Dr. Thu-Nga H. Ortega

If filling is done when a tooth has a cavity. The drilling to remove the cavity depends on the depth of the decay of the previous existing filling. The depth of the filling is dictated by how deep the cavity is.

Invisalign is great for all ages. We start them as early as 10 years old and have patients who have started in their 60s. Since you are 30 you will be a great candidate.

Yes, sensitivity after a crown is cemented can occur as long as the sensitivity continues to improve over the course of a few weeks.

Depending on the types of dentures you are getting, you should be able to eat most everything.

If you don't keep your teeth clean during braces then when you remove your braces, you might have staining and discoloration of your teeth.

You need a night guard. You can break teeth and crack them resulting in the need for root canals or extractions or crowns and onlays. Wear a night guard to prevent further damage to your teeth.

If possible, you can try to get a veneer. A crown can look nice as well if it is an all porcelain crown.

See a dental professional and maintain a regular dental cleaning regimen every 3-6 months.

Cleanings can remove stain from teeth and make them appear whiter but it doesn't whiten your teeth the way teeth whitening procedure does.

All porcelain crowns as well as zirconia costs the same. Some porcelain fused to precious metal crowns may cost more due to the gold in them.

Use a tongue scraper to remove plaque from your tongue.

Absolutely not. Surgery is the last option after other means have not helped. Surgery may not fix your tmj problem. Wearing a special made nightnguard for your top and bottom teeth may be your best option.

You can close spaces with your teeth with invisalign, cosmetic bondings or veneers.

It hurts the first day but the pain should subside by a day or two. Give your child motrin or tylenol for the soreness.

See your dentist for evaluation and routine cleanings.

Whenever a tooth is drilled to have a new filling placed or an old filling replaced, the tooth is subjected to trauma. Because a tooth is a live structure with nerve and blood supply the trauma to a tooth can show in forms of sensitivity after a filling. When this happens, the tooth is hypersensitive and letting you know that it is inflamed and this inflammation can result in death of the nerve or the tooth just getting over the inflammation and go back to normal. Based on what you have told me, you may have had an inflammation in the tooth and it has gotten better, I would not do any further treatment with the tooth unless it hurts you further down the road. I would also have x-rays taken of the entire tooth showing the root of the tooth over time to make sure there is not infection at the end of the root. (if a tooth dies, over time, the nerve and blood supply in the tooth rots causing an infection at the end of the root) This can be seen on x-rays and also if you become symptomatic meaning having a toothache in the tooth. For now no further treatment is suggested for the tooth if you are without symptoms.

Early signs of gum disease is bleeding when you floss or brush. If the bleeding does not go away after flossing regularly for a week after you notice bleeding, consult a dentist.

If you were told you do not have decay in any other teeth around the tooth you had filled, then more than likely the sensitive is from the filling. If the sensitivity doesn't go away, you need to see your dentist.

Have you had a change in medication? Or supplements? Some medication such as blood pressure medication, can cause dry mouth. Sometimes the dryness can be due to other medical conditions. You will have to visit your physician if that is the case.

Flossing at least once a day is imperative. Once a week is too infrequent since food and plaque can get caught under the gums and cause gingivitis. Purchasing a Waterpik is also a great device or removing plaque between teeth if you do not like to floss.