Dr. Elena M. Alexander

Yes, wisdom teeth can be filled. Depending on the position of the tooth and the size/location of the cavity, it may be possible to retain your wisdom tooth with a filling. However, if the tooth is not able to erupt fully into position, it may be necessary to remove the tooth. Your dentist should be able to advise you on the best treatment option for your individual case.

Cavity pain can be treated at home for a short duration of time with ibuprofen or tylenol. Some people find relief with topical numbing agents like Ambesol or Orajel. Be advised, tooth pain is generally a symptom of a larger problem and should be evaluated by a dentist. When tooth pain is treated at home for a long period of time, you may be at risk of developing an abscess which could lead to life threatening infections.

No, you should not sleep with your dentures in. The soft tissues under your dentures or partial dentures need to be exposed to oxygen at bedtime. Gums that are continually deprived of oxygen can become sponge like and lead to ill fitting dentures. The only time you should sleep with a removable appliance in your mouth is when advised by your dentist.

It is perfectly normal to notice an odor after a tooth extraction. It can last 3 days to a few weeks depending on your body's healing time.

The purpose of a dental cleaning is not to whiten teeth. However, in some cases your teeth will appear whiter after a cleaning. People who consume coffee, tea, dark sodas and other foods that stain your teeth, can develop a surface stain that makes the teeth appear darker. Some surface stains can be polished off during a dental cleaning making the teeth appear whiter. A dental cleaning is not able to remove stain that has been absorbed into the enamel surface.

Age is not a restricting factor for straightening your teeth. In fact, most of my patients who chose to correct the alignment of their teeth are over the age of 40. Recent research shows misaligned teeth can lead to fractured or cracking teeth and periodontal (gum) disease. Straight teeth are no longer just a cosmetic therapy. Proper position leads to proper function. Fortunately, over the years many advancements in orthodontics have been made. In most cases, teeth can now be aligned using clear aligner therapy which eliminates the need for metal brackets and wires. If you are considering straightening your teeth, I would encourage you to have the discussion with your dentist. If your dentist does not provide orthodontic services, he or she should be able to refer you to a qualified specialist in your area.

It is not what you can eat but, rather what you should not eat. Acidic foods create an environment that is optimal for bacteria to damage your teeth. Foods and beverages high in sugar will supply the bacteria with the food they need to damage your teeth. It is recommended that acidic and suagary beverages and foods are limited to meal times and followed by brushing your teeth. Xylitol chewing gum has been shown to reduce your risk of developing cavities when used four times a day for 10 minutes each time.

No, brushing three times a day is not a bad thing. In fact, until recently it was recommended to brush three times a day (once after each meal). If possible it is still recommended to brush after eating. The least you should be brushing is twice a day; once in the morning and before you go to bed.

For maximum results, it is best to have your teeth cleaned prior to a whitening treatment.

It is not recommend you brush your gums. Too much pressure in the wrong direction can lead to gum trauma and receding gum line. If you are concerned about your gum health and believe you should brush your gums, speak with your dentist about techniques you can use that will not damage your gum tissue.

Unfortunately, if you have been told you need a deep cleaning, there is no safe home remedy for this. A dental professional must remove the tartar (calculus) that has attached to the root surfaces of your teeth below the level of the gums. The calculus must be removed using ultrasonic tools and sharp dental instruments. If the calculus is not properly and completely removed you are at risk of developing a periodontal (gum) abscess.

You will most likely be numbed for the deep cleaning. In which case you should not eat anything until the anesthetic wears off. You will be able to drink beverages that are cold or room temperature but nothing hot. Eating or drinking hot beverages while numb could lead to trauma from biting or burning yourself. For a few days following the procedure your gums may be tender, you will want to avoid anything crunchy or acidic as it may irritate your gum tissue.

The short answer is yes. If you have a general dental cleaning you can drink coffee afterwards. However, if you have fluoride varnish applied after your cleaning you will need to wait three hours before you drink anything hot. Keep in mind coffee can stain your teeth.

