| Subject | Date Asked |
|
| Teeth | 10/9/2008 |
Q: A lot of children have had four teeth removed and some by force.To some people the teeth did not ...
A: There are many legitimate and necessary reasons why some teeth must be removed for orthodontic ...
|
| head gear chin cup issue?? | 10/8/2008 |
Q: My 10 year old daughter is wearing headgear..(underbite)... The head gear seems to be wearing the ...
A: The headgear should not interfere with gingival health and it should fit properly so that it does ...
|
| broken front teeth in a 19 month baby | 10/7/2008 |
Q: My granddaugher fell and broke both of her two front teeth down the middle of both teeth. We took ...
A: I would not be in favor of using general anesthesia with a 19 month old child...especially outside ...
|
| Front Teeth Capped | 10/7/2008 |
Q: My 4 year-old daughter needs her front tooth pulled and the other 3 capped. The rest of her teeth ...
A: This certainly sounds like usual recommendations although without doing an examination and seeing ...
|
| Should we remove 5 baby teeth? And which method? | 10/7/2008 |
Q: My son is high-functioning Autistic and has ADHD and is almost 8 years old. His mouth is very ...
A: Of course, I cannot make any recommendations since I've not examined your child or the x-rays for ...
|
| Treatment Dilemma | 10/7/2008 |
Q: especially after having scrolled through all your other answers & not seeing something similar. Our ...
A: I'm not sure my answer is going to help you very much. Without examining your teenager and the ...
|
| Shaky teeth. | 10/7/2008 |
Q: i currently have metal braces on my upper jaw. It has been on for about a month and lately i noticed ...
A: Orthodontic tooth movement can sometimes cause the teeth to feel slightly mobile. This is normal ...
|
| Does my child need a crown? | 10/6/2008 |
Q: Myerson: I have a 6 years old girl whose left molar (the backmost tooth) partially fell off ...
A: One alternative that may be applicable is to restore the tooth with composite resin. The crown is ...
|
| class 3 underbite | 10/5/2008 |
Q: My two and half year old son has an underbite. Is there anything that I could/should do now to ...
A: It's a bit early for orthodontic treatment. I would suggest you consider an early orthodontic ...
|
| Baby Teeth Pushed Into Gums - Injury | 10/4/2008 |
Q: and thank you in advance for taking your time to help.... Last night, my 6 year old son slipped and ...
A: The mouth will look terrible for the next week or so. You need to help your son keep the area ...
|
| toddler's molar | 10/4/2008 |
Q: I noticed my 3 year old's central teeth on her lower jaw were starting to crowed, so while brushing ...
A: If, indeed, these bumps are situation behind the primary second molars then they are the developing ...
|
| Thumbsucking | 10/3/2008 |
Q: I saw an earlier question asked about thumbsucking. My daughter is 3 years old and has a terrible ...
A: I am not in favor of using adverse methods to break a thumbsucking habit. I prefer to use behavior ...
|
| extracting permanent teeth for braces phase 2 | 10/3/2008 |
Q: Dr., My 12 yr old daughter has entered phase 2 of treatment for ortho. She originally had upper and ...
A: In the correction of maxillary protrusion with an absence of crowding there are basically two ...
|
| what can i do? | 10/3/2008 |
Q: My name is deen,23.When i was 12, i had a toothache and gum disease (i mean i got my cheecks and gum ...
A: Decay is an infection that destroys the teeth. It requires good, professional treatment to ...
|
| what can i do? | 10/2/2008 |
Q: My name is deen,23.When i was 12, i had a toothache and gum disease (i mean i got my cheecks and gum ...
A: I suggest that you find a good dentist who can do a complete examination including x-rays. You ...
|
| abcessed tooth | 10/2/2008 |
Q: My daughter is seven and is now being treated for her third abscess tooth. She has good ...
A: One of the several different bacteria that cause tooth decay is streptococcus mutans. There are ...
|
| 8 year old front teeth not coming in all the way | 10/2/2008 |
Q: My 8 year old daughter's two front teeth don't seem to be coming in all the way. They are still ...
A: Yes, sometimes the gum tissue is thick and fibrous and that can delay the emergence of the teeth. ...
|
| daughters teeth | 10/1/2008 |
Q: I have a burning question that i am hoping you can help me with. My 5yr old daughter has already ...
A: When the permanent teeth develop they do so in a very confined space so they very often develop in ...
|
| permanent tooth loose | 9/30/2008 |
Q: My daughter,Rachel is 8 years old and has one of her permanent teeth loose in the bottom front. She ...
A: If, indeed, that is a permanent tooth which is loose I would recommend that you schedule an ...
|
| toddler molar | 9/28/2008 |
Q: My son is 26 months old, and he is complaining of pain on is left side near the molar area.. for as ...
A: An impacted molar is one which cannot emerge successfully because of some physical interference in ...
|
| baby teeth | 9/28/2008 |
Q: My little sister is going to turn 7 years old in December. She has not lost one tooth at all. Can ...
A: It's not normal, but it's also not necessarily a problem. The timing of tooth emergence is quite ...
|
| Overbites & Elastics | 9/27/2008 |
Q: When I first got my braces on, I was told that I was going to need elastics to move my overbite. My ...
A: Elastics generally will not pull the lower jaw forward. Instead, they serve to pull the lower teeth ...
|
| loose baby tooth due to a fall | 9/26/2008 |
Q: My 4 year old fell and hit one of his upper molars. He said it hurts to bite on it, but I noticed ...
A: I presume you are referring to an upper front tooth which is an incisor. (The molars are the very ...
|
| 3yo foster child with overbite | 9/25/2008 |
Q: 5 weeks ago we got a sweet, 3 1/2 year old girl through the foster care system. She was still using ...
A: I understand your eagerness to consider early treatment but I can hardly imagine how a child of this ...
|
| orthodontic: Molar extraction? | 9/24/2008 |
Q: I am 25 years old and I have been thinking about having braces. I have all 4 wisdom teeth out but ...
A: First, let me say that without detailed diagnostic information I am not in a position to make any ...
|
| Removal of tooth in 2 yr old | 9/24/2008 |
Q: Myerson, My daughter recently fell causing her front tooth to be completely embedded in her gum (it ...
A: From the minimal information available to me it sounds like the tooth should be removed. Since it ...
|
| overbite | 9/23/2008 |
Q: I'm 19 years old having an overbite problem,i got braces when i was 16 yrs. old on my lower teeth ...
A: Generally, orthodontic treatment of only one dental arch does not often produce a satisfactory ...
|
| Moving jaw of adult | 9/23/2008 |
Q: I have a very loose lower back molar, due to bone loss. I'm hoping to do some bone regeneration. ...
A: If, indeed, your orthodontic treatment could be successfully accomplished without surgical ...
|
| Retainer for 7 year old | 9/22/2008 |
Q: My daughter saw a orthodontist for a initial consultation as recommended my our family doctor ...
A: It's quite possible that the edge-to-edge alignment of the teeth is causing the gum recession and ...
|
| Tonsil Removal for Othodontic Treatment | 9/22/2008 |
Q: My daughter, age 7, has just been evaluated by an orthodontist. She has only lost the bottom 4 front ...
A: Functional jaw orthopedics uses appliances that alter abnormal oral musculature so that the teeth ...
|
| Tonsil Removal for Othodontic Treatment | 9/22/2008 |
Q: My daughter, age 7, has just been evaluated by an orthodontist. She has only lost the bottom 4 front ...
A: 1. The decision to remove tonsils and/or adenoids must be left to the medical profession and should ...
|
| Bad Taste in Mouth | 9/21/2008 |
Q: Last Tuesday I got my three wisdom teeth removed,they were all impacted.I am now on my 5th day and ...
A: What you are experiencing is not unusual following removal of impacted wisdom teeth. The bad taste ...
|
| dark baby tooth | 9/19/2008 |
Q: My daughter is 2 1/2. A few weeks ago she pulled out her bottom front tooth, root and all with her ...
A: The darkening of this tooth could mean that the nerve of the tooth has died from the previous ...
|
| Cap fell off | 9/19/2008 |
Q: My 23 month old daughter had tooth decay on her four front teeth, probably from a combination of ...
A: It doesn't take much of a jolt to the tooth for the cement bond to break and the cap to fall off. ...
|
| 2yr old tooth extration | 9/19/2008 |
Q: so I took my son to the dentist today because he has tooth decay from sleeping with his bottle b4 I ...
A: Yeah...words are real important. Funny how the phrase "two teeth come out" can actually mean "two ...
|
| 2yr old tooth extration | 9/19/2008 |
Q: so I took my son to the dentist today because he has tooth decay from sleeping with his bottle b4 I ...
A: Following the removal of two or more upper incisors (front teeth) I recommend placement of a ...
|
| Crown and Root Canals for our child | 9/18/2008 |
Q: I have a 4 year old daughter and she has cavities in 2 of her premolars. I saw them and they look ...
