| Subject | Date Asked |
|
| Swollen Back Gum---where wisdom tooth should come up | 4/13/2009 |
Q: My left hand side of my mouth (at the back) is soo swollen it hurts to talk, close my mouth and eat. ...
A: You have a case of what is known as "pericoronitis". This condition is common when there are ...
|
| Decay under bridge | 4/12/2009 |
Q: I have suffered lately from major depression and was prescribed 50 mg. of Zoloft. However, I am ...
A: Your dentist will be able to diagnose any tooth decay under the bridge, through a combination of ...
|
| toothache | 4/11/2009 |
Q: I have a toothache that is a lot like the pain I have had in the past and ended up with root canal. ...
A: Actually, the most accurate way of determining which tooth is responsible for a patient's specific ...
|
| repair for 2 cracked front teeth - temporary | 4/10/2009 |
Q: Both upper front teeth are cracked-tip to gum, front and back in the middle, probably from clenching ...
A: No-- by definition, a veneer only primarily covers the front surface of a tooth, and provides little ...
|
| Core Build-up/Root Canal | 4/10/2009 |
Q: I went to a dentist (long overdue) and he has done a core build-up with a pin on two teeth. Both of ...
A: It is true that had your dentist been able to anticipate the current turn of events, he certainly ...
|
| repair for 2 cracked front teeth - temporary | 4/10/2009 |
Q: Both upper front teeth are cracked-tip to gum, front and back in the middle, probably from clenching ...
A: If there is sufficient enamel still present on the two broken teeth, it may be possible for your ...
|
| New immediate dentures / extraction "irrigation" fee | 4/10/2009 |
Q: I recently had a complete immediate upper denture made, and had the 12 remaining upper teeth ...
A: I share your suspicion. While I don't profess to know the conditions under which irrigation was ...
|
| bone loss | 4/9/2009 |
Q: Is it true that bone can regenerate itself? How long would it take? Are there supplements that can ...
A: In the dental/periodontal context, bone has only a very limited capability of regeneration. In most ...
|
| sinus perforation with extraction | 4/9/2009 |
Q: If a sinus perforation is left un treated what will be the outcome?
A: The consequences of unrepaired sinus perforation can vary from case to case, depending on the ...
|
| 2 failed root canals on molar, question about apicoectomy | 4/8/2009 |
Q: In 2002 I had a root canal on top molar #3 as a result of much pain in that area after having a ...
A: Any answer I provide would be purely speculative, because I don't have access to the relevant ...
|
| teeth spreading apart | 4/8/2009 |
Q: I am 30 yrs old, female.I told my dentist that I have been noticing my front teeth spreading apart. ...
A: It is not uncommon for teeth to spread apart in an adult patient, but the phenomenon is strongly ...
|
| Removal of my Briged crown | 3/26/2009 |
Q: I had my 2 front top teeth with root canal treatment. When i had to have it capped, my dentist ...
A: Although it is often possible to remove a fixed bridge using specialized tools for this purpose, it ...
|
| sensitivity after composite fillings | 3/25/2009 |
Q: Dr. Bornfeld; I recently went to the dentist at the beginning of this month to have my teeth ...
A: It's not possible to provide reliable guidance, because the answers to your question depend entirely ...
|
| Conservative treatment of small cavities | 3/25/2009 |
Q: I recall reading a research article several years ago that described a technique that chemically ...
A: The system to which you refer is called "Caridex". To my knowledge, it is no longer in production, ...
|
| Instrument Cleaning | 3/24/2009 |
Q: My 7 year old went for a cleaning this morning. I went back with her and noticed a metal instrument ...
A: I think the hygienist's reply is consistent with what would be considered acceptable practice. The ...
|
| crown cost and what's best | 3/24/2009 |
Q: I need a crown on my rear molar and was told that it was best to use a high noble without porcelian ...
A: Although there is a fragility factor to ceramic, it is not time-related. It depends entirely on the ...
|
| Mis-aligned canine (eye) tooth | 3/23/2009 |
Q: I am 40 years old and my #11 tooth (the canine on my left side) grew in very high on my gum line. ...
A: I would strongly recommend against extracting the canine. Not only would you sacrifice the strongest ...
|
| Crowns | 3/23/2009 |
Q: After falling in the sixth grade and cracking my two front teeth in half, I have received three root ...
A: A gray color that appears immediately after crown placement is usually due to a dark metal collar on ...
|
| drank alochol after root canal treatment | 3/23/2009 |
Q: I had root canal treatment 6 days ago. I drank alcohol 3 days after root canal treatment. After an ...
A: I very much doubt that the alcohol you consumed had anything to do with the flareup of that tooth-- ...
|
| condensing osteitis | 3/23/2009 |
Q: Bornfeld...I wrote you a couple of weeks back about strange bilateral tooth and face pain I've been ...
A: No-- condensing osteitis does not spread, much less jump to the other side of the jaw. If a lesion ...
|
| crown cost and what's best | 3/21/2009 |
Q: I need a crown on my rear molar and was told that it was best to use a high noble without porcelian ...
A: In general, a ceramic fused to high noble metal crown will command a higher fee than a full cast ...
|
| periodontal charting | 3/21/2009 |
Q: As a working hygienist, I have a question about periodontal screenings - specifically probe and ...
A: Although there is a separate CDT code for comprehensive periodontal exams (D0180), it is customary ...
|
| bad taste after wisdom teeth extraction | 3/12/2009 |
Q: I had four impacted wisdom teeth removed on Mon (four days ago) and I'm experiencing a bad taste in ...
A: It would be normal to experience some bad taste and smell from recent wisdom tooth extractions, and ...
|
| teeth cleaning | 3/12/2009 |
Q: what is the recommended frequency for cleaning by the hygienist. I am 60 years old with some deep ...
A: There is no single standardized frequency of dental cleaning that is appropriate for all patients. ...
|
| Root canal abscess | 3/12/2009 |
Q: I got a message today from AllExperts which only said "You are welcome" at the top of the message, ...
A: The CDC information was not referenced by either of the sources you cited. Yes-- it is well ...
|
| dis comfort after having a bridge put on | 3/11/2009 |
Q: I had a temporary bridge put on my lower left side ( 3 teeth )10 days ago and have been having some ...
A: The flexibility of the typical temporary fixed bridge, as well as the softness of temporary cement, ...
|
| Root canal abscess | 3/11/2009 |
Q: I got a message today from AllExperts which only said "You are welcome" at the top of the message, ...
A: It had seemed to me that your last message did not contain a question, but simply an acknowledgement ...
|
| Doubting My Dentist | 3/10/2009 |
Q: Good Day, I came across this forum in a desperate search for information before an emergency appmt ...
A: Yes-- a brown/black spot could be something other than tooth decay. Of course, there is no way to ...
|
| Root canal abcess | 3/9/2009 |
Q: I had root canal done by my dentist last Friday and it was very painful.I had an abscess for 5 days ...
A: The necessity of antibiotics must be decided based on individual circumstance. Antibiotics are ...
|
| Knot in gum after extraction | 3/9/2009 |
Q: I had 2 of my lower front teeth extracted 5 days ago and the pain is still there. I have a large ...
A: Yes-- you should consult with your dentist. Although your description is insufficient on its own to ...
|
| Root canal abcess | 3/9/2009 |
Q: I had root canal done by my dentist last Friday and it was very painful.I had an abscess for 5 days ...
A: Although it is not possible in this forum to accurately assess whether your root canal treatment was ...
|
| Tooth broken off at gum line | 3/8/2009 |
Q: My husband (who is 63 and a diabetic) has been having trouble with a bridge staying in. It fell out ...
A: The bridge should be left out of the mouth, because it cannot be securely re-attached if one of the ...
|
| Cracked Tooth | 3/7/2009 |
Q: I have had a root canal done on one of my back molars. It hasn't been capped. The molar cracked ...
A: As long as there are no symptoms, there is no harm in waiting until Monday. Short delay will do ...
|
| root canal over temporary bridge complications | 3/7/2009 |
Q: This is a quite lengthy problem so I will try to make it as brief as possible. About 2 1/2 months ...
A: It seems likely that the failure of your extraction to relieve pain is due to the fact that your ...
|
| post and core / core build up | 3/7/2009 |
Q: I am trying to figure out the difference between a post and core, pins, and a core buildup. My ...
A: There is some ambiguity here, because the terms "core", "build-up", "post", and "dowel" are ...
|
| Crown not extending past gum line | 3/6/2009 |
Q: Just had a crown placed, the crown placed does not go all the way to the gum line, barely visible in ...
A: There is no absolute requirement that the margins of a crown be extended under the gum line. In ...
|
| Ethics and standards in a practice. | 3/6/2009 |
Q: I recently had and awful experience with a dental office. I am new to the area and have a badly ...
A: If the events were as you have presented them, then the actions of your dentists are unconscionable. ...
|
| Extractions & changing of a plan | 3/6/2009 |
Q: I have booked an appointment (in a week time) with my dentist for extractions on 12 upper teeth. ...
A: There is nothing rude about expressing your treatment preferences, and you have an absolute right to ...
|
| Unexplained tooth pain | 3/5/2009 |
Q: Bornfield, I apologize for the long message; my story is complicated and unusual. 6 months ago I ...
A: Yes-- pain that originates in the teeth does have a tendency to radiate and refer along the ...
|
| Post wisdom teeth extract, inflammation | 3/5/2009 |
Q: I had all four of my wisdom teeth extracted in mid december. Now it's March, I haven't had any ...
A: Although it's uncertain what you are describing, the most likely possibility is that it is what is ...
|
| Wisdom Teeth Extraction | 3/5/2009 |
Q: Today, March 4th, I had all four of my wisdom teeth taken out. All four were impacted and im 16, I ...
A: I generally counsel patients to stay on a soft diet for a full week, especially in cases like yours ...
|
| broken metal bridge | 3/4/2009 |
Q: i have a porcelin fused to metal full upper bridge attached by 7 implants the bridge broke with 12 ...
A: No-- there is no cement that will provide a durable repair in this case. However, depending on how ...
|
| gum irritation | 3/4/2009 |
Q: I have a larger space than usual between my two back molars on my left side. This often leads to ...
A: From your narrative, it seems probable that you sustained a physical injury to the gums. Assuming ...
|
| Unexplained tooth pain | 3/4/2009 |
Q: Bornfield, I apologize for the long message; my story is complicated and unusual. 6 months ago I ...
A: I usually refer my hard-to-diagnose patients to an interdisciplinary pain facility, where diverse ...
|
| dry socket | 3/3/2009 |
Q: If a dry socket is going to form, What is the amount of time it takes to form once a tooth is ...
A: When they develop, dry sockets usually first become manifest between three and ten days after the ...
|
| Sensitivity problems | 3/3/2009 |
Q: I recently had some new fillings drilled and filled with amalgam filling almost a month ago. Ever ...
A: I would advise against any active intervention at this point unless it is clearly necessary. Any ...
|
| tooth extraction | 3/3/2009 |
Q: I had my left upper back tooth removed today, and without thinking about it, I smoked a cigarette. ...
A: Although smoking is a presumed risk factor in the development of dry socket, it does not mean that ...
|
| New crown adjustment. | 3/3/2009 |
Q: Today I received permanent crown on second to the last tooth on bottom. It is porcelain on metal, ...
A: If the crown was improperly seated on your tooth during the cementation process, it needs to be ...
|
| can't have epinephrine | 3/2/2009 |
Q: I am taking an MAO inhibitor and can only have the pure novocain, no ephnephrine. I need all of my ...
A: Technically speaking, the term "Novocaine" refers to an anesthetic that is not much used anymore. ...
|
| ameloblastoma | 3/1/2009 |
Q: My nine-year-old son was just diagnosed (yesterday) with an ameloblastoma in the right mandible. ...
A: Implicit in your question is the suspicion that your son's previous dentist was careless in not ...
|
| Can medication cause teeth to crumble? | 2/28/2009 |
Q: Dr. Bornfeld, I am a Vietnam Veteran and on 80% disability as an out-patient at a VA Hospital. For ...
A: Medications that inhibit salivary secretion and thereby cause mouth dryness can significantly ...
|
| Toothpaste / Sugar | 2/27/2009 |
Q: I have two questions. First, does sugar immediately start eating away the enamel on your teeth or ...
A: It is quite common for the pain from a tooth with pulpitis or alveolar abscess to be intermittent. ...
|
| Nerve Dead/Calcification in Incisor | 2/27/2009 |
Q: I went to the dentist yesterday and was told that the nerve inside my left central incisor has died ...
A: There is always some risk of tooth loss in the future, regardless of current status. Granted, the ...
|
| Toothpaste / Sugar | 2/26/2009 |
Q: I have two questions. First, does sugar immediately start eating away the enamel on your teeth or ...
A: Sugar has no direct effect on tooth enamel-- it exerts a deleterious effect on teeth because it ...
|
| 6yo daughters teeth | 2/26/2009 |
Q: I have a couple concerns and questions about my 6yo daughter. Let me start by saying that the reason ...
A: You can view a tooth eruption chart that lists the average age when the various primary and adult ...
|
| six year molars | 2/26/2009 |
Q: my daughter (turned 7 in november 08)just had her 6 year molars sealed and she is having pain with ...
A: It is highly unlikely that your daughter at age 7 would have any new teeth erupting in the immediate ...
|
| perforated sinus | 2/24/2009 |
Q: I recently had a tooth extraction #5, I have had constant pain since the extraction even before the ...
A: It is unclear from your narrative just why you entitled your question "perforated sinus"-- has the ...
|
| Dental anesthetic side-effects | 2/21/2009 |
Q: I have had TMD since age 13. On 1/19/09, I had an old crown removed, a build-up for the new crown ...
A: I'm surprised that any dentist with 25 years of experience would not have encountered this ...
|
| chin numbness | 2/21/2009 |
Q: I had a really bad toothache on a tooth that already had root canal surgery done on it four years ...
A: The fact that the onset of the numbness coincided with the acute infection makes it almost 100% ...
|
| endodontics | 2/19/2009 |
Q: could you please tell me the harmful or deleterious effects if there are any of sodium hypochlorite ...
A: Sodium hypochlorite is a very caustic material, and will cause severe injury on any patient if it is ...
|
| ultra sonic scaling | 2/19/2009 |
Q: My hygienist uses a cavitron to clean all her patients teeth, because "it's easier". Is it harmful ...
A: All dental instruments, whether mechanical (e.g., Cavitron) or manual (curettes and scalers) have ...
|
| is deep cleaning always necessary? | 2/19/2009 |
Q: Bornfled, I was told by my dentist when I did regular cleaning a year agon that my gum was very ...
A: Unfortunately, a reliable diagnosis is required in order to prescribe an appropriate course of ...
|
| my daughter | 2/19/2009 |
Q: My daughter will be 7 next week. She appears to have the same mouth and teeth as me. Her baby ...
A: Answers to your questions depend on a formal arch-length analysis to determine whether there is ...
|
| cracked tooth | 2/18/2009 |
Q: I am 59 years of age and in good health. In the last five years I have had three cracked teeth, all ...
A: Brown, The answer very much depends on why your teeth are cracking. For example, if over the years ...
|
| Pediatric Receding Gum | 2/18/2009 |
Q: My 13 year old has a signficantly receding gum on her lower incisor. It seems to have developed ...
A: Rapid recession of the gum on lower incisors is something that may occur when the teeth are moved ...
|
| gum bleeding after crown replacement | 2/17/2009 |
Q: I had an old crown replaced recently and everything was fine before the treatment. My gum started ...
A: Gum inflammation is common after the placement of a new crown-- it may be partially due to the ...
|
| dental question | 2/17/2009 |
Q: I was hit in the face about three ago while cheerleading and the left side of my lip became really ...
A: The sequence of events clearly indicates that you have injured the pulp of your tooth and will ...
|
| Can I leave a cracked tooth alone? | 2/17/2009 |
Q: I have a cracked molar, #19 that is covered by a porcelain onlay. The crack occurred after I had ...
A: The answer really depends on the location, orientation, and extent of the crack. What is ominous ...
|
| apicoectomy vs. implant | 1/7/2009 |
Q: I had a root canal on #24 in the mid 1960's when I was around ten years old. In 1996 I developed an ...
A: The dentist who removed your cyst in 1996 almost certainly performed an apicoectomy at the time, ...
|
| Jaw | 1/7/2009 |
Q: Bornfeld, Late December 2008 I had a deep cleaning of my lower and upper right side because of ...
A: In all likelihood, you are experiencing spasm of the muscles that close the jaw. This causes the ...
|
| Dental bridge problems | 1/6/2009 |
Q: I fractured a tooth about 5 years ago while grinding my teeth at night(I have a bite-guard now), and ...
A: In the absence of diagnostic information, I can't offer much more than speculation-- the black area ...
|
| Laser | 1/6/2009 |
Q: What do you think of the use of laser to perform a deep cleaning on the teeth? Is it new? Is it ...
A: Disclaimer: I have no personal experience with lasers in dental applications. However, I am unaware ...
|
| crown | 1/6/2009 |
Q: I had a crown put on 7 months ago, #19, he adjusted it 3 times and it still hurts. It is hurting ...
A: No, it is not normal to experience pain for 7 months after crown placement. Sadly, some dentists are ...
|
| Bonding chip tooth | 1/6/2009 |
Q: Over 5 years ago i had a chipped front tooth rebuilt by my dentist. Recently i noticed that a crack ...
A: Although cyanoacrylate cements such as Super Glue once were used in dental applications, they fell ...
|
| pediatric dental surgery vs. papoose | 1/5/2009 |
Q: My grandson was evaluated by 2 dentists. One said will put him on a papoose, pull 6 teeth and have ...
A: Although I concede that in some situations the use of patient restraints such as a papoose board is ...
|
| Root Canal Post Fell Out | 1/3/2009 |
Q: I had a root canal done on a tooth years ago. A few months ago I felt this horrible pain when I bit ...
A: Although it is theoretically possible to do what you propose, it is seldom practical to move teeth ...
|
| dry socket | 1/3/2009 |
Q: What would happen if dry socket is untreated? Can you get endocarditis Thank you.
A: Dry socket is a benign condition that has no health implications other than the discomfort it ...
|
| Mucocele Removal and Pregnancy | 1/3/2009 |
Q: I have had a mucocele on my bottom lip for several months now. I would like to get it removed as ...
A: Although the removal of a mucocele would not pose significant risk to most pregnancies, I think you ...
|
| Torus Mandibularis | 1/2/2009 |
Q: I have had these bumps in my mouth which has gotten increasing larger over time, now they are almost ...
A: Mandibular tori are seldom an issue unless dentures are worn. The gum that overlies these bony ...
|
| jaw alignment | 1/2/2009 |
Q: a 14 year old girl has had braces and blocks to realign the jaw and teeth. The top teeth started off ...
A: Teeth change their spacial relationships for a wide variety of reasons besides orthodontic treatment ...
|
| how to fix a front tooth that is grown sideways? | 12/31/2008 |
Q: frontal tooth grown completely sideways how would this be fixed? what is it called? attaching a ...
A: Although I cannot conclusively tell if it is possible from the photo alone, I think your best ...
|
| crown on broken tooth? | 12/31/2008 |
Q: My husband had root canal on a molar tooth about 2 months ago. My dentist told me the fee for the ...
A: There are many different kinds of crowns, and some of them command a higher lab fee than others. ...
|
| 9 millimeter pocket | 12/31/2008 |
Q: I have a 9 millimeter pocket in a tooth in the upper jaw in the back. It still seems pretty strong. ...
A: There is no way for me to know what that dark spot in your pocket may be in the absence of any ...
|
| pain after fillings | 12/31/2008 |
Q: I recently had 5 fillings done (I am really good about brushing teeth/flossing/using listerine and ...
A: There is very little that can be reliably inferred from qualitative assessment of subjective ...
|
| Crown came out | 12/30/2008 |
Q: I wrote you yesterday.My crown came out in my top left side.The existing tooth had a root canal done ...
A: Although it may be possible to re-cement the crown temporarily, that may not be the best strategy. ...
|
| Bridge Problem | 12/30/2008 |
Q: I had a 4 tooth bridge (top front tooth going back) break eating corn-on-the-cob this past summer. ...
A: You certainly could have a fractured root on one of the bridge's abutment teeth-- in fact, that's ...
|
| novocaine | 12/29/2008 |
Q: I have found little information regarding novocaine poisoning; and would like to know if such ...
A: An accurate answer to your question requires consideration of the specific local anesthetic agent ...
|
| Which type of crown would be best? | 12/28/2008 |
Q: I am a 27 year old female who has a crack (can't be seen on x-ray) on a lower molar which was ...
A: Lower molars are relatively bulky teeth, and the differences in the depths of preparation between ...
|
| intubation | 12/28/2008 |
Q: I was intubated during an operation,can this cause cracked front caps & natural back teeth
A: I would like to believe that most anesthesiologists are respectful of their patients' teeth, and ...
|
| Treating an open-bite with Invisalign. | 12/28/2008 |
Q: I am a 25 year old male and recently began orthodontic treament using invisalign to correct spaced ...
A: Sanchez, The resin attachments used in Invisalign are just small bumps made of tooth-colored ...
|
| Veneer/Cap Whitening | 12/27/2008 |
Q: I fell back into an old bad habit (smoking) about 3 months after I had my full set of top teeth done ...
A: Unless your veneers and caps were badly cemented, any staining you see will be on the surfaces of ...
|
| Can dental work damage teeth in proximity? | 12/26/2008 |
Q: Recently I had two fillings put in in the top and bottom molars on the left side of my mouth - far ...
A: Although even the most unlikely events cannot be unequivocally excluded as possibilities, it would ...
|
| Root Canal Post Fell Out | 12/26/2008 |
Q: I had a root canal done on a tooth years ago. A few months ago I felt this horrible pain when I bit ...
A: I'm guessing here, because a reliable assessment requires direct, in-person examination. However, ...
|
| Wisdom tooth extraction and root canal treatment for neighbouring tooth | 12/25/2008 |
Q: I had my impacted wisdom tooth (lower left 8th tooth) extracted very recently(6 days ago) along with ...
A: It is customary to make an incision in the gum as wide as necessary in order to provide adequate ...
|
| New upper dentures | 12/25/2008 |
Q: after 4-5 weeks visits to my dentist I had yesterday my new full upper dentures.They fit nice.The ...
A: Almost every person who first starts wearing complete upper dentures experiences some subjective ...
|
| swollen gums | 12/24/2008 |
Q: Help! My gums are swollen, my cheek has puffed up and I seemed to have lost a dimple! But in all ...
A: I'm surprised that your dentist didn't see anything wrong, given the swelling, which is a sure sign ...
|
| questin about my bite! | 12/24/2008 |
Q: when i bite down my top mollars are about 1/3 a tooth behind my bottom teeth. i do not have an ...
A: Yes-- the bite pattern you describe is formally referred to as an "Angle Class I Occlusion", and it ...
|
| Wisdom teeth | 12/24/2008 |
Q: could you please have a look at this x-ray of my teeth here: ...
A: Dr. Teig is entitled to his opinion, and I am sure that many dentists would agree with him. On the ...
|
| Wisdom teeth | 12/23/2008 |
Q: could you please have a look at this x-ray of my teeth here: ...
A: Although it is clear from the x-ray that your lower wisdom teeth will probably never erupt properly, ...
|
| canker sore | 12/23/2008 |
Q: I have a canker sore on the gum near my lower left molar. Could the canker sore cause a sensation ...
A: Although a canker sore can be quite sensitive to direct contact, it would not cause an adjacent ...
|
| gum pocket size | 12/22/2008 |
Q: What is usually done to bring a gum pocket size down? Is it root scaling OR bone grafting? Mine is ...
A: The benefits of root planing are quite inconsistent, because they depend in large part on the ...
|
| gum pocket size | 12/22/2008 |
Q: What is usually done to bring a gum pocket size down? Is it root scaling OR bone grafting? Mine is ...
A: Excessive pocket depth is not a discrete disorder in itself-- it is merely one diagnostic parameter ...
|
| Help!!! PAINFUL tooth | 12/21/2008 |
Q: I had a root canal on the second to back tooth on the botton left last january. For the last 2 ...
A: It is indeed possible for a tooth that has recently received root canal therapy and a crown to hurt, ...
|
| Mucocele excision | 12/21/2008 |
Q: I read a post addressed to an oral/maxofacial surgeon on this site. It was in regard to issues ...
A: When used to treat mucous retention cysts (i.e., "mucoceles"), marsupialization is primarily ...
|
| Extraction with bone graft | 11/17/2008 |
Q: Dr. Bornfeld, I was seen for tooth pain and the dentist told me I need to have #4 extracted (#4 had ...
A: I cannot assess the urgency of your situation, because it depends on local and systemic factors that ...
|
| implant/flipper | 11/16/2008 |
Q: Can a flipper help prevent teeth from shifting? I had a lower molar out 6 months ago and an implant ...
A: Although a flipper can prevent tooth shifting, it's uncertain whether another two or three months ...
|
| tmj and ear pain | 11/16/2008 |
Q: I read through a lot of the questions and answers, and I just wanted to tell you my concerns with my ...
