Dr. Mitchell V. Karl, DDS

There is a procedure called bone grafting. You will need to consult with a dental surgeon to see if you qualify as a good candidate for this procedure.

No. Orajel is meant more so for gum pain.

The only answer to your question is that it all depends upon what the cause is for making the teeth sensitive to begin with. For example, if all of the teeth are sensitive to temperature, then there is a good possibility that the patient may be clenching and/or grinding their teeth. A night guard and a bite adjustment may be the solution for that problem. However, if only a specific tooth is sensitive, then the diagnosis can be any number of things. And depending upon the source of the sensitivity, the treatment and solution will vary greatly. There are desensitizing materials that can be applied to teeth to help with certain types of sensitivity. Some problems stem from abfractions, or ditches in the enamel usually near the gum line. These may require fillings to be placed. So again, your question is very open ended and you need to seek the advice of a dental professional in order to determine the source of the problem before a definite solution can be decided upon. And one must not forget that some sensitivities may not respond to the expected therapy suggested.
Good luck in finding the solution to your particular problem with sensitivity.

There are a variety of causes for a swelling around a tooth. Some of the more typical reasons range from a periodontal infection, a root canal infection, a fractured tooth infection, or even just a foreign object or food particle lodged beneath the gum tissue. The only way to determine the real cause is to be evaluated by a dentist both visually and radiographically. That way, a proper diagnosis can be made and your situation can be treated appropriately. A small swelling can lead to larger problems, so my advice is to be seen as soon as possible.
Good luck.

That question is very specific to the particular mouthwash that you are using. Some contain alcohol, which can be undesirable. Others can contain sugar or other undesirable ingredients. I suggest that you review the ingredient list, and ask your dental professional for further clarification.

It is a bit unusual for you to be in pain a week after the extraction had been completed. You may be experiencing a dry socket. That is a tooth socket that is not healing properly from within. You need to see your dentist in order to evaluate and treat this situation. The sooner you address this the sooner you’ll feel better. If the diagnosis is not a dry socket, then you may have another issue that needs attention from your dental professional.

The most probable cause is tooth decay. This can be easily diagnosed by your dentist. An X-ray may be needed to determine if and how deep the decay may be. There are other reasons that a tooth may cause pain, and again, these would be explained by your dentist during your examination visit. My best advice is to seek care as soon as possible because a pain from decay will only lead to worse situations that may involve root canal therapy and/or extraction. You should consider dental pain as a warning being given to you that you have some type of problem that needs attention. In dentistry, as with most other health areas, things usually worsen over time. So, do yourself a favor and seek out treatment sooner than later.

The best method is to use a floss threader. It can be placed beneath the bridge with the floss looped into it. You pull it through and then rub the floss against the gum tissue beneath the bridge. You can use a thin rubber tip alternatively if there is enough room for it. See your dental office for hands on instruction. Good luck.

A true dental bridge is not removable. It is cemented into place using the adjacent teeth as supports. Some lay people use the word dental bridge to describe a removable piece to fill in or missing tooth or teeth. You need to get clarification from your dentist as to which appliance is being made for you. The fixed, or cemented appliance is always preferred because it feels more like your natural teeth and doesn’t move around like a removable appliance tends to. You also don’t have to deal with removing it and replacing it again.

The healing cap is something that the surgeon places on the implant once it has been exposed, usually after healing beneath the gums for a period of 3-6 months. The healing cap is used to keep the gum tissue from growing over the implant. The restorative dentist will remove the healing cap in order to take the appropriate impressions to make the crown that will either get cemented or screwed into the implant. While your final crown is being processed at the laboratory, the dentist replaces the healing cap for the same reasons of preventing the gums from over growing into and around the implant that is usually placed below the level of the adjacent gum tissues. In summary, the healing cap is a temporary piece that holds the shape of the gums around the implant itself.

The most probable cause is having multiple sugar attacks against his enamel throughout the day. Does he snack all day long? Does he chew sugared gum? Does he suck on candy or mints during the day? These are all things that could cause cavities in your pre-teen son. See your dental professional in order to delve further into the issue. With good oral hygiene and good eating habits, he should not be getting a mouthful of cavities at his hygiene recall appointments.

Basically, yes. The teeth included in the fixed retainer will not move. The other teeth in the mouth may still have some movement depending upon their positions with adjacent teeth, and even with their opposing teeth.

If you are referring to craze lines in the enamel, then they do not really weaken the enamel. Many people have craze lines for one reason or another. See your dentist to determine if the craze lines are due to a severe bruxism problem, or are just a normal wear and tear aspect of your teeth.

Heat may actually be contraindicated if the pain you are having is from inflammation. It's best to see a dentist to determine if the pain is from the tooth erupting into the mouth, or if there is no room, then the pain may be indicative of other issues or problems.

It is very much a challenge to do so. It takes a lot of meticulous brushing and the use of a rubber tip device to reach the areas that the bristles of the brush cannot reach. Use whatever works best for you in order to reach as much of the "hidden" areas as possible.
Good luck with your daunting task.

Our office usually suggests to NOT sleep with your dentures in place. That allows the gum tissues an opportunity to get some direct oxygen instead of being constantly covered. There is a greater chance of getting sore gums as a result of leaving the dentures in place throughout the night while sleeping. Cleaning the denture depends upon what type of denture material was used by the dentist and the lab that processed the denture. You need to contact your dental office for the appropriate cleaning and soaking regiments.

Dark spots on the tongue are usually not a cosmetic concern. If you have been seen by a dental professional, and infection or disease has been ruled out, then my suggestion is to leave the spots alone. There is a condition called "geographic tongue," which is a darker and lighter random pattern on the tongue. This is a normal anatomic condition for those that have it. Again, seeing your dentist to confirm that the spots do not represent anything other than a color difference is highly recommended.

The discomfort associated with any tooth removal is not necessarily experienced at the time of the extraction. The healing phase is when we feel the discomfort, and your dentist or surgeon will prescribe medications to assist you with that. Of course, any procedure can possibly cause some discomfort, but we usually have that under control with local anesthetic. If you are very nervous about the procedure, many oral surgeons will perform conscious sedation using IV drugs and medications. That may be a direction you might want to look into. Good luck with your 3rd molar extractions. Another factor that affects the degree of pain is whether the teeth need to be surgically exposed and removed if impacted, versus already
erupted molars which may be easier and faster to remove and extract. Your dental surgeon will review all of this in advance of the procedure. Be sure to ask questions if you still have any at the time of consultation.

The amount of time needed for a dental filling is dependent upon the location of the tooth, the size of the decay or defect, and the type of filling material being used. Some filling appointments may take only 15 minutes, while more involve situations may require an hour or more. It is not possible to answer that question with any degree of accuracy without
knowing more about your personal situation. In any event, the degree of success is very high for dental restorations in general. Your dentist will be able to tell you in advance how long he/she thinks the procedure will require to complete. Of course, circumstances may exist that allow for a faster or slower time needed to complete the restoration. In conclusion, there are no hard and fast rules regarding the amount of time needed to perform the dental procedure. But your dentist can give you a very close estimate under normal circumstances.

We always suggest to not eat or drink until the anesthetic is worn off. It then doesn’t matter what you prefer to drink. Coffee is as acceptable as any other beverage. Good luck with your extraction.