A: I think that you will never speak to your friend again when the tooth breaks and has to be taken out ...
|
| Crown and Root Canals for our child | 9/18/2008 |
Q: I have a 4 year old daughter and she has cavities in 2 of her premolars. I saw them and they look ...
A: Root canal treatment for primary teeth is very much different from treatment of permanent teeth. ...
|
| Childs teeth | 9/17/2008 |
Q: We took our 21 month old girl to her 1st visit to the dentist about 5 weeks ago and everything was ...
A: My advice would be to take her to a pediatric dentist, someone who is trained and experienced in the ...
|
| Rapid Palatal Expander | 9/16/2008 |
Q: My daughter is 4 and our pediatric dentist has recommended the Rapid Palatal Expander for her. I ...
A: You've already mentioned all the reasons to not do this at age 4. You need to ask the orthodontist ...
|
| "deep bite" | 9/16/2008 |
Q: Randolph, My 11 year old daughter is getting spacers in October, then braces and a night appliance ...
A: "Deep bite" refers to the vertical positioning of the upper and lower front teeth. When you view ...
|
| root canal | 9/16/2008 |
Q: MY four year old is scheduled to have two root canals on her top two, front baby teeth. What impact ...
A: As long as the root canal treatment is done properly there should be no short term or long term ...
|
| Composite Filling coding | 9/15/2008 |
Q: I just took my son in to have cavities filled. The dentist told us at his last cleaning that he had ...
A: The most reasonable explanation is the one given you by the dental office. For that O and B to be ...
|
| bump on gums | 9/14/2008 |
Q: I have a 16 year old daughter who just got a root canal done 2 weeks ago. Since then, she took pain ...
A: It could be the remnants of the original infection, or it might be an excess of the root canal ...
|
| Cavity in a 5 year old | 9/14/2008 |
Q: I have noticed a very small cavity right between my 5yr olds two front teeth but in the back. What ...
A: Cavities never get better by themselves, so cavities should be restored as soon as possible before ...
|
| Abscessed baby molar tooth | 9/13/2008 |
Q: My 8 years old child had an abscess on her "B" tooth which had been treated many times in the past ...
A: When these baby molars are lost as early as this it is very important that a space maintainer is ...
|
| pedi dental care | 9/13/2008 |
Q: I took my three yr old son 2 two diff. dentist one says to have 4 front teeth extract with (no ...
A: "Capping" the molars means placing stainless steel crowns which is what the dentist is recommending ...
|
| pedi dental care | 9/13/2008 |
Q: I took my three yr old son 2 two diff. dentist one says to have 4 front teeth extract with (no ...
A: My sense is that this article makes assertions that are not based on science. There are also ...
|
| pedi dental care | 9/12/2008 |
Q: I took my three yr old son 2 two diff. dentist one says to have 4 front teeth extract with (no ...
A: I really can't speak to the issue of the crowns and root canals since it would require an ...
|
| 7 year old daughter | 9/12/2008 |
Q: My 7 year old daughter just received her 2nd crown on a baby tooth. Can you please tell me what the ...
A: Decay can progress rather quickly to the point where the tooth might require a crown. Sometimes the ...
|
| Use of Soother | 9/11/2008 |
Q: My just-turned 4-year-old has used a soother since she was 3 months old and still likes to use it at ...
A: The fact that several dentists did not register concern about the open bite caused by the soother ...
|
| broken front tooth | 9/11/2008 |
Q: Yesterday my 11 year old daughter tripped and fell over someone's backpack at school. She broke her ...
A: Absolutely. I generally wait 4-6 weeks following the trauma before going back to the tooth for ...
|
| Dentist wants to remove 2yo front teeth | 9/10/2008 |
Q: My 2 yo fell and hit his mouth. his teeth were wiggly so I took him to the dentist. They took an ...
A: If the teeth are fractured and are not properly treated (in this case removed) they will become ...
|
| broken front tooth | 9/10/2008 |
Q: Yesterday my 11 year old daughter tripped and fell over someone's backpack at school. She broke her ...
A: I would recommend that the broken surface of the tooth be covered with a sedative, insulating ...
|
| Loose spacer | 9/10/2008 |
Q: My daughter is 5 years old and has had quite a bit of dental work done over the past year. She has ...
A: A loose space maintainer needs to be recemented as soon as possible since it will not maintain the ...
|
| Discoloration of Primary Teeth | 9/10/2008 |
Q: My 2 year old seems to be getting some discoloration on her front teeth. Do not believe nay trauma. ...
A: Usually any intrinsic staining seen in the primary dentition will not necessarily occur in the ...
|
| Pediatric Dental Issue | 9/9/2008 |
Q: My 4 year old daughter fell about 6 months ago and hit one of her front teeth. That tooth did fine ...
A: The decision regarding extraction must be made on the basis of the radiographic examination so I ...
|
| toddlers continuously chipping front teeths -amelogenesis imperfecta? | 9/7/2008 |
Q: My 22-month-old son chipped the two upper teeth that are the next teeth after the two front teeth. I ...
A: This certainly may be ai but it also may be caries or decay. Usually ai affects more than just two ...
|
| How much does the face change after braces? | 9/6/2008 |
Q: I am quite the hypochondriac and got my braces when i was 19. I am now 22 and have been reading some ...
A: All the possibilities that you've suggested in your question can certainly happen in extreme ...
|
| Broken Teeth | 9/6/2008 |
Q: Randolph, My 8 year old daughter's front teeth were broken in a sledding incident last winter. The ...
A: I would recommend that the teeth should be thoroughly evaluated once again to determine if they are ...
|
| No root or base on tooth | 9/6/2008 |
Q: My son is going to be nine this month and today I looked at his fourth tooth from the front on the ...
A: Hard to know exactly from your description without an examination, but it sounds like normal, early ...
|
| Oral trauma/ darkening tooth | 9/5/2008 |
Q: Dr. Myerson, My 4 year old son fell in a store on Aug. 15th, hitting his face on the floor and ...
A: The discoloration of the traumatized tooth could signify that the tooth has become non-vital. ...
|
| dental treatment under general anaesthesia for two year old | 9/4/2008 |
Q: My two your old son has quite bad dental cavities on his top two teeth. I have been told this is ...
A: Extraction of the two front teeth, while not the treatment of choice (saving them is preferable) ...
|
| palate expanders | 9/4/2008 |
Q: I have a 9 year old and recently had a consultation with an orthodontist. Currently my daughter has ...
A: In certain situations it is possible to pursue orthodontic treatment in either a non-extraction mode ...
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| granddaughter's tooth | 9/4/2008 |
Q: My grand daughter is 9 months and has two bottom teeth in the correct places and 1 top tooth that is ...
A: The complete absence of teeth is an extremely rare occurrence and is usually associated with other ...
|
| Toddler Cracked tooth | 9/4/2008 |
Q: I have a 17 month old who recently cracked/split her front tooth. I took her to a pediatric dentist ...
A: If it is not possible to complete the proper root canal treatment at this time there is a ...
|
| Retainers | 8/13/2008 |
Q: my husband has recently had his braces removed and has had a dental retainer for about a month now. ...
A: My experience in repairing retainers has not been too successful since a quick repair usually does ...
|
| Pulling Teeth | 8/13/2008 |
Q: My 8 year old son is having two teeth pulled. they are cavity filled and we are being told that they ...
A: There is no stock answer to your question since it all depends on the bite arrangement, the tooth ...
|
| perm tooth extraction for braces | 8/13/2008 |
Q: My 10 year old daughter is finishing up Phase 1 for her braces. She had an expander and four braces ...
A: In crowding cases there are two possible ways to proceed...extraction or non-extraction. If ...
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| baby tooth root canal | 8/13/2008 |
Q: My son is almost 6 years.Recently I had had his upper left molar tooth removed due to having ...
A: The ultimate goal of a primary tooth root canal is to preserve the tooth until such time as it ...
|
| baby tooth root canal | 8/13/2008 |
Q: My son is almost 6 years.Recently I had had his upper left molar tooth removed due to having ...
A: When a baby tooth like the upper molar is removed early it should be replaced with a space ...
|
| 3 year old requires a filling | 8/12/2008 |
Q: I was so happy to find this site to ask my question! Yesterday was my 3 year old son's first visit ...
A: There is no alternative to cleaning out the decay and restoring the tooth with a filling material. ...
|
| FRONT TOOTH DAMAGE | 8/12/2008 |
Q: Whilst on holiday my 2yr old son had a fall and loosened his front teeth. AS SOON AS WE RETURNED I ...
A: The discoloration that you are to look for is the teeth...not the gums. A darkening of the injured ...
|
| hereditary partial anodontia | 8/12/2008 |
Q: I'm very happy to find this resource. Thank you for offering your expertise. A quick google search ...
