| Subject | Date Asked |
|
| 3rd epicoectomy vs. implant | 10/7/2008 |
Q: I've had 2 epicoectomy done since year 2001. The 1st procedure left me a hole in the bone area that ...
A: If I understand you correctly, you have already had two apicoectomies on the same tooth-- and you ...
|
| PERMANENT BRIDGE/GUM RECESSION | 10/5/2008 |
Q: I have a permanent 8 unit bridge. now have gum recession in front teeth. Does the bridge have to be ...
A: No-- there is no effective way to hide an exposed margin caused by gum recession on a fixed bridge, ...
|
| Temporary filling and pregnant | 10/5/2008 |
Q: I had a a root canal done 4 weeks ago and was given a temporary filling. I have been able to go to ...
A: Most admonitions with regard to herb derivatives and pregnancy are boilerplate warnings, because ...
|
| In pain with me teeth | 10/5/2008 |
Q: and so is my family. We havent been able to afford the cost to be seen, let alot have our teeth ...
A: Although the Georgia dental Medicaid program is rather limited in scope, you should investigate to ...
|
| teeth pain after filling replacement | 10/5/2008 |
Q: I recently had a large filling replaced on the bottom right side of my mouth and had a small cavity ...
A: Despite the fact that the pain seems to be originating from a different tooth, logic suggests that ...
|
| Implant Supported Bridge | 10/4/2008 |
Q: I will need to get a permanent bridge for four front teeth replaced by implants soon. My regular ...
A: Properly made, porcelain fused to metal crowns and bridges look quite nice. Although there may be ...
|
| Implant Supported Bridge | 10/4/2008 |
Q: I will need to get a permanent bridge for four front teeth replaced by implants soon. My regular ...
A: The decision as to whether a base metal alloy or a precious metal alloy is used is irrelevant to the ...
|
| pain after root canal and crown | 10/3/2008 |
Q: I am a 66 years old female. My teeth #31 and #18 had been extracted a quite long ago, which caused ...
A: Pain is a non-specific symptom, and could reflect a wide variety of different problems. The fact ...
|
| AMSA technique/palatal injections | 10/2/2008 |
Q: Is this technique recommended for lengthy procedures? Based on all of the info I can find about ...
A: I must confess that I don't use the anterior middle superior alveolar nerve block-- I find the ...
|
| Dental Crown | 10/2/2008 |
Q: I have two questions. I hope you will answer them. Firstly, my father has a crown on his two upper ...
A: The feasibility of repairing an old crown depends on more than just the condition of the crown ...
|
| Dentistry Requirements | 9/30/2008 |
Q: I'm currently in high school and was wondering if I need to take physics in order to enter a ...
A: Yes-- one year of undergraduate physics is required in college in order to qualify for admission for ...
|
| Permanent vs Removable Bridge | 9/29/2008 |
Q: I am 68 years old and in good health except for my teeth for which I have had extensive dental work ...
A: The relative merits of the available prosthetic choices in the abstract are straightforward: ...
|
| loose permanent teeth | 9/28/2008 |
Q: I have a 6 yr old who sucked a pacifier only a daily basis until about 9 months ago. Now he ...
A: Although almost anything is possible, I think that any causal relationship between sucking a ...
|
| loose permanent teeth | 9/28/2008 |
Q: I have a 6 yr old who sucked a pacifier only a daily basis until about 9 months ago. Now he ...
A: Unless your son is very precocious, those loose teeth are probably primary rather than adult teeth, ...
|
| dental caries and triage | 9/28/2008 |
Q: I recently asked Benjamin Schwartz, D.D.S. a question and received my response... I have a followup ...
A: Tooth decay follows an indolent, slow course, and the passage of only one or two weeks' time will ...
|
| Is this really a surgical stent? | 9/27/2008 |
Q: A few months ago I had to get 2 of my front teeth removed due to resorption. I then went to a oral ...
A: You are correct in noting that the device your dentist made is rather flimsy; it is known ...
|
| wisdom teeth extraction | 9/27/2008 |
Q: I am 22 and have 4 impacted wisdom teeth, all are bony impactions. I am having them removed by my ...
A: The intent of general anesthesia and/or conscious sedation is to manage anxiety; the local ...
|
| infected toot? severe jaw pain | 9/27/2008 |
Q: Two months ago I had a root canal on tooth #14. The tooth had several earlier fillings and had a ...
A: I am unaware of any occurrence of tetanus arising from a dental infection, and you may safely ...
|
| My teeth hurt after flossing! | 9/26/2008 |
Q: Bornfeld, I am a very busy mom of a 3, 2, and 1 year old. After the birth of my last baby, I have ...
A: Phillips, Assuming that your dentist is a competent diagnostician and hasn't missed anything, and ...
|
| wonderful dentist | 9/26/2008 |
Q: I work for a great dentist but he is terrible about cross contamination. He is 55 and has been ...
A: He may be "wonderful", but if he's terrible about cross contamination, he's not a "wonderful ...
|
| dry socket and food | 9/26/2008 |
Q: I had a tooth extracted wed. the 17th and have been in and out with a dry socket since. I had the ...
A: Although there is little danger that the socket will open at this point, your continued pain merits ...
|
| hematoma | 9/26/2008 |
Q: I received a filling two weeks ago bottom molder #3. Went back to the dentist for the fourth time, ...
A: You may or may not indeed have a hematoma, but the sequence of events suggests that you incurred ...
|
| Jaw Pain 1mo. after fillings (still)!! | 9/26/2008 |
Q: I went to my dentist to have three cavities filled (two upper and one lower) on the right side of my ...
A: King, Your description suggests that you have had a subluxation (a type of dislocation) of one of ...
|
| filling removal question | 9/24/2008 |
Q: I'm going to be having a mercury filling removed in the near future, and my understanding is that a ...
A: Most dentists use high-volume vacuum evacuators during drilling, and the majority of the coolant ...
|
| cheek retractors | 9/24/2008 |
Q: Can cheek retractors used at the dentist cause permanent stretching of the cheek/facial muscles? I ...
A: Although I suspect that it is theoretically possible to inflict injury on the tissues of the mouth ...
|
| Wisdom Tooth Extraction | 9/22/2008 |
Q: I am 51 years old. My dental hygienist told me that I should eventually have my wisdom tooth ...
A: I am not a big fan of commercial antiseptic mouthwash products, because they don't offer much ...
|
| toddlers teeth | 9/22/2008 |
Q: At what age should my toddler begin seeing a dentist? Also, my 3 year old's incisor teeth are very ...
A: Page, The "company line" regarding the optimal age to begin professional dental care is when the ...
|
| sensitivity after fillings | 9/21/2008 |
Q: Your answers have been very helpful. I recently had three white fillings placed in two of my top ...
A: Unfortunately, desensitizing toothpastes are of no benefit for the sensitivity that follows ...
|
| Top Front Tooth Slightly Longer | 9/19/2008 |
Q: Bornfeld. I went in the other day to my dentist office to remove a white spot on the lower part of ...
A: Although you may well be able to file down your own tooth, I strongly discourage you and any other ...
|
| please help if possible | 9/19/2008 |
Q: yesterday i went and had a tooth removed,the whole process was horrible to begin with and i was in ...
A: Although this type of reaction does occasionally happen, it is most assuredly NOT normal. I can't ...
|
| Chart Documentation | 9/19/2008 |
Q: Is it legal to document a dental chart in blue ink? black ink? or both? State of NJ
A: I am unaware of any regulations, either in New Jersey or elsewhere, that stipulate what colors are ...
|
| wisdom tooth extraction | 9/18/2008 |
Q: son, 26 yrs old, had upper wisdom tooth removed. Check-up 5 days later showed root broken off in ...
A: Boutwell, I would categorize this problem as a "wait and see" issue. Although I agree that the ...
|
| ihad white patch on my gum for 3month | 9/17/2008 |
Q: ihad white patch on my gum for the last months easy to scrub with red base used nystatin without ...
A: As a general rule, it is best to biopsy any white patch on the oral mucous membrane that persists ...
|
| shifting teeth in elderly | 9/17/2008 |
Q: My mom is 83 years old and her teeth are shifting such that she has gone to an orthodontist to see ...
A: The shifting of teeth in elderly persons is often a result of some combination of periodontal (gum) ...
|
| Crown after RCT | 9/16/2008 |
Q: How soon after RCT on a molar should I get the tooth crowned? If I get RCT in early October, can I ...
A: Although there is some risk of either fracture or leakage of the temporary filling for as long as ...
|
| Problems with a root canal | 9/16/2008 |
Q: I have chronic dry mouth which causes me to have ongoing dental problems. It is very frustrating. I ...
A: There are two separate questions with regard to this tooth: 1. Was the root canal performed well, ...
|
| Are Captek Crowns worth the extra cost? | 9/16/2008 |
Q: I'm 55 years old and have at least 4 crowns, including on tooth #30 and 31. Those 2 crowns were ...
