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About Jeff Dalin DDS
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
general dentistry questions with topics ranging from cosmetic dentistry to dentistry for children

Experience
Fellowships in American College of Dentists, the Academy of General Dentistry, and the International College of Dentists.
   

You are here:  Experts > Health/Fitness > Dentistry > Dentistry

Questions Answered By Expert  Jeff Dalin DDS 
In Category  Dentistry

SubjectDate Asked

Severe pain11/21/2009
  Q: I started to get a pretty big cavity in my very front tooth, and it started making my smile icky ...
  A: sounds like it could be a root canal. call your dentist and let him/her know about this. he/she can ...
Cracked tooth after filling.11/20/2009
  Q: I recently had tooth #3 fixed as it had a cavity and a small crack in it from a silver filling I had ...
  A: there might have been a crack in there all along and a filling will not help. only a crown will help ...
advice on digital x-rays11/20/2009
  Q: Dalin I have been having symptoms on a tooth for awhile now, and I went to my regular dentist and ...
  A: first off copies of digital xrays should not cost anything. all that is needed is to print them on a ...
Sensitivity after Fillings11/20/2009
  Q: My dentist put fillings in a few of my teeth last week and the sensitivity ranges from slightly ...
  A: sometimes fillings can be sensitive but this should not be too intense and should not last too long. ...
tooth extraction11/20/2009
  Q: hope u can help! I got my lower molar extracted 4 days ago. i am not swelled up or in pain. my ...
  A: you do have to be very careful. you do not want to dislodge the clot. you can irrigate gently. if ...
Delayed eruption of permanent teeth11/20/2009
  Q: My daughter is 7. She lost her two upper front teech about 10 months ago. She still doesn't have her ...
  A: sounds like they are finally coming in. if you are still worried, get her in to dentist for an xray. ...
Root Canal11/20/2009
  Q: I've had a root canal done on my second to last molar on left side of my mouth. Like many other ...
  A: this does not sound good. i have a feeling that the tooth is fractured vertically and probably will ...
gum recession and orthodontics11/19/2009
  Q: I received braces 3 years ago (I was 28 years old at the time) and still have them. I just finished ...
  A: it is hard to prove anything one way or the other. does orthodontics cause recession? nobody can ...
tooth injury11/19/2009
  Q: my 7 yr old daughter fell 2 wks ago and seriously damaged her two front top perm teeth. the tooth on ...
  A: it sounds like he has it under control here. this sounds like a rough injury. most likely root ...
Avoid root canal treatment for children11/19/2009
  Q: My daughter is 5 years old. Two of her teeth needs root canal treatment. Our doctor said, since 6 or ...
  A: if these are on her back teeth (i assume they are...if they are on front teeth, then you do not have ...
Fractured Tooth11/18/2009
  Q: my question surrounds my right back upper tooth (already had wisdom teeth pulled) It started hurting ...
  A: root canal teeth usually cause a lot of pain. one thing to do is have the occlusion or bite checked ...
Bite not correct after new crown11/17/2009
  Q: I recently had a crown placed on a lower molar, second from rear. During the bite adjustment my ...
  A: once you grind away tooth or crown material, it is gone. you cannot add anything to the crown. ...
Rinsing with salt water11/16/2009
  Q: I refer to your answer in the following URL, where you mention salt water rinsing as a partial ...
  A: sometimes the tissue swells around a partially erupting wisdom tooth. it can be quite sore to touch. ...
Wisdom Tooth Extraction11/14/2009
  Q: Last Tuesday (11/10) I had my upper right wisdom tooth removed along with a crown and filling also ...
  A: janet i would call your dentist. it sounds like there might be an opening into your sinus from the ...
bleeding from gums11/14/2009
  Q: sir, my gums are very much bleeding at the upper side of jaw from the sharp teeths. this problem is ...
  A: i cannot give you any definitive answers without seeing things in person. but it is not normal to ...
balance11/13/2009
  Q: Been having a Prosthodontist try and balance my bite with 7 crowns. He is having a rough time and ...
  A: ask him point blank if he is recommending a different dentist. one option i would think is to put ...
floss stuck under onlay bridge11/13/2009
  Q: I have a gold onlay bridge from #18 -20, the pontic is #19. While flossing on this quadrant of the ...
  A: sometimes floss shreads and pieces of it get stuck. usually you can thread a new piece in there and ...
balance11/13/2009
  Q: Been having a Prosthodontist try and balance my bite with 7 crowns. He is having a rough time and ...
  A: sue tough call here. i believe in good, open communication with my patients. i would recommend ...
teeth numbness11/13/2009
  Q: I fractured my right cheek bone in a couple places from a softball (not so soft) 6 weeks ago and my ...
  A: john have you seen an oral surgeon? i might consider visiting one and having an xray taken to make ...
extraction11/11/2009
  Q: hi i have had a extraction today and i have notice a hollow hole going all the way up to my nose and ...
  A: michelle call your dentist ASAP. i wonder if taking the tooth out created an opening into your ...
crowns and bite11/11/2009
  Q: When crowns are adjusted to accommodate for one's bite, does the dentist remove much? Is this ever ...
  A: if you do very minor adjustments, it does not hurt things. but the dentist has to have a good idea ...
follow-up questions11/9/2009
  Q: Shouldn't my general dentist have known what you have told me? And shouldn't he have informed me ...
  A: some dentists have better eyes for this sort of thing than others. plus you did not really notice #8 ...
crowns/bridge11/8/2009
  Q: I am in treatment for a crown replacement and a bridge. I am very upset because it has been very ...
  A: it is not a problem asking for a new temp if the first one looks bad and/or is cracked. this is very ...
crowns/bridge11/8/2009
  Q: I am in treatment for a crown replacement and a bridge. I am very upset because it has been very ...
  A: i can understand your frustration. this is taking a long time. has your dentist ever sent you to the ...
Trying to improve results11/8/2009
  Q: I had implants in #8 and #9 about a year ago. #8 was knocked out about 35 years ago, and #9 was ...
  A: paul from what i can see, the contour on #7 looks okay. what i see is the concavity on #8. but that ...
possible tooth infection?11/8/2009
  Q: I received 2 fillings about 4 months ago. Since then I have had pain in my upper jaw that only goes ...
  A: jaclyn call your dentist ASAP. if the filling is loose and has been loose, you can easily get decay ...
ephinephrine11/6/2009
  Q: Is is normal for a dentist to use epinephrine as an anesthesia when performing a root canal? How ...
  A: epinephrine is not an anesthetic. epinephrine is added to the anesthetic to make it last longer. it ...
cavities11/5/2009
  Q: I'm an eighteen year-old female and I'm extremely anxious about the state of my teeth. I think I ...
  A: gwyn first off, let me apologize about the delay in getting back to you. i did not get this question ...
childs dental problem10/5/2009
  Q: what is the reason that my 5years &8 months daughter's 5 milk teeth have already fallen & 1 tooth is ...
  A: sometimes kids start losing their primary or baby or milk teeth by age 5. they may be done losing ...
Dental pain that resolved10/5/2009
  Q: I had a pain that started in one tooth, the one right next to my front tooth. It started 3 days ago ...
  A: niki this sounds like you have a tooth that is beginning to abscess. you need to get into your ...
My sons teeth aren't coming in9/8/2009
  Q: My son is 6 will be 7 in 3 months, he lost 6 baby teeth approximately 6 months ago and only 2 ...
  A: sometimes it takes 6-9 months go get some in. the best way to really know what is going on is to go ...
Continuous pain after root canal9/7/2009
  Q: I had a straightforward root canal 12 days ago on tooth 24 (lower front L incisor) after it showed ...
  A: normally you do not have these issues. once root canals are done, things are usually back to normal. ...
question about porceline crown9/7/2009
  Q: I just had a few porceline crowns done and they almost feel "ridgy" on the inside, almost like there ...
  A: calling your dentist is the best idea. have him/her take a look and put your mind at ease. and if ...
treatment9/7/2009
  Q: I am a dentist and unfotuntly i have a problem about my tooth.i have done RCT and post and core to ...
  A: i unfortunately agree with what you have already been told. if the endo looks perfect and you do not ...
Crown9/7/2009
  Q: Is it possible to have a porcelain crown installed above the gum line to avoid any possible allergic ...
  A: you can always ask for an all ceramic or zirconium/porcelain crown. there is no metal used here at ...
question about porceline crown9/6/2009
  Q: I just had a few porceline crowns done and they almost feel "ridgy" on the inside, almost like there ...
  A: alisha i cannot really answer this without seeing things in person. i assume these are front teeth. ...
dental procedures9/5/2009
  Q: The dentist drilled on my tooth for three hours several weeks ago. He filled a small cavity in the ...
  A: connie here goes...first amalgam 1S means one surface silver filling....resin 2S means 2 surface ...
large holes after wisdom teeth removal and rotten taste in mouth9/5/2009
  Q: My daughter got all 4 of her wisdom teeth out 1 wk. ago; she has large holes and food keeps getting ...
  A: you have to be very careful when irrigating these extraction sockets. you do not want to dislodge ...
Milk teeth not falling out8/15/2009
  Q: My son is 6.5 years old. I just noticed that his two central bottom permanent teeth have erupted ...
  A: if they are not loose, then you might have to see the dentist to have the baby teeth removed. this ...
Can I do it myself?7/29/2009
  Q: If I don't have a dentist how can I repair my tooth that is turning black. Please I really need help ...
  A: you have a history of trauma to this tooth. what you are seeing here is an internal bruise. if this ...
Broken Temp Crown7/29/2009
  Q: I had a temporary crown fall out and break while eating lunch today. I called the dentist and they ...
  A: katy i do not like leaving things open for any length of time. i like things covered. they are using ...
broken tooth7/29/2009
  Q: I broke my tooth on a piece of popcorn. My dentist had told me for several years there was a ...
  A: you cannot prove that the preparation hurt the nerve. after all, you had a crack in the tooth for a ...
Toothache7/29/2009
  Q: Dalin – First I’d like to give you a little bit of my history with this tooth. Back in Summer of ...
  A: uli i would go back to the oral surgeon and have your sinus rechecked...just play it safe and make ...
broken crown7/29/2009
  Q: January 2007 I had root canal done on my lower right 6 year molar and had a crown put in which has ...
  A: mary this unfortunately does happen. hopefully not often...but does still take place. sometimes you ...
front tooth crown7/29/2009
  Q: one of my teeth beside my main front teeth broke in half so I'm having it crowned, but i need to ...
  A: it should be an exact match. before you have the permanent crown cemented, ask for a mirror to check ...
painful tooth7/29/2009
  Q: Dalin, Okay, I had a root canal on this tooth a couple years ago. I thought there were issues with ...
  A: i am not sure what medication you have heard about. i assume this is a base that can be placed over ...
Brushing after breakfast7/29/2009
  Q: I was wondering whether you can clear up a well known theory on whether people should brush their ...
  A: this is an easy one. you always need to brush AFTER eating. the purpose of brushing is to get food, ...
painful tooth7/28/2009
  Q: Dalin, Okay, I had a root canal on this tooth a couple years ago. I thought there were issues with ...
  A: lots of good questions here. lets start with root canal tooth. these can have a sensation when they ...
gum over new tooth 6 year old7/28/2009
  Q: My nephew is six and his front tooth fell out. When it grew back, it grew down but never broke ...
  A: have him go into the dentist. maybe it is just taking a little longer to poke through. there are ...
2 broken teeth7/27/2009
  Q: My husband has two broken teeth one on either side of his mouth. He gets food stuck in them at ...
  A: jennifer you need to get into the dentist to have these teeth examined. you need to find out if ...
Sinus cavity7/26/2009
  Q: I had a tooth pulled six days ago and the doc said there was a chance the root of the tooth was in ...
  A: have the dentist take an xray of the area. it will be quite apparent if the root is up there or not. ...
black between gum and tooth7/25/2009
  Q: On a couple of my teeth, there is a black area between my gums and the tooth. I brush twice a day ...
  A: this can be a number of things. i would need to see the area in person to give you a definitive ...
Custom Abutments7/25/2009
  Q: Dalin, I am getting an implant bridge that will be screwed in. Is it possible for the Custom ...
  A: the abutments get attached to the fixtures (what is screwed into the bone). the bridge is made to ...
Please help!!7/24/2009
  Q: I went online to find a similar case and completely relate to this person's symptoms, except their ...
  A: sylvia this is something that needs to be diagnosed by your dentist in-office. i cannot do this over ...
Bridge Guard and excess saliva7/24/2009
  Q: Since receiving a new bridge and bridge guard I have excess saliva difficult to retain -- drooling. ...
  A: very often people salivate more with an appliance...especially when they first get it. see if things ...
pain during drilling7/23/2009
  Q: I had a cavity that needed to be filled the other day. The dentist gave me a shot to numb the area ...
  A: this is not unusual. sometimes when you numb a tooth, it becomes around 90% numb. sometimes extra ...
Blood packet7/23/2009
  Q: A few days ago I got my teeth cleaned by a local dentist. Today I noticed I felt something on my ...
  A: definitely looks like a blood blister. need to go in and have your dentist look at it and decide ...
crossbite appliance7/23/2009
  Q: My daughter had a crossbite appliance when she was 6 years old. In first grade. The pediatric ...
  A: i have to say that these things rarely relapse. most of the time once you move the teeth, the ...
clenching or grinding7/22/2009
  Q: Dalin, When a person clenches their tooth, does it possess the same symptoms as a tooth that ...
  A: decay usually will show up on the xray. rarely it can be hidden by the filling...but this is rare. ...
Custom Abutments7/22/2009
  Q: Dalin, I am getting an implant bridge that will be screwed in. Is it possible for the Custom ...
  A: excellent question anita. an implant consists of a fixture which is screwed into the bone and an ...
clenching or grinding7/22/2009
  Q: Dalin, When a person clenches their tooth, does it possess the same symptoms as a tooth that ...
  A: jennifer the answer to your question is yes...it is possible. if you are really clenching and ...
Blood packet7/22/2009
  Q: A few days ago I got my teeth cleaned by a local dentist. Today I noticed I felt something on my ...
  A: juan i would hate to try to diagnose this without seeing it in person. it could be a retained blood ...
penicillin and bcontrol pills7/22/2009
  Q: "I am taking birth control pills but will have extraction in a week. During my consultation, they ...
  A: there are studies to show that taking antibiotics can have an effect on birth control pills. you ...
Chipped Filled-In Tooth7/22/2009
  Q: I'm a 16 adolescent. I had poor dental hygiene as a early teen. I still only brush my teeth 1-2 ...
  A: you do not have to wait for the ortho appointment. the orthodontist will not fix the tooth...your ...
Chipped Filled-In Tooth7/22/2009
  Q: I'm a 16 adolescent. I had poor dental hygiene as a early teen. I still only brush my teeth 1-2 ...
  A: you need to call your dentist and get in there for an evaluation. if a lot is broken and there is a ...
Orthodontic teeth removal7/21/2009
  Q: Dalin, I finally got my teeth removed, not as bad as I thought. But there's one thing I am curious ...
  A: absolutely this happens. there are two kinds of sutures...one is nylon and the other is something ...
sensitive teeth7/21/2009
  Q: Dalin, I think I may have a cavity on this tooth with symptoms, where when selective foods and ...
  A: one option is to replace some of your old fillings and see if that helps. your dentist can isolate ...
gum numbness7/20/2009
  Q: I am experiencing numbness in my top teeth...this causes pain in my cheek and gives me a headache. ...
  A: karen there are no simple answers for this one. you need to call your dentist and get in there for ...
sensitive teeth7/20/2009
  Q: Dalin, I think I may have a cavity on this tooth with symptoms, where when selective foods and ...
  A: if it is not bad (the recession and i would bet you do not have much or you would have been told ...
sensitive teeth7/20/2009
  Q: Dalin, I think I may have a cavity on this tooth with symptoms, where when selective foods and ...
  A: carolyn your dentist took an xray and checked things clinically and found nothing. another few ...
billing question7/20/2009
  Q: Is it common practice to bill D0104/limited eval and D2392/composit,PST-2 or D0104/limited eval and ...
  A: chuck you will have to ask your dentist why this was done. normally that code is used for emergency ...
Permanent Crown Spacing7/20/2009
  Q: I recently received permanent crowns for teeth #7-10. Before they were cemented, they were put in to ...
  A: you will need to call your dentist and go in and discuss all of this with him/her. i am not sure ...
x-rays, x-rays, x-rays7/20/2009
  Q: Well let me get straight to my question, so here I go.... You know how when decay becomes a ...
  A: there are no hard, set rules here. some people with minimal decay will be very sensitive and some ...
x-rays, x-rays, x-rays7/19/2009
  Q: Well let me get straight to my question, so here I go.... You know how when decay becomes a ...
  A: large silver fillings can block out things. it does not matter if you are taking images digitally or ...
foods and liquids7/19/2009
  Q: Dr. Dalin, I have went to the dentist just yesterday to do an exam on my teeth and such. I got ...
  A: since you just had a checkup with xrays and everything looks fine, maybe this is a gum recession ...
large silver fillings7/19/2009
  Q: Dalin, I'm wondering, when there are large silver fillings on teeth, is it normal sometimes for ...
  A: next i would look into receding gums leaving root surfaces exposed. this can cause temp and sweet ...
White spots7/19/2009
  Q: I do a lot of mouth breathing because my nose is very stuffed up, I have 2 white spots on the bottom ...
  A: alicia this very well might be dehydration due to the excessive mouth breathing. you might have some ...
Front teeth not growing in.7/19/2009
  Q: My daughter is almost 7. She lost her 2 upper front teeth about months ago but the adult teeth have ...
  A: Meghan I have seen permanent teeth take 6-9 months to come in after baby teeth lost. So do not ...
crowning for cavities7/19/2009
  Q: I have a lot of large cavities at my back teeth when I was younger. It is embarrassing when people ...
  A: if these fillings are really large, then porcelain fused to gold or all porcelain crowns might be ...
large silver fillings7/19/2009
  Q: Dalin, I'm wondering, when there are large silver fillings on teeth, is it normal sometimes for ...
  A: silver fillings, particularly when they are first placed, transmit temperatures and can be cold ...
CAVITIES7/19/2009
  Q: Dalin, Okay here goes my story and I will keep it brief as possible. I had a root canal done a ...
  A: there are many times where a tooth is symptomatic and we can not find anything on an xray or ...
CAVITIES7/18/2009
  Q: Dalin, Okay here goes my story and I will keep it brief as possible. I had a root canal done a ...
  A: nicole i do kind of agree with dentist who told you that once a tooth has a root canal, it should ...
tongue irritation lateral left lower side7/17/2009
  Q: dalin. after 3 biopsies over 3 years, i have the diagnosis of oral lichen planus/leucoplasia. the ...
  A: this should be fairly simple. when we get a crown or bridge done at a dental lab, they can send us ...
ABBREVIATIONS AND SUCH7/16/2009
  Q: Dalin, I have a question in regards to these abbreviations I received on my treatment plan ...
  A: no...does not tell you if this is a first time filling, decay under old MOD restoration, tooth with ...
ABBREVIATIONS AND SUCH7/16/2009
  Q: Dalin, I have a question in regards to these abbreviations I received on my treatment plan ...
  A: MOD means decay in between the teeth on both sides and you connect the two together across the ...
ABBREVIATIONS AND SUCH7/16/2009
  Q: Dalin, I have a question in regards to these abbreviations I received on my treatment plan ...
  A: these are surfaces of the teeth M = mesial (in between the teeth surface toward the midline) O = ...
hello!7/15/2009
  Q: Dalin, I know this is a bit long, but necessary in order to complete the information I want to ...
  A: i cannot believe they will charge for this...this takes no time or labor or expense...oh well. in ...
Chipped Tooth7/15/2009
  Q: , I just had a root canal completed July 9, 2009. The tooth was filled and everything, but I have ...
  A: from the picture, it does not look that bad at all. the crown preparation should take care of the ...
Orthodontic teeth removal7/15/2009
  Q: I am going to remove my 4 second bicuspids for orthodontic procedure. The dentist plans to extract ...
  A: bone replacement is the same as bone grafting. this is done to preserve bone. i am not sure about ...
Orthodontic teeth removal7/15/2009
  Q: I am going to remove my 4 second bicuspids for orthodontic procedure. The dentist plans to extract ...
  A: i always tell my patients that it is easier to just do them all at one time...that way you only have ...
Teeth Whitening7/15/2009
  Q: Could you explain the different types of teeth whitening procedures that dental professionals ...
  A: here is exactly what i tell my patients: you have 4 choices to whiten your teeth. #1 is over the ...
hello!7/15/2009
  Q: Dalin, I know this is a bit long, but necessary in order to complete the information I want to ...
  A: kary i do not think you are having any nerve issues here. if there is a nerve problem, you would see ...
Crown7/15/2009
  Q: I broke off a portion of a back molar while eating popcorn. The dentist is recommending a crown. I ...
  A: bette you have only two choices: filling or crown. the decision to go crown is based on how much ...
pits6/18/2009
  Q: I was wondering, sometimes do teeth have itty bitty little gray dots on the tooth, like tiny gray ...
  A: often we see dark spots in grooves of teeth. if they are not soft to the touch and nothing shows on ...
swelling/inflammation6/4/2009
  Q: Dalin, I was wondering if you can help me with a root canal procedure I just had. I was referred ...
  A: There is a chance there is an extra canal in there. I would let the specialist take a look at things ...
upper right side new bridge6/4/2009
  Q: In September of last year I had my upper bridge extended for a cost of $4000 or so. I needed a ...
  A: Carol Time is not your friend right now. You can try to have the bite adjusted further. There are ...
6yr child root canal6/4/2009
  Q: My child had a pulpectomy on the upper left side molar. The dentist wants to put a stainless steel ...
  A: Gail There are no absolutes here. This is strictly an odds game. If I say it is okay to leave it as ...
dental crowns-choices and confusion6/4/2009
  Q: i visited a Dentist for a check up yesterday, and was explained that i will need two crowns for ...
  A: Sami If you have gum issues, deep cleaning is a treatment for that. If there is no bone loss, etc, ...
black spots on teeth srufaces6/4/2009
  Q: I've noticed very recently what look like pinpoint black spots on the chewing surfaces of my lower ...
  A: Michael They can be a few things: 1) stain in the grooves...can be from coffee, tea, etc 2) ...
odd6/4/2009
  Q: Dr. Dalin: I've been noticing this dot on the back of my tooth after a root canal treatment. I do ...
  A: Cornella This is a strange one. The root canal filling inside of the tooth is a pink color. But it ...
clicking / cracking sound when chewing?6/3/2009
  Q: My 94 year old mother has all of her teetyh but one. The past few weeks she's complained of a ...
  A: Sounds like something in her temporomandibular joint...the joint in front of your ears that is how ...
dental crowns-choices and confusion6/3/2009
  Q: i visited a Dentist for a check up yesterday, and was explained that i will need two crowns for ...
  A: Let's see if I can help here. I do like the high noble or precious metals in crowns. Many people ...
bad teeth6/3/2009
  Q: I am a 24 year old woman and I have bad teeth. My two front teeth are gapped and ont is crooked ...
  A: Meg Sounds like you have to get going and have your teeth treated. The longer wait, the worse they ...
Payments6/3/2009
  Q: I have a question in regards to payment. I went to a general dentist office, and they helped me do a ...
