |
| teet | 3/26/2007 |
| Q: blood is coming from front down 4teets during brassing time.how to stop that? A: NIRML, Sounds like you have a gum infection. You will need to see your dentist and have it checked ... | |
| NTI guard | 3/21/2007 |
| Q: What is your opinion on this nightguard? I have clenching and posterior side to side grinding where ... A: Rachal, Though I've never used it, many of my colleagues report good success with the NTI. I find ... | |
| To fill or crown? | 3/19/2007 |
| Q: A have a molar that has a huge filling that just broke. My dentist has given me choice between ... A: Mike, The real question is, if you choose a new filling, will it increase your odds of keeping the ... | |
| Cracked Tooth | 3/18/2007 |
| Q: What are the odds that while prepping a molar for a crown that a cracked tooth would crack worse? ... A: It depends. Assuming the tooth has not previously received root canal therapy, the nerve inside the ... | |
| Crown Still Okay? | 3/15/2007 |
| Q: I've just gone through the long and somewhat arduous process of having an implant put in--an ... A: Evan, Sorry to hear of your difficulties. If the stool is checked carefully, the crown should pass ... | |
| Abscess of side of root | 3/10/2007 |
| Q: I had a premolar extracted on Thursday due to severe pain after a root canal treatment. I had waited ... A: Joanne, The nerve chamber inside a tooth often consists of a complex series of interconnecting ... | |
| TMJ and missing teeth | 3/6/2007 |
| Q: I developed TMJ pain on my one side because of missing several molars for 3 years. I had been in ... A: Chris, There are many different types of TMJ pain. However, you can sort most types into one of ... | |
| Opening Jaw | 3/3/2007 |
| Q: When I open and close my jaw my mouth seems to veer to one side. Its not closing straight. I noticed ... A: Carla, If there are no other problems such as jaw pain, restricted opening, difficulty eating, or ... | |
| Crowning? | 2/28/2007 |
| Q: My 2 upper bicuspid sits almost 2 mm lower than the adjacent teeth and before I get my lower 2nd ... A: Helen, It makes sense to even up the bite as part of the dental treatment plan. An uneven bite ... | |
| loose baby teeth | 2/27/2007 |
| Q: I hope you can help me. My grandson fell and hit his 2 upper front teeth. He was 19 mo old when he ... A: Trauma to the baby teeth can result in damage that may or may not be able to heal. If the baby ... | |
| Root Canal | 2/26/2007 |
| Q: Im going for a root canal tomorrow and im so scared i have heard it so pain ful is it and do they ... A: Jody, Relax! I don't know who you have been talking to. Most root canals are totally pain-free ... | |
| Tooth Problem | 2/24/2007 |
| Q: As I currently do not have access to a proper dentist in my area, could i kindly seek your ... A: Martin, It is likely that the tooth has been traumatized. What isn't known is whether or not the ... | |
| Hypodontia | 2/23/2007 |
| Q: My son (16) is missing two teeth next to his front teeth on each side. X-rays show that there are ... A: Joann, There is no single answer to your question. Veneers can be helpful in some cases, but not ... | |
| Occasional pain and funny taste | 2/21/2007 |
| Q: Scherr, I have been dealing with occasional tooth pain in the third tooth from the back in the top ... A: M.L., There are a number of possibilities. The circumstances described create a suspicion of a ... | |
| Hydrogen Peroxide | 2/18/2007 |
| Q: Would you recommend using Hydrogen Peroxide as a mouthwash? If so, what would be a good ... A: Ammar, Hydrogen peroxide has been promoted to do the things that you suggest. However, there is no ... | |
| eyeteeth crowns | 2/16/2007 |
| Q: I used to have upper eye teeth with keen ends. Some time ago my dentist told me that it did not look ... A: Jan, It is important how the teeth fit together. However, it is probably even more important what ... | |
| Fillings! | 2/11/2007 |
| Q: I had fillings put in about two weeks ago and now I experience a little pain while eating certain ... A: Andy, Sorry to hear that you have been uncomfortable. Fillings are placed because there has been ... | |
| TMJ/midline deviation | 2/10/2007 |
| Q: My lower jaw deviates about 4 or 5 mm to the left. I have some TMJ symptoms: my jaw pops on the ... A: Brenda, You are correct. TMJ damage is capable of causing the bite to shift in a way that can make ... | |
| tooth extraction and tmj | 2/10/2007 |
| Q: I had a left back molar extracted on Tuesday and ever since I have had pains going from my jaw to my ... A: Amy, What you describe is normal. However, this doesn't mean that you do or do not have a TMJ ... | |
| front tooth problem | 2/9/2007 |
| Q: Dr. Scherr! Also, my son's dentist says he needs a root canal on a tooth right next to his upper ... A: Loretta, You ask a great question. In some cases, the tooth pulp (which contains the nerve) ... | |
| Crowns and Implants | 2/9/2007 |
| Q: I need two lower molar implants and bone grafting. And I need two new crowns on the adjacent teeth. ... A: Pat, There is no single right answer to this question. Sequencing is dependent on many factors. ... | |
| front tooth problem | 2/8/2007 |
| Q: Dr. Scherr, Today I looked in the mirror and it looks like one of my upper front teeth has somehow ... A: Loretta, Teeth are like glass. Partial cracks can develop. Sometimes, the crack remains unchanged ... | |
| Enquiry | 2/4/2007 |
| Q: My neice is one year old and her front two teeth (incisor) are getting light black colour, could you ... A: Kashif, This could be colored bacteria growing on the surface of the teeth, be the result of a ... | |
| Re: One more question | 1/12/2007 |
| Q: Dr. Scherr, Many, many thanks for answering my last question(s). If I could ask one more: Could ... A: Pete, Yes, these are possible. A neuroma is one possible cause of atypical odontalgia. I am ... | |
| Another question | 1/11/2007 |
| Q: Dr. Scherr, Thanks a million for the last response. I will hold off on having # 3 extracted. I am ... A: Pete, Lyrica is a good medication for neurologic pain. However, not everyone responds equally to ... | |
| re: nerve pain | 1/10/2007 |
| Q: Dr. Scherr, About 2 years ago, I had rtc on tooth #3. 6 months later i was still having pain, so ... A: Pete, It is normal to become frustrated. It is unlikely that extraction of #3 will provide any ... | |
| Wisdom teeth extraction with tmj. | 1/10/2007 |
| Q: I have suffered with severe tmj pain, clicking and swelling for three years following chiropractic ... A: Vanessa, Stretching the mouth open wide for surgical access during removal of wisdom teeth has the ... | |
| Numbness after wisdom teeth extraction | 1/9/2007 |
| Q: Scherr First, I would like to thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. I had my upper ... A: Rachael, I am sorry to hear of your situation. Nerve damage can occur during removal of the wisdom ... | |
| Root canal question | 1/8/2007 |
| Q: I just saw my dentist for a cracked molar, I bit down on a very hard nut and cracked a corner of one ... A: Paula, It is normal to feel apprehensive about a procedure when nothing hurts or seems wrong. I ... | |
| Tiny chip in one of my 2 front teeth | 1/7/2007 |
| Q: As stupid as it sounds, I was biting on a needle trying to get it unstuck from underneath threading ... A: Shannon, The chip may or may not change over time. It is best to see your dentist and see if the ... | |