A: Conventional porcelain fused to metal crowns are functionally equivalent to Captek crowns. Properly ...
|
| 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: You are correct, and your dentist's latter position is not supported by the prevailing convention. ...
|
| Composite fillings with deep molar pits/valleys | 9/14/2008 |
Q: When I was in my mid-teens it was recommended that I get prisma-shields on my molars due to having ...
A: Composite resin may have some bitter taste if it is not completely polymerized. Normally, ...
|
| Wisdom Tooth Extraction | 9/14/2008 |
Q: I am 51 years old. My dental hygienist told me that I should eventually have my wisdom tooth ...
A: Contrary to popular opinion, teeth do not apply any eruptive force to neighboring teeth. If this ...
|
| number of teeth | 9/13/2008 |
Q: what is the number of teeth a normal human should have?
A: The number of teeth that are normally found depends on the person's age. A newborn usually doesn't ...
|
| problem with dental bridge | 9/13/2008 |
Q: I asked my dentist about and she said it was normal. i just need a second opinion. Is it really ...
A: No-- it is most assuredly NOT normal for a bridge to manifest with pain a full two months after ...
|
| wisdom tooth removal | 9/12/2008 |
Q: I am a healthy fit 58 yo male with all 4 wisdom teeth. They have never given me any problems in all ...
A: Whether or not the restoration of a tooth is either feasible or advisable depends entirely on the ...
|
| Crown Fit | 9/12/2008 |
Q: I recently had a crown put in on tooth 3. About 6 months ago I had a crown put on the contacting ...
A: You are right to be suspicious. Although it is perfectly legitimate to terminate a crown margin ...
|
| dentists of record | 9/12/2008 |
Q: I'm curious... I moved to a new city last year and never really selected a dentist until I had an ...
A: Legally speaking, there is no limit to the number of "dentists of record" that a patient may have. ...
|
| D2620 and D2392 | 9/11/2008 |
Q: I have a quesion after my first visit to a new dentist. My dentist found I have a cavity on the left ...
A: The use of the two codes cited would be considered redundant if performed on the same tooth. Ceramic ...
|
| bleeding after tooth extraction | 9/10/2008 |
Q: I recently had my #15 molar surgicially extracted. The oral surgeon gave great post-extraction ...
A: With due respect to your oral surgeon, his "great post-extraction advice" wasn't so great if he ...
|
| apico v extraction and implant | 9/10/2008 |
Q: I am a 37 year who is scheduled for apico surgery sept 15 for a tooth that was root canaled 20 years ...
A: I agree-- and that's just what your endodontist is trying to do: save the tooth. However, some teeth ...
|
| root canal breastfeeding and infection | 9/6/2008 |
Q: i noticed my silver filling was cracked so i went to my dentist with minimal pain to have the ...
A: Although both clindamycin and Tylenol are distributed in breast milk and there are isolated reports ...
|
| pain when eating chocolat | 9/6/2008 |
Q: I have never had problems with my teeth but for about two months my teeth hurt when i eat chocolate ...
A: Tooth sensitivity in response to exposure to sweets is a non-specific symptoms of exposure of dentin ...
|
| Pressure Inside Tooth | 9/6/2008 |
Q: I have a very wierd sensation occur in my left front tooth every time I eat or drink something cold. ...
A: Any answer I provide is highly speculative, since I am handicapped by not having access to the ...
|
| Wisdom Teeth - Should they all be removed | 9/5/2008 |
Q: I'm a 35 year old women, and recently my upper left wisdom tooth broke through the gumline. I went ...
A: I'm a bit of a cynic, so you won't be surprised when I say that most oral surgeons seem to find more ...
|
| numb tongue after wisdom teeth extraction | 9/5/2008 |
Q: I had all four wisdom teeth out a week ago and the tip of my tongue is numb. I am still in a lot of ...
A: At one week postoperative, one normally would not expect sharp pain. Because your description ...
|
| Cleanliness with in the practice | 9/4/2008 |
Q: I am a non certified dental assistant for a family owned private practice. I have been with these ...
A: The answer depends on how much you value your job. Although the law is clearly on your side, many ...
|
| wisdom tooth | 9/4/2008 |
Q: dr.i want to know that any flaw in wisdom tooth can lead to excessive sweating on that side. as my ...
A: No-- a wisdom tooth would not cause symptoms such as you describe. It is possible that you have a ...
|
| Sore front tooth after trauma | 9/4/2008 |
Q: Five days ago I got hit in the front of the mouth with part of a chair that broke off when I picked ...
A: Unfortunately, the full scope of this type of injury can never be known until weeks or even months ...
|
| cleaning | 9/3/2008 |
Q: I saw on the internet that I can purchase a 35% Carbamide Peroxide jell. To put on me teeth to clean ...
A: Millette, Although carbamide peroxide can bleach teeth, it does not clean them; if your teeth are ...
|
| Composite fillings with deep molar pits/valleys | 9/3/2008 |
Q: When I was in my mid-teens it was recommended that I get prisma-shields on my molars due to having ...
A: Although it is true that almost all teeth manifest some inflammation in the pulp, I use the term ...
|
| Composite fillings with deep molar pits/valleys | 9/2/2008 |
Q: When I was in my mid-teens it was recommended that I get prisma-shields on my molars due to having ...
A: Your case aptly illustrates the trade-offs between composite resin and amalgam as filling materials: ...
|
| High Noble Crown | 9/2/2008 |
Q: I believe my dentist may be operating unethically, so I have a few questions about some recent ...
A: Not too much useful information as to a crown's composition can be inferred by its color, because it ...
|
| dental clasp | 9/1/2008 |
Q: I am getting a plate to wear on the top, it will mean i am giong to have 2 teeth left, my dentist ...
A: A partial denture clasp is a device that helps hold the denture in its correct position by deriving ...
|
| Pain associated with root canal | 8/31/2008 |
Q: Dr., I am at a loss as to how to proceed. Any words of advice would be of great help seeing that I ...
A: There are options for pain relief in this type of situation, but the final disposition of your ...
|
| Tongue is numb after surgery | 8/29/2008 |
Q: I had my wisdom teeth cut out 10 years ago. They cut into some nerves causing damage and I lost ...
A: Although the severance of a sensory nerve is sometimes followed by any of a number of neuropathic ...
|
| instrutments in cleaning teeth | 8/28/2008 |
Q: I have had my teeth cleaned once a yr for over 40 yrs.They used a manual tool to clean my teeth. I ...
A: If I'm not mistaken, the electronic instrument to which you refer is an ultrasonic scaler, often ...
|
| wisdom extractions | 8/28/2008 |
Q: I had four impacted wisdom teeth taken out exactly 1 week ago (aug20) everything's healing pretty ...
A: Infection is rare following wisdom tooth extraction, but the severity of postoperative symptoms ...
|
| root canal | 8/28/2008 |
Q: is there any possibility that there is a relationship between the date of hygeniest cleaning( done ...
A: Although almost anything is possible, I know of no established relationship between a dental ...
|
| night guards | 8/27/2008 |
Q: I have TMJ, and grind my teeth in my sleep. When I was living in California, I had a doctor who ...
A: No-- there is no standard practice, and a night guard may be made either for the upper or lower jaw ...
|
| Blurred vision after injection | 8/26/2008 |
Q: Prior to having a root canal I visited with my allergist who determined that Mepivacaine should be ...
A: Allergic or toxic reactions to mepivacaine are quite rare. It is possible that your symptoms are the ...
|
| 8yr old girl (baby 1st molar extracted) | 8/25/2008 |
Q: my daughter just had her bottom (baby) 1st molar removed due to abscess. Suggestions were made to ...
A: I'm not sure I understand your question, because the first bicuspid erupts in the same position as ...
|
| Protruding lateral incisors | 8/25/2008 |
Q: Both of my lateral incisors are angled slightly forward. In the past I had pre-molars on both sides ...
A: Although the situation you describe can only be managed by orthodontic treatment, there are ...
|
| Micro leaking on Crowns | 8/25/2008 |
Q: What can be done when a new crown does not completely seal and there are micro leakage, but the ...
A: It is uncertain whether the pain you are feeling is truly due to "microleakage", or perhaps due to ...
|
| Interproximal filing | 8/24/2008 |
Q: I had asked a similiar question to another expert who is currently on vacation and so I thought I'd ...
A: Always? That depends on your orthodontist, but IPR SHOULD always be followed by polishing. He may ...
|
| Interproximal filing | 8/24/2008 |
Q: I had asked a similiar question to another expert who is currently on vacation and so I thought I'd ...
A: Interproximal filing, interproximal reduction, or (euphemistically) "reproximation"-- i.e., the ...
|
| Listerine use 4 days after extraction | 8/24/2008 |
Q: I am a 40 yr old male who had the two bottom wisdom removed on 20/8/08. The gums were stitched and ...
