WIlliam F. Scott IV, DMD
Dentist | General Practice
161 Washington Valley Rd STE 202 Warren New Jersey, 07059About
Dr. William Scott is a Cosmetic, Implant & Family Dentist practicing in Warren, NJ at Deluxe Dental Group. Dr. Scott specializes in preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases and conditions associated with the mouth and overall dental health and is trained to carry out such treatment as professional cleaning, restorative, prosthodontic, and endodontic procedures, and performing examinations, among many others.
Education and Training
Temple Dental School DMD 2014
Board Certification
American Board of Dental Public Health
Provider Details
WIlliam F. Scott IV, DMD's Expert Contributions
Will my teeth fall out from receding gums?
Hello, Sorry to hear about your receding gums. Yes, in theory someone's teeth can fall out from receding gums (gingiva). This can happen when they are younger in their teens or twenties (aggressive periodontitis) or it can happen when they are much older (chronic periodontitis). Chronic periodontitis is more common then aggressive; however, our habits also affect the our gums. Hard bristle tooth brush and heavy handed brushing will cause someone's gums to recede as well. This type of recession usually has sensitivity long before teeth get loose enough to fall out though. Since there are a few things that can cause receding gums it would be in your best interest to get an evaluation from a dentist (usually at no cost). Then you will have a better idea of what is causing your receding gums and how best to prevent any teeth from falling out. Hope this helps. My best to you! William F. Scott IV, DMD READ MORE
Is a dental bridge a good option for missing teeth?
Hello, Asking if a dental bridge is a good option for missing teeth is the first step in the right direction! The simplest answer that I can give is: Yes, depending on the circumstances a dental bridge is a good option to replace a missing tooth. This comes with a caveat though. Years ago dental bridges were done all the time because they were the best way of replacing teeth. Now-a-days, dental implants have become so successful that in a lot of scenarios implants are the best way to replace a missing tooth. This does not mean that in all situations an implant is the best way to replace a missing tooth. For example, if one tooth is missing and the teeth on either side of the missing tooth area have cavities large enough to require crowns, then it might be in the patients best interest to have a dental bridge replace the missing tooth. The bridge would fill the missing tooth area as well as put crown on the teeth that need them (2 birds 1 stone). Another example would be a tooth that has been missing for a while. When we loose a tooth the jaw bone starts atrophying (resorbing) and the teeth around the missing tooth start drifting into that space. This means that there is not enough space in the jaw bone to put an implant in and there is not enough space to put a tooth in. Both of these are usually remedied with a dental bridge easier then a dental implant. Finally, a dental implant usually costs about the same amount as a dental bridge, until procedures like bone grafts and orthodontics are required. So simply from a cost point of view a dental bridge could be a better choice then a dental implant. Hope this helps. My best to you! William F. Scott IV, DMD READ MORE
Do they put you to sleep for a dental bone graft?
Hello, There are a variety of reasons to put someone to sleep during a dental procedure. Occasionally the actual dental procedure is the reason that the person needs to be put to sleep but more often then not it is something else. There are a few different types of bone grafts but a dental bone itself is not a reason to put someone to sleep. Usually a dental bone graft is done with local anesthesia. Anxiety is something that causes people to be put to sleep for dental procedures. Now if someone needs a bone graft and has anxiety about it, that would be a consideration to put the person to sleep. A bone graft is not usually invasive so this idea might be rejected though. Hope this helps. My best to you! William F. Scott IV, DMD READ MORE
What happens if you don't wear your retainer for a month?
Hello, Not wearing a retainer for a month is likely to allow slight shifting of a persons teeth. Unfortunately, when someone gets their teeth straightened, we spent a lot of time discussing the treatment of moving teeth and complications but very little time gets spent on retention of the teeth. It is important to understand what causes teeth to move in the first place. Our jaw bones, which anchor our teeth in place, are dynamic (they are always changing in response to forces). Our teeth have to balance the force of our lips (our teeth support our lips. Think of someone who takes their dentures out. Their lips sink in.). Our teeth also have to endure the force of our tongue as it moves around and when we swallow (every time we swallow our tongue lifts up and goes to the front of our mouth). Our teeth (more so our jaw bones) are able to resist these forces but only for short amounts of time. This is when we put in the retainer at night to help support the teeth and jaw bone. Not wearing a retainer for a month will likely allow the teeth to shift but only slightly. The retainer is likely to go in but only by force (which should not be done). The good news is that the shifting of the teeth should be minor and not cause much of a difference aesthetically; so a new retainer can be made and just maintain the teeth in their current location. Hope this helps. My best to you! William F. Scott IV, DMD READ MORE
How long do composite fillings last?
