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Dr. Josephine Lynne Stokes, DDS

Dentist

Dr. Josephine Stokes is a Dentist practicing in Eugene, OR. Dr. Stokes specializes in preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases and conditions associated with the mouth and overall dental health. Dentists are trained to carry out such treatment as professional cleaning, restorative, prosthodontic, and endodontic procedures, and performing examinations, among many others.
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Dr. Josephine Lynne Stokes, DDS
  • Eugene, OR
  • Accepting new patients

Is tooth whitening safe?

Tooth whitening is safe and effective if directions are followed. Too often I see patients whiten for too long. Whatever system you choose, follow the instructions and you will READ MORE
Tooth whitening is safe and effective if directions are followed. Too often I see patients whiten for too long. Whatever system you choose, follow the instructions and you will be safe!

Jossi Stokes, DDS

Would I need to take opioids after my extraction?

It would be absolutely ok to take ibuprofen. It is a great medication that can be very helpful in extraction surgery. Talk to your dentist about your feelings and even if you READ MORE
It would be absolutely ok to take ibuprofen. It is a great medication that can be very helpful in extraction surgery. Talk to your dentist about your feelings and even if you still get the prescription, you don't have to fill it!

Hope this helps,

Jossi Stokes, DDS

Can teeth grinding cause headaches?

Yes, it can absolutely be related.

Jossi Stokes, DDS

Can tooth grinding be a serious issue for kids?

How old is your daughter? Typically it is common for kids to grind. This usually decreases when they start loosing baby teeth because the relationship of their teeth change. READ MORE
How old is your daughter? Typically it is common for kids to grind. This usually decreases when they start loosing baby teeth because the relationship of their teeth change. Depending on the stage of her teeth and age, there is likely not much that can be done. If she has a full arch of permanent teeth, you should visit the dentist. Otherwise it could wait until the next time she goes in for a cleaning. It's not an emergency.

Hope this helps,

Jossi Stokes, DDS

When is a root canal recommended?

A tooth will need a root canal when it is so painful, there is nothing that will calm it down or if it is infected, which may or not be painful. A radiograph (X-ray) will be helpful READ MORE
A tooth will need a root canal when it is so painful, there is nothing that will calm it down or if it is infected, which may or not be painful. A radiograph (X-ray) will be helpful in the case of an infection.

Hope this helps and congratulations on not needing a root canal so far!

Jossi Stokes, DDS

How can I tell if I'm grinding my teeth?

It is highly likely that you are either clenching or grinding in your sleep due to the symptoms you have when you wake up. If you are grinding, it can wear teeth faster, but you READ MORE
It is highly likely that you are either clenching or grinding in your sleep due to the symptoms you have when you wake up. If you are grinding, it can wear teeth faster, but you may or may not be able to tell right away. A dentist is trained to look for early symptoms of grinding and clenching, so you should consult a dentist. He or she can give you tips and possible solutions to ease the discomfort you have in the morning and protect your teeth from future wear.

Hope this helps,

Jossi Stokes, DDS

My child accidentally ate toothpaste. What should I do?

This is a good question and difficult to answer. Do you have an idea how much she swallowed? If it was just the small pea size she puts on her toothbrush, she should be fine. I READ MORE
This is a good question and difficult to answer. Do you have an idea how much she swallowed? If it was just the small pea size she puts on her toothbrush, she should be fine. I think the bigger question is why is she swallowing the toothpaste now. Is she somehow gagging herself and accidentally swallowing what is in her mouth? If you are concerned a habit is forming, there are other toothpastes on the market that have no fluoride, but have other cavity-fighting components such as xylitol.

Hope this helps,

Jossi Stokes, DDS

Can my diabetes affect my teeth?

Diabetes can absolutely have an effect on oral health. If the diabetes is uncontrolled, the mouth can show signs of gingivitis, periodontitis, and frequently no amount of brushing READ MORE
Diabetes can absolutely have an effect on oral health. If the diabetes is uncontrolled, the mouth can show signs of gingivitis, periodontitis, and frequently no amount of brushing and flossing will fully bring health back to the the mouth until the diabetes is under control.

Hope this helps!

Jossi Stokes, DDS

How often can I use a mouthwash in a day?

You can use mouthwash as often as you wish. Just don't swallow it.

Hope this helps,

Jossi Stokes, DDS

My son grinds his teeth. What can you do to help him?

This is a good and common question. If your son is young (under 5), he will likely grow out of it without any treatment. If he is older, a night guard could be fabricated. More READ MORE
This is a good and common question. If your son is young (under 5), he will likely grow out of it without any treatment. If he is older, a night guard could be fabricated. More recent studies are showing that grinding is associated with sleep apnea. If you are noticing snoring or pauses in his breathing, take him to his pediatrician.



Hope this helps,

Jossi Stokes, DDS

I have severe pain in my deep cavity filling. What could this be?

When a cavity is deep, it is close to the nerve. If it is too close, the nerve becomes inflamed/angry and can be the symptoms you described. There is a chance you will need a READ MORE
When a cavity is deep, it is close to the nerve. If it is too close, the nerve becomes inflamed/angry and can be the symptoms you described. There is a chance you will need a root canal to save the tooth. You should return to your dentist and have it evaluated.



Hope this helps,

Jossi Stokes, DDS

What could be the reason behind the burning sensation in my gums?