A: Yes-- it is generally unwise to use OTC mouthwashes when there are surgical wounds in the mouth, as ...
|
| fixing teeth | 8/24/2008 |
Q: I had put a bridge cap on 3 teeths last 6 month back.Now this cap is comming out and i want to fix ...
A: Although you will find temporary dental cement at your local pharmacy (this product is often ...
|
| Pain | 8/23/2008 |
Q: , I recently replaced 3 silver filings with composite filings. One on the bottom left, and two on ...
A: I have indeed seen many cases of sensitivity following the placement of composite resin-- this ...
|
| cosmetic procedure | 8/8/2008 |
Q: My 24 yo daughter fell on her face about 2 yrs ago and broke off about 1/3 at an angle of her upper ...
A: A veneer is a thin shell of porcelain that is applied to the facial surface of a tooth; a Lumineer ...
|
| 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: Your orthodontist should be able to add a prosthetic tooth to your braces, unless he is planning to ...
|
| Normal Socket size following surgery | 8/6/2008 |
Q: I had emergency surgery 9 days ago for removal of all 4 wisdom teeth. My top right tooth was ...
A: Although it's not possible to provide reliable guidance without seeing the sockets myself, most ...
|
| root canal | 8/6/2008 |
Q: My wife had a root canal performed about 5 months ago, during which the dentist perforated her ...
A: Whether or not your wife's dentist should be held accountable is something that must be properly ...
|
| crowns for implants | 8/3/2008 |
Q: Why are crowns for implants more expensive than crowns for root canals or broken teeth? My dentist ...
A: I cannot judge whether the quoted fee is exorbitant, because that very much depends on customary fee ...
|
| braces | 8/3/2008 |
Q: My daughter is 13. Our pediatric dentist recommended braces for her top teeth. Her 2 front teeth ...
A: There is a history of "turf wars" between pedodontists and orthodontists, so the answer partly ...
|
| Healing process of tooth extraction? | 8/2/2008 |
Q: I had my two premolars removed four days ago,but the look of them keep changing I am TERRIFIED of ...
A: At four days post-surgery, you're already almost past the point where dry socket would occur. It is ...
|
| bridge vs implant | 8/2/2008 |
Q: #10 needs to be extracted. #11 needs a new crown (only a temp there now). I'd like to replace the ...
A: This is a case of the patient knowing more than the doctor. The only explanation is that your ...
|
| Wisdom teeth oozing. | 8/1/2008 |
Q: I got my wisdom teeth out a week ago, and the past few days there has been slight oozing out of ...
A: Delayed exudation of the type you describe, especially when accompanied by a bad taste, is ...
|
| Wisdom teeth oozing. | 8/1/2008 |
Q: I got my wisdom teeth out a week ago, and the past few days there has been slight oozing out of ...
A: That depends-- when you say "oozing"-- what type of fluid is coming from the socket-- pus? blood? ...
|
| cyst | 8/1/2008 |
Q: I had an abcess 3 yrs ago which resulted into a black eye.I seen my dentist and he pulled the nerve ...
A: The proper means of treating a dental cyst is to surgically remove the cyst. It is generally ...
|
| Tooth with a crown which needs a root canal | 7/31/2008 |
Q: , Eighteen months ago I had a lot of pain in a tooth which had many old fillings. My (new) ...
A: Although it's certainly preferable and more elegant to perform root canal therapy PRIOR to placement ...
|
| Lopsided crown? | 7/31/2008 |
Q: I have a badly decayed upper first molar that will probably need RCT. The decay took away most of ...
A: The problem with limiting the extent of the crown lengthening to one small area is not that the ...
|
| root canal and crown back molar | 7/30/2008 |
Q: In a teen is it sometimes preferable to allow the wisdom tooth the space rather than root canal and ...
A: Although it may be feasible to extract a second molar with the intent of allowing a wisdom tooth to ...
|
| CROWNS IN CHILDREN | 7/29/2008 |
Q: My 12 year old nephew had an accident recently and knocked a large piece out of his front tooth and ...
A: Although a formal "permanent" crown is inappropriate for a child, there are ways of restoring ...
|
| bad breath | 7/28/2008 |
Q: I can't figure out why my breath stinks. I brush my teeth with a Sonicare toothbrush and I use a ...
A: Bad breath can be the result of a wide variety of causes. Although dental disease (gum disease ...
|
| Reaction to anesthesia post root extraction | 7/26/2008 |
Q: Bornfeld, This is not exactly a pure dental question. My mother went to her dentist to pull a tooth ...
A: Although it's unlikely that two cartridges of local anesthetic would have any significant health ...
|
| Shooting Pain On a filled tooth | 7/25/2008 |
Q: I recently had a filling on my tooth which is next to the canine.The decay was quite deep.When the ...
A: The re-emergence of pain is usually an unfavorable sign, and probably indicates that there is still ...
|
| dental bridge for 2nd molar | 7/25/2008 |
Q: Bornfeld, I have been missing tooth #15 for 3 years now, I don't have either the wisdom tooth #16. ...
A: The consequences of your missing #15 depend largely on the position and distribution of the other ...
|
| excessive root canal therapy | 7/24/2008 |
Q: Over the last 3 years I have had 5 root canals. All on last 2 back molars top and bottom. These ...
A: Anderson, No-- although drugs of the bisphosphonate class such as Actonel and Boniva can impair the ...
|
| No holes after wisdom teeth removal | 7/23/2008 |
Q: Hopefully you can help me. I got my 4 wisdom teeth removed a week ago (all under the gum/bone, 2 ...
A: You probably have no holes because your oral surgeon was able to stitch the flaps of gum tissue over ...
|
| Locked Jaw | 7/23/2008 |
Q: I am 20 and have never been to a dentist before. For the past 4 years or so, my jaw has been popping ...
A: Although some orthopedic surgeons have been known to "dabble" in temporomandibular joint dysfunction ...
|
| Crown fit / food impaction | 7/22/2008 |
Q: Two weeks ago I had the completion of the final step in an implant replacement for two teeth in my ...
A: Dentists generally distinguish between two types of food impaction: horizontal and vertical. ...
|
| wisdom teeth extractions | 7/22/2008 |
Q: I have to have all my wisdom teeth out. Two are part bony and two are complete bony. I'm 28 and ...
A: You are technically correct-- properly administered, a local anesthetic will eliminate any ...
|
| Difference in resin based composite | 7/22/2008 |
Q: It was discovered that my son needed to have some work done on his teeth. A Pre-Auth was submitted ...
A: From your description, the following changes were made between the pre-treatment estimate and the ...
|
| gum infection? | 7/22/2008 |
Q: i cut my gum while brushing my teeth. i have been rinsing with salt water but i don't think it is ...
A: Assuming the lesion to which you refer is truly a cut from your toothbrush, there is no need to take ...
|
| Crown | 7/21/2008 |
Q: I had asked one of the other dentist here a question and I am unsure if I explained my situation ...
A: I'm not sure I have a clear picture of what you mean by "a very small arch/space". The lingual ...
|
| composite filling vs crown | 7/21/2008 |
Q: My nine year old daughter fractured her bottom front tooth. I went to my family dentist who was ...
A: A bonded composite resin is exactly what I was speaking of when I mentioned a composite resin or ...
|
| Staining at margin of composite filling | 7/20/2008 |
Q: Bornfeld, About 7 years ago I had a large tooth colored filling placed on tooth #15. It was a bad ...
A: You're right-- because I cannot personally evaluate your filling, there is no way for me to reliably ...
|
| root canal | 7/20/2008 |
Q: hi couid you help me with a big concern of mine please i am not very good with dentist cause the ...
A: You may indeed be able to have general anesthetic (or, perhaps intravenous sedation) to facilitate ...
|
| Severe jaw pain after cleaning and discluder | 7/20/2008 |
Q: on Thursday I went in to my dentist for a cleaning and for help with jaw pain. TMJ runs in my ...
A: The precise nature of temporomandibular joint ("TMJ") dysfunction is not fully understood, and the ...
|
| Abcessed tooth | 7/20/2008 |
Q: Are there signs of an abcessed tooth? If there are what are they? And if you don't do anything about ...
A: The clinical presentation of dental abscess is highly variable and inconsistent. Abscess can ...
|
| gum care | 7/19/2008 |
Q: Bornfeld, My husband has had laser surgery (LANAP) to correct 6,7 & 8 pockets on one quadrant of ...
A: The actual timing has no influence on the efficacy of oral hygiene against gum disease. Timing may ...
|
| injured teeth | 7/19/2008 |
Q: My 16 year old son was attending a no contact football camp and was not wearing his helmet. He took ...
A: Unfortunately, it is usually impossible to predict what will happen to an injured tooth. The only ...
|
| Full mouth debridement | 7/17/2008 |
Q: I've just been referred to to a new dental office, because my previous dental office no longer ...