This is a common question and concern of many patients. First, not everyone needs to have their wisdom teeth extracted. Your dentist should be able to tell you if the length of your jaw (maxilla and mandible) are long enough for the teeth to fully erupt. If your jaw has room for the wisdom teeth to fully erupt, you most likely will not need to have them removed. Unfortunately, this is not the case for most people. If your wisdom teeth (3rd molars) are impacted against the tooth in front of them, the wisdom teeth can damage the neighboring tooth by causing bone resorption around the tooth and eventually causing a hole in the root or crown of the tooth it is impacted against. It is important to understand all teeth have a naturally occurring cyst that helps them move through the bone. Teeth that are impacted and unable to erupt into the mouth pose a risk of the eruption cyst growing and eventually causing resorption of the jaw bone that could lead to a jaw fracture. Wisdom teeth that are able to partially erupt but do not have the jaw length for full eruption could develop cavities under the covered portion of the tooth. In cases of partially erupted third molars, it is not always possible to diagnose caries (cavities) due to the location of caries in relation to the gum tissue over the tooth. Undetected caries (cavities) could eventually lead to an infection at which point you would need to have the tooth removed. In most cases, it is best to remove the teeth at a young age to prevent future damage to the adjacent teeth and bone. Keep in mind, not all patients develop problems from impacted wisdom teeth. I always recommend having a discussion with your dentist to determine what your specific risks are and make the decision that is in your best interest.

Generally speaking, there are no painful side effects after a dental cleaning. However, if you have not had a professional dental cleaning for a few years and have tartar (calculus) build up you may experience tenderness in your gums for 24-72 hours following the cleaning.

For the most part receding gums can not be fixed naturally. Keep in mind the gum line and bone line follow each other, therefore in areas where you have recession you also have bone loss. In cases of moderate recession gingival (gum) grafting is recommended. If you have developed the gum recession from trauma, for example you cut your gums, it is possible to gently massage the gums in an outward motion to encourage healing.

Bad breath, or halitosis, can be caused by several factors. If you have not had your teeth professionally cleaned in the last six months it is possible you are developing gum disease (periodontal disease) and may require a special cleaning to remove the bacteria and calculus that causes it. If you have had a cleaning in the last six months and you do not floss, this could be the cause of your bad breath. Brushing your tongue can also help decrease halitosis. If none of these issues are the cause of your issue, you may want to see your primary care physician as some bad breath can be caused by gastric issues.

Good afternoon. The length of a bonding appointment depends on how many teeth will be restored and how much of the tooth structure will be replaced. A typical appointment for bonding will be approximately 30 to 60 minutes.

Unfortunately, there are no proven natural remedies to fix or repair gums that have receded, however it is possible to prevent further recession of the gums. Brushing with too much force can cause the gums to recede. If your toothbrush bristles tend to flare out, you are brushing with too much pressure. If your clench or grind (brux), wearing an occlusal guard (night guard) at night can assist in decreasing gingival recession.

This is a common occurrence. Often as parents, we want to help our children overcome obstacles and try to talk them through many of life's difficult situation. In most cases, this is in the best interest of the child. However, I find often times parents will give their children more information than they need, leading to increased fear levels. For example, many parents use the word "shot" to prepare the child for a restorative appointment. This will give the child unnecessary fear and they will relate "shot" with immunizations. Dentists have a multitude of ways to make the process of getting numb easy for the children and many times they do not even know they had an injection. I would recommend discussing this fear with the front office team member helping you schedule your son's appointment. In my practice, for patients with anxiety, the first appointment is only for x-rays and an exam. The appointment is made to be fun for the child and get them familiar with the office and process. I would let your son know they are only going to take pictures of his teeth and look at them. If he is comfortable while in the office, it is likely they will be able to do a cleaning at the time of the appointment, but let the office team work him up to that.