This is a tough question to answer. It could be something systemic (going on in your body) which might need bloodwork from your MD. It could be an allergic reaction to something READ MORE
This is a tough question to answer. It could be something systemic (going on in your body) which might need bloodwork from your MD. It could be an allergic reaction to something touching your gums or it could be an infection of some kind. The only advice I can give is go see your dentist and possibly your medical doctor. It could be hard to find the answer and need a team of experts working together to do so.



Good luck,

Jossi Stokes, DDS

Is chewing gum often bad for your teeth?

Chewing sugarless gum is perfectly healthy for teeth. It has benefits (increase salivary flow, increase pH in the mouth, removal of food particles after eating) and no downfalls READ MORE
Chewing sugarless gum is perfectly healthy for teeth. It has benefits (increase salivary flow, increase pH in the mouth, removal of food particles after eating) and no downfalls to teeth. If one has jaw joint issues, gum is not recommended as it could exacerbate the problem.



Otherwise- chew until your heart's content!
Hope this helps.

Jossi Stokes, DDS

How can flossing help in maintaining the health of teeth and gums?

Great question and there have been many discussions around flossing in the media lately. Flossing is wonderful for the health of teeth and gums to cut back the biofilm between READ MORE
Great question and there have been many discussions around flossing in the media lately. Flossing is wonderful for the health of teeth and gums to cut back the biofilm between teeth. For flossing to be effective, it should be introduced slightly under the gum tissue and hug the tooth, rubbing the floss vertically along the long axis of the tooth. With that said, there are other tools that can be used to be effective towards the same result. Interproximal brushes, end tuft brushes, picks and waterpicks can be very effective cleaning the same areas that floss does. What works the best is the tool you will use on a daily basis.
Floss can be harmful if used too forcefully, cutting the gum tissue and causing recession in the long run.

So floss carefully!
Hope this helps,

Jossi Stokes, DDS

The dentist has recommended my son’s tooth extraction. Is it the right way to go?

As your son is 4.5 years old, there is a chance in a year's time, he will lose these teeth anyway. If the teeth have small cavities, the dentist might be able to monitor and only READ MORE
As your son is 4.5 years old, there is a chance in a year's time, he will lose these teeth anyway. If the teeth have small cavities, the dentist might be able to monitor and only extract them if the teeth become compromised. If the cavities are large, the risk of leaving the teeth there is infection and it might affect the adult teeth that are underneath. If there is any question, I would get a second opinion.

Hope this helps,

Jossi Stokes, DDS

How can I stop pushing on my front teeth when I swallow?

This question is difficult to answer without having a professional evaluate the situation. There are so many growth changes that occur from childhood to adult, a tongue thrusting READ MORE
This question is difficult to answer without having a professional evaluate the situation. There are so many growth changes that occur from childhood to adult, a tongue thrusting issue might not have the same outcome on the adult dentition as it did on the child dentition. Ortho rention is usually indefinite and this will help with any continual tongue habits that remain even after the braces are removed. So wear your retainer!



Hope that helps,

Jossi Stokes, DDS

Can a tooth abscess be seen on an X-ray?

The simple answer is - yes- an xray is very helpful to diagnose an abscess (or infection). Depending on how long the infection has been present, it can appear small or large. READ MORE
The simple answer is - yes- an xray is very helpful to diagnose an abscess (or infection). Depending on how long the infection has been present, it can appear small or large. On a radiograph, it appears radiolucent (dark) like a void. If one is to look in the mouth, frequently there is also swelling present that appears like a blister (or larger) near the tooth involved. If there is evidence in the mouth, the abscess has been there for a while.



Hope this helps,

Jossi Stokes, DDS, FAGD

How can flossing help in maintaining the health of teeth and gums?

Flossing can only benefit oral health. The main purpose of flossing is to disrupt the biofilm that is in between teeth. It is important to rub the floss along the wall of the READ MORE
Flossing can only benefit oral health. The main purpose of flossing is to disrupt the biofilm that is in between teeth. It is important to rub the floss along the wall of the tooth, creating a C shape on both teeth and the floss should slip just underneath the gums. One risk of flossing is being too aggressive. Floss can actually cut into the gums if aggressive pressure is used, resulting in recession. There are limitations to flossing as well. If periodontal disease is present, there is no way floss can clean out periodontal pockets. It is still a great benefit and flossing is recommended once a day.



Hope this helps.

Jossi Stokes, DDS

I don't understand how I got Periodontal disease

There are a variety of reasons people can get periodontal disease and age and genetics play a part. Home care can help keep periodontal disease under control for a while, but READ MORE
There are a variety of reasons people can get periodontal disease and age and genetics play a part. Home care can help keep periodontal disease under control for a while, but a professional should be measuring sulci on a yearly basis. The mouth is constantly changing and with all the things we do with our mouths, there is wear and tear on our teeth and gums. If there is a biological defect (due to an extraction, recession or alignment of teeth), homecare isn't enough to keep those areas healthy. Many adults have periodontal disease and some are more susceptible and have a faster disease process than others.



Hope this helps,
Jossi Stokes, DDS

Is water-flossing as effective as regular flossing?

I am a big fan of flossing. It is cheap, easy and clean. With that said, no matter how hard some folks try to create the habit, it just won't stick. To a healthy individual, READ MORE
I am a big fan of flossing. It is cheap, easy and clean. With that said, no matter how hard some folks try to create the habit, it just won't stick. To a healthy individual, a waterpik can be a great alternative. There is an upfront expense and a learning curve (the bathroom mirror may need wiping down afterwards), but if all other aspects of oral health are present, it can take the place of flossing. It is better than not doing anything inbetween the teeth.



Hope this helps!
Jossi Stokes, DDS