EXPERT
Henry Buhl
Dentist
Dr. Henry Buhl is an orthodontist practicing in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Dr. Buhl specializes in dentofacial orthopedics, preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases and conditions associated with the mouth and overall dental health. Dentists and dental specialists are trained to carry out such treatment as professional cleaning, restorative, prosthodontic, and endodontic procedures, and performing examinations, among many others.
54 years
Experience
Henry Buhl
- Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Furman university
- Accepting new patients
A Primer to Dentistry on General Topics
I've been deliberate about waiting to define the way I want to set this blog up in order to sample some questions over the past few months and see what topics are of interest....
Can chewing gum be good for my teeth?
The chewing of gum is habit forming and there's no nutritional value and gum does not help the teeth even with no sugar, as much damage can be done from traumatic occlusion with READ MORE
The chewing of gum is habit forming and there's no nutritional value and gum does not help the teeth even with no sugar, as much damage can be done from traumatic occlusion with the repetition of chewing Strokes manifested by The Habit of chewing gum. Find another habit.
Are there any warning signs of gingivitis?
Gingivitis is the first cousin to periodontal disease and many times expresses no visual symptoms to the patients awareness but is likely to already have begun to cause bone loss READ MORE
Gingivitis is the first cousin to periodontal disease and many times expresses no visual symptoms to the patients awareness but is likely to already have begun to cause bone loss around the teeth that are affected. This bone loss needs to be evaluated and super vised by periodontist if your dentist is not giving you a reasonable explanation of the likely sequence of events to occur left untreated
Is general anesthesia sometimes used for wisdom tooth extractions?
A consultation with your oral surgeon is the best way to determine what method of analgesic will be used to comfortably sedate you so that the procedure will take less time and READ MORE
A consultation with your oral surgeon is the best way to determine what method of analgesic will be used to comfortably sedate you so that the procedure will take less time and are you sure anxiety. Do not be afraid to ask questions as to whether you can have just a local anesthetic, nitrous oxide an inhalation agent, an analgesic which is given IV like valium or Demerol, or be put to sleep entirely with a general anesthetic which is very rare for wisdom teeth.
Is tooth sensitivity a sign of decay?
If you're noticing sensitivity and it is a cavity by an X-ray diagnosis, which would prove it, it's likely that it has progressed much further than you think and may possibly even READ MORE
If you're noticing sensitivity and it is a cavity by an X-ray diagnosis, which would prove it, it's likely that it has progressed much further than you think and may possibly even involve a root canal. Do not put this off as it becomes increasingly expensive to restore once the nerve has to be removed.
What tooth implants are used?
Implant apparatuses are usually titanium, so if they are non-allergenic two patients and therefore very expensive, placement should only be done by a specialist such as a periodontist READ MORE
Implant apparatuses are usually titanium, so if they are non-allergenic two patients and therefore very expensive, placement should only be done by a specialist such as a periodontist or an oral surgeon. Remember, there is no such specialty as implantology; I'm only mentioning these two specialists as the most fitting.
When should I get my fillings replaced?
It's very rare, but the symptoms you describe are because of decay left in the tooth possibly due to the dentist not wanting to expose the nerve, but placing a restorative medication READ MORE
It's very rare, but the symptoms you describe are because of decay left in the tooth possibly due to the dentist not wanting to expose the nerve, but placing a restorative medication called calcium hydroxide in the base of the preparation. If this is not the case, and your dental records would show that it was or not, the filling may have begun to leak if it's been longer than 7 years, which is the life of a metal filling, not a composite resin, which is tooth-colored and sometimes used in back teeth for cosmetic purposes, but only in patients who take excellent care of their teeth.
How many times a year should kids get a teeth whitening?
My opinion only not substantiated by research, but I would lean toward whitening only once per year at the most and use a fluoridated toothpaste instead one that is recognized READ MORE
My opinion only not substantiated by research, but I would lean toward whitening only once per year at the most and use a fluoridated toothpaste instead one that is recognized by the American Dental Association. Over whitening of teeth can lead to hypersensitivity and becomes a difficult problem destructively
Is dry mouth possible because of my inhaler?
The effect of long-term inhalation steroids such as prednisone and other asthmatic medications have a long-term chronic effect on the enamel of teeth but as long as you are maintaining READ MORE
The effect of long-term inhalation steroids such as prednisone and other asthmatic medications have a long-term chronic effect on the enamel of teeth but as long as you are maintaining twice a year checkups with your dentist, and have noted on your medical history the use thereof he or she will recommend what agents to use to come back this problem
When is a root canal recommended?