Hello, Composite fillings can last a lifetime. However, that does not mean that they will last a life time. Putting a timeline on how long any type of filling will last is difficult because there are a lot of variables that can cause a filling to fail (The size of the filling, the location of the filling, the specific tooth the filling is on, the type of composite the is used for the filling, the types of food the person likes to eat, the amount of brushing and flossing, etc.). That being said, most studies have shown that the average lifespan for a composite filling is just over 10 years (just a little short of silver fillings). It is important to understand that this is an average over the population, and all the variables mentioned above. There have been plenty of people that have had fillings for over 30 years and they are still intact. Hope this helps. My best to you! William F. Scott IV, DMD READ MORE
How long do white fillings take to set?
Hello, White (tooth colored) fillings are not like the old silver fillings that take 24 hours to fully set. White fillings are set with a curing light. The dentist uses an instrument that looks like a wand and emits a blue light. The blue light turns the white filling material from soft pliable material to a hard material. The goal of curing a white filling is to have it fully cured or set before the patient leaves the dental chair. To prevent biting of the lip or tongue it is advisable to wait until the anesthesia wears off to eat or drink (provided that you have had enough food prior to the appointment). Hope this helps. My best to you! William F. Scott IV, DMD READ MORE
Can I get a filling without a root canal?
Hello, Yes it is possible to get a filling without a root canal. Most people fall into this category. However, it is possible to get a root canal without a filling as well (this is very rare). Usually fillings result from a small cavity. As time passes a cavity gets bigger and bigger. In order to get rid of the cavity, the bacteria and decayed tooth structure need to be removed. Once the decay and bacteria are removed the filling goes into the area to give the tooth its natural shape back. If the cavity has been there too long the bacteria will go deeper into the tooth until they reach the center of the tooth (pulp chamber) where nerve and blood vessels are. At this point a root canal is needed to get the bacteria out of the nerve of the tooth. Prior to this a filling or crown would be attempted. Hope this helps. My best to you! William F. Scott IV, DMD READ MORE
Is a white filling better than silver?
Hello, Is a white filling (tooth colored fillings) better than a silver filling; this is an excellent question! The answer is both yes and no (as it is with anything that has both pros and cons). Both white and silver fillings have pros and cons to them. Most research has shown that silver fillings do last longer then white fillings. However, this comes with a large grain of salt. Silver fillings have not changed much over the last 50 years; while white fillings are constantly being developed. Most of the time research is old and does not represent the latest white fillings. Also the difference in longevity between silver and white fillings is very minor. Most of the time silver fillings require more tooth structure to be removed then do white fillings. Sometimes the amount of tooth structure is minor but sometimes it is unnecessary. It is also important to consider aesthetics. Most people consider silver fillings to have no aesthetic value at all; white a nicely matched white filling will go unnoticed. The significance of this may make a difference to a person if the tooth is in the back or the front. Finally, for a long time silver fillings have been associated with mercury. This is a substance that a lot of people do not want in their body even if the risk or harm is very low. However, this does not mean that white fillings are safe. White fillings were originally made with BPA (Bisphenol A). Bisphenol A is a compound that has been associated with plastics and causes behavior problems especially in children. So when choosing a white filling over a silver one, it is important to know if it is BPA free or not. Hope this helps. My best to you! William F. Scott IV, DMD READ MORE
How can you tell if you have a deep cavity?
Hello, It is very difficult to tell if a deep cavity is present without some experience and an x-ray (radiograph). However, there are some signs and symptoms that can suggest the possibility of a deep cavity. First of all it is important to rule some things in. Deep cavities usually have some sensitivity or down right painful times. Deep cavities usually also have darkened (black or brown) enamel around the edges of the tooth. If brown or black spots can be seen and it is a cavity, chances are it goes much deeper. Secondly, there are some things that should be ruled out. If there is gum (gingival) recession around the tooth and the only symptom is sensitivity, the cause of the sensitivity could very well be the gum recession and not a deep cavity. If any of these are suspected a visit to a dentist for an exam and x-ray will help out a lot. Hope this helps. My best to you! William F. Scott IV, DMD READ MORE
Do some dentists do unnecessary fillings?