A: Using wisdom teeth to fill in the space is a wonderful idea in theory. In practice, however, the ...
|
| Toddler - alternative to anaesthetic? | 8/10/2008 |
Q: Toddler - alternative to anaesthetic? Dear Dr Myerson, I have a 22-month old daughter with baby ...
A: A pediatric dentist has the same basic dental training as a general dentist. In addition, however, ...
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| Possible Malpractice on my 3 yr old | 8/10/2008 |
Q: Back in February I noticed my son had some discoloration on his four front teeth so brought him to a ...
A: Please understand that I am not making a judgment here about the dentist or your son's treatment. I ...
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| versed sedation for a 23 month old | 8/9/2008 |
Q: My 23 month old daughter has two small cavities on one of her front teeth, one is in between the two ...
A: Here's my take...At 23 months of age I can reasonably assume that your daughter will have a poor ...
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| Braces (childrens) and teeth extraction | 8/9/2008 |
Q: I read the answer you gave to the mother of the 11 year old who's orthodontist wants to extract 2 ...
A: The reason for removing teeth is to provide space so that the other teeth which are crowded can be ...
|
| Toddler - alternative to anaesthetic? | 8/8/2008 |
Q: Toddler - alternative to anaesthetic? Dear Dr Myerson, I have a 22-month old daughter with baby ...
A: You certainly have a very difficult situation here. You must work with your child's cardiologist ...
|
| swelling after dental procedure | 8/8/2008 |
Q: My 4 year old son had 4 fillings done and a crown, Aug.5. The crown was on the right side upper ...
A: It sounds like your child's dentist is right on track here. The problem was probably the result of ...
|
| son has 21 milk teeth | 8/8/2008 |
Q: my son has 17 milk teeth at the moment and the dentist said that he would loose the extra tooth as ...
A: While an extra primary tooth is not common it is certainly something we see from time to time. It ...
|
| orthodontia and bruxism | 8/8/2008 |
Q: How do orthodontists/dentists address bruxism in patients who are undergoing orthodontia? I am a ...
A: In some cases the aligner is sufficient to provide relief from the bruxing. It sounds like that ...
|
| missing tooth | 8/8/2008 |
Q: One of my adult teeth did not come down, so I am missing a tooth on the top near the front of my ...
A: In this situation I usually take a plastic denture tooth (they can be obtained by your orthodontist ...
|
| 4 yr old w/ black tooth | 8/7/2008 |
Q: My son just turned four. Several weeks ago, he fell face first into a stone stair and his front ...
A: The tooth has most likely become non-vital as a result of the injury. That means the nerve of the ...
|
| 18 primary teeth? | 8/7/2008 |
Q: I have a three year old daughter who has all ten primary teeth on the bottom but only 8 up top and ...
A: Although I've never seen this, it's quite possible that the two teeth are missing. I would suggest ...
|
| Demerol | 8/6/2008 |
Q: I recently took my two year old son to the dentist because I noticed two spots on his top front ...
A: An injection of demerol has been used for many years both safely and effectively with young children ...
|
| orthodontist/phase one | 8/6/2008 |
Q: I have had two opinions for my 10 year old son. Both Orthodontists recommended phase one treatment. ...
A: Phase 1 treatment simply refers to orthodontic treatment done during the mixed dentition before all ...
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| reverse pull head gear | 8/6/2008 |
Q: My daughter is 10 and has finished w/ her pallette expander for her underbite, which did not fix the ...
A: I generally favor the use of palate expansion combined with reverse pull headgear in the treatment ...
|
| 6-year-old female with recently noticed underbite. | 8/5/2008 |
Q: I have a question regarding my daughter. She just turned 6 and I have noticed that she has an ...
A: There are two types of problems which contribute to what you refer to as "underbite". The first is ...
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| Overbite correction with braces | 8/4/2008 |
Q: Dr. Myerson, I have an 11yr, 10 month old son who saw an orthodontist for a screening visit and ...
A: Overbite refers to the vertical overlap of the front teeth. Your son has an 80% overbite. This ...
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| palate expander | 8/4/2008 |
Q: My daughter has a very slight cross bite. Her dentist asked that she see an orthodontist for a ...
A: Not all expansion treatment will result in a space developing between the front teeth. A very ...
|
| Orthodontic extrusion v. crown lengthening | 8/4/2008 |
Q: I have a badly damaged top molar (tooth # 3) that needs RCT and crown lengthening prior to putting ...
A: Orthodontic extrusion of a single upper molar is not as simple as it might be for an incisor. If ...
|
| jaw expander | 8/4/2008 |
Q: My dentist has suggested I wear a jaw expander before proceeding with braces due to the fact I have ...
A: Current thinking among orthodontists is that maxillary expansion after the age of 16-18 years of age ...
|
| Cavities in a 4 year old | 8/1/2008 |
Q: My daughter is 4 years old, just went to the denist who informed us she has 3 minor cavities and ...
A: Even with excellent brushing, fluoride and great diet those three minor cavities will generally ...
|
| Oral Sedation for dental work on kids? | 7/31/2008 |
Q: My 4 yr old daughter has 2 sets of "kissing cavities" on her bottom back molars and 2 other cavities ...
A: Doing this amount of treatment without sedation risks having an unfavorable experience at the dental ...
|
| tooth extraction and spacer | 7/31/2008 |
Q: My 7 years old daughter has cavities in two adjacent molars (baby teeth). They have been repaired a ...
A: The removal of a primary tooth is a very routine and simple procedure. Unless your daughter has a ...
|
| todder tooth extraction | 7/30/2008 |
Q: He was evaluated and has had 2 fillings on the tooth, both of which have fallen out within 4-6 weeks ...
A: That needs to be determined based on the prognosis for successfully completing the root canal ...
|
| abscessed tooth | 7/29/2008 |
Q: If someone had an abscessed tooth and got on antibiotics to keep in under control and to keep the ...
A: The antibiotic is only a temporary and limited way of controlling the infection and once the ...
|
| root canal recommended for 13 yr. old | 7/28/2008 |
Q: My 13 yr. old son sufferred trauma to his front left tooth. His braces were knocked up and off his ...
A: The risk in waiting is that your son may develop an infection with pain and swelling which could ...
|
| crossbite | 7/28/2008 |
Q: My 6 year old has been recommended to get a palatal expansion by his new dentist. It appears that ...
A: I always recommend waiting until the first permanent molars are in before starting expansion since ...
|
| Pulling Teeth | 7/28/2008 |
Q: Myerson, My question is my son is 20 months old. His has been in the process of teathing for the ...
A: I can't discuss the particulars of this treatment plan since I've not done an examination or seen ...
|
| chipped upper incisor tooth /child 8 1/2 years old | 7/28/2008 |
Q: I AM DEVASTAITEED EVER SINCE MY SON HAD A GOLF ACCIDENT WHEN ON LAST THURSDAY HE HIT THE GOLF BALL ...
A: It is certainly a good sign that there is no pain or discomfort. Keep in mind that it could be ...
|
| crown vs. spacer on baby molar | 7/28/2008 |
Q: Good morning! My daughter (age 4) went to our family dentist and we found out she has a large chip ...
A: The best approach is to preserve the tooth by placing a crown. Extraction and placement of a space ...
|
| Cavaties and Braces | 7/27/2008 |
Q: I have had braces on for five years and am getting them off next week, I went to the dentist today ...
A: Of course, without doing an examination I can't possibly know if any of these spots are actually ...
|
| chipped upper incisor tooth /child 8 1/2 years old | 7/26/2008 |
Q: I AM DEVASTAITEED EVER SINCE MY SON HAD A GOLF ACCIDENT WHEN ON LAST THURSDAY HE HIT THE GOLF BALL ...
A: I sounds to me like you did everything correctly and the dentist did all the proper treatment and ...
|
| childrens second teeth | 7/26/2008 |
Q: My son has had 6 milk teeth fall out. All second teeth have grown in naturally except one that fell ...
A: Often due to crowding of the dentition a permanent tooth which should have emerged will not have ...
|
| root canal | 7/26/2008 |
Q: My 3 year old has two very bad cavities in the far back, bottom teeth. Sorry I don't know what the ...
A: Here's a case where you should take the advice of the dentist who has had four years of extensive ...
|
| jaw cracking | 7/26/2008 |
Q: I have had a clicking in my jaw since my dentist extracted all 4 wisdom teeth in 1990. Hasn't hurt ...
A: You have a problem with the temporo-mandibular jaw joints (TMJ) which is not likely to get better ...
|
| Dental Night Guards | 7/25/2008 |
Q: Are dentists able to prepare a night guard that securely stays in place and will not come out while ...
A: A properly fabricated night guard appliance should not only be comfortable but should remain in ...
|
| permanent retainer on bottom teeth | 7/24/2008 |
Q: I've had a permanent retainer (just a metal bar)on my bottom teeth for about 7-8 years. Lately it's ...
