Rebecca Carratt

Dentist

707 228th Ave NE Sammamish WA, 98074 Show map

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About

Dr. Carratt grew up in Enumclaw, WA, and began her dental career as an assistant. At the time, the dentist she worked for treated her patients like family, and this environment inspired her to go back to school to become a dentist. She completed her bachelor’s degree at the University of Washington. She then went on to Midwestern University to earn a Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences. She received her Doctorate of Dental Medicine at Roseman University of Health Sciences, which awarded her the American Academy of Implant Dentistry Predoctoral Award. She also received the Distinguished Clinical Excellence Award, Distinguished Professionalism and Ethics Award, and the Distinguished Lifelong Colleague Award. She is also a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the Dental Honor Society, and the American Dental Association.

She is a lifelong learner and strives to stay current in all aspects of dentistry through continuing education courses. She has completed a nine-month course through the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. She is a Board Certified Associate Fellow with the AAID. She has continued the same quality of care as a dentist, determined to treat her patients as a family, valuing the relationships she builds along the way. When not at the office, you’ll find her outdoors — hiking, fishing, camping, or snowshoeing with her husband and son.

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Rebecca Carratt

Rebecca Carratt's Expert Contributions

My Answers

Can a dental bridge cause tooth damage?
To create a bridge you need to prepare the neighboring teeth for crowns (which will be attached to the false crown in the middle). When you prepare a tooth for a crown you remove all of the enamel, about the thickness of a nickel from all surfaces. If the tooth next to your missing tooth is healthy then you are taking away a lot of natural tooth structure that could be prevented if an implant is possible. Sometimes teeth can be traumatized by the reduction done for a crown, so yes teeth can be damaged by preparing for a bridge. Another form of damage that can occur is if the neighboring teeth have periodontal disease and are no longer strong enough to support the added stresses of a bridge. READ MORE
How long will I bleed after gum surgery?
Different surgeries will have different healing times, but generally speaking the dentist will make sure you have stopped bleeding before you leave the office and provide you with instructions to prevent breakthrough bleeding. Most bleeding at home is caused by hot food/drinks within the first few days of surgery or activities that raise your blood pressure such as exercise. READ MORE
How can I get rid of the sensitivity in my front teeth?
Sensodyne is a great product for reducing cold sensitivity. For severe sensitivity use it at night and after you finish brushing, spit but do not rinse. You produce less saliva at night and it will allow the product to stay on the teeth longer. READ MORE
I have a dull pain in my tooth?
The best over-the-counter pain relief is 400 mg Ibuprofen with 500 mg Tylenol every 4-6 hours. The two drugs target different areas of the pain pathway so they have potentiating effects. Hopefully, that will get you through the weekend until you can be seen. READ MORE
How do I get rid of the black line on my gums?
A black line on the gumline of a natural tooth could be decay, which is usually fixed with a filling. If the tooth has a crown it could be a metal coping under the porcelain which would require a new crown. If it has been a long time since your last cleaning it could be a buildup that has gotten so tenacious that it has taken on a dark color. If you have darker colored skin it could be the gums themselves that present with patches of pigment which is normal and healthy. READ MORE
How do you fix a deep cavity?
A deep cavity is usually prepared in the same way as a typical cavity, if the decay is very close to the nerve we will sometimes leave a small amount under the filling. Sedative liners can be used under the filling material to help calm the nerve in deep fillings as well. READ MORE
Is it normal for gums to hurt after a filling?
Many fillings require a matrix band and wedge to shape the filling, this can crush the soft tissue and cause post-operative discomfort. Warm salt water will help, and ibuprofen is a great anti-inflammatory. READ MORE
How long should a crown last on a tooth?
The number one reason crowns fail is recurrent decay at the margin (the perimeter where the crown ends and the tooth begins). Someone with excellent home care will typically have a crown much longer than someone who doesn’t floss. Most insurance companies pay for a crown to be replaced every five years but we like to see much longer than that assuming the tooth wasn’t compromised, to begin with. If a tooth is severely broken down before the crown is placed it can also shorten the lifespan of the restoration. READ MORE
Do dental cysts go away on their own?
A cyst is a fluid-filled lesion lined by epithelium, it will not resolve on its own. Some cysts can be dangerous, your dentist will tell you if yours needs to be removed/biopsied. READ MORE
How long does it take to remove a dental cyst?
Every cyst will be different; size, location, and proximity to vital structures will determine how long it takes to remove. READ MORE
How long does dental implant pain last?
If you are concerned about pain you should contact your dentist. Simple implant placement will heal much faster than if it was done at the same time as an extraction or grafting procedure. Pain after three days could be completely normal depending on what exactly was done. READ MORE
Is it bad to drink coffee before the dentist?
If you have a history of being difficult to get numb and you are going in for something other than a routine cleaning I would skip the coffee, otherwise you are fine. READ MORE
What is the best pain reliever after a root canal?
For severe pain, you can take 400 mg Ibuprofen with 500 mg Tylenol every 4-6 hours. The two drugs potentiate each and will be more effective than a higher dose of one alone. READ MORE
How do you rebuild enamel?
Once the enamel is gone you can never get it back. Depending on the surface of the tooth it can be replaced with a composite filling or a crown. READ MORE
Dying teeth?
Teeth can be very unpredictable and I personally never recommend removing a filling (including amalgam) unless it is failing. That being said, there are several reasons why a tooth could die after a filling is done. The proximity of the filling to the nerve has a large impact on the amount of post-operative pain. The type of filling material used on a tooth in close proximity to the nerve can affect the vitality of the tooth. The amount of water used while drilling has an effect on the vitality of the tooth. Typically it is better to save teeth (with a root canal and crown) when possible. READ MORE
Is removing gum stitches painful?
Removing stitches is typically not painful and rarely requires an anesthetic. READ MORE
How long does dental bonding last on front teeth?
Bonding on front teeth is really case to case. The size and location of the fractured enamel being replaced effects longevity as well as the patient’s bite. Typically they do periodically need to be replaced, if you have composite on a front tooth you want to avoid actions that require tensile strength like tearing. Never open packages with your front teeth, cut your sandwiches that have tough or crusty bread, be mindful of crunchy granola bars. If you get tired of replacing it a permanent fix would be a crown. READ MORE
Can you straighten teeth with receding gums?
You can straighten teeth with receding gums. The cause of your recession may be periodontal disease, which you will want to treat prior to starting any orthodontic treatment. If your recession is from clenching/grinding your teeth at night or past periodontal disease you are typically safe to start Invisalign or traditional braces but your dentist will tell you if there are any problems that need to be addressed first. Doing at home clear aligners with active periodontal disease can lead to mobility and even tooth loss, a dentist or orthodontist will monitor your teeth closely throughout treatment to prevent this from happening. READ MORE
Should I rinse my mouth after eating after tooth extraction?
There is no need to rinse your mouth after eating with an extraction site, best to just avoid small nuts, seeds or small things that can get into the site for the first few days. Rinsing with warm salt water can help with any bad flavors associated with the extraction but you do not want to swish vigorously, only let it float around your mouth gently. READ MORE
Does a filling weaken a tooth?
In a sense yes, the filling material is not as strong as natural tooth structure, but the decay also weakens the tooth. The larger a restoration is, the higher the risk of fracture. More fillings fail because of recurrent cavities than fracture; your best bet is to get the fillings taken care of in a timely manner (to keep it small) and then keep things as clean as possible to get the best longevity out of your filling. READ MORE