A: You are right to be suspicious. While I can understand from the doctors' perspective the frustration ...
|
| Route Canal | 7/16/2008 |
Q: I got A route canal on the top tooth farhtest back. Don't know what number. Since i got this my nose ...
A: Although this phenomenon may be unrelated to the root canal therapy, it may be due to perforation of ...
|
| Indirect pulp cap | 7/15/2008 |
Q: Bornfeld, I recently went to a dentist because an old crown had become pressure sensitive and I was ...
A: Pulp capping, whether direct or indirect, is intended to manage pulp exposure or near pulp exposure ...
|
| Loose Crown | 7/14/2008 |
Q: I had a crown put in today (porcelain over metal). I went shopping afterwards to waste time. I was ...
A: There are several possible reasons for a freshly-cemented crown to loosen so quickly, and ...
|
| large cyst #10 | 7/14/2008 |
Q: I want to save my tooth, I have large cyst on #10 and not sure if a should have an extraction or a ...
A: If your #10 tooth is otherwise healthy (i.e., structurally sound and periodontally healthy), ...
|
| Root canal | 7/14/2008 |
Q: I had 2 root canal's on tooth 6 and 7 today may,19 The dentist told me the post on tooth 6 broke and ...
A: It depends on how long your pain has continued after the last root canal attempt. Some amount of ...
|
| legality of dental assistant / dental lab tech taking impressions | 7/13/2008 |
Q: Is it legal for a dental assistant and or dental lab tech to take impressions on a patient for the ...
A: Although I am not directly familiar with the laws as they apply in Pennsylvania, I have found an ...
|
| Small bump on gum by new tooth | 7/12/2008 |
Q: The Dentist had to put bottom two new molars in late 2006. I now have a small bump on gum by tooth ...
A: Swellings on oral tissues generally fall into three categories: inflammatory (infection, mucositis, ...
|
| Visibility of gold crown | 7/11/2008 |
Q: If a gold crown has already been put in on a molar, and it turns out to be noticeable when smiling, ...
A: Sadly, there is no way to make a gold crown look like anything other than a gold crown once it's ...
|
| 5.5 year old losses baby tooth shortly after falling on chin | 7/11/2008 |
Q: I have a 5.5 year old son that fell heavily on his chin a few weeks ago. His mouth was bleeding but ...
A: No, nothing is wrong. Although the eruption of the permanent incisor may have been slightly hastened ...
|
| decaying tooth and bleeding | 7/11/2008 |
Q: I have a tooth that the filling has partially come out. The tooth now has a hole in the side next ...
A: I can't authoritatively comment on why the bleeding was so profuse, since it might be due to ...
|
| wisdom teeth post op | 7/10/2008 |
Q: Two weeks ago had 4 wisdom teeth removed due to recurrent infection in gum around bottom right ...
A: It's difficult to infer just what is happening from your description of subjective symptoms. ...
|
| dental work before or after vacation | 7/9/2008 |
Q: I woke up on the 4th of July with a toothache in a tooth I had broken months ago but never had any ...
A: Stewart, As long as the Cipro is working, it would be inappropriate to change medications. However, ...
|
| Teeth Sensitive After Filling | 7/9/2008 |
Q: I recently had two fillings done on June 11, 2008, one on each side of my mouth. Since the fillings ...
A: Although some sensitivity is the norm after deep fillings, the duration and severity implied by your ...
|
| dental work before or after vacation | 7/9/2008 |
Q: I woke up on the 4th of July with a toothache in a tooth I had broken months ago but never had any ...
A: Stewart, Delay of treatment would be a calculated gamble; there is no way to predict whether the ...
|
| pregnancy and extraction | 7/9/2008 |
Q: im dentist from egypt.i just graduated. last night a pregnant woman came to my clinic and she had ...
A: The conventional wisdom is that any stress sustained by a pregnant woman has the potential for some ...
|
| Arestin | 7/7/2008 |
Q: My dentist plans on doing SRP and arestin on my teeth. Well arestin in 4 pockets. Ive researched it ...
A: That depends on your response to the initial treatment. One of the greatest complicating factors in ...
|
| Arestin | 7/7/2008 |
Q: My dentist plans on doing SRP and arestin on my teeth. Well arestin in 4 pockets. Ive researched it ...
A: Arestin is used on an as-needed basis. As is the case for any therapeutic technique, there is never ...
|
| Popcorn Hull in Soft Palate | 7/5/2008 |
Q: Dr. Mark: About 6 months ago while eating popcorn, it felt like a hull had lodged in the gum ...
A: No-- a popcorn hull will not be visible on x-ray. Assuming you're correct that there is a hull ...
|
| Root Canal | 7/5/2008 |
Q: We are set to have root canals done on our 2 year old's four front teeth, along with fillings of the ...
A: Although the amount of remaining enamel may not directly affect whether root canal is feasible, it ...
|
| Hello! | 7/5/2008 |
Q: I just asked a question about having extra teeth. I had an orthodontist look at my teeth and he ...
A: The extra teeth are called "supernumerary teeth", and the condition of having more than the normal ...
|
| pain and swelling | 7/4/2008 |
Q: I had a small wisdom tooth fixed on the upper left side, it had a small fracture in it. I had no ...
A: Your symptoms suggest that your problem is NOT from the injection; there is something else going on ...
|
| Followup: Fixed Bridge on Molars | 7/4/2008 |
Q: Mark, This is Dr. Adel who contacted you yesterday regarding the molars being extracted. Thanks once ...
A: Adel, Exactly what does it mean when one sees the term "chewing ability"? Granted, the term didn't ...
|
| Molars Separating due to Extraction | 7/3/2008 |
Q: Mark, Thanks for being here and answering the patients questions. I will try to be short and clear: ...
A: Adel, A fixed bridge would be a reasonable alternative to an implant-supported prosthesis, provided ...
|
| Molars Separating due to Extraction | 7/3/2008 |
Q: Mark, Thanks for being here and answering the patients questions. I will try to be short and clear: ...
A: Adel, You're overlooking the obvious-- the entire problem was caused initially by the failure to ...
|
| root canal pain | 7/3/2008 |
Q: I had a root canal done this morning at 11:30 am. I was still numb around 5 pm. At 11 pm, I went ...
A: Although the postoperative course you describe could not be considered favorable, it is certainly ...
|
| Dental bridge issues | 7/3/2008 |
Q: I have had numerous issues with my bridge that was placed approximately 5 weeks ago. I will say ...
A: I can only offer speculative guesses, but none of them are particularly good. First, a tooth should ...
|
| Bump under tongue | 7/2/2008 |
Q: I am a 31 year old male and about 2 weeks ago after working in the yard all day I felt a sort of ...
A: Although worry is seldom a useful reaction, there are other responses that are appropriate. ...
|
| Over Age 30 - Removal of Impacted Bottom Wisdom Teeth? | 7/2/2008 |
Q: I am 30 years old and I still have all my wisdom teeth. I am having the top ones removed in just a ...
A: I can't answer just why your dentist would choose to refer you to a specialist while he didn't need ...
|
| pain after wisdom teeth removel! | 7/2/2008 |
Q: 9 days ago i had all 4 wisdom teeth removed! is it normal to be waking up every 2-4 hours at night ...
A: It is certainly not uncommon for some pain to persist for a week or two following the extraction of ...
|
| Tooth Extraction and Immediate dentures | 7/1/2008 |
Q: I am sure you get many similar questions but I am very confused on what to do in my personal ...
A: Your question is more in the realm of philosophy than right and wrong. As such, my job as a dentist ...
|
| Pain following onlay | 6/30/2008 |
Q: I would be really grateful if you could give me some pointers as to what might be causing me ...
A: Your description of the chronology of the events suggests that your tooth is cracked. I recommend ...
|
| Mouth Wash | 6/30/2008 |
Q: I was wondering what would be the best mouth wash for myself. I've been told by my dentist that I ...
A: Commercially available mouthwash products are not universally endorsed by dentists unless a ...
|
| LATERAL TONGUE DISCOMFORT | 6/30/2008 |
Q: BORNFELD...OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS I HAVE HAD CHRONIC IRRITATION WITH DYSPLASIA OF MY LEFT LATERAL ...
A: Although it may indeed be possible to construct either a fixed bridge, a removable partial denture, ...
|
| Root canal | 6/29/2008 |
Q: My mum recently (2 days ago) had a root canal done, when she got home after she having it done she ...
A: Hanson, This is clearly an unfavorable treatment result, and represents an acute infection. Your ...
|
| Resin Based Composite Filling - Are we lied to? | 6/28/2008 |
Q: Bornfeld, My wife has three teeth that need fillings according to our dentist. They were done ...
A: No-- there are no resin filling materials that look like amalgam filling material-- in fact, there ...
|
| root canal | 6/28/2008 |
Q: I started to feel nerve pain in my tooth around the end of april. An abscess started to form about ...
