expert type icon EXPERT

Rebecca Carratt

Dentist

Dr. Carratt grew up in Enumclaw, WA, and began her dental career as an assistant. At the time, the dentist she worked for treated her patients like family, and this environment inspired her to go back to school to become a dentist. She completed her bachelor’s degree at the University of Washington. She then went on to Midwestern University to earn a Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences. She received her Doctorate of Dental Medicine at Roseman University of Health Sciences, which awarded her the American Academy of Implant Dentistry Predoctoral Award. She also received the Distinguished Clinical Excellence Award, Distinguished Professionalism and Ethics Award, and the Distinguished Lifelong Colleague Award. She is also a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the Dental Honor Society, and the American Dental Association.
She is a lifelong learner and strives to stay current in all aspects of dentistry through continuing education courses. She has completed a nine-month course through the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. She is a Board Certified Associate Fellow with the AAID. She has continued the same quality of care as a dentist, determined to treat her patients as a family, valuing the relationships she builds along the way. When not at the office, you’ll find her outdoors — hiking, fishing, camping, or snowshoeing with her husband and son.
Rebecca Carratt
  • Sammamish, WA
  • Accepting new patients

How often is dental cleaning recommended?

Most people require a cleaning and check up every six months, if you suffer from periodontal disease or get an excessive amount of buildup, a 3 or 4 month recall may be more appropriate. READ MORE
Most people require a cleaning and check up every six months, if you suffer from periodontal disease or get an excessive amount of buildup, a 3 or 4 month recall may be more appropriate.

What is the best treatment method for gingivitis?

If you haven’t had a cleaning at the dentist in over 6 months you should start there. They will be able to remove the hard buildup (calculus) that you can’t get off at home. After READ MORE
If you haven’t had a cleaning at the dentist in over 6 months you should start there. They will be able to remove the hard buildup (calculus) that you can’t get off at home. After that it’s just up to good old brushing and flossing, especially important not to skip at night because we produce less saliva when we sleep any left over plaque will not get neutralized by the enzymes that are in your saliva. The acidic nature of the plaque is what triggers the inflammation, so the cleaner you can keep things the faster your gingivitis will resolve.

Do I need a root canal to get a crown?

If you get a root canal on a posterior tooth (molars and premolars) then you need to get a crown to prevent fracture because the root canal weakens the tooth. You do not however READ MORE
If you get a root canal on a posterior tooth (molars and premolars) then you need to get a crown to prevent fracture because the root canal weakens the tooth. You do not however need a root canal just because you get a crown. Depending on the reason for getting a crown, the tooth may require a root canal but the crown itself should not have an effect on the nerve. Many vital teeth have crowns.

Is Invisalign faster than braces?

Traditional braces can seem longer but it’s usually because they are required for more severe malocclusion; Invisalign is still limited when it comes to more difficult corrections READ MORE
Traditional braces can seem longer but it’s usually because they are required for more severe malocclusion; Invisalign is still limited when it comes to more difficult corrections like a cross bite. The duration will be dependent on the amount of movement and type of movement (tipping/rotation/bodily movement) required.

What can cause toothache under a bridge?

A bridge is essentially two crowns with a false crown in the middle so the ‘abutment’ teeth on either side are still vulnerable to normal tooth problems. Sometimes pain can be READ MORE
A bridge is essentially two crowns with a false crown in the middle so the ‘abutment’ teeth on either side are still vulnerable to normal tooth problems. Sometimes pain can be from decay under the bridge or root exposure from recession around the bridge or even fracture. Your dentist should be able to diagnose the problem with a radiograph and exam but if the tooth is hurting I recommend not waiting. If one of the abutment teeth is damaged badly enough you can loose the entire bridge.

What helps gum graft pain?

Warm salt water rinses, gentle not vigorously swishing, can neutralize the ph of the mouth to relieve pain. As for medication you can take 400 mg of Ibuprofen with 500 mg of Tylenol READ MORE
Warm salt water rinses, gentle not vigorously swishing, can neutralize the ph of the mouth to relieve pain. As for medication you can take 400 mg of Ibuprofen with 500 mg of Tylenol every 4-6 hours.

Can a crown cause gum irritation?

Temporary crowns are a common cause of soft tissue irritation because of the rough nature of the material used. If your permanent crown has been seated for more than a couple days READ MORE
Temporary crowns are a common cause of soft tissue irritation because of the rough nature of the material used. If your permanent crown has been seated for more than a couple days and the irritation is just now occurring it could be due to a deep margin. The bone wants to be 2.6 mm from any foreign material, be it filling material, a buildup or crown. If the cause of the crown- decay/fracture got close to the bone level your dentist may have had to bring the margin of the crown too close to the bone. This type of inflammatory response can be quite uncomfortable and last for months. If the soft tissue irritation does not resolve in 1 week you should return to the dentist for an evaluation, in the mean time warm salt water rinses can help to expedite healing.