A: I'm uncertain whether you wanted to direct this question to me, judging by your salutation to Susan. ...
|
| Dental Implant | 10/20/2008 |
Q: My periodontist stated that dental implants on lower second molars (#18 and #31) are not a good idea ...
A: Sometimes there is risk of nerve damage, and sometimes there isn't. It is true that the nerve that ...
|
| gum sore | 10/18/2008 |
Q: I have had a sore on my gum for the past two months. I does not hurt or bleed and has apparently not ...
A: Any sore or lesion that persists more than two weeks must be properly identified in order to assess ...
|
| Double Vision after a Root Canal | 10/17/2008 |
Q: I recently underwent root canal treatment which was done in two sessions by an endodontist. After ...
A: Hansen, It is possible that either the local anesthetic injection or the root canal treatment ...
|
| dental crown-bite not correct | 10/16/2008 |
Q: I recently had two crowns done on back molars one above the other. I had the second tooth preped ...
A: It is indeed permissible to adjust tooth surfaces-- even intact enamel surfaces-- to optimize the ...
|
| Extraction with bone graft | 10/15/2008 |
Q: Dr. Bornfeld, I was seen for tooth pain and the dentist told me I need to have #4 extracted (#4 had ...
A: Although I cannot make any specific recommendations with regard to your available options, there are ...
|
| Root swelling? | 10/12/2008 |
Q: I have a question. On Thursday, October 2nd, I was eating a slice of pizza. When I bit down on the ...
A: The clinical presentation you describe is strongly suggestive of a dento-alveolar abscess, ...
|
| emamel hypoplasia | 10/12/2008 |
Q: I'm 22 years old and have had a spot on one of my front teeth ever since my adult teeth grew in. My ...
A: Although your dentist's use of language may be a bit imprecise, it is substantively correct, because ...
|
| help with wisdom teeth | 10/11/2008 |
Q: i had my 2 wisdom teeth removed on the right side of my face on aug. 26 a few days before that the ...
A: Small sinus perforations can heal without surgical intervention. However, larger openings into the ...
|
| help with wisdom teeth | 10/10/2008 |
Q: i had my 2 wisdom teeth removed on the right side of my face on aug. 26 a few days before that the ...
A: I can't comment fully on your condition, because I am disadvantaged by a lack of access to the ...
|
| molar extraction | 10/10/2008 |
Q: Two weeks ago i had a molar on the upper left side pulled the second one from the back. It was ...
A: A deepening of the socket does not necessarily mean that anything unfavorable has occurred. I infer ...
|
| Pain after root canal | 10/10/2008 |
Q: I had a root canal about 2 weeks ago. Currently I have a temporary filling in the tooth and will be ...
A: Some amount of discomfort is the rule rather than the exception following root canal therapy. ...
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| Will the holes left from my extraction fill in? | 10/10/2008 |
Q: Like many others here, I had all four of my third molars removed. The surgery was in September and ...
A: It takes several months for the bone that supports and gives shape to the overlying gum tissue to ...
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| dry sockets? | 10/10/2008 |
Q: I had all four wisdom teeth pulled about a week and a half ago and, besides the swelling, bruising, ...
A: "Dry socket" is defined by pain; therefore, if you are not in pain, you do not have a dry socket-- ...
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| tooth infection | 10/8/2008 |
Q: I visited my dental surgeon for a regular implant control. She told me the implants are fine but ...
A: Verandi, 1. is it possible that the infection developed in just a month and my dentist did not see ...
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| Choosing a Dentist & Care Expectations | 10/7/2008 |
Q: My husband & I are finally able to have our teeth fixed. We chose a dentist through our discount ...
A: It is clear from your description of events that your new dentist is not psychologically invested in ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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: ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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) ...
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| 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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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), ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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, ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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. ...
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| 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, ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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, ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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-- ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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"-- ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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, ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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; ...
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| 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, ...
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| 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) ...
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| 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 ...
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| "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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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-- ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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. ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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, ...
|
| 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, ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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. ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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. ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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, ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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, ...
|
| 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. ...
|
| 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, ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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-- ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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, ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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. ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| 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, ...
|
| 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 ...
|
| New Crown Bite Pain | 2/7/2008 |
Q: I am a 25 year old male, who recently had some crown work done. My dentist informed me about a year ...
A: While I cannot offer much other than speculation, I think you're on the right path. A consultation ...
|
| Cracked molar | 2/7/2008 |
Q: I have a cracked molar. It is cracked front to back and my Dentist recommended pulling the tooth. ...
A: No, cracks do not heal; in this regard, teeth behave differently from bone. The sensitivity is a ...
|
| tooth abcess | 2/6/2008 |
Q: In December 07 I had onlays done to tooth #3 & #31. I have had both hot and cold sensitivity on this ...
A: Although I cannot reliably infer exactly where things went wrong, it was clearly during the ...
|
| Root canal | 2/6/2008 |
Q: I have to do a root canal tooth #7, I was given amoxcillin for the pain and the pain is gone. I ...
A: Postponement of treatment is a calculated gamble-- it leaves you open to risk of recurrence of acute ...
|
| root canal | 2/5/2008 |
Q: Bornfeld, I had a root canal 2 weeks ago by my dentist. He said that when he did the root canal ...
A: Yes, you may request either a hard copy (paper print-out) of your digital x-rays, or your dentist ...
|
| Root Canal Retreat | 2/5/2008 |
Q: I went to my dentist with tooth pain 6 months ago and was advised that I had and infection and ...
A: It is not possible to determine fault in matters such as these from a verbal narrative alone-- a ...
|
| Dental bridge problem | 2/4/2008 |
Q: About a week ago I had a bridge made. The anchor teeth are the 3rd from the middle (on the top) ...
A: The type and severity of pain symptoms following root canal therapy can vary from none to severe. At ...
|
| Pain that continues after treatment | 2/4/2008 |
Q: My husband (43) began to have pain in in #3 tooth (upper right molar) in April of 2007. The tooth ...
A: Unfortunately, any answers I offer would be purely speculative, and your husband's doctors have been ...
|
| Root canel | 2/3/2008 |
Q: I had a root canal and the dentist perforated the root of my tooth and when be put in ten ...
A: Although I cannot determine the extent of the damage to your gums from the injected sodium ...
|
| Removable of irregular upper wisdom teeth | 2/3/2008 |
Q: My son aged 10yrs 2months, started developing irregular teeth at the age og 9,one of his upper Front ...
A: Although removal is always an option, it is not necessarily the best option, because doing so ...
|
| tooth extraction | 2/3/2008 |
Q: I just had my two upper front teeth pulled. They had root canals years ago and due to infection it ...
A: The purpose of the flipper is purely cosmetic-- it serves no other function. So, if you're more ...
|
| Tooth Reabsorbion | 2/2/2008 |
Q: #8 has a root canal, post & crown, and 4 years ago an apicoetomy. Recently post a crown loosens up, ...
A: That would depend on the particulars of your case-- based on the oral surgeon's recommendation, I ...
|
| Jaw Pain | 2/1/2008 |
Q: I have been having pain in the joint of my jaw on the right for a few days now. I am having problems ...
A: In my experience, hospital emergency rooms provide palliative interim treatment, and are unlikely to ...
|
| Oral surgery and bruxism | 2/1/2008 |
Q: I had all four wisdom teeth removed 7 days ago,but I now have dry socket. I have heard that this is ...
A: Symptoms of dry socket typically last anywhere from 5 days to two weeks. It is entirely appropriate ...
|
| To pull or not to pull. | 1/30/2008 |
Q: Do I pull out my child's loose tooth or let it fall out on its own?
A: I generally advise my patients to let nature take its course, unless the child is in great ...
|
| Dental bridge problem | 1/30/2008 |
Q: About a week ago I had a bridge made. The anchor teeth are the 3rd from the middle (on the top) ...
A: Severe pain following an operative procedure such as you describe suggests an infected dental pulp. ...
|
| Crowns on front teeth | 1/30/2008 |
Q: This past year I had an implant placed on #9. During the process I had a root canal on #8 and needed ...
A: It is true that it may not be possible to achieve total symmetry as regards gum contour-- the way ...
|
| root canal on a bridge | 1/30/2008 |
Q: i had a root canal done on my bridge,the specialist that did the root canal, sent me back to my ...
A: Whatever the reason for the persistent pain may be, it's not because of a failure to place a post in ...
|
| Pain and Bruising after filling | 1/29/2008 |
Q: I went to the dentist to get a filling done on friday, the dentist commented that the cavity was ...
A: It sounds like your dentist inadvertently nicked a small artery-- probably during the anesthetic ...
|
| Mouth surgery as a child | 1/29/2008 |
Q: "In about 1965 or so I had surgery twice, at approximately the age of 6. I believe that I had a ...
A: I suspect that rather than a bone, what was removed between your two front teeth was an extra ...
|
| cracked # 31 tooth at age 65 | 1/27/2008 |
Q: I had a root canal performed on # 31 last year and then my dentist filled this tooth. Incidentally, ...
A: Weinman, I would suggest that you suspend any judgment until a dentist has had an opportunity to ...
|
| root canal | 1/27/2008 |
Q: I had my first appointment for my root canal on Friday the 25th. the dentist drilled the tooth and ...
A: I'm guessing here, because the specific steps taken in the course of root canal therapy are quite ...
|
| dental procedures during Pregnancy | 1/25/2008 |
Q: I have an upcoming appointment to have a crown done on my top right tooth in the very back of my ...
A: Your question has as much to do with medico-legal convention as it does with real risk. I do believe ...
|
| Various General Dental Care Questions | 1/25/2008 |
Q: I have a few different general questions. I have not had access to professional dental care for a ...
A: You are spending a disproportionately large amount of attention to selection of various commercial ...
|
| Flared tooth | 1/24/2008 |
Q: My top second from the center tooth has flared out and looks awful. Since I am 72 years old, I do ...
A: If the primary problem is simply one of poor position, it might more directly address the cause by ...
|
| How to locate a Dentist | 1/23/2008 |
Q: My name is Dana and I live in Westchester County, NY. My son has defused scleroderma and I am having ...
A: Although scleroderma may present some specific difficulties in the dental setting (most ...
|
| problem after a filling | 1/22/2008 |
Q: Back in December, I had a tooth cleaned and filled. I had had a cavity in it before, and apparently ...
A: Although over-aggressive removal of tooth structure performed in the process of filling placement ...
|
| root canal complication | 1/21/2008 |
Q: I have been undergoing root canal treatment since before Christmas and everytime my dentist tries to ...
A: Something is clearly wrong, and your tooth deserves the most skilled treatment available, given its ...
|
| Gum Recession | 1/21/2008 |
Q: I have seen two periodontists about gum grafts for receding gums on my lower front teeth. One wants ...
A: The chief advantage of using externally-derived graft material is that it eliminates a second ...
|
| mercury fillings | 1/18/2008 |
Q: i have had mercury fillings for 20+ years - is this creating a health risk for me? is it advisable ...
A: Unless you are one of the very few who have an allergy to mercury, your amalgam fillings do not ...
|
| Osteoarthritis of the jaw | 1/17/2008 |
Q: Bornfeld, I'm a 24 year old girl who has been suffering from jaw pain for 6 years. In the ...
A: No, I am unfamiliar with either Dr. Michael Goldberg or Dr. Kenneth Goldberg (is it possible they're ...
|
| Problem with old root canal? | 1/17/2008 |
Q: I had a root canal with a post and crown on #2 when I was a teenager. It was actually done 25 years ...
A: Although there are never any absolutely unequivocal ways to diagnose a subtle diagnostic picture ...
|
| wear spots | 1/17/2008 |
Q: I went to the dentist expecting them to tell me I had a cavity in my molar. But he said I have no ...
A: Yes-- if the sensitivity of a tooth does not respond favorably to desensitizing toothpaste, the ...
|
| fear | 1/14/2008 |
Q: I am a 35 year old woman who is afraid of dentists. I know you hear that all the time. When I was ...
A: Although nitrous oxide ("laughing gas") does nothing to diminish the perception of pain, it can ...
|
| Overlapping of front teeth | 1/14/2008 |
Q: Recently I have noticed my upper left front tooth beginning to overlap the one immediately to the ...
A: Although dental infections have been known to cause temporary movement and/or loosening of the ...
|
| Too old to go to dental school? | 1/14/2008 |
Q: I received my BS degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in '96...was a teacher for a few years then ...
A: There are far too many variables to reliably calculate the information you request, even if assuming ...
|
| dental training | 1/12/2008 |
Q: Doctor, I am middle aged and would like to go back to college to study either dental assisting or ...
A: Dental assisting consists essentially of being an extra two hands for the dentist. Duties vary, ...
|
| Root canal metal post leaching | 1/12/2008 |
Q: I'm a 58-year old woman with a root canal on a front tooth that was done about 35 or so years ago. ...
A: Most dental alloys are quite safe, except for those rare instances where a patient develops an ...
|
| root canal! | 1/12/2008 |
Q: My younger sister just got told that she needs to have a root canal done. She has always been afraid ...
A: Yes-- it is certainly possible to provide general anesthesia for routine dental procedures. However, ...
|
| Craze Lines Vs. Bruxism | 1/9/2008 |
Q: I visited a new dentist for the first time yesterday (my former one closed practice). He showed me ...
A: It is difficult if not impossible to distinguish cracks due to bruxism from the type of craze lines ...
|
| tooth pain from resin fillings? | 1/9/2008 |
Q: Last fall, on the advice of my dentist, I had two amalgam fillings removed and replaced with resin ...
A: One cannot say unequivocally that resin is an inappropriate choice of material for a molar, or any ...
|
| Food and Disruption of the Extraction Site | 1/9/2008 |
Q: I have researched a similar answer to the following question. I'm afraid I may have disrupted the ...
A: Unless you are in acute pain or are bleeding profusely, there's little reason to fear that the clot ...
|
| wisdom teeth regrowth | 1/8/2008 |
Q: I had my wisdom teeth pulled @ 15 yrs ago. I recently had extreme infection and pain in the lower ...
A: Yes-- due to the thin sharp edges of the bony socket that typically surround partially impacted ...
|
| tooth. | 1/8/2008 |
Q: Bornfield. I have a tooth that I believe that I chipped when trying to open a bottle cap one time. ...
A: You are not crazy simply because your dentist has failed to diagnose your problem. In other words, a ...
|
| Cracked Front Tooth | 1/8/2008 |
Q: I was chiseling steel when a small piece broke off and hit my tooth. The big front upper middle ...
A: Your dentist will need to determine whether the cracks sustained by your teeth penetrate through to ...
|
| wisdom teeth regrowth | 1/8/2008 |
Q: I had my wisdom teeth pulled @ 15 yrs ago. I recently had extreme infection and pain in the lower ...
A: No-- wisdom teeth do not "re-grow" in the sense that an inadvertently retained root can grow a new ...
|
| Captek crown vs. Procelain-Noble or Porcelain-Hi Noble crown | 1/7/2008 |
Q: My tooth #5 had filling since 1992, and a few weeks ago the filling broke off. I saw a dentist ...
A: The functionality of the two metals would be equivalent, and the only situation where high noble ...
|
| sensitivity in recently cemented crown | 1/7/2008 |
Q: I am Dr. Chintan from India. I am a general dentist and have been practicising dentistry since last ...
A: Chintan, It is difficult to reliably diagnose the condition of the tooth in the absence of ...
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| root canal | 1/6/2008 |
Q: My dead incisor ( due to an accident one year ago) needs a root canal. Is this more difficult to ...
A: Actually, root canal therapy is typically more simple in the incisor than it is on a molar: there is ...
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| Captek crown vs. Procelain-Noble or Porcelain-Hi Noble crown | 1/6/2008 |
Q: My tooth #5 had filling since 1992, and a few weeks ago the filling broke off. I saw a dentist ...
A: Although some dentists (and some of their patients) may prefer the "warmer" look of Captek crowns, ...
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| infection on the bottom of implant | 1/5/2008 |
Q: Bornfeld, A week ago, on Dec. 29, I have installed four implants – (#28, 29 and 30 on lower right ...
A: Sadly, some implants fail to integrate, or become infected, and often the only recourse is to remove ...
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| Advice needed | 1/5/2008 |
Q: I have an impacted bottom wisdom tooth, I believe it is considered partially impacted. There is a ...
A: This is much more of an issue than your oral surgeon is making it. For one, the use of antibiotics ...
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| On and Off pain after a filling | 1/4/2008 |
Q: I had a filling done about a month ago and since then i have had on and off soreness in that tooth ...
A: If the sensitivity began immediately after the filling was placed, it would be a leap of logic to ...
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| Dentures | 1/3/2008 |
Q: My husband needs extensive dental work after years of neglect (fear of dentists). His top teeth are ...
A: I cannot make any specific treatment recommendations, because the selection of an appropriate course ...
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| Tooth extraction site | 1/2/2008 |
Q: Dr. Bornfeld- I had two second molars (2, and 15) removed 5 days ago. I am very concerned about Dry ...
A: You can safely resume normal activity now. Dry socket is relatively uncommon in the upper jaw, and ...
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| pain after direct pulp cap | 1/2/2008 |
Q: Bornfeld, Thank you for taking the time to hear my question. I am 24 years old and have never had ...
A: I don't mean to seem dismissive, but the nature of pulp caps makes their use inappropriate for those ...
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| root canal tooth | 1/2/2008 |
Q: Many years ago i had gotten root canal done on my 2nd to last tooth on the left side of my mouth. at ...
A: Although there is always a possibility of mortality from dental infection, this usually happens to ...
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| root canal tooth | 1/1/2008 |
Q: Many years ago i had gotten root canal done on my 2nd to last tooth on the left side of my mouth. at ...
A: Since it has been a long time since you've had dental care, your best first step would be to ...
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| Tooth Pain | 12/31/2007 |
Q: Dr. Bornfeld. I've replaced the white resin filled inlay with an amalgam filling because I 've had a ...
A: As I mentioned last time, the presence of gum swelling is compelling evidence for an infection, ...
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| Iffy Bridge | 12/30/2007 |
Q: I have a bridge that spans teeth 9-12, 9 and 12 the abutments. When I suck on a straw or draw on the ...
A: I think your dentist is a bit overly negative regarding the prospects for removing the old bridge. ...
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| Maxillary nerve pain after dental work | 12/29/2007 |
Q: Extra deep fillings 90 days ago have led to alot of intermittent mild pain to throbbing migraine ...
A: Although pain in the upper jaw area could result from a wide variety of non-dental problems ...
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| Help Me! | 12/28/2007 |
Q: I had a minor accident and cracked a molar on my bottom left. Instead of trying to save it, I opted ...
A: Yes, your description is suggestive of dry socket. Although clove oil might help, it is somewhat ...
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| Back top my left tooth | 12/28/2007 |
Q: My dentist tells me that i have another cavity on the tooth. (I had it filled once before.). I know ...
A: Whether a tooth can be extracted by a general dentist rather than an oral surgeon depends on both ...
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| bridge | 12/27/2007 |
Q: My #9 front tooth broke off at the gum line. I wear a flipper for now. 1.Is it possible to have a ...
A: Most commonly, fixed bridges are constructed so that the pontic (i.e., false tooth) is supported on ...
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| Pericornitis | 12/25/2007 |
Q: Sir, I have had an on again off again pain back where my bottom wisdom teeth would be for about 10 ...
A: It's impossible to say whether a delay in treatment is feasible. While the majority of cases of ...
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| Pericornitis | 12/25/2007 |
Q: Sir, I have had an on again off again pain back where my bottom wisdom teeth would be for about 10 ...
A: It is usually best to have your mouth properly diagnosed before implementing treatment, and the best ...
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| pain in tooth beside extraction site | 12/24/2007 |
Q:
A: No, a pain that persists 2 weeks after an extraction is not a typical postoperative course. It is ...
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| A Build-up before crown | 12/24/2007 |
Q: Dr. Bornfeld. I have nobody to turn to except you. My resin-based inlayed tooth is so painful and a ...
A: The first thing that must be done is to identify the nature of your problem, and the treatments that ...
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| upper/lower jaw pain after a big filling | 12/23/2007 |
Q: I'm an RN with a high pain threshhold, history of crumbly enamel, good dental hygiene practices, ...
A: I'm afraid you've got me stumped. Most postoperative symptoms following a filling can be attributed ...
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| onlays, caps, and root canals | 12/22/2007 |
Q: I have been going to a dentist consistently every six months since I was a child. I am in my ...
A: Although one could paint a scenario where a sequence of events such as yours could be the result of ...
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| Uneven teeth | 12/21/2007 |
Q: I just had my braces taken off on my top teeth. The orthodontist shaved my two front teeth down to ...
A: Because your orthodontist's efforts were solely intended to improve the cosmetic appearance of the ...
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| Tooth Extraction | 12/21/2007 |
Q: Yesterday I had my tooth extracted, and although my dentist said the operation would last at most ...
A: Although the removal of some bone is sometimes necessary for the purpose of extracting an impacted ...
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| swelling in the face after filling a cavity | 12/21/2007 |
Q: i have severe swelling in my face on the side i just had a cavity filled on... it had been filled ...
A: Although it's possible you may have experienced something called a "cutaneous emphysema"-- air ...
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| Tooth pain | 12/20/2007 |
Q: I just had a perm. crown put on my lower tooth left side i wanna say number 19. The perm crown ...
A: Although the postoperative course of a crown cementation varies, it is certainly not unusual for ...
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| Gum Desease | 12/19/2007 |
Q: If a person has a dental exam and is found to have bleeding gums (gingivitis or a worse gum ...
A: In the course of periodontal therapy, a dentist or periodontist may choose to use antibiotics, ...
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| infected tooth | 12/19/2007 |
Q: Several years ago i broke a tooth and not having dental insurance or the 2 thousand dollars to fix ...
A: If you cannot or will not repair your tooth, then the logical alternative would be to extract it. ...
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| Receding Gumline | 12/19/2007 |
Q: For months I have noticed my gum line receding. Mostly for the lower front teeth. It's rather scary ...
A: There are numerous possible causes for gum recession, including but not limited to: -inflammatory ...
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| sensitivity in a tooth 15 years after a root canal | 12/18/2007 |
Q: I'm a 33 year old male. my front left incisor (#9 I think) was broken when I was in the 4th grade. ...
A: There is no treatment modality of which I am aware that would regenerate a dental pulp after it has ...
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| Bite Adjustment of Crown | 12/18/2007 |
Q: I lost an incisor due to root resorption. I had the tooth replaced with an implant. When the ...
A: No, there shouldn't be any problem related to the exposure of the metal, as long as the metal itself ...
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| Jaw Infection Following Root Canal | 12/18/2007 |
Q: I had a root canal done about 2 months ago. It took several rounds of antibiotics and several ...
A: Although the majority of infections do respond favorably to treatment, they should always be treated ...
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| sensitivity in a tooth 15 years after a root canal | 12/18/2007 |
Q: I'm a 33 year old male. my front left incisor (#9 I think) was broken when I was in the 4th grade. ...
A: Your dentist is correct-- once the pulp of a tooth has been removed, it does not grow back. A more ...
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| Periodonotis and Braces | 12/11/2007 |
Q: Hey, I had periodontis since I was 12 and now Im 14 and I got 4 of my teeth extracted because they ...
A: That depends entirely on the nature of your bite aberration and the severity of your gum disease. ...
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| bad teeth/pain | 12/10/2007 |
Q: my tooth brook it was really rooted but the root still ther a little peace of it can been seen all ...
A: I don't think there is any doubt that you either have or will have an infection as a result of your ...
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| Sedative Filling | 12/10/2007 |
Q: Bornfeld, I had gone to a "new" dentist to have a root canal tooth finished with a permanent ...
A: 1.- I had gone to this dentist initially to get the tooth sealed. He put a Sedative filling in the ...
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| Abcess tooth | 12/9/2007 |
Q: I woke up with a severe toothache on November 10, 2007. The pain was severe. My dentist put me on ...
A: Clindamycin is well known to cause pseudomembranous colitis in some individuals, which can cause ...
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| eye tooth pain | 12/9/2007 |
Q: I have had pain in one of my eye teeth for about 5 years now. I have seen several dentists about it, ...
A: The only thing that is in any way confusing in your case is why it wasn't concluded that you needed ...
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| (Urgent!!)About side-effect of novocaine shot on the gum tissue. | 12/9/2007 |
Q: I just had deep-cleaning for left hand side of my teeth done last Tuesday, 4 days ago.The dentist ...
A: Although some local anesthetics (especially 4% articaine) have been implicated in some postoperative ...
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| what kind of dentist should I seek? | 12/8/2007 |
Q: Twenty four years ago (I was 19) I was in a car accident and broke my jaw in three places. I also ...
A: Your first step in seeking dental care should always be at a general dentist, because only a general ...
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| Pediatric crowns | 12/7/2007 |
Q: Bornfeld, I would much appreciate your input on the dental work recently recommended for my ...
A: I really sympathize with some of these pedodontists-- they've been hit hard by the benefits of ...
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| redish blue color of gym | 12/7/2007 |
Q: . my case is: after doing a crown opperation for my 2 cenral teeth.. i noticed a redish blue color ...
A: I'm not sure of what that reddish-blue color might represent, but if I had to guess, I would think ...
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| Root canal in a 16 year old | 12/7/2007 |
Q: We haven't gone to the dentist regular but my 16 year old daughter had 2 root canals when we went ...