| nerve pain | 1/6/2007 |
| Q: I wanted to update my status and ask for some more advice. I saw an endodontist who could also find ... A: Tara, It may be premature to draw any conclusions if it has been less than a week or two since the ... | |
| swollen inside of lips | 1/6/2007 |
| Q: I googled that real quick and the pictures that came up looked EXACTLY like what I look like when it ... A: Erin, Glad to help. I am not an expert on angioneurotic edema. To my understanding, the greatest ... | |
| swollen inside of lips | 1/6/2007 |
| Q: Me and my dentist are both stumped about something, I'm hoping you might be able to provide some ... A: Erin, Assuming that your teeth and gums are healthy, and there is no evidence of pathology, you may ... | |
| Scared | 1/5/2007 |
| Q: Today I went to my Dentist to have my permanent cap put on. When I got into the room the area ... A: Jill, The U.S. federal government sets minimum standards for disinfection. Each state can set ... | |
| Wisdom teeth extraction | 1/3/2007 |
| Q: I believe I am experiencing symptoms of TMJ now after the extraction. I had an open bite before on ... A: Max, Only reversible procedures should be considered until any TMJ problem is stabilized. ... | |
| filling replacement | 1/2/2007 |
| Q: Scherr, One month ago I had two metal fillings replaced with composite material. Both are molers ... A: Mike, Each tooth has an inner nerve that has a limited capacity to heal. A little of this capacity ... | |
| Antibiotics and Root Canal | 1/1/2007 |
| Q: My #30 tooth had a 3 leg root canal with a crown 20 years ago. Recently I noticed a lump in my gum ... A: Giff, Sorry to hear of your difficulties. Culture and Sensitivity testing tends to take 1-2 weeks ... | |
| Cracked tooth | 1/1/2007 |
| Q: Dr. Scherr, A couple of years ago I had a tooth break. I was scheduled for a root canal but my ... A: Cindy, There is no substitute for an in-person examination on this one. It may just be that a ... | |
| Wisdom teeth extraction | 12/31/2006 |
| Q: I'm 35yo and take tramadol on a daily basis for pain management. I had both wisdom teeth extracted ... A: Max, Assuming there is no physical problem such as an infection, sinus disease or unremoved tooth ... | |
| Bonded Retainer | 12/31/2006 |
| Q: I got my braces off at the age of 18. I wore a top retainer for a year. I have a bonded retainer on ... A: Kristen, The teeth are positioned in the mouth by the balance of nature. Teeth are primarily ... | |
| possible clogged salivary gland | 12/31/2006 |
| Q: Yesterday night the left side of my face near my ear and going down my neck started to swell pretty ... A: Kim, You need to return to the ER for this. DO NOT TAKE A CHANCE AND WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE HOLIDAY. ... | |
| RCT/Accessory Canals/Cracked Tooth Syndrome | 12/30/2006 |
| Q: Thx very much for the detailed answer. If I had #2 I'd extract 3 in a heartbeat. However, I don't ... A: Bob, I agree with you that there is little likelihood that merely replacing a filling would solve ... | |
| RCT/Accessory Canals/Cracked Tooth Syndrome | 12/30/2006 |
| Q: Have there been any recent advances in locating accessory canals specifically in a tooth that is ... A: Bob, The nerve channel system within a tooth is much more complex than earlier thought. It often ... | |
| Tooth looks Black | 12/29/2006 |
| Q: Does this generally mean the tooth is dead and if so will it need to be pulled. I'm trying to get ... A: Tony, It really depends on why the tooth is black. Is it due to stain, decay beneath the surface, ... | |
| Wisdom tooth extraction/dry socket | 12/29/2006 |
| Q: Can you tell me how long after a blood clot fails to form or dislodges itself does the pain come on? ... A: Miranda, The pain from dry socket begins 2-5 days following the removal of the tooth. Bad taste ... | |
| tooth decay | 12/28/2006 |
| Q: Could you please give examples of acidic foods and whether brushing ones teeth before going to bed ... A: Steve, Brushing one's teeth cannot undo damage that has already taken place, but it can reduce the ... | |
| 5 years of TMJ pain | 12/27/2006 |
| Q: I am 21 years old and I have been suffering from TMJ for over 5 years. I have a chronic daily ... A: Jenna, I am sorry to hear that you have been in pain for so long. It seems that the first thing ... | |
| tooth decay | 12/27/2006 |
| Q: I would like to know what types of foods cause the most damage to enamel and what generally can be ... A: Sugars and refined carbohydrates are the most damaging. Acidic foods consumed in excess can ... | |
| Dental work | 12/26/2006 |
| Q: I had restoration work done on my front top teeth, 5-12, tooth nine had to come out due to bone ... A: Annie, The swelling could have several possible causes. It could have been a reaction to a local ... | |
| lump on gum | 12/25/2006 |
| Q: My husband (age 54) has a small, painful lump on his upper gum towards the back, high up on the gum. ... A: Kerry, This could be a number of different things. It may be a draining fistula from an infection ... | |
| tooth extraction | 12/24/2006 |
| Q: Scherr, I have an open bite and some teeth crowding. In a preliminary examination, my orthodontist ... A: Emily, The first bicuspids are more often removed because there tends to be a dip in the side of ... | |
| nerve pain | 12/24/2006 |
| Q: 2 months ago I went to my dentist to clean out a gun pocket (4-5 mm) between tooth 1 and 2. He ... A: Michelle, Under normal circumstances, cleaning out a gum pocket may cause local irritation and ... | |
| Wisdom teeth - Dry Socket | 12/23/2006 |
| Q: I got two wisdom teeth removed about 30 hours ago, and after looking closely in the mirror, on my ... A: Vincent, A small black area could be anything from a normal blood clot to a dry socket. Dry socket ... | |
| dislocation of tmj? followup? | 12/23/2006 |
| Q: Hey Dr. Scherr, Sorry to send a question out to you at this time of the year. Hope it finds you ... A: Dave, You have done an admirable job describing your situation. Muscle trismus in the lower face ... | |
| Pulpitis Cure? | 12/19/2006 |
| Q: I had a tooth trauma to my front tooth resulting in a slightly loose tooth and sensitivity to touch ... A: G, You ask wonderful questions. Unfortunately, there are no clear cut answers. Short term ... | |
| Baby Tooth as an adult | 12/19/2006 |
| Q: I am 32 and I still have a baby tooth...actually I got it extracted today. My adult tooth grew in ... A: Rachel, Though it is possible, the adult tooth is unlikely to move into place on its own. After ... | |
| Pain after extraction | 12/18/2006 |
| Q: I am a 41 year old woman and in the past few years I have been experiencing pain in the lower left ... A: Sue, There is a good likelihood that the pain is not related to a dental problem. There are a ... | |
| Bad tooth ache | 12/17/2006 |
| Q: Steven How are you ? My name is Sydney and I'm 19 years old . I have had at least 3 rootcanals in ... A: Sydney, I am sorry to hear that you are in pain. The pain could be due to a crack in the tooth, ... | |
| overbite | 12/14/2006 |
| Q: The majority of my life I have always had a slight overbite, but throughout the years my teeth ... A: Sonya, As you have observed, the teeth and facial features are interdependent. However, posturing ... | |
| Chipped teeth | 12/14/2006 |