  A: i would think a partial if not a full refund is indicated. now every office does things differently. ...
crown5/3/2009
  Q: I have a crown that has come loose on one of my front teeth. Since I do not have much natural tooth ...
  A: there really is not much you can do. i hope the tooth did not break off inside of the crown. i would ...
rc5/3/2009
  Q: I wanted to ask you a few general questions. After a RC, can a tooth still feel hot, cold, sweet ...
  A: adele a tooth with a root canal can have symptoms but not temperatures. if you are feeling that, you ...
silver fillings5/3/2009
  Q: I wanted to know, when there is a large silver filling on a big molar, is it common to see a line or ...
  A: june you can see lines in fillings. sometimes you are seeing grooves carved into them. sometimes you ...
infection after wisdom teeth removal4/13/2009
  Q: My 17 year-old son had his 4 wisdom teeth removed in November 2008 by an oral surgeon recommended by ...
  A: sometimes it takes time for bone to fill in when wisdom teeth are removed, especially if they were ...
decalcification4/13/2009
  Q: My wife went to the dentist to have a cleaning. She has had large white spots on her teeth since I ...
  A: eric we see these hypocalcified areas often after braces. if the patient does not object to them, ...
problems with fillings4/13/2009
  Q: I have a question about my wife's teeth. As a young girl she had poor dental hygiene, as a result ...
  A: fillings do not cause teeth to rot. rotting teeth are decayed teeth. decay is caused by bacteria ...
my root canal4/13/2009
  Q: "Hi Doctor. I have a couple of concerns and questions that I want to address that I need your ...
  A: i will try to answer these one by one 1) xrays do not always show everything. they are good but ...
orthodontics4/13/2009
  Q: I'm in orthodontics. My bottom front teeth seem to be slanted. One side is higher then the other. I ...
  A: this is tough for me to evaluate online. needs to be seen in person. it is good that you are ...
over retained deciduous teeth in a female patient aged 15 years..4/12/2009
  Q: . i am a student of dentistry.. just completed my final theory exams.. i have a female patient aged ...
  A: sometimes genetics is an issue. sometimes the baby teeth do not get resorbed so the permanent teeth ...
8 montb old's abnormal tooth4/11/2009
  Q: I have an eight month old. He has been chewing and chewing trying to get in his teeth. He has four ...
  A: sometimes the tissue swells and bruises as the tooth tried to come in. i cannot tell you exactly ...
Toddler tooth extraction4/11/2009
  Q: My son injured his front tooth (upper left incisor) while playing. It was displaced slightly and ...
  A: i would get a second opinion. i have seen this happen many times over the years...fall on tooth, ...
Bridge rubbing cheek4/10/2009
  Q: ANSWER: hi chrissie the lump could be from rubbing against the bridge. if it irritates the ...
  A: chrissie, there is not much to rub on these things. you can use the numbing gels but they tend to ...
Mini dental implants4/9/2009
  Q: I have recently lost my upper central incisor. Is mini dental implantation an option for me? I ...
  A: MDI's are more for denture stabilization not for single tooth impants. for a central incisor, i ...
Cracked crown and failed root canal4/9/2009
  Q: The saga of my tooth started with a cavity that was filled. About 2 years after the filling was ...
  A: i think you need to get a second opinion from a root canal specialist or endodontist before redoing ...
mass above teeth4/9/2009
  Q: Let me apologize first. I apologize for the lack of brevity to follow, I apologize for what has been ...
  A: this sounds very complex to me. you need to start with an experienced dentist. you will need to get ...
Bridge rubbing cheek4/9/2009
  Q: Hi I have had a 5 piece bridge fitted here in Spain and for the last year my dentist has tried to ...
  A: the lump could be from rubbing against the bridge. if it irritates the lip/cheek, you get something ...
bone loss4/9/2009
  Q: Is it true that bone can regenerate itself? How long would it take? Are there supplements that can ...
  A: alicia i hate to say it but it is tough to get bone to regenerate around teeth...and i assume you ...
Teeth Pain4/8/2009
  Q: I woke up one morning and the teeth on the right side hurt when I chew food. This has been going on ...
  A: greg here are some possibilities: 1) you grind your teeth and do so very excessively...can make ...
BONE SPLINTS COMING THRough GUM4/8/2009
  Q: I had a tooth execration about a month ago ,,now I have bone coming through my gum,,,,Can I pull the ...
  A: mike be careful here. i would let your dentist do this. better to let him/her take a look here to ...
dentures4/8/2009
  Q: i had 16 teeth removed and a temporary set of denture and a bottom partial made. it has been i ...
  A: you need to call your denist ASAP and get in there for an evaluation and adjustment. we often have ...
9 month old fell and hit mouth on coffee table4/7/2009
  Q: When my daughter was 9 months old she fell and hit her mouth on the coffee table splitting her gum. ...
  A: amanda permanent teeth start developing up in the gums at birth. whatever damage has been done can ...
3 year old & fixed tongue loop4/7/2009
  Q: My 3 year old uses a pacifier only at night and we just visited a dentist who identified him as ...
  A: these open bites can be really severe. my now 21 year old had a terrible one with her pacifier and ...
My 2yr old has two loose teeth from a fall4/7/2009
  Q: My 2 year old daughter fell and knocked her two front teeth loose. Her dentist told us they could ...
  A: she has to drink so sippy cup should be fine. just don't let her chew on it for long periods of ...
My 2yr old has two loose teeth from a fall4/7/2009
  Q: My 2 year old daughter fell and knocked her two front teeth loose. Her dentist told us they could ...
  A: bridgette unfortunately there is nothing you can do other than wait things out. does your daughter ...
facial numbness post crown prep4/7/2009
  Q: 4 days ago I had my last rear molar on the left side prepped for a crown. I was given novacane first ...
  A: it sounds like your nerve has reacted to the shot and is still numb. this does happen in rare ...
3 year old & fixed tongue loop4/6/2009
  Q: My 3 year old uses a pacifier only at night and we just visited a dentist who identified him as ...
  A: julie the anterior open bite can be caused by both the pacifier and the tongue thrust. is this ...
CAD/CAM crown4/5/2009
  Q: I had read one should not mix metals in the mouth. I have about 9 amalgams and need a crown on #18. ...
  A: gail whenever you start seeing studies like this, you can never rely on any single study. there are ...
Childhood tooth decay- What Corrective action can be taken?4/4/2009
  Q: My Son who is 2 years has been diagnosed by dentist here in India with early childhood tooth decay. ...
  A: these are all excellent questions. let me answer them one by one... 1) sealants work only in the ...
CAD/CAM crown4/3/2009
  Q: I had read one should not mix metals in the mouth. I have about 9 amalgams and need a crown on #18. ...
  A: gail these are excellent questions. porcelains are not metallic in the sense you are thinking. do ...
adding a tooth to a partial denture4/3/2009
  Q: I have a partial upper denture which is attached to two natural teeth - one on each side. One of my ...
  A: christine this is good that you have choices. i am big on saving teeth at any time. you never know ...
wisdom tooth4/3/2009
  Q: 3 out of 4 of my wisdom teeth have alread come in with no problems. however, the fourth one is ...
  A: sarah one possibility is pericorinitis which is when the tissue gets infected around the erupting ...
8 yr old with yellow teeth3/7/2009
  Q: My eight year old daughter's teeth are very yellow. She flosses, uses a rinse that points out ...
  A: at eight, i would hold off on bleaching for now. her teeth are erupting and you will bleach only ...
filling3/7/2009
  Q: I had a tooth ache which was filled. It was decay inbetween two of my teeth. How long is it suppose ...
  A: resins can be a little tender for a little while but should fade away. if sensitivity continues for ...
filling3/6/2009
  Q: I had a tooth ache which was filled. It was decay inbetween two of my teeth. How long is it suppose ...
  A: brian sometimes a tooth stays sore for a bit after it is filled. make sure your bite is right...not ...
Damaged tooth3/6/2009
  Q: I want to get braces to straighten my teeth, but I have a damaged front tooth (I fell) that is a ...
  A: the orthodontist will make the call here. some do not like moving teeth with nerve issues. some do ...
tooth enamel erosion and celiac disease3/6/2009
  Q: For the last 15 years, I have worked with 3 different dentists to get to the point of building up my ...
  A: i have not read of any direct correlation between celiac disease and tooth issues. the erosion issue ...
tooth roots3/5/2009
  Q: if a tooth breaks off do the roots die?
  A: joy it depends how much breaks. if it is fairly superficial then usually not. if it down to gumline ...
Oral cancer3/5/2009
  Q: I went to the dentist 2 weeks ago and he told me the roof of my mouth was severely bruised. He ...
  A: there is no way for me to give you an answer here without seeing things in person. i will tell you ...
temp filing3/5/2009
  Q: had a tooth pulled the dr knocked out a filling the next day i had to have a temp pit it. i have 2 ...
  A: tell him that the tramadol is having no effect. do not ask for anything by name. ask him what he ...
Crown on front tooth3/5/2009
  Q: I have always had out of place teeth - the two front ones are a little in front of the rest of my ...
  A: sometimes it is impossible to totally match things up identically. nature does not always do this. ...
mouth pain3/5/2009
  Q: i have been having very bad pain , the dentist told me it was stress, i had to go to the a/e last ...
  A: i would let an endodontist or root canal specialist take a look at things. he/she will tell you if ...
lip swelling after filling3/4/2009
  Q: I recently had a cavity filled (lower R 1st or second molar) here in Honduras by a trusted Dentist, ...
  A: brian even with the "cut" i still cannot figure out why it is still getting swollen 4 weeks later. ...
lip swelling after filling3/4/2009
  Q: I recently had a cavity filled (lower R 1st or second molar) here in Honduras by a trusted Dentist, ...
  A: generally any swelling you have post novacaine is due to a reaction to it right away. it will take ...
bad tooth pain3/4/2009
  Q: I was diagnosed with TMJ about 6 years ago. I have two teeth that have gone bad on my left side. ...
  A: ashley you have to get into your dentist. an xray needs to be taken to make sure you do not have an ...
tooth decay and gastric by-pass3/4/2009
  Q: After gastric-bypass my dentist noticed cavities new one in all my teeth in the difference of a ...
  A: i have not ever read about any correlations between gastric bypass and tooth issues. here are some ...
Getting a Crown/Crown Lengthening3/4/2009
  Q: Im in the process of getting 3-3/4 crowns on my back molers.I went in today to have the impression ...
  A: i am not exactly sure what was done to you. normally crown lengthening means removing gum and bone ...
broken metal bridge3/4/2009
  Q: i have a porcelin fused to metal full upper bridge attached by 7 implants the bridge broke with 12 ...
  A: this one is simple...find a new dentist. you should not be trying to reattach things on your own. ...
Implant failure3/4/2009
  Q: I had a dental plant done on my front tooth about 2 years ago. Recently, I've noticed that my teeth ...
  A: symptoms of implant failure are mobility of the implant for the most part and sometimes swelling. if ...
debris in implant3/4/2009
  Q: Dalin, In a process of placing a crown on implant (Zimmer, screw-went), during numerous removal of ...
  A: this one sounds unique. i am not sure what is going on here. if there is something loose in there, ...
Tooth sensitivity3/3/2009
  Q: I had Zoom whitening done about 12 months ago. My teeth were not sensitive at all before the ...
  A: this is rare but i have heard this before. do you have bleach trays? if so, load the sensodyne right ...
toothache3/3/2009
  Q: my boyfriend has really bad toothache, he had one tooth taken out this afternoon , what can i do ?
  A: call your dentist...it sounds like he did not have all of his problems taken care of. you can use ...
SCIENCE PROJECT3/3/2009
  Q: i am doing a science fair project and i need to interview someone and so i have 15 question. 1. ...
  A: 1) tooth enamel is tooth enamel. the strength is the same at every age. it only gets weak when it ...
Implant failure3/3/2009
  Q: I had a dental plant done on my front tooth about 2 years ago. Recently, I've noticed that my teeth ...
  A: teeth are dynamic. what i mean here is that they do shift and change over time. but this is ...
A tooth broken off above gum line but still in the gum3/3/2009
  Q: Frist I am deathly afraid of doctors and needles. Ill-logical as it is I am. A long time , years,I ...
  A: i know this is scary but do not worry. modern dentistry can be done in a simple and pain-free ...
Frenulectomy1/26/2009
  Q: I am 70 y.o. male. What should I expect to pay for this procedure?
  A: jerry my first question to you is why you need this at age 70. it is mostly done when you are a lot ...
Root Canal Treatment1/26/2009
  Q: I have been diagnosed root canal surgery in my 19 molar tooth. I live in Tempe, AZ. I am a ...
  A: i am located in st louis so i have no way to get you the name of anyone out there. i would recommend ...
cavity1/2/2009
  Q: in have got cavity on my teeth.the lower part of my teeth is completely yellowish what should i ...
  A: if you have a cavity then you have to go to your dentist and get it restored. you really do not have ...
Periodentitis12/4/2008
  Q: I am 31 and have had Periodentitis for the last 2-3 years, My dentist is very nasty about this and ...
  A: jane if you take out your teeth, your would no longer have gum problems...the problem you are having ...
Tooth growing after a root canal?12/3/2008
  Q: Both crowns are under 5 yrs old and the lower one is one year older than the upper one. While the ...
  A: this is a strange one. but here are a couple of possibilities...1) if the tooth is abscessing, it ...
reaction to novocaine12/3/2008
  Q: Today I had a filling put into the right bottom second to last molar. Immediately following the ...
  A: here is one possibility...most anesthetics have epinephrine in it. this makes it last longer. if you ...
toddler use of a pacifier12/3/2008
  Q: Dalin, My daughter is just over two and uses a Nuk pacifier(size 0-6 months) only at night. It ...
  A: my rule of thumb in my practice is that it is okay to use until age 3-4. i do not like it after age ...
Sensitive tooth12/3/2008
  Q: I noticed I have a small gap or chip at the top of one of my teeth, just below the gums. I saw a ...
  A: this is common. it sounds like you have a little erosion area up at the gumline. this is very minor. ...
Sugar & whiteners12/3/2008
  Q: Are artificial sweeteners better for your teeth than actual sugar? Im wondering because most of them ...
  A: you are young but there might not be that much recession taking place. that is why i recommend ...
Sugar & whiteners12/3/2008
  Q: Are artificial sweeteners better for your teeth than actual sugar? Im wondering because most of them ...
  A: patrick interesting questions here... artificial sugars - these are not metabolized by plaque to ...
Crown on a live tooth?12/3/2008
  Q: , I'm scheduled to have a crown on a tooth w/a large filing but cracked (this tooth is not ...
  A: do not worry. the rule is every tooth with a root canal has to have a crown...not visa versa. i ...
crown12/2/2008
  Q: I recently had a permanent crown temporarily placed over a root canal. The root has been removed ...
  A: ray this is something you need to discuss with your dentist. it is strictly an esthetic decision. ...
dental law12/2/2008
  Q: What does the law state about requirements for dental xrays and can they bere fused by signing a ...
  A: john there is nothing in the dental law regarding xrays. this is something the dentist and patient ...
hole in gum area12/2/2008
  Q: A week ago I went to the dentist for a cleaning, It went ok with some pain due to lack of flossing. ...
  A: rosanne that is a muscle attachment that connects your upper lip to your gum area. it is called a ...
My 5 yr old sons milk tooth12/1/2008
  Q: today my 5yr old son lost his first tooth which came as a bit of a suprise as he hadn't had any ...
  A: it sounds a little strange to me. normally the baby tooth gets loose as the root is resorbed away by ...
super glue (Cyanoacrylate) used on a crown12/1/2008
  Q: I had a temporary crown fall out while on vacation and the Dentist did not have an emergency number ...
  A: you will have to go with what the second dentist told you. i cannot give you any definitive reasons ...
first cavity12/1/2008
  Q: I'm 14 and have my first cavity. Is that something to worry about (like is it unusual for people to ...
  A: do not worry, Ed. you can get your first cavity at any age. unless you are seeing a bunch of ...
Gray tooth12/1/2008
  Q: Jeff Dalin, a young friend of mines (11 years old) right canine tooth is turning gray ...
  A: i wonder if the tooth turning color is merely due to the fact that it is getting closer to be lost. ...
2 Front Teeth - Enamel Severly Damaged?11/4/2008
  Q: My lower teeth, the two right in the front. They are a dark yellow or a very light brown but only on ...
  A: it could be some sort of hardened stain. maybe it is even some sort of stain that can be polished ...
child cavity11/3/2008
  Q: My child is 6. She has a molar that looks to me like it has a cavity in it but, her dentist says it ...
  A: if they keep saying no, then it would be surprising to get something that large that it needs ...
2 Front Teeth - Enamel Severly Damaged?11/3/2008
  Q: My lower teeth, the two right in the front. They are a dark yellow or a very light brown but only on ...
  A: is there a filling on that tooth already? maybe it is just aging and starting to discolor. if not, ...
Tooth Enamel11/2/2008
  Q: Is there any way to regain tooth enamel lost through acid erosion? Thank you.
  A: i am sorry to say no...once the enamel is gone, it is gone. if the erosion becomes significant, the ...
Numbness after wisdom teeth removal11/2/2008
  Q: I am not sure if you can answer my question but it is worth a try. About 7 or 8 months ago I got my ...
  A: it is not uncommon for this to take place. the nerves often run near the wisdom teeth and numbness ...
Deep Gum Treatment11/2/2008
  Q: I have the first of 2 deep gum treatments on 11/4 and my dentist has given me 2 (TWO!) anti-biotics ...
  A: every dentist does this a little differently. some use antibiotics, some do not. i often do use ...
soft receding gumline with moving teeth11/1/2008
  Q: I am 21 yrs old, and I have good dental higene. I brush with a soft bristle brush...after learning ...
  A: you really need to get into your dentist right away for a good, thorough cleaning and gum evaluation ...
Question10/31/2008
  Q: My 28 months old daughter chipped her from tooth over the weekend. We talked to pediatric dentist. ...
  A: i would go ahead and try it. best case scenario is that it stays. worst case is that it pops off and ...
Odor following permanent crown placement10/31/2008
  Q: A couple of months ago, I had a retreatment of a 25-year-old root canal on tooth #2. The retreatment ...
  A: usually that happens when the crown is loose. get back into the dentist and have him/her evaluate ...
How should my baby's teeth look?10/4/2008
  Q: My baby is 10 months old and is getting teeth. Here first bottom front tooth seems to be developing ...
  A: i am not sure which tooth is coming in. if it is cuspid or canine (at corner) then it is meant to be ...
6 year old molars10/3/2008
  Q: I think my 5 year old is getting his six year old molars but the gum looks weird. It started out ...
  A: there are four corners to a six year molar so often they come through one cusp or or one point at a ...
overjet10/2/2008
  Q: I have recently seen a 26 month old boy with what I believe to be a significant overjet. I think it ...
  A: melanie does he having any habits i.e. thumb sucking, finger sucking, pacifier, etc? this could be ...
Broken tooth10/1/2008
  Q: Last summer I decided to get all of my metal fillings removed and replaced them with white ones. ...
  A: without seeing things in person, i cannot really give you a definitive answer. from what you are ...
Broken tooth10/1/2008
  Q: Last summer I decided to get all of my metal fillings removed and replaced them with white ones. ...
  A: generally from what you describe, a crown is needed at this time. this will restore the tooth in the ...
Hit my tooth.10/1/2008
  Q: Ok well i was playing airsoft with my friends, and forgot to wear my full face mask. Of course the ...
  A: anthony you need to call your dentist and get in there today. you need to first get an xray to make ...
worried10/1/2008
  Q: My 6 year old lost one of her top front teeth. I know it may be normal to have a flap of the gum ...
  A: i really cannot give you any definitive answers without seeing things in person. it very well could ...
Crown fell off9/2/2008
  Q: Dr. Dalin: My # 30 crown fell off 2 days ago. The crown was done 1996. In June 2003 my tooth hurt ...
  A: Ru I would need to see the tooth and an xray of the tooth to give you a definitive answer. I am not ...
black teeth9/1/2008
  Q: on my back teeth there is black matter kind of stuck in the middle.. i brush my teeth very well and ...
  A: ella this could be some stain in the base of the groove. it could be a cavity. an xray and clinical ...
Pull Baby Teeth?9/1/2008
  Q: My daughter just turned 5 and we recently found out that at some point injured her 3 front teeth. ...
  A: First off, if your daughter is 5, there may not be a lot of time left before she will lose them ...
bridge made wrong9/1/2008
  Q: ANSWER: i always feel that a patient has to have good communication with their dentist. i encourage ...
  A: it is really tough for me to give you any definitive answers on this without seeing the bridge in ...
bridge made wrong9/1/2008
  Q: hi there i have a ques i live in las vegas nevada i went to a dds here and he pulled all my upper ...
  A: i always feel that a patient has to have good communication with their dentist. i encourage my ...
missing tooth8/8/2008
  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: Rachel...this one is simple. Orthodontists will often attach a plastic tooth to the arch wire in the ...
Crossbite in 4 year old7/10/2008
  Q: My son went to the dentist today and we were told he has a crossbite and narrow upper palate. The ...
  A: christy this is exactly the way things are done. when the child gets his/her first permanent molars ...
linea alba7/9/2008
  Q: i have linea alba on both sides of my cheeks. How can i get ride of it. Sometimes i wear a night ...
  A: pam was this diagnosed by your dentist? linea alba is a single white line of tissue on cheek. it is ...
Loose gum after wisdom teeth surgery7/9/2008
  Q: I had all 4 wisdom teeth out on May 30. On the lower left side I had severe pain and swelling for ...
  A: laurie this one is impossible to answer without seeing you in person. sounds like the flap of tissue ...
Caps on a 2 yr old7/9/2008
  Q: My 2 yr old daughter has four decayed top teeth. The dentist suggested putting caps on them. But ...
  A: jennifer it is true she will lose these teeth but not until age 5-6 or so. so you have a number of ...
SEDATION DENTISTRY7/9/2008
  Q: WHAT NARRATIVE WOULD YOU SUBMIT TO INSURANCE FOR A HIGH FEAR PATIENT REQUIRING SEDATION FOR ROOT ...
  A: Lisa all you can say is that sedation was required to perform this procedure. there was no way that ...
please help me!!7/9/2008
  Q: Dalin i am 11 year old girl i am on vacation in china i went with my familey to climb a famous ...
  A: at this point, it should be okay for a few more weeks. i am not sure how much is broken...is the ...
please help me!!7/8/2008
  Q: Dalin i am 11 year old girl i am on vacation in china i went with my familey to climb a famous ...
  A: there is not much you can do at this point. you need to see a dentist and have the teeth repaired. ...
jaw7/8/2008
  Q: had filling on lower left side a week ago,dentist injected 3 times as kept feeling pain when she ...
  A: sometimes if repeated shots are given in back, the masseter muscle can get irritated and spasm ...
Could a tooth abscess have been prevented?6/6/2008
  Q: My #31 molar became sensitive [to anything cold] starting the week of May 12. Then after a sharp ...
  A: As far as could you have prevented this abscess...the answer is really no. The nerve started dying ...
broken tooth6/5/2008
  Q: I chipped one of my back teeth today and we are leaving for 2 weeks on vacation on Sunday. I could ...
  A: i am sorry to hear that you could not get into 5 dentists to have a temporary placed. without seeing ...
extraction and spacers6/3/2008
  Q: Dr. Dalin, My 7 year old son has to have 2 molars removed because of abcess. After that they will ...