Hello, Good for you to be so bold to ask a great and important question. Unfortunately, the answer to your question is Yes. Unnecessary fillings happen every day for a number of reasons. Firstly, unnecessary fillings happen due to lack of experience. Dentist are taught about cavities until they are blue in the face in dental school. When they reach the clinic they are taught by a variety of different dentist how to detect them. This is where differing opinions between part time faculty members can really shape a dentists perspective and diagnostic skills. Secondly, dentist often do fillings because if they are unsure about whether there is a cavity they believe that it is better to do the filling then to let a cavity get much worse in the next 6 months and now the patient needs a root canal. Finally, just like any profession there are bad people out there. Unfortunately dentistry is a profession where bad people thrive because patients have little knowledge about their dentistry and it is not something people want to worry about. This is called over-treatment and it is an area that is much larger then most people in the dental industry like to admit or talk about. Either way, the best way someone can protect themselves from unnecessary fillings is to get a second opinion from another dentist (which are usually free). Hope this helps. My best to you! William F. Scott IV, DMD READ MORE
Can I get my fillings changed to white?
Hello, Yes, fillings can be changed from silver to white. This is something that a lot of people contemplate on a daily basis. There are a few different things to consider before replacing silver fillings with white fillings (tooth colored fillings). First of all, silver fillings that have been there for years often tend to stain the tooth around the silver. When this happens and the reason for removing the silver filling is for aesthetics, the part of the tooth around the filling is going to have to be removed for the best results. This layer can stay as there is nothing wrong with it; but, it will leave a silver ring around the new white filling. The second thing to consider is the idea of mercury. Most silver fillings have mercury in them and it is stable inside the filling. The silver filling is removed by a drill and the mercury gets vaporized. At this point it gets in the body by being inhaled as the patient and dentist breath (worse so for the dentist because he/she is breathing it on every patient). Finally, the size of the filling may dictate that replacing the silver filling (especially if the silver ring around the tooth has to be removed as well) may be removed but a white filling may not be able to replace it. In this case more advanced dentistry, such as crowns, would have to replace the silver filling. If none of these points are of concern, then changing silver fillings to white fillings should not be a problem. Hope this helps. My best to you! William F. Scott IV, DMD READ MORE
How many times can a filling be replaced?
Hello, It is very forward thinking to wonder how many times a filling can be replaced! The short answer to this is as many times as needed. However, life does not work out the way we want it to in theory. The size and location of the filling is going to dictate a lot when it comes to how many times a filling can be replaced. First of all, a filling is generally only replaced when it is failing. A filling can fail from leaking or another cavity around the filling. If the filling fails because it is leaking this usually means that there is minimal damage to the tooth around the filling and just the filling material needs to be removed. However, if the filling is failing because there is a cavity around the filling, the old filling and the new cavity both need to be removed. This means the size of the filling is going to get bigger. The cavity can only get so big before other treatment modalities (crowns, root canals, etc.) are required. Usually the filling can be replaced a handful of times before this stage manifests. The location and size of the filling can change things a bit. If the filling is in an area of the tooth that is down by the gum line and is moderate in size it is going to be hard to replace if another cavity starts around the filling. This may mean it has to go right to a crown instead of replacing the filling. Do not worry so. Following up at the dentist every 6 months for cleanings and check ups (these are the things the dentist is looking at during the check ups) is the best way to ensure the filling never has to be replaced. Hope this helps. My best to you! William F. Scott IV, DMD READ MORE
What is the safest dental filling?