| Q: Dr. Scherr, Thank you for your prompt response. So, what is a good time to see a dentist? I have ... A: Lisa, It depends on how you are feeling. If you are comfortable enough to open your mouth ... | |
| nerve pain | 11/27/2006 |
| Q: I have been having a strange pain in one of my back teeth. It started back in July after getting a ... A: Tara, Sorry to hear of your discomfort. There are several possibilities. There may be a crack in ... | |
| wisdom tooth out BUT | 11/26/2006 |
| Q: i got a wisdom tooth out 5 days ago and the gum it was taken from is very rough when I feel it with ... A: Mark, Unless you are in severe pain, leave it alone. Nature will usually take care of it in time. ... | |
| jaw/tooth pain | 11/22/2006 |
| Q: I did just that. I went yesterday to an endodontist who determined after testing that the tooth ... A: Karen, I've had a few patients that thought they did benefit from chiropractic care. However, ... | |
| jaw/tooth pain | 11/20/2006 |
| Q: I recently went to the dentist for a pain in my lower back molar on the left side. It hurts when I ... A: Karen, Tooth pain can be very intense. A damaged tooth nerve can cause the symptoms described. ... | |
| Crown | 11/18/2006 |
| Q: I have a problem. The crown on one of my front teeth has fallen out. I looked at it, and it appears ... A: Taylor, Sorry to hear about your difficulty. You are correct that this crown can only be ... | |
| chipped crown | 11/17/2006 |
| Q: i had a back tooth (second lower tooth from the back) crowned a few years ago. recently it pussed ... A: Greg, It is very risky to attempt to remove a crown prior to root canal therapy. Breakage of the ... | |
| qestion about too much xray exposure | 11/15/2006 |
| Q: In last three months i had 13 to 15 xrays of (# 20 and # 16) teeth for root canal and extraction. I ... A: rj, Not to worry. A typical complete set of dental xrays includes 15-20 images. The total ... | |
| Temporary adhesive for Veneer | 11/10/2006 |
| Q: I have a veneer that has popped off a couple of times. My dentist just recemented it last week and ... A: Michelle, Hopefully you have been to the dentist by now. There really isn't much that can be done ... | |
| my upper denture | 11/4/2006 |
| Q: I had my upper denture relined this morning. When I went back to retrieve my teeth, they were looser ... A: Debra, I am sorry to hear of your situation. If you are unable to adjust to the thickness, there ... | |
| Bridge | 10/27/2006 |
| Q: I have to decide between implant and bridge. Only concern with the bridge is whether I could able ... A: Mahbub, Flossing isn't just possible, it is very important to do so. A floss threader is a thin ... | |
| Blask spotting on my children teeth | 10/24/2006 |
| Q: I have 2 10/12 years old son, this October i notice someting on his teeth its become blackish, in ... A: Hermie, Black spots on the teeth can be due to stain from pigmented food, dark pigmented bacteria ... | |
| Dental Bridge | 10/20/2006 |
| Q: Last Saturday I was eating a bagel and I think I swallowed my bridge. It was 2 teeth and was a ... A: Carol, Take a deep breath! I am not an abdominal expert, but I am not aware of any way a competent ... | |
| Tooth pain | 10/20/2006 |
| Q: Dr. Scherr: I have been having some pain , on and off, in one tooth, in the upper front part of my ... A: Nicholas, There are several possibilities. Each tooth has an inner nerve that has a limited ... | |
| FRACTURED W/ INFECTION | 10/19/2006 |
| Q: I JUST FOUND OUT THAT A TOOTH THAT HAS HAD A PREVIOUS ROOT CANAL IS NOW FRACTURED ACROSS THE ROOT W/ ... A: Michelle, I am sorry to hear of your problem. The chance of successfully saving a fractured tooth ... | |
| root canal options | 10/17/2006 |
| Q: I went to the dentist last month for the first time in about a year. I just turned 26, and have ... A: Adrian, Dental practice laws are regulated by each state independently. Most states require a ... | |
| Periodontal Cleaning | 10/16/2006 |
| Q: I was wondering how it is someone has a periodontal cleaning and within 2 weeks there are 2 dead ... A: JB, It is natural to assume that two events that occur in close proximity of each other must be ... | |
| Question about Cavities and Filings | 10/8/2006 |
| Q: I have a question about cavities. I have never gotten a single cavity in my life until my last visit ... A: Fanny, Congratulations for going all these years without a cavity. A cavity is the growth of ... | |
| Root canal or no root canal? | 10/5/2006 |
| Q: Scherr, I just want to throw my arms up in complete disgust. First, a little background... Over ... A: Tanya, Congratulations for making the commitment to get your mouth healthy again. I have no way of ... | |
| Temporary Crown - Painful & Bleeding? | 10/5/2006 |
| Q: Steven, I recently had a temporary crown put in place so that I can get the permanent one put in ... A: Natalie, It is common for the gum to be somewhat irritated after placement of a temporary crown. ... | |
| severe abscessed tooth | 10/2/2006 |
| Q: My boyfriend has a severe abcess tooth. It is infected badly. He went to the dentist on saturday. ... A: Angela, Your boyfriend is fortunate to have you to look after him. It is typical for it to take ... | |
| tipped molar | 10/1/2006 |
| Q: I have to have a root canal and crown put on my 2nd molar. It has tipped somewhat because of missing ... A: Chris, The seal of a crown is not compromised by tipping of a tooth. The rate of tipping varies ... | |
| Lumineers | 9/30/2006 |
| Q: My gums are not in great shape and because of a Bleeding disorder They are never in good shape, no ... A: Tina, I depends. If the lumineers edge is not extended beneath the gum line, and the veneers are ... | |
| Nightguards revisited | 9/22/2006 |
| Q: Scherr, I read your response to Terry reguarding soft nightguards, which I have been using ... A: Tamara, The NTI-tss is an oral appliance that is FDA approved for the treatment of tension ... | |
| tooth root resorption | 9/21/2006 |
| Q: I have significant tooth root resorption of several top front teeth following 18 months of ... A: Daniel, Nicely done! Root resorption is a little understood process whereby the body seems to ... | |
| Wisdom Teeth | 9/21/2006 |
| Q: I have one wisdom tooth that is coming in a little crooked but without any pain. Should it come out? A: Michelle, An xray of that area will be needed to assist in the determination. A key factor will be ... | |
| tongue injury | 9/19/2006 |
| Q: i was picking my teeth with toothpick and a my girlfriend walked into me and i jammed the toothpick ... A: Reggie, While it is likely that the area will heal fine on its own, it is still best to see your ... | |
| Nightguards | 9/18/2006 |
| Q: Where do I get those hard plastic nightguards? Are you referring to the ones made like INVISALIGN? ... A: Terry, You will need to see a dentist. A set of molds of the teeth, as well as bite/orientation ... | |
| Nightguards | 9/17/2006 |
| Q: I am a clencher at night. I find that I clench more with my mouthguard though. Without it I would ... A: Terry, If you ask 10 dentists, you will probably get 15 different answers. I'll offer my opinion. ... | |
| Dental Crown | 9/1/2006 |
| Q: My question is this: If you have a tooth that needs a crown because there is "more filling than ... A: Shege, If a nerve problem later develops within the tooth, a root canal can be done through the ... | |
| gum pain | 8/31/2006 |