A: The cost of repair could be anywhere from $25 to over $100. The decision as to repairing vs. ...
|
| Crowns for kids | 7/24/2008 |
Q: My daughter is going to be 4 in August. She just had her first dental appointment and was found to ...
A: Of course the smallest possible restoration of decay is the best course of action. Frequently, ...
|
| missing premolars | 7/24/2008 |
Q: which they say is hereditary. They also said that it might be too late to correct. Is this true and ...
A: I really don't understand the "too late to correct" comment. We see four missing premolars from ...
|
| Fused teeth | 7/24/2008 |
Q: My two year old daughter has her lower front teeth fused in pairs, but with no fusion line - they ...
A: There's no indication that fusion of the permanent incisors is correlated to fusion in the primary ...
|
| 27 month old toddler loses front tooth in fall | 7/24/2008 |
Q: My 27 month old fell against a bureau today with a pacifier in his mouth and knocked out one of his ...
A: Generally, the early loss of a single primary incisor does not result in any problems with speech ...
|
| intrusion of teeth in 3 y/o | 7/24/2008 |
Q: my son will be 3 in a few months. He fell at the park hitting his mouth on a metal bar where his ...
A: It will take two or three days for the gums to look better. You need to keep the area clean by any ...
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| Crowns for kids | 7/23/2008 |
Q: My daughter is going to be 4 in August. She just had her first dental appointment and was found to ...
A: It would be a mistake to withhold dental treatment of those front teeth. Over the next few years ...
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| hypoplastic teeth | 7/22/2008 |
Q: My 4 year old son's teeth roots are dissolving. He has lost 2 already. He was born 10 weeks early. ...
A: This is certainly an unusual and rare situation. I am aware of only one report in the literature of ...
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| tooth extraction for a 2 year old | 7/22/2008 |
Q: My son has extensive decay on the front four teeth and they are absessed and chipped, he has been ...
A: My experience with chloral hydrate, hydroxyzine and nitrous oxide has been very good. I find it to ...
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| daughters implants | 7/22/2008 |
Q: at 1.5 my daughter had an emergency frenactmy, and decay in her 2 front teeth caused by bacteria by ...
A: Stainless steel crowns are safe and strong and with proper care should last until the teeth would ...
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| missing tooth in a 2 year old | 7/22/2008 |
Q: My son is 2 years and 3 months old. He is missing one of his front bottom teeth. It just never ...
A: There is some room for concern in this situation. The tooth may have developed but is still ...
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| Molars Separating due to Extraction | 7/3/2008 |
Q: Randolph, Thanks for being here and answering the patients questions. I will try to be short and ...
A: 1. The degree of efficiency in chewing is completely dependent on how well the teeth are ...
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| Misalignment after RPE and reverse pull | 7/3/2008 |
Q: My son is 13 1/2 years old. He just completed (yesterday) RPE (12 turns) and reverse pull with a ...
A: One of the possible effects of expansion in certain growth patterns is a vertical increase that can ...
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| palatal expanders | 7/3/2008 |
Q: My 10 year old son has been diagnosed with overcrowding and his pediatric dentist sent him to an ...
A: The palatal expander appliance is an excellent method of increasing the skeletal width of the ...
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| extraction for orthodonics | 7/2/2008 |
Q: I have a 10 year old daughter that has extreme crowding. She saw one orthodontist and he ...
A: You're asking me to make a judgement without actually seeing your daughter or examining xrays. That ...
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| 11-year-old's roots dissolving | 7/2/2008 |
Q: My 11-year old daughter has received regular dental care her whole life. At her last regular exam, ...
A: It would be very helpful to get copies of those previous panoramic films since they may shed some ...
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| cleft palate and invisalign | 7/2/2008 |
Q: to make my long hx short, I was born w/ a unilateral cleft palate. I had braces, teeth have moved ...
A: Invisalign may not be the best approach for you. The implant cannot be moved by Invisalign or ...
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| herbst | 7/2/2008 |
Q: My son has had braces for almost 2 years (he is 11). The ortho that we were using died and we are ...
A: All three approaches are valid, acceptable ways to treat a class 2 malocclusion with overjet and ...
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| Tooth Discoloration after trauma | 7/1/2008 |
Q: My 3 1/2 year old son fell nearly 4 months. He experienced some dental trauma to his two top front ...
A: The first thing that comes to mind is a surface stain caused by a food, beverage or medicine. ...
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| general anesthesia | 7/1/2008 |
Q: my two-year old daughter has extensive bottle rot decay on her front teeth. I have taken her to two ...
A: I would certainly recommend having the dental treatment done before there is a significant infection ...
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| Internal resorbtion | 7/1/2008 |
Q: I brought my 11 month old son to the dentist today because I noticed that when his top tooth popped ...
A: It certainly sounds like the tooth has internal resorption which is a process where the tooth is ...
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| Delayed front tooth | 7/1/2008 |
Q: my son had a bad fall when he was a toddler. His front tooth died as a result of trauma and his gum ...
A: I would not anticipate any damage to the tooth as it remains in the gum. The problem is that it ...
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| Injured baby tooth | 7/1/2008 |
Q: My daughter 5ys old going to be 6yrs by this november fell and hurt her top front tooth (one)about a ...
A: I've not done an examination and I haven't seen an x-ray so I can't make any comment regarding the ...
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| Lost baby tooth-purple root showing | 6/30/2008 |
Q: My 6 year old son just lost his second tooth in a week. The first one just had a hole appearance. ...
A: Without an examination I can't actually know what it is that you are questioning. It may just be ...
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| baby tooth injury | 6/29/2008 |
Q: My three year old hit his mouth and two of his teeth are moved (they are baby teeth) and we took him ...
A: This is something that should be evaluated by a pediatric dentist, perhaps as soon as Monday morning ...
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| no lateral teeth | 6/27/2008 |
Q: We were just told that our daughter who is nine has no lateral teeth whatsoever, nothing on the ...
A: Actually, missing upper lateral incisors are the most common missing teeth in girls. Orthodontic ...
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| order of tooth loss | 6/26/2008 |
Q: My 6 year old was a very late teether as a baby. Right when she turned 6 she lost her lower two ...
A: The first teeth to exfoliate are the two lower central incisors. Next come the two upper central ...
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| special kid requires root canal treatment | 6/25/2008 |
Q: my niece is 7 years old and she is a special kid, she developed brain fever the very second day she ...
A: It is quite common for a pediatric dentist to use sedation or general anesthesia for the complicated ...
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| 15m old's tooth eruption | 6/25/2008 |
Q: My 15m old son has his upper central and lateral incisors, and his lower central incisors. I've ...
A: That eruption pattern is not the usual and expected order of appearance of the primary teeth but we ...
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| 3 yr old needing extractions under GA | 6/12/2008 |
Q: My son is about to turn 3 and recently saw a new Pediatric Dentist this week who advised us that he ...
A: Delaying these procedures can lead to significant infections that can threaten the development of ...
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| route canals. | 6/12/2008 |
Q: is it painful for a 14 year old to have one.How long does the pain last if so?
A: The discomfort associated with a root canal procedure could vary from none at all to significant. ...
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| cavity | 6/11/2008 |
Q: "i have a cavity just started stage need to know what strong toothpaste will cure it thanks in ...
A: It seems we have a disagreement regarding that cavity. If it is truly a cavity then waiting will ...
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| cavity | 6/11/2008 |
Q: "i have a cavity just started stage need to know what strong toothpaste will cure it thanks in ...
A: There is no cure for a cavity. It must be cleaned out and a proper filling placed. This must be ...
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| Inverted Mesioden | 6/11/2008 |
Q: My 8 year old son has an Inverted Mesioden. The oral surgion said it is hard to know how deep the ...
A: Typically conventional periapical films plus a panoramic film will give some indication as to the ...
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| 2 yr old with extra tooth?? | 6/10/2008 |
Q: My 2 year old son had about an eighth inch space between his 3rd & 4th bottom incisors... in the ...
A: Very often these extra teeth need to be removed at some point so that they don't interfere with ...
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| 2nd teeth delay | 6/9/2008 |
Q: My 6.5 yr old great-grandaughter lost her 2 front (primary)teeth 3.5 months ago & is showing no sign ...
A: Sometimes there is a delay in the emergence of permanent teeth once the primary teeth are gone. If ...
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| Over-crowding | 6/9/2008 |
Q: Why is over-crowding of teeth such a common problem these days? One would have thought that, ...
A: You ask a very interesting question and you are on the right track with your suggested answer. Yes, ...
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| overcrowding | 6/3/2008 |
Q: My 6 year old daugher's baby teeth have no space between them. The dental hygeinest always points ...
A: In ideal situations there should be spacing between all the primary teeth. The permanent teeth ...