  A: Orion Sorry about the delay...Was out of computer range for a day or so and just got this. You ask ...
Metallic taste after third crown5/2/2008
  Q: A couple of weeks ago, I recieved my third crown (metal underneath porcelin) on a molar in the lower ...
  A: michelle metallic tastes can be a tough one. i do not know why a new crown would casue this. i would ...
Why do I have to have a temporary filling first?5/1/2008
  Q: I need many fillings and have hesitated to go to the dentist more regularly as I can't afford it. ...
  A: anne when we remove the deep decay, we want to avoid the nerve. the process that a temp does is as ...
Why do I have to have a temporary filling first?5/1/2008
  Q: I need many fillings and have hesitated to go to the dentist more regularly as I can't afford it. ...
  A: Anne The reason a dentist would do a temporary first would be the depth of the decay. If the decay ...
Dental Crown4/10/2008
  Q: Dr. Dalin, I'm not sure if I'm going with a All Porcelain Crown or a "Porcelain fused to Gold" ...
  A: i have heard nothing negative about captek crowns. i used to do the bio2000 crowns which is a ...
Need second opinion please4/10/2008
  Q: This is about my grandson who is 10 years old. Ever since he started getting his adult teeth, there ...
  A: i really cannot give you any definitive answers without seeing him in person. i am only giving you ...
Dental Crown4/9/2008
  Q: Dr. Dalin, I'm not sure if I'm going with a All Porcelain Crown or a "Porcelain fused to Gold" ...
  A: personally i use plastic as a buildup material. it is not porcelain but plastic (composite resin is ...
Dental Crowns4/8/2008
  Q: I had 2 root canals completed about 3 weeks ago on teeth #4 and #5. I have have since gone for a ...
  A: we never talk about gold in carats. in fact we never even know that number when it comes to the ...
Dental Crowns4/8/2008
  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 normal metal used in porcelain fused to metal crowns is a platinum, palladium, gold alloy. it ...
Dental Crowns4/8/2008
  Q: I had 2 root canals completed about 3 weeks ago on teeth #4 and #5. I have have since gone for a ...
  A: very good questions here. they have come up with new ways to bond porcelain to all but pure gold. ...
possible re-acurring abcess after pulpotomy4/8/2008
  Q: About 3 weeks ago, I had a pulpotomy done on tooth 19 (18 was pulled 2 years ago) to hold me over ...
  A: you can get a partial denture to replace as few or as many teeth as you want. they are removeable ...
Dental Crowns4/8/2008
  Q: I had 2 root canals completed about 3 weeks ago on teeth #4 and #5. I have have since gone for a ...
  A: all procelain crowns were a little brittle in the past. now we use a zirconium base and bake ...
possible re-acurring abcess after pulpotomy4/7/2008
  Q: About 3 weeks ago, I had a pulpotomy done on tooth 19 (18 was pulled 2 years ago) to hold me over ...
  A: jessica from what you are describing, it sounds like it is definitely abscessing again. you need to ...
permanent teeth coming in4/7/2008
  Q: My grandson is almost 9. He has been slow losing his baby teeth and getting his permanent teeth. ...
  A: call your dentist and have him evaluated. first you want to make sure they are not getting caught ...
Bridge work4/7/2008
  Q: I had a bridge put in two years ago. The bridge was to fill a missing tooth (since birth) that ...
  A: without seeing the bridge in person, I cannot give you any definitive answers. I do have one ...
baby tooth out, something still there?4/6/2008
  Q: My daughter who is 7 lost a front tooth yesterday. The hard white part of the tooth came out but ...
  A: i wonder if you are seeing the erupting permanent tooth already poking through the gum. they do that ...
Electric shock like pain4/6/2008
  Q: I had an amalgam filling in my UL6 a few days ago and since yesterday i have been getting electric ...
  A: this sounds like something called galvanism. this takes place when you place a new silver filling ...
Craze lines removal4/5/2008
  Q: I noticed that I have some craze lines on one of my front teeth. I really do not like the way they ...
  A: it depends where they are and how many there are. often we see a single vertical brown line down the ...
pulpal vs. extraction on 3yrs old girl4/4/2008
  Q: What is the benefit of doing the pulpal on front teeth e&f would it be easier, and cheaper to just ...
  A: emily it is difficult to get spacers to stay in on baby teeth...short teeth, hard to fabricate and ...
Bridge4/3/2008
  Q: I was told by one denist that a brige should not be attached to one of the eye teeth, something ...
  A: without seeing you in person, it is tough to give you a definitive answer. i cannot think of any ...
3 year old feel and her two front teeth are dead4/3/2008
  Q: we visited my daughter's dentist this morning after she feel and hit her two front teeth, he ...
  A: if she recently fell, then you have a little time to make this decision. see how dark they get. see ...
No pain - really?4/2/2008
  Q: My upper wisdom teeth are fully erupted, but they both have cavities and my dentist would rather ...
  A: it is tough to do this online. sometimes things do not come out like you want to say them. plus you ...
No pain - really?4/2/2008
  Q: My upper wisdom teeth are fully erupted, but they both have cavities and my dentist would rather ...
  A: to become a dentist, you go to undergrad and get a degree and some prerequisites. you then go to ...
Dead Tooth4/2/2008
  Q: Yesterday, I was in the bathroom, and my friend accidentally slammed the bathroom door closed when I ...
  A: You should call your dentist today and get in there for an evaluation. You need an xray taken and ...
Porcelan Crown4/1/2008
  Q: I had a Porcelan Crown put on in November 2004. It came loose on March 23, 2008 after only 4 years. ...
  A: Nila I am not sure exactly what happened here. I am assuming that decay got under the loose crown ...
class III under bite4/1/2008
  Q: I have worn braces for roughly 6 months now.Before they were placed the ortho. told me that I should ...
  A: this is called orthognathic surgery in case you want to do some research online. the normal process ...
No pain - really?3/31/2008
  Q: My upper wisdom teeth are fully erupted, but they both have cavities and my dentist would rather ...
  A: Robin Lots of questions here. Let me get them answered for you one at a time. 1) there is no right ...
most effctive antibiotic2/20/2008
  Q: I am a pharmacy student in need of a root canal, but I cannot afford it. I do not want to lose the ...
  A: ken i hate to say it but there is no way this can be put off for a year. any antibiotic will only ...
Dental School2/19/2008
  Q: I graduated from UC Irvine in 2006 with a degree in psychology. Never took too many courses in ...
  A: garrett this is no simple way of doing this. to get into dental school, you will need a year of ...
Bad Breath2/19/2008
  Q: Dalin, I don't know what is causing my bad breath. About three months ago I went the the dentist ...
  A: Lisa I would ask the dentist what he/she used to fill the teeth. Is is silver or plastic? do you ...
4 year old's recent teeth discoloration2/18/2008
  Q: She hasn't had any trauma to her teeth and her diet hasn't markedly changed. We were giving her a ...
  A: my guess is that she bumped these teeth and you did not know about it. when teeth are bumped they ...
child's grey teeth2/16/2008
  Q: My 2 1/2 year old daughter fell about 3 weeks ago with a sippy cup in her mouth. Her sippy cup ...
  A: teeth turning grey could very well mean the nerves are dying. It might be simply some bruising ...
Daughter's pain1/24/2008
  Q: My 12 year old daughter had a baby tooth removed at the end of November. The root was fused to the ...
  A: sally i wish i could give you something definitive. but without seeing the area in person, i do not ...
"socket infection"1/23/2008
  Q: To start - I have NEVER had strong teeth, I've had at least 10 root canal and and about the same ...
  A: wow...that is some history. i feel bad for what you have gone through. but you cannot leave ...
abscess tooth1/23/2008
  Q: I am not trying to self medicate myself but I was just wondering as a dentist if someone were to ...
  A: you need to see a dentist to get a definitive diagnosis. you could have a nerve abscess...you could ...
pulling baby teeth1/22/2008
  Q: My 5 year old has her two front bottom adult teeth coming in behind her baby teeth, which are loose ...
  A: diane this is quite common. if the permanent teeth are totally behind the baby teeth and the baby ...
caivity1/21/2008
  Q: I am a college student so I cannot go to the family dentist easily, and last time I went back I had ...
  A: here is what you need to do...cut down on sweets...brush and floss daily (2-3 times a day is ...
after fillings1/21/2008
  Q: I just got a few cavities filled the other day, ever since then Ive had alot of pain in 2 spots, ...
  A: ashley i cannot give you any definiive answers unless i see these sores in person. it sounds like ...
Can Kenalog in Orabase cause Burning Mouth Syndrome?1/19/2008
  Q: Recently I have been on a course of medicine for Geographic Tongue.I have stopped using Kenalog in ...
  A: eric i really cannot diagnose or recommend treatment for anything without seeing things in person. ...
tooth extraction1/18/2008
  Q: I had a tooth extracted about 6 months ago..I had pain after the extraction. I went to numerous ...
  A: i have no way of diagnosing this online. i would need to see it in person. call your dentist and get ...
bridge work1/17/2008
  Q: need to know a fair price to pay for bridge work. crown-proc fused to noble metal on tooth 28. ...
  A: bob prices vary from city to city, area of the country, etc. I am in St Louis. The cost for a crown ...
Dental Crown Pain1/16/2008
  Q: I had a temp crown put in a week ago today. The first couple days it was tender as expected, ...
  A: your pain level is sounding pretty intense. sometimes temp crowns can cause some sensitivity. but it ...
my daughter1/13/2008
  Q: My daughter had her jow hit by a friends cast and now one of her molars is slightly loose, but is ...
  A: carrie i cannot diagnose anything online. you need to get your daughter into your dentist to have ...
Concern that a nerve was hit!1/11/2008
  Q: My six year-old son had a cap put on upper back tooth yesterday. The dentist seemed to numb the ...
  A: there are some possibilities here. one is that he bit his lip while he was numb. this can force ...
irregular tooth order12/18/2007
  Q: My granddaughter is sixteen months. Her two bottom middle teeth came late. Her third tooth came in ...
  A: roslyn do not worry about order. mother nature can do all sorts of variations. i have seen teeth ...
Dentist cleaning and sensitivity12/16/2007
  Q: I have some sensitive teeth and I need a cleaning, but I am so gun shy on having them cleaned for ...
  A: here are some choices: topical anesthetic (either conventional topical which is benzocaine...or ...
Receding gums12/14/2007
  Q: I have noticed my gum line is receding. I am 25 years old and I have great oral hygiene. My ...
  A: gums do not usually grow back. you sound like you are doing all the right things. sometimes patients ...
Lump After Local Anesthesia Injection12/12/2007
  Q: I went to the dentist who sent me to a periodontist last week, 6 days ago for evaluation. Above ...
  A: without seeing this in person, i really cannot give you any diagnosis. i would think if this was an ...
Baby Teething12/12/2007
  Q: I have a one year old daughter, with no heath problems, but she has not started teething yet. Her ...
  A: I wonder if the hardness you are feeling is merely the teeth just getting ready to cut through? I ...
(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: It is tough to make this call online. This is something that needs to be looked at in person. You ...
Crowning a tooth in which the roots are alive and PAIN12/9/2007
  Q: Your Q/A website has been very helpful and I am struck by your generosity to discuss these issues! ...
  A: There are all sorts of possibilities here. Your dentist needs to see you in person to make the call ...
tooth discomfort,12/7/2007
  Q: Good afternoon Doctor, Tooth number 17 (wisdom tooth) is having some sort of pressure issues. Not ...
  A: Lisa You need to see your dentist to get a definitive diagnosis. I cannot diagnose anything online ...
Chuldhood teeth loss12/6/2007
  Q: My 4 1/2 year old boy has just lost his bottom front tooth and the one beside it looks like it is ...
  A: Michele 4 1/2 is a little young but not that young. I have seen plenty of 4 1/2 year olds start ...
canker sores12/5/2007
  Q: I have chronic reocurrent canker sores. I get them from trauma such as biting my lip or cheek or I ...
  A: Nobody really knows the exact cause of canker sores. Part of this deals with where the sores are ...
scared HELP12/5/2007
  Q: Will it hurt??will I need an injection. The tooth never had a root canal will I feel pain. Please ...
  A: Gena A good, compassionate dentist can do a filling without hurting you. If you are really nervous ...
tooth stain on my 6 year old12/4/2007
  Q: My 6 year old daughter lost her 2 bottom teeth. One is coming back with a dark yellow circular stain ...
  A: Margo I would need to see the tooth to give you a definitive answer. It might be something that ...
pain+pain+pain12/1/2007
  Q: I have swelling in the bottom left of my back teeth.it's red, and I've been taking Tylenol for it ...
  A: annie this is impossible to diagnose without seeing you in person. it could be swollen wisdom teeth. ...
resorption11/2/2007
  Q: After experiencing minor pain in my upper molar, I visited my dentist for a diagnosis. After a gum ...
  A: there are two types of resorption...internal and external. both are usually caused by some sort of ...
Pain after an extraction9/2/2007
  Q: I just had all 4 of my first bicuspids pulled on thursday. I do not feel like i have a dry socket ...
  A: impossible to diagnose anything online over the internet. you need to be seen in person. you might ...
bridge durability8/9/2007
  Q: Last winter, I had a 4-tooth bridge (front two teeth and the two teeth to my right)replaced. The ...
  A: durability of a bridge is usually excellent. bad habits as you describe are not a good thing to ...
root canal8/9/2007
  Q: Doctor i had a root canal done on my lower wisdom tooth(the last molar on that side) ,55 days ...
  A: i am really not sure what is going on here. most of the time, these are finished in one visit. if ...
Crown questions8/8/2007
  Q: I had a molar break about a month ago. I couldn't get in to the dentist for approx. 2 weeks but I ...
  A: without seeing things in person, i cannot really give you any definite answers. but i can tell you ...
6 yr old with abcess tooth8/5/2007
  Q: I have a 6 yr old daughter that had approximately 8 cavities. The dentist that she went to used ...
  A: Terri I cannot really give you any definitive answers without seeing your daughter and seeing her ...
Gum growing over 2nd molar8/4/2007
  Q: Ihave a 5 year old and we have just noticed her gum is growing over her second lower molar. We ...
  A: without seeing things in person, i cannot give you any defitive answers. but from what you describe, ...
Dental xrays8/3/2007
  Q: Dr. Dalin, It has been 2 years since I have seen a dentist. The last time I paid a fortune on just ...
  A: xrays should not cost a fortune. i am in st louis. costs vary from city to city. i will tell you ...
gap in 2 front teeth 5 year old8/2/2007
  Q: My 5 year old daughter has a gap between her top two front teeth. My dentist suggested to me that ...
  A: there is no set percentage where this happens. what i tell my patients is to wait until the child is ...
crown8/1/2007
  Q: Doctor i had a root canal done on my lower wisdom tooth ,46 days back.However the dentist put only a ...
  A: i prefer a crown on a back tooth after a root canal has been performed. these teeth become very ...
Gold crowns8/1/2007
  Q: I just got a gold crown for my back molar and was surprized at how dark it is. Are there different ...
  A: kelly without seeing it in person, i cannot give you a definitive answer. there is a really simple ...
tooth ache after filling8/1/2007
  Q: how long after i have a tooth filled should i have pain in that tooth and how long will the ...
  A: this depends on material used...if silver was used, it takes a few days to calm down since it ...
wisdom tooth removal healing6/4/2007
  Q: I had my wisdom teeth out 2 weeks ago. I was told at my post-op that everything looked fine and ...
  A: Catherine I would need to see this in person to give you a definitive answer. But from what you ...
Benefits of Hydrogen Peroxide6/3/2007
  Q: Dalin!, my name is Brenda and I'm a Dental Assistant here in Des Moines, Ia. there seems to be a ...
  A: I am happy to see a bright person like you is working in the dental field. Keep up the good work and ...
White coating in mouth associated with toothpaste6/2/2007
  Q: I clean my teeth and rinse before going to bed each night (well, nearly each). In the morning, in ...
  A: Without seeing things in person, I have to guess here. It sounds like you might be having a dry ...
When will they come in5/3/2007
  Q: I had 4 teeth pulled when I was 21 now I am 25 almost 26 and they never came back in...I just never ...
  A: I am not understanding what was pulled. If you were 21, then I have to assume that permanent teeth ...
Toddler's teeth5/3/2007
  Q: I have a 16 month baby girl and I noticed this morning that her front teeth seemed to be more ...
  A: Relax...most teeth are more transluscent at the edges than near the gumline. This is normal dental ...
toothache/possible root canal5/2/2007
  Q: I've been having throbbing and burning pain in tooth #13. I've had x-rays with no problems noted ...
  A: yes...sometimes nerves die for no obvious cause. we have to treat the teeth after evaluating ...
Average dental health3/29/2007
  Q: I am 37 and have several fillings including 3 huge ones. I also have one crown. My gums are in ...
  A: you sound like you are in good shape...compared to anyone at any age. 3 fillings and 1 crown is not ...
root resorption1/18/2007
  Q: I am scheduled to see a endodonist on Monday for root canal consultation. I was told by my dentist ...
  A: not much you can do to avoid root resorption. trauma is a major cause of this. orthodontics can ...
tooth1/18/2007
  Q: I was recently hit in the mouth, and now i have pain coming from one tooth, it is the sharp bottom ...
  A: i wonder if the tooth has been pushed into a different position. call you dentist and get in there ...
bridge after extraction1/6/2007
  Q: I had an extraction a week ago because the dentist could not save my broken tooth (vertical brake ...
  A: 6 months seems a little long. generally i wait around 8-10 weeks. maybe there will be some bone ...
toddler root canal1/6/2007
  Q: "My son is 32 months old. He was at a friends house when he got hit in the mouth by a fusball table ...
  A: he is recommending the pulpotomies (that was probably the term) to help retain these baby teeth ...
swollen inside of lips1/6/2007
  Q: Me and my dentist are both stumped about something, I'm hoping you might be able to provide some ...
  A: generally this sounds like something called angioneurotic edema. you can google this and see if it ...
deep cleaning1/5/2007
  Q: I have an appointment for deep teeth cleaning. I am worried because i feel my front teeth very ...
  A: deep cleanings are done to prevent tooth loss. you are having some sort of gum issue going on ...
Toddler Teeth1/5/2007
  Q: My daughter just turned 2 in Nov. and I noticed that one of her front teeth is just now coming in. ...
  A: without seeing her in person, i do no know why her teeth are coming in like this. take her in to ...
root canal1/5/2007
  Q: I had a root canal on one of my molar teeth almost 6yrs ago. My crown is still on. My problem is ...
  A: i cannot diagnose anything over the internet. to put your mind at ease, go see your dentist. it ...
Root Canal on a 10yr old1/4/2007
  Q: I have a 10yr old that had a bad cavity, With no insur.a dentist cleaned it deep to root & filled ...
  A: is this on a baby tooth? if so, then consider getting the tooth out. if it is a permanent tooth then ...
Cannot chew food on temporary Crown1/4/2007
  Q: Since getting a temporary crown 3 weeks ago I am now unable to chew food on that tooth. Not sure of ...
  A: it may very well need a root canal. but sometimes you just do not know for certain. one good option ...
numb tooth1/3/2007
  Q: my left front tooth is fairly numb. it just started yesterday and now it's back again. very weird! ...
  A: i cannot diagnose anything over the internet. you need to see your dentist. you need an xray taken ...
Prolonged wisdom tooth extraction numbness1/2/2007
  Q: In mid October of '06 I had my two bottom wisdom teeth extracted. The dentist said it was a hard ...
  A: this can happen with wisdom teeth extractions. usually it means that when the tooth was removed, it ...
Second Molar Improper Growth (impaction)?1/2/2007
  Q: Dr.Dalin, I have a question about the proper way a second molar should grow in. My second molar ...
  A: i would do exactly what youu are doing...send you to the orthodontist. maybe a retainer can be made ...
Build-Up on Teeth1/1/2007
  Q: Mr. Dalin, I read what you wrote about calcium build up and deposits/build-up on teeth. ...
  A: i have never heard of toothpaste doing this. toothpaste is water soluble and does not have anything ...
pain after extraction1/1/2007
  Q: I had my lower wisdom teeth removed 3 days ago, both were impacted and it was not an easy procedure ...
  A: you need to call your dentist ASAP. you might be having some postop issues i.e. dry socket, ...
Possible crack in filling1/1/2007
  Q: Dr Dalin, A couple of years ago I had a tooth break. I was scheduled for a root canal but my ...
  A: this is something i need to see in person to give you a definitive answer. you might be able to ...
Question12/31/2006
  Q: Greetings, Can a porcelain crown scratch a gold crown? I have a porcelain crown on #15 and ...
  A: this used to be a problem years ago with older porcelains. they did abrade opposing teeth. the newer ...
tooth removal12/31/2006
  Q: my gum line has receded so far that the whole top portion of my upper inciser is bare,this is ...
  A: you really need to let a dentist handle this. there is no way that i can recommend anything else. ...
Gum didnt heal over after extraction12/30/2006
  Q: Immediately after I had an infection and was given antibiotics. The gums havent healed and there is ...
  A: a dry socket hurts very badly and happens a day or so after the extraction. what you describe rules ...
Deep Filling Questions12/30/2006
  Q: Dalin, how are you? My name is Paul. I have some questions regarding a deep filling I had done just ...
  A: paul this is exactly what i would tell my patient: if the pain is not too bad and intermittent, then ...
Continuing pain after fillings12/30/2006
  Q: 6 weeks ago, at a routine check-up, my dentist told me I needed two fillings. I was really taken ...
  A: the first thing to try here is a bite adjustment. you mention that the bite feels high. if it does ...
Gum didnt heal over after extraction12/30/2006
  Q: Immediately after I had an infection and was given antibiotics. The gums havent healed and there is ...
  A: i have never heard that statistic before. if the area was infected you would have pain and swelling. ...
Baby's First Teeth12/30/2006
  Q: My 11 month old daughter is just now getting her first teeth. Instead of the bottom teeth coming in ...
  A: do not worry at all here. teeth come in in all sorts of different orders. often there is a gap ...
baby tooth in an adult12/30/2006
  Q: Some of my baby teeth were slow to fall out. I remember losing an upper canine at 17 years old. ...
  A: very slim chance of it coming in at this point. usually you need to guide it in at an early age. is ...
TEETH WHITENING12/29/2006
  Q: I was given a gift certificate by a relative for a professional teeth whitening. On the gift ...
  A: bob you are asking me to diagnose something over the internet. this is impossible to do. you needed ...
defective crowns or misalignment12/23/2006
  Q: I had a crow put on my firs molar, left upper a couple years ago. At the time, it didn't feel ...
  A: i cannot give you any definitive answers here without seeing things in person. that is the problem ...
20 min deep cleaning?12/20/2006
  Q: I just had deep cleaning done. I feel that it wasn't necessary because I take care of my teeth and ...
  A: mike you are asking me to give you a definitive answer for something that i could not see in person. ...
wisdom tooth12/18/2006
  Q: I recently had a wisdom tooth extracted. It was fully out so the removal was not too bad. However, I ...
  A: james without seeing you in person, it is impossible for me to diagnose anything. you went back to ...
ask about first molar teeth in children12/16/2006
  Q: Jeff, My daughter is 7 years old and she got a big cavity in the upper second back-most of her ...