| Q: I'm not sure if you would know the answer to this question, but there is no orthodontist that I can ... A: Erica, Overgrowth of the gum is most often due to the presence of an irritant. This is generally ... | |
| TMJ pain or cracked tooth? | 8/27/2006 |
| Q: I am hoping you can offer me some feedback. I saw my dentist back in January regarding pain in my ... A: Beth, I am sorry to hear of your unfortunate circumstances. The pain you continue to experience ... | |
| short crown | 8/27/2006 |
| Q: Scherr, I just had a root canal re-treatment of #8 sfter a break in the old post and a fistula ... A: Mary, You ask a very intelligent question. There are several choices that include: Posts can be ... | |
| a | 8/12/2006 |
| Q: I chipped two teeth as a result of stress related grinding. I went to a dentist and was told a ... A: John, There are a number of ways a tooth can be repaired. The longevity of any repair is dependent ... | |
| filling | 8/10/2006 |
| Q: can u tell me the proper and most beneficial ways to traet the tooth that has just been filled for a ... A: David, It depends on the size, location, and type of filling. In general, white fillings harden ... | |
| Hitting a nerve with filling | 8/9/2006 |
| Q: I recently had digital x-rays of my entire mouth which came out clean – nothing to be found. Upon an ... A: Melissa, I am sorry to hear that you have been uncomfortable. Teeth are constantly traumatized ... | |
| Tingling/numbness | 7/29/2006 |
| Q: I have impacted wisdom teeth on the right side of my mouth. I had the 2 on the left side removed ... A: Ellie, I suppose it is possible for a lower wisdom tooth to grow into the nerve trunk and cause ... | |
| chipped tooth | 7/28/2006 |
| Q: I recently fell and chipped the bottom of one of my two front teeth. I went to the dentist and he ... A: JC, There are various factors that determine how tall the repair can be made. These include the ... | |
| dental anesthetics cause itching | 7/28/2006 |
| Q: I had a filling done yesterday and i've been having a lot of itching, is that a side effect that ... A: Dawn, Sorry to hear that you have been uncomfortable. Itching could be a sign of an allergic ... | |
| swollen spot on gum | 7/28/2006 |
| Q: I have a swollen spot just above my right "vampire" tooth. It doesnt really hurt terribly, or hurt ... A: Joel, Yes, it would be best to have it checked out by a dentist. This could be one of several ... | |
| Loose gum after wisdom tooth removal | 7/27/2006 |
| Q: I had all four of my wisdom teeth removed three days ago. On my right side on the bottom, there ... A: April, It could be either one. It is normal to have a little loose gum tissue after wisdom tooth ... | |
| Porcelain Broken off Bridge | 7/26/2006 |
| Q: I have for months have had pain in my left jaw. No sinus problem per ENT. Maybe TMJ. Dentist made ... A: Mary, I am sorry to hear that you have been in pain. Porcelain is a type of glass, and as such, it ... | |
| jaw -teeth | 7/25/2006 |
| Q: If no dentist notice my jaw untill yesterday how do I know when it happened?My bite has been off my ... A: Nadine, Your questions are good ones. It may not be possible to determine when this occurred. I ... | |
| Tooth Pain & Infection | 7/25/2006 |
| Q: I have one small cavity in the front and one tooth on the left one up from the wisdom that needs a ... A: Richard, I am sorry to hear that you have had so much difficulty. Sight unseen, I cannot provide ... | |
| Veneers | 7/25/2006 |
| Q: I'm 17, from Iowa, and I have weak teeth. My mom was told by one dentist this is because the town I ... A: Kali, Your Mom could be half right. The injestion of too much fluoride can lead to "tea stains" ... | |
| jaw and dental work | 7/24/2006 |
| Q: My dentest had moved and so I waited a few years and than found a new dentist down the street.Well I ... A: Nadine, Please understand that I have no way of knowing if your jaw is stable or not. Extensive ... | |
| Permanent Cement | 7/21/2006 |
| Q: I just had 2 Captek crowns put on with "permanent cement." How "permanent" is it? When I had the ... A: Dan, The term "permanent" is a misnomer in its strictest sense. There is nothing that is man-made ... | |
| Gap between gum and back molar | 7/18/2006 |
| Q: I have developed a gap between the last moalr on my lower right side and my gum. It is a almost like ... A: Zach, The gum forms a blanket over the jaw bone. It is the bone that holds the teeth. If bacteria ... | |
| Infected tooth extracted | 7/17/2006 |
| Q: I had a severe infection and was treated with high dosage of anti-biotics and tooth was extracted 2 ... A: Lisa, Sorry to hear that you have had such a tough time of it. A little oozing of blood is normal. ... | |
| wisdom teeth extraction | 7/15/2006 |
| Q: i am having my top 2 wisdom teeth removed shortly and am embarrassed to say i'm absolutely terrified ... A: Julie, If you are healthy, and you follow the post-operative instructions given by your dentist, ... | |
| Cementing on top of veneers | 7/10/2006 |
| Q: I recently had the central eight teeth on my upper arch covered in porcelain veneers. I am ... A: Greer, I am sorry to hear of the difficulties you have experienced. Although it is technically ... | |
| Problems with Veneers | 7/8/2006 |
| Q: I had 6 veneers placed on my upper teeth back in September of last year. One of the 6 (a caine ... A: Jessica, Each person has a unique level of natural resistance to tooth decay. This is likely ... | |
| Tooth abscesses | 7/8/2006 |
| Q: I have suffered from tooth abscesses on my front two teeth since they were smashed at the age of 8. ... A: Matthew, Root canal treatment can often be accomplished through a crown without removing it. A ... | |
| Temporary crowns and pain | 7/4/2006 |
| Q: I have two temporary growns on the left back molars. The "bite" was off on one of the teeth, which ... A: Helen, I am sorry to hear that you have been in pain. There are several possible causes of ... | |
| jaw popping | 6/2/2006 |
| Q: About 9 months ago I was laying in bed (I'm not sure if I was chewing on something I don't remember ... A: Kunthor, Jaw popping is associated with dysfunction of the jaw joints (TMJs). This will make the ... | |
| Post Root Canal Pain | 6/2/2006 |
| Q: I had a root canal completed 3 days ago by my dentist. I was told that I had an "extremely angry" ... A: Chris, I am sorry to hear that you are in pain. It is possible that the pain will settle down on ... | |
| tooth reabsorbtion | 6/1/2006 |
| Q: This is tooth #14 I believe they said. It is reabsorbing, will a root canal still work for it? ... A: Sandra, There are several different types of resorption. Root canal therapy is often the treatment ... | |
| Nitrous Oxide | 5/30/2006 |
| Q: Because of extreme fear I have been away from a dentist's chair for far too long. This is due to ... A: H. Alleva, Dental anxiety related to prior experiences occurs far too often. Nitrous oxide reduces ... | |
| Preventing Root Canal | 5/27/2006 |
| Q: Is there anything a dentist can do procedure wise that would deliver less nerve trauma to a tooth ... A: Chris, Thanks for asking. It depends. You see each nerve has a limited capacity to heal. A ... | |
| Wisdom teeth removal with sadation dentistry | 5/17/2006 |
| Q: I am 16 and still have my four wisdom teeth, the two bottom ones are gorwing in crocked the right ... A: Tara, There are two types of sedation dentistry. One uses a sedative pill, and the other uses an ... | |
