Dr. Edward D'witt Mcdonald, D.D.S.

Hello, Zirconia crowns, also known by the trade name Bruxir crowns, are basically metal crowns that are matched to the shade of your natural teeth. Unlike porcelain fused to metal crowns, these crowns are devoid of the metal substrate, making them less bulky, thick and more lifelike in appearance. Most insurance companies treat them like porcelain fused to metal crowns and usually won't reimburse for another crown short of 5 years. This is known as a Tooth Replacement Clause in Dental Insurance. A person who has a procedure where they are receiving a Zirconia crown should expect it to last a minimum of 5 years, but depending upon the person who's maintaining it, some have been known to last a lifetime. Hope this helps, Edward D McDonald, DDS MBA McDonald Dental 3875 Holcomb Bridge Road Suite 1 Peachtree Corners, Ga 30092 678-304-4319

Hello, In terms of coverage and overall comfort, a crown made out of High Noble Metal m(i.e., Gold) is the best crown for a back tooth. Gold crowns have a property known as malleability. It allows the crown to mold to the shape of the opposing tooth, thereby, creating a more comfortable occlusion.

That, unfortunately, can be an open-ended question. The tooth pain can be caused from the filling material not being adjusted enough to fit properly with your existing bite. This can occur with an amalgam (or silver) filling or a composite resin (or tooth colored) filling. A simple occlusal adjustment and/or re-bonding of the margins may eliminate this.
If you are sensitive to the filling material, especially composite resins, it may take up to 90 days to rescind. Lastly, if there is deep decay under the tooth, a root canal may be indicated if the filling procedure was in close proximity to the dental pulp.

All sticky foods should be avoided with braces. Extra care to keep the wires, brackets, and bands clean should be exercised. Make sure that you ask for floss threaders and/or superfluous to keep the areas clean while you're in treatment. If the bacteria load is allowed to accumulate and remain long-term, the gums may not recoil and may remain inflamed permanently; thus, eliminating the reason for the braces in the first place.

On a tooth that has undergone root canal therapy, practically an unlimited number of times, provided the crown is seated on sound tooth structure. A vital tooth should have care taken to limit the number of times that the bur from a dental hand piece touches the tooth. In other words, the vibration from the hand piece, although necessary, is traumatic to the pulp,
or nerve of the tooth. Every person, and every tooth, is different; however, the less that can be done, as far as procedures on a vital tooth, the better.

E.D. McDonald, DDS

Oftentimes, a deep cavity may be closer to the nerve that we think, but the dentist can't start a filling and leave tooth decay there. The decay may have been all removed, but the nerve may have been agitated. Thermal changes, especially if a base wasn't applied and you opted for a silver filling, may cause discomfort. Also, if the filling is high, or hyper-occluded, biting or cold may cause discomfort. Some, but not all, deep fillings can lead to a root canal, or more extensive treatment. This should have been explained to you in your Informed Consent paperwork. Seek a follow-up appointment with your dentist as soon as possible to prevent further damage.
Hope this helps.

Warmest regards,

E.D. McDonald, DDS Mba

Ibuprofen daily maximum is 3200mg or 3.2 grams; roughly four (4) 800mg tablets. Spaced out evenly, that one tablet every 6 hours. A better solution is alternating Ibuprofen with Acetaminophen every 6 hours; it works better than a narcotic. Another option is a drop of clove oil on the offensive tooth. Both of these solutions are only temporary. Seek definitive treatment for the tooth asap.

Hello,

You should use your best judgment on this. Some individuals heal faster or slower than others. Appointments should be scheduled on a Friday, so that you can use the weekend to recover. Above all else, follow your dentist's post-op instructions carefully!

Hope this helps,

Dr. McDonald

Hello,

An abscess can be of three types, tooth-borne, non-tooth-bourne or both. After the type is identified, definitive treatment of some sort (i.e., root canal, extraction and/or deep cleaning/periodontal surgery) will be required. Continued use of antibiotics without definitive treatment will develop a tolerance to them in the body. Ignoring the problem could lead to
Ludwig's angina, a brain, heart, liver or kidney abscess or the abscess could start draining extra-orally, or through your face.

Hope this is of some value to you,

Dr. McDonald

Hello,

Fillings fail for a variety of reasons, but whatever the reason is for a failed restoration, please present back to your dentist's office as soon as possible.