A: The answer is unknown. Ideally, that root canal should have been performed in April-- as soon as an ...
|
| High Porcelain Crown | 6/28/2008 |
Q: I just have changed the metal crown on one of my teeth that showed to the porcelain crown. After I ...
A: Yes-- porcelain crowns can be "shaved" or adjusted, but with care, and within certain limits-- if ...
|
| My new denture | 6/27/2008 |
Q: I had an immediate denture placed 2 weeks ago. I have severe panic attacks as it is and an violent ...
A: There is nothing that you need to specifically ask your dentist in order for him to help you-- ...
|
| Fitting a dental Crown | 6/27/2008 |
Q: My dentist has tried fitting a crown three times on my tooth. Each time he cuts away more of the ...
A: Vanderpriem, It is sometimes perfectly acceptable to grind an opposing tooth to allow a crown to ...
|
| Jawline and wisdom teeth | 6/26/2008 |
Q: If a person have his or her 4 wisdom teeth removed, will the missing wisdom teeth lead to bone loss ...
A: No-- the contours of the face in the wisdom tooth region are not determined by the presence of the ...
|
| shock-like pain | 6/26/2008 |
Q: recently I have been experiencing a shock-like pain that comes intermittently for no apparent reason ...
A: net, I assume that your pain is perceived as coming from the mouth. As such, your best first step ...
|
| root canal or extraction. | 6/25/2008 |
Q: I know you cannot be specif and only generalize. As a whole, is it better to try to save your tooth ...
A: The decision as to which option is preferable is entirely dependent on the individual circumstances. ...
|
| Implant. fixed bridge or wait | 6/25/2008 |
Q: I have a crown with a cast post on #13 from around 1980. My hygienist and dentist examined it and ...
A: Allowing a tooth with a fractured root to remain is not a good strategy-- it may become acutely ...
|
| high filling | 6/24/2008 |
Q: I had a 3 fillings on my lower left side(molars) done last week by a subsitute dentist as mine was ...
A: Yes-- a "high" filling indicates that the dentist allowed too much filling material to project from ...
|
| brown stains on teeth | 6/24/2008 |
Q: My daughter has had braces on her teeth for 8 weeks. She has brown stains around all of her ...
A: It's uncertain whether staining will be entirely avoidable. Not only does this depend on the quality ...
|
| pre whitening mouthwash | 6/21/2008 |
Q: I started using a Dollar General pre whitening mouthwash. I noticed strings of white stuff that ...
A: I'm not sure I'm fully qualified to answer, since the majority of your symptoms seem to be located ...
|
| High spot on filing sensitivity | 6/20/2008 |
Q: I would like to start out by saying I like my dentist very much. Several months ago I had a ...
A: If several months of adjustments have not effectively addressed your complaint, then your dentist ...
|
| Bridge Necessary? | 6/20/2008 |
Q: I had a molar pulled (#30 i believe) a year ago due to a root canal gone wrong. I have now changed ...
A: It is almost never a matter of whether a particular therapeutic endeavor is truly "necessary"-- ...
|
| baby root canals | 6/19/2008 |
Q: My son is 7 years old and has 3 molars that need root canals. I am wondering if this is necessary ...
A: The answer depends on which molars are under consideration. It is sometimes possible to prematurely ...
|
| Retained root tip after wisdom tooth extraction | 6/19/2008 |
Q: I am 28 years old and had my lower left wisdom tooth extracted by a general dentist. The tooth was ...
A: I will respond to each of your questions: 1. Is it common practice to leave a root tip in after an ...
|
| Whitening and Root Canal | 6/18/2008 |
Q: I am having a root canal next week, and also want to whiten my teeth. MyI have several small ...
A: Yes-- if your tooth will need a crown, it should be done after the whitening is complete; it is far ...
|
| Wisdom Teeth Removal | 6/11/2008 |
Q: I have a few questions and im sorry to ask them but I am rather paranoid when i have surgeries and I ...
A: The danger of dry socket is for all practical purposes over at approximately 10 days ...
|
| bleeding after tooth extraction | 6/10/2008 |
Q: My husband just had a tooth cut out, and they put stitches in. It is not bleeding profusely, but it ...
A: If the wound continues to bleed more than three or four hours, your husband should return to his ...
|
| ice | 6/8/2008 |
Q: My wife and I have had an ongoing "discussion" on chewing ice. She claims it is not good for your ...
A: Using the teeth for any purpose other than what nature intended has the potential for damaging the ...
|
| crowns vs bridges | 6/6/2008 |
Q: Last week end I broke two upper teeth. I went to a dentist today and he recomends that I do root ...
A: If it has been conclusively established that the two damaged teeth will need root canal therapy, it ...
|
| Nerve pain following filling | 6/5/2008 |
Q: I had a filling redone on a wisdom tooth just over 2 weeks ago. The filling was not large and had ...
A: The answer to your question is uncertain, and will depend on factors that cannot be assessed in this ...
|
| tooth pain after a root canal | 6/4/2008 |
Q: I had root canal done about 2 years ago on a back molar and have since had a bridge put on the ...
A: Stark, Yes-- if the pulp of the tooth was incompletely removed during the root canal therapy, the ...
|
| permanent incisors | 6/3/2008 |
Q: My 6 year old lost her lower front incisors. Her permanent teeth are coming in crooked. Her baby ...
A: Normally, the lower primary incisors have at least some space between them, which is consistent for ...
|
| wisdom tooth | 5/28/2008 |
Q: My gums are currently swelling in the back near the wisdom tooth which has not fully surface. This ...
A: The appropriate course of action depends greatly on individual circumstance. For example, episodes ...
|
| Pain 5 day after extraction | 5/26/2008 |
Q: I had a back molar extracted 5 days ago, because the tooth broke and filling it left me in pain, so ...
A: Your description most closely suggests a postoperative complication known as "dry socket". This ...
|
| Complications after wisdom tooth removal | 5/25/2008 |
Q: I had my bottom left wisdom tooth extracted six days ago, using local anaesthetic. Before the tooth ...
A: It is true that a therapeutic endeavor implicitly and legally requires informed consent, and that ...
|
| Desensitize? | 5/25/2008 |
Q: I underwent routine deep cleaning and for each of both visits was charged for "Perio Scale" $280 as ...
A: I think it's best to challenge any charge that you don't understand, since a lack of understanding ...
|
| Are there precautions with joint replacement and ultrasonic cleaning? | 5/25/2008 |
Q: I have bilateral artifical hips and have been considering using ultrasonic cleaning instead of the ...
A: Mann, The concern with dental treatment and artificial joint prostheses is the possibility of oral ...
|
| Bell's Palsy | 5/24/2008 |
Q: What problems will a dentist go through when he has a patient with Bell's Palsy? What will make the ...
A: Although Bell's Palsy will present some functional difficulties for the person so afflicted, it will ...
|
| Dental treatment | 5/23/2008 |
Q: Today, I went to my dentist to get an ONLAY on one of my molars. But, he told me that he can not ...
A: Each case must be judged on its individual merits. In some cases, the periodontal disease is so ...
|
| Brittle Teeth | 5/22/2008 |
Q: I am 48 years old. Although my teeth are discolored from use of Tetracycline as a child, I have had ...
A: No-- calcium supplements will do little to strengthen teeth, since the majority of the mineral ...
|
| Brittle Teeth | 5/21/2008 |
Q: I am 48 years old. Although my teeth are discolored from use of Tetracycline as a child, I have had ...
A: The teeth are no different from any other mechanical system-- after years of exposure to cumulative ...
|
| Root canal | 5/20/2008 |
Q: I had 2 root canal's on tooth 6 and 7 today may,19 The dentist told me the post on tooth 6 broke and ...
A: Whether or not you develop problems as a result of the breakage of the endodontic instrument within ...
|
| Invasilign | 5/19/2008 |
Q: I was wondering on What is invasilign?
A: Invisalign is a technique used to move poorly-positioned teeth; it is sometimes used as a substitute ...
|
| tooth extraction pain-possible dry socket | 5/17/2008 |
Q: I am so greatful that this site exists! I had the third lower molar on the right side extracted one ...
A: If you're still in that much pain a full month after the extraction, it's unlikely you're dealing ...
|
| Dry Socket | 5/17/2008 |
Q: I had all four of my wisdom teeth removed 8 days ago,the bottom left side was impacted.I feel I am ...
A: At 8 days post-op, you're already in the clear. You can safely resume normal oral activities now, ...
|
| well i've talked to my parents | 5/16/2008 |
Q: i talked to my mom and she called the dentist and the dentist said that there is nothing that can be ...
A: And how does your dentist propose that the infection will get cleared up? If my memory serves ...
|
| sealants | 5/16/2008 |
Q: Are sealants safe- today many are saying plastics - such as bottled water once warmed could have a ...
A: That's a good question. It is true that bisphenol A-based plastics such as those used in dental ...
|
| whitening despite periodontal disease | 5/16/2008 |
Q: Bornfeld, My husband had root planing and scraping one month ago, and seems to be healing ...