  A: my question is why not try to fill it and see if the tooth can stay around longer. if this cannot be ...
Replacing old amalgam fillings12/15/2006
  Q: I have decided to replace the old fillings (>20 years old)however, I have one other concern and that ...
  A: lower molars are sometimes tough to numb. sometimes it takes a few injections to get them numb. ...
the nerve12/14/2006
  Q: i was just wondering if the nerve (root) is removed from the tooth or teeth that are going to have a ...
  A: you need to get him into the dentist to have an xray taken. first, i am not sure exactly what you ...
Dental Fillings12/13/2006
  Q: In general how long do amalgam fillings last and how can you tell when they need to be replaced? I ...
  A: 20-25 years is pretty good longevity. they might last longer but if you are getting worried, then it ...
hygiene12/13/2006
  Q: My son was given a palate extender, yesterday. But today, he has food stuck in between his palete ...
  A: i assume you could not get it out with a brush and heavy duty rinsing. one option is to get ...
incisive papillae numbness12/12/2006
  Q: The following day I had pain to that area and numbness just behind my front teeth, I went to see my ...
  A: i would see if your dentist wants to send you to an oral surgeon for an evaluation. this is what i ...
dental cleanings12/10/2006
  Q: I have my doubts about the safety of dental routine cleanings, and my husband and I are at odds as ...
  A: Sheva Let me put your mind at ease. A dental cleaning is totally safe. Let me answer your questions ...
6yr old son12/6/2006
  Q: my 6yr old son seems to be loosing his baby teeth, faster than his permanent teeth are coming ...
  A: sometimes it takes longer than that for the permanent teeth to come in. i have seen 9-12 month ...
Dental Implant Fragility12/4/2006
  Q: I just can't seem to stop rubbing my tongue against this post and am afraid that I might loosen it-- ...
  A: they are generally not fragile at all. but this seems to be driving you crazy. call the dentist and ...
Teeth bleaching at age sixteen.12/2/2006
  Q: I am sixteen years of age and I just got my braces off and I was anticipating teeth bleaching from ...
  A: nick most dentists like to wait until age 18. the main reason is that your teeth continue to erupt ...
Tooth/nerve Pain11/30/2006
  Q: The best way I can explain is that I have a pain in (what feels like) by 2nd to last tooth on the ...
  A: without seeing you in person, i can only give you some ideas. since your wisdom teeth are out, you ...
Infected Tooth11/29/2006
  Q: I have a tooth that has been slowly decaying over the last year. I will be getting dental insurance ...
  A: a bad upper back tooth can refer pain upwards...but usually it is a sinus issue that refers pain ...
I bit my tongue11/27/2006
  Q: I inadvertently bit the right side of my tongue yesterday and it hurts when I eat on my right side. ...
  A: tongues are tough. there are ointments that numb areas. but when you put them on your tongue and ...
Fluorosis/Treatment11/27/2006
  Q: I've suffered with this hideous disfigurement for all of my life. I'm now 22, and a single mom, and ...
  A: i really am not sure if there is anything out there that handles this. there is one program called ...
baby tooth11/25/2006
  Q: My 11 year old has a permanent tooth starting to erupt on top, about the third tooth from his front ...
  A: you need to get him into the dentist to have the area looked at. it should not be anything tough to ...
jaw/tooth pain11/20/2006
  Q: I recently went to the dentist for a pain in my lower back molar on the left side. It hurts when I ...
  A: i would need to see you in person to give you a definitive answer. but from what you describe, it ...
time for a 2nd opinion or new dds?11/15/2006
  Q: I was wondering i you could guide me. I have been seeing the same dentist for about 10 years (I am ...
  A: kate you are definitely not having good luck here. maybe it is time for a second opinion. you do not ...
teeth cleaning11/15/2006
  Q: ok so my friend and i are debating over how you get a regular teeth cleaning. i say they use the ...
  A: people use different methods. i feel you always need to use the metal instruments to do the final ...
temperary dental bridge11/10/2006
  Q: what do i do if my temperary dental bridge falls out
  A: call your dentist first thing in the morning and get in there to have it recemented. this is the ...
Is a dental visit necessary for chipped teeth?11/8/2006
  Q: This morning a portion of my left lower molar chipped away from the filling in the tooth. The ...
  A: anna from what you describe, this is very common. i see these about weekly. usually there is a 2 or ...
new molar / swollen gum11/3/2006
  Q: My 6 yr old recently cut one of her top molars and now has a very swollen painful gum (looks like a ...
  A: with swelling you always want to make an appointment with your dentist. it could be the erupting ...
Flipper or crowns for 11 yr old broken front teeth11/1/2006
  Q: My 11 year old son fell on ceramic tile without breaking his fall, and broke his 2 front top adult ...
  A: actually doing the root canal and posts and cores and crowns is the least maintenance way to do ...
Metal sensation after R/C + Temp.crown11/1/2006
  Q: In June'06 had R/C on upper right molar- tooth # 3. Dentist had mentioned that he put a metal post ...
  A: what is the temporary crown made out of? is there metal in it? or do you have the permanent crown ...
porcelain veneers11/1/2006
  Q: Would you please advise me how long porcelain veneers last? Do they last forever or do they need ...
  A: most likely they will have a definite life...but at this point, i cannot give you any definite ...
dental treatment whilst pregnant10/31/2006
  Q: Im a 29 yr old female and im 6 weeks pregnant. I recently went for a check up at the dentist and i ...
  A: maryanne these are all excellent questions. i would run these by your OB-Gyn. they are the ones who ...
Is this an eruption cyst?10/31/2006
  Q: My son, aged 26 months, has most of his teeth except his lower incisors. He has a swelling on his ...
  A: celia sometimes they are blue, sometimes they are not. they disappear as the teeth erupt. but ...
Fixing bad teeth- what to expect?10/30/2006
  Q: My wife, age 22, has recently developed a hole near the top of one of her front teeth, facing ...
  A: jim you need to find a really good dentist and get her in there for a complete evaluation. this ...
Mercury and skill10/29/2006
  Q: Dr. Dalin. I am in Memphis, Tennessee. Here a dentist who was highly recommended, and does very good ...
  A: kali memphis should have plenty of excellent dentists to choose from. i wish i had a name for you ...
universal numbering system10/28/2006
  Q: what do you know about universal numbering system? with pictures
  A: very simple starting with upper right third molar, this is tooth #1...then you move around to upper ...
Mercury and skill10/28/2006
  Q: I am having a hard time finding a dentist to replace mercury fillings that are failing - and needing ...
  A: kali this is hard to understand. most dentists should have no problem honoring your wishes. it does ...
Deep cleaning10/27/2006
  Q: Thx Jeff - Regarding my son's experience, how is it that two different dentists look at the xrays ...
  A: rob dentistry is very much an art as much as a science. like i said earlier, there are philosophical ...
deep cleanings10/27/2006
  Q: I had a deep cleaning in Dec. 05 and am now being told by a new dentist that I am in need of another ...
  A: i am one who feels these are needed when there is some bone loss present. some dentists will do it ...
Deep cleaning10/26/2006
  Q: Many thanks for your advise regarding second opinions! After two dentists and a hygenist at a ...
  A: Rob I have no explanations for you. I cannot get into that first dentist's head to figure out what ...
Invisalign vs Conventional10/25/2006
  Q: One more thing- what are the disadvantages of invisalign?My teeth are 'crossbite' (both of my rows ...
  A: there are no real disadvantages of invisalign. in fact there are distinct advantages of being able ...
xrays10/24/2006
  Q: normally, how often should receive x-rays? thanks.
  A: it all depends on your history. people without any problems can go 1-2 years in between. people with ...
Invisalign vs Conventional10/24/2006
  Q: My teeth are 'crossbite' (both of my rows of teeth) and I don't know whether to get conventional ...
  A: this is a very easy question. make an appointment with an orthodontist and have records taken. they ...
extra tooth10/23/2006
  Q: I have an 11 month old baby with her front 4 teeth on top already out. I just noticed that behind ...
  A: have your dentist look at this. i am not sure what is going on here without seeing it in person. it ...
mettalic taste10/11/2006
  Q: I have noticed an increasing taste of metal in my mouth right by my two gold crowns. These crowns ...
  A: lil gold crowns usually do not cause this. but you need to analyze the type of metal used and if ...
Question about Cavities and Filings10/8/2006
  Q: I have a question about cavities. I have never gotten a single cavity in my life until my last visit ...
  A: fanny if decay is present, a filling has to be done. or the decay will continue to get deeper until ...
choosing an electric toothbrush10/8/2006
  Q: Apologies for the pretty mundane question, but my electric toothbrush is broke and I'm really ...
  A: jon nothing mundane about your question. electric toothbrushes come in all prices and features. ...
root canal10/6/2006
  Q: About a month ago i had fillings in two teeth next to each other in my lower back teeth. Ever since ...
  A: Suzanne Normally things go a lot smoother than this. Are you seeing your general dentist or an ...
Injections, tooth extraction10/6/2006
  Q: I've had problems with my teeth for awhile now. Until yesterday I'd had toothache in several teeth ...
  A: Stephen You are always supposed to wait a period of time after giving a local anesthetic before ...
peeling/white gumline10/3/2006
  Q: Dr. Dalin, On my upper gumline on the left side near the back of my mouth, there is an areas ...
  A: Joe I wish I could give you a definite answer here...but without seeing the area in person, I cannot ...
antibiotics after extraction10/2/2006
  Q: My girlfriend recently had a tooth extracted after numerous fillings fell out of it. After the ...
  A: clint it is not standard to do this...it all depends on what shape the tooth is when it is removed. ...
5 year old teething10/2/2006
  Q: My 5 year old is cutting her back molars and her adult front lower teeth are also growing in before ...
  A: you need to take her in to your dentist ASAP. do not try to explain all of this with teething. it ...
Tooth Tipping10/1/2006
  Q: I will replacing the 1st molar with an implant. I have to delay that for one year. My concern is the ...
  A: if you are doing an implant then you can do the permanent crown at any time. in fact, when they do ...
Tooth Tipping10/1/2006
  Q: I have to have a root canal and crown put on my 2nd molar. It has tipped somewhat because of missing ...
  A: Chris If you are thinking of doing a bridge to replace the missing first molar then you cannot do ...
Sensitivity10/1/2006
  Q: I was wondering at what point tooth sensitivity becomes worrisome. I had tooth #18 filled about 4 ...
  A: Katie Tough question here. You had this filling done 4 years ago. It has been sensitive but you have ...
white streaks on teeth10/1/2006
  Q: very small not so numerous white streaks on my two front teeth..what exactly is the common cause of ...
  A: nick you need to see your dentist and have him/her evaluate things. i cannot diagnose much over the ...
local anesthesia9/30/2006
  Q: When administering a PSA/lingual injection the patient says they felt a zing, also called lingual ...
  A: Brandi Both of what you describe is caused by the same thing: the anesthetic was deposited right ...
sensitivity9/30/2006
  Q: I had 3 cavities filled, all on the same side. It has been a little more than week after and my ...
  A: if the fillings are deep, it can take a little longer to calm down. silver fillings are more ...
Sensitivity to cold/hot9/29/2006
  Q: Out of nowhere around 2 of my top right molars became extremely sensitive to cold and hot. It is to ...
  A: it could be recession of the gums and the temps are hurting the exposed roots. try using sensodyne ...
filings9/26/2006
  Q: I have filings that are silver and they were done many years ago. They have lasted very long. Now my ...
  A: Nickey Plastic materials are relatively new materials. We cannot tell you exactly how long they ...
Tooth ache9/25/2006
  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: roman the nerve cannot regenerate. it sounds like maybe the bite might be off. have the occlusion ...
I'm scared!!!9/23/2006
  Q: Dr. Dalin, Thank you so much for your response. I guess my next question is...should I look for a ...
  A: Tanya This dentist seems to put the fear in you. Why put yourself through this. This is as good as ...
I'm scared!!!9/22/2006
  Q: Dalin, I am 29, and in the last 18 months I have had extensive dental work done. 3 root canals, 3 ...
  A: Tanya You need to find a dentist who has all of these other options when it comes to relaxing you. ...
Abscess tooth9/21/2006
  Q: I had an abscess tooth back in July, which resulted in a cyst on the roof left side of my mouth. I ...
  A: Maureen There is nothing you can do at this point. You have had the root canal done and you have ...
tooth root resorption9/21/2006
  Q: I began orthodontic treatment approximately 16 months ago. This week, while seeing my dentist for a ...
  A: Daniel From the images you sent me, yes...there is resporption taking place. This is something that ...
Baby Crowns9/20/2006
  Q: My daughter, who will soon turn 6, had baby crowns since the age of 4. The crowns are over bottom ...
  A: Yassin I think you are describing a stainless steel crown. These are cemented right onto the baby ...
Abcessed tooth resistant to Rx Tx9/18/2006
  Q: I have an ongoing problem with an abcessed tooth. This tooth is on the lower left and has had a ...
  A: Carol IV antibiotics are not usually used until you get some facial swelling. My question here is ...
Root Canal and Gums9/17/2006
  Q: I just had a root canal re-treatment done on the bottom left, second tooth from the back (still have ...
  A: Dave you point out a lot of troubling points here. i am not happy to read what you have said here. ...
cold sores9/15/2006
  Q: I am so upset right now. I took my 2 year old daughter to play with a new neighbor's 2 year old ...
  A: Melanie This is something you need to discuss with your pediatrician, not a dentist. He/she will be ...
Pain after filling9/14/2006
  Q: I had a composite filling on my upper 2nd molar about about two weeks ago. I still have some pain at ...
  A: stephanie it is always good to call your dentist to touch base with him/her. they will know how deep ...
deformed tooth9/13/2006
  Q: My 7 yr old son's front(adult)top tooth came in appearing as two teeth. However, as it came out of ...
  A: Stephanie I wish I could give you a definite answer here but I would need to see your son in person ...
Toothache w/jaw numbness & swelling9/10/2006
  Q: I woke this morning (Saturday) with a severe toothache and a bit of jaw swelling. As it is the ...
  A: donna you need a definite diagnosis here. you merely went there and got some antibiotics and pain ...
dental crowns9/9/2006
  Q: What do you think when you compare a porclien over metal crown to a cerec crown if the crown is not ...
  A: nadine this is a dentist to dentist preference thing. i will give you my opinion. i prefer porcelain ...
Tooth whitening9/7/2006
  Q: I really want to have my teeth whitened but cannot afford to have it done professionally at the ...
  A: Diana Carbamide peroxide is what we use in our offices. The brands we use do not hurt your teeth or ...
artificial sweeteners and teeth9/7/2006
  Q: How do artificial sweeteners effect teeth? How would i go about showing that in a science fair ...
  A: great questions here!!! dental plaque, the bacteria that colonize on teeth, metabolize sugars and ...
Chipped tooth-24 month old9/6/2006
  Q: My child was in the bathtub last night and he fell with me sitting right there in front of him! i ...
  A: lori since he is only 24 months old, he will probably need a pediatric dentist to work on him. i ...
flourosis9/6/2006
  Q: My dentist told me that i have flourosis and that this condition is irreversible. He also said that ...
  A: if you are looking for a fluoride-free toothpaste, try looking in a health foods store. they are the ...
baby teeth9/6/2006
  Q: My daughter just turned 1 year old and the top teeth are coming in, but not the center ones. It ...
  A: cynthia you can take your daughter in any time you have any questions. some pediatric dentists ...
Late teeth8/30/2006
  Q: My daughter is 18 months old. She didn't cut her first tooth until she was close to one year old. ...
  A: Barbara Most likely you have nothing to worry about. Rarely do we ever see missing baby teeth. The ...
2 year old bumped fron tooth8/25/2006
  Q: My 2 year old bumped his front tooth about 2 months ago. It started to turn gray. We saw a dentist ...
  A: you can bond plastic over the tooth to change the color. the problem here is that he is only 2 years ...
Baby teeth not falling out8/24/2006
  Q: My 7 year olds front teeth have been loose for 5 months, and have now started to turn grey at the ...
  A: lois i cannot give you any definitive answer over the internet. i can tell you what to do ...
denture plate8/23/2006
  Q: I have a top denture plate with 6 teeth on it. Why is it that when I smile, the inside of my top ...
  A: janet take this into your dentist and let him/her evaluate things. when we make these appliances, ...
dentist8/23/2006
  Q: Is there any powder type of material that a person can use in the mouth while flossing to provide ...
  A: al you do not want any abrasive on floss. floss is made to remove soft plaque. abrasives over time ...
Crown and Bridge8/22/2006
  Q: 1. I am having an old six-unit bridge replaced that covers my front six teeth. There is a pontic ...
  A: ellen great questions! i will answer them one at a time... 1) you are very observant here. ...
crossbite teeth chewing on one side8/22/2006
  Q: I have a cross bite and tongue thrust .The tongue thrust never seem to bother me and I only grind if ...
  A: nadine this one sounds fairly easy...you need to visit an orthodontist and have records taken and ...
Baby Teeth8/18/2006
  Q: My 4 year old son has just lost his first tooth...is this too early. I am worried it is, as a week ...
  A: to completely answer this, you need to call your dentist and get your son in for an xray and ...
Frenulectomy8/16/2006
  Q: My 9 yr old just had a frenulectomy-separate pro done today. The tissue under upper lip was removed ...
  A: Jo I cannot give you any definitive answer without seeing your son in person. You might very well ...
root cannal over a bridge8/15/2006
  Q: I have just recently had my front bridge removed to be replaced by a tempory bridge. This has caused ...
  A: gail a root canal is needed when the nerve of the tooth is going bad on you. once it has been done ...
periodontist8/14/2006
  Q: Is there some way to find out who is the best periodontist in my area?
  A: the first thing to do is ask your dentist. he or she will give you 1 or 2 names. then you can call a ...
a8/13/2006
  Q: What are the strongest available bonding materials for small chips?I chipped two teeth as a result ...
  A: john all of the commonly available composite resin materials (plastics) come with excellent bonding ...
Tooth may turn gray8/12/2006
  Q: My 17 month old today hit one of his top teeth and cut his lip. The doctor said in the next two to ...
  A: Jim This happens quite often. Let me explain what goes on here. When the tooth is hit that hard, it ...
a8/12/2006
  Q: I chipped two teeth as a result of stress related grinding. I went to a dentist and was told a ...
  A: John This is something I would have to see in order to give you an accurate answer. Let me talk in ...
Front crowns replaced8/11/2006
  Q: I will go for an evaluation as soon as possible , but I would REALLY LIKE TO KNOW what could be done ...
  A: brea i assume you mean too tight next to each other and the other teeth. by now, you should have ...
Front crowns replaced8/11/2006
  Q: When the crowns were first put in they were very tight - I expressed concern but the dentist said ...
  A: glad that i could be of help, brea. have your dentist check out all of those things i mentioned in ...
Side tooth cavities8/10/2006
  Q: Is it important for children to receive fillings for cavities on the side of their teeth? I've heard ...
  A: stewart cavities can occurs on any surface of any tooth. they occur quite often on the ...
Decay under crown8/10/2006
  Q: In the past 16 months I had extensive costmetic work done, with crowns on 20 teeth. I had some ...
  A: hakim anything is possible...even in 12 months. as far as patching the decay, it all depends on ...
Fluoride in toddlers8/9/2006
  Q: My son is 22 months old and ever since he started getting teeth, (around 9 months), his pediatrician ...
  A: laura all research shows that this is safe and effective. it does help make the teeth stronger. just ...
fluoride treatment for 4 year old8/9/2006
  Q: I recently took my 4yr old to the dentist for a cleaning/check-up and they asked it I wanted a ...
  A: becky one topical dose of fluoride cannot cause this. i really have no other explanations for ...
my son8/9/2006
  Q: Dr. thank you for your response I took your advice and took my son to a specialist and he found that ...
  A: there are no guarantees that this is the source but it definitely could be the source and definitely ...
Alternative to Maryland Bridge8/9/2006
  Q: I just got a Maryland Bridge and it has come loose and had to be recemented 3 times. Are there any ...
  A: for a missing tooth, you have the following choices: 1) do nothing...leave the space blank...not a ...
Front crowns replaced8/8/2006
  Q: I had two front crowns replaced and now it hurts to bite into pretty much anything - this was never ...
  A: Brea You need to get back into the dentist for an evaluation. first off, make sure the bite is ...
My 2 yr old's front tooth is loose after a camping accident8/8/2006
  Q: My 2 yr old son fell onto a cold metal fire ring while camping 2 days ago. We took him to the ER and ...
  A: katelyn i cannot diagnose anything over the internet. i would need to see the tooth in person to ...
Root planning and antibiotics8/7/2006
  Q: ----------------------- Hi Jeff and many thanks for your answer!! I very much appreciate it. Do ...
  A: Rob There is no way to give you any percentage. Dentists make this decision based on a case by case ...
Root planning and antibiotics8/7/2006
  Q: ----------------------- Hi Jeff and many thanks for your answer!! I very much appreciate it If I ...
  A: Rob Gingivitis will not change tooth color. Here is what you need to do. Get in and have a good, ...
Root planning and antibiotics8/6/2006
  Q: Wissot: I have two questions: 1) Do most dentists use antiobiotics in conjunciton with deep ...
  A: Rob First off, I am not Dr. Wissot. I am Dr. Jeff Dalin. I can still answer these questions for you. ...
Incoming teeth8/6/2006
  Q: I have two teeth in the front coming in sideways. The dentist told us that if we didnt take care of ...
  A: Shay I am not quite sure how these teeth are coming in. I would need to see things in person. I can ...
3 yr old with bad front teeth8/4/2006
  Q: I have a 3-yr old daughter that grinds her four top front teeth. She has completely wore out the ...
  A: crystal this sounds like a difficult case. before doing anything as drastic as removing front teeth, ...
Baby Teeth8/3/2006
  Q: my daughter is 17 months old, and did not get her first two teeth until 5 months ago. She got her ...
  A: Athena She is not that late. There are ranges of ages when teeth come in. And over the years, I have ...
16 month old and baby teeth8/2/2006
  Q: My almost-16 month old has her two front teeth on top and two incisors on top and her two bottom ...
  A: Terri Kids have teeth erupt in all sorts of orders and all sorts of timing. I have seen just about ...
Pain After Root Canal8/2/2006
  Q: I have a question regarding the pain I am in. 6 days ago, my dentist gave me a root canal on one of ...
  A: Sue You should not wait 2 weeks for your next appointment. You really need to be seen today or ...
loose decidous fractured tooth8/2/2006
  Q: 2nd try. Accidentallly hit a key and not sure if my question went thru. I have a 6 yr old daughter ...
  A: Phillip I wonder if the entire tooth came out when you knocked it. At this age there probably is not ...
Gap in 2yr old's front teeth8/1/2006
  Q: My 2year old daughter has a gap in between her two front teeth. Also, it kind of looks like a ...
  A: Krystal I will give you a lesson in dental anatomy here. The fleshy part in between the teeth is ...
my son8/1/2006
  Q: my son broke his front teeth a few years ago and has permanent false teeth now (on front top only). ...
  A: when it comes to mouth odor, you run through a list of possibilities and take care of things one by ...
Bright yellow staining on childs gumline7/31/2006
  Q: My 3 yr old daughter has 4 upper teeth that are extremely yellow near the gumline. I have supervised ...
  A: ann i cannot give you any definitive answers here over the internet. i would need to see your ...
abcessed tooth7/31/2006
  Q: I have a swollen glum near a capped tooth and the tooth has a root canal. The root canal ...