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| Calcification due to poor brushing - any hope? | 6/3/2008 |
Q: My 15 year old daughter just had her braces removed after over 2 years. She's got some ...
A: The damage you are describing is called "decalcification" which is the loss of calcium from the ...
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| Missing permanent teeth | 6/2/2008 |
Q: At a recent visit to the dentist, we were informed that my son who is 6.5 years old is missing 12 ...
A: Sometimes the same teeth on different sides of the dental arch appear at slightly different times. ...
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| Missing permanent teeth | 6/1/2008 |
Q: At a recent visit to the dentist, we were informed that my son who is 6.5 years old is missing 12 ...
A: Dental x-rays are a very accurate way to determine exactly what is developing at a particular time. ...
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| 2 year old had his tooth extracted | 5/31/2008 |
Q: Well we've had an ordeal. About 2 months ago my son had a fall and unbeknownst to us, he had broken ...
A: Maintaining space is very important to prevent problems with the permanent teeth. It's too bad the ...
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| My 17 year old sons mouth | 5/30/2008 |
Q: Myerson; Thank you for taking your time to read my question. Basically, I am trying to determine the ...
A: My feeling is that expansion at the age of 17 yrs should be surgically assisted. I also feel that ...
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| treating a crossbite | 5/29/2008 |
Q: My daughter is only seven and she has a crossbite of her upper anterior teeth. Should she get a ...
A: Most crossbites should be corrected early since they tend to interfere with proper bite and jaw ...
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| amalgam | 5/26/2008 |
Q: Two of my children, ages 5 and 7, have both been found to have cavities between their baby teeth ...
A: The use of amalgam is rather controversial and the available information is confusing so I've not ...
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| gums | 5/24/2008 |
Q: I scratched my gums and the area got white is that normal? Also does the gum grow back or is that ...
A: The first stage of gum healing appears white so that is quite normal. Whether it will heal properly ...
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| chipped tooth and braces | 5/24/2008 |
Q: I have a 10 year old son with bucked teeth. His two front teeth stick out quite a bit. Heres my ...
A: It's really not possible to tell the difference between the two causes of bonding failure. It's ...
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| chipped tooth and braces | 5/23/2008 |
Q: I have a 10 year old son with bucked teeth. His two front teeth stick out quite a bit. Heres my ...
A: The decision when to start braces very much depends on the details of the bite problem and the stage ...
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| 6 1/2 yr gums | 5/23/2008 |
Q: my 6 yr old has 2tiny bubbles on the back of her gums behind the last tooth on her right side.Where ...
A: What you've described could be anything from a simple irritation that requires no treatment at all ...
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| Extra front tooth? | 5/21/2008 |
Q: It was discovered my 8yr old son had an extra front tooth in his gum. Seven months ago he had ...
A: The decision to wait vs. orthodontic intervention depends on a number of factors including the ...
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| teeth | 5/20/2008 |
Q: I might have a chance to get braces. My question is this. I am 35 years old with a long history of ...
A: You should have your teeth cleaned and a complete examination. If you require any dental work you ...
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| 12 year molars | 5/19/2008 |
Q: My daughter is 17 years old and still does not have her 12 year molars. Every since she was 14 our ...
A: It seems to me that a simple panoramic x-ray will determine the presence or absence of the permanent ...
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| new teeth filling | 5/18/2008 |
Q: im 14 years old. I got my braces off in august of 07 and i have a tiny gap in my 2 front teeth. Yes, ...
A: That's certainly a possibility although I question whether the whitening toothpastes actually make a ...
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| Wisdom teeth | 5/17/2008 |
Q: I am 12 years old. I have already developed my wisdom teeth on my lower set of teeth. I have not ...
A: Jenny, I seriously doubt that you have wisdom teeth at age 12. Typically the wisdom teeth or third ...
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| Canine | 5/17/2008 |
Q: My daughter who is 5 years old had an accident, she actually knocked her canine out with root. We ...
A: Unfortunately, the 90 minute rule is more like a 45 minute rule and it applies to permanent teeth. ...
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| child afraid | 5/15/2008 |
Q: I have a 6 year old the is afraid of the dentist. When she was 3 she went to a pediactric dentist ...
A: You should not ignore the cavity. If left untreated it will get larger, it will cause an infection ...
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| 16 month old has no teeth | 5/15/2008 |
Q: My 16 month old son has no teeth. Last week he was clenching his jaws and sticking his fingers in ...
A: You can certainly take your son to a dentist, however there is nothing a dentist can do at this ...
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| Reverse-pull headgear | 5/14/2008 |
Q: Myerson, Recently, my ten year old son visited an orthodontist on the advice of his pediatric ...
A: Perhaps you did not fully understand my first response. I'll try to expand my explanation. Palatal ...
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| Pedatiric dentist and braces | 5/14/2008 |
Q: I have a son who is ready for stage one braces. I had the consult with his pediatric dentist and ...
A: Well that's a good question. I took residency training in each of the two specialties. I did not ...
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| How safe is chloral hydrate & vistaril for a five year old? | 5/14/2008 |
Q: Myerson, My five year old needs 2 pulps, 2 crowns & four cavities filled. Her regular dentist ...
A: The decay pattern may very well be the result of prolonged night nursing. When proper doses are ...
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| missing teeth | 5/14/2008 |
Q: my son is 7 years old, and we just discovered thru a panaromic xray is missing 8 permanent teeth on ...
A: A palate expander is used to increase the width of the maxillary jaw bone. This would be ...
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| Reverse-pull headgear | 5/13/2008 |
Q: Myerson, Recently, my ten year old son visited an orthodontist on the advice of his pediatric ...
A: Both treatment plans are valid and quite useful in view of the potential need for jaw surgery in the ...
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| 7-year old; orthodonture | 5/12/2008 |
Q: My 7-year old's dentist has recommended we perform orthodonture on her. Her teeth are even, but her ...
A: The best age to begin orthodontic supervision depends on the child and the nature of the bite ...
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| two questions | 5/12/2008 |
Q: My daughter is 6 and lost her two bottom incisors. These are her first teeth to lose. I noticed ...
A: Permanent lower incisors frequently appear as you've described. If there is sufficient space ...
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| Pediatric crowns | 5/12/2008 |
Q: My 5-year-old son recently went to his pediatric dentist, who discovered 5 cavities. For 2 of the ...
A: Pediatric crowns are a rather common means of restoring and saving primary teeth that have large ...
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| Do sealants contain fluride? | 5/12/2008 |
Q: Can you please tell me if sealants have fluoride in them or anything that could be potentially ...
A: I am not aware of any sealants that contain fluoride. But I am confused about your attitude ...
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| Extractions of 1st teeth for orthodontics | 5/9/2008 |
Q: my daughter is going to be 9 years old in June. It seems she is late losing her baby teeth. She lost ...
A: Under the proper conditions extraction of primary teeth will help prevent the impaction of permanent ...
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| mouth guards | 5/9/2008 |
Q: I am about to get fitted for a new mouthguard. I would say that I have moderate to sever grinding at ...
A: I must start by stating that I an not an expert on mouthguards and cannot answer many of your ...
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| to pull or not to pull | 5/7/2008 |
Q: I have had consults with 2 orthodontists about my daughters crowding and overbite (no room for 2 ...
A: I feel that it is always preferable to not remove teeth if that is at all possible. If adequate ...
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| primary tooth extractions | 5/7/2008 |
Q: Meyerson, My daughter is 5 1/2 years old. She does not have her 6 year molars, yet, but her first ...
A: Excellent questions. You're absolutely correct in your understanding that there will be significant ...
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| pedo partial for almost 5 year old | 5/7/2008 |
Q: My daughter who will be 5 in 5 weeks had her two front top teeth extracted last week. I was told ...
A: If there is adequate space to support two prosthetic teeth and the upper first permanent molars are ...
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| Extraction only | 5/6/2008 |
Q: Dr Myerson; I read with avid interest in the Q & A forum. However, I am in need of advice. We live ...
A: When you mention molars in your description you do not say if you are referring to permanent molars ...
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| Braces and jaw alignment | 5/5/2008 |
Q: Myerson. First off, i really appreciate you taking the time to answer questions. My question is ...
A: I would not expect additional growth of the jaw at this point. To be fair I would recommend that ...
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| Braces and jaw alignment | 5/5/2008 |
Q: Myerson. First off, i really appreciate you taking the time to answer questions. My question is ...
A: There are two unanswered variables here...the first is growth and future expectations of growth. As ...
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| 3 year old early molars? | 5/5/2008 |
Q: my son is almost 3 years old and he was a horrible teether, he didn't get his 1st tooth until he was ...
A: My first thought is that you may have miscounted the number of primary teeth that your son has. ...
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| Should my midline be corrected? | 5/3/2008 |
Q: Dr. Myerson, I appreciate your time and opinion. Over 12 years ago I started my orthodontic ...