A: The wisdom of continuing with the whitening is uncertain, and will depend on your husband's ...
|
| PLEASE help me | 5/15/2008 |
Q: 2 days ago i went to the dentist because for 2 weeks my bottom front 4 teeth have been really ...
A: Since you clearly have an acute infection, you need to be seen by a dentist as soon as possible. If ...
|
| Pain after crown placement | 5/14/2008 |
Q: I had two crowns put on a week ago and wanted to ask what would be considered "normal" for pain ...
A: Although it's risky to draw any reliable conclusions from subjective symptoms, an amount of pain ...
|
| Dark spots on the upper surface of the teeth | 5/14/2008 |
Q: I have some black (dark brown) spots on my chewing teeth and the dentist has decided to remove them ...
A: This kind of procedure is not unprecedented, but it's not common either. If there was no confirmed ...
|
| Long term flipper usage. | 5/13/2008 |
Q: I lost a front tooth in school and the dentist fitted a flipper because the nerves in adjacent teeth ...
A: The long-term wearing of a flipper is no more or less hazardous than long-term wearing of any other ...
|
| invisalign? | 5/13/2008 |
Q: I know youre not an orthodontist but there aren't any orthodontist experts listed here....and i just ...
A: No-- although Invisalign is not a particularly versatile technique, it can be used to correct an ...
|
| Crown Replacement During Pregnancy | 5/12/2008 |
Q: I have an old crown that needs to be replaced because there is a small gap between it and my tooth. ...
A: Because any dental treatment could potentially have an adverse effect on pregnancy, it is customary ...
|
| painful gums | 5/11/2008 |
Q: I had all my teeth extracted over a year ago and had immediate dentures. Since then I have had my ...
A: Unless your dentist can identify the problem with your current dentures and have reasonable ...
|
| Wisdom tooth extraction complications | 5/9/2008 |
Q: On 4/4/08, over a month ago, I had 2 wisdom teeth extacted on one side of my mouth. (I don't have ...
A: It's difficult to infer reliable information from subjective symptoms such as pain; my general ...
|
| Provisional Crown | 5/9/2008 |
Q: The information you gave was actually very useful and much appreciated. May I just follow up by ...
A: There is no formal definition of the term "provisional crown", at least insofar as its construction; ...
|
| root canal | 5/8/2008 |
Q: How long should an infection persist following a root canal? Is three weeks normal?
A: The time required for resolution of a dental infection can vary following a root canal treatment, ...
|
| Dental Neuroma | 5/7/2008 |
Q: Over a year ago I had a root canal. Later it was discovered all the root had not been removed, so ...
A: You are quite correct-- it is not possible to suggest appropriate treatment, on two counts: 1. I ...
|
| gingival grafts | 5/7/2008 |
Q: I am concerned about the safety of tissue donated for gingival grafts. My periodontist has ...
A: Although allograft and xenograft materials (i.e., derived from human or animal donors, respectively) ...
|
| lower incisors | 5/7/2008 |
Q: My daughter is 6 and lost her two bottom incisors. These are her first teeth to lose. I noticed ...
A: This is the normal eruption pattern. Unless there is insufficient room to accommodate the adult ...
|
| "Bonded buildup" for crown | 5/6/2008 |
Q: My question to another expert (who is now not available) wasn't answered with full clarity - please ...
A: Crowns are fabricated from a replica of a prepared tooth which is created from an impression. The ...
|
| Tooth Extraction | 5/6/2008 |
Q: First of of all thank you for offering this service! My upper-left 1st molar had a cavity when I was ...
A: Although the removal of the first molar may indeed permit the wisdom tooth to erupt, it is doubtful ...
|
| gum inflamation after RC retreat and new crown | 5/5/2008 |
Q: Dr. Bornfeld, I had a root canal retreat 7 months ago, and a new crown put on 3 months ago. Since ...
A: I cannot comment on whether any your dental treatment may have an impact on your IVF. However, there ...
|
| Wisdom teeth removal necessary? | 5/3/2008 |
Q: I am skeptical on the notion of removing wisdom teeth. What's wrong with these teeth? The majority ...
A: Your question actually touches on several philosophical points, but in all cases, wisdom teeth ...
|
| receding gums | 5/2/2008 |
Q: Is there a way to reverse receding gum lines? Natural remedies or others ways.
A: The only technique that provides benefit in reversing the recession of gums (inconsistent benefit, I ...
|
| Asymmetric midline/condylar hyperplasia | 5/1/2008 |
Q: Bornfeld. I have an asymmetric face, my lower jaw deviates to my left, and my whole mouth looks ...
A: Although orthodontics does not (at least directly) affect the position in which the jaw rests (while ...
|
| Asymmetric midline/condylar hyperplasia | 5/1/2008 |
Q: Bornfeld. I have an asymmetric face, my lower jaw deviates to my left, and my whole mouth looks ...
A: The term "condylar hyperplasia" does not refer to a distinct clinical entity or disease process-- it ...
|
| Sensitivity to hot/cold after root canal | 5/1/2008 |
Q: I had a root canal almost a year ago and have recently been experiencing sensitivity to the ...
A: Normally, a tooth that has successfully completed root canal therapy is insensitive to thermal ...
|
| Root canal vs crown w/build-up | 4/30/2008 |
Q: Are the two related somehow and does a root canal require or sometimes require a crown w/build-up?
A: Root canal therapy is a separate and distinct procedure from a crown and crown build up, although ...
|
| Recent fillings | 4/29/2008 |
Q: I just had some fillings done yesterday. They told me I would feel some discomfort in the gums ...
A: Johnson, The difficulty you are now experiencing in opening your jaw (technically referred to as ...
|
| Correcting a chipped top inciser... | 4/25/2008 |
Q: Bornfeld, I appreciated a response you provided to a question asked of you a few years ago that I ...
A: The meaning of the term "short tooth" is self-evident, and its implications are clear even if the ...
|
| Pain on whole side of left face and feels like someone has stuck a knife in my ear.....? | 4/25/2008 |
Q: On March 5th 2008 I broke tooth #20 (possibly 29) from the gum line. As it was 2 days before my ...
A: I cannot provide a reliable answer to the questions you posed, because the symptoms you describe are ...
|
| wisdom tooth removal/ tissue resection | 4/24/2008 |
Q: My lower left wisdom tooth started erupting maybe 2.5/3 years ago (I am now 37), although my upper ...
A: A general rule of thumb in all of health care is that a diagnosis must necessarily precede ...
|
| jaw stiffness | 4/24/2008 |
Q: I got a Novocaine shot a week and a half ago, ever since the shot I can not open my mouth more than ...
A: The type of reaction you describe typically occurs after an anesthetic injection intended to numb a ...
|
| Air Bubbles in fillings ? | 4/23/2008 |
Q: Ever since I had a white filling in one of my back molars (#31) I have sensitivity to Pressure ...
A: Although air bubbles can indeed become entrapped in resin fillings, they would not manifest as ...
|
| Root left in after ectraction | 4/23/2008 |
Q: I had an extraction yesterday where the tooth was in poor condition after its filling fell out. ...
A: What your dentist said is essentially correct-- in many cases, an inadvertently retained root tip ...
|
| After effects of jaw wired shut | 4/23/2008 |
Q: Very recently, I was involved in a car accident. I was taken to the hospital with nothing more than ...
A: I cannot reliably account for your sensory deficits, because neither the fracture of your jaw near ...
|
| Tooth Trauma | 4/23/2008 |
Q: 9 days ago I received some serious trauma to my right, upper, central anterior tooth. Basically a ...
A: Cases such as you describe often follow an unpredictable course. Although the x-rays may not have ...
|
| Wisdom Teeth | 4/22/2008 |
Q: Bornfeld, I am writing because today I had a crown put in for the first time. I took some tylenol ...
A: 1. Do you have to have your wisdom teeth taken out if they are not infected nor impacted? A: It ...
|
| Fillings | 4/22/2008 |
Q: I went to a new dentist today to have a crown put on teeth that recently had root canal performed. ...
A: If a crown was not already cemented over the core, it would be a simple matter for a dentist to ...
|
| Fillings | 4/21/2008 |
Q: I went to a new dentist today to have a crown put on teeth that recently had root canal performed. ...
A: Ketac-Silver may be applied using a proprietary delivery system (Applicap), where the ...
|
| Swollen face after a shot | 4/19/2008 |
Q: I recently went to the dentist and he gave me two shots before starting my filling on the left side. ...
A: Regardless of whether your swelling represents a subcutaneous emphysema, a hematoma, or perhaps ...
|
| Fillings | 4/19/2008 |
Q: I went to a new dentist today to have a crown put on teeth that recently had root canal performed. ...
A: It appears that your dentist used a material called "Ketac-Silver", which is indeed a silver-colored ...
|
| Wisdom Tooth Removal | 4/19/2008 |
Q: I had my wisdom teeth removed about a week and a half ago. Everything went well, I really wasn't in ...