Hello, The safest dental filling is a very good question to ask. Unfortunately, it is an extremely difficult question to answer. There are many different types of filling materials out there and they all have their pros and cons. However, lets look at the basic silver fillings and the white (tooth colored) fillings. The longest lasting silver filling tends to have mercury in it. This mercury tends to stay stable inside the filling; however, people do not want it in their body at all. White fillings started becoming popular and then it was discovered that they were made with BPA (Bisphenol A). BPA is a compound that was common in plastics and was associated with behavioral defects. Fortunately there are BPA-free white filling materials that can be used. Aside from these two main filling materials, there are some other materials that actually leach out ions like fluoride. These are great for the teeth and protecting them from further cavities; however, this again puts fluoride into the patient's body. A BPA-free white filling (composite) is usually the answer here, but depending on the circumstances it could be a bad choice. It is best to talk this over with the dentist who is going to be placing the fillings before hand. Hope this helps. My best to you! William F. Scott IV, DMD READ MORE
Can you put a white filling over a silver filling?
Hello, Putting a white filling (tooth colored filling) over a silver filling is a good idea; however, in practice it does not work out to well. A silver filling does not get bonded, cemented, or glued to the tooth. It goes in as a powder and hardens into a solid. At this point the silver filling is basically balanced in the tooth. A silver filling requires certain dimensions to remain balanced. In order to put a white filling over the silver filling, the silver filling would have to be shortened to make room for the white filling. This would change the size and shape of the silver filling losing its balance. Once this happens the white filling would then be unsupported and break off. The second part of the failure for a white filling to stay over a silver filling is because a white filling gets bonded to the tooth structure; but it can not be bonded to the silver filling. This would mean that at least one wall of the white filling would not be bonded to the tooth giving it less ability to stay in the tooth. Unfortunately for now there is no good way to put a white filling over a silver filling (plus the silver filling would show through the white filling). Hope this helps. My best to you! William F. Scott IV, DMD READ MORE
Does having a filling replaced hurt?
Hello, Having a filling replaced usually does not hurt at all. Most of the time people do not even know it has happened after the anesthesia (numbness) wears off. There are some rare times that having a filling replaced can hurt (usually afterwards); but a qualified dentist will go over the possibilities and any complications that may arise in advance. If a previous filling or a cavity under the filling has gotten too close to the nerve of the tooth there can be sensitivity after the anesthesia wears off. The dentist will usually show the person on the x-ray and discuss the likelihood and the course of action from there. Hope this helps. My best to you! William F. Scott IV, DMD READ MORE
Why does my filling hurt when I chew?
Hello, A tooth can have discomfort after a filling for a few different reasons depending on the size and location of the cavity that was filled, the type of material used for the filling, and the adjustment afterwards. First, the size and location of the cavity is very important when doing fillings. If it is too close the the pulp chamber (center of the tooth, where the nerve is) it can cause sensitivity after the filling is placed; kind of like missing insulation. This usually goes away. Secondly, the type of material used for the filling matters as well because they all have different properties. These properties can lead to symptoms like sensitivity afterwards. For example, tooth color fillings (white fillings) tend to have less insulating properties then the old silver ones. This again leads to sensitivity. Third, if the filling only hurts when chewing on it, there is a good chance that the filling is "...a little high". When someone gets a filling they usually have anesthesia in that area and have a hard time feeling things. At the end of the procedure patient bites down on a paper to determine if the height of the filling accurate. Sometimes the anesthesia (numbness) causes the patient to bite not in their natural bite. If an area of the filling gets missed then it does not get adjusted to the proper height. Once the anesthesia wears off the patient then bites normally again and constantly hits the high spot causing discomfort while chewing. This is usually a simple adjustment with the dentist who did the filling and there is not normally a charge as it is associated with the filling. Hope this helps. My best to you! William F. Scott IV, DMD READ MORE
When can I stop worrying about my dry socket?
Hello, Dry socket usually occurs in the first two days after a tooth is extracted (removed). First it is important to know what dry socket is. Alveolar osteitis (also known as dry socket) is the loss of the blood clot. When a tooth is extracted there is a socket left behind. Like any wound (including the socket) on our body the first thing to happen is the formation of a blood clot. This clot helps healing and helps protect the socket area from bacteria and food debris in the mouth. If the blood clot lost, this protection is lost. The resulting dry socket can be painful. After a couple days tissue has started to heal by now and the socket has closed up some. The risk for dry socket is less but not completely gone. It is also worth mentioning that the later the dry socket comes on, the less severe the symptoms tend to be. Hope this helps. My best to you! William F. Scott IV, DMD READ MORE
Can you get tooth decay under a filling?