Old text books have been written on the etiology of what causes a cavity to progress to the stage that requires a root canal treatment. Many, many times, it is just a traumatic READ MORE
Old text books have been written on the etiology of what causes a cavity to progress to the stage that requires a root canal treatment. Many, many times, it is just a traumatic injury from childhood that manifests itself years later in the form of the nerve actually dying and needing to be treated with root canal therapy. Also, metabolic problems within each individual patient can cause restricted blood supply to the teeth, therefore impoverishing vitality of the tooth and causing a need for root canals for preventive reasons, as well as radiation treatment having a deleterious effect on the nerve over a chronic number of times in each of the teeth that are radiated. Dental X-rays cause no problem as they are properly columnated as to the strength and duration of the beam used to illustrate the tooth in the target area. You get more radiation from a walk in the sun than multiple full-mouth X-rays over a number of years.
Is surgery a treatment for TMJ?
There is no specialty that deals with TMJ so it becomes a requirement to do some research as to who the best person in your general area is who might specialize in this difficult READ MORE
There is no specialty that deals with TMJ so it becomes a requirement to do some research as to who the best person in your general area is who might specialize in this difficult to diagnose area of Dentistry. Keep in mind that the treatment is vastly diverse and lends itself to quackery and many times by people who should not be treating it. I would have a consultation with two people an orthodontic specialists, and an oral surgeon answer which are eminently qualified to recommend a person who has great knowledge of treatment of the TMJ. This is not an area that lends itself 2 general dentistry
How often should my daughter get her braces tightened?
Your orthodontist will establish the proper interval between visits based on what movement is taking place and may vary as many as a few weeks to a month, rarely more than 6 weeks. READ MORE
Your orthodontist will establish the proper interval between visits based on what movement is taking place and may vary as many as a few weeks to a month, rarely more than 6 weeks. This interval is very important to maintaining timing and will lead to a proper result rather than a fixed schedule.
Why do dentists use X-rays?
You were very lucky the X-ray showed the crack as most do not. Trans illumination is the best way to determine whether a crack exists along with the symptoms you describe. Crooked READ MORE
You were very lucky the X-ray showed the crack as most do not. Trans illumination is the best way to determine whether a crack exists along with the symptoms you describe. Crooked teeth are very elusive and can give the impression that it is one tooth when it is referred pain from another tooth, so it is difficult to pinpoint the outcome, at least in your case what's beneficial.
Do cavity fillings require anesthesia?
The dentist makes an informed decision once he sees the X-ray and has consulted with you. He or she gets a pretty good idea as to what level of anesthetic you need to maintain READ MORE
The dentist makes an informed decision once he sees the X-ray and has consulted with you. He or she gets a pretty good idea as to what level of anesthetic you need to maintain the best comfort zone for the size cavity that is being restored. The deeper, more invasive the cavity, the more likely you're going to have an anesthetic of varying duration.
How should I prepare for jaw adjustment surgery?
I would consider jaw surgery only after having visited a sleep apnea specialist
How can I tell if I have oral cancer?
General Lee the change in size, color consistency whether or not the lesion appears to be on both sides or bilateral also length of time present as well as microscopic examination READ MORE
General Lee the change in size, color consistency whether or not the lesion appears to be on both sides or bilateral also length of time present as well as microscopic examination which has to be done in the laboratory, impossible histologic evaluation will determine I don't like this but what kind.
What procedures require anesthesia at a dentist's office?
Any invasive procedure which leads to cutting tissue including enamel would likely involve use of the local anesthetic in order to either control leaving or possibly level of comfort READ MORE
Any invasive procedure which leads to cutting tissue including enamel would likely involve use of the local anesthetic in order to either control leaving or possibly level of comfort to a patient procedure
How often should I get a teeth whitening?
Depending on the concentration of peroxide in the whitening components and the reaction of your teeth to the same would determine along with sensitivity whether or not it would READ MORE
Depending on the concentration of peroxide in the whitening components and the reaction of your teeth to the same would determine along with sensitivity whether or not it would be appropriate to do another treatment within a year.
My tongue is white. Is this really bad?
Your dentist may make a referral for an examination under microscope of scrapings from your tongue including the illusion of self to determine if it's a viral or monilial and a READ MORE
Your dentist may make a referral for an examination under microscope of scrapings from your tongue including the illusion of self to determine if it's a viral or monilial and a result of a reaction to some drug that you were taking.
How do I whiten my teeth once my braces come off?
Over the counter medications for whitening have a concentration of around 2 to 3% peroxide which is the chief additive come, however your dentist can use as much as 32% with or READ MORE
Over the counter medications for whitening have a concentration of around 2 to 3% peroxide which is the chief additive come, however your dentist can use as much as 32% with or without ultraviolet acceleration, depending on the condition of your teeth and the additional benefit I'm supervising do whitening experience to control hypersensitivity from overuse which is a common problem
What is a cavity, exactly?
The cavity has a distinct appearance contrast on the X-ray as it appears in both the superficial covering of the tooth or the enamel, and a much more radical reactions to the underlying READ MORE
The cavity has a distinct appearance contrast on the X-ray as it appears in both the superficial covering of the tooth or the enamel, and a much more radical reactions to the underlying Denton. This is the lawyer that takes that contains nerves and blood vessels and protects the actual root canal of the tooth and therefore its vitality