A: In all likelihood, you are experiencing something called "dry socket"-- a painful but otherwise ...
|
| Swollen face after a shot | 4/19/2008 |
Q: I recently went to the dentist and he gave me two shots before starting my filling on the left side. ...
A: Although air can be forced into the tissues (subcutaneous emphysema) from the compressed air driving ...
|
| Removing gold crown from pulled tooth | 4/18/2008 |
Q: I am having a tooth pulled that has a gold crown on it. Is it possible to remove the gold from the ...
A: The gold does belong to you-- after all, you paid for the crown. Technically speaking, though, your ...
|
| spacers | 4/18/2008 |
Q: My 5 year old daughter fell and knocked her two bottom front teeth out. Prior to this she has lost ...
A: No-- the current consensus is that premature loss of primary front teeth does not necessitate the ...
|
| Pimple on roof of mouth | 4/17/2008 |
Q: Almost everytime I eat anything I get a hard little pimple type bump on the roof of my mouth.It is ...
A: Your description strongly suggests that you have a mucus retention cyst, or "mucocele". This type of ...
|
| Jaw Spasm | 4/17/2008 |
Q: About two weeks back i had a root canal done for my second molar on d lower jaw(RHS). Before the ...
A: Because the onset of your symptoms closely followed the anesthetic injection, it would seem far more ...
|
| Cracked front teeth | 4/11/2008 |
Q: In a very recent fall I cracked my two front teeth. One crack is vertical and the other is ...
A: The term "best" represents a value judgment-- whether you most value conservatism in treatment ...
|
| Dental Crowns | 4/10/2008 |
Q: I had 2 root canals completed about 3 weeks ago on teeth #4 and #5. I have have since gone for a ...
A: Dental casting alloys fall into three broad groups: 1. non-precious (base metal) 2. semi-precious ...
|
| Dental Crowns | 4/10/2008 |
Q: I had 2 root canals completed about 3 weeks ago on teeth #4 and #5. I have have since gone for a ...
A: Because the term "white gold" has no formal definition, I cannot unequivocally guess what your ...
|
| Dental Crowns | 4/10/2008 |
Q: I had 2 root canals completed about 3 weeks ago on teeth #4 and #5. I have have since gone for a ...
A: The composition of metal used under a porcelain crown has nothing to do with whether a black line is ...
|
| Eye tooth extraction | 4/10/2008 |
Q: My son is 15. His eye tooth came in high in his gums. The rest of his upper teeth are actually ...
A: The problem is not that the extraction of a canine (eye) tooth is a "bad" or challenging procedure-- ...
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| Crown Replacement | 4/7/2008 |
Q: I had a crown done on an upper molar and then a root canal done on the same tooth a few yrs after ...
A: The replacement of the crown should have no negative impact on the prognosis of the tooth-- as you ...
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| Normal 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: It would be a reasonable explanation if the pain had started prior to your dental intervention. ...
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| Normal Pain following Cerec Crowns | 4/6/2008 |
Q: I just had 2 Cerec Crowns done on my bottom right molars, #30 & #31. My regular dentist recommended ...
A: It is true that continued exposure to excessive chewing force due to improper bite can negatively ...
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| to remove or to fill decay in rear molar? | 4/6/2008 |
Q: I have some decay in my upper right rear molar. My dentist says that he can fill it or remove it - ...
A: Malnick, Although most wisdom teeth contribute little or nothing to oral function, this judgment ...
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| root canal | 4/4/2008 |
Q: I was told that I will probably need a root canal due to a tooth that has decayed pretty close to ...
A: Although there's little doubt that the sedative filling can be done, it is less certain whether it ...
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| Oral Surgery/Swollen Lymph Nodes | 4/3/2008 |
Q: I believe I contacted you once before about this issue, I suppose you get lots of questions so I ...
A: Normal lymph nodes are commonly described as soft, small, and freely movable. However, these ...
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| root canal failed after surgery three weeks ago! | 4/3/2008 |
Q: I am very upset to find out (after followup @ my general dentist) that my root canal has produced a ...
A: Although a poor clinical outcome is by no means a reliable indicator of whether the quality of your ...
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| Floss or Proxy Brush with ceramic crowns? | 4/3/2008 |
Q: I recently had nine new, white, perfect ceramic crowns put on my front upper teeth. What is the ...
A: I find that interproximal brushes are more useful in cases of moderate to severe gum recession, ...
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| Oral Surgery/Swollen Lymph Nodes | 4/3/2008 |
Q: I believe I contacted you once before about this issue, I suppose you get lots of questions so I ...
A: There are a wide variety of things that could potentially cause swelling of the neck lymph nodes, ...
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| 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: Although it is sometimes obvious before working on a tooth that the need for root canal therapy is a ...
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| root canal | 3/20/2008 |
Q: Please. About seven years ago my #5 tooth broke and required a crown. Many years prior to this ...
A: The exact timing of the emergence of your cheek swelling relative to the course of antibiotic does ...
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| root canal | 3/20/2008 |
Q: Please. About seven years ago my #5 tooth broke and required a crown. Many years prior to this ...
A: Your dental infection will not be eliminated by a course of antibiotic therapy, as you have already ...
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| dental anesthesia | 3/18/2008 |
Q: I'm in the process of having a permanent bridge done on the bottom lower right. This involves ...
A: I don't think that this event alone is sufficient justification for changing to another dentist. ...
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| dental anesthesia | 3/18/2008 |
Q: I'm in the process of having a permanent bridge done on the bottom lower right. This involves ...
A: Although I would not characterize the event you experienced as "normal", it is certainly not ...
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| Career in Dentistry | 3/17/2008 |
Q: I would really like to know if a Dental Hygienist with an A.S. or B.S. degree can pursue a career in ...
A: Abed, Although I cannot see why you wouldn't be able to plan a career change of the type you ...
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| bone like piece pushes through gum | 3/16/2008 |
Q: on the inside of my gums i have had these two small bumps for has long has i remember. these last ...
A: The bumps to which you refer are known as "mandibular tori", and are considered a variant of normal ...
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| Wisdom tooth extraction | 3/16/2008 |
Q: I had my lower left wisdom tooth extracted 3 days ago, I had terrible pain due to the surgery an ...
A: Although some swelling, with difficulty swallowing and opening of the mouth are normal following the ...
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| swelling,bruising | 3/15/2008 |
Q: I had all my upper teeth removed a day ago i have swelling and bruising all the way up to my eye.is ...
A: Although swelling and bruising is not an uncommon sequel to extraction, some cases of these symptoms ...
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| Teeth and gum problems | 3/15/2008 |
Q: First of all I have an upper plate and had some teeth capped 5 years ago. My lower partial hooks in ...
A: Notwithstanding your prior medical status, the presenting symptoms are primarily dental in nature. ...
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| baby tooth | 3/14/2008 |
Q: My daughter just turned 6 years old. She was a late teether as a baby first tooth at 10 months). ...
A: Although the lower primary incisor may not have been quite ready to fall out, its root is ...
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| crown showing metal | 3/14/2008 |
Q: i had a crown put in this week. I think the lab built it too high, to get the bite right the ...
A: Assuming that the metal hasn't been ground too thin, then a bit of exposed metal doesn't pose any ...
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| painkiller injections in lower jaw | 3/6/2008 |
Q: I just returned from the dentist where I received an injection that was one of the most painful ...
A: Sadly, this is an unavoidable risk of anesthetic injections for lower teeth. The so-called ...
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| Possible 2nd Molars in 6 year old. | 3/6/2008 |
Q: My 6 year old has 24 teeth on her bottom jaw and she says the gum behind her last tooth hurt and ...
A: No, it is highly unlikely that the lump you're seeing is a second permanent molar; it's far more ...
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| Do I really need a Root Canal? | 3/5/2008 |
Q: Bornfeld For the past year or so I have felt some discomfort in between the second from last and ...
A: A determination of whether an area of tooth decay has breached the pulp is sometimes difficult to ...
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| Tooth pain | 3/5/2008 |
Q: I had a bridge that started breaking it was about ten years old and I went to the dentist to have a ...
A: Yes-- the scenario you describe is certainly not unprecedented. The implication is that one or more ...
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| bite problem | 3/5/2008 |
Q: I have 2 new crowns on my upper left back side. Since then, my bite has changed in another area and ...
A: Almost anything is possible, including a re-make of the crowns. However, it is uncertain whether ...
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| high roof | 3/3/2008 |
Q: My husband and I have been told by several different doctors that are niece (we have guardianship) ...
A: A high palatal vault does not in itself cause difficulties. Rather, the reverse is true-- the ...
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| infection after baby root canal | 3/3/2008 |
Q: Our daughter is 5 years old and she had to go through a baby root canal on January 7th for her lower ...
A: Root canal therapy on primary teeth is significantly less reliable than it is on permanent teeth, ...