A: I am not aware of the statistical data regarding age-adjusted incidence of root canal therapy; I'm ...
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| infection after crown | 12/6/2007 |
Q: After getting a crown on a molar several weeks ago, my tooth has remained sensitive. Once I went ...
A: There are several possible explanations for why the infection didn't show up on the x-ray ...
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| rough porcelan dental crown | 12/6/2007 |
Q: Why are some porcelain crowns rough instead of smooth? If it's that cement gets on the tooth, ...
A: There are several possible reasons why your porcelain crowns may feel rough: - the porcelain was ...
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| Wisdom Teeth Removal | 12/6/2007 |
Q: I'm getting my wisdom teeth removed next week. I was just wondering how long it usually takes for a ...
A: That depends on what you consider "up and running". Although complete closure of the extraction ...
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| Crown and root canal | 12/5/2007 |
Q: I had a permanent crown installed and then the pain started. The choices were that the tooth under ...
A: Although there's no doubt that your dentist is choosing an easier route by not re-doing the crown, ...
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| Root Canal X-rays | 12/4/2007 |
Q: I recently had root canals done on my front two teeth. The endodontist took 11 x-rays over the ...
A: I would speculate that 11 x-rays for two teeth (or an average of 5˝ x-rays per tooth) is a bit over ...
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| piece of tooth in cheek | 12/4/2007 |
Q: I was recently the victim of an assault, where I was punched several times on the face. I was ...
A: It is standard practice for medical personnel to inspect and clean lacerations and puncture wounds ...
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| dental erosion | 12/3/2007 |
Q: I am a frequent swimmer and I have suffered from dental erosion from acid after swimming in a ...
A: Aside from correcting the acidity of your swimming pool and topical fluoride applications to your ...
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| could postnasal drip be caused by tooth decay? | 12/3/2007 |
Q: 3 months ago developed a bad case of postnasal drip ( despite sinuses being mostly clear)which also ...
A: Although almost anything is possible, I would consider any connection between tooth decay and post ...
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| Tongue Thrusting | 12/3/2007 |
Q: I'm 20 years old and I'm trying to stop sucking my thumb. I recently noticed that I also have some ...
A: Usually, a tongue-thrust swallowing pattern develops due to an anterior open bite, and the two ...
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| Soreness/pain on tooth | 12/2/2007 |
Q: I'm probably avoiding the inevitable but here's the deal. I've had soreness off and no, some ...
A: It's hard to say from your description alone. The type of symptoms you report are non-specific, and ...
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| TOOTH ACHE | 11/30/2007 |
Q: i have done root cannel 10 month before however from few days i feel tooth ache after i eat ...
A: Unfortunately, not all root canal treatments are successful. I would recommend that you request a ...
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| flossing nighmare.... | 11/29/2007 |
Q: Last night when flossing the bottom front teeth, I noticed something hard that was retrieved from in ...
A: There is no way to infer with any kind of certainty what it is that you are describing from your ...
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| tooth pain | 11/28/2007 |
Q: I have been having pain on the right side of my jaw. I can't tell if it is top or bottom as it ...
A: It depends on what is causing your sensitivity. If it's due to enamel erosion or gum recession, ...
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| captek vs high noble crowns | 11/27/2007 |
Q: I am trying to decide on which to use for my 3 tooth bridge, and two separate caps. All teeth are ...
A: Captek crowns look quite nice, but the material is not as well-suited to fixed bridges, because the ...
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| Implants | 11/27/2007 |
Q: My cuspid, next to the 2 front teeth, upper right, just broke at the gum line. It was thinly ...
A: There are several different ways to stage the placement of an implant. Although some surgeons are ...
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| dental bridge problem | 11/26/2007 |
Q: Bornfeld, I have dental bridge from third to fifth tooth in the upper jaw. I had it done 3 weeks ...
A: It is unclear from your description alone just what the problem is, because your symptoms are ...
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| After dental work problems (not with the work itself) | 11/26/2007 |
Q: Everytime I go to the dentist I get this really aggravating problem.... my tongue swells up, i get ...
A: Swelling of the tongue after dental treatment suggests angioedema-- a type of allergic reaction. The ...
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| Toothache after filling | 11/26/2007 |
Q: I had a filling done 3 days ago,my dentist said that it was bad,cos the tooth looked like it was ...
A: Some pain is to be expected after a deep filling, but pain that is sufficiently severe to keep you ...
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| SEVERE PAIN | 11/26/2007 |
Q: I have already answered this question for you once before. IF YOU DID I DID NOT GET THE MESSAGE. ...
A: Although not all root canals manifest with postoperative pain and swelling, it happens frequently ...
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| 2 days after root canal and severe pain!! | 11/25/2007 |
Q: I had a root canal done on the 4th tooth in on the top right...sorry I don't know the exact # of ...
A: Although not all root canals manifest with postoperative pain and swelling, it happens frequently ...
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| Applying MI Paste | 11/20/2007 |
Q: I recently went to the dentist, and for various reasons he gave me some MI Paste. But he never told ...
A: It's best if you ask your dentist how he intended for you to use the product. MI Paste is normally ...
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| Bump on upper right side of gum | 11/20/2007 |
Q: I just had a root canal done on tooth number 2. The od put a temp crown on it and told me to get a ...
A: If you are sure that the bump was not there at the time when the root canal treatment was completed, ...
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| Potential orthodontics along with implant | 11/19/2007 |
Q: Recently I was told I have external resorbtion of tooth #9. This was a tooth injured in an accident ...
A: For temporary replacement of a missing incisor, a "flipper"-type removable partial denture is used. ...
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| crown with temporary cemnt | 11/19/2007 |
Q: My dentist cemented my crown, 2nd bicuspid, with temporary cement (my request). I asked him to ...
A: It is indeed possible for a crown margin that is positioned too far under the gum line to provoke ...
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| front teeth bridge | 11/19/2007 |
Q: About 3 motnhs ago I had #9 extracted because of a fractured root. #8 had already been crowned ...
A: I can't provide reliable guidance in your case, since there are so many things that could manifest ...
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| jaw and ear pain | 11/18/2007 |
Q: I had a cavity filled in my back tooth up top on Wed afternoon. It went fine, although they really ...
A: It is possible that the prolonged wide opening contributed to your current symptom, but I would have ...
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| Confirmation @ an extraction | 11/18/2007 |
Q: I got a nonpainful filling on a molar(#30) replaced, and after cont. pain, got a medicated fill, ...
A: Yes, there is a time limit, but I'm not suggesting that you wait 6 months; you should hopefully see ...
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| Confirmation @ an extraction | 11/17/2007 |
Q: I got a nonpainful filling on a molar(#30) replaced, and after cont. pain, got a medicated fill, ...
A: You're right-- I can't offer reliable guidance as to the ultimate fate of your tooth. However, why ...
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| why do we use warm salt water rinse after extraction?? | 11/17/2007 |
Q: sir.. i got my 3rd molar tooth extracted few weeks ago..and doctor had told me to rinse my mouth ...
A: As I said previously, the intent of adding salt to the water is to make the solution isotonic, and ...
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| lumineers | 11/16/2007 |
Q: My teeth have started to decay in the last 6 yrs of my life. I'm 20. Its not awful, but its not a ...
A: Lumineers are a proprietary brand of porcelain laminate veneer. The manufacturers claim that ...
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| why do we use warm salt water rinse after extraction?? | 11/16/2007 |
Q: sir.. i got my 3rd molar tooth extracted few weeks ago..and doctor had told me to rinse my mouth ...
A: The rationale for rinsing with salt water solution is to try to keep the socket clean during a time ...
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| numb tongue | 11/16/2007 |
Q: My 17 year old daughter had her 4 wisdom teeth pulled by a dentist 6 months ago. One side of her ...
A: The course of the lingual nerve takes it perilously close to the lower wisdom teeth, and injury to ...
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| Potential orthodontics along with implant | 11/15/2007 |
Q: Recently I was told I have external resorbtion of tooth #9. This was a tooth injured in an accident ...
A: Scaling and root planing is a very fundamental procedure that usually precedes all other periodontal ...
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| Implant, Bridge, RPD | 11/15/2007 |
Q: and thank you for answering my past question. Well it has been roughly two months. connective tissue ...
A: I'll comment on your four alternative options... 1. Leaving the teeth and splint? The advantage ...
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| packing from wisdom teeth | 11/15/2007 |
Q: i had a very difficult extraction done on friday. by monday i was in so much pain that i went back ...
A: The important consideration is not whether the packing fell out, but whether the pain is still ...
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| infant teath | 11/14/2007 |
Q: My daghter is 14 months now. but still . does have teath. can you please guide us regarding this? ...
A: Although it is possible that your daughter may still develop a full complement of normal primary ...
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| Botched root canal? | 11/14/2007 |
Q: I recently went to a new dentist about a problem I was having with a crown (sat too high). She ...
A: Because more conservative efforts to remove the broken instrument have failed, I suspect your ...
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| Repair on Bridge | 11/14/2007 |
Q: I recently chipped a tooth (in the front) on my bridge and was wondering if it was repairable. The ...
A: Unfortunately, there is no practical way to repair a ceramic fixed bridge while attached to the ...
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| small white bumps on my gums | 11/12/2007 |
Q: I am a 36 year old smoker (quit 3 weeks ago) and I have noticed that the gum by the last 2 teeth in ...
A: It is not possible to provide a reliable diagnosis from your description alone, since there are a ...
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| Follow up | 11/10/2007 |
Q: Dr. Bornfeld, You responded to a question back in April regarding a patients painful cheek & jaw ...
A: I would consider a physical injury due to the anesthetic injection a reasonable possibility, ...
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| Black spot in mouth | 11/9/2007 |
Q: I have found a black spot on the inside of my cheek. I don't recall having a sore there. I am 2 ...
A: Although there are a wide variety of trivial things that could account for a dark spot in the cheek, ...
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| bump in the roof of the mouth | 11/7/2007 |
Q: i have a top denture plate have had it for years now but i get this lump/bump in the roof of my ...
A: Although this problem may indeed be what your dentist calls a "blocked gland" (technically, this is ...
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| Suspected dying tooth although x-ray seems fine. | 11/6/2007 |
Q: I have a tricky situation here. I had impact trauma on my front teeth while rollerblading when I ...
A: Your upper right central incisor is clearly devitalized, as evidenced by its darkened color, and the ...
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| Cold sores | 11/6/2007 |
Q: I noticed a reply you wrote to a worried mother whose infant had shared food with an infected ...
A: Burton, Although it is remotely possible for you to have contracted herpes by sharing food, this ...
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| fixed bridge vs removable partial | 11/5/2007 |
Q: I am women age 57 . My problem is I am missing front teeth #7 and #8 as well as #3,#11,I think #13. ...
A: It is difficult to determine just which course of treatment would yield the most durable result ...
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| Multiple rows of teeth in six-year-old boy | 11/5/2007 |
Q: My son, who is 6 years old, still has all of his baby teeth, none of which are loose. In the bottom ...
A: The situation you describe-- with the adult lower incisors erupting behind the primary incisors, ...
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| perforated root wall, broken instrument | 11/4/2007 |
Q: My 25 yr old daughter had an attemptd root canal the end of June 2007. The dentist told us he ...
A: If a dentist breaks off an instrument in the canal, removes the instrument and doesn't realize that ...
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| abscess root canal pain | 11/3/2007 |
Q: I was diagnosed with an abscess root canal today. If I look in the mirror, it is the 5th tooth ...
A: If ibuprofen isn't providing sufficient pain relief, then certainly you should ask for stronger pain ...
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| prolonged sensitivity after new filling | 11/3/2007 |
Q: In April 2007, my dentist was repairing a cavity and also replace a fairly big silver filling with ...
A: I think you misunderstood my recommendation. Although I suggested that you might be able to more ...
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| Tooth extraction and lidocaine | 11/2/2007 |
Q: I am planning on getting my upper teeth pulled and getting dentures due to soft teeth! I have 14 ...
A: Although the amount of lidocaine required will not come anywhere close to a toxic dose, what your ...
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| prolonged sensitivity after new filling | 11/2/2007 |
Q: In April 2007, my dentist was repairing a cavity and also replace a fairly big silver filling with ...
A: I agree that your narrative suggests a cracked tooth. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to see ...
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| severe pain after a root canal | 11/2/2007 |
Q: I had my fourth and final appointment for my root canal 2 days ago. Since then I have had severe ...
A: The fact that it took four visits to perform this root canal indicates that something is wrong-- I ...
|
| Excessive pain after temporary crown | 11/2/2007 |
Q: Any help would be greatly appreciated: A week and a half ago I had a 2 temporary crowns put on my 2 ...
A: One cannot infer too much reliable information from the symptoms you cite, because they are ...
|
| Pit in tooth | 11/1/2007 |
Q: You have kindly and completely answered questions for my wife in the past. We very much appreciate ...
A: If you're getting professional attention every 3 months, I doubt that this dark spot could have ...
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| endo retreatment post procesure pain | 11/1/2007 |
Q: This could just be the way I heal, but I have had two attempts at root canal therapy done within the ...
A: I am inclined to be pessimistic in nature, but I think it's too early to assume there's a problem ...
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| root canal | 11/1/2007 |
Q: about one week ago, my left side upper teeth was hurting and it finally settle on a crown that i had ...
A: No, it is unlikely that your unfortunate ant incident had any effect on your tooth or its symptoms. ...
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| filling compound | 11/1/2007 |
Q: One year ago I moved to a another state and had to get a new dentist. The dentist identified and ...
A: 1. Is it possible that the dentist and/or the filling material are of poor quality? It's impossible ...
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| abnormal root canal pain? | 10/31/2007 |
Q: I had a root canal done last Thursday on tooth #20. After the procedure my Dentist put in the plug ...
A: A certain number of root canal treatments are followed by soreness even if everything ultimately ...
|
| Suspect one loose abutment of a bridge | 10/31/2007 |
Q: I had a bridge with the following conditions: 1- Its spanning over teeth 3,4,5 and 6 of the upper ...
A: I would advise you against ignoring this problem. Even if tooth #3 is strong enough to support the ...
|
| Exposed Bone | 10/31/2007 |
Q: A few weeks ago, I developed what felt like a cut on the tongue side of my lower left gums. It ...
A: There are two possibilities that should be considered: 1- your complaint is what you think it is-- ...
|
| crown or no crown | 10/30/2007 |
Q: Mark, I had a Root canal retreatment on #14 a month ago. Now all the pain that was bothering me ...
A: The answer depends largely on the current condition of the tooth, and whether the crown can be ...
|
| Cracked tooth | 10/30/2007 |
Q: I recently cracked the tooth next to my front tooth, I cracked near the gum line, I went to the ...
A: A tooth as badly damaged as you imply is best treated by placing a crown. Quick fixes such as the ...
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| Upper Jaw Pain After Root Canal | 10/30/2007 |
Q: I had an emergency root canal about 4 weeks ago and after the root canal I started having pain in my ...
A: First, let me state that although it is quite possible for a sinus infection to present with ...
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| Root Calcification | 10/29/2007 |
Q: I have just gotten back from a trip to dentist. They are saying that I need a root canal on a molar ...
A: Pulp calcification is most assuredly not nature's way of doing a root canal. In fact, pulp ...
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| Pain caused by sugar? | 10/29/2007 |
Q: I have an upper molar tooth that, for several years, has given me pain... but only when I eat sugar. ...
A: Although sensitivity to osmotic stressors such as acidic or sweet foods can be due to tooth decay, ...
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| pain during procedures | 10/29/2007 |
Q: Prior to the birth of my son, I had no dental issues. After my son was born I noticed a major ...
A: A substantial number of anesthetic failures are due to factors that cannot be controlled-- ...
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| Dissatisfication with partial denture | 10/28/2007 |
Q: I recently had dentures made for my two front teeth and a few in the back. I am adjusting to them ...
A: Wilkins, Your dentist can replace the teeth on the denture in an attempt to more accurately match ...
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| Root Canal post-treatment pain | 10/28/2007 |
Q: I am a seasoned dental patient having poor genetics and many problems. I am no newbie to endodontic ...
A: For your post root canal pain, I recommend that you contact your dentist for assistance with pain ...
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| root canals | 10/26/2007 |
Q: I have two molars 2 in from last one on bottom right. My insurance has no endodonists(sp) listed. ...
A: A general dentist has the discretion to either offer a particular service or recommend specialty ...
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| Abscess on gum - Root Canal? | 10/26/2007 |
Q: So, this is a long story, so I will try and just give you the basics. About 1 year ago I had to get ...
A: No, there is no known way to foster healing of a chronic dento-alveolar abscess other than the known ...
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| Nickel allergy and crown | 10/25/2007 |
Q: I have a terrible nickel allergy (this has been confirmed by an allergist). I recently had 2 crowns ...
A: Permit me to correct what your dentist said-- because there is always a reason for inflammation-- ...
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| Implants - conflicting recommendations | 10/24/2007 |
Q: I am a 50-year old non-smoking female in good health. I have seen several dentists and am receiving ...
A: Let me preface my answer by pointing out that much of the variation in opinion comes as an ...
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| Multiple Extractions | 10/24/2007 |
Q: I am a 28yr old woman with many severe dental caries. I have no insurance so I have not been able to ...
A: Before you embark on a course which may only at the outset seem like the easy way out, I urge you to ...
|
| Silver filing removed now dentist wants to do root canal | 10/24/2007 |
Q: I went to a dentist for a cleaning and he told me he wanted to take out my silver filling and put in ...
A: Markgraf, The margin of a filling is the line of demarcation at which the filling material meets ...
|
| Bridge Crown vs. Implant | 10/23/2007 |
Q: At the age of 7, I cracked my #8, #9, and #10 teeth. #9 required a root canal. I wore temporary ...
A: Samanic, It is true that the extraction of a tooth is usually followed by some degree of bone loss. ...
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| Silver filing removed now dentist wants to do root canal | 10/23/2007 |
Q: I went to a dentist for a cleaning and he told me he wanted to take out my silver filling and put in ...
A: Markgraf, I'm not sure I fully understand your dentist's rationale for replacing the previous ...
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| Bridge Crown vs. Implant | 10/23/2007 |
Q: At the age of 7, I cracked my #8, #9, and #10 teeth. #9 required a root canal. I wore temporary ...
A: Samanic, There are several legitimate arguments for favoring a more traditional fixed bridge in ...
|
| bands for braces | 10/22/2007 |
Q: im going to have braces within a few months and the ortho told me that i will have bands with them ...
A: Bands are metallic straps that are cemented to some of the teeth in order to attach the orthodontic ...
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| recent root canal | 10/22/2007 |
Q: i'm in the process of undergoing two root canal surgeries ? second from back lower and fourth from ...
A: Berndt, There is not likely any connection between your upper and lower root canals. However, there ...
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| Tooth Extraction Mistake | 10/22/2007 |
Q: I had my bottom right molar removed 5 days ago and have been waiting for the clot to smooth over. ...
A: If a part of the tooth was inadvertently allowed to remain in the socket, this would indeed reflect ...
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| root canal | 10/22/2007 |
Q: My top next to back tooth cracked horizontally & I had a root canal done in July. Due to my ...
A: Although subjective symptoms such as pain are unreliable indicators, especially when assessing them ...
|
| Pain with Temp Crown | 10/21/2007 |
Q: 12 days ago I had the prep for and a temporary crown placed on upper back left molar. Seemed to be ...
A: A tooth is significantly weakened and embrittled following root canal therapy, so it's important to ...
|
| Abscess on gum - Root Canal? | 10/21/2007 |
Q: So, this is a long story, so I will try and just give you the basics. About 1 year ago I had to get ...
A: I very much doubt that the abscess on the gum near your tooth has anything to do with your TMJ ...
|
| Change of dentist needed? | 10/20/2007 |
Q: and apologies in advance for the length of this. I live in New York City and have been going to a ...
A: I can't really judge whether your dentist was careless about failing to anticipate the outcome of ...
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| Change of dentist needed? | 10/19/2007 |
Q: and apologies in advance for the length of this. I live in New York City and have been going to a ...
A: It's difficult to determine with certainty the answers to all your questions, but I'll try.. Could ...
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| infection after fillings | 10/19/2007 |
Q: My 15 year old daughter recently had teeth filled. I think she must have chewed up the inside of ...
A: Unfortunately, it's sometimes difficult to determine after the fact just what may have caused ...
|
| Keep getting cavities | 10/19/2007 |
Q: I had a rude wake up call last year about my oral health and had a bunch of filling and a couple of ...
A: Although a finding of three cavities does not constitute a hopeless situation by any means, it ...
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| Name of a filling for a broken tooth | 10/18/2007 |
Q: I would like to know what they call a composite filling that is placed on a half broken tooth to ...
A: Fillings are usually designated by the tooth surfaces they encompass, and there are five available ...
|
| Pain with Temp Crown | 10/18/2007 |
Q: 12 days ago I had the prep for and a temporary crown placed on upper back left molar. Seemed to be ...
A: It's difficult to draw any reliable conclusions from your symptoms, since they are non-specific in ...
|
| Root canal or wait? | 10/18/2007 |
Q: I had a composite restoration done in an upper molar 2 months ago because I had a cavity near the ...
A: Yes--- the sad truth is that root canal's reputation is not totally without basis in truth. There is ...
|
| husband's teeth | 10/18/2007 |
Q: My husband saw a dentist this week after several years of no professional dental care. The X-rays ...
A: The answer to your question is as much a matter of personal philosophy as it is a question of right ...
|
| A Dentists' | 10/18/2007 |
Q: I just recently got a second opinion from a different dentist that my root canal was not properly ...
A: Although there may indeed be a basis for litigating this in the courts, I suspect you might have ...
|
| Wisdom tooth removal | 10/17/2007 |
Q: I had all four of my wisdom teeth removed on 10/09. Surgury went well but on 10/12 one lower side ...
A: The "skin" you see is probably a bit of the fibrin clot that has broken free, and this has no ...
|
| Molar extraction tomorrow. | 10/17/2007 |
Q: As the title says I am going to the dentist tomorrow to have my back-right molar removed. I haven't ...
A: I regret it if this reply does not reach you in time to help you in deciding on your appointment. ...
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| Intermittent SEVERE Lightening Bolt like pain | 10/16/2007 |
Q: I have always had a variety of dental issues and pain. Mostly genetic, but some due to my own ...
A: A cracked root is pretty much like what it sounds like-- a crack that runs down the root of a tooth. ...
|
| wisdom tooth removale | 10/16/2007 |
Q: I had 4 impacted wisdom teeth removed yesterday.I am taking motrin and percocet but still in a lot ...
A: I don't know how practical it would be to increase your pain medication, since Percocet is one of ...
|
| Intermittent SEVERE Lightening Bolt like pain | 10/16/2007 |
Q: I have always had a variety of dental issues and pain. Mostly genetic, but some due to my own ...
A: I think it's best if you defer any additional treatment until you have your pain properly diagnosed, ...
|
| Intermittent SEVERE Lightening Bolt like pain | 10/16/2007 |
Q: I have always had a variety of dental issues and pain. Mostly genetic, but some due to my own ...
A: It's always unwise to be prematurely dismissive about anything, because diagnostic pride is indeed ...
|
| mandibular tori | 10/15/2007 |
Q: My father doesn,t have a good computer so I am asking this for him. His dentist says that his ...
A: The gum tissues can be stretched thin over prominent tori, and they may theoretically be prone to ...
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| Root Canal and antibiotics | 10/15/2007 |
Q: I have a mildly throbbing tooth ache in a lower left molar. One endodontist said I need a root ...
A: There are no general rule that can be applied to all situations; the decision as to the approach ...
|
| Root canal or wait? | 10/15/2007 |
Q: I had a composite restoration done in an upper molar 2 months ago because I had a cavity near the ...
A: Sometimes, the need for root canal therapy is unequivocal, and sometimes it is a subjective ...
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| Root Canal and antibiotics | 10/14/2007 |
Q: I have a mildly throbbing tooth ache in a lower left molar. One endodontist said I need a root ...
A: I suspect that the problem is not that you have a dental infection and there is a disagreement of ...
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| tooth coming in to early | 10/14/2007 |
Q: I have a 7 year old that has an abcess on his gum took him to the dentist who referred us to another ...
A: There is seldom any rational reason to prevent a tooth from erupting prematurely, even if it could ...
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| Pain after cavity | 10/14/2007 |
Q: I had two cavities filled with the resin composite material about 5 weeks ago. I still have pain ...
A: The newer resin materials are particularly hard on teeth, for two reasons: 1. They're irritating to ...
|
| dry socket treatment | 10/13/2007 |
Q: Have a question and need advice. Had my bottom left molar extrated 11 days ago.After care ...
A: Some doctors have an association in their minds between narcotic drugs and evil, and it's difficult ...
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| Subjectivity of cavities | 10/13/2007 |
Q: I went to a new dentist today, and was told that I have 16 cavities that need to be filled. I'm 23 ...
A: You've neatly articulated some of the problem-- that diagnosis is uniformly a subjective process-- ...
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| all uppers removed | 10/12/2007 |
Q: my son is 48 years old and becasuse he neglected his warning about gum disease years ago, he is now ...
A: Triplett, No, it is not mandatory to make a new set of dentures. A reasonable alternative would be ...