| roof of mouth | 5/17/2006 |
| Q: Bit of background, I'm a 22 year old male, good health, just got out of college. Drink a bit, used ... A: Matt, Sure sounds like a typical pizza burn. The only other possibility is some type of food ... | |
| Husband's tooth pain..NEED STAT HELP | 5/16/2006 |
| Q: I need help quick. About 6 weeks ago my husband started off and on with pain in ? tooth lower left ... A: Joyce, I am sorry to hear that your husband is in pain. He has done many of the right things to ... | |
| Confused/Worried - Cavities | 5/16/2006 |
| Q: I moved to a new city about a year ago, and went last month for my first dentist cleaning here since ... A: Nicole, The identification of tooth decay is sometimes clear-cut. In other situations, it can be ... | |
| is this pain normal? | 5/14/2006 |
| Q: Dr. Steven C. Scherr, Yesterday morning i had the second part of a root canal done by an ... A: Kerice, Pain at this stage does not necessarily mean there is a problem. The pain should abate ... | |
| whats your opinion | 5/13/2006 |
| Q: so most of my teeth are straight. but my upper teeth there wasn't enough room for my eye tooth, so ... A: There are a number of options available. The best solution will depend on the exact size and ... | |
| Numb tooth following microabrasion | 5/11/2006 |
| Q: I had microabrasion (the pumice type, not hydrochloric acid) 6 weeks ago to remove staining on my ... A: Tracy, I am sorry to hear of your situation. It is a bit baffling, as microabrassion is a surface ... | |
| Canker sore on the gum tissue | 5/10/2006 |
| Q: If you have a canker sore on your gum tissue, should you try to avoid brushing it with my tooth ... A: Jennifer, Light brushing with a soft nylon bristle tooth brush in the vicinity of a canker sore ... | |
| 1 | 4/24/2006 |
| Q: Do 6 month dental cleanings usually include fluoride treatment? A: John, It depends. Some people will benefit from regular professionally applied fluoride ... | |
| temporo mandibular disorder | 4/19/2006 |
| Q: I am a prosthodontist. Many patients with TMD come to me. In some cases I cannot find the reason> ... A: Dr. Nair, You ask an excellent question that unfortunately has a less than simple answer. There ... | |
| painful filling | 4/17/2006 |
| Q: Scherr, A composite filling (on a back tooth, a bit over 1 year old) has been hurting for a bit ... A: Jon, You are wise to have it checked by your dentist. Each tooth has an inner nerve. In addition, ... | |
| Stained Teeth | 4/13/2006 |
| Q: My teeth seem to be very porous, they stain very quickly (I drink lots of tea). After cleaning they ... A: Erika, Drinking lots of tea is like throwing dirt at a clean window. You can try a whitening ... | |
| All Ceramic Bridges | 3/31/2006 |
| Q: Are they a viable option for 4 unit posterior bridges? Why do these require less tooth prep work ... A: Sandy, A bridge will not bend in the middle. However, breakage can occur. This is less likely to ... | |
| All Ceramic Bridges | 3/30/2006 |
| Q: Are they a viable option for 4 unit posterior bridges? Why do these require less tooth prep work ... A: Sandy, All ceramic bridges have improved but are still not reliable for posterior tooth ... | |
| Calcium Hydroxide | 3/28/2006 |
| Q: How common is it for the dentist to put this substance at the bottom of a filling? If the dentist ... A: Sandy, In the past, calcium hydroxide was used routinely at the bottom of a cavity prior to ... | |
| veneers. | 3/26/2006 |
| Q: I was born with a cleft lip and palate, and because of this, one of my teeth (one next to my two ... A: Tracy, Unfortunately, health insurance typically does not provide benefits for cosmetic dental ... | |
| Dentures | 3/19/2006 |
| Q: What is the difference between adjusting and relining dentures? What do each of these terms mean? ... A: Karen, An adjustment is any reshaping of the outer or inside surfaces of the denture. This might ... | |
| prosthetic problem | 3/1/2006 |
| Q: Scherr, I have endless prosthetic problems with two of my upper bridges (3-8, and 9-14), which I ... A: Vlad, I am sorry to hear of your difficulties. I'll start with the last question first. Most ... | |
| fillings and decay | 2/27/2006 |
| Q: Question. Im a healthy 38 yr old male. I go to the denstist every 6 months for check up and and ... A: Todd, You are already doing many things right. The susceptibility to decay is determined by the ... | |
| Toothpain | 2/25/2006 |
| Q: My mother has a severe toothpain, and I mean SEVERE. I think its from a partialy busted tooth, Is ... A: Tristen, Your mother is fortunate to have someone like you that cares about her. Unfortunately, ... | |
| Cavities, identification and treatment | 2/21/2006 |
| Q: Please bear with the slightly involved sentence structure, and i will try and clarify with any ... A: Ike, It is said that xrays are interpreted and not read. If you show the same xray to 10 dentists, ... | |
| Bleeding after a tooth being pulled | 2/20/2006 |
| Q: In general, how long after having a tooth pulled should it stop bleeding? thanks A: Julie, Bleeding will typically subside after a few hours. However, light oozing may persist ... | |
| still numb tongue | 2/18/2006 |
| Q: I was @ the dentist on 2/17 @ 1:00 pm I had rooting,scaling and planning done. He had injected ... A: Theresa, I assume that the injection was on the left side. If this is so, it is likely that the ... | |
| decalcification | 2/17/2006 |
| Q: Doctor: i have decalcification on a few of my teeth and i was given a prevident booster to use, can ... A: Marc, I assume you are making reference to Prevident gel. This is a fluoride preparation intended ... | |
| Confused about possible abscess. | 2/15/2006 |
| Q: My ENT believes based on a CT scan that a 3 year old sinus infection is more likely a abscessed ... A: Jen, I'm sorry to hear that you have been sick. The ends of the roots of the upper teeth are ... | |
| dentistry | 1/18/2006 |
| Q: I am a high school senior who wants to become a dentist. How should I become a dentist? What courses ... A: Jake, Congratulations for thinking ahead. At this point, it is best to select a college where you ... | |
| I recently started having... | 1/13/2006 |
| Q: I recently started having some pain in lower right side on the very back tooth. I went to my ... A: Reggie, I am sorry to hear that you are uncomfortable. There are a number of possible causes of ... | |
| temporary crown | 1/4/2006 |
| Q: The filling on one of my molars just came out, along with most of the front half of the tooth. I ... A: Bill, You are wise to try to save every tooth possible. A temporary crown is a treatment that is ... | |
| Dental implant | 1/4/2006 |
| Q: Scherr, I am 19 but due to the lack of oral hygienic habits and great fear I am going to have 2 of ... A: Vladislav, Congratulations for making the difficult decision to change your home care habits. If ... | |
| Hard Palate | 12/29/2005 |
| Q: I'm a 28 yr. old female. Suffer from anxiety/panic attacks, huge fear of cancer (grandmother died of ... A: Tara, I'm sorry about the loss of your grandmother. If the area is the same color as the rest of ... | |
| teeth cleaning by dentist | 12/22/2005 |
| Q: I have my teeth clean by a dentist every 12 -18 months. the question i will like to is that do ... A: Tony, Hard bacterial deposits form on everyone's teeth every day. These germs are the number one ... | |
| Wisdom Teeth (sort of) | 12/8/2005 |