  A: annette unfortunately this is true...if a root is fractured, then there is nothing anyone can do to ...
Dentistry?7/27/2006
  Q: Peace be upon you, I am a first year dentistry student could you please brief me on the what is the ...
  A: Here in the United States, cosmetic dentistry is hot in demand. This can be bleaching teeth to ...
Chipped tooth7/27/2006
  Q: today i felt off my bike and chipped my teeth. it is the front baby tooth. Should i see a dentist ...
  A: how old are you? you say this is a front baby tooth. am i to assume you are under age 7? regardless ...
swollen glands7/27/2006
  Q: I have had swollen glands for two days now after a receiving a root canal. Last night I had a low ...
  A: mike it could be related to the root canal. an antibiotic might be needed. call your dentist or ...
Root Canal Necessary?7/27/2006
  Q: I had a large filling come out of my molar and my dentist says I need a root canal. He doesn't ...
  A: anna maybe he is seeing something on an xray that tells him it definitely needs a root canal. we can ...
Abcesses7/26/2006
  Q: If I take penicillin for an abcessed tooth which has been crowned but with no root canal, and the ...
  A: daniel it depends on the diagnosis. if the tooth looks like it is a root canal abscess on the xray, ...
Dental injury?7/26/2006
  Q: I understand that you can't really diagnose online. Perhaps you could ask a few general questions: ...
  A: melanie some dentists will recommend proactively placing crowns on teeth to "prevent" fractures. i ...
New fillings that keep coming off7/26/2006
  Q: Dalin. I recently had several cavities filled. After a few days 1 filling came off. I went back in ...
  A: cheryl this happens to every dentist. everything he said is true. he sounds okay to me. he is ...
filling a cavity7/26/2006
  Q: i have a simple question about filling a cavity. recently, i discovered that there was a small hole ...
  A: a week is not that long. this is what i would do in the meanwhile. go into your dentist today and ...
Dental injury?7/25/2006
  Q: Dalin, After a recent dental experience, I'm concerned my dentist may have injured my tooth and gum ...
  A: melanie i cannot really make any diagnoses over the internet. i would have to see you in person to ...
Ketamine for toddlers.7/25/2006
  Q: Dalin, I have written to you before about my son's root canals. They said that Ketamine will be ...
  A: Lisa I am a general dentist. I do not use sedation on any of my patients. So I am not a good source ...
Sensitive front tooth7/25/2006
  Q: About a week ago, my front right tooth began being sensitive to cold drinks and foods. No other ...
  A: Dina Without seeing you in person, it is impossible to come up with a definitive diagnosis. I can ...
chipped tooth7/24/2006
  Q: I had a cap put on my front tooth about 10 yrs ago, I had a bit of a mishap playing soccer at the ...
  A: damien it is very difficult to repair porcelain crowns or caps. you can try to bond plastic but the ...
Filling Pain/Possible Crown7/24/2006
  Q: This is a long one...so please bare with me. I went to the dentist to take care of some cavities I ...
  A: JB You have answered your own question here. By all means, you need a second and maybe a third ...
Tender after crown7/21/2006
  Q: If I have to have the root canal, will they remove my crown and do the root canal and then replace ...
  A: Mary This happens now and then. The root canal doc cuts a tiny hole in the top of the crown and does ...
Gums7/20/2006
  Q: I am 17 and my wisdom teeth are all in. I think they still need to grow a bit more but, they are all ...
  A: Absolutely call your dentist and get in there to have the area looked at. I am not sure what is ...
adult teeth growing behind baby teeth7/20/2006
  Q: My daughter is 4 years old. About a month ago I noticed that her bottom front tooth was a little ...
  A: Michelle relax..this happens a lot. the permanent tooth just misses the roots of the baby teeth as ...
Tender after crown7/20/2006
  Q: Dalin, First a little background, I have 6 or 7 Crowned teeth, probably 3 root canals and an ...
  A: Mary Here are some possible explanations for your discomfort: 1) the bite or occlusion is off on the ...
New hole after wisdom teeth7/20/2006
  Q: I just got my wisdom teeth out 2 days ago, everything seemed fine for a bit. I havent even had any ...
  A: Edwin WIthout seeing this in person, I really cannot picture what you are seeing here. Maybe there ...
Brige Work Vs Implants7/20/2006
  Q: My son is missing two upper teeth (eye teeth I believe) and two lower teeth. We have been seeing an ...
  A: I think if you ask any dentist, you will hear that implants are the best choice here. When you do a ...
MY CHILDS TEETH7/19/2006
  Q: MY SON IS 6 YEARS OLD AND NONE OF HIS TEETH HAVE FALLEN OUT YET. ON HIS LOWER JAW HE HAS A TOOTH ...
  A: celia these are good questions. first let's talk about the spacing. this is good to have. first off, ...
Broken tooth7/18/2006
  Q: Sorry about that. 6 months ago I had a root canal and never went back for my crown , just last night ...
  A: tina- this is why we always tell people to do crowns on root canaled teeth...they become very ...
Need a recommendation in the Bay area (CA)7/17/2006
  Q: Sir, We are new to the bay area (CA) and my wife urgently needs root canal treatment. I would be ...
  A: Namit I am located in St. Louis. I do not know any endodontists personally. I do have two general ...
Dental Cost7/17/2006
  Q: Over the past 2 months I have spent over $600. just for cleaning my teeth and my 7 year old. I am 49 ...
  A: cathy the only way to do this is go and get some other opinions. see if the work really needs to be ...
Jaw Pain7/17/2006
  Q: Approximately two weeks ago I started experiencing jaw pain on the left side only when eating. The ...
  A: art it sounds like something to do with the TMJ. usually it is related to the muscles and ligaments ...
small lump in gum7/17/2006
  Q: over the past year I have been having problems with an impacted wisdom tooth on my left side bottom ...
  A: anna i cannot give you any definitive answers here...i need to see the area in person to tell you ...
Lines in teeth (Children)7/17/2006
  Q: 3 days ago I noticed my daughter, who is 5, has very prominate lines on her upper 2 front teeth. ...
  A: russell i am not exactly sure what you are seeing here. i would need to see things in person to give ...
root canal7/17/2006
  Q: I am 11 and scared to death to have a root canal. How do I calm myself?
  A: megan i am assuming you need to have one done. i can only tell you a few things here and hope they ...
Broken top front tooth7/16/2006
  Q: Today I was eating a sandwhich which in the meanwhile I had broken my top front tooth which was ...
  A: marsha do not panic yet. there are ways to save teeth...even if they look that scary. has this had a ...
Interior cheek pain in my 4 y.o.7/16/2006
  Q: My daughter who is nearly 4 years old has been complaining about pain in the insides of her cheeks ...
  A: cynthia this could be something viral. it can cause the fever and feeling lousy. but usually you ...
wisdom teeth extraction7/16/2006
  Q: yes i am having my wisdom teeth out in hospital so i presume it will be an oral surgeon doing this ...
  A: Julie Let me walk you through this. I just lived through this with my 18 year old. She had her ...
Extreme Pain7/16/2006
  Q: I was to the dentist a few weeks ago for an infection and I needed a root canal. I decided to wait ...
  A: you can call your dentist and get back on the antibiotic and some medication to control the pain. ...
wisdom teeth extraction7/15/2006
  Q: i am havin my 2 upper wisdom teeth extracted shortly and am embarrassed to say i'm absolutely ...
  A: julie are you using an oral surgeon? they are very good at doing this...very atraumatic. you should ...
Fluorosis7/15/2006
  Q: My son is 9months and started growing teeth but I notice that some of them have a brown spots on ...
  A: nadine I cannot give you any definitive answer without seeing your son in person. it might not be ...
early molar loss7/15/2006
  Q: My 7year old son just lost his 2nd molar today. Is that to soon? I thought he would loose that one ...
  A: 7 is a little early for primary 2nd molars to be lost. i wonder if his permanent first molar erupted ...
Please help7/15/2006
  Q: My bf does not have his wisdom teeth taken out.His bottom left gum is swollen and its hard for him ...
  A: i cannot tell you much without seeing him in person. it sounds like the wisdom tooth gum might be ...
Unfinished Crown work7/14/2006
  Q: After one visit where my dentist worked for five hours, installing three temp. crowns, I am deathly ...
  A: this is going to be a tough one. the dentist spent time working on you and had some crowns made. ...
Itchy Teeth!7/14/2006
  Q: I notice you covered a question about 'itchy teeth' previously and I was wandering if you could tell ...
  A: i honestly do not have a definitive diagnosis for itchy teeth. i would recommend getting into your ...
nitrous oxide vs. general anesthesia7/14/2006
  Q: Dalin, My 17 year-old daughter needs to have wisdom teeth removed. She thinks she would like to be ...
  A: nitrous oxide can be used as an analgesic or an anesthetic. as an analgesic, it merely makes you ...
Ouestions on Dentistry7/14/2006
  Q: What are the age ranges for dentist? What are some growth opportunities in this field? What are the ...
  A: to become a dentist, you have to go to college first and take a number of prerequisite courses. then ...
Root resorption in 4 yr old7/13/2006
  Q: My four year old daughter has two cavaties in her front top teeth.... the Dentist wants to pull ...
  A: THis all depends on how much resorption. Roots resorb naturally as the permanent teeth come in. I do ...
Adding Vertical [to my bite]7/13/2006
  Q: I am in the middle of getting implants(posts in with no abuttment or crown yet)in most the places ...
  A: Len The only downside is this increased wear. You are not showing any TMJ symptoms. You are merely ...
Adding Vertical [to my bite]7/13/2006
  Q: I am in the middle of getting implants(posts in with no abuttment or crown yet)in most the places ...
  A: len this can be a difficult thing to do. testing is the way to accomplish this. i do not recommend ...
Teeth irritation7/13/2006
  Q: Having being checked by a dentist, I was told that I have a normal teeth. In fact, the dentist told ...
  A: we are limited by what we can see clinically. that is why we take dental xrays of the teeth. this ...
Slow-growing teeth7/13/2006
  Q: My daughter is eight years old. Her adult teeth are extremely slow-growing. For example her two ...
  A: shawn i need to see your daughter in person to answer this. i cannot diagnose over the internet. you ...
Root canal for 2.6 year old7/12/2006
  Q: My son went to visit a pedodontist yesterday and apparently the x-ray showed that he needed 6 ...
  A: root canals can be done on baby teeth. they are a little simpler than those done on permanent teeth. ...
Cavities, fillings and dental bill7/12/2006
  Q: I recently went to a new dentist after not going for a few years. I was told that I have a few new ...
  A: angela i am a firm believer in this: if a tooth is cracked, it would be cold and chewing sensitive. ...
LOCK LEFT JAW, What should i do?7/12/2006
  Q: I went to the dentist 3 weeks ago to have my teeth near my jaw remove, the dentist failed to remove ...
  A: this is temporomandibular joint and surrounding muscles/ligaments problem. first off, is the ...
daughter's gums7/11/2006
  Q: It is definitely not the frenum. I had that problem and eventually had skin from the roof of my ...
  A: luke then i really cannot picture exactly what is going on here. i really would need to see it in ...
14 day white teeth product bad for gum. Why?7/11/2006
  Q: I heard in news-- the product WhiteStrips are bad for your gum. That you need to be careful putting ...
  A: ALex It is not anything that will permanently damage the gums in that percentage for that short of a ...
Teeth irritation7/11/2006
  Q: I've been facing teeth irritation for the past 2 months. It's like this, when my upper teeth touches ...
  A: You obviously do not like it when your teeth grind against each other...and it is worse when you lie ...
abscess tooth7/10/2006
  Q: I had a tooth pulled (abscess) & now my ankle is swollen & sore _ very. I did not hit it etc. ...
  A: Connie I have not ever heard of this happening. There is no way that infection in a tooth can spread ...
daughter's gums7/10/2006
  Q: My daughter has a small piece of her gum, loocated in between her middle, lower teeth that can be ...
  A: Luke I am not sure what this is. Your dentist saw it and said it would heal in time. I assume you ...
teeth calcium and build up7/10/2006
  Q: What is calium build up ?What causes it ?How can you tell if its tarter or calcium or both?I try to ...
  A: Nadine, When you see deposits on your teeth, they can be one of a few different things: 1) ...
17month old7/9/2006
  Q: My 17 month old son has both of his top and bottom central incissor teeth and his lower latteral ...
  A: Verna At 17 months there is absolutely nothing you can do to stop this. Do not worry here. As more ...
Pain after filling?7/9/2006
  Q: 10 days ago I had 4 fillings. I had to have an injection on my left side. After the injection wore ...
  A: Beckie There are a lot of variables here. The first thing you mentioned made sense. When you get an ...
swollen gums7/9/2006
  Q: My gums have become swollen around a cap that i had fitted a few years ago. The teeth are not ...
  A: Becky Without seeing this in person, I cannot give you any definitive answers. It most likely is not ...
dentistry school7/9/2006
  Q: I appreciate your reply from a previous question and would like to ask one more. How do students ...
  A: Nick It would be a rough 4 years. I did it as a single person. Most were married. Many had kids. It ...
jaw pain after temporary crown7/7/2006
  Q: Dr. Dalin, A week ago I went in for a build up on #3 to repair a partially broken tooth with a ...
  A: Chris I understand your frustration. If I were your dentist, I would at least try a few things to ...
Wisdom Tooth7/7/2006
  Q: First off, i'm 20 and last month I started to feel soreness on my lower left gums next to my last ...
  A: Ann Everyone is different when it comes to getting these out. And then there is the oral surgeon. ...
Managing a practice7/7/2006
  Q: I am thinking of having my own business someday and I am curious if running a dentistry practice is ...
  A: Nick Dentistry is a great profession. It is challenging work to do...working on small things in ...
toddler chipped tooth7/7/2006
  Q: My 23 month old son just chipped his front tooth. I took him to our pedi dentist and there is no ...
  A: Carrie The tooth can have some bonded plastic added to it to build it back up whole. The issue here ...
tooth coming in behind baby tooth7/6/2006
  Q: I was just told by a pediatric dentist that my five year old sons tooth would have to be pulled out. ...
  A: Dee Just wiggle on it 5-10 times at a time, 5-10 times a day. This will help loosen things up. You ...
Sore gums after injections7/6/2006
  Q: :-) I looked at my poor gums last night and now realise that they the skin is now peeling off in the ...
  A: Ange From that description, it could be an outbreak of canker sores (from the trauma of the ...
Pulling Wisdom Teeth and Replacing Fillings7/6/2006
  Q: Hope you can give me an answer for my husband, 62 y/o. Just had a visit to the dentist and they ...
  A: Diane I cannot really give you any definitive answers over the internet. I am not looking at your ...
FREAKED OUT7/5/2006
  Q: I took my son to the Dentist today, he saw the hygeinest (sp?) and the Dentist, I watched carefully ...
  A: R This protection gear is more for the dentist and his/her staff. Gloves are mostly for the ...
Sore gums after injections7/5/2006
  Q: I had injections into the gums above my front teeth yesterday. The places which were injected are so ...
  A: Ange At this point, the only thing that will make them feel better is some sort of topical ...
Gum receding while having braces7/5/2006
  Q: I noticed a few weeks ago that my gum is receding on just one of my teeth... I have had braces for 3 ...
  A: Billie Jo Recession can occur during orthodontics. When you twist a tooth or tip it around, this can ...
Holes in toddler teeth.7/5/2006
  Q: Dalin, My son is two and half is will be visting the dentist soon. While he was sleeping the ...
  A: From what you are describing, these sound like small defects along the gumline...not anything too ...
loss of tooth order7/4/2006
  Q: My 5 1/2 year old daughter is losing her teeth out of order. The two teeth on the bottom next to the ...
  A: Katie Order is nothing to be concerned about..especially at the beginning here. Order has been ...
root canaled tooth - abcess - help!7/4/2006
  Q: my dentist showed me I have an abcess in a root canaled 1st upper molar. He said we can re--treat ...
  A: Dee You have a lot of things to consider here. First off, I would consider having it retreated...and ...
baby tooth with split7/4/2006
  Q: My 9 month old has both of his front teeth through, although one has a clear split or gap in it. We ...
  A: Stephen With a 9 month old, this will be very tough to do. He will not want anyone even looking in ...
deep filling pain and antibiotics7/3/2006
  Q: About a month ago I had had a fairly sensitive (to touch) 1st molar which over a period of 2-3 days ...
  A: Jan I wish I could give you a definitive answer but I cannot do so without seeing you in person. ...
Curious about Childhood Procedure7/3/2006
  Q: When I was about 6 or 7 years old, the dentist performed a procedure in which he removed the ...
  A: Donna I am not sure exactly what you mean by this. It sounds like a frenectomy. This is done when ...
Pediatric dentistry questions7/2/2006
  Q: Dalin, I have a few questions. First, my son (just turned 3) went to the dentist yesterday. We ...
  A: Lisa These are all excellent questions and I will give you absolutely honest answers. 1) Sometimes ...
sonic vs spin brush7/1/2006
  Q: Dr. Dalin Which, if any, would you recommend: a sonic toothbrush (i.e. Oral B Sonic Complete) or a ...
  A: Dave These are two excellent brushes. We have them both at my office to sell to patients. The ...
dental shots without epinephrine7/1/2006
  Q: I need to have dental work done that i have put off for 10 years because the shots with the ...
  A: Dawn I do not understand why the dentist will not comply with your wishes. There are anesthetics ...
delayed permanent teeth6/30/2006
  Q: My daughter is 8 1/2 years old, she has lost 6 baby teeth, four on the bottom in the front, which ...
  A: Cheri 6 months is not unusual. But to put your mind at ease, make an appointment with your dentist ...
extraction of baby molar under IV6/29/2006
  Q: My daughter is six year old. She has a deep cavity on her upper last molar. Her pediatric dentist ...
  A: Lillian This all depends on the child and her behavior. By age six, usually they are very ...
baby teeth and permanent teeth6/29/2006
  Q: My daughter has 2 permanent teeth coming in behind 3 of her baby teeth. One baby tooth is loose and ...
  A: Connie It is not uncommon at all for this to happen. I would be handling this exactly as your ...
Temporary Bridge Options6/28/2006
  Q: I've very recently had my Upper Right 1 tooth removed due to an accident and have had an implant ...
  A: Rodger I am not quite sure what you are describing here. Is this something removable? If so you are ...
IV Sedation for 5 yr old6/28/2006
  Q: I took my 5 year old for his first dentist check-up and cleaning in February 2006. I was told he had ...
  A: Everything this dentist told you is true. I could not agree more with everything he has told you. ...
Flossing6/27/2006
  Q: I understand the need to floss between teeth and practice this procedure faithfully. Is there a need ...
  A: Art It can't hurt to do this because it might get down under the gum a little better. But it is not ...
Swollen hard palate w/ pressure sensitive pain6/27/2006
  Q: My hard palate in the upper part of the mouth, near the rear molars, is swollen and painful to ...
  A: George I would need to see this in person to give you a definitive diagnosis. One possibility is ...
cavity6/27/2006
  Q: I am traveling in Europe and suspect I have a cavity in one of my molars because a piece of the ...
  A: Carolyn There is no way for me to guarantee anything here. Especially without seeing it in person. ...
nitrous oxide6/27/2006
  Q: i have a six year old child that has a baby tooth lodged oddly in her front gum.her adult teeth are ...
  A: sandy nitrous oxide is safe if used as an analgesic. what that means is that your child will get 50% ...
children dentistry6/27/2006
  Q: this place i go to has about 15 different dentists in it with i guess every speciality. they have ...
  A: a pediatric specialist knows how to handle children. he/she knows if he/she can do it with local ...
my 3 1/2 year olds teeth6/26/2006
  Q: I am very concerned about my sons teeth. His front teeth on top are rotting away. I have had him ...
  A: the infection might have caused some weaknesses in his teeth but do not cause the large amount of ...
Sonicare6/26/2006
  Q: I purchased a Sonicare toothbrush last year. My hygenist every six months keeps telling me I need to ...
  A: Maybe the best thing to do is to bring it in and do it in front of the hygienist. There is no ...
children dentistry6/26/2006
  Q: my son now aged 4 years has from his first dental app found out. his 2 front teeth need root canal ...
  A: My first question to you is this: did he see a general dentist or a pediatric specialist? If he ...
CHILD WITH6/26/2006
  Q: My 7 year old son normally sees a family dentist. That dentist has always mentioned my son's soft ...
  A: Without seeing things in person, I really cannot give you a good answer here. These are decisions ...
crown removal6/25/2006
  Q: If a crown has to be removed, what are the options? (assuming no root canal has been done ...
  A: If a crown needs to be replaced then there is no need to get it off intact. I usually cut a groove ...
Significant breakthrough6/25/2006
  Q: Could you please enlighten me a little more on magnification (loupes)? What are these predominantly ...
  A: Loupes are magnifcation lens's on glasses. When we look at our patients' mouths, everything is then ...
Significant breakthrough6/24/2006
  Q: What is the most important/significant dental breakthrough in the last 10 years?
  A: Chris This is an impossible question to answer. In dentistry we are constantly having new ...
sensitive teeth6/24/2006
  Q: Could I have sensitive teeth due to using Listerine Whitening? I used if twice a day faithfully for ...
  A: Jean If you are sensitive to any of the ingredients, this can occur. It sounds logical because you ...
Tongue lump6/24/2006
  Q: I was feeling with my tongue the squishy area of the tongue, and felt a thick feeling I was not sure ...
  A: jb this is impossible to diagnose over the internet. i would have to see your tongue in person to ...
4.5 yr old losing baby teeth6/23/2006
  Q: My 4.5 yr old son has started losing his baby teeth. He lost the bottom 2 last week, and now has ...
  A: Shelly There is an age range for losing teeth. 4.5 is a little on the younger end but everyone is ...
lo6/23/2006
  Q: I recently saw a dentist who took it upon himself to grind down enamel on the back face of two teeth ...
  A: John I am not sure how much this dentist adjusted or how rough he left it. You can always go back ...
re: Braces removal6/22/2006
  Q: What is it that is used to remove braces? I know they are bonded on but is there a chemical used to ...
  A: The orthodontist has an instrument that "pops" off the bracket. He/she then polishes off any ...
Pain after Root Canal/Crown6/22/2006
  Q: I recently had a root canal on the 2nd to last molar on my bottom right side. The root canal went ...
  A: Karin I am not sure what exactly is going on here. I am not looking at your tooth now and have not ...
EMERGENCY DENTIST APPOINTMENT6/21/2006
  Q: GOOD MORNING: FOR THE PAST WEEK I HAVE BEEN HAVING A SLIGHT TOOTHACHE ON MY LEFT SIDE - THE TOOTH ...
  A: Kristen It sounds like this tooth might need a root canal. All of your symptoms point to this. You ...
Crown fit?6/20/2006
  Q: After 3 months back and forth (not all dentists are good), I have a crown that does not make contact ...
  A: Deborah Without seeing the tooth and the bite in person, it is impossible for me to give you a ...
tounge6/19/2006
  Q: I have a question about the tounge. Out of the blue Saturday night, the underside of my tounge ...
  A: Erin I really need to see this area to be able to tell you what it is. Some of what you describe is ...
orbit chew gum6/19/2006
  Q: spearmint orbit chew gum is useful for teeth?