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| swelling long after surgery | 10/12/2007 |
Q: i had all 4 of my wisdom teeth removed about 3 years ago, and i still experience the sensation of ...
A: It is indeed possible for a cyst to recur if the original cyst is not completely enucleated at the ...
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| root treatment and antibiotics | 10/11/2007 |
Q: i have been refferred to my local dental hospital by my dentist after a reccurring problem with a ...
A: Although a course of antibiotics may help, I think a minor recontouring of the tooth to reduce its ...
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| Dentist broke my tooth | 10/11/2007 |
Q: Is it possible to break a tooth from scaling/root planing? I recently moved to a new area and ...
A: Although anything is possible, I think it's highly unlikely that a tooth could be broken by forceful ...
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| Crown Problems | 10/10/2007 |
Q: When I went in for placement of my permanent crown, the dentist did not do it as they had when I ...
A: Assuming your tooth is properly protected by a well-fitting and well-cemented temporary crown, your ...
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| tooth trauma | 10/10/2007 |
Q: About 3-4 years ago I took a traumatic blow in the mouth during judo practice.Luckily,the tooth ...
A: 1]Is it true that a tooth with a root fracture cannot be saved? A: Although there are some ...
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| gum pain from flossing | 10/9/2007 |
Q: I recently started having a great deal of pain when flossing between the last 2 molars on the top ...
A: It is sometimes difficult to determine any one specific reason why periodontal inflammation suddenly ...
|
| Crown problems | 10/9/2007 |
Q: In short, I had to replace a cracked crown that I'd had for 15 years. The new crown took them a ...
A: The particulars of your case are difficult to infer, since there is conflicting information-- it's a ...
|
| periodontitis | 10/9/2007 |
Q: I have roughly 9 teeth with pockets ranging from 4-6mm mostly in the rear of my mouth. All other ...
A: Periodontists and oral surgeons are latecomers to the discipline of prosthetic tooth replacement; ...
|
| tooth extraction vs. crown | 10/8/2007 |
Q: My back molars on the top (located next to where my wisdom teeth use to be) constantly get cavities. ...
A: The prosthetic replacement of the rearmost tooth in the arch may present some difficulty, because ...
|
| Lumineers for teenager | 10/8/2007 |
Q: My 15-year old daughter has enamel hypoplasia, and would like veneers. Is her age a barrier to ...
A: It's a bit too early for your daughter to have laminate veneers placed on her teeth, since there ...
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| tooth trauma | 10/8/2007 |
Q: About 3-4 years ago I took a traumatic blow in the mouth during judo practice.Luckily,the tooth ...
A: It's difficult to draw too many reliable conclusions from the symptoms you describe, since they are ...
|
| post extraction complicatin | 10/8/2007 |
Q: my dentist extracted my lower 2nd molar 1 week before now i cant open my mouth,i feel pain ,i have ...
A: It is not possible to predict how long it will take for symptoms to resolve in any particular case, ...
|
| post extraction complicatin | 10/7/2007 |
Q: my dentist extracted my lower 2nd molar 1 week before now i cant open my mouth,i feel pain ,i have ...
A: It is not uncommon to experience some limitation of jaw opening following the extraction of a lower ...
|
| Porcelain veneers | 10/6/2007 |
Q: I had porcelain caps applied to my front teeth over a year ago, and have found they have ...
A: It would be indeed unusual to experience a true yellowing of your caps/veneers if they were truly ...
|
| Deep cleaning | 10/6/2007 |
Q: Bornfeld, I just did a deep cleaning few hours ago, it bled and sore, even until now, there are ...
A: Truth be told, the term "deep cleaning" has no uniform meaning; it is a vernacular term that is ...
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| crown pain | 10/6/2007 |
Q: Im a 47 yr. old. I had a crown put on my left upper rear (#15 I think). Ive been having pain when ...
A: I think your dentist's are hoping against hope that they don't need to implement additional ...
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| pain after composite filling | 10/6/2007 |
Q: Bornfeld, I had a composite filling on #15 last Monday. I experienced some soreness afterwards, ...
A: You are going to need to get your dentist and obstetrician to collaborate on a course of action that ...
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| periodontitis | 10/5/2007 |
Q: I have roughly 9 teeth with pockets ranging from 4-6mm mostly in the rear of my mouth. All other ...
A: Your answers turn more on a question of treatment philosophy rather than what is right or wrong. And ...
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| to crown or not to crown | 10/5/2007 |
Q: I recently had a root canal on tooth #8. The endodontist gave me a temp filling and asked that I ...
A: The decision as to whether a tooth requires a crown is based on structural considerations-- i.e., ...
|
| Root Canal/Calcified Root | 10/4/2007 |
Q: I had a root canal performed on 9/25/07 on my lower left, second one in molar (sorry i don't know ...
A: It is far too soon to infer any reliable information from subjective symptoms. Even a successful ...
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| need another cap for partial | 10/3/2007 |
Q: The dental school where I am going put temporary caps on my teeth last August and took my partial to ...
A: Negligence is not something that can be determined by either a patient or his treating doctor-- ...
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| Root Canal failing - sched. for surgery | 10/3/2007 |
Q: I Had a root canal.. on the top left (#10) tooth 11/1999. Root canal re-infected (same infection ...
A: No, I did not mean to imply that antibiotics should not be used, either in your case or in others ...
|
| open margin on a crown | 10/3/2007 |
Q: My dentist just recently noticed that I have an open margine on one of my crowns. I did notice it ...
A: Although an open crown margin can ultimately lead to the development of tooth decay, in most ...
|
| Root Canal failing - sched. for surgery | 10/3/2007 |
Q: I Had a root canal.. on the top left (#10) tooth 11/1999. Root canal re-infected (same infection ...
A: A lack of trust in your doctors is a bad way to start a clinical intervention. While I am perfectly ...
|
| front teeth ridges near tips | 10/2/2007 |
Q: I'm a 53-year old male. I've noticed distinct horizontal ridges on the inside of both my upper and ...
A: The phenomenon you describe is usually referred to as "erosion". It is thought to represent the ...
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| Dental Crowns | 10/2/2007 |
Q: First off, thanks in advance for your time to respond. Here is my situation: I have two upper ...
A: Although your dentist's failure to remove the decay from your tooth/teeth was a significant ...
|
| pulectomy & root canal | 10/1/2007 |
Q: A couple of months ago I had a pulpectomy done which with my insurance cost ~$200 - they wanted $900 ...
A: If anything was a scam, it was that $200 you were charged for the pulpectomy. This is a quick ...
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| Root Canals | 9/30/2007 |
Q: I have a front tooth which has been tender, right up to my nose, for 6 weeks. I took antibiotics ...
A: No-- pulp capping may be appropriate in situations where tooth decay has approached or even breached ...
|
| Dry Socket | 9/30/2007 |
Q: My mother had a jaw tooth pulled Wednesday and she is still hurting like it was before she had it ...
A: It is difficult to draw any reliable diagnostic conclusions from subjective symptoms alone. ...
|
| Swallowed bridge | 9/30/2007 |
Q: I accidently swallow my gold bridge. Will it pass? Let me know. Thanks ANSWER: Dear brent, ...
A: Intestinal transit time varies greatly from person to person; it can be as quick as only a few hours ...
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| Terrible Tooth Ache | 9/29/2007 |
Q: Last weekend i was out of state and the tooth right before the molar on the left side was killing ...
A: Unfortunately, I don't think the stage of infection in which your tooth finds itself will be much ...
|
| question about a new crown I have | 9/29/2007 |
Q: I replaced an old crown on my front upper tooth with a new porcocin crown. The old crown was 16 ...
A: Although further preparing the tooth might have eliminated some of the darkness, it also would have ...
|
| toothache at altitude | 9/29/2007 |
Q: I had a deep filling in one of my top rear teeth approx 3 months ago. I recently took a flight to ...
A: Kirwan, The timing of your dental problem is unfortunate. The phenomenon you describe, technically ...
|
| wisdom tooth extraction | 9/28/2007 |
Q: Good evening, My name is Deb, I just wanted to ask some questions with regards to my recent wisdom ...
A: You'll need to ask the oral surgeon why he doesn't think you have a dry socket, but your description ...
|
| 2nd Apico / Failure | 9/28/2007 |
Q: I've read many of your responses and am impressed by your intelligence and overall knowledge. ...
A: I'm a bit too removed from the situation to comment authoritatively, but I think the endodontist's ...
|
| teeth pain | 9/27/2007 |
Q: Approx 2 months ago my dentist replaced a childhood filling ( I am now 50) and I have been in pain ...
A: Although it's possible that your symptoms are not related to your recent dental intervention, the ...
|
| temporary filling | 9/27/2007 |
Q: I have been to my dentist today for an aching tooth and he has put in a temporary filling as it ...
A: There are no hard and fast rules; it depends mostly on the particulars of your case-- where on the ...
|
| fractured tooth after root canal | 9/25/2007 |
Q: I had a root canal on a tooth maybe 2 or 3 years ago. I have several teeth with root canals. My one ...
A: A fracture may or may not allow salvage of a tooth, depending on its extent and orientation. For ...
|
| pulled tooth | 9/25/2007 |
Q: I had my front tooth #9 pulled 8 weeks ago. I also had a rooth canal in #10 and a crown on #8. ...
A: It's not possible to offer a reliable assessment of your case based only on the subjective symptoms ...
|
| Further questions about root canals | 9/24/2007 |
Q: I have read through many questions pertaining to root canals but mine is a bit more complicated. I ...
A: There are limits to the accuracy of diagnosis performed at a distance and lacking the required ...
|
| Tooth Pain | 9/24/2007 |
Q: About a month ago, I had three small filling filled on my right side. The day after I had it done, ...
A: It's difficult to draw reliable conclusions from quantitative assessments of subjective symptoms ...
|
| dentistry laws | 9/23/2007 |
Q: Is it legal in the state of Georgia (or anywhere) for a general dentist to attempt to extract wisdom ...
A: I am unfamiliar with the specifics of the dental laws in Georgia, but the laws that deal with ...
|
| Floss | 9/23/2007 |
Q: My hygienist gave me "gum mint waxed floss by butler" on one visit and on another follow up visit ...
A: Absolutely not. Floss is floss-- what is most important is that you know how to use it and you do so ...
|
| filling | 9/22/2007 |
Q: Yesterday, my son was getting a filling and when he complained that the outside of his mouth was ...
A: Assuming your son's dentist placed a resin (tooth-colored) filling, there are two possibilities: 1. ...
|
| Space between 2 filled teeth causing pain? | 9/21/2007 |
Q: My new dentist recently recommended that I have two teeth next to eachother re-filled. They were ...
A: It's difficult to infer what's going on in a reliable way, because pain is a non-specific symptom-- ...
|
| disolored bonding | 9/21/2007 |
Q: Bornfeld. My front two teeth were bonded about 15 years ago. In the last two years the bonding has ...
A: Unfortunately, any efforts at lightening discolored composite resin are probably ill advised. Resin ...
|
| Tooth Placement | 9/20/2007 |
Q: I had my 6 remaining teeth extracted 2 1/2 weeks ago and an upper denture put in place the same day. ...
A: The answer to where the upper front denture teeth should be placed depends on several different ...
|
| Cracked Tooth | 9/20/2007 |
Q: My 19 year old daughter went to the dentist to have a small cavity filled. Within a couple days ...
A: Although there is no way to logically exclude the possibility of careless dentistry here, this ...
|
| lumineers | 9/20/2007 |
Q: I have my lumineers now for little over two months. I can't get use to the color and the brightness ...
A: Unfortunately, the color of any porcelain laminate product such as Lumineers cannot be changed; what ...
|
| My Gums | 9/19/2007 |
Q: I don't usually floss everyday and I'm starting to floss everyday now but the other night when I did ...
A: In my experience, many patients use floss more like a weapon than as the finesse-type tool it is. ...
|
| overbite | 9/19/2007 |
Q: I have been told in the past that I have TMJ but recently ( im 28) dentists have not mentioned it. ...
A: Palatal expansion is often employed during childhood, since it can more easily separate the two ...
|
| root canal/ electrodermal testing | 9/19/2007 |
Q: My dentist recommended I undergo compatibility testing for various dental materials. I went today ...
A: I am unfamiliar with "electro" dermal testing, although the use of skin tests to determine immediate ...
|
| teeth stains | 9/18/2007 |
Q: I love drinking coffee and tea, but unfortunately the result is the ever growing stains on my teeth, ...
A: It all comes down to effective oral hygiene. When food, tobacco, or coffee stain first begin, they ...
|
| tooth discoloration | 9/18/2007 |
Q: I am a 62 year old male Caucasion. I have been taking Clindamycin HCL 150mg CA & ...
A: No-- although both medications you cite have several well-known side effects, staining of the teeth ...
|
| Dislodged root | 9/18/2007 |
Q: A patient today presented with occassional pain in the upper RHS. Upon examination with a PA, I ...
A: It is possible that the root tip is causally related to the pain. However, if there is no obvious ...
|
| follow-up question | 9/17/2007 |
Q: Bornfeld, Here is the original email I sent Dr. Tieg. He asked for more information but he it ...
A: You could indeed be reacting to the grafting material, although these products are usually well ...
|
| problems with fillings | 9/17/2007 |
Q: I had fillings in two of my bottom right side teeth done 10 days ago. After 4 days I went back ...
A: Some postoperative sensitivity is common after filling placement, especially if the fillings are of ...
|
| Crown Problem | 9/16/2007 |
Q: I had a crown put on my top second last back tooth(left side of face)and it has had difficulties ...
A: Some crown problems are subtle, and evade easy diagnosis-- at least at first. However, it sounds ...
|
| Question on local anesthetic | 9/15/2007 |
Q: I recently changed to a new dentist and he did fillings on #11 and #12. The local anesthetic numbed ...
A: Response to local anesthesia is sufficiently variable that one could not call yours "atypical". ...
|
| Bone infection | 9/14/2007 |
Q: I hope you can help. I had an abscess in my third molar in May of this year. After a course of ...
A: At this point, if you are not under the care of an oral surgeon rather than a general dentist, it's ...
|
| root canal problems | 9/14/2007 |
Q: I am having problems with a tooth that needs a root canal. The dentist has tried twice but can't ...
A: There is a practical limit to the number of times a dentist should attempt a root canal before a ...
|
| Permanent Bridge Size of Teeth Question | 9/14/2007 |
Q: I just had my permanent bridge put on for my four front teeth; it is a 6 tooth bridge for #'s 6-11. ...
A: You're right-- your description suggests that one or more teeth on the bridge are over-contoured. ...
|
| complications from filling | 9/13/2007 |
Q: I recently saw a new dentist, who said I needed some of my old silver fillings replaced due to wear, ...
A: Postoperative sensitivity is quite common, especially when using composite resin rather than the ...
|
| Infection under crown... Tx options | 9/13/2007 |
Q: I had slight sensitivity to the outer gum of tooth #3, which had a root canal probably 10 yrs ago ...
A: Apicoectomy and other root surgeries are disciplines that are part of both oral surgical and ...
|
| Infection under crown... Tx options | 9/12/2007 |
Q: I had slight sensitivity to the outer gum of tooth #3, which had a root canal probably 10 yrs ago ...
A: I cannot comment authoritatively about your sinus and throat symptoms, since these areas are beyond ...
|
| Root Canal | 9/12/2007 |
Q: Bornfeld, I have been told by my dentist that I am in need of a root canal. I have had several ...
A: There are unscrupulous people in all walks of life, and unfortunately there are some dentists who ...
|
| Composite filling | 9/11/2007 |
Q: Dr. Bornfeld, I had a two composite fillings (#2 and #3) done about a week and a half ago. There ...
A: Although some teeth manifest with pain after placement of composite resin fillings, the pain is ...
|
| Pain when biting or chewing | 9/11/2007 |
Q: Last week I had a root canal on tooth #15. It was a 2 visit process with two days between the 1st ...
A: Pain in response to biting pressure is a non-specific sign of inflammation in the periodontal ...
|
| Temp. Crown | 9/11/2007 |
Q: I was sent to see a root canal doctor for sensitivity to hot, cold and sweets. I was examined and ...
A: Although postoperative pain of the type you describe is not uncommon, it cannot be presumed to be ...
|
| Wisdom teeth removal. | 9/10/2007 |
Q: I had two wisdom teeth removed the last Friday and have a few questions for you regarding this. ...
A: Davidson, First, as to the ruptured blood vessel and hematoma-- this is a complication that ...
|
| Root Canal needed? | 9/9/2007 |
Q: I saw a new dentist at my last cleaning because my prior dentist retired. The new guy says my front ...
A: There are several criteria used to determine if a tooth is vital-- among them x-ray interpretation ...
|
| Lightning Bolt Pain in lower left jaw | 9/8/2007 |
Q: On Jan 31, I had 3 bolts of severe lightning-like pain hit my lower left jaw area (seemed like ...
A: One cannot always judge a person's suitability for a job from their credentials alone, although Dr. ...
|
| Lightning Bolt Pain in lower left jaw | 9/8/2007 |
Q: On Jan 31, I had 3 bolts of severe lightning-like pain hit my lower left jaw area (seemed like ...
A: Performing a root canal treatment on a tooth only makes sense if there are no other unrelated ...
|
| Hygene rules for dentists | 9/7/2007 |
Q: My wife recently went to a dentist in Texas. The dentist did not wear a mask and her long hair kept ...
A: Although I'm unfamiliar with the specific applicable laws in Texas, all dentists in the U.S. must ...
|
| Missing tooth root | 9/7/2007 |
Q: My husband who is 33yo finally went to get his teeth cleaned and checked for the first time in four ...
A: Root resorption such as you describe is usually the result of overzealous orthodontic treatment ...
|
| Bridge vs Implant | 9/7/2007 |
Q: I have lost a tooth in front of a capped root canal molar and the next adjacent tooth that is also ...
A: There are no controlled studies I know of that measure durability of fixed bridges with abutments ...
|
| Darkening around old silver filling | 9/6/2007 |
Q: I just got back from my dentist and he wants to re-do one of my old fillings because there is a ...
A: Nicole, The answer depends on just what that darkening represents. Old fillings can stain around ...
|
| My 3 year old's problem at the dentist! | 9/6/2007 |
Q: Bornfeld, I've got a big problem on my hands... At 2 1/2 years old, I took my son to the dentist ...
A: I usually defer to the opinion of the treating dentist, since it takes a bit of intuition to sort ...
|
| My 3 year old's problem at the dentist! | 9/5/2007 |
Q: Bornfeld, I've got a big problem on my hands... At 2 1/2 years old, I took my son to the dentist ...
A: There is no one answer that is applicable to all children. Kids' personalities are as variable as ...
|
| my 15 month old has no teeth | 9/5/2007 |
Q: I HAVE A 15 MONTH OLD NIECE AND SHE HAS NOT YET DEVELOPED TEETH HER DOCTOR SAYS NOT TO WORRY BUT HER ...
A: Although anodontia-- the congenital absence of teeth-- does happen, it is relatively rare, and ...
|
| mitral valve prolapse | 9/5/2007 |
Q: Bornfeld, I've been diagnosed with MVP a couple of years ago and since then I've been taking ...
A: Your medical doctor has the final word in these matters, but you should know that the American Heart ...
|
| front tooth cavity filling keeps failing? | 9/4/2007 |
Q: When I was young I developed a cavity in one of my front teeth. I went to an old retired navy ...
A: There are indeed several different "white" dental restorative materials, although the material used ...
|
| Filling loose | 9/3/2007 |
Q: I have had for the last couple of days a strange sensation in one of my back teeth as if they were ...
A: You can safely consume liquids, and chew solid food on the other side of your mouth. Since the ...
|
| Crown | 9/3/2007 |
Q: I recently had a temporary crown placed on my rear upper molar. During the fitting process, my ...
A: Although it is sometimes appropriate to adjust the contour of an opposing tooth to bring it into ...
|
| Past root canal | 9/2/2007 |
Q: I recently experienced a mounting pain in either a past root canal or the adjacent tooth. When a ...
A: You should indeed treat the matter with importance, on two counts: 1. Any oral infection that is ...
|
| tooth whiteners and sensitive teeth | 9/1/2007 |
Q: I hope this is my last question. I was born with yellow teeth (my entire family has them). I drink ...
A: Crest WhiteStrips is an effective and safe product, but I'm not sure you're a good candidate for ...
|
| bitewing x-rays | 9/1/2007 |
Q: I have a phobia of x-rays since I was a "guinea pig" at a dental school for 10 years (30 years ago) ...
A: You are correct-- the amount of radiation exposure in the typical set of diagnostic dental x-rays is ...
|
| Wisdom teeth | 8/31/2007 |
Q: I had my wisdom teeth taken out about a month and a half ago. About 2 weeks after the surgery I ...
A: It is not unusual to see some residual inflammation after extraction, and especially after a delayed ...
|
| bad tooth pain! | 8/30/2007 |
Q: I have recently had a lot of dental work done. I have severe pain on my left side of my mouth. I ...
A: It is common to experience some sensitivity following deep fillings, this is true. However, there is ...
|
| Funny Feeling After Root Canal | 8/29/2007 |
Q: Bornfeld, I had a root canal 3 months ago on tooth #3 due to sensitivity to hot drinks and also a ...
A: Until or unless the full nature of the problem with this tooth is determined, any action taken to ...
|
| Crown doesn't fit correctly | 8/28/2007 |
Q: I had a very fine crack in my last molar that occassionally caused sever pain when I bit into ...
A: It is clear that your dentist is having trouble getting your crown to fit correctly, but at least he ...
|
| swollen gums | 8/28/2007 |
Q: I do not have wisdom teeth, they were removed about 10 years ago. My gums on the right side where ...
A: Swelling is usually a symptom of either inflammation or outright infection, and rarely even a sign ...
|
| Tooth filled never has stopped hurting | 8/28/2007 |
Q: My daughter had a tooth filled some months back and it has never stopped bothering her. She returned ...
A: It is indeed possible that an unrelated non-dental problem is contributing to your daughter's ...
|
| Still have sensation after a root canal | 8/28/2007 |
Q: Hope you can help me with this. 2 years ago I fractured my front tooth and had a large filing done. ...
A: Your dentist was a bit over-optimistic when he estimated only two days of postoperative symptoms. In ...
|
| Filling gone bad | 8/14/2007 |
Q: I lost a filling in my lower right molar and started to feel a bit of pain when I ate between the ...
A: Since I am disadvantaged by my inability to assess the diagnostic information, I am inclined to ...
|
| Jaw pain after freezing injection | 8/13/2007 |
Q: I had a tooth filled a week ago and after the freezing wore off, I felt excruciating pain at the ...
A: This type of reaction is usually due to injection for a lower molar, since the trajectory of the ...
|
| dentures | 8/12/2007 |
Q: My wife had a full set of dentures 2 years ago, she is 57 years old. right from the start she looked ...
A: There are several different parameters of denture construction that can promote or avoid a "denture ...
|
| Teeth Hole | 8/12/2007 |
Q: Referring to this guys question http://en.allexperts.com/q/Dentistry-966/Gum-Hole-healing-wisdom.htm ...
A: If you were developing a dry socket, you would know it from the pain. In the absence of pain, I ...
|
| Periodontal "quadrant" | 8/10/2007 |
Q: You may (or may not) recall that I asked last week about having a root canal after periodontal ...
A: I can't comment on whether the fee you were quoted is excessive, since the term "periodontal ...
|
| Composite Fillings Vs. Amalgam | 8/9/2007 |
Q: I'm really hoping you can help me. I got my first cavity when I 26, it was a composite filling. That ...
A: I will take your questions in the order you presented: 1)Should I have him take out the white and ...
|
| Tooth filling | 8/9/2007 |
Q: I need a tooth filled. A dentist tells me that I need a root canal. I have no pain. I have been ...
A: Wood, A dentist is legally obligated to follow a pattern of treatment that is appropriate to the ...
|
| primary herpetic gingiv. | 8/6/2007 |
Q: My 5 year old daughter starts kindergarten in exactly 3 weeks. Today she was at a playdate and ...
A: Primary herpetic gingivostomatitis has an incubation period of three to six days, manifests in acute ...
|
| Honest mistake/misdiagnosis? | 8/6/2007 |
Q: I began to have pain in molar region. My dentist sold his practice so first time with new Dentist. ...
A: It is difficult to assess whether your dentist's diagnosis of periodontal infection was a ...
|
| Thanks | 8/6/2007 |
Q: Dr. Mark Thank You for responding so quickly. I have talked to my dentist again,he said I have a 96% ...
A: The success of a bone graft depends entirely on how it is used; it works well when placed in ...
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| extraction | 8/6/2007 |
Q: I am too scared of the syringes and cannot tolerate the pinching of LA needle. is there any other ...
A: You should seek care from an oral surgeon who offers sedation and general anesthesia. Although it ...
|
| Implan ts | 8/5/2007 |
Q: My dentist did what he called an implant on me. It was unlike any I've heard of and now he wants to ...
A: Your dentist is using an MDI, or "Mini Dental Implant", manufactured by the Imtec Corporation. These ...
|
| Tooth Pain | 8/4/2007 |
Q: Monday evening the left side of my mouth started bothering me (suffice to say I have BAD teeth). I ...