Is ibuprofen good for toothache?

Yes, Ibuprofen is a great analgesic and anti-inflammatory that is very effective for dental pain. For extreme pain it can be taken simultaneously with Tylenol, you can take 400mg READ MORE
Yes, Ibuprofen is a great analgesic and anti-inflammatory that is very effective for dental pain. For extreme pain it can be taken simultaneously with Tylenol, you can take 400mg of Ibuprofen with 500mg Tylenol every 4-6 hours as needed.

How long does the pain last after oral cyst surgery?

The size, location and type of cyst removed will dictate the length of healing- the doctor who performed the surgery will be able to say best.

Can you get veneers on bottom teeth?

You can get veneers on bottom teeth but it is less desirable because the anterior teeth on bottom aare so small. Veneers are most aesthetic when made of a material called emax, READ MORE
You can get veneers on bottom teeth but it is less desirable because the anterior teeth on bottom aare so small. Veneers are most aesthetic when made of a material called emax, to fabricate an emax restoration you need to reduce the tooth by the thickness of a nickel leaving quite a small stump on the lowers. If you could achieve the same results with Invisalign it would conserve a lot of natural tooth structure.

How painful is it to get a dental crown?

When they prepare a tooth for a crown they reduce all sides of the tooth about the thickness of a nickel. There is some slight soreness after but the procedure itself is painless, READ MORE
When they prepare a tooth for a crown they reduce all sides of the tooth about the thickness of a nickel. There is some slight soreness after but the procedure itself is painless, you will be fully numb and leave with a temporary crown to cover the exposed inner portion of tooth. Depending on why the crown is needed you may experience more post operative pain, such as a fractured tooth can be more sensitive due to the crack but typically if you are careful with your temporary crown and it stays on you will be fine with a couple Ibuprofen.

How long does it take to get partial dentures after teeth are pulled?

Partial dentures can be delivered on the day of extraction. If many teeth are being pulled the dentist may recommend waiting until the bone heals for a more accurate fit.

What can I take for root canal pain?

You can take 400 mg Ibuprofen with 500mg Tylenol every 4-6 hours.

Testing types on what should be tested?

Dental offices hold strict guidelines on sterilization protocols, it is safe to assume you have not contracted a disease from a dental procedure.

Is it normal to have pain 6 days after molar tooth extraction?

Depending on the difficulty of the extraction 6 days out can still be sore. You can take 400 mg Ibuprofen with 500 mg Tylenol every 4-6 hours. If you have sharp pain or pain that READ MORE
Depending on the difficulty of the extraction 6 days out can still be sore. You can take 400 mg Ibuprofen with 500 mg Tylenol every 4-6 hours. If you have sharp pain or pain that doesn’t seem to be improving you may have a condition called dry socket in which case you should contact your dentist for a post op visit.

Low body temp with abscess infection?

Severe acute infections can sometimes cause fever, draining abscesses however are typically from chronic infections. A decrease in body temperature is unrelated to your dental READ MORE
Severe acute infections can sometimes cause fever, draining abscesses however are typically from chronic infections. A decrease in body temperature is unrelated to your dental infection.

Does bonding a chipped tooth hurt?

Depending on how large the chipped enamel is there may be some cold sensitivity associated with ‘roughening the surface’ before the material is bonded but most times it does not READ MORE
Depending on how large the chipped enamel is there may be some cold sensitivity associated with ‘roughening the surface’ before the material is bonded but most times it does not require anesthetic.

How long does it take to fill a deep cavity?

Fillings typically take 30 minutes to an hour depending on where in the mouth (some areas take longer to numb) and how many surfaces of the tooth are involved.

Can a dental bridge cause tooth damage?

To create a bridge you need to prepare the neighboring teeth for crowns (which will be attached to the false crown in the middle). When you prepare a tooth for a crown you remove READ MORE
To create a bridge you need to prepare the neighboring teeth for crowns (which will be attached to the false crown in the middle). When you prepare a tooth for a crown you remove all of the enamel, about the thickness of a nickel from all surfaces. If the tooth next to your missing tooth is healthy then you are taking away a lot of natural tooth structure that could be prevented if an implant is possible. Sometimes teeth can be traumatized by the reduction done for a crown, so yes teeth can be damaged by preparing for a bridge. Another form of damage that can occur is if the neighboring teeth have periodontal disease and are no longer strong enough to support the added stresses of a bridge.

How long will I bleed after gum surgery?

Different surgeries will have different healing times, but generally speaking the dentist will make sure you have stopped bleeding before you leave the office and provide you with READ MORE
Different surgeries will have different healing times, but generally speaking the dentist will make sure you have stopped bleeding before you leave the office and provide you with instructions to prevent breakthrough bleeding. Most bleeding at home is caused by hot food/drinks within the first few days of surgery or activities that raise your blood pressure such as exercise.