| Q: I'm 22 years old, and I recently went in for a checkup because my upper right wisdom tooth is ... A: Kristin, On the surface, it seems like a good idea. Replace the bad tooth with the original ... | |
| Bridge/dentures | 12/3/2005 |
| Q: Dr. Scherr, My father, who is 76, has a bridge for his front teeth. The bridge has come loose and ... A: Harrison, I would love to be able to help. Unfortunately, each situation is unique and I am unable ... | |
| whitening veneers | 11/23/2005 |
| Q: I would like to know if a product like crest white strips may be used on veneers. My four front ... A: Laura, If used according to the package directions, the white strips should not harm the veneers. ... | |
| Bacterial Cross-Contamination? | 11/18/2005 |
| Q: I have a rather odd question which I have already partially discussed with my dentist, but being a ... A: Jen, I am going to do as you have asked and give you straight answers. You have been given a lot ... | |
| Chipped teeth | 11/18/2005 |
| Q: Have recently been told that I grind my teeth, causing chipping and jagged edges on some front ... A: Phil R, Rough edges can often be smoothed off without the addition of filling materials. If the ... | |
| Local anesthesia | 11/11/2005 |
| Q: Years ago, as a young person in elementary school, a few times I had minor restorative dental work & ... A: Michael, It is common for memories of uncomfortable experiences to create anxiety. You can be ... | |
| Dentistry - strange tooth | 10/28/2005 |
| Q: My son is 17 months old and has 12 teeth. Tonight I noticed another one, but this one is +- 1,5cm ... A: Richard, Many people believe that erupting baby teeth are responsible for everything from colds to ... | |
| Teeth staining. | 10/26/2005 |
| Q: Dr. Scherr- Whenever I go for my regular dental cleaning every 6 months, I have terrible teeth ... A: Todd, The fact that your teeth look white again after a cleaning indicates that stain develops on ... | |
| Does the toothpaste that one... | 10/20/2005 |
| Q: Does the toothpaste that one uses contribute towards healthy gums and teeth? If yes, could you ... A: Jascha, Good question! Independent analysis of toothpaste effectiveness is carried out by the ... | |
| Halitosis | 10/12/2005 |
| Q: Dr. Scherr- I am 37 years old with very good oral health. I go to dentist every 6 months for ... A: Todd, The three most common causes of bad breath are the growth of sulfur producing bacteria on the ... | |
| Teeth pain | 10/8/2005 |
| Q: I have been suffering for years with tooth pain in my 2 upper back teeth. (Not my molars, they have ... A: Vincent, There are a number of possible causes of the discomfort and headaches described. The ... | |
| Problems with bridgework | 9/27/2005 |
| Q: Scherr, I've got in unpleasent situation at teaching dental center and don't really know how to ... A: Vlad, I am sorry to hear of your difficulties. The work performed at our teaching institutions ... | |
| gum disease | 9/22/2005 |
| Q: I am 41 yrs old. For at least the past 8 yrs, I have gone to the dentist for a checkup and cleaning ... A: Karen, First, take a deep breath. Your teeth are unlikely to be going anywhere anytime soon. It ... | |
| root canals/crowns | 9/21/2005 |
| Q: I have been recently having pain and many problems associated with teeth 30 and 31 and ... A: cjt, I'm sorry to hear that you are in pain. It is appropriate to limit the assessment to a ... | |
| TMJ | 9/19/2005 |
| Q: My 16 year old daughter was diagnosed with TMJ, then referred to an oral surgeon. The oral surgeon ... A: Bre, I am sorry to hear that your daughter has been uncomfortable. TMJ is a very general term that ... | |
| Canker sore - biting | 8/31/2005 |
| Q: Steve, Thank you for replying to my question. I am such a worry wart. I would like to ask you if an ... A: Beth, Yes it can. However, the canker sore will be painful and will typically heal within a week ... | |
| Bad Breath :( | 8/29/2005 |
| Q: ..im 14 years old and i suffer with bad breath. I brush my teeth twice a day and use mouthwash.I ... A: Leanne, Yes, bad breath can be fixed. First it will be necessary to find out where your bad breath ... | |
| Canker sore - biting | 8/27/2005 |
| Q: 3 weeks ago I had a permanent crown placed on the 1st bicuspid behind my right canine. (1 week ... A: Beth, I agree that the shape of the crown may be contributing to the lip biting. A crown is never ... | |
| student denistry | 8/24/2005 |
| Q: could you please tell me how to find out about having (rather extensive) dental work done at a ... A: Bob, There are Dental Schools at Baylor University, Univ of Texas - Houston, and Univ of Texas - ... | |
| white bump | 8/23/2005 |
| Q: I'm 25 and have started noticing a white bump on the gum by the base of my last tooth on the bottom ... A: Linh, I am glad you asked. If infection is present in the jaw, it will try to drain to the ... | |
| Composite restoration or tooth bonding | 8/5/2005 |
| Q: For a very large chip, 1/4 of the front upper tooth, do I need composite restoration or tooth ... A: Elena, Sight unseen, I am not in a position to tell you what treatment is best for you. I can ... | |
| My implant | 8/3/2005 |
| Q: This is a strange finding. I recently discovered that my upper right incisor tooth is still a baby ... A: Laura, Though the exact mechanism is not completely understood, missing adult teeth and retained ... | |
| weakened tooth | 8/2/2005 |
| Q: I have a cracked front upper tooth from being hit in the mouth with a basketball. It was repaired ... A: Elena, Every situation is unique. It is not possible to advise what is best in your particular ... | |
| Bump on the gum | 7/31/2005 |
| Q: This is the timeline: 10 months ago, my #30 suddently feel very painful. It lasted for several ... A: Pan, What your dentist says does make sense. When the nerve dies in a tooth, some of the dead ... | |
| Dear Dr.Scherr, My mother... | 7/27/2005 |
| Q: Scherr, My mother is 67 yrs. and a couple of months she felt pain in her jaw. She had an MRI and I ... A: Heidi, Your mother is fortunate to have a daughter who cares so much about her well being. In ... | |
| crowns for implants | 7/5/2005 |
| Q: "Dear Dr. Scherr, I had my implants installed at the teaching dental center and every procedure ... A: Vlad, I understand your frustration. Dental schools are teaching institutions and their first ... | |
| Implants or Dentures? | 6/9/2005 |
| Q: My brother, 55, has poor oral hygiene and as a result he's losing his teeth. He will need false ... A: Henry, Your brother is fortunate to have someone look after his best interests. Implants are an ... | |
| TMJ | 6/2/2005 |
| Q: I am a 25 year old female. I have TMJ. I have had braces because my jaws were out of alignment and ... A: Misty, I am sorry to hear that you are uncomfortable. As you have suggested, headache pain is ... | |
| TMJ | 5/29/2005 |
| Q: My daughter started orthodonture with a rapid palatal expander and lip bumper at age 10. She is now ... A: Chris, I am sorry to hear that your daughter is having pain. Orthodontic treatment, by its very ... | |
| Infiltration Injection for lower molar crown | 4/29/2005 |
| Q: 3 years ago I had a filling replaced on a lower right molar. No extraordinary experience until the ... A: JM, I am sorry to hear of your dilemma. There is a tiny risk of nerve damage with lower jaw ... | |
| Stains | 4/21/2005 |