A: There's one glaring omission in your story-- a diagnosis. Your dentist was unable to see anything ...
|
| Sore tongue from new crowns | 8/4/2007 |
Q: Had 2 new crowns put on bottom back 2 molars and my tongue is so sore from them. I assume this will ...
A: Calabrese, Any of the over the counter topical anesthetic preparations available at your local ...
|
| bleeding | 8/4/2007 |
Q: I had #9 extracted 9 days ago. The OS said on my follow up that it healed fine. I had a black and ...
A: To still be experiencing bleeding nine days after a simple extraction is unusual. Although the ...
|
| Waiting to crown broken tooth. | 8/3/2007 |
Q: About 3 months ago my dentist put a filling in my back molar. (A very deep filling is what they ...
A: There are no hard and fast rules, other than the conventional wisdom that the sooner a tooth with a ...
|
| SORE TONGUE | 8/2/2007 |
Q: I HAD 2 ONLAYS DONE TODAY ON THE LEFT SIDE. AFTER THE NOVACAINE WORE OFF, I HAD A SORE/RAW TONGUE ...
A: I can't do much more than offer guesses as to why your tongue is sore; it could be anything from ...
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| Extraction discomfort on adjacent tooth | 8/1/2007 |
Q: Dr.Bornfeld, As in a previous ? I asked, I had #29 extracted after 2 yrs of discomfort and pain. It ...
A: Linden, As i remarked earlier, I would still have suspicions about that tooth #31. However, if you ...
|
| crown | 8/1/2007 |
Q: I wanted to know, if the root canal on my wisdom tooth fails later,will it cause pain as i guess the ...
A: If the root canal fails and it is not feasible to re-treat the root canals, then the tooth will need ...
|
| rotting teeth? | 8/1/2007 |
Q: i have just discovered a yellow and black substance on the back of my front teeth. this is very ...
A: Braces make it more difficult to keep the teeth clean, and the growth of stain and other deposits is ...
|
| wisdom teeth extraction | 7/31/2007 |
Q: On Wed. the 25th I had all 4 wisdom teeth surgically removed. I used Morin and a prescribed ...
A: Yes-- your narrative suggests that you have a dry socket, and the treatment seems appropriate. As ...
|
| crown | 7/31/2007 |
Q: for your reply regarding putting a permanent filling on the wisdom tooth.The dentist had told me to ...
A: As long as the temporary filling completely fills the opening in the tooth, it will prevent the ...
|
| Replaced filling turning into a crown | 7/30/2007 |
Q: I was recently convinced by my dentist to replace 9 silver mercury fillings to composites after I ...
A: While I won't say that the need to replace a just-placed filling with a crown is typical, it is ...
|
| Root Canal redo & extraction | 7/30/2007 |
Q: I had a root canal done on #29 6 months ago, after having several fillings done in Sept. 2005. ...
A: Linden, I don't wish to push this issue too strongly, but your perception of the location of pain ...
|
| Root Canal redo & extraction | 7/30/2007 |
Q: I had a root canal done on #29 6 months ago, after having several fillings done in Sept. 2005. ...
A: Linden, I don't know about you, but I would suspect the problem is with that #31 tooth. Keep in ...
|
| Implants | 7/29/2007 |
Q: I have read some of your responses on implants. They tend to be more negative than others. Why? ...
A: A meaningful appraisal of the road on which you have embarked cannot be made without diagnostic ...
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| Implants | 7/29/2007 |
Q: I have read some of your responses on implants. They tend to be more negative than others. Why? ...
A: I never intentionally expressed or implied that I was somehow "against" implants; if you inferred ...
|
| Is a crown necessary? | 7/29/2007 |
Q: I have severe sensitivity to cold in a couple of my molars, and my dentist wants to do a root canal ...
A: Viable temporary measure?-- yes, until it isn't. It's difficult to chart the progress of a root ...
|
| Is a crown necessary? | 7/28/2007 |
Q: I have severe sensitivity to cold in a couple of my molars, and my dentist wants to do a root canal ...
A: It depends. If you have a crack that exposed the nerve, the tooth needs to be protected from chewing ...
|
| crown | 7/28/2007 |
Q: i had a root canal done on my lower 3rd molar(wisdom tooth) on 15th May.The dentist,then put a ...
A: Although there's little point in second-guessing your dentist now after the fact, there is usually ...
|
| tooth extraction | 7/28/2007 |
Q: I had #9 extracted three days ago, OS said it was not infected, but tooth under crown was shattered. ...
A: You may begin your root canal therapy on tooth #10 as soon as you feel comfortable enough to do so; ...
|
| tooth pain | 7/28/2007 |
Q: I had three lower back teeth filled today, my dentist said my cavities were not too bad. During ...
A: Sensitivity to biting pressure can result from several different things, including: -your dentist ...
|
| Post apicoectomy | 7/26/2007 |
Q: I had two apicoectomies done on the same day (2 teeth). Two months later I still had a pus sac on ...
A: No, this does not seem normal, and I suspect your oral surgeon's hope that continued rinsing will ...
|
| Tooth Restoration Concerns | 7/26/2007 |
Q: Dr. Bornfeld, Am 50 years old, with #18 molar that is severely worn, presumably from grinding. Did ...
A: 1. Aside from the obvious difficulty of cleaning between two teeth which are conjoined with a ...
|
| gum and facial pain after dental procedures | 7/25/2007 |
Q: Five months ago I had four deep, old fillings changed upon dentist's recommendation. They were two ...
A: Unfortunately, I can do no more than speculate in the absence of diagnostic information. Perhaps the ...
|
| infection and clindamycin | 7/25/2007 |
Q: I have had three re-treatments on a root canal that keeps getting infected. I was put on ...
A: Although clindamycin does present a risk of developing pseudomembranous colitis, you will have ample ...
|
| Extracting a crowned tooth | 7/24/2007 |
Q: My back molar has abscessed. It is covered with a porcelain crown. I am choosing to have it ...
A: No, there is no more difficulty in removing a crowned tooth than there is in removing an uncrowned ...
|
| bitter/sour taste in left side of mouth | 7/24/2007 |
Q: #18 tooth had a root canal and crown which started the bad taste August 05. Tooth became fractured ...
A: Dysgeusia, or abnormal taste sensation, can be the result of quite a few different things, including ...
|
| bad smell/taste after wisdom teeth extraction | 7/23/2007 |
Q: 10 days ago i had all 4 of my wisdom teeth removed. None were impacted. They all looked upright in ...
A: Every extraction socket is unique in some way, and it is normal for some sockets to heal faster than ...
|
| TEETH | 7/23/2007 |
Q: My 5 1/2 year old daughter fell down and now one of her two top front teeth is slightly loose. It is ...
A: If your daughter does not feel pain from the tooth and no sign of infection develops, you need not ...
|
| Root Canal/Bridge | 7/19/2007 |
Q: Bronfeld, About four months ago I had a full set of digital x-rays taken and was told by the ...
A: Questions about cysts or other abnormalities within the sinus are, strictly speaking, better ...
|
| Cleaning | 7/18/2007 |
Q: I went to the dentist and they said I need a deep cleaning but all I wanted was a normal cleaning ...
A: It is perfectly legal for a dentist to refuse to provide a service to his patient when he feels it ...
|
| Adult Tetracycline Use | 7/18/2007 |
Q: Dr. Bornfeld, I am a 33yr. old female and have no tooth decay, however, I do have gingivitis. ...
A: No, tetracycline will only affect teeth that are in an active state of embryonic formation; the drug ...
|
| anterior filling & bleaching | 7/17/2007 |
Q: after teeth bleaching, when we can have anterior fillings to be done?? i appreciate ur answer ...
A: , Anterior fillings can be placed at any time after the teeth have been bleached to their desired ...
|
| Clindomycin and "fatal colon syndrome" | 7/16/2007 |
Q: My 80 year old sister took the above antibiotic and is having sharp "tummy pains" and called me ...
A: Fason, I am unaware of the term "fatal colon syndrome", nor have I ever heard the phrase used in ...
|
| Wisdom teeth | 7/14/2007 |
Q: I have had one wisdom tooth out (lower mandible) and it has been 18 days since the extraction. My ...
A: The admonition not to drink liquids through a straw is intended to reduce the risk of provoking ...
|
| Root Canal/Bridge | 7/13/2007 |
Q: Bronfeld, About four months ago I had a full set of digital x-rays taken and was told by the ...
A: The protocol for managing heart defects is in a state of flux, primarily due to policy changes that ...
|
| replace two teeth | 7/12/2007 |
Q: Bornfield I need to replace my two botton front teeth. I'm concerned about using titanium metal ...
A: You might wish to consider an all-ceramic fixed bridge, with crowns placed on the teeth immediately ...
|
| mising teeth in toddlers | 7/11/2007 |
Q: My 23 month-old son is missing his top left canine tooth. The right canine came in many months ago. ...
A: Primary teeth occasionally never form; this in itself seldom has significance, nor does it provide ...
|
| root canal | 7/11/2007 |
Q: I had a root canal on tooth #3 and when I was injected in the roof of my mouth I felt it go into my ...
A: Unless there is an opening in your palate that communicates to the sinus (most persons don't have ...
|
| Could lump in lower jaw be related to dental procedure | 7/11/2007 |
Q: On June 19th I lost the crown in my #3 upper jaw tooth for the 2nd time in 6 mos. The X-Ray revealed ...
A: A lump in the area you indicate would not be related to a dental infection or a bite aberration. ...
|
| bone exposed after wisdom tooth removal | 7/10/2007 |
Q: I had both of my wisdom teeth extracted about two and a half weeks ago. It seemed to be healing ...
A: One of two things is happening-- either you have a slight dry socket, or there is a dislodged bone ...
|
| Routine Cleaning Question... | 7/9/2007 |
Q: Bornfeld, Last month I had a routine cleaning done on my teeth. I had one the previous 6 months as ...
A: You are correct-- you should not have needed to explicitly ask to be seen by the dentist; you should ...
|
| Baby teeth | 7/9/2007 |
Q: My daughter is 7 and her bottom right front is loose, but she has a big tooth growing in behind it ...
A: Your daughter's dentist can examine the primary tooth and assess the progress of its loosening by ...
|
| Routine Cleaning Question... | 7/9/2007 |
Q: Bornfeld, Last month I had a routine cleaning done on my teeth. I had one the previous 6 months as ...
A: Your question touches on several issues. The first is a matter of communication, and whether you ...
|
| Aftercare for Wisdom Teeth Extraction | 7/8/2007 |
Q: I had a not so great experience getting my teeth pulled at a college of dentistry. The dentist told ...
A: You don't specify how long it has been since the procedure, so I cannot judge whether the pain ...
|
| 3-year old son in pain | 7/8/2007 |
Q: My 3-year old son was seen on July 3rd for the filling of some cavities on the right side of his ...
A: No-- this is most assuredly not normal. You're doing exactly the right thing-- administer ...
|
| jaw pain | 7/7/2007 |
Q: I had a filling done in my back molar about 2 weeks ago. ever since i had the filling, my jaw been ...
A: The most probably cause for your symptoms is minor injury to the jaw muscles from the anesthetic ...
|
| Aftercare for Wisdom Teeth Extraction | 7/7/2007 |
Q: I had a not so great experience getting my teeth pulled at a college of dentistry. The dentist told ...
A: Since your surgeon opted to extract on one side at a time, specific care instructions are ...
|
| facial numbness | 7/7/2007 |
Q: I had a crown put on the 18th of June this year, the left lower molar,2nd from the back. It was a ...
A: The answer depends on the severity of the swelling and pain and whether you think you can wait until ...
|
| Pain after root canal | 7/6/2007 |
Q: My daughter had a filling in May. She started hurting and had ulcers in the area of the numbing ...
A: I believe that the type of dental specialist that is most likely to be able to identify the problem ...
|
| Pain after root canal | 7/6/2007 |
Q: My daughter had a filling in May. She started hurting and had ulcers in the area of the numbing ...
A: I suspect what the endodontist said was that there was an irritated ligament rather than a tendon ...
|
| pain in tooth following filling | 7/6/2007 |
Q: the dentish told me i needed two fillings - one quite shallow but due to grinding etc. i had the ...
A: You are correct that it is improbable your pain is unrelated to the fillings since the pain started ...
|
| pulp caps | 7/5/2007 |
Q: I got a filling yesterday on a bottom molar. After it was done the dentist very rapidly informed me ...
A: The best way to determine what treatment you had is to ask your dentist; procedure codes and their ...
|
| tooth capping | 7/5/2007 |
Q: I was a thumb sucker for 15years which put my teeth out of shape.I ended up with braces on the top ...
A: The problem you cite-- referred to technically as an "anterior open bite"-- is something that should ...
|
| composit fillings | 7/4/2007 |
Q: I had severe wear at the gum line on the 1st upper molar and 2 teeth forward of it on both sides due ...
A: There are no laws that compel a dentist to warranty the successful outcome of his services. However, ...
|
| composit fillings | 7/4/2007 |
Q: I had severe wear at the gum line on the 1st upper molar and 2 teeth forward of it on both sides due ...
A: No, it's not normal for a composite resin filling to fall out of a tooth so soon after placement. ...
|
| pain after filling | 7/3/2007 |
Q: I got a filling yesterday on a bottom molar. After it was done the dentist very rapidly informed me ...
A: Allow me to address your questions one at a time... 1.I asked for the white composite but the ...
|
| Implant Question | 7/2/2007 |
Q: doctor, for previous reply about my extraction of a molar and the decision to do an implant. I DID ...
A: Dentists by nature tend to be tinkerers, and naturally gravitate toward novel methodologies. ...
|
| Sensitive tooth after fall | 7/1/2007 |
Q: About two and a half weeks ago I took a bad fall (on my face) causing a bad chip in one of my front ...
A: The delayed emergence of symptoms such as you describe suggests the development of a pulpitis. This ...
|
| severe pain after fillings | 6/30/2007 |
Q: I had 3 fillings a week and a day ago. Two days after the fillings were completed I began having ...
A: Your symptoms do not suggest an allergic reaction, but rather an injury to the pulps of the teeth. ...
|
| Antibiotics | 6/29/2007 |
Q: Advice on the (over) use of antibiotics in dentistry will be greatly appreciated. Your 1/12/2005 ...
A: The problem of bacterial resistance is a real one, and efforts to address it are beginning to get ...
|
| root canal treatment | 6/29/2007 |
Q: about 1 month ago i was punched in the mouth. I have braces but when i got hit my front right tooth ...
A: Yes, the symptoms you describe are highly suggestive of a pulpal inflammation or frank infection, ...
|
| root canal treatment | 6/29/2007 |
Q: about 1 month ago i was punched in the mouth. I have braces but when i got hit my front right tooth ...
A: Although a root canal treatment may make the tooth slightly more prone to breakage than it would be ...
|
| internal resorption | 6/28/2007 |
Q: Dr. Bornfeld, our dentist has told me that I need a root canal in a front tooth (lower jaw) that ...
A: Internal root resorption appears as an abnormal widening of the pulp chamber or root canal on an ...
|
| Bonding and crown on children | 6/28/2007 |
Q: My son jack age 9 fell and broke his front tooth. I took him to the dentist( not a pediatric). The ...
A: The determination as to whether a crown should be placed depends on the severity and depth of the ...
|
| Bonding and crown on children | 6/28/2007 |
Q: My son jack age 9 fell and broke his front tooth. I took him to the dentist( not a pediatric). The ...
A: There are a multitude of reasons why a bonded restoration would repeatedly fail-- insufficient ...
|
| Root Canal/Bridge | 6/27/2007 |
Q: Bronfeld, About four months ago I had a full set of digital x-rays taken and was told by the ...
A: Sudbury, Although both of your dentists used digital x-rays, they were not necessarily looking at ...
|
| Root Canal/Bridge | 6/27/2007 |
Q: Bronfeld, About four months ago I had a full set of digital x-rays taken and was told by the ...
A: Sudbury, Quite naturally, I am at a disadvantage in determining which of your dentists is coming ...
|
| Cavities in Wisdom Teeth? | 6/27/2007 |
Q: I am 50. Sometime ago I had 2 wisdom teeth extracted. The other two were left alone because they ...
A: 1. Dentists do not fill cavities in wisdom teeth Reply: unless I'm not a dentist, this statement is ...
|
| Fused baby and permanent teeth | 6/27/2007 |
Q: My daughter is 7 and her baby 2 front teeth on the top were fused. It had 2 roots and one tooth. It ...
A: Technically speaking, the phenomena affecting the primary and permanent teeth as you have described ...
|
| Post Root Canal Pain | 6/25/2007 |
Q: I had a problem with #14. I had an old amalgam filling fall out and was going to have it replaced by ...
A: Brodeur, Granted, there are no nerves that remain within the root of a tooth after root canal ...
|
| root canal | 6/25/2007 |
Q: I had a root canal on my last upper molar about 4 weeks ago. Had bad pain for three days and strong ...
A: I think it best that you request a referral to an endodontist (root canal specialist) at this point. ...
|
| Gum Hole - Oral Care | 6/24/2007 |
Q: I had two wisdom teeth removed last week (one lower tooth and one upper tooth), and until today, I ...
A: Assuming there is no longer any pain from the extraction sites, you may resume normal oral hygiene ...
|
| Tooth knocked out of place | 6/23/2007 |
Q: One of my front teeth was knocked backwards 7 days ago and the root of the tooth went forward ...
A: The fact that your dentist was able to re-position the crown of the tooth but the root tip remained ...
|
| Will antibiotics cover up Xray diagnosis of infection? | 6/23/2007 |
Q: Ive been struggling w diagnosing a tooth ache, pain in lower jaw, and swelling and finally low grade ...
A: It sometimes takes substantially longer than two months for radiographically conspicuous signs of a ...
|
| Will antibiotics cover up Xray diagnosis of infection? | 6/23/2007 |
Q: Ive been struggling w diagnosing a tooth ache, pain in lower jaw, and swelling and finally low grade ...
A: The type of changes in the bone caused by dental infections develop and disappear very slowly. As ...
|
| root canal | 6/22/2007 |
Q: I had a root canal on a front broken tooth two months ago and crowns put on both front teeth(the one ...
A: Regardless of whether you leave the tooth opened or closed, you still presumably have an infected ...
|
| Root canal retreatment vs. apicoectomy on front crowned tooth | 6/22/2007 |
Q: I had a root canal performed approx. 10 years ago on one of my front tooth (#7). My last x-ray ...
A: It's difficult to compare the two procedures' costs in a meaningful way without having some idea of ...
|
| Root Canal and Crown | 6/20/2007 |
Q: I've never had anything other than a filling done and that was a while ago. I have an appt. for a ...
A: The answers to your questions depend very much on the specifics of your case, so it is not possible ...
|
| spinning and vomiting upon novocaine needle insertion | 6/19/2007 |
Q: I was at my dentist today and he began to give me an injection in my lower left jaw for my wisdom ...
A: Doyle, There are two possible explanations for what you experienced: 1. Your dentist accidentally ...
|
| Best Tooth Friendly Diet | 6/19/2007 |
Q: After having just had the root canal from hell, with searing post procedure pain, I have resolved to ...
A: Diet impacts on dental health primarily by either supporting or not supporting the growth of ...
|
| severe pain after dental treatment | 6/18/2007 |
Q: After losing my job and insurance and falling into a depression, my dental health declined greatly. ...
A: The implications of your narrative are clear: 1. dental care is unduly postponed 2. dental care is ...
|
| rootcanaled tooth sore w symptoms | 6/17/2007 |
Q: I hope you can shed some light on my problem. Discomfort and pain started under #30 7 wks ago. ...
A: Low grade fever and swelling could certainly be caused by a root fracture, but may also be the ...
|
| rootcanaled tooth sore w symptoms | 6/17/2007 |
Q: I hope you can shed some light on my problem. Discomfort and pain started under #30 7 wks ago. ...
A: Pain that is provoked by pressure on a tooth is a non-specific sign, and could indicate several ...
|
| Crowns too big? | 6/15/2007 |
Q: I just had crowns placed on #12 and #21, and they seem to be too big. They're wider side to side ...
A: No-- the crowns will not settle down on their own, and if something isn't done to correct the bite ...
|
| Bitewing X-Rays w/o Lead Apron | 6/13/2007 |
Q: I recently had a set of 4 bitewing x-rays taken in which the operator forgot to put a lead apron on ...
A: The radiation absorbed dose of x-rays can vary depending on the speed of the film used, the peak ...
|
| Possible dental infection | 6/13/2007 |
Q: I have pretty poor teeth and a history of trouble with gum disease. I have been seeing a dentist ...
A: There are innumerable different clinical disorders that present as tongue irritation, as well as ...
|
| multiple extractions | 6/12/2007 |
Q: I am having 8 teeth pulled out on Thursday. I am terrified. I won't be asleep, just in his chair ...
A: Local anesthesia is completely effective in preventing the perception of pain. General anesthesia ...
|
| suspicious xray | 6/11/2007 |
Q: I went to the dentist last week as I needed a root canal. They did xrays the week before and again ...
A: Multiple sclerosis does not cause any characteristic change in dental x-rays. Unless your dentist ...
|
| Nite White 22% | 6/11/2007 |
Q: I had the Zoom whitening process done three days ago. I was instructed to use Nite White 22% each ...
A: Sleeping with the bleaching trays is roughly equivalent to wearing them for one or two hours; the ...
|
| re-treat? and other questions | 6/10/2007 |
Q: Bornfeld thanks for taking the time to read my questions concerning endodontics. My first question ...
A: As for the infected lower incisor-- I find it difficult to believe that your undoubtedly unpleasant ...
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| Tooth Extraction! | 6/10/2007 |
Q: I had my top and bottom wisdom teeth extracted on Wednesday (almost 4 days ago now) and the pain is ...
A: Actually, this does sound like a dry socket. I would advise you to return to your dentist so that ...
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| unresolved pain after RC's/bridge replacement | 6/9/2007 |
Q: Bornfeld! In October of 2006 I had a bridge replaced involving one capped front tooth, the space (no ...
A: da Silva, I won't pretend to have any insights beyond what your dentists have told you; obviously, ...
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| Root canal on wisdom tooth | 6/7/2007 |
Q: My wisdom tooth was paining me(not a lot) since the last week.Its only painining when i bite with ...
A: Before I answer, I just want to be sure that you're truly referring to the wisdom tooth, because my ...
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| Dentist DOH lookup / Xrays Safety | 6/5/2007 |
Q: I saw the link you provided for DOH in Florida to look up disciplinary action there. Can you please ...
A: In New York State, dentists are licensed and disciplined by the State Education Department rather ...
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| root canal | 6/5/2007 |
Q: I went to the dentist today to get a root canal on one of my back teeth. To start with, the dentist ...
A: All teeth vary in their internal anatomy, and the degree to which that anatomy conforms to the ...
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| Post Root Canal & Crown Pain | 6/5/2007 |
Q: Dr. Bornfeld, I am writing for some advice on how to proceed on a long and sometimes painful ...
A: LaFreniere, The fact that the symptoms have lessened since the bite adjustment is a favorable sign, ...
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| After Root canal PAIN | 6/4/2007 |
Q: I had a rootcanal performed 2 weeks ago. On the same day I got the procedure done, my jawline ...
A: Symptoms alone are insufficient to determine if your root canal therapy was successful. Granted, ...
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| After Root canal PAIN | 6/4/2007 |
Q: I had a rootcanal performed 2 weeks ago. On the same day I got the procedure done, my jawline ...
A: You should be encouraged by the improvement in the symptoms. However, I think it would be prudent to ...
|
| Horrible Jaw Pain | 6/3/2007 |
Q: I have horrible jaw pain on the right side of my jaw. It does not reach to my ear, but stays close ...
A: It is difficult to provide a reliable diagnosis based only on the information you have provided. ...
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| splinting | 6/1/2007 |
Q: my dentist recommends splinting on my 8 front bottom teeth and i should have those filled in the ...
A: Splinting is usually performed in order to reinforce teeth that have become unstable due to ...
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| root canal & resulting fracture | 5/31/2007 |
Q: Two yrs. ago a dentist told me I needed to have an old root canal redone. It was not causing me any ...
A: Although the sequence of events as you have related them are rather inculpating, I won't go so far ...
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| interested in a career in dentistry but concerned about neck pain | 5/31/2007 |
Q: I am considering a career in dentistry as a second career (I'm in my 30's). My concern about ...
A: Although I don't wish to disregard or trivialize back or neck pain, I don't think that dentistry is ...
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| Regardimg the efficacy of Chlorhexidine Gluconate & Povidone Iodine. | 5/30/2007 |
Q: I would like to know that whether their has been a head to head study between Cholrhexidne Gluconate ...
A: There have been several studies that attempt to quantify the effectiveness of various topical ...
|
| Tooth Whitening (veneers) | 5/30/2007 |
Q: I am thinking of having my teeth whitened using Zoom, I have 6 upper veneers which I have had for ...
A: Certainly, it's easy enough to re-make the veneers. All it takes is the time, money, and resolve. ...
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| Tooth Whitening (veneers) | 5/30/2007 |
Q: I am thinking of having my teeth whitened using Zoom, I have 6 upper veneers which I have had for ...
