expert type icon EXPERT

Dr. Mitchell V. Karl, DDS

Dentist

Dr. Karl has been practicing in the field of dentistry for 31 years. He graduated from NYU Dental School in 1981, and completed a general practice residency program at Monmouth Medical Center the following year. The F.A.G.D. (Fellow, Academy of General Dentistry) honor was awarded to him in 1986. Prior to dental school, Dr. Karl attended Rutgers University. He graduated Rutgers College with Phi Beta Kappa, and Honors in Biochemistry as a Henry Rutgers Scholar.

Dr. Karl has been servicing the central New Jersey area in the private practice of dentistry since November 1983, maintaining staff affiliation with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.
Dr. Mitchell V. Karl, DDS
Specializes in:
  • General Dentistry
  • East Brunswick, New Jersey
  • New York University College of Dentistry
  • Accepting new patients

How do you know if the nerve in your tooth is exposed?

You would usually experience pain. But pain doesn’t necessarily mean that the nerve is exposed. You need to see your dentist.

What can you not do after jaw surgery?

It depends upon what jaw surgery you are referring to. Simply ask your surgeon for the most accurate information pertaining to your particular circumstances.

Can a salt water rinse heal a tooth infection?

Probably not. If you think that you have a dental infection, seek the care of a dentist as soon as possible. You MAY get lucky and it will go away on its own, but chances are much READ MORE
Probably not. If you think that you have a dental infection, seek the care of a dentist as soon as possible. You MAY get lucky and it will go away on its own, but chances are much greater that things will go in the other direction and become much worse as a result of delaying the appropriate care.

How long should you do salt water rinses after tooth extraction?

You should have been instructed by your surgeon. But you don’t rinse for the first 24 hours, then maybe 2-3 times per day for 1-2 days.

How long should a dental bone graft hurt?

It could be sore for 48-72 hours, but it shouldn’t really be painful. Call the Dr that placed it if you’re having pain.

How do you tell if a tooth crown is not fitted properly?

Usually an x-ray will show if the crown is fully covering all sides of the tooth adequately. Also, a dentist can feel with his explorer if an open margin may exist. Otherwise, READ MORE
Usually an x-ray will show if the crown is fully covering all sides of the tooth adequately. Also, a dentist can feel with his explorer if an open margin may exist. Otherwise, a crown may not fit properly if the patient’s bite feels off, or if the crown has too much or too little pressure between itself and the adjacent teeth.

How long does a crown last on a front tooth?

There are too many factors involved to answer that with any accuracy. You need to ask your dentist what the long term prognosis is for your particular situation.

At what point can a tooth not be saved?

A tooth can no longer be saved once the destruction of the tooth has reached the point that no matter what procedures are proposed, that the end result will still be a failure. READ MORE
A tooth can no longer be saved once the destruction of the tooth has reached the point that no matter what procedures are proposed, that the end result will still be a failure. The word failure means that the tooth will either fracture, fall out, not be usable for chewing, etc. The dentist must determine in advance, if possible, whether any proposed treatment will result in a predictable and successful outcome. I cannot go into what exact conditions constitute a tooth to be deemed nonrestorable, but my advice is to seek a second opinion if one dentist said that a specific tooth cannot be saved. This is especially true if you feel otherwise, or uncertain or uncomfortable of his/her diagnosis. Sometimes a tooth MAY be able to be saved, but the circumstances around saving it might not be predictable enough for the dentist to proceed without informing you of the potential failure that lies ahead, and your possible loss of the monies used to pay for those procedures if the end result is removal of the tooth even after the attempted procedures to save the tooth.
Good luck with your dental situation. But another word regarding the removal or extraction of a tooth: In our office, that is the last option usually recommended unless there exists absolutely no other option. Be wary if someone tells you that extracting the tooth is no big deal, because we can easily place an implant to restore the area. On that note, I'll leave you and hope that this explanation was helpful to you.

Mitchell Karl

Does deep cleaning cure gingivitis?

No. It helps to get you back on track. But proper home care is the key to keeping it under control.

Can an old filling be replaced?

Yes. As long as there is enough tooth structure to support the new, probably bit larger filling.

Can screws come loose after jaw surgery?

Anything is possible. However, if the surgery was performed properly, the chances of that happening are very small. If you have ANY doubts or questions, call and be seen by your READ MORE
Anything is possible. However, if the surgery was performed properly, the chances of that happening are very small. If you have ANY doubts or questions, call and be seen by your surgeon as soon as possible.

Should I use hydrogen peroxide before or after brushing teeth?

IF you want to use it at all, before OR after is irrelevant.

Can bonding help sensitive teeth?

In short, yes. It all depends upon the specific situation. You will need to seek professional dental advice to determine if your particular situation can be successfully resolved READ MORE
In short, yes. It all depends upon the specific situation. You will need to seek professional dental advice to determine if your particular situation can be successfully resolved with a dental bonding procedure.

Does wisdom teeth pain come and go?

The answer is that it’s possible. You may experience eruptive spurts which can cause gum pain similar to that of a teething baby. This may come and go intermittently. Pain can READ MORE
The answer is that it’s possible. You may experience eruptive spurts which can cause gum pain similar to that of a teething baby. This may come and go intermittently. Pain can also result from infected gum tissues around a partially erupted wisdom tooth. Even the red sore tissues around an erupting wisdom tooth can become infected, which can also result in pain.

How can I straighten my teeth?

Best advice is to seek a consultation appointment with an orthodontist. Some situations require the use of physical braces, while others can be performed with orthodontic trays READ MORE
Best advice is to seek a consultation appointment with an orthodontist. Some situations require the use of physical braces, while others can be performed with orthodontic trays such as Invisalign.
Good luck.

How do you relieve pain after tooth extraction?

Best method is pain and anti-inflammatory medications. Sometimes ice can help if there is any swelling. You should obtain detailed instructions from the practitioner that performed READ MORE
Best method is pain and anti-inflammatory medications. Sometimes ice can help if there is any swelling. You should obtain detailed instructions from the practitioner that performed the extraction procedure.
Good luck.

Are you put to sleep for dental implant surgery?

Only if you prefer to be. Most patients do not get sedation for routine implant placement, but it definitely is an option that remains available. So if you’re very nervous about READ MORE
Only if you prefer to be. Most patients do not get sedation for routine implant placement, but it definitely is an option that remains available. So if you’re very nervous about the procedure, then sedation is a viable option. Good luck with whichever choice you make regarding the sedation decision. If you do decide upon sedation for your implant surgery, you will probably want to use an oral surgeon that performs sedation for other surgical procedures as well, versus a periodontist that usually doesn’t offer IV sedation to his/her patients.