Hello, A tooth can get decay under a filling. The filling that was done in the tooth prior to the decay was only done to remove the decay the first time. Decay under a filling is referred to as secondary caries or secondary decay by dentists. In fact, a tooth is more susceptible decay when a filling has been placed because that filling needs to be sealed and remain sealed. Sometimes the filling can separate from the edge of the tooth just a bit which would allow bacteria back into the tooth. To make matters worse, in this case the bacteria cannot be brushed away with a tooth brush because the gap is too small for one tooth brush bristle to get into. The bacteria can travel down this gap and create decay under the filling. As decay starts he gap gets bigger and allows more bacteria, which then causes more decay. The vicious cycle begins! The key to this is having regular check ups and cleanings with a dentist which will detect a filling that is leaking before the decay gets a chance to start growing. Hope this helps. My best to you! William F. Scott IV, DMD READ MORE
How long does numbing last after a filling?
Hello, Before the filling procedures starts the doctor will administer local anesthesia (local to the tooth being filled). The amount of time the anesthesia lasts relates to two different variables. First, there are several different types of anesthesia and they are used for different things. For example, most people refer to local anesthesia as novacaine. Novacaine is still around but does not get used nearly that much. In fact, Lidocaine gets used the majority of the time. Lidocaine usually wears off in about 1-2 hours from the time it was given. However, there are local anesthesia medications that will last up to 8 hours. The second factor to consider is the metabolism of the person receiving the local anesthesia. Sometimes people can metabolize anesthesia very quickly. Lidocaine which usually takes 1-2 hours can be metabolized and gone by someone inside of 20 minutes! So local anesthesia can be very personal as well. Fun fact: Did you ever wonder why it is spelt: cocaine? Yes, cocaine is and is used as a local anesthesia as well! Hope this helps. My best to you! William F. Scott IV, DMD READ MORE
How many times can a filling be replaced?
Hello, How many times can a filling be replaced? The short answer is as many as needed or indefinitely. The issue with this response is that a lot of the time when a filling is replaced the filling gets bigger. Remember there is a reason the filling is being replaced and that reason is usually decay underneath of it. As the filling gets bigger the tooth gets less and less. At some point it is not helpful to do fillings anymore as the tooth has become more filling then tooth. At this point dentist start to consider a crown. A crown will hold everything together. Replacing fillings also has a lot to do with the size and location of the initial filling. If the filling started out as a small cavity and a small filling was done on the biting surface of the tooth, then the second filling can usually be very small as well. However, this is not usually the case. If the filling starts out large and it is located between the teeth down by the gum line then it may not be a simple filling anymore. Hope this helps. My best to you! William F. Scott IV, DMD READ MORE
Expert Publications
Data provided by the National Library of Medicine- Studies on egg disinfection.
- Studies on egg disinfection.
- Injecting antibiotics into turkey hatching eggs to eliminate Mycoplasma meleagridis infection.
- Subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord and air encephalography.
- The management of hypertension in general practice.
- The needs and methods of in-service training. (a) In-service training in industry.
- A fatal case of malakoplakia of the urinary tract.
- A fatal case of malakoplakia of the urinary tract.
- Mesenteric cavernous lymphangiomata: brief review and report of two cases.
- A comparative study of fluid volumes in heart-lung by-pass operations in open-heart surgery.
- Fluid volume control in heart-lung bypass operations in open-heart surgery.
- Malignant tumors of nonchromaffin paraganglia.
- Bacterial pneumonia.
- Bacterial pneumonia.
- Clinical and pathologic features of multiple myeloma; a review of five cases with autopsies.
Areas of expertise and specialization
Faculty Titles & Positions
- President Central Dental Society 2018 - Present
Awards
- Champion of Action 2018 New Jersey Dental Association
- America's Top Dentist 2018 Consumer's Research
- Favorite Kid's Docs 2018 NJ Family Magazine
- America's Top Doc 2019 Find A Top Doc
- America's Best Dentist 2019 Consumer's Research
- Top Invisalign Dentist 2019 Invisalign
Professional Memberships
- NJDA
- Central Dental Society
WIlliam F. Scott IV, DMD's Practice location
Deluxe Dental Group
161 Washington Valley Rd STE 202 -Warren, New Jersey 07059Get Direction
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