  A: the key with any gum is lack of sugar. so any sugarless gum works well with me. but you asked if ...
Tipped of front tooth chipped off6/19/2006
  Q: I was sitting watching television when I noticed one of my front tooth felt different. I soon ...
  A: David, This is not a rare occurrence. With just plain wear and tear, the edges of these teeth can ...
Cracked tooth?6/16/2006
  Q: Just this afternoon I ran my tongue along one of my back molars and realized there was a chunk ...
  A: Nicole, This is very common. A cusp breaks off clean. That means there is no decay. It is strictly a ...
bumps on side of tongue6/16/2006
  Q: I have bumps on the side of my tongue that are rather painful and purple and another two bumps at ...
  A: rachelle without seeing your tongue in person, there is absolutely no way for me to tell you what is ...
Perioscaling6/15/2006
  Q: I had perioscaling done and anitbiotics injected into my gums about three weeks ago. My gums are ...
  A: Piper I cannot diagnose anything over the internet. What I would do is call the dentist or ...
Dead Tooth6/15/2006
  Q: I have a dead/gray tooth (one of my front teeth - on top). About 9 months ago I had a rootcanal on ...
  A: Salvatore It is very common for root canal teeth to darken. In order to try to match color of other ...
Baby teeth6/12/2006
  Q: My son is 10 just had a xray and cleaning and found 9 cavites only one is a permanent tooth and 1 is ...
  A: lisa it all depends on the size of the decay and how soon they will be lost. sometimes boys do not ...
Occlusal Guard6/12/2006
  Q: About 8 years ago I was advised by an orthodontist to start wearing a night guard for my clenching ...
  A: Jana I do not even know what bruxees is. We use a clear acrylic that patients find very comfortable. ...
sensitive tooth6/10/2006
  Q: If a 35 year old man has a certain tooth that is sensitive to cold food, i.e., ice water or ice ...
  A: Al cold sensitivity can mean a few things. the easiest explanation is some slight recession of the ...
blackening6/10/2006
  Q: iv been brushing heavivly for the last 2 weeks hoping to see some change but to no avail what is ...
  A: one possibility is stain from coffee, tea, or other foods. it can be polished off by the dentist. ...
Pain after root canal6/10/2006
  Q: Dalin for your response. I hope you don't mind if I update you on my situation, with a few more ...
  A: Now it is getting interesting...There are many times where some of the cement or gutta percha (root ...
toddlers teeth6/9/2006
  Q: i have a four year old daughter. when she was two she fell and chipped one of her front tooth. we ...
  A: Permanent upper front teeth usually come in around age 5-6 in girls (7-8 in boys). This can vary ...
t6/8/2006
  Q: The chip is partially covered by a composite done on the adjacent tooth and at present the exposed ...
  A: John Oxalates are known to help desensitive teeth. One really good brand to try is called Soothe Rx. ...
Invisiline6/8/2006
  Q: I am a seventeen year old and I have had three teeth pulled with one crown over the top of metal ...
  A: Amanda, I am not quite sure what was done to you from your description...crown with a metal bar. I ...
Periodontis, Night guards, root canal pain6/8/2006
  Q: I have several questions: - I've recently been told I have Periodontis with some bone loss, not due ...
  A: Darlene Let's try to tackle these one at a time. Let's talk night guards first (for grinding). $1800 ...
decalcification6/8/2006
  Q: I have been checking on the internet for something? I took my son in January/Feb. for his first ...
  A: Tonia You are doing the right thing here...getting a second opinion. And a pediatric dentist will be ...
numbness??6/8/2006
  Q: Recently I had a UTI, and I took Macrobid for one day and i got rid of it, and i was drinking ...
  A: Desiree I am not sure what is going on here. It sounds to me like you might have some canker sores. ...
t6/8/2006
  Q: Do you have any recommendations on how to treat sensitive teeth? I chipped a tooth slightly years ...
  A: John I cannot tell you what is going on here. I do not know why a plastic filling would make things ...
Fluoride6/7/2006
  Q: I have been going to the dentist every 6 months for routine exams, cleaning and I have had some ...
  A: Kim I cannot give you any definitive answers over the internet. I would have to see you and your ...
Root canal/crown.6/7/2006
  Q: Well i am having my root canal done tomarrow and my post/core on monday. My question is Because of ...
  A: There is a little bit of a risk waiting 4-5 weeks. A root canal tooth often becomes brittle and can ...
Partial6/7/2006
  Q: Can you get a partial screwed down in your mouth permanently? If no then why not? I know of someone ...
  A: Beulah A denture can be screwed in only on a bunch of implants. It can also snap in and out on ...
Tongue Pimple6/7/2006
  Q: A couple months ago, I felt something like a bubble on the bottom of my tongue. I looked in the ...
  A: Dana I cannot give you any definitive answers without seeing things in person. From what you ...
Sad About Losing 10 Healthy Teeth6/6/2006
  Q: I am 26 years old guy, I live in Midwest USA, and I recently have 10 porcelain crowns done only on ...
  A: Danny I am very sorry to tell you that you cannot get back your natural teeth. Once they have been ...
Soft tissue removal around wisdom teeth6/6/2006
  Q: I am 35 years old and have never had my wisdom teeth removed. Though they are impacted, they came ...
  A: Scott, I am kind of like you. I am a firm believer in that if it is not broken, then why fix it. I ...
Pain after root canal6/5/2006
  Q: Dr. Dalin: My dentist recommended replacing an old filling (which felt absoultely fine) with an ...
  A: Laura Let's tackle things one point at a time. You need to let the endodontist look at that lump. ...
Gum/tooth6/5/2006
  Q: There is a swelling in my gum line by one of my molars. The tooth is a baby tooth that never fell ...
  A: Chris Most likely the swelling is telling you that it is time to get that baby tooth out. Sometimes ...
Gluten-free anesthetic6/4/2006
  Q: My son needs to have his 1st cavity filled but he has Celiac Disease. He cannot have anything that ...
  A: Judy, Epinephrine should not be a problem with Celiac Disease. Your dentist should call the ...
metallic taste since new gold crown6/3/2006
  Q: 3 months ago my dentist took one look at my fractured many-times-repaired lower rear molar and ...
  A: You are good. The metallic taste is exactly what you described...two disimilar metals touching in a ...
post RCT,NO INVASIVE REMEDY pls!6/2/2006
  Q: I'M 25.3 YEARS AGO,MY UPPER PREMOLAR DEVELOPED CARIES FOR WHICH RCT AND PORCELAIN CROWNING WAS ...
  A: Annie I wish I could give you a more definitive answer but I cannot diagnose anything over the ...
Wisdom teeth removal6/2/2006
  Q: On the 3rd of July I have to have all 4 wisdom teeth taken out under a general, can you tell me how ...
  A: Mel This one depends on the surgeon and his or her skills and the wisdom teeth and how they are ...
Root Canal w/no cavity?6/1/2006
  Q: I just went to the dentist because I have a tooth that is slightly sensitive to cold and if there ...
  A: April You can see dark spots at the end of the root of tooth and this can mean a tooth needs a root ...
filling for non-cavity tooth5/31/2006
  Q: I have never had any cavities, but I have one molar that my dentist said just never completely ...
  A: Melissa I think I know what he is saying. Now remember that I am just guessing here. I cannot give ...
extraction or apicectomy?5/31/2006
  Q: Psychologically I am at the end of my nerves with a tooth problem. I have been prodded touched, ...
  A: Chloe None of this makes sense to me. You do not do a root canal every time it flares up. If it is ...
Abcesses on a root canaled & crowned tooth5/31/2006
  Q: I am 23 yr old female with a terrible mouth. I have had 6 root canals and 3 crowns on 3 of the root ...
  A: Kennan You need to go to your dentist or an endodontist (root canal specialist) to have an xray ...
2.5 yr olds teeth5/30/2006
  Q: I have a 2.5yr littel girl who fell a couple of weeks ago on slick tile floor. i thought she bit ...
  A: Leslie The darkening of the front teeth usually means that the nerves of these teeth have been ...
Nitrous Oxide Sedation5/30/2006
  Q: I have been avoiding returning to the dentist for longer than I should. I am extremely anxious of ...
  A: Nitrous oxide is a great adjunct for dental care. It does not put you asleep. It just makes you ...
Baby Teeth5/30/2006
  Q: I just noticed this morning that one of my 16 month old son's teeth seems to be growing out of the ...
  A: Susan The easiest thing to do here is take your child either to your dentist or to a pediatric ...
Funny taste after filling5/29/2006
  Q: Answer - Mike, What type of material did your dentist use? If it is silver and you place it next ...
  A: Mike- One option is to have the silver be replaced with plastic. Another option is to get a second ...
Funny taste after filling5/29/2006
  Q: I hope you can help me with this general dental question. I recently had a filling replaced, as the ...
  A: Mike, What type of material did your dentist use? If it is silver and you place it next to an older ...
root canal5/29/2006
  Q: About 6 years ago I had to have a root canal on one of my molars on the top left side. Things went ...
  A: Jennifer, I would call the endodontist and see if he/she has any other ideas for you. I would not ...
hole in crown of my 7yr olds eye(?) tooth5/29/2006
  Q: My daughter is loosing her teeth ~ normal; but today I noticed the upper eye tooth had a brown spot. ...
  A: Alycen 7 is a little young to get that tooth out early. You do not want to lose space. My ...
Hole in tooth5/28/2006
  Q: I am very concerned because I can feel with my tongue that I have a hole in one of my far back, flat ...
  A: Jennifer Do not panic!!! Even though you see something dark and appears to be a hole, it might not ...
allergies and toothache5/28/2006
  Q: It is allergies season and I got my nose congested, runny nose, after few days I woke up 3am with ...
  A: Beata Sometimes a sinus infection can cause your teeth to throb. I would not write off this pain to ...
Preventing Root Canal5/27/2006
  Q: Is there anything a dentist can do procedure wise that would deliver less nerve trauma to a tooth ...
  A: Chris There are some patients who always seem to have this problem. Their teeth just do not "like" ...
Denlat work5/26/2006
  Q: I am in need of major dental work. Many root canals and many extractions. My pay after insurance ...
  A: Andrea The first thing that has to be addressed is your pain and swelling. The rest of the treatment ...
white tongue after using listerine whitening5/25/2006
  Q: I used listerine whitening as described on the bottle. I only used it once a couple of days ago, ...
  A: Gayle One of the ingredients in there is hydrogen peroxide which can make pink tissue look whiter. I ...
Novacain & Cavities5/23/2006
  Q: I'm having some small cavities filled soon. This will the first time I've had this done, and the ...
  A: First off, when is your appointment and when is the dinner? If an anesthetic is used that does not ...
Prevident Use5/23/2006
  Q: Following a series of cavities over the past few years, I was prescribed Prevident gel by my ...
  A: Peter, This is something totally up to your dentist. I often do the same thing with my patients. I ...
Teeth keep chipping; black buildup5/21/2006
  Q: I am a 21-year-old with extremely good dental hygiene and what I considered decent teeth. They're ...
  A: Josh, I cannot give you any definitive answers without seeing you in person. It is possible to get ...
very bad pain behind lower wisdom tooth5/21/2006
  Q: my mouth has been huting very bad keeping up at nite and asprins only lasting a couple hours i am 39 ...
  A: Joey I would need to see you and the tooth in person to give you a definitive answer. You need an ...
My 3yo daughter needs two fillings5/18/2006
  Q: My three year old has been seen by a pediatric dentist 3 times since her 2nd birthday. At her last ...
  A: Karen You are using a pediatric dentist. They excel at treating young kids. Just sit down and ...
flossing5/18/2006
  Q: What I meant is that I have trouble flossing manually, I have cerebral palsy. I have seen some ...
  A: Ken Thank you for clearing things up. Glide makes a floss pick. This is a small plastic piece with a ...
flossing5/17/2006
  Q: I have troulbe flossing , I was wondering if there were alternative ways other then the traditional ...
  A: Ken- Do not give up on floss yet. Waterpiks, etc are good for getting rid of debris but not plaque. ...
roof of mouth5/17/2006
  Q: Bit of background, I'm a 22 year old male, good health, just got out of college. Drink a bit, used ...
  A: Matt I cannot give you a definite answer without seeing the roof of the mouth in person. The best ...
Mexican dentistry5/17/2006
  Q: I can not afford even the Los Angeles Student Dental Clinic of $495 for porcelain inlays. Do you ...
  A: Alix- There is no way to know if the inlays made in Mexico for $240 are safe or as good as those ...
toothpaste5/15/2006
  Q: : I have been swallowing my toothpaste as I brush my teeth in front of the TV for a long time. I ...
  A: Cathy, Toothpaste is made to be expectorated not swallowed. Swallowing a little bit is not harmful. ...
Stubborn Primary teeth5/10/2006
  Q: My 6 year old is having a difficult time losing his primary teeth. Many are loose but only one has ...
  A: I would for sure get a second opinion. I cannot give you any definitive answers without seeing your ...
Cavity filled5/9/2006
  Q: I had a cavity filled yesterday. My first one ever and I am 31 years old. I find it feels bruised in ...
  A: Chrystal, Part of this answer depends on what was used to fill the tooth. If silver was used, then ...
veneers5/2/2006
  Q: i was wondering i wanted to have cosmetic dentistry becasue my tell are uneven at the front and i ...
  A: Sarah, What you need to do is make a consultation appointment with a dentist who does a lot of ...
2 year old4/23/2006
  Q: My daughter just turned 2. She got her first tooth at 12.5 months old. She only has 10 teeth and ...
  A: Michelle, There is a large range of ages when teeth erupt. Some kids get their first baby tooth at ...
missing adult teeth gaps4/19/2006
  Q: My daughter is 14 and missing 3 adult teeth, 2 upper and 1 lower. The lower has been removed but the ...
  A: Pam You ask a lot of questions here. Get ready for a lot of information here. I cannot give you ...
bridge falling out4/12/2006
  Q: Hey Dr. Dalin, I've got a bit of a problem I would like to ask you about. I was born without an ...
  A: Tram, I cannot give you any definitive answers over the internet without seeing things in person. ...
recommended electric toothbrush3/20/2006
  Q: I am looking for an electric toothbrush. I know of Sonicare (leading towards Sonicare) and Oral-B ...
  A: Tim To be 100% honest with you, I have not seen the Waterpik Synchrosonic. I am very familiar with ...
Is it an abscess or a cyst over my root canal?3/13/2006
  Q: About two years ago, I had a root canal on a badly cavitied molar (top left, second back from my ...
  A: Lauren, I am sorry that I did not answer this sooner...I just received it from All Experts. This ...
Bleaching3/9/2006
  Q: Sir, I wanna know about bleaching technique that how it work, is this change the composition of ...
  A: As I understand it, bleaching works by penetrating through the enamel layer of the teeth and ...
Abscessed tooth3/8/2006
  Q: About two weeks ago I was expierncing a great deal of jaw pain, I went to the doctor and was told it ...
  A: anjelica anything is possible. there are some people whose teeth just do not like to be worked on. ...
Toddler's Teeth3/7/2006
  Q: My daughter is 21 months old. She has 20 teeth (got second molars about 6 weeks ago). In the last ...
  A: Debi Without seeing things in person, I am only guessing here. From what you describe, it might be ...
prosthetic problem3/2/2006
  Q: Dalin, I have endless prosthetic problems with two of my upper bridges (3-8, and 9-14), which I ...
  A: Vlad, We used to see implant screws loosen up years ago when we first started doing these style of ...
2 year old tooth extraction3/1/2006
  Q: RE:well i believe he was a pedodontist do u still think i should get another opinion? Or should i ...
  A: First make sure he was a pediatric dentist. Then discuss the options: holding down versus some ...
2 year old tooth extraction?3/1/2006
  Q: I recently brought my 2 year old son to the dentist after his tooth broke and a few days later ...
  A: Jodi, First off, did you take him to a pediatric dentist? With a 2 year old, this is the only way to ...
prosthetic problem3/1/2006
  Q: Dalin, I have endless prosthetic problems with two of my upper bridges (3-8, and 9-14), which I ...
  A: Vlad, This all sounds extremely complicated to me. I cannot possibly make any recommendations ...
Cleaning teeth away from home.2/28/2006
  Q: Could you please give me some suggestions, for cleaning your teeth when you can't brush. I know ...
  A: Sallie, There really is not good substitute for brushing. What we tell people to do is rinse real ...
What happend to my teeth?2/27/2006
  Q: Hey there, I have an odd question. I just noticed in the mirror that I have small brown stains on ...
  A: Candice Without seeing the teeth in person, I have no good way of giving you a definitive answer. ...
fillings and decay2/27/2006
  Q: Question. Im a healthy 38 yr old male. I go to the denstist every 6 months for check up and and ...
  A: Todd, Very good questions here. First off, just because you are getting a few fillings does not mean ...
HELP A.S.A.P2/25/2006
  Q: My husband had two teeth pulled yesterday and they put something in the holes, my husband just ...
  A: R- This could be some sort of antibacterial cotton or gauze. It might be something called gelfoam ...
I AM IN PROCESS OF WHITENING...2/25/2006
  Q: I AM IN PROCESS OF WHITENING MY TEETH USING A HOME KIT. I HAVE NOTICE THE GUM BETWEEN MY TWO FRONT ...
  A: Kelly I am not sure what you are describing here. I cannot tell specifics over the Internet. I would ...
tooth extraction due to periodontal disease2/24/2006
  Q: I am a 56-year-old woman with severe periodontal disease. My dentist is recommending the extration ...
  A: Peggy It is impossible for me to give you a definitive answer over the internet. If the bone loss is ...
Invisalign vs. braces-Now introducing the jaw break2/23/2006
  Q: Doctor Dalin, Thanks for the info yesterday. I sincerely appreciate the response. I saw my dentist ...
  A: Cindie, What he is saying is correct. When people's teeth are not in allignment, there are two ...
THINNING AND CRACKING2/22/2006
  Q: MY BOYFRIEND WEARS A GOLD MOUTHPIECE OVER HIS FRONT FOUR TEETH. IT IS REMOVABLE AND HE HAS BEEN ...
  A: Erica, Without seeing him in person, I cannot give you a definite answer. But from what you ...
Cavities, identification and treatment2/21/2006
  Q: Please bear with the slightly involved sentence structure, and i will try and clarify with any ...
  A: Ike, You ask a lot of good questions here. I will try to help you out with all of them. 1) Why the ...
Extraction necessary?2/16/2006
  Q: Is it really necessary to extract teeth prior to putting in a bridge. #'s 9 & 10 are broken at the ...
  A: Most of the time it is best to get broken roots out before doing bridge. You would hate to spend all ...
Crown Prep Pulling Gums2/7/2006
  Q: What are the benefits and downsides to the following two different scenarios? In what cases might a ...
  A: There are no downsides to using retraction cord when doing a crown preparation. It is used to get ...
Spitting2/6/2006
  Q: Dalin, I am 34 years old and I have a problem of spitting on people when I talk. I have just ...
  A: Victoria This is a tough problem to figure out. If you have not had any dental work done recently ...
Two year olds front tooth2/5/2006
  Q: My grandson fell about a month ago and bumped his mouth...now, one of his front teeth has a ...
  A: When you hit a baby tooth, often it darkens. At first this is due to a "bruise" of the tooth. Some ...
BOTTLE MOUTH2/3/2006
  Q: I HAVE JUST NOTICED THAT MY 2 YR OLD HAS SOME DECAY IN BETWEEN HER TOP FOR TEETH. IT IS NOT IN ...
  A: Stephanie, some kids and adults are just more sensitive to sweets and get cavities easier. do you ...
Must stains be treated?1/30/2006
  Q: Dalin, I went to a Coast Dental office for a dental examination and was told that I had a cavity ...
  A: joseph, i responded to this last week. it still is sitting here so i am not sure if you got my ...
Electric toothbrush1/30/2006
  Q: How often are you suppose to change brushes on electric toothbrushes? Thanks in advance.
  A: Sallie, It varies by the brand of brush and how hard you press when you use it. Usually they need ...
oral cyst1/28/2006
  Q: I have a small ?cyst inside my lip in the third quadrant, which will periodically swell with fluid ...
  A: I cannot diagnose anything without seeing it in person. From what it sounds, it could be a ...
swollen gum1/16/2006
  Q: My lower back wisdom tooth is what I think partially impacted. When I recently visited my Dentist in ...
  A: Tina Of course there are no guarantees either way. The fact that the tooth is partially through ...
swollen gum1/15/2006
  Q: My lower back wisdom tooth is what I think partially impacted. When I recently visited my Dentist in ...
  A: Tina, Even though your pain is better, the bad odor usually means things are still getting caught ...
6-year old1/15/2006
  Q: Does a child get extreme rosy cheeks when cutting teeth?
  A: Aretta, I have not ever heard about any connection between getting in new teeth as an infant or as a ...
baby late teething1/14/2006
  Q: My baby boy is now 14 months old, still not one tooth! i saw your answer for a worried mother about ...
  A: Jessy 14 months is not that old...i have seen older babies get their first teeth. the best thing to ...
I recently started having...1/13/2006
  Q: I recently started having some pain in lower right side on the very back tooth. I went to my ...
  A: reggie, one possibility is a hairline crack in the tooth. this will give you chewing pain and ...
baby teeth1/10/2006
  Q: my son is 14 years old and still has 3 baby teeth should they be pulled or should we just let them ...
  A: It depends on what the roots look like. Ask your dentist to take some xrays. First off, make sure ...
Fight or Switch1/7/2006
  Q: I know one dentist who will work on my teeth for just the fee covered by my insurance. My regular ...
  A: Michael Fees are a tough subject. As a dentist, I can tell you that we establish fees at a certain ...
Dental implant1/4/2006
  Q: I am 19 but due to the lack of oral hygienic habits and great fear I am going to have 2 of my sixth ...
  A: Vladislav, What you are talking about here is your teeth drifting because of missing teeth. As far ...
Pain in my jaw?1/3/2006
  Q: Dr. Dalin, I have this severe pain in my jaw that I only feel when I first start to chew food... ...
  A: Earl, I cannot give you any definitive answers without examining you in person but from what you ...
canker sores1/3/2006
  Q: I have been getting canker sores for about a year now and it seems like one a month. Is there ...
  A: Dayna, Nobody really knows the exact causes of canker sores. You just got braces put on. This might ...
wisdom tooth1/2/2006
  Q: I am a 29 yr old female with a family history of tooth decay. On 12/08/05 I had my 6 month cleaning. ...
  A: Christina, Well...usually the lower wisdom teeth cause more problems than the upper ones. When they ...
Irritation from mouthwash & teeth whitening1/2/2006
  Q: I don't regularly use mouthwash but yesterday I decided to include that as part of my dental hygiene ...
  A: Lisa It sounds like you are sensitive to the Listerine. Something in it gave you some sort of ...
White spots on teeth12/22/2005
  Q: Can you tell me why I always get a white spot on the bottom left hand corner of my top front tooth ...
  A: Anna, Without seeing the tooth in person, I am only guessing. But here is a real possible ...
tooth12/15/2005
  Q: Maybe I can ask you a followup? I took her to the dentist,the blood on her shirt was from her ...
  A: Jen I am glad to hear that nothing serious took place. I guessed what happened from your ...
tooth12/15/2005
  Q: the school just called,my 1st grader tripped in gym.she said she saw a few drops of blood on her ...
  A: Jen, Of course without seeing your child, I cannot give you any definitive answers. Here are some ...