A: Whitening systems such as Zoom! and BriteSmile, as well as the more conventional tray bleaching ...
|
| Re: dental pain after pulp cap | 5/29/2007 |
Q: In March 2007 Tooth #30 presents with deep decay, close to nerve but possibly not touching based ...
A: Radak, The current consensus is that pulp caps have a very uncertain future, and the majority ...
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| After Root Canal, Have Throbbing Sensation after Warm or Cold Foods | 5/28/2007 |
Q: I am new to this, and I appreciate and thank you beforehand for looking at my Question, About 3 ...
A: It is very rare to see sensitivity to heat and cold in a tooth that has had root canal treatment. ...
|
| partial denture | 5/27/2007 |
Q: I received a partial upper denture about 2 months ago. It provides 8 upper teeth, four on each side ...
A: I can't make specific recommendations, because the available options are determined by the type of ...
|
| porclein crowns | 5/26/2007 |
Q: I had 16 porcelain crowns (8 top and 8 bottom) put in 3 weeks ago and the pain is unbearable, I can ...
A: To say that nothing can be done until the pain stops is untrue-- there is a diagnostic protocol that ...
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| Recently crowned tooth | 5/26/2007 |
Q: Greetings, First, thank you so much for volunteering your services to this site. People like you ...
A: Olsen, Your possible recourses include: 1. Doing nothing (to my mind, not an option) 2. Appealing ...
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| Recently crowned tooth | 5/25/2007 |
Q: Greetings, First, thank you so much for volunteering your services to this site. People like you ...
A: Olsen, My opinion, to put it quite bluntly, is that your dentist performed sloppy work, and he's ...
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| dentistry | 5/24/2007 |
Q: i just want to know that how to stop bad breath my mouth stinks very bad even though i brush every ...
A: Bad breath can be the result of anything that may occur in the path of the airway. This may include ...
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| crown over root canal issues | 5/22/2007 |
Q: there was a porcelain crown put on it, but on my top left side there is another crown, but this one ...
A: Pain that is provoked by biting pressure is a non-specific symptom, and could indicate the presence ...
|
| Deep Filling Discomfort | 5/21/2007 |
Q: I had a deep filling done 5 days ago. The day of the filling, after the drugs were off, I didn't ...
A: Although it may be too soon to assess the tooth for objective signs of complications, the delayed ...
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| Tooth, gum and sinus pain after Resin fillings | 5/18/2007 |
Q: Dr. Bornfeld, After allowing my teeth to get into pretty bad shape (won’t do that again) I visited ...
A: You're correct that it would be foolhardy for me to try to attempt to diagnose your problem without ...
|
| Dark line on teeth | 5/14/2007 |
Q: Bornfeld, My 15 year-old daughter has recurring dark lines on her bottom front teeth that are near ...
A: Extrinsic staining (that is, staining caused by deposits on the surface of the teeth rather than the ...
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| teeth whitening | 5/13/2007 |
Q: I'm a 22 year old female, I used to have really bright white teeth 4 years ago and got compliments ...
A: The answers to your questions are quite subjective, so there is no truly objective answer; it ...
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| Questionable Dental Practice | 5/12/2007 |
Q: Bornfield, I just arrived home from my dentist's where he began re-treating my #2 and #19 teeth. I ...
A: Although I am not in a position to judge whether your previous dentist was in any way negligent in ...
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| Dry mouth and outer lip area | 5/11/2007 |
Q: I had neck [disk] surgery in 2003. One year later I noticed in July I woke up with a very dry mouth, ...
A: Dry mouth is usually the result of impaired salivary secretion (it can also be due to mouth ...
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| Bridge trouble | 5/9/2007 |
Q: Last September 06, I had a 3-unit bridge replaced on #'s 29, 30 & 31--30 being the pontic. In ...
A: Most of these questions cannot be answered reliably without seeing you in person, and that is the ...
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| Crown Lengthening | 5/6/2007 |
Q: I have had RC's on teeth 14, 15. Gen, dentist has said go for CL with periodontist, he put posts ...
A: I don't see why it would be necessary to prepare the teeth before determining whether sufficient ...
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| temp cap fell off! | 5/6/2007 |
Q: I just had a root canal and had a temporary cap put on. Three days later it just fell off. I am on ...
A: No, this is not an emergency, but it would be better both cosmetically and functionally if the ...
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| Bridge trouble | 5/5/2007 |
Q: Last September 06, I had a 3-unit bridge replaced on #'s 29, 30 & 31--30 being the pontic. In ...
A: While I commend you for your loyalty to your dentist, it is clear that your loyalty is misplaced. ...
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| Crown Lengthening | 5/5/2007 |
Q: I have had RC's on teeth 14, 15. Gen, dentist has said go for CL with periodontist, he put posts ...
A: It's unfortunate that your dentists cannot collaborate in your best interest. Your periodontist is ...
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| Baby Teeth | 5/4/2007 |
Q: My son was in the dentist yesterday, he's 8. The dentist says that 2 of his baby teeth need root ...
A: The answer depends on the specific circumstances. Some of those baby teeth do not normally fall out ...
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| root canal filling | 5/4/2007 |
Q: Today I had my root canal done. All 3 root canals have been cleaned in my molar tooth. But no root ...
A: Pure and simple, your dentist gave you bad advice. Leaving the root canals unsealed makes no sense, ...
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| lollipops | 5/3/2007 |
Q: I am 55 and have found a chocolate hard candy lollipop that I love. I have started eating one a day ...
A: The factors that determine whether tooth decay will occur are many-- inherent decay resistance of ...
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| Root canal done on wrong tooth | 5/1/2007 |
Q: Bornfeld, Yesterday I went in for a root canal on tooth #4 and the dentist did it on #5. We did not ...
A: On the face of it, there is no way to logically exclude the possibility that your dentist is being ...
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| suspicious dental practices | 5/1/2007 |
Q: I recently went in for my six month dental hygiene appointment to a dentist I've been seeing for one ...
A: Although receiving bad dental news is not necessarily suspect just because it's not what you want to ...
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| root canel and bridges | 5/1/2007 |
Q: I have a multiple problem. NO 2 was root canalled and capped around 5 months ago. It has hurt on ...
A: A bigger question suggested by your post is "why are you suddenly getting all these infections at ...
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| Root Canal And tetracycline | 4/30/2007 |
Q: I had the beginning of a root canal a week ago. (Right upper molar, I believe they called it #2) ...
A: Was this dentist an endodontist, or a general dentist? Although tetracycline will not present any ...
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| Dry Socket | 4/26/2007 |
Q: Dr. Bornfeld, I had my lower right wisdom tooth pulled on Monday (3 days ago) and realized today I ...
A: Every dentist has his own "recipe" for dealing with dry socket. There is a definite advantage in ...
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| Root Canal/Burnt Tongue | 4/26/2007 |
Q: I went to the dentist 2 days ago for a root canal. I don't know the exact procedures for this, but ...
A: Yes-- the dentist should have used a rubber dam if possible. However, there are situations where the ...
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| Replacement Teeth | 4/25/2007 |
Q: Ok here goes. Where can i get low cost/no cost dentistry for my brother who has no money is on a ...
A: First, your brother should check to see if he qualifies for Medicaid benefits if he is in a state ...
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| root canal problems | 4/23/2007 |
Q: I was just wondering how likely/unlikely it might be for two root treated teeth to fail at the same ...
A: I can't give you precise statistics, but the circumstances of the two teeth are so similar and their ...
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| Fixed Bridge and crowns | 4/23/2007 |
Q: I just had #19 molar extracted last Friday. Since I have TMJ, I am anxious to replace it. Right ...
A: Although I can't offer a reliable answer to individual cases without access to diagnostic ...
|
| mitral valve prolapse and waterpik use | 4/23/2007 |
Q: I have mitral valve prolapse. can you shed any research on this condition and the use of a water pik ...
A: Mitral valve prolapse is a phenomenon of the mitral valve (the bicuspid valve that separates the ...
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| Sore Jaw | 4/23/2007 |
Q: On Tuesday (today is the following Monday 6 days later) I had some work done on my number 46 tooth. ...
A: I suspect you are writing from outside the United States based on the numbering system used to ...
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| nti-tss vs canker sores | 4/21/2007 |
Q: I wore the NTI-TSS device for a week and got the canker sores which lasted for a week until I ...
A: Although some people are sensitive to acrylic, the reaction does not typically present as a canker ...
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| root canal or extraction? | 4/21/2007 |
Q: Bornfeld, My #18 left molar is "severely cracked into furcation" (my dentist's words). For the past ...
A: The answer depends entirely on the trustworthiness of your California dentist. If the tooth indeed ...
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| State Board of Dentistry | 4/19/2007 |
Q: How do you find IN and GA State Board of Dentistry? I did a search and could not find them. Thanks ...
A: Below are links to the Indiana and Georgia Boards of Dentistry, where you will find contact ...
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| How Long Can I Wait? | 4/19/2007 |
Q: Bornfeld: A corner of my left lower first molar chipped off today. It doesn't hurt, and the ...
A: Optimally, you should have your tooth assessed as soon as possible. Teeth break for all kinds of ...
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| partial denture occlusion | 4/18/2007 |
Q: I have one free-end cast lower partial with clasps on two cuspids and left (my left) molar (#37?). ...
A: Frank, This depends on the circumstances. If there are natural teeth adjacent to the denture teeth, ...
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| partial denture occlusion | 4/18/2007 |
Q: I have one free-end cast lower partial with clasps on two cuspids and left (my left) molar (#37?). ...
A: I cannot answer specifically to your case, because it largely depends on the spacial relationship ...
|
| Baking soda and cider vinegar instead of toothpaste | 4/17/2007 |
Q: Bornfeld, My 45-year old sister recently told me that she is brushing her teeth every day using ...
A: Although vinegar is fine in salad dressings, its use in the mouth is inappropriate. Unless the ...
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| acurracy of bite adjustments | 4/13/2007 |
Q: When a dentist adjusts a patients bite after restorations, how are they certain that the bite is ...
A: You've hit upon a subject that is quite complex, involves some controversy, and far exceeds the ...
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| Large filling on front tooth | 4/12/2007 |
Q: I recently chipped half of my front tooth off in a diagonal shape. This tooth overlaps the other ...
A: It may already be evident that you need root canal treatment, based on the fact that the tooth is ...
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| Large filling on front tooth | 4/11/2007 |
Q: I recently chipped half of my front tooth off in a diagonal shape. This tooth overlaps the other ...
A: A crown will definitely provide a more durable restoration, but your dentist's reluctance is not ...
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| 13 year old needs root canal | 4/11/2007 |
Q: my 13 year old son has a cavity in tooth #17. The hygienist kept saying how odd it looked and that ...
A: I'm a bit confused by your reference to tooth #17, which is the number designation of the lower left ...
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| Today's dentist visit | 4/11/2007 |
Q: The dentist did a full mouth and jaw xray today and I have one particular tooth in the bottom front ...
A: Relying on symptoms to determine what is wrong just doesn't work; otherwise, there would be no need ...
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| Dentist ground 2 holes into my crown | 4/10/2007 |
Q: Today I had a crown put on tooth #2 and the dentist filed it down for a proper fit. When I got home ...
A: It is important to determine whether your dentist actually perforated through the entire thickness ...
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| Swelling, bad jaw/ear pain & tooth pain after a filling | 4/10/2007 |
Q: I know you just answered a similar question but it has been 6 days since I had a filling and I am ...
A: A week is already too long to endure what you describe as "bad pain". You should return to your ...
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| pain and swelling after dental filling | 4/10/2007 |
Q: I had a filling today on the upper left. it is now 7 hours later and although I have no pain in ...
A: It is likely that your symptoms are due to injury from the anesthetic injection, which can cause a ...
|
| My son's baby teeth | 4/9/2007 |
Q: Doctor, My 6 month old son recently had both front top teet break through his gums. They have ...
A: Peg-shaped incisors may occur for unknown reasons, or may be a manifestation of certain systemic ...
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| broken front teeth | 4/9/2007 |
Q: I recently suffered a very hard fall and broke my two upper front teeth. My dentist has given me ...
A: The correct selection of treatment depends largely on the specifics of the involved teeth, which I ...
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| abcess after root canal retreatment | 4/9/2007 |
Q: i had a root canal 1 year ago to a lower molar (tooth #19) in october 2005. that tooth has just been ...
A: Your symptoms could indeed be caused by a failure of your root canal therapy, but could also be ...
|
| Mouthwash | 4/8/2007 |
Q: Bornfeld, Is it true that too much mouthwash use (3-4 times a day) will result in black teeth? My ...
A: The answer to your questions depends on just which mouthwash you're talking about. Prescription ...
|
| my grandaughter | 4/7/2007 |
Q: My grandchild fell and hit her front teeth on the floor. the swelling is down now she has one buck ...
A: Whitehead, Unfortunately, primary (baby) teeth have only limited ability to recover from an injury ...
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| strange soreness | 4/7/2007 |
Q: I went to the dentist about a week and a half ago and had two cavities filled. Everything went fine ...
A: It is common for an anesthetic injection to lead to minor injury, such as a small hematoma ...
|
| Temp Crowns for 6 months | 4/7/2007 |
Q: My endodontist wants to remove a molar crown, do the root canal, then replace the SAME temporary ...
A: Temporary crowns are typically held in place with temporary cement, and it should not be necessary ...
|
| Temp Crowns for 6 months | 4/6/2007 |
Q: My endodontist wants to remove a molar crown, do the root canal, then replace the SAME temporary ...
A: There's a reason why they call them "temporary" crowns-- they often do not continue to serve ...
|
| Second opinion | 4/6/2007 |
Q: In several of your answers you mention the value of a second opinion. MyHow willing are dentists ...
A: Checking the public record can confirm licensure, but not much else except disclose the most ...
|
| Second opinion | 4/6/2007 |
Q: In several of your answers you mention the value of a second opinion. MyHow willing are dentists ...
A: Although I have never inquired of my colleagues about how they feel about rendering second opinions, ...
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| dental crown replacement | 4/4/2007 |
Q: My dentist recommended that I replace my 15 year old gold crown in Dec 06. I have been to the ...
A: There can be any of a number of things that would account for pain on biting pressure. Perhaps the ...
|
| second molar (#15) and 2 wisdom teeth (#1,16) extraction | 4/4/2007 |
Q: My oral surgeon extracted 2 wisdom teeth as well as a second molar (#15). He told me to wait ...
A: Whether or not it is advantageous to replace teeth that have been removed depends very much on the ...
|
| Crown on cracked tooth | 4/3/2007 |
Q: Tooth #31 was cracked and my dentist drilled it down and put on a temp crown. When I returned to ...
A: The improvement in symptoms should be viewed as an encouraging sign, and you should not be too quick ...
|
| Tongue Crib | 4/3/2007 |
Q: I have a couple question regarding tongue crib/cages. I am getting them installed in my mouth this ...
A: The length of time you will need to wear the device will depend on just how long it takes to break ...
|
| porcelin crowns | 4/3/2007 |
Q: ..Last week I had several upper front teeth crowned (porcelin)....although I thought the two front ...
A: I know of no reported cases of allergy to porcelain. However, the type of resin cement that is ...
|
| Twinges under bridge | 3/31/2007 |
Q: Bornfeld, I have a bridge and under one of the caps I frequently get twinges. There is no pain , ...
A: There are any of a number of problems that might account for a non-specific symptoms such as you ...
|
| corn chip stuck in tooth socket | 3/30/2007 |
Q: I had one upper wisdom tooth removed two weeks ago. I have just finished taking antibiotics for an ...
A: If you cannot withdraw the debris from your socket by conservative means (i.e., brushing or vigorous ...
|
| Rxn to Dental Anesthesia | 3/29/2007 |
Q: I visited the dentist on Saturday for a simple filling (top right section of mouth-3rd molar from ...
A: Kelly, If the swelling was the direct result of the anesthetic injection, you most probably ...
|
| Root Canal | 3/29/2007 |
Q: Ok, so i had a filling refilled by a new dentist after this filling I had pain chewing crunchy ...
A: What determines whether a broken instrument in a tooth poses a risk to the success of the root canal ...
|
| Dentist too eager? | 3/29/2007 |
Q: Our previous dentist retired and we got a new, young dentist that replace him. They've also added ...
A: Your question really boils down to whether your dentist is honest, and I can't truly pass judgment ...
|
| Root Canals and Abscess | 3/29/2007 |
Q: I've been in pain since a filling I got on March 7th, and my dentist (who also does root canals) ...
A: Each case brings its own combination of unique factors to bear on the clinical course of an ...
|
| Dry Socket | 3/27/2007 |
Q: Dr Bornfeld, I had all four of my wisdom teeth removed 4 days ago. I was warned about dry socket ...
A: Dry socket is not a condition that requires treatment-- it goes away on its own, without any ...
|
| Oral Lichen Planus | 3/27/2007 |
Q: I have OLP and have trouble with ulcers on my cheeks and the gums of my teeth. I am scheduled for a ...
A: Although the cause of lichen planus is unknown, its underlying etiology is not thought to be ...
|
| retainers | 3/26/2007 |
Q: I was a young adult when I first had braces, had them removed when I was 26, I am 43 now. Haven't ...
A: You can still use your retainers, assuming you can insert them so that they are fully seated on the ...
|
| infection after dental surgery | 3/26/2007 |
Q: My 17 year old son had all four wisdom and both no. 4's removed under sedation and five days later ...
A: Although I'm unaware of the precise statistics, a peritonsillar abscess sufficiently severe to ...
|
| My husband's EXTREME pain... | 3/26/2007 |
Q: I'm hoping for some direction/suggestion/new ideas as the dentist isn't being helpful and at the ...
A: Unfortunately, I cannot offer a reliable diagnosis in the absence of a visual examination or x-rays. ...
|
| Whitening | 3/25/2007 |
Q: Do the $30 over the counter strips produce as good or nearly as good whitening compared with the ...
A: Probably the most reliable OTC dental bleaching product is the Crest Whitestrips. Don't waste your ...
|
| Does replacing a filling always require more enamel removal? | 3/23/2007 |
Q: I have a huge filling on tooth #18. Part of the filling broke off. My dentist is now giving me a ...
A: Every encounter with a dentist's drill entails some risk to a tooth-- risk of weakening, breakage, ...
|
| veneer problems | 3/23/2007 |
Q: I had veneers put on two summers ago. It seems like I have been back in the dental chair about ...
A: No, there is no practical way to assess the strength of the bond between veneer and tooth. Although ...
|
| Should I get a second opinion | 3/23/2007 |
Q: I just recently moved and have just seen a new dentist. I have a molar that needs to be filled and ...
A: It is natural to become suspicious of a new dentist when his treatment prescription differs markedly ...
|
| Blocked Saliva Glands | 3/23/2007 |
Q: I have had a blocked saliva gland for almost three weeks. (second time, same gland) My GP referred ...
A: Most cases of salivary ductal obstruction are caused by a stone. This can be visualized by CT or ...
|
| numbing medication | 3/23/2007 |
Q: I saw my dentist about 1 month ago and had a cavity filled. My tongue on the side I had the cavity ...
A: Apparently, the anesthetic injection inadvertently injured you lingual nerve. As is the case with ...
|
| cracked tooth | 3/22/2007 |
Q: i have a cracked tooth and now it has hurt for three days and my jaw hurt this is a non stop ...
A: Because the treatment that is appropriate depends entirely on the nature of the crack (its location, ...
|
| Front Tooth | 3/21/2007 |
Q: I need a root canal on tooth #8. I'm in Seattle w/o dental insurance. Tooth has some historical ...
A: Whether or not the extra skills of a specialist are required to successfully perform root canal ...
|
| Crown Cost | 3/21/2007 |
Q: I was prepped for a crown, it was ordered from the lab, in the meantime the tooth became painful ...
A: You do not provide a clear time line of the events, which might contribute to the considerations ...
|
| Retainer | 3/20/2007 |
Q: , I have had my braces off for approximately 10-12 years now. About 2 months ago, one half of my ...
A: Some movement of the lower incisors is certain-- what I cannot predict is the time frame, the amount ...
|
| my 6 years old son has cavity | 3/19/2007 |
Q: My son is 6 years old and has some cavities. According to the Hygienist, the cavities are (2) 1st & ...
A: Those primary molars will be in your son's mouth for quite a while longer-- perhaps as long as 6 ...
|
| Post-Extraction Gums | 3/19/2007 |
Q: how are you? I just had a question regarding an extraction I just had done a week ago. I had tooth ...
A: In the course of an extraction, the walls of the socket are spread; the dentist customarily squeezes ...
|
| Black spot in my mouth | 3/17/2007 |
Q: Bornfeld, I just noticed a black spot on the right side of my mouth while I was flossing today. It's ...
A: A mole, or "nevus", can arise anywhere in the mouth. However, the most probable identity of your ...
|
| Root canal | 3/15/2007 |
Q: Bornfeld, In your opinion, should general dentists be trusted to perform root canals? Would you ...
A: Your question goes to the heart of the entire concept of specialization-- not just endodontics, but ...
|
| Hole in crown | 3/15/2007 |
Q: I have a porcelain molar crown with a small hole on the biting surface. Is it possible that the ...
A: The answer depends on whether the hole goes all the way through the crown-- porcelain AND metal, or ...
|
| underbite | 3/15/2007 |
Q: I'm eighteen years old and I've always had a little underbite. I've never really been concerned with ...
A: An "underbite", where the teeth of the lower jaw are positioned forward of the upper teeth when the ...
|
| white patch side of tongue | 3/13/2007 |
Q: im 25 yrs old, im staying in u.a.e, last year i noticed a white patch at the back of my wisdom tooth ...
A: The majority of persons infected with HIV will test positive within 6 months of infection, so it is ...
|
| Wisdom tooth postoperative hole | 3/10/2007 |
Q: Im asking a question on my girlfriends behalf. She just had her 2 bottom widom teeth out about 2 ...
A: It can take quite a while for the sockets that remain after wisdom tooth extractions to close ...
|
| PREGNANCY | 3/9/2007 |
Q: Bornfeld My daughter is about 2 months pregnant. She has a (she thinks)a filling that has fallen ...
A: Many dentists are especially wary of providing dental service to pregnant women due to the ...
|
| root canal nothing on x ray no symptoms | 3/9/2007 |
Q: Bornfeld. and Yes you are correct the #20 was determined to be the necrotic tooth. But the first ...
A: A finding on x-ray of a radiolucent lesion at the root tip, combined with a failure to respond to an ...
|
| Does a filling need to be removed when fitting a tooth with a crown | 3/7/2007 |
Q: Several months ago I experienced a fractured cusp on a lower molar which had previously filled (20+ ...
A: There are no hard and fast rules that apply here. Although the removal of all prior fillings allows ...
|
| Filling cavitys | 3/6/2007 |
Q: I'm going into get one of my cavities filled on the 16th It isnt really deep...or broken just ...
A: Unfortunately, filling a cavity does not confer immunity against future tooth decay. You may develop ...
|
| root of tooth still in gum | 3/5/2007 |
Q: and first thank you Dr. Mark, about 12 years I had a tooth in the front of my mouth broken out, ...
A: Unfortunately, I can't give you the answer you want. Antibiotics will only temporarily suppress the ...
|
| root canal nothing on x ray no symptoms | 3/5/2007 |
Q: Is it possible to need a root canal when you have an xray which shows no sign of a cavity or pockets ...
A: I wish you could clarify something so that I can consider this further. You said that the ...
|
| Dry Socket | 3/3/2007 |
Q: I had 1 ciggerette after I had my wisdome teeth cut out, just one, will that 1 ciggerette give me ...
A: The factors that favor the development of dry socket are many-- cigarette smoking is just one. It is ...
|
| Implant Crowns | 3/2/2007 |
Q: Can you tell me the names of some of the RESIN crowns you are referring to? Perhaps that is what he ...
A: Two of the more popular "ceramic-like" resin crown systems are the OPC and the Sculpture/FibreKor ...
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| Implant Crowns | 3/1/2007 |
Q: How are implant crowns different than regular crowns? A dentist told me he preferred the newer ...
A: The crowns that are placed on implants are the same crowns that are placed on natural teeth. There ...
|
| extraction | 3/1/2007 |
Q: I had a back tooth extracted nearly 2 weeks ago. I had to go back 5 days after the extraction ...
A: I can't reliably tell from your narrative just what went wrong with your extraction, but it seems ...
|
| Legality Question | 2/27/2007 |
Q: I recently visited a new dentist where (after two hours!),the hygienist finally started working on ...
A: The answer turns on a question of what is legally referred to as the "standard of care". This term ...
|
| Digital xrays and Lead Aprons | 2/27/2007 |
Q: I was told that lead aprons are not required anymore for use with digital xrays, the radiation is so ...
A: Although the amount of x-rays used in digital radiography is significantly less than that used in ...
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| root canal | 2/26/2007 |
Q: I had a root canal done in September. I had a post put in and the crown put on, a few days ago, ...
A: The loss of the post and crown just five months after construction is an unfavorable sign, and ...
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| 10 year old with broken front tooth | 2/23/2007 |
Q: My daughter fell in October and cracked her front tooth. She had to have root canal which was ...
A: Your daughter's dentist is correct-- your daughter is too young to have a conventional crown placed, ...
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| tooth extracted | 2/23/2007 |
Q: Last year, my upper back tooth slowly broke away to where there was only the root left and my ...