| Q: Wissot- I am 35 yr old male with very good teeth and healthy gums. I had a check up today and ... A: Todd, Tetracycline stain is difficult to treat, though not impossible. Some success has been ... | |
| braces | 4/12/2005 |
| Q: i have had braces for 2 years now and started smoking about 2 months ago. somebody told me that i ... A: Nattalie, Smoking discolores teeth just like spraying paint on a white wall. Braces act like a ... | |
| Info please, about Sedation Dentistry vs heart issues | 3/18/2005 |
| Q: Scherr, First of all, I'd like to thank you VERY much, for offering free, expert advice. Here is ... A: LS, There are many people like you who have ignored their dental health because of fear. ... | |
| Bad Taste all the time! | 3/15/2005 |
| Q: I will try to be brief. My dentist and endodontist have exhausted efforts to figure out what my ... A: Pamela, I am sorry to hear about your situation. Sinus drainage from the gum line is very ... | |
| cosmetic | 3/9/2005 |
| Q: I recently had a composite filling on my front tooth to imrove the shape and colour of the tooth. ... A: jt, Composite fillings cannot be whitened after they are placed. The filling may need to be ... | |
| Dental bridge problems | 3/3/2005 |
| Q: I just received a temporary dental bridge last week that I have to wear for 9 weeks. Besides ... A: Pamela, I am sorry to hear that you are uncomfortable. I have no way of knowing what the problem ... | |
| cleaning and soaking dentures | 3/1/2005 |
| Q: I know a couple of older friends that I work with have talk to me about dentures and denture care.I ... A: Frank, Yes, it is safe to soak dentures in bleach water (9 parts water to 1 part bleach is ... | |
| root canal | 2/26/2005 |
| Q: Scherr, It is 330 in the morning and I am in a panic. My dentist started a root canal last week ... A: Betty, I can appreciate your concern. Teeth having prior fillings or damage may be weakened ... | |
| Dentures | 2/23/2005 |
| Q: My dad's dentist at the VA wants to pull his teeth, then leave him without teeth for 2 months while ... A: Jo, Your dad is fortunate to have you to look after him. Following the removal of the teeth, the ... | |
| after deep filling | 2/18/2005 |
| Q: My Dentist told me my back tooth was a possible root canal yet she just gave it a filling. The ... A: Candy, Certainly, the improvement is a good sign. It is too soon to tell for sure. There is a ... | |
| crown | 2/12/2005 |
| Q: I am a 39 yr old female. I got 2 crowns put on two of my bottom teeth. They were baby teeth that I ... A: Danielle, Root canal therapy is the removal of the nerve from a tooth. However, the tooth is by no ... | |
| crown | 2/11/2005 |
| Q: I am a 39 yr old female. I got 2 crowns put on two of my bottom teeth. They were baby teeth that I ... A: Danielle, You are very courteous. It is always best to be honest about what you are feeling. Your ... | |
| crown | 2/6/2005 |
| Q: Scherr, I had a post crown and a root canal about 5 yrs. ago. It's always been sensitive. But I ... A: Jan, I can appreciate that the health of this tooth is a concern. There are a variety of reasons a ... | |
| ROOT PLANNING | 1/31/2005 |
| Q: If someone had root planning and scaling and after two months one quadrant is still redish and ... A: Greg, I am glad you asked. Root planing is a nonsurgical treatment to remove roughness and ... | |
| bruxism | 1/31/2005 |
| Q: I've developed a problem with teeth grinding during the day, after having an earache. I can find ... A: Sherri, I'm glad you asked. Tooth grinding during the day is a very different problem than night ... | |
| perodontal pockets | 1/21/2005 |
| Q: About 4 months ago, I went to a dentist for a root scaling/planning procedure. My pockets are ... A: scourcoux, Congratulations for making the important home care effort needed to give the body a ... | |
| why | 1/12/2005 |
| Q: I want to know why people loose more teeth up than down. and why always they conserve colmillos (in ... A: Antonio, As to your first question, the quality of the bone that holds the teeth differs from one ... | |
| Gland pain after tooth filling. | 1/8/2005 |
| Q: Yesterday I had my tooth filled. The dentist told me it was a very deep filling...that would explain ... A: Tina, Thank you for your holiday wishes. Tenderness in the glandular area could be due to a number ... | |
| Pain in a capped tooth , that never went away. | 1/7/2005 |
| Q: About two years ago I had two bottom molars capped. The one on my right side had to have a root ... A: Tina, Its unfortunate that you are uncomfortable. Yes, you can have a root canal done. It may not ... | |
| cut on gums | 12/29/2004 |
| Q: after i sent this I do recall the hygenist saying I had a pocket there,because when it was being ... A: A pocket develops when the gum pulls away from the tooth due to the collection of germs beneath the ... | |
| cut on gums | 12/29/2004 |
| Q: I had my teeth cleaned the other day and there was ALOT of tarter. I noticed by one tooth that the ... A: Jen, This should heal up on its own as long as it is kept clean. It is important to brush and ... | |
| bleach | 12/27/2004 |
| Q: Do you know anything about Nite White Excel 3 (22%)? I have been using it to bleach some yellowing ... A: Keri, Thanks for asking. The product you are using is a high quality material that typically gives ... | |
| extraction time | 12/5/2004 |
| Q: I've gotten some bad but expected news. Through bad gum disease at 43, I have to have all my upper ... A: Lisa, You have made a good decision chosing this dentist. The gums will shrink over the first 6-10 ... | |
| Tooth pulled | 12/3/2004 |
| Q: I have a tooth that has given me alot of trouble. It is the second one from the back on the bottom ... A: R, Patients tell me that the anticipation is the worst part. Give careful thought before pulling ... | |
| LASER | 12/1/2004 |
| Q: Is there some laser treatment to give health to the gums, and if so what problems can it cure? A: Alex, Thanks for asking. There are laser treatments in use for the treatment of a variety of gum ... | |
| Teeth whitening | 11/30/2004 |
| Q: Scherr, I have tried several kinds of teeth whitening over the years from carbamide peroxide to ... A: Jay, Sounds like you had good success with whitening in the past but it isn't working now. There ... | |
| gums problem | 11/25/2004 |
| Q: Hi I am 57 years old woman.i wear denture. i have problem with gums at bottom side as swelling,pain ... A: Madhu, I am sorry to hear that you are uncomfortable. There are several possibilities: 1. If ... | |
| my toddler | 11/20/2004 |
| Q: My daughter is 33 months old. I am concerned that we may have been causing her to have fluorosis in ... A: Jade, What you have done is called being a good parent. Young children are not able to distinguish ... | |
| SONIC BRUSH | 10/20/2004 |
| Q: Are sonic brushes better than conventional ones? Do they kill bacterial below the gumline by sonic ... A: Al, I'm glad you asked. There is a distinction between sonic and ultrasonic brushes. Sonic brushes ... | |
| Crown | 9/5/2004 |
| Q: How much does a crown cost for one tooth? A: Rilla, I can sure understand why that might be important to know. However, the fee for a crown ... | |
| what can any of the folowoing... | 8/26/2004 |
| Q: what can any of the folowoing speciaties do for tmj? regular dentist oral surgeon tmj ... A: Yom, Glad you asked. In the U.S., there is no formal specialty that deals with TMJ Disorders. ... | |