Swelling in the lip and cheek12/11/2005
  Q: I went to the dentist four days ago. She replaced the old silver fillings in the back two teeth on ...
  A: Anna, Anxiety does not cause swelling. You need to see your dentist...not call her. You might have ...
Cavity Becomes Root Canal12/10/2005
  Q: Dr. D., I am pleased, but have a follow up. You write, "You can have a tooth that absolutely looks ...
  A: A dead nerve does not show up on an xray. An abscess forming at the end of a dead nerve does. So if ...
Cavity Becomes Root Canal12/10/2005
  Q: D., About a year ago my dentist took a complete set of x-rays of my teeth, and since that time I've ...
  A: James Without seeing you and the collection of xrays, I cannot give you any definitive answers. You ...
Invisilign12/8/2005
  Q: Dalin, I am being so obsessive about my teath lately. I have never been told I need braces but I ...
  A: Amy, Without seeing your teeth in person, it is impossible for me to give you any sort of definitive ...
Sensitive Teeth12/8/2005
  Q: Dalin, I am writing because I have sensitive teeth & brush 2-3 times a day with sensodyne. However, ...
  A: Jennifer, You ask a very unique question here. There is no real explanation for this. It sounds like ...
my boyfriend teeth12/7/2005
  Q: Dr. Dalin, When my boy friend was younger (in his 20's) he had his teeth knocked out with a base ...
  A: Natalie, When myt patients are missing teeth, I give them options. Some are inexpensive but not the ...
Bridge/dentures12/3/2005
  Q: Dr. Dalin, My father, who is 76, has a bridge for his front teeth. The bridge has come loose and ...
  A: Harrison, I cannot fully answer your questions without seeing your dad in person and looking at ...
bad breath11/24/2005
  Q: i just went to my dentist on wednesday for the first time in 14 years. he said my teeth are very, ...
  A: breath issues are tough sometimes. to rule out dental causes, have your teeth cleaned thoroughly and ...
stains11/16/2005
  Q: Ever since I was a child I have always had white marks on my teeth. I brush three times a day and I ...
  A: Ryan, White splotches are very common. Many times we do not know why they occur. Sometimes they can ...
tooth extraction11/14/2005
  Q: I am 4 months pregnant and a cracked tooth got infected last week and sent me to the emergency room ...
  A: Megan, Taking a tooth out is totally safe for you and for your baby. Do not worry. Leaving it in is ...
Bulimia11/8/2005
  Q: I am currently dealing with bulimia and usually purge about 5 times a week. How can I approach my ...
  A: The best thing you can do is seek treatment for the bulimia. You need to get the purging under ...
Re: After Extraction11/7/2005
  Q: I will definitely ask my dentist again about my concerns. What do you think about my other ...
  A: Sorry about not answering question #2. A bone graft should work within 2-3 months. You are at 6 ...
Re: After Extraction11/7/2005
  Q: Dalin, I had two front teeth removed #7 & #10. I now have a 6 unit bridge. There are now dark, ...
  A: Dena, How long ago did you have the teeth removed? I assume it has been a while. And then the next ...
Marilyn Bridge11/4/2005
  Q: Dalin: I am 58 years old. I had this type of bridge in my mouth for 15 years with no problems. I do ...
  A: Nancy, Yes...these are still being made. They are Maryland Bridges or Resin Bonded Bridges. You have ...
Tooth extraction/implant11/3/2005
  Q: I have a cracked tooth, a 1/4 of which has already broken off. It is towards the back of my mouth ...
  A: Cassy, Drifting can vary from person to person...situation to situation. Most often with only 1 ...
Tooth extraction/implant11/3/2005
  Q: I have a cracked tooth, a 1/4 of which has already broken off. It is towards the back of my mouth ...
  A: Cassy, If only 1/4 is gone, why not try a filling or a crown first? This could save the tooth and ...
reporting a dentist for fraud11/1/2005
  Q: 1)How can I report a dentist for fraud? 2)what did they do? ?#1)my point directly...bear with me and ...
  A: Valerie, I am not sure what exactly took place here. I cannot give you any definitive answers ...
6 year old10/31/2005
  Q: my 6 year old daughter has had a silver vertical line appear on her teeth.it lasts for weeks and ...
  A: i wish i could give you a definitive answer but without seeing the tooth/teeth in person, i do not ...
Teeth staining.10/26/2005
  Q: Dr. Dalin- Whenever I go for my regular dental cleaning every 6 months, I have terrible teeth ...
  A: Todd Sometimes people just get stain on their teeth and we cannot figure out why. It must be some ...
tongue problem10/23/2005
  Q: I recently felt a discomfort under my tongue. It looks linda weird. Looks like a long skinny taste ...
  A: George, Without seeing under your tongue in person, I have no idea how to tell you what is going on. ...
Does the toothpaste that one...10/20/2005
  Q: Does the toothpaste that one uses contribute towards healthy gums and teeth? If yes, could you ...
  A: The act of brushing and flossing is really what makes your teeth and gums healthy. It is the physcal ...
toddler grinding10/19/2005
  Q: My 18 month old still only has 5 teeth. She grinds these teeth (3 on top and 2 on bottom- all front ...
  A: Michelle, Yes, you can continually wear down teeth. I am more worried about her grinding on her crib ...
Injured gray baby tooth10/17/2005
  Q: My daughter fell and hurt her top front tooth about 2 1/2 weeks ago. Nothing major. No blood and it ...
  A: Brandi, A tooth that is bumped can turn darker. What is happening here is like a bruise. Some of the ...
Halitosis10/12/2005
  Q: Dr. Dalin- I am 37 years old with very good oral health. I go to dentist every 6 months for ...
  A: Todd, There are no easy answers here. If your teeth and gums are healthy and you brush your tongue, ...
Chipped tooth10/11/2005
  Q: I'm a 17 year old girl with a huge phobia of dentists. I recently chipped a tooth in which I have a ...
  A: Katie It sounds to me like you cracked a corner off...a cusp. If the filling is large then this ...
I have been suffering for...10/8/2005
  Q: I have been suffering for years with tooth pain in my 2 upper back teeth. (Not my molars, they have ...
  A: Vincent, An apicoectomy is done when a tooth which has had a root canal has the root canal go bad. ...
impacted wisdom tooth removal10/6/2005
  Q: I had an impacted wisdom tooth removed 4 days ago. I develop huge swelling and bruising. I am on ...
  A: patricia, why wait any longer! call the oral surgeon and get in there for an evaluation. you should ...
Braces or Caps?10/5/2005
  Q: I have spaces in between every teeth: Yes very embarrassing and unattractive, I wondering if braces ...
  A: Emani, I usually see excellent results with braces. You need to use an experienced orthodontist to ...
lump under chin10/2/2005
  Q: I think i have an abcessed tooth, i used clove oil to sooth the pain which burnt my mouth gums and ...
  A: Shaun, You may be getting the swelling from the tooth infection getting worse or from the burn area ...
Losing primary teeth & pain10/1/2005
  Q: When I asked me dentist('s office staff), they told me to just let it be because pulling the tooth ...
  A: Shelle, If the tooth has been loose that long and still not out and it is bothering your daughter, ...
cavities9/29/2005
  Q: My 5 year old son had dental x-rays yesterday, and the dentist noticed 2 small cavities (one in the ...
  A: Dawn, If it is a cavity, then doing fluoride will not help. The decay will only get bigger. The ...
stringy white saliva?9/28/2005
  Q: I have had this problem on occasion in the past, but lately it has gotten worse. I have a stringy, ...
  A: Gary, I wish that I could give you a definitive diagnosis of your cheek but cannot do so without ...
Problem with bridgework9/27/2005
  Q: Dalin, I've got in unpleasent situation at teaching dental center and don't really know how to ...
  A: Vlad, You are asking a number of tough questions here...and most cannot be answered without seeing ...
Crowning Possible Or ?9/14/2005
  Q: Further questions below after visiting a crown and bridge specialist for 2nd opinion.Thanks. Below ...
  A: Angeline, I cannot say whether or not you need to have that tooth removed in order to straighten out ...
Root Planing9/5/2005
  Q: In your opinion, do 6MM pockets necessitate root planing and antibiotic treatment? My dentist tells ...
  A: Rob, First off, I apologize for the delay in answering this question. I have had some email problems ...
halitosis9/4/2005
  Q: i brush my teeth twice a day, floss once a day, use mouth wash and scrape my tongue but after 3 ...
  A: Justin, First off, I apologize for the delay in responding to your question. I have had some email ...
Abcessed tooth??9/4/2005
  Q: I have a condition that my regular dentist "thinks" is an abcess on #23 but he was not sure so he ...
  A: Tsonka, First off, sorry about the delay in responding. There was a problem with my emails and I ...
school9/2/2005
  Q: I am conducting a science fair project for school and am required to write a 2 page paper invoving ...
  A: Jerrod, I did some Google research for you and found some sites for you to look at: ...
Bicarbonate of Soda teeth whitening9/2/2005
  Q: I would be grateful for some advice. I smoke and have slightly yellow teeth as a result ( I am ...
  A: Rachel, Baking soday will not bleach teeth. Occasionally if you dip your brush into peroxide and ...
first cavity9/1/2005
  Q: My 5 year old has what looks like a cavity on one of her back bottom molars. We took her to a local ...
  A: Sam, I cannot give you a definitive diagnosis over the Internet. The diagnosis can be made from the ...
very painful filling8/24/2005
  Q: The last time I had a cavity filled, the dentist hit a nerve (it was the bottom wisdom tooth on the ...
  A: Leigh, It sounds like the local anesthetic given to you did not completely numb the tooth before you ...
Crowning Possible Or ?8/17/2005
  Q: I had a root canal done on my 2nd molar(top right), and was supposed to have my tooth crowned ...
  A: Angeline, I am not sure what materials are being used that is cracking. A normal crown is either all ...
essays in med school8/14/2005
  Q: I hope I'm finding you in the best of health.I have one final question that will make up my decision ...
  A: Matt, I am a dentist so I am not sure if I can answer your question about writing essays. I can tell ...
Dry Socket8/7/2005
  Q: I had a tooth pulled on Thursday, I am terrified of getting a dry socket, when is the risk of a dry ...
  A: A dry socket is merely when the clot that is forming in the extraction site comes out and exposes ...
Composite restoration or tooth bonding8/5/2005
  Q: For a very large chip, 1/4 of the front upper tooth, do I need composite restoration or tooth ...
  A: Elena, Bonding is getting something to stick to your tooth. When you chip part of a front tooth, ...
weakened tooth8/2/2005
  Q: I have a cracked front upper tooth from being hit in the mouth with a basketball. It was repaired ...
  A: Elena, I would not worry about anything as of this time. You had the tooth repaired with a composite ...
Gum7/27/2005
  Q: Just the past week, I had a couple of sores in my mouth, followed by something I had never had ...
  A: Shelley, I wish I could help you but there is no way to diagnose anything over the Internet without ...
Reattachment of tooth fragment7/26/2005
  Q: One week ago, my daughter fell and fractured her upper front tooth diagonally. Half the tooth was ...
  A: Anne, You raise some interesting questions here. First off, there is no specialty called Cosmetic ...
Fluoride7/26/2005
  Q: What is your opinion about the use of fluoride tablets for my 6 year old son? His pediatrician and ...
  A: Dave, In my opinion, fluoride in the proper amount is safe to use and VERY effective in giving the ...
help7/25/2005
  Q: sir, i brush reglary 2 times a day don't take nicotine,cffee?even then i have yellowish teeth? plz ...
  A: Sam, Genetics often dictate the color of your teeth. Here is what you need to do. Go to your dentist ...
3 teeth turning black7/22/2005
  Q: Recently I had gum treatment and then 5 teeth pulled. A tooth next to the molar that was pulled had ...
  A: Ellen, I wish I could give you a definitive answer but without xrays and a clinical exam, I cannot ...
Hello, I had dental work done...7/16/2005
  Q: I had dental work done today and when I went outside and looked at my teeth in the sun, I noticed a ...
  A: Thea, It is impossible for me to diagnose anything from a note over the Internet. I can give you ...
crowns and bridgework for implants7/5/2005
  Q: Dalin, I had my implants installed at the teaching dental center and every procedure takes long ...
  A: Vlad, Let me answer one of your questions right away: there is no way to tell you the lab fee for a ...
tongue7/2/2005
  Q: What is the best way to get the tongue clean and back to the pink color it should be? I have used ...
  A: Michelle, You seem to be doing everything possible. I think tongue scrapers work better than ...
Gums6/26/2005
  Q: I noticed today that my 2 front teeth are loosening and the gum area surrounding them is sore. Is ...
  A: Charlie, You need to call a dentist ASAP. Sounds like you might have a gum problem there with some ...
crooked lips6/26/2005
  Q: I had braces for 7 years, and have had them removed now for about 3 years. I've noticed for a long ...
  A: Shanda, Most people have some asymmetry when it comes to facial features. I cannot explain why your ...
thumb sucking6/23/2005
  Q: Our daughter is a healthy, happy 5-year-old. She started sucking her thumb in utero (we actually ...
  A: Laurie, this is a tough question to give you a definitive answer. All kids are different. By age ...
this dentist said i need to...6/21/2005
  Q: this dentist said i need to remove one of my wisdom teeth that has a cavity because ti may help ...
  A: Yomku, I am a firm believer in second and third opinions. You have to feel comfortable with what is ...
CAREER6/18/2005
  Q: What are the feilds that one can specialise after passing BDS?What do they specifically deal ...
  A: Specialties here in the USA: endodontics - root canals periodontics - gums oral surgery - ...
CAREER6/18/2005
  Q: I Hope this letter finds you sailing in the ocean of good health. I am student from India. My main ...
  A: I had a little help with my decision...my father was a dentist. He always made the field appealing ...
CAREER6/18/2005
  Q: I Hope this letter finds you sailing in the ocean of good health. I am student from India. My main ...
  A: I can only speak about my opinion of the field of dentistry. I love what I do and would recommend it ...
enamel6/16/2005
  Q: Followup To Question - Dr Dalin- I am 37 years old and have tetracycline stains on all my teeth. ...
  A: Sorry Todd...I do not know anyone in Largo. Just ask around. See which dentists do a lot of esthetic ...
enamel6/15/2005
  Q: Dr Dalin- I am 37 years old and have tetracycline stains on all my teeth. When I was 18 yrs old I ...
  A: Todd, You are absolutely correct with your assessment here. When you grind off the bonding, you ...
dark teeth6/14/2005
  Q: Are veneers expensive to get, also do they hold up over time.What are the negatives of veneers if ...
  A: Bob, The cost of a veneer varies for area to area across the country. It is usually around the price ...
About Crowns6/8/2005
  Q: Dalin, My upper front tooth is bucked/sticking out(due to biting finger nails in childhood). 7 years ...
  A: Rahan, It depends on what you want to accomplish. If you want perfectly alligned, equally colored ...
Swollen Gum behind the Wisdom Tooth5/28/2005
  Q: I am 23, and I have a wisdom tooth and i think i have had it for years, my question is, you know ...
  A: This is very common. When a wisdom tooth is almost in, sometimes things get caught under the gum on ...
wisdom teeth5/21/2005
  Q: My wisdom teeth have needed to be removed for a while, but were never painful. I am 33 years old, ...
  A: Michelle, Call your dentist ASAP and have him/her meet you and get you some pain relief. You can ...
supernumerary5/18/2005
  Q: My son will be 8 on 7-4-05. He got his baby teeth very late and finally just lost his 2 bottom ...
  A: Treena, As far as timing on this goes, make an appointment with an orthodontist. I usually leave the ...
whitening5/16/2005
  Q: Last week I went to get 'zoomed' and lasted only 3 min. because my teeth are so sensitive. My ...
  A: Cheryl, There are no absolute answers here. There is merley trial and error. Try one way and see if ...
whitening5/16/2005
  Q: Last week I went to get 'zoomed' and lasted only 3 min. because my teeth are so sensitive. My ...
  A: Cheryl, I would look into conventional mouthguard bleaching. You can vary the concentration of ...
info on the career of dentistry5/14/2005
  Q: What it your basic schedule look like daily? What are the requirements you need to be a dentist? How ...
  A: Here are answers to your questions: Schedule look like: it varies from day to day. as a general ...
i want to know about your...5/7/2005
  Q: i want to know about your career what do you have to do at patients is ti stressful i am a student ...
  A: Dentistry is a great profession. You can be your own boss and therefore control your own destiny. ...
Chilren's Dentistry5/2/2005
  Q: My son is 5 years old and had his top four front teeth surgically removed on 4/26/2003. How long ...
  A: Pamela, This can vary from child to child. Some boys do not lose baby front teeth until age 8 or so. ...
orthodontia4/23/2005
  Q: My son is 22 and has had braces for about 8 months. One problem is an overbite. However, today ...
  A: Normally you would think this would have been corrected. When you check the bite, you have to make ...
braces4/12/2005
  Q: i have had braces for 2 years now and started smoking about 2 months ago. somebody told me that i ...
  A: Nattalie, Smoking can make teeth yellow with or without braces. If you have plastic brackets, the ...
swollen mouth lining4/6/2005
  Q: ) Thank you so much for your reply. I looked up mucocele on the internet and the pictures it ...
  A: Do not count on it being a mucocele just from what I was telling you. Without seeing something in ...
swollen mouth lining4/5/2005
  Q: I need your help! This has happened to me twice in the past week. All of a sudden my lower lip ...
  A: I would experiment around a bit here. Brush your teeth in the day instead of before bed and see if ...
FRONT BRIDGE QUESTION4/3/2005
  Q: Had all teeth capped many many years ago, when they ground the tooth to a small point. Sometimes ...
  A: Joan, If there is decay under your old bridge, it cannot be reused. You must have a new one made. If ...
gums3/23/2005
  Q: I went to my dentist 2 weeks ago for a cleaning. All was well and nothing had changed (except I am ...
  A: Edie, I do not think I can make the call as to what is going on here without looking at you in ...
deep chewing surface3/20/2005
  Q: I just went to a new dentist, who i really like. As far as I can tell, she is good (however, I am ...
  A: Angela, Lots of questions to answer here. So here goes: 1) Deep chewing surface in new filling: this ...
front permamant tooth on a 6 year old crooked3/18/2005
  Q: I noticed one of my daughters teeth(6 years old) in the front looks like its growing in crooked.even ...
  A: Jennifer, Getting bumped like that should not have any effect on how a tooth grows in. It sounds ...
Denture lining3/16/2005
  Q: My husband needs his dentures relined. We are very low income and Medicare and Medicaid doesn't pay ...
  A: I do not know that material. I just know that it might be tough for you to reline your own denture. ...
root canal3/11/2005
  Q: How are you, Dr. Dalin, I wanted to ask your opinion if that is normal to have an inconvinience (a ...
  A: Vlad, Sometimes they flare up. You may need an antibiotic to help the healing process along. Call ...
cosmetic3/9/2005
  Q: I recently had a composite filling on my front tooth to imrove the shape and colour of the tooth. ...
  A: jt, the best way to handle this is to tell your dentist. it is his/her job to match the color. ...
dentures2/23/2005
  Q: My dad's dentist at the VA wants to pull his teeth, then leave him without teeth for 2 months while ...
  A: Jo, This is a good way to make a denture. You remove the teeth and let the gums and bone heal so ...
Dental phobia2/18/2005
  Q: Please help me, i have a really bad phobia of anything dentist related. I have tried going on ...
  A: Jenny, This one is an easy one. There are dentists who take a lot of extensive post-graduate ...
Teeth Science Project2/11/2005
  Q: I am a 3rd grader.My mom helped me type this email so that you can understand what questions i need ...
  A: Victoria, Wow...what great questions. Let me see what i can do to help you out. First off, all of ...
Cost of childrens dental treatments2/9/2005
  Q: My 5 and 6 yr. old have had their first trip to the dentist and my six year old was diagnosed with ...
  A: Mary, My first reaction to your question would be to get a second opinion. I would want a second ...
swollen gum after root canal2/9/2005
  Q: My 4 year old daughter had a baby root canal (right molar) 3 weeks ago. Just today, i noticed her ...
  A: Jessica, I am assuming the swelling is next to the tooth that just had the baby root canal done on ...
372/8/2005
  Q: I have a PFM crown on my 37, which was placed approximately 3 years ago, after having a root canal ...
  A: Carmen, First off, I do not know what a 37 is. This must be a different type of numbering system ...
lower jaw/gum color2/5/2005
  Q: I'm sure you probably remember me...27 yr. old female, huge fear of cancer(grandmother died of ...
  A: Tara, I would love to be able to put your mind at ease but without seeing an area in person, I ...
ROOT PLANNING1/31/2005
  Q: If someone had root planning and scaling and after two months one quadrant is still redish and ...
  A: greg, you need to show your dentist what it looks like. i cannot explain why one quadrant still ...
Electric Toothbrushes1/28/2005
  Q: Is using an electric toothbrush better for your teeth than using a regular one ? Isn't all the same ...
  A: Michael, If you brush well with a hand brush, you can do a fine job. It is all technique. Electric ...
options1/28/2005
  Q: I have been calling around with your advice you gave me concerning my two year old with cavities in ...
  A: Tera, Call the Dental School at the University of Washington in Seattle and ask to talk to the ...
2 year old and cavitiies1/26/2005
  Q: I wrote to you previously and told you my 2 year old had cavities on his four front top teeth and ...
  A: Tera, I too hate when someone wants to do silver caps on front teeth. Make some calls to other ...
Dry Mouth1/26/2005
  Q: I'm sure that you remember me (27 yr. old female w/ anxiety/panic/OCD issues - grandmother died of ...
  A: Tara, If you want to see a specialist, your choice is two: oral surgeon or ENT. Call a few and see ...
WHITE TEETH1/26/2005
  Q: BJ, I have teeth not yellow, but not bright white...am getting married in less than 6 months...I am ...
  A: BJ, So-called whitening toothpastes do their thing by removing surface stains better than normal ...
Baby's Gums1/21/2005
  Q: My 14-month-old son has a black spot on his upper left gum in the back. He only has his front 8 ...
  A: Laura, I cannot diagnose what you are seeing over the Internet. I need to see your son in person. ...
toothpaste1/14/2005
  Q: My son is almost 3, and I wondered if the non-fluoride toothpastes do a good job of cleaning a ...
  A: Melanie, Brushing itself is what removes the bacteria that causes the decay. The fluoride is in ...
pacifier1/6/2005
  Q: I took my almost 3 year old to the dentist today. He asked if she still used a pacifier, and I ...
  A: Michelle, There is no way to predict how things will work out. I have found over the years that if ...
baby teeth1/3/2005
  Q: I know you cannot diagnose online. But hopefully you can describe what I need to look for in my ...
  A: Shelly, Cavities are not always visible to the eye. If you can see a definite hole, then it is ...
baby teeth1/1/2005
  Q: If my kid's baby teeth started coming in a little later than normal, does this mean their permanant ...
  A: Yes...there is some correlation between timing of eruption of teeth. It is not set in stone but we ...
Toddler with chipped tooth12/30/2004
  Q: Tonight my husband and I noticed a small chip on our 18-month old daughter's front tooth. We think ...
  A: Karen, Without seeing the chip, I cannot give you any definitive answers. But if it is small, then ...
cut on gums?12/29/2004
  Q: My gums were extremly puffy at that time because she mentioned that.So if they are very puffy the ...