A: That's quite an involved and unfortunate story. I question the statement that the tmj problem will ...
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| 6 yr old front tooth trauma to permanent tooth | 5/3/2008 |
Q: My 6 yr old son hit his top front tooth/surrounding gum on a rolled down car window last night. We ...
A: It can probably wait until Monday. Chances are the only emergency treatment would be to splint the ...
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| Braces and teeth allignment | 5/2/2008 |
Q: I am 18 years old and have never had braces. I went to the dentist today and he said that my front ...
A: Without seeing you for an examination I cannot give you an opinion about the need for braces. I can ...
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| Pain after crown when I chew food. | 4/30/2008 |
Q: Few years ago, a dentist determined I didn't need a root canal on a tooth that is the second tooth ...
A: It is certainly possible that the tooth will "calm down" from the trauma of the dental treatment and ...
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| Lower Jaw expansion | 4/30/2008 |
Q: MY daughter is nine and she has severe croweded teeth. All her permanent started coming along with ...
A: There are various different surgical approaches available depending on the exact situation, each ...
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| Lower Jaw expansion | 4/30/2008 |
Q: MY daughter is nine and she has severe croweded teeth. All her permanent started coming along with ...
A: I am not aware of the value of the Herbst appliance regarding expansion of the lower jaw as I am not ...
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| jaw widening | 4/29/2008 |
Q: My 10 year old had a jaw widening device put in place in March. The orthodontist told me to turn the ...
A: Do not reverse the adjustments. The 21 day period was probably just a first step in the process and ...
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| Yellow tooth discoloration (along top of front teeth) | 4/29/2008 |
Q: My 21 month old son has yellow along his top front teeth. We recently noticed this. we brush his ...
A: There are two types of stains that we see on teeth. The first is an intrinsic or developmental ...
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| 11 month old with a tooth split in 2 | 4/28/2008 |
Q: I have an 11 month old. He has his 2 bottom teeth, and 4 top teeth that started to come in 4 weeks ...
A: This is probably a pair of teeth that were fused together during development. Because of the way ...
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| Permanent teeth | 4/28/2008 |
Q: I lost a tooth. I am twelve years old. I was eating something and it cracked in two. One half fell ...
A: Don't worry...it was a baby tooth. That's why it's been loose for weeks. You can't break a ...
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| PLATE FOR 10 YEAR OLD | 4/26/2008 |
Q: my 10 year old has a 100% overbite. The lower teeth cut into his top palate, mostly when he chews, ...
A: The purpose of the appliance is to keep the bite open in the back so that these back teeth can ...
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| bottom front teeth | 4/26/2008 |
Q: Once a child has lost her front bottom baby teeth, how long is it usually until you start to see a ...
A: That can be quite variable. Usually the permanent incisors begin to appear within 1-2 months. ...
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| 3-year-old underbite | 4/25/2008 |
Q: I recently took my 3-year-old to her first dentist appointment. I'm guessing (as I was not allowed ...
A: I don't usually begin treatment until age 5. By that time the child is more cooperative and ...
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| question regarding braces and herbst | 4/24/2008 |
Q: Myerson, My daughter was diagnosed with class 2 division 2 mollecusion. Her ortho suggested 6 months ...
A: That may be true, which is one of the reasons that I don't use the Herbst appliance. Having said ...
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| Pink first molars?? | 4/24/2008 |
Q: My 11yr old daughter vertically fractured the cheek side of one of her lower first molars.Inside the ...
A: There are two possible situations here and I cannot discern from your description which one you are ...
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| Braces on for long time | 4/23/2008 |
Q: Long story but I'll try to be as brief as possible - instead of using an Orthodontist for braces, ...
A: I agree with you. My opinion, in retrospect, is that it was a huge mistake not consulting with an ...
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| Sond teeth | 4/23/2008 |
Q: My son is seven years old and I just noticed an adult tooth that has grown in behind his bottom ...
A: Usually the baby tooth will ultimately fall out on its own after some time. Then if there is enough ...
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| 2nd molars - bottom | 4/23/2008 |
Q: I am 24 yrs old. I am currently being treated by my regular dentist and an orthodontist with ...
A: My first strategy is always to preserve the teeth as long as it is possible and reasonable. The ...
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| gum recession and bite. | 4/23/2008 |
Q: I am a 19 year old male and have had a very bad grinding problem in my sleep for the past couple of ...
A: Matt, You've listed some important issues as well as a desire to correct them. Here's a possible ...
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| Molars extraction | 4/22/2008 |
Q: My Orthodontist says I need to have 4 premolars and my last 4 molars taken out for "space"... ...
A: Without access to your complete diagnostic records I can't properly answer your question. In ...
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| blanket sucking | 4/13/2008 |
Q: I read what you had said to another person about the 2.5 year old sucking his blanket and having an ...
A: Withdrawing from the blanket sucking should be a slow, steady project. I suggest you cut the ...
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| braces | 4/13/2008 |
Q: My daughter just turned nine and she just got her braces 4/9/08. She is having a really hard time. ...
A: You are dealing here with a psychological or behavioral challenge as well as a problem with the ...
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| braces | 4/13/2008 |
Q: I currently have braces. They were suppose to be removed Nov. 2007. Somethings came up such as a ...
A: I am going to respond to your inquiry as an orthodontist but I will suggest that you may wish to ...
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| Time it takes for adult front teeth to grow? | 4/12/2008 |
Q: My daughter is 5 and lost her two bottom front baby teeth which were replaced straight away by the ...
A: There is a great deal of variation in the timing of tooth eruption so I would not be too concerned ...
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| Daughter's permanent tooth is coming in behind the baby tooth | 4/11/2008 |
Q: My oldest deaughter, who is five, has a loose baby tooth on the bottom in the middle. (It's her ...
A: Since the baby tooth is loose it will probably fall out in time. If there is enough room for the ...
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| extraction of a milk tooth | 4/9/2008 |
Q: My 5 year son fell on his face when he was about 2 and chipped one of his front teeth. Over time ...
A: Antibiotics will not eliminate the infection...but they will help prevent the infection from ...
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| Severe Overcrowding Issues for a 9-Year Old | 4/9/2008 |
Q: My 9 year old daughter's dentist has outlined a rigorous plan commencing with the spacers, followed ...
A: Treatment is customized for each patient and reflects the complexity of the problem. Fees vary ...
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| Temporarily Removing Braces for Wedding | 4/8/2008 |
Q: Myerson, I want to know if it's possible to have braces temporarily removed about halfway into ...
A: The gist of my message is that you will lose some time in treatment and the time you lose is more ...
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| Braces and Mouthguards | 4/8/2008 |
Q: Myerson, I would firstly like to thank you for all that you offer to this wonderful website. My ...
A: Absolutely not. That type of mouthguard fits the teeth and braces closely and will halt any ...
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| Braces and Mouthguards | 4/8/2008 |
Q: Myerson, I would firstly like to thank you for all that you offer to this wonderful website. My ...
A: During the time you have braces on your teeth you should wear an orthodontic mouthguard. This type ...
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| 2yr knocked out front tooth but not root | 4/7/2008 |
Q: 2yr old after 3 traumas in past 6 months finally knocked out his front tooth-it was turning gray. ...
A: There's little chance that the root will dissolve. It may work its way out by itself but there's a ...
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| Root Canal Treatment for 3 year old kid | 4/6/2008 |
Q: My kid is 3 year 4 months old. My kid has to undergo the root canal treatment. We took him to a ...
A: Behavior management with small children is very difficult and there is very little that you can do ...
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| 17 month old with ECC and recommended treatment | 4/5/2008 |
Q: My 17 month old son was diagnosed today with severe decay on his front 4 top teeth. One corner ...
A: In severe decay situations with a primary tooth when the nerve is infected there are two ...
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| How to find good Ortho | 4/4/2008 |
Q: I am in definite need of braces as I need to make space for an implant. I need some advice on how to ...
A: First and foremost, make sure you are dealing with an orthodontist. Some general dentists represent ...
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| teeth dealy in 20 month old | 4/4/2008 |
Q: My daughter is 20 months and has 4 teeth. She seems to be getting a lateral incisor and it looks as ...
A: There's a great amount of variation in the timing of tooth eruption from one person to the next. ...
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| think I'm getting ripped off here | 4/3/2008 |
Q: my dentist is charing for work to be done on my 5 year old (about $2300) I asked them to fax me the ...
A: You're pretty much on track with this. The band and loop is a space maintainer which is necessary ...
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| Braces and Extraction | 4/3/2008 |
Q: My surgeon was concerned as there is not much space in my mouth. I have been using a maryland bridge ...
A: Each individual case is different and each has its own set of treatment options. The answer to your ...
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| congenital missing teeth - 14 year old boy | 4/2/2008 |
Q: im am writing on behalf of my 14 year old brother who suffers from congenital missing teeth. the ...
