Dr. Brent Ellis Parrott, D.D.S.

An "overbite" can mean lots of different things and there can be a huge variety of severity. Invisalign and other forms of orthodontics are capable of correcting lots of different types of malocclusion (bad bites).The time needed to correct each individual case depends on the severity and patient compliance. The best way to get an estimate for your particular case would be to visit a dentist or orthodontist so they can evaluate your individual case. One nice thing with Invisalign, once the case is sent to Align (the Invisalign company) the report comes back to the dentist telling how many aligners are anticipated being needed to correct your case so the estimate can be quite accurate from that point.

Braces or orthodontics which can be done using many different methods, from removable retainers, to clear aligners, to wires and brackets, is designed to reposition teeth to their ideal and or most esthetic position in each individuals mouth. If there are "gaps in your teeth" those would probably be caused by decay or trauma. If you are asking can braces close the gaps between teeth, that is what they do best. Keep in mind if your jaw has too much space in it and not enough teeth to fill all the spaces it may be necessary to do something else to make sure all the spaces are filled. Consulting with an Orthodontist or dentist who does orthodontics on a regular basis would be the best way to find what is possible in your particular case.

Short answer, Yes. The whitening process opens the “pores” in the teeth to allow the chemicals to infiltrate and whiten the structure. It does not damage or weaken the tooth structure. In an ideal scenario I recommend you use a topical fluoride gel immediately after removing the whitening trays. To do this, remove the trays and rinse them well, then either place the fluoride gel in the trays or brush it directly onto your teeth, then place the whitening trays back on your teeth for about 20 minutes. This will help take advantage of the open structure of your teeth and allow the fluoride to integrate and strengthen your tooth structure. After that, as long as you are using a soft or ultra-soft toothbrush, brush away.

The implant is the usually titanium "screw" placed into the jaw bone. There is typically some sort of crown or restoration that goes on top of that. When an implant (the screw) is placed most dentists allow at least 8 weeks for it to integrate (have the bone grow to hold it) and for the gums to heal. Depending on the process utilized to restore the implant, that can be the only time your gums need to heal. When a more invasive technique is needed it is typically somewhere along the lines of 4 to 8 weeks for the tissue to heal around the crown or restoration. While implants are a great and long lasting solution for a lost tooth, it can take a while to get the "new tooth" in place. Keep in mind there are techniques that enable the placement of a tooth much faster, sometimes even immediately. This requires a lot of things to fall into place properly that is why a consult with a dentist to see your specific needs, wants, and situation would give you the best answer.

Not sure why you think having Invisalign on would change anything? As always, flossing is only for those teeth you want to keep. Clear aligners significantly reduce the natural cleansing action of saliva and trap any cavity promoting stuff on your tooth/teeth making it even more important you get all that off before putting in the aligners. You could talk to your dentist about something to put on your teeth or in your aligners to help strengthen your teeth.

I think you are referring to the "black triangle" spaces between teeth. There are many ways to eliminate them. Here are a couple of links to more conservative methods of eliminating them. https://www.bioclearmatrix.com/ https://www.oralhealthgroup.com/features/treating-the-dreaded-black-triangle-with-the-bioclear-method-a-4-year-follow-up/ If you prefer this look to the "black triangles" this might be an option for you.

Both upper and lower front teeth can be veneered. These are the most common teeth to be covered or veneered. Veneers can be done in many different ways, with many different materials, for many different reasons, and how long they last depends on many factors.

Will TMJ show up on MRI?

I am a 27 year old male. I want to know if TMJ will show up on MRI? I don't think that is the question you mean to ask. TMJ is the temporomandibular joint. If you have one it will show up on an MRI. If you don't have one, you don't have a jaw (at least don't have the joint on one side). The same thing can be said about elbow or knee, if you have one it will show up on an MRI. I think what you want to ask is if TMD, temporomandibular disfunction will show up on an MRI. Since it is a disfunction of the joint and a disfunctions is a symptom of how it works, no, it will not show up on an MRI. If you have disfunction of the temporomandibular joint, an MRI might help it visualizing possible causes of the disfunction. There are many people with joints that look terrible on lots of different forms of imaging but have no symptoms and therefore are not diagnosed with TMD.

To get rid of a tooth abscess the cause of the abscess needs to be eliminated. If it is an infected tooth, I suppose you could removed the infected tooth yourself without going to a dentist but I'm guessing it would be painful and likely to cause other complications. Definitely not advised. A dentist could possibly remove the part of the tooth causing the infection without removing the entire tooth. While taking an antibiotic may eliminate the abscess for a time, unless the cause is eliminated it will return.

I have never seen any research to confirm that it would slow the progression of dental carries. It certainly would not "fix" or restore or replace the tooth structure lost to the invasive decay.

It doesn't sound like whoever you saw did a very good job of explaining "scaling". Normal healthy teeth cleaning typically involves scaling or scraping of the teeth with either hand instruments or a very gentle fast vibrating (ultrasonic scaler) instrument. Typically this part of the procedure is not painful in a healthy mouth. If gums are unhealthy or the debris is a long way beneath the level of the gums it can be less comfortable having the debris removed. Typically Scaling and Root planing is for unhealthy mouths and is normally done using local anesthetic to allow the hygienist or dentist to be as thorough and aggressive and necessary to remove all the unwanted stuff from under the gums. Many times the correct use of topical anesthetic will suffice. General anesthetic or oral conscious sedation would be overkill for most patients.