  A: Jen, You should be seeing improvement by the weekend. Make sure you keep them clean now during the ...
cut on gums?12/29/2004
  Q: The hygenist said that I had a pocket,which was right around that area.What is that? JenI had my ...
  A: Jen, Now you are giving me more information. A pocket is the space from where you see your gum to ...
cut on gums?12/29/2004
  Q: I had my teeth cleaned the other day and there was ALOT of tarter. I noticed by one tooth that the ...
  A: Jennifer, It is tought to give you a definite answer without seeing the area in person. I can speak ...
bleach12/28/2004
  Q: Do you know anything about Nite White Excel 3 (22%)? I have been using it to bleach some yellowing ...
  A: Keri, Your tray should be clear so that you can see if the bleach covers the front of the tooth. You ...
Baby teeth not falling12/28/2004
  Q: Dalin, My 6 year old daughter has permanent teeth already grown behind two of her front baby teeth. ...
  A: Sanjay, This one is an easy one. Call your dentist and make an appointment to have this checked out. ...
bleach12/27/2004
  Q: Do you know anything about Nite White Excel 3 (22%)? I have been using it to bleach some yellowing ...
  A: This is the brand I use and the 22% strength for 1 hour works well in my patients...so I do not know ...
White patch12/20/2004
  Q: you probably remember me.... 27 yr. old female, hypocondriac, huge fear of cancer (grandmother died ...
  A: Tara, You really need to get into a dentist to have your mouth examined. I really want you to relax ...
Tooth Extraction12/15/2004
  Q: I am going to have a tooth pulled tommorow. I have many worries about this but what I am wondering ...
  A: R, As the oral surgeon about the risk of blood clots because you are on BC pills. I have not heard ...
dry/burning feeling and spot12/9/2004
  Q: Sorry to kept bothering you and asking you "Stupid" questions. I'm trying so hard not to repeat old ...
  A: Tara, It does not sound like cancer at all. But I cannot give you any definitive diagnoses without ...
extraction time12/5/2004
  Q: I've gotten some bad but expected news. Through bad gum disease at 43, I have to have all my upper ...
  A: You need a denture. You have two ways to do this. The best way is to pull all of the teeth, let you ...
Tooth extraction12/3/2004
  Q: I have a tooth that has given me alot of trouble. It is the second one from the back on the bottom ...
  A: Once you pull the tooth, it is gone. So make sure this is what you really want to do. You will then ...
LASER12/1/2004
  Q: Is there some laser treatment to give health to the gums, and if so what problems can it cure?
  A: Alex, This is a brand new area of dentistry that is getting some attention. Dentists are starting to ...
second molars in kids12/1/2004
  Q: My daughter is almost 3 years old (33 months old) and is just now getting her 2nd molars on the ...
  A: Joanne, There really are not any medical problems that cause delays in tooth eruption. The timing ...
Teeth whitening11/30/2004
  Q: Dalin, I have tried several kinds of teeth whitening over the years from carbamide peroxide to ...
  A: Jay, I am not sure why bleaching worked then and no longer is working for you. I would have your ...
crown11/26/2004
  Q: I had a bridge replace & several crown put on & already had a number of crowns. The latest crown ...
  A: Bill, I am thinking the same thing you are. This "specialist" is telling you how to be perfect...and ...
gums problem11/25/2004
  Q: Hi I am 57 years old woman.i wear denture. i have problem with gums at bottom side as swelling,pain ...
  A: I do not understand why a dentist cannot make you comfortable. If you have minimal bone, there can ...
2.5 year old has a cavity11/24/2004
  Q: I just took my son to the dentist for his 1st check up. He is 2.5 years old. The dentist looked at ...
  A: Let me answer your questions, one by one... 1) Does this cavity mean he will be more prone? No...one ...
scaling11/19/2004
  Q: For scaling and root planning is it necessarily better to use sonic instruments instead of manual ...
  A: Al, It is good to do all of the above (although I use Arrestin or powdered tetracycline instead of ...
fluorosis11/18/2004
  Q: My daughter is 33 months old. I am concerned that we may have been causing her to have fluorosis in ...
  A: Jade, There is no way to predict if this will cause any problems in your daughter. You will have to ...
4 questions11/17/2004
  Q: I went to the dentist today because I thought I had a cavity. There are 3 little holes (craters) on ...
  A: Good questions here. Let me answer them one at a time. 1)Your molar has wear facets in them. I like ...
Unusual or not?11/17/2004
  Q: I went to the dentist for the first time. I had an impression of my teeth. I noticed that the my ...
  A: Adam, I am not quite sure what you are describing here. I would need to see the models to make sure ...
crown11/10/2004
  Q: I have a crown. At my checkup my dentist said he thought the crown was little gummy, I believe that ...
  A: Jan, Then maybe he is saying the crown is loose...and thus the gummy feel. Then you need to get the ...
Tongue Numbness from Surgery?11/10/2004
  Q: I don't mean to keep bugging you about this but I had a few more questions: My tongue is still ...
  A: Tara, Playing with it will definitely make it feel strange. You have to do your best not to ...
medicianal irrigation11/8/2004
  Q: i am a 41 yr old male. teeth are in rather good shape for my age. 3 mm gaps just measured however ...
  A: Paul, Chlorhexidine is a presciption rinse. If you have presecription coverage, it may not cost you ...
receeding gums11/6/2004
  Q: I am 32 years old and it looks like my gums are receeding. They are not red or swollen, but ...
  A: Michelle, I would check to see if you can see a periodontist or gum specialist instead of a general ...
Tongue Soreness from Surgery?11/5/2004
  Q: You might remember me - 27 yr. old white female -hypocondriac/anxiety/panic attacks - huge fear of ...
  A: Tara, When you have surgery, you are often intubated. this can cause tongue and throat soreness ...
Mercury dental amalgams11/1/2004
  Q: My main question is about mercury toxicity from dental amalgams. I have heard lots of histories ...
  A: Roberto, Here is my take on this issue. I too have never seen anyone improve healthwise after ...
MOUTHWASH11/1/2004
  Q: I have noticed that if I use Listerine mouthwash 3 or more times a day plaque does not form in my ...
  A: Eric, On a temporary basis, it is fine to use the Listerine. I thought you meant on an ongoing ...
MOUTHWASH11/1/2004
  Q: I have noticed that if I use Listerine mouthwash 3 or more times a day plaque does not form in my ...
  A: Eric, Listerine is a good rinse but I would not recommend using it 3 times a day. I believe once a ...
SCALING10/28/2004
  Q: For root scaling and planing, should that be done by a dentist or periodontist? Should that whole ...
  A: Jeff, A general dentist, a periodontist, and a dental hygienist are all trained and can perform root ...
Saliva Gland10/26/2004
  Q: I think I contacted you before, I have an enlarged saliva gland under my tongue, ( a couple ...
  A: Your wisdom teeth are way in the back behind your back molars. Your salivary glands are under your ...
Abcessed tooth10/22/2004
  Q: A dentist told my friend she has several abcessed, she is not in pain and they are not first on a ...
  A: Why wait and wonder. Have your friend make an appointment at a different dentist if her dentist will ...
Abcessed tooth10/22/2004
  Q: A couple questions. What are the symptoms of an abcessed tooth? I always heard that an abcessed ...
  A: An abscessed tooth generally causes a HUGE amount of pain. There may be swelling if the infection ...
Dental Cap Problems10/21/2004
  Q: I got a root canal done ages back and just recently went to the dentist to get a dental crown placed ...
  A: You seem like you have been more than patient here. You have given this dentist three tries to get ...
Extraction with Bridge or Root canal with Crowning Necessary or Better10/19/2004
  Q: From what I've described below, does it confirm that I've a dead nerve for the 2nd molar that ...
  A: A dead nerve can sit dormant for years and not cause any pain or swelling. Nobody really knows why ...
Extraction with Bridge or Root canal with Crowning Necessary or Better10/19/2004
  Q: I've a decayed 2nd molar on the right side of the mouth filled quite many years back. 2 years ago, ...
  A: Angel, I am always big on saving teeth if possible. It your tooth is not badly broken down, a root ...
wisdom teeth10/15/2004
  Q: I had all my wisdom teeth removed 3 days ago. The numbness wore off on the first day but slowly the ...
  A: I would not wait. I would call your dentist and have things checked out. Why wait and get yourself ...
Occasional soreness10/15/2004
  Q: I'm 27 yr. old white female. You might remember me - I was the one with the huge fear of cancer ...
  A: The more this worries you, the more these symptoms will stay around and may even intensify. The only ...
child with loose permanent tooth10/12/2004
  Q: Our 6 year old girl has a permanent tooth that appears loose. No known accidents. How can this be ...
  A: George Make sure the tooth in question is a permanent tooth and not a baby tooth. An appointment ...
Lines in teeth10/11/2004
  Q: I notice in my front top teeth there is like lines in my teeth, I don't know if they are cracks or ...
  A: From what you are describing, these are craze lines. They look like cracks but they are not actually ...
possibilites10/10/2004
  Q: I know I actually need to see a Dentist so my problem can be looked at, I have an appt. next week, I ...
  A: I am not sure what this can be without seeing them in person. Try to make your appointment early in ...
gum swelling10/5/2004
  Q: For a year, the gum near the tip of tooth 13 has been a little red and swollen, but no pain to speak ...
  A: Don, I am inclined to listen to the endodontist, because he/she does nothing but these and has a ...
second set of permanent top lateral incisors10/5/2004
  Q: my daughter is 9 1/2 yrs. old she lost these teeth when she was seven years old and has had her ...
  A: Diana, Without seeing your daughter or her xray, I cannot give you a definitive answer. What I can ...
Hello. A while back I found...10/3/2004
  Q: A while back I found under my tongue on the left side of the little piece of skin two little pimple ...
  A: Well, as you can expect, there is no way for me to diagnose anything without seeing it in person. ...
TEETH9/29/2004
  Q: Is it ever normal for healthy teeth to wiggle EVERY SO SLIGHTLY by pushing it with the tongue.Thanks
  A: Teeth do have the ability to wiggle VERRY slightly. They are suspended in their socket by ligaments. ...
side effects of a filling9/24/2004
  Q: Five days ago I had a cavity in a far back molar on my right side filled with a composite. (Filling ...
  A: Eileen, The first thing I would have checked is your bite. If the bite is off, you will experience a ...
Bottom teeth used to be nice, now way too narrow9/18/2004
  Q: I'm 24 years old and got braces recently. I've had them for a few months. I had very very minor ...
  A: Ashley, Unfortunately the teeth have already been reduced so you cannot easily put things back on. ...
Cavity9/16/2004
  Q: I know I have a cavity, and how long does it take to fill the cavity when I go to the dentist? and ...
  A: John, It depends on the size of the cavity and the speed level of the dentist. A normal filling ...
wisdom teeth9/14/2004
  Q: I am 32 years old and the dentist said my wisdom teeth need to be taken out. They are growing into ...
  A: Michelle, This is common. Wisdom teeth often come in at an angle and can cause problems if they ...
upset9/14/2004
  Q: I went to the dentist today for the first time in a long time. I am having sensitivity on the top ...
  A: Joanne, A dentist uses everything to make a diagnosis. I like to look at things clinically, feel ...
upset9/14/2004
  Q: I went to the dentist today for the first time in a long time. I am having sensitivity on the top ...
  A: Joanne, It sounds like you have a small defect in the outer surface of the tooth. It is not into the ...
sedation9/10/2004
  Q: Would it be ridiculous to ask for IV sedation for cavity fillings? Would the dentist laugh at me? I ...
  A: Michelle, It is not ridiculous to ask for IV Sedation. But only do this if you have no other ...
cavity9/7/2004
  Q: I am 32 years old and I am pretty sure I have at least one, maybe 2 cavities. The one that hurts ...
  A: Michelle, Prices vary from area of the country to area of the country. Plus different for each type ...
cavity9/6/2004
  Q: I am 32 years old and I am pretty sure I have at least one, maybe 2 cavities. The one that hurts ...
  A: Michelle, You need to find a good dentist...one you have confidence in. Even if that means finding ...
tooth pain9/5/2004
  Q: If it is root sensitivity, what should I do to treat it. I was seen by the periodontist post ...
  A: Brush with sensodyne toothpaste or crest or colgate for sensitive teeth toothpaste. Use it 2-3 times ...
tooth pain9/5/2004
  Q: I had planing and root scaling done and have had intermittent pain in about six teeth on one side of ...
  A: Patty, After root planing, the teeth can be a little tender. This tenderness should pass quickly. If ...
what can any of the folowoing...8/26/2004
  Q: what can any of the folowoing speciaties do for tmj? regular dentist oral surgeon tmj ...
  A: regular dentist: this depends on what the dentist feels comfortable with. he/she can adjust ...
just one more question (dry mouth)8/24/2004
  Q: I always thought that I had a good relationship with my current dentist. He has told me in the past ...
  A: That thing that connects your tongue to the floor of your mouth is called a frenum. It is a muscle ...
Dry mouth follow up from yesterday8/24/2004
  Q: Just so I get it straight in my head - a few more questions -- my high levels of anxiety and ...
  A: Tara, There are no hard fast rules for dry mouth. You cannot categorize it in any regular fashion. ...
braces vs invisilign8/23/2004
  Q: I promise this will be the last time I bother you! My 21 year old son had a 2nd opinion and needs ...
  A: Invisalign is used in limited cases. Since his overbite is so deep and he has crossbite, you have to ...
Dry mouth question-next step?8/23/2004
  Q: don't know if you remember me but I'm 27 yrs. old white female. I drink once a week and ex-smoker. ...
  A: Tara, A periodontist is responsible for gums and bone. I do not know why he referred you there. I ...
Dental Crown8/23/2004
  Q: I had a Crown put in about 2 months ago and it partially came off a couple of weeks ago. I had it ...
  A: Randy, It is hard for me to give you a definite answer online without seeing things in person. I ...
dental8/21/2004
  Q: I'm sorry I wasn't clear. The dentist said that his bottom teeth hit his gums (right behind his top ...
  A: Lauren, Now it makes a little more sense. He has a deep bite not overbite. His lower front teeth are ...
dental8/20/2004
  Q: My son is 21 years old and has a overbite 6mm. He refused to have braces. His orthodontist has me ...
  A: Lauren, I cannot picture what your son's teeth look like. But overbite by itself will not cause ...
Sealants and STILL got 11 cavities8/18/2004
  Q: My 19 year old son was just told that he has 11 cavities UNDER his sealants. This is the same ...
  A: This is a tough question. I cannot explain what has happened. You can only discuss this with this ...
Just curious....8/18/2004
  Q: you might remember me, I'm the hypocondriac from earlier in the week. Background: I'm a 27 yr. old ...
  A: Tara, Sounds like thick ropey saliva. Saliva comes in two forms: serous or thin, watery saliva and ...
Dry mouth or should I be concerned?8/16/2004
  Q: I'm 27 yr. old white female. Medicine that I am currently taking: Allegra-D along with Flonase for ...
  A: tw, You have asked a lot here. Let me try to answer things for you. You mentioned some of the ...
oral health fo kids8/15/2004
  Q: WHAT SHOULD BE THE THEME FOR MAKING A POSTER ON ORAL HEALTH AWARENESS IN SCHOOL GOING ...
  A: Salman, You can do one on fluorides (how they protect teeth). Another idea can be on diet (how foods ...
Mouthwash8/12/2004
  Q: I'm wondering if it's ok to use Listerine more than twice a day.
  A: Susan, I would not recommend using Listerine more than once a day...twice a day at most. You have to ...
My kids teeth8/4/2004
  Q: I have two problems / questions. I am the father of two small children. My son is 5 years old and ...
  A: Richard, This is a tough question. You are helping him brush and floss and he does not eat a lot of ...
Dry mouth7/29/2004
  Q: I'm a 27 yr. old female, drink once a week (4-5 beers), ex-smoker, take Aciphex for Reflux, ...
  A: Tara, You definitely have what is known as burning tongue problems. This is not that rare of a ...
white teeth7/29/2004
  Q: What is the best way to get my teeth whiter ,I used the over counter creames with no effect,Should I ...
  A: Bob- When you want to whiten your teeth, you have a few choices. You seem to have already tried the ...
Saliva Glands7/27/2004
  Q: I believe I talked to you the other day about sores in the back of my throat. I went to an ENT to ...
  A: Swollen salivary glands can cause pain. I do not like the ENT's comment to wait it out. My question ...
tongue still numb7/21/2004
  Q: i had work done yesterday and felt an "extreme" sense of electric shock sensation from the local ...
  A: Ron, If anesthetic is injected really close to the nerve, you will get the exact large "shocking" ...
whitening gum?7/16/2004
  Q: Dr. Dalin, what is the actual efficacy of these gums that supposedly whiten your teeth(dentyne, ...
  A: Joe, There is nothing in there that will bleach teeth. To bleach teeth, you need to hold the ...
Temp crown removal & tooth sensitivity7/13/2004
  Q: Dalin, My #14 tooth had a loose filling, and I went to the DDS to get it checked and was told I ...
  A: Rain, It is impossible for me to diagnose anything like this over the Internet. My advice to you is ...
Allergy7/8/2004
  Q: I recently got a surfuce filling and braces. I noticed though that after getting those, I developed ...
  A: Mara, Do you have a nickel allergy? One way to know this is do you have trouble wearing certain ...
TMJ7/5/2004
  Q: I am so happy to have found this site. Last year I went to the ER after suffering several days with ...
  A: You need to find a dentist who understands TMJ problems. Ask around until you find one. In the ...
toothpaste6/29/2004
  Q: How come you cant eat toothpaste?
  A: Kimberly, Toothpaste is made to help clean the surface of your teeth. It is not made to be eaten. ...
Problem with new porcelain fillings6/28/2004
  Q: I went 4 months ago for my annual checkup to a new dentist in mexico and she told me I should ...
  A: Ray, Sometimes patients do get postop sensitivity to plastic fillings. If the bite has been adjusted ...
Risks involved with temporary cement of a bridge in someone's mouth for a prolonged time6/24/2004
  Q: I have 3 questions: Question # 1: What are the risks involved with temporary cement in a bridge ...
  A: Bill- Here are the answers to your questions: 1) Don't leave temporaries in that long. The cement is ...
Tooth Coming Out6/7/2004
  Q: I'm a single mom who was layed of for some time. I have a great new job now, but I will not be able ...
  A: Lisa, Sorry about the delay. AllExperts would not connect last night. It is working again tonight so ...
School Project6/5/2004
  Q: Dr.Jeff Dalin My name is Sabrina and I am a Junior at Ramona High School; we where assigned ...
  A: I will try to answer your questions... 1) # of years in my career: almost 24 2) like the most: ...
Tongue Bite6/3/2004
  Q: This may sound like a weird question. But, while jogging, I accidentally bit my tongue. That was ...
  A: Dan, Normally the tongue heals pretty quickly...within 3-5 days. If the bite starts looking bad or ...
pediatric question5/20/2004
  Q: Yesterday I took my 4 year old in for her check-up. Our dentist said everything looked good, "no ...
  A: Lauren, I am not sure what that means. Baby teeth are listed by Letters not numbers...her teeth are ...
Stain or cavity?5/7/2004
  Q: I had a dental cleaning 9 months ago from a close friend dental hygenist and my uncle (who is her ...
  A: Annah, I would get a second opinion...I would tend to believe your first dentist. Stain does not ...
Implants and crowns4/29/2004
  Q: Dalin, Next month I will have surgery to incert 8 upper implants: two front, two on the left and ...
  A: Vlad, There are a lot of factors that come into play here. If you are putting in 8 implants to ...
teething delays4/12/2004
  Q: My 2-year-old began cutting teeth at 11 months, and seemed to be cutting them regularly and in the ...
  A: There is an age range when teeth are expected to come in. What you describe is not that far off. The ...
teeth whitenings4/11/2004
  Q: I have another question if you don't mind: I do have a custom made mouthpiece that was made for me ...
  A: Jade, It is simple to test...just put it in and see if it still fits. When I make my patients a ...
teeth whitenings4/9/2004
  Q: I'm wondering if you could tell me how these 2 whitening gels are different and which one is more ...
  A: Jade, I am not familiar with the brand you are talking about. I use Discus Dental Nite White in my ...
X rays for children4/6/2004
  Q: My five year old son went to a pediatric dentist last week and they took a set of x rays for the ...
  A: Dave, I am speaking as a dentist here. We can only diagnose what we can see. Clinically we can only ...
individual dental insurance4/3/2004
  Q: I hope you can help us. My husband and I are disabled and on a limited income. He really needs his ...
  A: Julie, I have no simple ideas for you here. You have to call around to different dentists and see ...
6 year old daughter's front tooth3/31/2004
  Q: ), and her top two middle ones are loose (not super loose, though). One of the two has turned gray ...
  A: Tess, Without seeing your daughter, I cannot give you a definitive answer. Baby teeth turn grey ...
Teeth Gap3/29/2004
  Q: My daughter who is 12 years old has a gap of about 1 cm between her upper two front incisors. Her ...
  A: John, Without seeing your daughter, I cannot give you any definitive advice...but I cannot figure ...
whitening3/28/2004
  Q: I've heard that cigarette ashes actually whiten your teen! Is this true? thanks, Jenny
  A: Jenny, I have never ever heard of that one...ever. So I would not believe that this can have any ...
Bridge3/16/2004
  Q: My fiance has had a metal bridge for a number of years (she plans to move to a porcelin bridge in ...
  A: Harrison, I hate to give you bad news but there is no way to temporarily reconnect a broken metal ...
Capped Tooth & Pain3/14/2004
  Q: , I am actually an expert over in the Optometry section and thought I would give the service a try. ...
  A: Mike, The dentist could not know for certain about whether or not the tooth needed a root canal at ...
Capped Tooth & Pain3/14/2004
  Q: , I am actually an expert over in the Optometry section and thought I would give the service a try. ...
  A: Mike, A permanent cap should not bother you after a day or so. If it does, then it needs ...
tooth problem3/1/2004
  Q: I am 30 Male from Nigeria. i notice that my teeth is cracking and chipping off at the edges. Could ...
  A: Ini You need to get into your dentist to have your teeth looked at and fixed if needed. This is the ...
Diabetes/Heart Attacks2/27/2004
  Q: Dalin, I am in need of an upper denture. I've heard of an outfit called "Affordable Dentures". ...
  A: Mike, I wish I could give you an impartial opinion but I have not heard of that outfit called ...
dentures2/26/2004
  Q: I would like t know if there is a way to remove nictione stains from my dentures? I can't find ...
  A: David, Call your dentist and see what he or she can do for you. We have tartar and stain removing ...
Cavity?2/22/2004
  Q: Dalin, I usually get my teeth cleaned every six months, but this time nine months have passed since ...
  A: Debi, I cannot tell you one way or another without seeing the tooth in person. We have not figured ...
Toddler Teeth Extraction Crises2/8/2004
  Q: My son is 2 and a halfHello, My son is suppose to be seen Monday to have his 2 front teeth ...
  A: Now that helps me out. He would not lose these teeth until age 6 or 7 or so. If they are extracted ...
VANEERS2/3/2004
  Q: HEY DOCTOR I have invisalign's on and my scenario is once done with braces, my front 2 teeth will be ...
  A: Joe, It is your dentist's job to make those 2 veneers match your two front teeth EXACTLY. That is ...

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