A: In cases of congenitally missing maxillary lateral incisors there are two potential treatment ...
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| Chewing in sleep | 3/31/2008 |
Q: I am 17 years old and I was told that I chew in my sleep. I wake up with terrible migraines. I have ...
A: I'm not at all equipped to provide you with any help, but I can give you some information. The ...
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| 10 year old son- possible surgery to align jaw at age 18 | 3/31/2008 |
Q: Myerson, My son recently had his first visit to an orthodontist a few weeks ago. He is now ten ...
A: Without actually evaluating your son and his diagnostic records I can't agree or disagree with the ...
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| braces and implant | 3/31/2008 |
Q: OK...so here is my "big" dilemma.I ended up cracking tooth #7 in a softball game a few years ago...i ...
A: In general it's a very bad idea to have an implant done before the orthodontic tratment is completed ...
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| Son born with two upper labial frenums | 3/30/2008 |
Q: My son is 2 1/2 and was born with two upper labial frenums which has made his two front teach ...
A: I might consider having the extreme labial frenum surgically revised since it will also interfere ...
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| my daughter | 3/30/2008 |
Q: my daughter is 3 years old and she has to get 4 of her front teeth taken out. will it take longer ...
A: Provided your daughter is healthy and her oral hygiene is good there should be no problem with the ...
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| tooth extraction | 3/29/2008 |
Q: Do all adults who need braces have to have teeth extracted? Also, if teeth in the middle of either ...
A: When it comes to orthodontic treatment there are no rules. Each treatment plan is customized to the ...
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| 13 month old son with half missing front tooth | 3/29/2008 |
Q: my 13 month old son's front tooth appears to have come through with most of the middle part of it ...
A: Without actually seeing the tooth I really can't know what you are describing. Some types of ...
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| Permanent tooth reabsorbed | 3/28/2008 |
Q: My 10 year old daughter has been seeing an orthodontist for about a year and a half. She has quite a ...
A: There was probably no alternative to the treatment that was provided. Even if you decided to not ...
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| Gray Tooth in a Two-Year-Old | 3/28/2008 |
Q: My son is 2 years old, and his front tooth has turned light gray over bight. He has had several ...
A: I have never heard of a fever or a nutritional deficiency resulting in a tooth turning dark. The ...
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| 12 year-old molar | 3/27/2008 |
Q: I am 14 years-old and I have one 12 year-old molar that has not come in yet. I have gotten two ...
A: I can think of several possible problems with that unerupted second molar. 1. By not being in ...
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| general anesthesia on toddlers | 3/27/2008 |
Q: I have a 17 month old baby girl. She's still being breastfed. The dentist is recommending to use ...
A: General anesthesia on a healthy child is relatively safe but there are significant risks that must ...
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| 2 year old's trauma to front tooth | 3/27/2008 |
Q: My 2 year old fell and hit her mouth, as a result one of her front teeth has been going grey. If ...
A: First of all, the darkening of the tooth signifies that the nerve of the tooth has died. Unless the ...
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| 9 year old, front teeth missing since 2 years | 3/19/2008 |
Q: My son had a small accident 2 years ago, damaging one of his front teeth, the dentist pulled both of ...
A: It seems to me that you should have already seen some progress with the emergence of that incisor by ...
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| 8 years and no front tooth | 3/18/2008 |
Q: My 8 year old daughter lost her front right incisor in October 2006, about a month after her left ...
A: There is a procedure for bringing that tooth into position. It involves placing braces on the teeth ...
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| white areas on child's teeth | 3/17/2008 |
Q: Dr. Myerson, my 7 year old daughter has had no dental problems, she has lost 5 baby teeth and 3 ...
A: You may be describing a variation in the color of these teeth that we see from time to time. It ...
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| Son almost 2 only 5 teeth | 3/17/2008 |
Q: I am wondering if an early visit to a dentist is warranted with my son. He is 22 months and only ...
A: No much you or a dentist can do at this point. Even if x-rays were possible on a child at this age ...
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| Palatal Expanders | 3/17/2008 |
Q: My daughter is 3 yo and just had her first trip to the dentist. The dentist stated that due to her ...
A: There are basically two types of palatal expanders...removable and fixed (cemented). I never use ...
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| Loose Tooth | 3/17/2008 |
Q: My three year old toddler knocked his canine tooth out. A month later he lost the tooth next to it. ...
A: There is nothing you can do in this situation other than make an appointment with a pediatric ...
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| Tooth discolored | 3/9/2008 |
Q: My 3yr old daughters two front teeth are darker maybe even a gray tent. She has been on 4 rounds of ...
A: There are basically two different forms of discoloration of teeth. The first is a surface stain ...
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| 13 year old with broken front tooth | 3/8/2008 |
Q: My son broke his front tooth when he fell off of his bike about 4 months ago. It broke just under ...
A: Of course a proper diagnosis requires an examination and x-rays but you should consider the ...
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| othodontic treatment | 3/7/2008 |
Q: Dr. Myerson, We are living in Ghana, West Africa. There are a few orthodontists here but I don't ...
A: My standard routine is to see every patient with fixed braces every 4-6 weeks. There is a style of ...
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| Permanent Retainer on upper and lower teeth | 3/7/2008 |
Q: Myerson, At the age of 21 years old I got braces for the first time. I only had a few gaps in my ...
A: You may have the option of having the permanent retainers removed and replaced by removable ...
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| brace query | 3/7/2008 |
Q: i have had fixed braces since october and have recently just had a fixture put on a tooth to bring ...
A: As a tooth moves into place the light that reflects off the tooth can be different and this could ...
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| Posterior Crossbite | 3/7/2008 |
Q: This past December 2007 I had a RPE put in. My orthodontist claimed that my crossbite is now fixed. ...
A: The orthodontist locked the appliance so that there can be no change in the width of the upper jaw. ...
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| brown tooth | 3/5/2008 |
Q: my 2 1/2 year old son has had a front brown tooth for 3 months now and the gum bleeds when i brush ...
A: The bleeding gum could very well indicate an infection. The only way to know if root canal therapy ...
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| Extraction after intruded baby teeth | 2/28/2008 |
Q: My 2 year old son fell 4 weeks ago and hit his mouth on a fireplace. Three of his front teeth were ...
A: I understand your concern. You should also understand a concern your dentist has about a persistent ...
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| Length of time for gums to heal after an extraction. | 2/28/2008 |
Q: My 5 yr old son just had dental work done(yesterday) where the next to last back tooth on each upper ...
A: Soft diet is advisable for a limited amount of time as healing progresses. Your son will best gauge ...
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| Posterior Crossbite | 2/27/2008 |
Q: I have had very little orthodontic work done, yet, my teeth are extremely straight. I do, however, ...
A: It is a rare situation when a crossbite is the only problem with a bite. While it can take as ...
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| implant or bridge? | 2/27/2008 |
Q: i have braces and i get them off in a few months, i have had a tooth pulled because it was a baby ...
A: These are good question that should be directed to the prosthodontist...the dentist who will be ...
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| tooth decay | 2/27/2008 |
Q: , i have a child that is just over 2 years and has problem with her 4 AB top front teeth and a hole ...
A: Depending on the extent of damage to the teeth it may be possible to determine without x-rays that ...
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| flouride vitamins | 2/27/2008 |
Q: At what age should flouride vitamins be stopped?
A: Systemic (ingested) fluoride supplements only work when enamel is developing. Since most tooth ...
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| tooth decay | 2/27/2008 |
Q: , i have a child that is just over 2 years and has problem with her 4 AB top front teeth and a hole ...
A: Without x-rays and a clinical examination I am in no position to offer a second opinion. A ...
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| 4 yr old - 31 pounds multiple cavities sedation | 2/26/2008 |
Q: My 4 year old has 4 bottom teeth in big trouble. several others have cavities. She weighs only 31 ...
A: I personally favor conscious sedation in the office rather than general anesthesia in the hospital, ...
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| Caps on Baby teeth. | 2/25/2008 |
Q: About 3 months ago my two year old landed front teeth first on a metal bar which must have cracked ...
A: I strongly recommend that you take necessary measures to preserve the teeth. Early loss will ...
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| Black spots/stains on 3yr old | 2/25/2008 |
Q: Randolph My 3yr old started having black spots along gumline and on back of the teeth from past 2 ...
A: This appears to be a surface stain and not a problem with the tooth itself. Frequently the cause of ...
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| 3 yr. old chipped tooth | 2/25/2008 |
Q: My son chipped his tooth yesterday and it's only a small amount that was broken off, but should I ...
A: Your idea of a small amount and my ideal of a small amount may not be the same. It doesn't take a ...
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| new tooth | 2/23/2008 |
Q: My son is seven years old. His first two grown up teeth have just grown in, One is really crooked ...
A: Your son should be seen by a dentist who can determine if the defect in the tooth needs treatment to ...