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| Gum Grafts | 3/2/2008 |
Q: ood morning. I enjoy reading all of you answers! I had gum grafts on my front, lower teeth (7 of ...
A: Although the time interval traditionally offered for healing is about one month, some patients will ...
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| facial swelling | 3/2/2008 |
Q: I had 10 teeth pulled 3 days ago. I am pretty swollen. when i sleep i wake up and can barely ...
A: It's difficult to accurately assess the seriousness of your situation from your description alone, ...
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| root canal treatment | 2/29/2008 |
Q: I'm currently wearing a crown on my 5 front teeth. I was advised by my dentist to replaced the old ...
A: Leaving a tooth open to drain is a legitimate strategy to avoid the pain of accumulating pus. ...
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| Intense pain in all fillings | 2/29/2008 |
Q: About four months ago I went to the dentist and for the first time in my life was told I had ...
A: Although some postoperative pain is quite common when composite resin is used as a filling material, ...
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| Herpes type 1 | 2/28/2008 |
Q: Hopefully you can answer this question?! I was dx with herpes type 1. I have sores on my lips & ...
A: Unless the diagnosis of herpes simplex type 1 was made by a combination of cytological and serologic ...
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| crowns | 2/28/2008 |
Q: .and also when getting ready for impressions is it not customary to use a string or floss around the ...
A: Yes-- it is customary to check the bite of a newly-constructed crown, although there are several ...
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| broken needle tip inside gum | 2/28/2008 |
Q: i just had a root canal yesterday and when the dr. was showing me the final ex-ray he pointed to an ...
A: Are you certain that you accurately understood what your dentist told you? If the tip of the ...
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| lava vs captek vs high noble | 2/27/2008 |
Q: you recently recommneded against captek as opposed to metal/ceramic -- is that still your opinion? ...
A: I don't recall the context of my preference for ceramo-metal restorations as opposed to Captek-- ...
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| Core Buildup D2950 | 2/26/2008 |
Q: I have a question about the possibility of a core buildup (D2950) being done twice on the same ...
A: I'm guessing here, because your endodontist is (I think) using language intended to be understood by ...
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| Prolonged bleeding after extractions | 2/26/2008 |
Q: I recently had #14,13 and 12 extracted last Tuesday. It is now a week later and there is still a ...
A: I can't make a strong recommendation one way or the other, because the determination of whether your ...
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| Abnormal tissue? | 2/20/2008 |
Q: Bornfeld, After getting my braces off, I went to my regular scheduled cleaning and upon examination ...
A: You clearly need to get that abnormal tissue identified. I recommend that you ask your general ...
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| Core Buildup D2950 | 2/19/2008 |
Q: I have a question about the possibility of a core buildup (D2950) being done twice on the same ...
A: Yes, it's possible to perform multiple crown/core build-ups on the same tooth. However, I think that ...
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| Wisdom tooth | 2/18/2008 |
Q: I have a cavity in the 3rd molar (tooth #1) that was filled 3 years ago. The filling came off ...
A: Although it is certainly an option to expend the effort required to salvage the wisdom tooth, it is ...
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| wisdom pain | 2/18/2008 |
Q: I recently had my wisdom tooth pulled and it was infected. It has been 4 days and I'm having the ...
A: You may have developed a dry socket-- a relatively benign but very uncomfortable postoperative ...
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| root canal question | 2/18/2008 |
Q: I had a two part root canal. Feb 11 the procedure was finished. During the filling of the three ...
A: The symptoms you report are consistent with a slight over-fill of the canals. The materials used to ...
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| foul smell and taste with new crown | 2/17/2008 |
Q: 3 weeks ago I went in for a crown prep and mold. in 2 weeks i noticed that I was having a horrible ...
A: Claussen, You may indeed have an infection or inflammation in the gum surrounding the crown. This ...
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| gum laser | 2/17/2008 |
Q: If the dentist have to cut (or laser) little gum off so that they can access a tooth decay ...
A: No-- every general dentist is not necessarily proficient with a laser. In fact, one could ask ...
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| root resorption | 2/17/2008 |
Q: Bornfeld, I sent a question to you the other day butI left out a few things that may be of ...
A: As to your questions... 1. Is this progressing fast? A: This is a matter of opinion. How fast is ...
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| root canal on crowned molar | 2/16/2008 |
Q: I have a crown that is probably going to need to be canalled because of sensitivity to cold, and ...
A: Yes, it is quite routine to perform a root canal treatment right through the crown without the need ...
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| tooth root disappearance | 2/16/2008 |
Q: Dr. Bornfeld, I'm not sure if what I have is call root absorbtion or what but since 2004 based on ...
A: Root resorption in the front teeth is most commonly seen in patients with a prior history of ...
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| fillings | 2/15/2008 |
Q: Three weeks ago I had 14 fillings done at once. After the fillings which are white my teeth which ...
A: Although the exact nature of your problem cannot be properly assessed from your description alone, ...
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| Pain after fillings | 2/14/2008 |
Q: On January 31st, I had three fillings done (2 on upper left and 1 on upper right). Afterwards, I ...
A: Pain of the sort you describe is a non-specific symptom, so it's not possible to infer anything too ...
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| x-rays | 2/14/2008 |
Q: I went to a dentist who I dislike. He finds too many cavities and after fillings I'm in pain. I want ...
A: Although x-rays are not dangerous in the dosages used in dental radiography, it doesn't make sense ...
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| piece broke off during root canal | 2/14/2008 |
Q: I was told by my dentist today that the tip of the tool used to clean the canal broke off in the ...
A: Whether a problem will result from this broken instrument will depend on if the canal was adequately ...
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| pain with permanent crown placement | 2/13/2008 |
Q: I've just had two crowns done on molars 2 and 3 (I think - top right, the two in the very back), one ...
A: It's difficult to infer too much useful information from measuring subjective factors such as pain. ...
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| Building up a tooth | 2/13/2008 |
Q: My new dentist wants to "build up" an upper first bicuspid, in other words, add composite filling to ...
A: No-- if the intent is to increase the contour of the upper tooth, then removal of tooth structure ...
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| root canal and tooth decay | 2/13/2008 |
Q: Let's say that there is a tooth decay close to the nerve. The patient for some reason wants to do a ...
A: Yes, you could do a root canal and put a crown on without removing decayed tooth structure, but you ...
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| root canal | 2/13/2008 |
Q: Generl dentist will tell you that they can perform everything. For a root canal, is it best to see ...
A: I think it's a bit unfair to characterize all general dentists as having unrealistic perceptions of ...
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| facial/jaw pain | 2/12/2008 |
Q: Had 4 front lower teeth extracted 8 yrs. ago following 4 yrs. of tooth pain and 3 root canals. ...
A: Actually, orofacial pain does not correlate well with structural deformity in the TMJ. Severe ...
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| WISDOM TEETH COMPLICATIONS | 2/12/2008 |
Q: I HAD MY 4 WISDOM TEETH EXTRACTED (WHICH WERE IMPACTED) A WEEK AGO AND HAD THE STITCHES REMOVED ...
A: Depending on the circumstances, it is sometimes not possible to completely close the wound opening ...
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| Runnig out of people and places for info | 2/12/2008 |
Q: I'm not sure if this is an appropriate question for this particular site-but-my husband is in ...
A: First, allow me to say that your husband's dentist may be a bit too creative in arriving at that ...
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| filling frustration | 2/11/2008 |
Q: i recently had one of my bottom molers refilled. I had had it refilled because of pain and ...
A: Barr, Because pain is a non-specific symptoms that could reflect a wide variety of disorders, it is ...
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| Root Canal Problems | 2/11/2008 |
Q: First let me Thank You for this awesome service. Here is my story: I had a filling done on my 2nd ...
A: The roots of the upper molars are indeed quite close to the sinus, and they share a common sensory ...
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| extraction root canal. | 2/10/2008 |
Q: i had a tooth extracted 2 days ago. its still swollen and stitched. TOMORROW i have to go for root ...
A: What's the rush? If you wait for your current extraction wound to heal before you get your root ...
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| severe pain/wisdom teeth | 2/9/2008 |
Q: I had my wisdom teeth removed this passed wednesday, it is now saturday morning and i am in pretty ...
A: Your description is highly suggestive of a dry socket-- an uncomfortable but otherwise non-serious ...
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| root canal and crown | 2/8/2008 |
Q: My husband had tooth pain in a back molar a few month ago and a dentist told him to see a specialist ...
A: The decision as to whether a tooth needs a crown must be made based on the individual circumstances, ...
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| impressions done for a crown, need temp? | 2/8/2008 |
Q: had impressions done for a crown and didn't get a temporary crown placed in the meantime ---should I ...
A: Gray, It is sometimes feasible to omit a temporary crown if the involved tooth has previously ...
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| New Crown Bite Pain | 2/7/2008 |
| Q: I am a 25 year old male, who recently had some cro |