A: The risks involved in retaining the broken tooth depend on its condition: -whether there is a vital ...
|
| bridge | 2/23/2007 |
Q: I lost upper teeth 7, 8, and 9 as a child and wore a partial plate until I was 62, two years ago, ...
A: There are any of a number of things that might have contributed to the untimely breakdown of tooth ...
|
| Hydroxyapatite | 2/22/2007 |
Q: Under what circumstances is this bone graft material used? Will it strengthen the hold of an implant ...
A: I assume your question is aimed specifically toward its dental applications (it is also used in ...
|
| surgery on 12 year molars | 2/22/2007 |
Q: My daughter is almost 16 years old. Her 12 year molars have not come thru. We saw an orthodonitc dr. ...
A: Bavol, The failur of second permanent molars to erupt is an uncommon condition; I have personally ...
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| root canal | 2/21/2007 |
Q: I recently start seeing this dentist around my area because one og my back teeth was hurting and i ...
A: I think your doctor's obvious rush to do root canal is clouding his judgment. The considerate thing ...
|
| Tooth Pain and Bad Smell in Nose | 2/21/2007 |
Q: I've had pain in a tooth off and on since a root canal. The pain now is in the same tooth area but ...
A: Hansen, I'll need to guess on this one, since I suspect that your problem may not be dental in ...
|
| Redo-crown problem | 2/20/2007 |
Q: Bornfield, Around 2/1999, the day after replacing a filling on my #29 tooth, I ended up wiht a root ...
A: Lower premolar teeth are deceptively difficult to treat endodontically (i.e., by root canal ...
|
| complication 1 month after wisdom teeth removal | 2/19/2007 |
Q: My 17 yr. old daughter had all 4 of her wisdom teeth removed on Jan. 12. She developed a dry ...
A: It is true that the probability of antibiotics eliminating the infection is small. The emergence of ...
|
| Lumineers | 2/16/2007 |
Q: I just read your answer to someone's question on Lumineers stating that they grind their teeth. You ...
A: I think you misunderstood my intent when I said that Lumineers are more appropriate for someone with ...
|
| eyeteeth crowns | 2/16/2007 |
Q: I used to have upper eye teeth with keen ends. Some time ago my dentist told me that it did not look ...
A: A truly reliable answer would require that I examine your mouth in person-- something this forum ...
|
| partial denture charges | 2/13/2007 |
Q: I appreciate your help but I'm not sure if I was clear in my question. Quetion: The dentist said he ...
A: There are denture techniques that permit the construction of a partial denture frame without first ...
|
| partial denture charges | 2/12/2007 |
Q: I have read some of your posts and appreciate your time and sincre,caring and professional answers. ...
A: The answer depends entirely on whether you gave consent to follow through with treatment. If you ...
|
| Lumineer keeps falling out. | 2/12/2007 |
Q: Thirty one days ago I paid over one thousand dollars for a front tooth lumineer. The Lumineer itself ...
A: Poor retention of a veneer may arise in any of three places: 1. The bond between the tooth and the ...
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| front tooth problem and root canals | 2/8/2007 |
Q: Dr. Bornfeld, Today I looked in the mirror and it looks like one of my upper front teeth has somehow ...
A: As to your first question-- whether your tooth can be fixed depends on variables that cannot be ...
|
| TOOTH, JAW, AND FACIAL PAIN | 2/8/2007 |
Q: I HAVE MULTIPLE TEETH THAT NEED FILLINGS, ROOT CANALS, AND SOME NEED TO BE PULLED. I WAS SENT TO AN ...
A: You are correct-- it is unlikely that extraction of a tooth on the lower right quadrant would cause ...
|
| periodontics | 2/8/2007 |
Q: what kind of education do periodontist need to do their job?
A: In addition to the normal undergraduate dental school curriculum, a specialist in periodontics must ...
|
| teeth bleach | 2/7/2007 |
Q: A few months ago i had zoom whitening done on my teeth... the result was great. The Dr. gave me 22% ...
A: It is doubtful whether that gel that is advertized as 35% carbamide peroxide is truly that ...
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| infection | 2/7/2007 |
Q: what happens if you get an infection from getting cavities filled, and what do you do about it?
A: Technically speaking, one does not get an infection from treating tooth decay; it is the decay ...
|
| canker sore | 2/5/2007 |
Q: Can you get a canker sore on your upper gum? I noticed a little pain when I drank some cold water. ...
A: Canker sores do not occur on the attached part of the gums-- that is, the lighter-colored, firmer ...
|
| Possible Implant | 2/5/2007 |
Q: Tooth # 19 has had two root canals. Now facing either an implant or bridge. 56 years of age - ...
A: Removing #19 without prosthetic replacement will usually cause the migration of the teeth opposing ...
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| Locked Jaw After Bite Guard | 2/3/2007 |
Q: I grind my teeth. I first tried a boil-it-yourself mouth guard from a sports store (the one with ...
A: The logic of going back to your old mouth guard is inescapable. However, cheap appliances are not ...
|
| gold dental fillings | 2/3/2007 |
Q: Bornfield, My question's just concerning gold dental fillings. I talked to a dentist recently and ...
A: The different classes of gold dental casting alloys differ in their hardness and rigidity, from type ...
|
| Braces and retainer | 1/31/2007 |
Q: I am an adult and last February I had my braces removed after having worn them for a little over one ...
A: If you can still place your retainer in your mouth, it is reasonable to assume that the retainer can ...
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| What is the best thing to do when you lose a filling | 1/31/2007 |
Q: What is the best thing thing to do when you lose a filling, the earliest appointment I could get ...
A: It is unlikely that the loss of your filling will pose any risk other than tooth sensitivity. If ...
|
| reddish-black spot in mouth | 1/29/2007 |
Q: I was flossing tonight, pulled my cheek and noticed a flat dark circle (reddish black). It is way ...
A: The spot could be any of a number of things-- a small blood clot from a recent biting injury, a ...
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| Posterior Teeth question | 1/27/2007 |
Q: Yes, there are gaps between my 2nd bicuspid and 1st molars. I have difficulty chewing in the back, ...
A: This condition is known as a posterior open bite, which is usually the result of some type of ...
|
| Dental School | 1/26/2007 |
Q: I was wondering what you believe are the advantages of being a dentist versus a doctor. I have ...
A: Advantages and disadvantages of a particular profession are related more to the candidate's ...
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| jaw misalignment | 1/25/2007 |
Q: I'm a 25 year old female. My lower jaw deviates a little to the left, making my face look ...
A: You are treading on dangerous ground here. Although there is always some asymmetry to the face, this ...
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| PULPECTOMY | 1/25/2007 |
Q: Dr. Bornfeld, On Monday, January 22,I had a pulpectomy done (on # 4) to end the horrible tooth ...
A: I am unable to determine the urgency of extraction, since the predicted longevity of a pulpotomy ...
|
| swallowed crown and post | 1/25/2007 |
Q: This is pretty embarrassing but here goes .I woke up missing new crown with post.how long to this ...
A: Although a crown would be expected to pass without incident, the presence of a post makes this event ...
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| Confused About Root Canal | 1/24/2007 |
Q: Bornfield, how are you? My name is Paul and I am writing you today in hopes of a strong opinion ...
A: It is not possible to draw any reliable conclusions regarding the direction your treatment should ...
|
| Baby Teeth Eruption | 1/24/2007 |
Q: So how long before they fall out. It has been 5 months now, and the last one got infected. I have ...
A: There is a two to three year range of eruption for the incisor teeth, and the precise age at which ...
|
| cracked tooth | 1/23/2007 |
Q: "About a month ago, I went to the dentist to have an impression taken of my upper teeth. ...
A: Although I suppose anything is possible, I find it highly unlikely that the taking of an impression ...
|
| Baby Teeth Eruption | 1/23/2007 |
Q: My 7 year is starting to loose her teeth (Bottom Front), well kind of. Her adult teeth are coming in ...
A: It is normal (indeed preferable) for the permanent lower incisors to erupt before the primary ...
|
| toungue biteing | 1/22/2007 |
Q: Help I bite my toungue in the middle and it will not stop bleeding. It has been over 2 hours what ...
A: Dougherty, Prolonged bleeding suggests either impaired clotting ability or rupture of a larger ...
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| root canal | 1/22/2007 |
Q: On my first visit to a new dentist, I had a deep filling done and immediately developed pain in the ...
A: Treatment outcome depends on many different things besides the competence of the treating doctor. In ...
|
| root canal on wisdom tooth | 1/21/2007 |
Q: I was recently told I may need a root canal done on my lower left wisdom tooth. I had my 12 year ...
A: For most people, wisdom teeth are more trouble than they're worth. However, this may not be true in ...
|
| Pain with cold/hot water/food | 1/21/2007 |
Q: There is pain in the lower second molar(have been patched long time ago) whenever I bite hard stuffs ...
A: I can't offer a reliable assessment of your teeth in the absence of the relevant diagnostic data. ...
|
| Arestin | 1/20/2007 |
Q: I am paying out of pocket for my perio work and am concerned about the recommended use of Arestin ...
A: It is true that the documented clinical benefits of Arestin are modest at best, and the open-ended ...
|
| Follow-up to Question on Office Practices | 1/19/2007 |
Q: You questioned if my dentist had authority to waive charges and establish office policy. the answer ...
A: It seems like your dentist's staff has him well-protected. In this case, your best bet is to send ...
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| Require Dentist's Perspective on Office Practice. | 1/18/2007 |
Q: I need your perspective as to how best handle a billing practice which occurred in my dentist's ...
A: Is your dentist a principle proprietor/owner of the practice, and empowered to set office policy? ...
|
| Do I need a Root Canal? | 1/18/2007 |
Q: I went to an endodondist for follow up after he had performed a root canal. While I was in his ...
A: Evaluating a tooth for the need for root canal therapy involves more than assessing symptoms, and a ...
|
| Fixed bridge | 1/18/2007 |
Q: I just want to know if its possible to just have a 2 unit bridge rather than a 3 unit.I was told ...
A: It is certainly possible to support a prosthetic tooth (pontic) with only one abutment crown, but it ...
|
| please could you put my mind at rest? | 1/16/2007 |
Q: I had an Apicoectomy done about 6 months ago as i had a cyst at the root of my tooth all went very ...
A: Brown, This is probably not the answer you had hoped for, but yes-- cysts can come back, especially ...
|
| Please help-pain after filling, need root canal? | 1/16/2007 |
Q: I appreciate the seconf opinion. I have one more quick question. I have been calling around a few ...
A: The use of a post (otherwise referred to as a post and core, a dowel, or a dowel and core) is less ...
|
| Please help-pain after filling, need root canal? | 1/16/2007 |
Q: I hope you can help me. Let me tell you my story. I went to my local dentist, Dr. Robert Spero DDS ...
A: It is difficult to infer a reliable diagnosis from symptoms alone, but I am inclined to agree with ...
|
| loose front teeth | 1/15/2007 |
Q: Do you know how much permanent implants generally cost?Hello My name is Mary-Jane and my two ...
A: Dentists generally avoid using the term "permanent" since this word implies something that cannot be ...
|
| loose front teeth | 1/14/2007 |
Q: My name is Mary-Jane and my two bottom front teeth have been really loose for a while now. I have ...
A: Unfortunately, I cannot offer specific recommendations, since mobility of the teeth may be the ...
|
| Dental | 1/14/2007 |
Q: I am 41 yrs Old,and finally decide to get some dental work done. I just had 4 crowns on my lower ...
A: Wooley, Some sensitivity is the rule rather than the exception in complex cases such as yours, and ...
|
| dental pain after cerec procedure | 1/13/2007 |
Q: Hey Doctor Marc for your reply. Is it possible to be allergic to the Ceric material itself?Dear ...
A: Cerec makes three different types of materials; two are ceramic and relatively non-allergenic. The ...
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| pain after new filling | 1/12/2007 |
Q: I received a composite filling a few days ago on the lower right hand side (tooth 31). When I've had ...
A: Although some postoperative sensitivity is the rule rather than the exception, especially with the ...
|
| Boney extraction | 1/12/2007 |
Q: Shouldn't the surgeon be aware if he caused some nerve damage and informed me after the surgery or ...
A: Most nerve injuries are only manifest in their symptoms; unless he's a real ham-fisted operator and ...
|
| Boney extraction | 1/12/2007 |
Q: On Tuesday I had an eye tooth surgically removed. The bill said boney extraction. The day after ...
A: Numbness that persists beyond one day is not caused by the pharmacologic action of the local ...
|
| large hole in tooth | 1/11/2007 |
Q: I believe my filling fell out of a top, back molar, several months ago. For the past 2 months or so, ...
A: It does indeed sound like you have an infected tooth, although I am uncertain whether your headache ...
|
| chipped tooth | 1/11/2007 |
Q: My 18 month old son fell and chipped his upper front tooth. The tooth is chipped straight across, ...
A: It is quite possible that the tooth can be repaired with a resin crown, provided that there is no ...
|
| Pain after a sedative filling? | 1/11/2007 |
Q: I just got a sedative filling today, and my jaw is aching badly. I also notice that there is a pain ...
A: Unfortunately, there is little useful information that can be inferred from subjective symptoms so ...
|
| Do I need to redo my crowns? | 1/10/2007 |
Q: I'm an expat in my 40s living in Asia. Sorry for the long note and all the questions, but I have to ...
A: Zirconia is a type of ceramic crown. The most popular brand here in the 'States is Procera, and ...
|
| Root canal - did he go too high? And removing crowns | 1/10/2007 |
Q: I'm in Asia and need some advise; I'm unfortunately not in Singapore or HK and locally there isn't ...
A: There is not much reliable information that can be inferred from your symptoms. While I cannot ...
|
| Geographic tongue? | 1/10/2007 |
Q: I get these white lines or sometimes white circles on my tongue. I cant clean them out or anything, ...
A: Without seeing your tongue in person, I cannot offer a reliable answer. However, geographic tongue, ...
|
| Loose front teeth | 1/9/2007 |
Q: I am 37 yrs. old and had braces last year. The orthodontist removed my braces early because my two ...
A: Cases like yours are usually managed with the use of a temporary removable "flipper" denture that ...
|
| Sinus mouth injury | 1/9/2007 |
Q: I am a 43-year-old male, in good overall health. A month ago I fell while running, causing a ...
A: The condition of your sinus will not influence the recovery of your front teeth in any way. Sinus ...
|
| Root Canal after filled cavity and other ?s | 1/9/2007 |
Q: I've had a whole lot of work done on my teeth lately. This includes two crowns, 3 filled cavities, ...
A: Although the timing of the events as you stated seems to implicate your dentist's therapeutic ...
|
| root canals and crowing | 1/9/2007 |
Q: I have been told to get a root canal on #29 tooth. Recently, a cavity had been filled on it and but ...
A: Most commonly, a lower second premolar has one canal. However, sometimes a lower premolar will have ...
|
| caries | 1/8/2007 |
Q: On an visit to my dentist, she told me that I had a caries on a tooth and that she would treat it ...
A: Yes-- it is true that dental caries should be treated in a timely manner in order to prevent it from ...
|
| root canal | 1/8/2007 |
Q: I had a root canal on 12/28 and I have a temporary filling right now. I have an apt. for a post on ...
A: It is important that the opening to the root canal remain closed. If your dentist feels it is ...
|
| Sensitivity in Resin Filled Molar | 1/8/2007 |
Q: I had an old filling replaced (portion fell out from old filling leaving large cavity) approximately ...
A: Brown, It is true that resin fillings tend to provoke more sensitivity than comparable fillings ...
|
| Pulling permanent teeth down | 1/8/2007 |
Q: i had a baby tooth that got pulled about 2 1/2 years ago. the permanent tooth never grew in on top ...
A: Unless the unerupted tooth is determined to be impacted, the risks of surgical exposure and ...
|
| 22yrs old and 2 of my baby teeth have not fallen out | 1/8/2007 |
Q: I am 22 years old and 2 of my baby teeth have not fallen out. A couple of years ago I had a ...
A: "Temporary" is a relative term; in a sense, all things are temporary. You'd be surprised how long ...
|
| Crown-Tooth pain | 1/7/2007 |
Q: I had a large filling in my upper right molar that at times would give me a little pain. My dentist ...
A: Although it is likely that extraction will end the pain, it is probably best to tough it out a few ...
|
| pain in tooth | 1/7/2007 |
Q: any advice would be great. Back in July, after getting a cavity filled on the bottom left, 2nd to ...
A: It seems that the full nature of your problem has evaded you dentists' diagnostic efforts, and I ...
|
| my friend has a tooth problem | 1/6/2007 |
Q: My friend chipped one of his bottom front teeth and when the piece that chipped off came out of his ...
A: In all likelihood, the tooth chipped because it was weakended by tooth decay. I recommend that your ...
|
| swollen inside of lips | 1/6/2007 |
Q: Me and my dentist are both stumped about something, I'm hoping you might be able to provide some ...
A: There are several different conditions that could potentially cause either intraoral blistering ...
|
| Pain putting a temporary crown back on. | 12/18/2006 |
Q: I had a temporary crown fall off while I was on a trip. My dentist told me to go to Walgreens and ...
A: Although it is difficult to draw a reliable assessment from subjective events like this, severe pain ...
|
| cast metal | 12/17/2006 |
Q: my best regard to you and to your valuable family iam student of dentistry.i wana know what is cast ...
A: Cast metal is any metal that is formed by the casting process-- liquefaction by heating to its ...
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| Residue left behind in tissues from root canal failure. | 12/17/2006 |
Q: Bornfeld, I hope you can give me some insight please. I had a painful tooth, the dentist said he ...
A: Thermafill is chemically and biologically inert, and residual material in the socket would not in ...
|
| Swollen Cheek | 12/14/2006 |
Q: All the work was done on my right side and the painful shot to the nerve was on the upper right near ...
A: Culp, Assuming I am correct in my assumption that the problem is due to a hematoma, it is ...
|
| Swollen Cheek | 12/14/2006 |
Q: I had a deep cleaning and a crown put in yesterday and received 2 - 3 novocaine shots. The first ...
A: Culp, It would be helpful to know just where the injections were administered and the teeth that ...
|
| Novocaine and how it works | 12/14/2006 |
Q: Two days ago I had the worst dental experience. I had a top tooth (second to the back) drilled out ...
A: First, let me say that your question is probably of more importance for the visits in the more ...
|
| Pediatric Dentist refused treatment | 12/11/2006 |
Q: I brought my 7 year old daughter (who is "deathly petrified" of dentists for no apparent reason ...
A: It is true that pediatric dentists are more skilled at managing anxiety in the child patient. ...
|
| Crown on wrong tooth - what do I do? | 12/11/2006 |
Q: I went to my general denistry #A and he told me that my back left tooth needs a crown. He suggests ...
A: Unfortunately, patients are often caught between the conflicting opinions of different dentists. ...
|
| drilling through crowns for rtc & long term gum infection | 12/11/2006 |
Q: Due to long history of undiagnosed clenching @ night, & poor prophylactic care, I have extensive ...
A: There is nothing objectively wrong with the treatment your dentist provided, at least to the extent ...
|
| different dental opinions? | 12/10/2006 |
Q: I took my 7 year old daughter to 2 dentists. One said she has one cavity and the other said she has ...
A: In a nutshell, your question cuts to the heart of the limitation of second opinions. Ideally, ...
|
| dentist error | 12/9/2006 |
Q: I had a bad toothache. The antibiotic was a temp relief. The dentist told me it was worth saving and ...
A: I think the manager of the dental facility would be getting off easy if you accepted the $340. Based ...
|
| broken tooth | 12/8/2006 |
Q: Similar to a previous question you answered about the repair of a broken molar, I just had the ...
A: That depends on the specific circumstances of the break. A certain number of teeth will simply ...
|
| post root cancal pain | 12/8/2006 |
Q: About 2 months ago I had a root canal to a lower molar. I have had constant pain in that tooth and ...
A: No, your pain is not because you don't have a post or crown. Root canal therapy is often followed by ...
|
| Cerec crown for root canal tooth | 12/8/2006 |
Q: I had a root canal done on tooth #13 in July and then had a retreatment done in November because of ...
A: Cerec crowns are more remarkable for the way they are fabricated than they are for their ...
|
| Ramification on delaying a root canal | 12/7/2006 |
Q: It appears I had an infection near one of my back molars. I was given some penicillin which feels ...
A: Once an endodontic (nerve) infection has been established, there is little to gain and much to lose ...
|
| Sealants on 6 year molars | 12/6/2006 |
Q: I have an 8 year old son who had sealants on 4 of his molars in August 2004. He had his 6 month ...
A: Sealants have a variable life span, depending on how well they are applied and the amount of ...
|
| oral cyst? | 12/6/2006 |
Q: I deeply bit the inside of my lip several months ago. When I bit my lip I realized I could move in ...
A: I'm guessing, of course, but your description suggests that you do indeed have a mucus retention ...
|
| crowns | 12/4/2006 |
Q: I recently had my back crown replaced the first crown was gold porcelain and the new one is gold .I ...
A: A dentist may use his discretion in positioning the margin of the crown anywhere he deems ...
|
| temporary fixed bridge | 12/4/2006 |
Q: I have a temporary 6 tooth fixed bridge. It's too replace my two front teeth that were damaged years ...
A: Although your dentist may be able to try seating the bridge in a different position, the discrepancy ...
|
| small cavities./fluoride tx | 12/4/2006 |
Q: I am a medical student with no dental coverage, it's X-mas time and my loan money is toast. I have a ...
A: That depends on several considerations: 1. Not all holes represent tooth decay 2. Not all tooth ...
|
| Pain in tooth, jaw and ear | 12/3/2006 |
Q: I noticed that I was missing a small chunk out of my filling/crown on #31 (my dentist called it a ...
A: Although these long-distance diagnoses are far from reliable, the short answer is yes-- although it ...
|
| Crown pain | 12/3/2006 |
Q: Since I emailed you last time I experienced so much pain I was taking Hydrocodone which only dulled ...
A: Based on the swelling, I think it is likely that one or both of the teeth have become infected (an ...
|
| Toothache on cavity filling | 12/3/2006 |
Q: I had a composite filling done on my Right lower molar ( the one in front of my wisdom tooth) a ...
A: The legal standard of care is a legal rather than a health care concept, and this is a matter that ...
|
| hey | 12/2/2006 |
Q: ok if you have an infected tooth could it make your stomach feel weird ? and make me feel like i got ...
A: Yes, localized infections such as an abscessed tooth can cause constitutional symptoms: nausea, ...
|
| sensitivity to cold | 12/1/2006 |
Q: My teeth have always been sensitive to cold, but tonight when I was brushing my teeth I noticed that ...
A: Sensitivity to tactile stimulation (contact) is non-specific, and could be either the result of ...
|
| Nerve damage? | 11/30/2006 |
Q: Approx. 5wks ago I was experiencing some slight sensitivity to v.cold liquid, so visited the ...
A: It is true that composite resin fillings tend to provoke more sensitivity than comparable fillings ...
|
| Crown pain | 11/30/2006 |
Q: One more question. With me waiting so long to get to the dentist with my bite off, would this cause ...
A: Although severe bite discrepancy could conceivably cause permanent damage to a tooth, this would be ...
|
| Crown pain | 11/30/2006 |
Q: I had two crowns put on my left bottom molars a few weeks ago. When the dentist pushed one down the ...
A: It is indeed possible that the pain you're currently feeling is the result of excessive contour of ...
|
| confused | 11/30/2006 |
Q: Bornfeld, I was very sick for over a year and finally diagnosed with either chronic serum ...
A: Unfortunately, I am unfamiliar with mast cell activation disorder and how it is managed. However, ...
|
| Two white bumps on gums | 11/29/2006 |
Q: My dentist just discovered two small white bumps on the right side of my upper gums. He scheduled a ...
A: I don't necessarily think it would be productive to give you a list of about fifty different things ...
|
| Wisdom Tooth Extraction under General | 11/28/2006 |
Q: Is weight also an issue, I had the consultation last year and have been waiting for the procedure ...
A: Except in cases of morbid obesity where there is compromise of the function of the respiratory or ...
|
| Root Canal | 11/28/2006 |
Q: I had a root canal done the end of August. (On my front crowned tooth.) I was feeling sensitivity to ...
A: There is no one correct answer to your question. The success of a root canal treatment outcome must ...
|
| I bit my tongue | 11/27/2006 |
Q: I inadvertently bit the right side of my tongue yesterday and it hurts when I eat on my right side. ...
A: Brown, Unfortunately, most of the available preparations do not persist all that well on the tongue ...
|
| pediatric dentistry | 11/27/2006 |
Q: My 2 year old had chipped 2 of her front teeth (one on each side of the front teeth next to the ...
A: The answer depends on just how badly the teeth were damaged. Normally, the lateral incisors don't ...
|
| silver fillings and breastfeeding | 11/25/2006 |
Q: I went to the dentist 5 days ago and he put in a silver filling, this was my first silver filling ...
A: Although minute amounts of mercury are thought to be secreted in breast milk, the current consensus ...
|
| tooth/gum pain | 11/24/2006 |
Q: I just recently (past 10 days) had a tooth filled. It wasn't hurting or anything, but the cavity was ...