Hope this helps,

Dr. McDonald

Hello,

In most cases, yes, you are correct. However, you can opt for oral conscious sedation or IV sedation to help ease anxiety.

Hope this helps,

Dr. McDonald

There are multiple reasons why your face can swell after a root canal. To effectively answer the question, return to the place where the procedure was performed for a full evaluation.

Your face is swollen because the cause of the infection (i.e., dead root tissue, decay/bacteria and antibodies all work to form purulent exudate or "pus") has not been completely removed and has liquefied the bone under the tooth. The tooth is under pressure and the pus needs somewhere to exit. The path of least resistance, believe it or not, is oftentimes your bone. After the bone, it gets into your gum tissue and affects the millions of cells there; this swelling of the face is called cellulitis and should be treated immediately.

In my experience, I've also seen this if the offending tooth has a root fracture or has split. Periodontal, or gum abscess, can cause the face to swell, with or without a root canal. Take all prescribed medications that your doctor prescribed and make an appointment asap to see your dentist.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Hello,

Great question. Without knowing what you had performed, I will try my best to answer.

If you had a cleaning and fluoride treatment, eating or drinking with 30 minutes won't give the fluoride time to break the matrix and exchange with the calcium in your teeth; fluoride helps make your teeth cavity-resistant.

If you had a crown preparation, if you had shouldn't eat anything sticky to displace the "temporary" restoration. This restoration helps to protect the tooth from sensation (the enamel layer was stripped away and the layer left contains the nerve, which is more open to stimuli,) protect the integrity of the work performed, helps the appearance of the tooth and keeps the tooth from shifting while you're waiting on your crown (if the tooth shifts, the crown may not fit, even after adjustments, and the procedure will have to be repeated.) If your temporary becomes displaced, report to your dentist immediately to have it replaced. If this isn't possible, your local pharmacy should carry dental temporary material until you can return.

If you were numbed, or had to take an injection for any reason, while eating, you may not be able to feel your tongue or lips and may mistakenly bite them. This is especially true for children.

Lastly, if you had an extraction, the most important thing is that the extraction needs to form a clot. A clot walls off the area to promote healing similar to a scab on your knee. Spicy foods can raise your blood pressure to disrupt a clot. Citrus acid and carbonated drinks can wash it away, as does hydrogen peroxide, salt water and mouthwash. Hot foods, such
as soup, and crunchy foods can irritate the site. Bottom line, if the clot is washed away, a "dry socket" can form; these are more uncomfortable than a toothache! Should this happen, go back to the treating dentist immediately.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

It's a function of age, positioning and wear. The lower jaw is mobile and upper is not. Over time, your boyfriend's canine teeth may wear down from the erosion from the lower teeth. As long as your teeth work to tear your food efficiently, there should be no worries!

Try a teaspoon of vegetable oil, spit, then rinse with water. Also, try to determine the underlying reason for the dry mouth. Syndrome or condition? Medication? Discuss these with your primary care physician.

Depends on the causation of the sensitivity. If it's tooth decay, it's an upper tooth and you have sinus trouble OR you have had dental work done recently and the procedure/restoration requires adjusting, no.

If it's gum recession, possibly. Sensodyne toothpaste helps, but takes a reasonable amount of time to work (about a month.) Brush for 3-4 minutes, spit, but DON'T RINSE! Letting it coat the teeth (over time) helps it to work.

Find a reputable dentist in your area and schedule an appointment immediately.

Here are some signs that can help you:

1. Gum tissue is red, puffy in lieu of being "knife-edged" between the teeth. Gum tissue should be a healthy, salmon-colored (depending on your demographic)
2. Teeth appear to be "long"
3. Bleeding or soreness when you brush or floss
4. Bleeding or soreness when your gums are being checked during a cleaning
5. Blood on your pillow in the morning without any cuts/lacerations in your mouth or lips
6. Loose teeth
7. Malodor or bad breath.
8. Deposits (yellow or sometimes black) on the necks of your teeth that look foreign

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Teething age is relative, but 2 years of age seems to be a little late. Consult with a pediatric dentist.

You should floss as much as you brush. You should brush in the morning, before bed and after meals. Flossing eliminates food in between the teeth that sits there and rots (i.e., chicken, etc.) The foul odor and taste is rotten food that has changed to bacteria. It grows in a hot, moist, and dark place; it works along the same principle as not cleaning your underarms.