| orthodontics | 8/17/2004 |
| Q: My son is 21 years old. He has a crossbite. A device for the palate and braces were recommended ... A: Lauren, I appreciate your concern. While we have no way of knowing your son's future, others with ... | |
| wisdom teeth | 8/14/2004 |
| Q: I'm a 17 year old girl and I will be having all four of my wisdom teeth pulled in about a week. They ... A: Jenna, I'm glad you asked. All dentists are not trained alike. Each can choose to provide what ... | |
| Crowned tooth pain | 8/4/2004 |
| Q: Dr. Scherr, I had a crown placed on my lower-left molar this afternoon. My dentist told me that it ... A: John, It is very normal for a newly crowned tooth to be sensitive. Severe pain is uncommon though ... | |
| Alternatives to wisdom teeth extraction | 8/3/2004 |
| Q: Scheer: Thank you for taking my question. My bottom wisdom teeth erupted several years ago, but ... A: Kim, You ask a very intelligent question. The answer depends on the amount of space available to ... | |
| white teeth | 7/30/2004 |
| Q: What is the best way to get white teeth I tryed the over the counter creams with no luck. Should I ... A: Bob, There are a number of options available to whiten teeth. 1. Professional home whitening in ... | |
| Risks involved with temporary cement and bridge in mouth not permanently cemented for a prolonged time | 6/24/2004 |
| Q: I have 2 questions to ask expert opinion on: Question # 1: What are the risks involved with ... A: Bill, Very thoughtful questions. If the bridge fits well, temporary cement will not cause a ... | |
| Capped tooth pain | 5/31/2004 |
| Q: Scherr, I read your answer to Mike, dated 3/14/2004 and I was hoping you could send a bit of advice ... A: Militsa, It is unfortunate that you remain uncomfortable. There is no single answer as to how long ... | |
| metal filling | 5/30/2004 |
| Q: What is your adive on metal fillings? Recently many individuals have been claiming that they are ... A: Shannon, I am glad you asked. Volumes of research have been reported on this issue. The American ... | |
| My bottom back tooth has a... | 5/20/2004 |
| Q: My bottom back tooth has a silver-colour, metal crown which a dentist fitted 4 ½ years ago, after a ... A: Scylla, I appreciate your concern. Every mm of tooth is a treasure and should not be disturbed ... | |
| Crown costs | 5/13/2004 |
| Q: Dr. Scherr, Thank you so much Dr. Scherr! It sounds like many of these procedures are not required ... A: Rob, Many teeth require a core build-up in conjunction with a crown. It is risky to leave even ... | |
| Crown costs | 5/13/2004 |
| Q: Scherr, My dentist is recommending I crown a tooth. The quote I was given lists all kinds of ... A: Rob, I'll try to help. Occlusal adjustment is reshaping of the bite on teeth other than the one ... | |
| Cosmetic Dentistry | 5/6/2004 |
| Q: I am planning to have some cosmetic dentistry done and just wanted to know how effective the results ... A: Richard, I'll do my best to provide some guidance. Each person's situation is unique. It is not ... | |
| TMJ | 5/5/2004 |
| Q: Scherr and thank you for volunteering your time. I am having serious pain from the back of my neck ... A: Melinda, Thank you for asking. The muscle tightness you describe can be influenced and triggered ... | |
| Dear Dr. Scherr, Next month... | 4/28/2004 |
| Q: Scherr, Next month I will have surgery to incert 8 upper implants: two front, two on the left and ... A: Vlad, Thank you for asking. Due to time constraints, and in order to service as many people as ... | |
| VENEER | 4/13/2004 |
| Q: Scherr! I am looking to do veneers on my teeth. I have received a recommendation from a dentist ... A: Jenny, Wow! You ask some dynamite questions. There is no organized way of checking a dentist's ... | |
| teeth whitenings | 4/9/2004 |
| Q: I'm wondering if you could tell me how these 2 whitening gels are different and which one is more ... A: Jade, I am glad you asked. The active ingredient for nearly all whitening gels is hydrogen ... | |
| TMJ / Teeth Whitening | 3/27/2004 |
| Q: I have a question ref TMJ. How can I ease the clicking when I chew? Also, I have a filling in the ... A: Josie, Although there are exceptions, most clicking joints do so because of past or present damage. ... | |
| Really need advice | 3/16/2004 |
| Q: I'm a 55 year old woman who has been wearing a full upper denture and lower bridge for many years. ... A: Barbara, Your concerns are legitimate and warrant exploration. Each person is an individual. What ... | |
| pain | 3/15/2004 |
| Q: I have been suffering with pain in my mouth for the past year. I have been to many dentists, oral ... A: Connie, I am so sorry to hear of your ordeal. Your pain could have several different causes. It ... | |
| Capped Tooth & Pain | 3/14/2004 |
| Q: , I am actually an expert over in the Optometry section and thought I would give the service a try. ... A: Mike, Thanks for volunteering your time. It isn't clear from your question why the tooth was ... | |
| overbite | 3/8/2004 |
| Q: Are teeth suppose to come together perfectly or is a slight overbite preferable? A: Paul, An optimal bite is one that: 1. Allows all the teeth to touch when the jaw joints are fully ... | |
| WHITENING | 3/6/2004 |
| Q: DO YOU KNOW OF ANTHING (LIKE THE BLEACHING STUFF I SEE ADVERTISED,NOT VENEERS) THAT'LL WHITEN ... A: Jerry, I have good news and bad news. Modern porcelain crowns are extremely color stable. That ... | |
| TMJ? | 2/27/2004 |
| Q: I'm a freshman in college, in good general health (as far as I can tell), and I've been experiencing ... A: Wade, You are right on track. Yes, this does sound like a TMJ problem. The TMJ, or jaw joint, is ... | |
| Dentures | 2/27/2004 |
| Q: Scherr, I am in need of an upper denture. I've heard of an outfit called "Affordable Dentures". ... A: Mike, You ask a great question! If you wanted to buy a box of Kellogg's Corn Flakes, it would make ... | |
| TMJ and dentures | 2/19/2004 |
| Q: 1year ago I had scaling of the teeth done. Then went on to have dental work done. 2 root canals with ... A: Jo Marlene, The selection of a dentist is a very personal thing. A prosthodontist has received ... | |
Dentistry
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- Dr. Madhvendra T. Singh
- Joseph Zelig, DDS, D.ABP www.smileinthecity.com
- Joel S. Teig, DMD, Diplomate ABOMS, retired
- Veselin Shumantov DDS
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Steven C. Scherr, D.D.S.
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Comprehensive Dentistry, TMJ Dysfunction Therapy, and Cosmetic Dentistry. Nineteen years of experience including hospital residency (Sinai Hospital of Baltimore), and training at the Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education. Currently in private rehabilitative practice.
Experience
I was the Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of Maryland Dental School in 1981. I served as a General Practice Resident at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore in 1981-82, and have been in private dental practice since that time. My practice is now located in Owings Mills, MD, a suburb of Baltimore. My studies at The L.D. Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education in Florida has enriched my practice and my patients. It was there that I learned the true meaning of excellence.
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