A: Increased sensitivity following a deep filling is a common event. Rather than being the fault of the ...
|
| frenulectomy | 11/24/2006 |
Q: My 8 year old son has just been told he should have a frenulectomy performed because it is causing ...
A: A frenectomy/frenulectomy (either term is OK) is indeed sometimes used if the upper labial frenum is ...
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| Lump-cheek | 11/21/2006 |
Q: About 7 weeks ago I had a molar pulled on my lower left side. About 1 week later I developed a ...
A: It would be very unusual to see a hematoma persist for seven weeks. I suspect your dentist is ...
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| jaw/tooth pain | 11/20/2006 |
Q: I recently went to the dentist for a pain in my lower back molar on the left side. It hurts when I ...
A: It is difficult to say for certain whether the jaw pain and the tooth are related. Certainly, an ...
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| Finding a Good Dental Provider | 11/20/2006 |
Q: I read your response to the "no insurance" question. I wonder how to find a dental school or ...
A: The unfortunate truth is that it is difficult to have all of one's parameters for what is a good ...
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| lesion | 11/19/2006 |
Q: I have a lesion on the gingiva tucked up into the crease where it meets the mucosa of my right upper ...
A: Unfortunately, the mouth has a limited repertoire of presenting symptoms for a wide variety of ...
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| pain after root canal | 11/18/2006 |
Q: on 11/17/06 i had a root canal which the dentist put tempary filling. I was in a lot of pain when he ...
A: Although some root canals proceed without incident, there are the occasional cases such as yours ...
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| fear of dentist and worried about treatment | 11/17/2006 |
Q: Dr. Bornfeld, thank you for your answer and reassurance yesterday. just a simpleif there were any ...
A: Your surgeon is being a bit disingenuous to say that it is impossible to break off a root in the ...
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| toothache under crown | 11/17/2006 |
Q: I had a dental crown on my last upper back tooth years ago and just 2 days ago I ate alot of hard ...
A: Mundis, Although this pain event may have been provoked by eating nuts, it is unlikely to be the ...
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| is my filling the problem? | 11/16/2006 |
Q: I have a tooth that overlapps my upper front tooth and have a small filling in that area. Every ...
A: The filling could indeed be contributing to your perception that something is stuck between your ...
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| fear of dentist and worried about treatment | 11/15/2006 |
Q: Dr. Bornfeld, thank you very much for your quick answer. i actually sent that dentist an email but ...
A: You have nothing to lose by going back to the oral surgeon to evaluate the situation; you are under ...
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| root canal pain | 11/15/2006 |
Q: afterrefilling of #20 tooth i still had pain, so on my dentist's advise i got root canal done by ...
A: I would certainly urge you to defer further treatment until the problem has been properly diagnosed. ...
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| fear of dentist and worried about treatment | 11/15/2006 |
Q: Dr. Bornfeld, After reading some of your answers to other people, it sounds like you would be a ...
A: Aside from the oral surgeon's apparently inconsiderate manner, it is unclear whether anything went ...
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| Bad reaction to Injection | 11/14/2006 |
Q: while I was getting the injection into my mouth I had a bad reaction, I felt a burning sensation run ...
A: The type of reaction you describe sometimes occurs following injection in specific areas-- usually ...
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| Consequences of putting on a crown on a tooth that is too short | 11/13/2006 |
Q: Years ago, I had a crown put on a tooth that was too short. The dentist said that he would have to ...
A: The length of a tooth directly affects a crown's retention-- that is, its ability to remain attached ...
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| Numbness after surgery | 11/10/2006 |
Q: I had my wisdom teeth taken out 8 years ago when I was 16. They had to cut two of them out,and in ...
A: In order to determine the appropriate means of management, the cause for your complaint must be ...
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| tooth root resorption | 11/10/2006 |
Q: In the past nine months my dentist has explained that two of my molars have root absorption. One ...
A: Root resorption can be the result of several different local and systemic problems. For example, ...
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| xrays | 11/10/2006 |
Q: is there a limit of how many xrays you can have regarding your teeth. i am 62 yrs old have been ...
A: There has never been any formal regulation regarding limits on the number of diagnostic x-rays that ...
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| Deep Cleaning Procedure (second round) | 11/9/2006 |
Q: My dentist of 2 years keeps hassling me about getting a deep cleaning done on my teeth (again). I ...
A: The term "deep cleaning" is imprecise, and is probably a simplified term your dentist has ...
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| root canal | 11/8/2006 |
Q: One last question. I may need root canals on 2 bisucpid teeth with cavaties. I have very narrow, ...
A: The use of an operating microscope can help when searching for very fine canal orifices, and for ...
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| deep cleaning: needed or money-making tool? | 11/7/2006 |
Q: I recently moved and went to a new dentist. At my appointment, the dentist immediately saw me and ...
A: Without access to the diagnostic data, I am unable to judge whether any of the diagnoses presented ...
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| Cavity fillings/oral sadation? | 11/6/2006 |
Q: it was a regular dentist that removed my wisdom teeth...not surgen....the only thing they could ...
A: Then consider yourself lucky that you already found a general dentist who offers sedation! Although ...
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| Cavity fillings/oral sadation? | 11/6/2006 |
Q: I reciently had my four wisdom teeth extracted under oral seditives...I rember a few things but not ...
A: Although it is common for oral surgeons to offer sedation, the same cannot be said for most general ...
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| pain after tooth removal | 11/5/2006 |
Q: I had an permanent teeth grow behind my baby tooth and the baby tooth did not fall out, I've read in ...
A: I'm afraid I cannot give you a reliable answer without seeing you in person. Although extraction of ...
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| root canal overfill symptoms | 11/3/2006 |
Q: I had a root canal about a year ago (done by a dentist) and my endodontist has noticed the dentist ...
A: Although a modest extrusion of root canal filling material beyond the root apex makes for a less ...
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| split root | 11/2/2006 |
Q: the tooth is capped. i have no pain except if i touch the side of the gum by the tooth. the dentist ...
A: If the root of the tooth is indeed split, it is an emergency waiting to happen. When/if teeth like ...
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| Tooth Post | 11/1/2006 |
Q: Dr. Bornfeld, In the near future a close relative of mine will be going through a tooth post ...
A: The placement of a post is a simple procedure, performed on a tooth that has received root canal ...
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| Metal sensation in the R/C Tooth with temp crown | 10/31/2006 |
Q: In June'06 I had R/C on tooth #13 & was fitted with a Temp.crown. Ever since, its not felt like a ...
A: I'm not sure I understand the sensation you're describing. However, there are several potential ...
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| Bad taste after filling | 10/31/2006 |
Q: I recently cracked a tooth that had a filling in it. My dentist performed an inferior alveolar ...
A: There's no way for me to be sure, but if I had to guess, I'd say your temporary filling is to blame. ...
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| Root Canal therapy | 10/30/2006 |
Q: When I was in the military I had severely decayed molars on the top arch. The military dentists ...
A: Third molars are highly variable in their internal anatomy, and often present complex root canal ...
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| pain after crown | 10/30/2006 |
Q: I had a root canal done on a upper molar and a new crown put on a lower molar right below it. The ...
A: Because pressure and temperature sensitivity are non-specific symptoms, they do not imply a specific ...
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| to bridge or not to bridge or full denture | 10/30/2006 |
Q: my upper jaw has quite a few problems I had two teeth extracted two years ago from clenching down ...
A: Your options depend largely on the condition of your teeth, the positioning of the teeth in your ...
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| root canal procedure | 10/30/2006 |
Q: Living in a european country with no dental insurance, I've had a root canal 10 or 12 weeks ago on a ...
A: I don't know precisely how to interpret your question, because the terminology is not appropriate to ...
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| hole in gums after extraction | 10/29/2006 |
Q: i had an extraction a couple weeks ago... and had the stitches removed yesterday.. i just noticed a ...
A: It takes several months after an extraction for the gum tissue to assume a normal shape. In surgical ...
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| Tooth extracted, possible infection | 10/28/2006 |
Q: I recently had my number 18 molar extracted (10.25.2006) by my oral surgeon. The extraction went ...
A: I'm not sure about the green coloration-- perhaps this may represent some entrapped food, or perhaps ...
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| Fillings where gum line has receded | 10/28/2006 |
Q: Bornfeld for your reply! I have discussed the treatment with my dentist before but left out ...
A: Actually, the placement of gumline fillings does nothing to prevent further gum recession-- it may ...
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| porcelain crown change in color after final cementing | 10/27/2006 |
Q: I had my porcelain crowns temporarily cemented and they looked great but after they were permanently ...
A: Assuming your crown is composed entirely of porcelain rather than being porcelain baked to a metal ...
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| Fillings where gum line has receded | 10/27/2006 |
Q: I have had gum recession since in my twenties and am used to dentists and dental hygenists telling ...
A: First, don't be afraid of offending your dentist with questions about your dental treatment. You ...
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| composite filling & bitter taste | 10/25/2006 |
Q: I had a small silver filling removed on an upper molar because it was wearing out and a composite ...
A: I have heard of this complaint before, although I don't know of a confirmed authoritative ...
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| temporary crown pain | 10/25/2006 |
Q: I had a tooth # 18 prepared for a crown on 10-10-2006. The temp crown was finally fitted after ...
A: The first thing your dentist should do is get you out of pain, and I suspect that continuing with ...
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| Chronic pain with crown | 10/25/2006 |
Q: Five years ago, I had a cracked filling replaced with a crown on a lower molar. I immediately ...
A: Most dental problems eventually manifest themselves in ways that allow them to be readily diagnosed. ...
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| Detecting "cavities" | 10/24/2006 |
Q: I noticed that you answered a question similar to this in February of 2005, but my case is slightly ...
A: The diagnosis of tooth decay involves the use of visual, tactile, and radiographic examination. It ...
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| crown vs filling | 10/24/2006 |
Q: I recently had tooth number 36 filled by a new dentist. It was bad and required a root canal - so I ...
A: It's difficult to give a reliable answer without knowing more about your mouth and the treatment ...
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| canine | 10/24/2006 |
Q: I have a large right canine tooth that protrudes upward and outward. It is very large and comes to ...
A: Removing the canine tooth would not be a good strategy; this tooth provides important function-- ...
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| root canal | 10/21/2006 |
Q: "Hi Dr. I recently had a filling placed in a tooth (bicuspid?) that had a cavity. The dentist said ...
A: A dental filling, regardless of its composition, will not impede in any significant way the ...
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| a zinging type pain in 1 1/2 month old bridge | 10/21/2006 |
Q: i just had my first bridge installed l=a month and a half ago it was fine until last week it started ...
A: Your options depend entirely on what is causing your pain, which could be anything. Some ...
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| Questions about implants (more) | 10/20/2006 |
Q: Can you tell me anything about the difference in survival rates for single stage vs. multiple stage ...
A: Unfortunately, I am unfamiliar with the precise statistics, although those who advocate for the ...
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| stiffness in jaw after filling 2 1/2 wks ago | 10/20/2006 |
Q: I went to the dentist on Oct 2 and received a filling in the bottom left side of my mouth. I also ...
A: It is difficult to reliably evaluate the full nature of your complaint without examining you in ...
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| Abscessed Tooth | 10/19/2006 |
Q: Mark, I had a abcessed tooth recently, the reason the this was that the crown was not fitted ...
A: As a dentist, I am unqualified to comment on either your ear or throat infection. I suspect that ...
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| deteriorating enamel | 10/18/2006 |
Q: This question is in regards to my 17 year old son. We have been told that he has a hereditary ...
A: Although I'm inclined to give weight to the opinion of a dentist who has had the opportunity to see ...
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| Blocked parotid gland | 10/17/2006 |
Q: My doctor recently diagnosed a blocked parotid gland under my left ear. He said it might go away on ...
A: It is conceivable that pain originating in the parotid gland may be perceived as coming from the ...
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| prolonged pain in extraction site | 10/17/2006 |
Q: I had two tooth extractions in the back of my mouth and my mouth still hurts in the same spots where ...
A: Prolonged pain following an extraction may be the result of any of a number of things. Some ...
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| exrays | 10/16/2006 |
Q: Had a full set of exrays when I went to a new dental office due to a change in my insurance ...
A: There is no standardized, general consensus regarding the proper time interval between radiographic ...
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| chipped tooth concern | 10/16/2006 |
Q: I chipped a tooth, part of the tooth (bicuspid?) before my first left molar looked "bitten off". I'm ...
A: Although I cannot say for certain without seeing the tooth in question, your description suggests an ...
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| Non-invasive Bridge? | 10/14/2006 |
Q: Bornfeld, My abscessed first molar was extracted January of this year by a general dentist. A ...
A: Lawless, Your use of the term "destroying" is a bit judgmental, given that the teeth prepared to ...
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| Nitrous Oxide | 10/14/2006 |
Q: I am considering using nitrous oxide for an upcoming dental procedure and do not know what to ...
A: It's anybody's guess whether nitrous oxide will provide enough sedation for you. However, the entire ...
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| fixed bridge vs partial denture | 10/14/2006 |
Q: my problem: i have a fixed bridge that consists of 3 crowns and 3 pontics on the top front, the ...
A: I'm not sure I fully understand the proposed configuration of the planned fixed bridge. You will ...
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| Physical damage to tooth | 10/14/2006 |
Q: Dr. Bornfield, Last night 13/10/06 i fell over and managed some how to land on my face! ...
A: Martin, It is sometimes difficult to assess the full nature of the damage from an event such as you ...
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| Root Canal Questions! | 10/13/2006 |
Q: Why is a post needed in a tooth? How many parts are there to a root canal and is a crown the ...
A: Q: Why is a post needed in a tooth? A: The better question to ask is "when is a post needed in a ...
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| hitting a nerver while getting novocaine | 10/13/2006 |
Q: I am really concerned, I was at the dentist today getting Novocain and all of a sudden I felt ...
A: The phenomenon you describe is not unprecedented; I have observed it several times over the course ...
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| Sore throat after dental work | 10/12/2006 |
Q: Yesterday I had two cavities filled on the lower left side of my mouth. The doctor took out the ...
A: This is not a common symptom, although its onset immediately after the procedure suggests that the ...
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| cavities | 10/12/2006 |
Q: well this question isn't directly towards cavities i have really bad sinuses and my teeth have been ...
A: Gonzales, The sinuses and the upper teeth are supplied by the same sensory nerve. Because of this, ...
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| Second molar extraction | 10/11/2006 |
Q: I am 52 years old. The outer side of my second molar, bottom left, broke off. There is a gold crown ...
A: Apuan, Strictly speaking, any given tooth can be thought of as unnecessary. However, there are ...
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| partial extraction? | 10/10/2006 |
Q: Can you tell me about partial extraction? Can it be done to save this tooth? I don't have bone loss, ...
A: There is no procedure that is formally called a "partial extraction", so I am guessing about what ...
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| partial extraction? | 10/10/2006 |
Q: I had my bottom right wisdom tooth extracted 6 weeks ago because it was growing into the tooth in ...
A: It is sometimes possible to remove one damaged root of a multi-rooted tooth while allowing a good ...
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| crown lengthening mishap $$ | 10/10/2006 |
Q: , In August, I had tooth and jaw pain. X-rays showed an infection down to the bone beneath my left ...
A: You certainly would be within your rights to ask for some type of compensation. However, your ...
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| Problem with Dental Crown | 10/9/2006 |
Q: My dentist placed a crown on a tooth (2nd from the back on the bottom, right side) since he said my ...
A: Sensitivity sometimes follows the placement of a new crown, but normally only for a short time. A ...
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| tooth pain | 10/8/2006 |
Q: I started seeing a new dentist and apparently I had a lot of cavities. I had 5 cavities filled with ...
A: Spontaneous sensitivity, tenderness to biting pressure, and thermal hypersensitivity are all ...
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| Question about Cavities and Filings | 10/8/2006 |
Q: I have a question about cavities. I have never gotten a single cavity in my life until my last visit ...
A: Yuen, Tooth decay is a progressive disease, and should be treated in order to restore the affected ...
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| glands swelling | 10/7/2006 |
Q: I have had problems with my teeth for many years. I have absessed teeth from time to time and my ...
A: Lockhart, Although dental infection can cause the regional lymph nodes located under the lower jaw ...
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| My gums in the front hurt sooo bad! =/ | 10/6/2006 |
Q: I've been having this horrible pain in the front lower region of my gums, I looked in the mirror and ...
A: I can't give you a reliable assessment of what is going on here, but what has your dentist said ...
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| Wisdom Teeth | 10/6/2006 |
Q: I have been feeling some sourness and pain in the back of my mouth, i was wondering if my wisdom ...
A: Smithberry, Certainly, wisdom tooth eruption is often accompanied by pain, swelling, sore throat, ...
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| Painful crown after 4 months | 10/4/2006 |
Q: I had a root canal on back molar and a crown put in place in June. The RC took an hour because of ...
A: I cannot comment on the ear popping, since this is a subject that falls outside my field of ...
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| Root Canal vs Tooth Pulled | 10/3/2006 |
Q: Given the options of having a long painful root canal that is very expensive vs having a healthy ...
A: I'm not sure I understand the conditions you have set for your question. Normally, a healthy tooth ...
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| Crown biting surface adjustment | 10/2/2006 |
Q: I had a permanent crown for a lower molar seated today. My dentist, who for the most part is very ...
A: The tolerances for acceptable crown contour unfortunately are more stringent than the accuracy of ...
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| tooth bonding or glueing | 10/2/2006 |
Q: I have two fake teeth that were made and one hollowed out and cemented over a "stub" of a real tooth ...
A: Hunt, Polyurethane cements such as Gorilla Glue are strong irritants and are allergenic, and are ...
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| Amalgam, composite, or crown | 10/1/2006 |
Q: Bornfeld, Just like Joli's question you answered 9/27/06, I too have had terrific pain in tooth ...
A: The first thing that must be done before deciding on treatment is to determine what has caused the ...
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| white streaks on teeth | 10/1/2006 |
Q: very small not so numerous white streaks on my two front teeth..what exactly is the common cause of ...
A: I cannot reliably know the true nature of the white streaks you describe without seeing them. ...
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| what to do with a severe tooth infection and no insurance | 9/30/2006 |
Q: i am 27 and have no insurance, my teeth are very bad, and i currently have a horrific tooth ...
A: mcginty, The majority of dental consumers do not have dental insurance, and still manage to afford ...
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| BABY TEETH CAVITIES | 9/29/2006 |
Q: GOOD MORNING, I HAVE A 6 YEAR OLD SON THAT HAS SEVERAL CAVITIES ON HIS BABY TEETH-ALL ARE IN BETWEEN ...
A: MCADE, Although your son's front teeth may be naturally lost within the next year or two, some of ...
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| white stuff in extraction site | 9/29/2006 |
Q: Im just enquiring, I had a tooth extraction 3 and a half days ago and am so so scared of dry socket. ...
A: Although you are not yet quite out of the woods with regard to dry socket, the white coating is ...
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| Toothache! | 9/29/2006 |
Q: I had a temporary filling put in on monday, was told I needed a root canal and to come back next ...
A: The phenomenon you describe is well documented, and is variably called either "aerodontalgia" or ...
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| giant cavities | 9/28/2006 |
Q: I am a 21 year old male and for the past few months I have been having terrible headaches non stop ...
A: Quite obviously, what you need to do is visit a dentist for a proper diagnosis and treatment. Most ...
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| Lump on roof of my mouth | 9/27/2006 |
Q: I have had a lump on the left side of the roof of my mouth for as long as I can remember. I do not ...
A: Dattilio, There are perhaps hundreds of different pathological and normal entities that present as ...
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| composite filling giving me problems | 9/27/2006 |
Q: Bornfeld, On Aug 24, 2006 I had an 10 year old amalgram filling replaced with a composite because it ...
A: You are correct-- my chances of offering a reliable diagnosis are slim, given that your dentists ...
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| post root canal complications | 9/25/2006 |
Q: mark, I had RC done by an endo about 2 months back and had severe pain for about 12 days,antibiotic ...
A: Some endodontists will recommend a waiting period following completion of root canal therapy. This ...
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| Inlay/Onlay vs. Crown | 9/25/2006 |
Q: Two years ago I switched career paths after being in dentistry for 12 years as an assistant for 10 ...
A: Both crowns and inlays have their virtues and their drawbacks. Inlays are more conservative-- they ...
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| Tooth ache | 9/25/2006 |
Q: A couple of years ago, I have been fitted with a crown on one of the back bottom teeth. I had a bad ...
A: Although pulp ("nerve") tissue does not grow back into a tooth after it has been removed, there are ...
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| loose crown over implant | 9/24/2006 |
Q: In August 2006 I had two adjacent crowns placed over implants on teeth #14 and #15. The crown on ...
A: Haller, No, it is not OK for a crown on an implant to be loose. Just what is going on is difficult ...
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| Dentist put hole in tooth while doing root canel | 9/24/2006 |
Q: first off when I went in to have it done I was a little nervous and was told by the dentist (who ...
A: The laws that govern the practice of dentistry vary from place to place, so I cannot comment ...
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| post root canel fever | 9/23/2006 |
Q: Today is Saturday and I thought I was over the fever, but it's back. I took my temp and it was at ...
A: Although anything is possible, I think it unlikely that your fever would be caused by your root ...
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| Gum/Tooth pain following new Crown | 9/23/2006 |
Q: I recently had my very first crown placed on 9-18-06. I do not remember how to count teeth but it's ...
A: The firm contact between the new crown and the adjacent teeth is intentional-- that is what prevents ...
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| deep cleaning | 9/21/2006 |
Q: I had a bad experience with dentist and try to avoid them but I broke a tooth and needed to see ...
A: Bracy, The terms "cleaning" and "deep cleaning" are vernacular substitutions for more precise ...
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| tooth root resorption | 9/21/2006 |
Q: I began orthodontic treatment approximately 16 months ago. This week, while seeing my dentist for a ...
A: Dowden, You do indeed have significant root resorption. Whether it is sufficiently severe to pose a ...
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| Metal Bracket not bonding to tooth | 9/21/2006 |
Q: I previously had Invisalign and it didnt work correctly so I switched to metal braces. But when they ...
A: I can only speculate what your orthodontist intends to do. I don't think it should be a problem ...
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| novacaine injections | 9/21/2006 |
Q: Recently I was having work done to the lower right side of my jaw and my dentist injected me with ...
A: Davis, The target area for administering local anesthetic for a lower tooth lies close to a vein, ...
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| Dull ache with temporary crown | 9/21/2006 |
Q: Bornfeld, I hope you can help me. A week ago I had a temporary crown put on, over a tooth with a ...
A: Robbins, Quite naturally, I know almost nothing about the condition of your tooth-- whether this ...
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| Jaw Stiffness after filling | 9/20/2006 |
Q: Bornfeld, thank you for this board where we may submit our questions on dental matters. About 3 ...
A: The stiffness in your jaw may be due either to the prolonged opening of your mouth with a mouth prop ...
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| peridontal disease | 9/19/2006 |
Q: Recently my family switched to a new dentist on our PPO plan. We've all had healthy exams in the ...
A: Orth, A lack of symptoms alone is insufficient to rule out the presence of periodontal disease. ...
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| Staining on front tooth after dental cleaning | 9/19/2006 |
Q: I just had a cleaning a couple of weeks ago and noticed that a large stain was developing on my ...
A: Boehler, Although it is plausible that a cleaning with metallic instruments could cause a gray ...
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| Tests | 9/18/2006 |
Q: What tests do endodontists do to determine the need for a root canal? Any special tests for cracks ...
A: For the purposes of my answer, I will slightly rephrase your question to read "What tests do ...
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| pain in both sides of the upper jaw after a sinus and fistula problem | 9/18/2006 |
Q: My name is Radina.I am writing to you because of my mom.For six months she has really bad pains-she ...
A: In these difficult diagnostic cases, it is often helpful to consult with an interdisciplinary pain ...
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| Abcessed tooth resistant to Rx Tx | 9/18/2006 |
Q: I have an ongoing problem with an abcessed tooth. This tooth is on the lower left and has had a ...
A: I'm not sure I understand entirely what is going on here-- you state that the tooth had a recent ...
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| Loose tooth | 9/17/2006 |
Q: I am evie miller. i am 11 years old. i have a first molar loose. and it is driing me ...
A: I really think that it's better if you let the tooth come out by itself. Sometimes those baby teeth ...
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| Unstable Crown | 9/17/2006 |
Q: Three days ago I had a permanent crown installed on tooth number 5. The first attempt was a failure ...
A: Hardenbrook, It is difficult to infer just what is going on from your description alone. However, ...
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| Dental Implants/Abcessed Tooth | 9/16/2006 |
Q: About 20 years ago I lost my 4 top front teeth in a hockey injury (butt end of a stick, actually!) ...
A: Plant, The factors that permit use of endosseous implants must be properly evaluated before this ...
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| extraction | 9/16/2006 |
Q: I had a lower back molar removed and am experiencing sever pain. It has been exactly a week today. ...
A: I don't think any dentist should start doing an extraction that he cannot easily finish (I suspect ...
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| crowns | 9/16/2006 |
Q: 3 parts - (taking teeth numbers from DDS report) I have a maryland bridge on teeth 6,7,8 (many years ...
A: Some dentists have a "style" of doing things-- that is, they render treatment in ways that they have ...
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