I think what you are asking, is "which is typically more painful". There are a tremendous number of variables to consider to answer that question, but generally, getting an implant places is less painful than getting a tooth extracted. If the tooth is seriously loose prior to the extraction that may not be the case. If extensive bone or tissue grafting is necessary with the implant placement that might also be an exception. Typically there is only mild discomfort after implant placement, in fact, in my office, more patients complain about the knot on the stitch, when one is placed, than do about the discomfort where the implant was placed.

I'm not really sure how to answer that question. Sure, you "could" rub coconut oil on your gums, you could also rub cod liver oil or motor oil on your gums. I'm not sure why you would want to nor am I familiar with any benifit of doing any of the above. If you are looking to improve your gum health an electric tooth brush, water flosser, string floss, and certain mouthwashes along with regular dental care have proven the most effective and reliable.

There are many different kinds of both porcelain and zirconia used to make dental crowns. The primary difference is the aesthetics and strength. In GENERAL porcelain can be used to make much more aesthetic and natural looking dental crowns. Zirconia is getting more aesthetic usually as the strength is compromised. Zirconia can be the strongest material used to manufacture a dental crown. All this said the expertise of the dentists and the laboratory used will have the most effect on the aesthetics.

There are lots of variables to how long a "dead tooth" can stay in your mouth. Technically, a tooth that has received root canal therapy is dead and it can stay many years. The big question is more a matter of if there is an infection associated with the "dead tooth" and if the infection is active (destroying bone) or not. If there is an active infection the tooth can stay there until the infection causes enough destruction to either allow the tooth to become loose and fall out or gets severe enough to cause the person to get sick enough to need it removed. Having an active tooth related infection is never a good thing and will almost always result in more costly and damaging problems.

A well made dental bridge can be one of the most aesthetic replacements for a missing tooth or teeth. They can also me one of the longest lasting and functional restorations when made and cared for properly.

Dental bridges, when well designed and made, are one of the longest lasting of all dental restorations. Typically, insurance companies require/expect them to last at least five years. There are many dentists who would expect the dental bridges they place to last 10-15 years or longer. Personally I see bridges that have been serving patients well for over 20 years. If a dental bridge is placed from a natural tooth to a natural tooth one needs to remember that those teeth are still susceptible to decay and periodontal (gum) disease so it is possible for the teeth to fail while the bridge remains in good shape. A Dental bridge is usually so strong there are very few ways it can fail. Chipping, fracture, or excessive wear are about the only ways the bridge itself can fail. A bridge is usually a wonderful option to replace a missing tooth.

Medlineplus.gov › Health Topics explains "There are two main types of OTC pain medicines: acetaminophen (Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Aspirin, naproxen (Aleve), and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) are examples of OTC NSAIDs." Each of these have different efficacy in different people and in treating different sources or causes of pain. Aspirin works by blocking the production of prostaglandins, the on-off switch in cells that regulate pain and inflammation, among other things. NSAIDs act both locally (at the site of the pain) and centrally (where the pain registers in the brain) Acetaminophen relieves pain by elevating the pain threshold in the central nervous system but not peripheral tissues, that is, by requiring a greater amount of pain to develop before a person feels it. Since there is often an inflammatory, or swelling, component to dental pain NSAIDs are typically highly effective in reducing/relieving dental pain. People find different NSAIDs work better for them than others. Some find naproxin more effective than ibuprofen and others find just the opposite. Combining medications of the same class increases the risk of negative side effects so should typically be avoided. Combining medications of different classes can often result in the benefits of all the medications without increasing the risk of negative side effects. Research has shown repeatedly that combining 600 mg Ibuprofen with 500-1000 mg acetaminophen is as effective as narcotic medications in reducing and relieving pain. I regularly recommend 600 mg ibuprofen with one extra strength Excedrin for pain relief. Excedrin is a combination drug containing Aspirin, Acetaminophen, and caffeine. By taking Excedrin with ibuprofen you take advantage of blocking multiple different pain pathways as well as get the effect of the caffeine, which often accelerates the action of medications taken concurrently. Long way to say. In my experience, taking 600 mg ibuprofen with one Excedrin (or generic equivalent) is the most effect and fastest acting pain relief for those without adverse reaction to any of the ingredients.

Poor fitting or poorly designed dentures can accelerate bone and gum loss, while a well designed, well fitting, and well cared for denture can increase the longevity of the bone and overlying gums. Stimulating the gums protected by the denture is one way to slow the recession. This can be done by leaving dentures out while sleeping, brushing the gums when brushing the teeth, and even chewing on a cloth or similar, without the denture in place, to stimulate and toughen the gums. No matter what steps are taken, some natural recession or diminishing of bone and gums will occur over time so it is important to have the denture relined periodically (every 3-5 years usually).

Root canal therapy is treatment that is limited to inside the canal of the root of the tooth. So, unless your face is swollen from the infection causing the need for root canal therapy, in which case the swelling will most likely dissipate changing the shape of your face, root canal therapy's visible effects are limited to the inside of the tooth root and possibly the very top of the tooth.