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| eye teeth and cleft palate | 2/22/2008 |
Q: I'm a 22 year old, who is thinking about getting braces due to overcrowding and elevated eye teeth ...
A: While it's important that the orthodontist is aware of your history of cleft palate and surgery, ...
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| Tooth discoloration in 3 yr old | 2/21/2008 |
Q: My three year old cousin had a skating accident and her two front teeth were chipped. Her gums were ...
A: The discoloration is very likely the result of the repeated trauma. Mild discoloration that occurs ...
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| 5 years old | 2/21/2008 |
Q: Can a 5 year old get new or more molers cutting through before ever lossing any baby teeth. I just ...
A: We can reasonably expect a 5 year old with all 20 baby teeth to start acquiring his first permanent ...
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| My adult tooth has not regrown | 2/21/2008 |
Q: I am 16 years old and I had my last baby tooth taken out almost a year ago but my adult tooth still ...
A: It is definitely something else. Milk has nothing to do with the emergence of a tooth in a 16 year ...
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| extra tooth | 2/20/2008 |
Q: I am 17 years old and have recently noticed a tooth gowing out of the roof of my mouth behind my ...
A: This is either an extra tooth (called a supernumerary) or it's a regular permanent tooth. ...
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| orthodontics/strong jaw | 2/20/2008 |
Q: My son went to 2 orthodontists recently for a consult. Each one said something different. One said ...
A: Truth of the matter is that I don't have enough information to give you any significant advice. The ...
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| Dental versus skeletal overbite | 2/20/2008 |
Q: I have been to 3 orthodontists with my daughter in an attempt to find the correct treatment for her. ...
A: You have discovered that there are many different approaches to every problem. I can give you some ...
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| Toddler has skin from lip between two front teeth | 2/19/2008 |
Q: My son just turned 18 months. I noticed that the skin from under his top lip is growing into the ...
A: The tissue you have described is a maxillary frenum and it is entirely normal at 18 months of age. ...
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| 5 yr old extraction of two teeth | 2/19/2008 |
Q: My 5 year old was complaining about headaches and teeth pain. Took her to a pediatric dentist. They ...
A: The pediatric dentist is trained and experienced in managing the young dental patient in the best ...
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| underbite | 2/17/2008 |
Q: My 10 month old has a very noticeable underbite. Any idea of what may have caused this and the best ...
A: Nearly every 10 month old infant has an "underbite". The lower jaw usually grows faster than the ...
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| enamel hypoplasia | 2/16/2008 |
Q: My 6 year old daughter has enamel hypoplasia. As a result her max canine and 1st primary molars have ...
A: While enamel hypoplasia and fluorosis are both disturbances in the formation of the enamel they are ...
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| trauma to front tooth | 2/16/2008 |
Q: Whilst thanking you in advance I kindly ask for your expert advice. I am a 28 yr old lady and ...
A: There is a very good chance that the displaced tooth will re-attach. In many of these kinds of ...
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| toddler front teeth knocked loose | 2/15/2008 |
Q: my 26month old daughter knocked her 2 front teeth out of place on the ice. the dentist was able to ...
A: It is prudent for you to pursue this as you've planned. Without knowing the nature of the murmur ...
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| toddler front teeth knocked loose | 2/15/2008 |
Q: my 26month old daughter knocked her 2 front teeth out of place on the ice. the dentist was able to ...
A: Your daughter's heart murmur could be a very significant factor in how you should proceed. If the ...
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| 4 year old and her 1st loose tooth | 2/14/2008 |
Q: My daughter is 4 1/2. We have been to the dentist on several occasions just for a visit. However we ...
A: If this is a lower front tooth then I would guess that it is simply falling out a bit early. Of ...
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| Treating bimaxillary protrusion | 2/14/2008 |
Q: I'm being treated for bimaxillary protrusion in which my teeth and gums sticks out and can't close ...
A: There are many different ways to correct bimaxillary protrusion following extraction of four ...
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| Teething | 2/14/2008 |
Q: My 9 month old daughter has now four bottom teeth and no top teeth is this normal or do i have to ...
A: There is a great deal of variability in the appearance and timing of the teeth. Besides brushing ...
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| My son seems to feel pain at dentist even after the shots and gas. | 2/13/2008 |
Q: Can a child not get numb? My son is 7 and he has had work done twice now and he ...
A: While it is possible that the action of the local anesthetic is not profound, that is not likely ...
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| abscess in a 6yo? | 2/13/2008 |
Q: My 6yo fell and chipped his tooth a few years ago. Now there is a lot of redness and a white dot, ...
A: This sounds like an abcess. As long as the infection remains localized to the area of the tooth you ...
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| 6 year olds loose tooth | 2/13/2008 |
Q: i have a 6 year old daughter who has 2 loose teeth on the bottom(side by side)& 1 tooth is hurting ...
A: It is certainly acceptable to "encourage" a naturally exfoliating primary tooth so she can go ahead ...
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| toddler front teeth knocked loose | 2/13/2008 |
Q: my 26month old daughter knocked her 2 front teeth out of place on the ice. the dentist was able to ...
A: The possibility that those two teeth will recover from this trauma depends to a great extent on ...
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| hypoplastic teeth condition | 2/13/2008 |
Q: My son was diagnosed today after going to the dentist for two cavities with this condition. Our ...
A: 1. Cavities should be cleaned and fillings placed as soon as possible. Frequent dental checkups ...
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| Crossbite | 2/12/2008 |
Q: I am a 22 year old female, I have a crossbite on the right side of my mouth, i have only only had an ...
A: Correcting the crossbite in a young adult without surgery invites a significant risk of failure as ...
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| Frenulectomy | 2/12/2008 |
Q: Can you tell me the short and long term risks or possible side effects that can occur from having a ...
A: Other than the minimal risks that accompany any minor surgery (discomfort, infection, bleeding) I am ...
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| Abcess in childs tooth | 2/12/2008 |
Q: My daughter is 3. Today they pulled her front upper tooth because they said it has an abcess. ...
A: There are certainly ways to treat an abcessed tooth and preserve it. Extraction is the treatment of ...
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| overbite | 2/11/2008 |
Q: My daughter is 9. She has been wearing braces on her upper front teeth only for about 1.5 years. Her ...
A: There are many different approaches to treating an overbite and each one must take into ...
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| 10 1/2 YR OLD DAUGHTER CHIPPED UPPER FRONT TOOTH | 2/11/2008 |
Q: SHE WENT ICE SKATING THIS A.M. AND CHIPPED OFF MORE THAN 1/2 THE TOOTH IN THE FRONT ON AN ANGLE..I ...
A: Minimal immediate treatment is essential to prevent further damage to the traumatized tooth. The ...
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| primary tooth root canal v. extraction | 2/11/2008 |
Q: My son (6) is scheduled for a root canal. When having his first cavity filled, his dentist said ...
A: I'm going to guess that a space maintainer will not work in that location because the first ...
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| Born with missing adult teeth. -Recent Jaw pain | 2/10/2008 |
Q: I'm a 15 year old girl and I was born without adult teeth below both of the second premolars on my ...
A: Proper jaw posture depends on muscular balance and a properly working set of temporo-mandibular jaw ...
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| 10 1/2 YR OLD DAUGHTER CHIPPED UPPER FRONT TOOTH | 2/10/2008 |
Q: SHE WENT ICE SKATING THIS A.M. AND CHIPPED OFF MORE THAN 1/2 THE TOOTH IN THE FRONT ON AN ANGLE..I ...
A: Sometimes it is not possible to know right away if a root canal will be necessary. That might ...
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| baby root canal failed | 2/9/2008 |
Q: My 7 yr olds root canal failed, therefore the tooth had to be extracted. Is it necessary to have an ...
A: That depends on just what tooth you are referring to. If it is an incisor (front tooth) then the ...
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| baby root canal on 2 year old | 2/9/2008 |
Q: I noticed that my daughter had cavities on her two front teeth. (she just turned 2) So I took her to ...
A: This is, unfortunately, a far too common problem that we see as pediatric dentists. The treatment ...
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| Gapped front teeth | 2/8/2008 |
Q: My daughter is 20 months old and after she cut her two front teeth, I noticed that the "string" that ...
A: That gap is quite common in infants and frequently it closes as the frenum (that string you ...
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| 2 year old front tooth extraction | 2/7/2008 |
Q: you answered my question posted 30 Jan re my little boy who knocked his front tooth out that day. ...
A: The simple answer is that since there is an infection present the removal of the damaged tooth must ...
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| Rotating tooth | 2/7/2008 |
Q: Ive had my braces for almost nine months now and current movement in my mouth is focussed on ...
A: The rotation of a tooth is a very difficult and time-consuming process. You are feeling the ...
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| No sign of adult teeth yet | 2/6/2008 |
| Q: My son is nearly 8 years old. He lost the 2 teeth either side of his middle bottom teeth o |
