Henry Buhl

Orthodontist

4355 TN-58 Chattanooga Tennessee, 37416 Show map

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About

Craniofacial group children's hospital, great Lakes society orthodontists, Southern society orthodontists, American society general dentists, tn. Dept health appointment to hospital affiliation

Education and Training

Furman university BS 1970

university of Kentucky DMD 1974

university of Kentucky MS 1978

Provider Details

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Henry Buhl

A Primer to Dentistry on General Topics
I've been deliberate about waiting to define the way I want to set this blog up in order to sample some questions over the past few months and see what topics are of interest. I find that many patients through their questions make me realize that a vast majority doesn't get regular Dental Care. That...

Why do I have sensitivity in all my lower teeth?
Since you have described a general area which includes the lower jaw entirely, it makes me think that you may have excessive bruxism from stress. If you grind your teeth unknowingly while you sleep, the amount of attrition that occurs or loss of animal would cause generalized sensitivity in the lower teeth because there is not as much to structure in mass on the lower teeth in general as there are on the upper teeth. If you are grinding your teeth unknowingly, you need a night guard. But first, you need to be examined by a dentist to confirm both by oral examination and X-rays that this is nothing that's pathologic. READ MORE
I think I have oral thrush. What does this usually look like?
Oral thrush has many complicated symptoms but the most common are fever, extreme soreness of the intraoral structures and microscopic patchy lesions which are best determined by a microscopic examination. Oral rinses that have special medication can control this along with antibiotics unless it progresses to the stage where breathing becomes laborious and the tongue is elevated from the inflammation restricting the airway and making food intake difficult. READ MORE
Why do I have a metallic taste in my mouth?
Most likely the cause will be either vitamin deficiency or a fractured filling that would be associated with a sensitive tooth but also produce a metallic taste from the separation of the filling itself. It could also be a vitamin deficiency. I would start first with the most likely assuming that you are in good health that you have your dentist investigate the generalized area where you have the most sensitivity which would coincide with a fractured filling. READ MORE
Are my medications staining my teeth?
I would first recommend doing a little more research on why you need iron supplements and if you're taking the recommended dosage according to the labels then it should be safe. Usually only systemic drugs like tetracycline are responsible for the difference in shades of teeth and this was discontinued and pregnant women after the condition became known many decades ago. READ MORE
Will being on a liquid diet affect my teeth in any way?
As long as you were taking the proper nutritional supplements to affect the change in your course of diet and follow good hygiene rules with your teeth as far as brushing and flossing are concerned, you should be fine. Good luck READ MORE
Is it okay to swallow the gel applied for a mouth ulcer?
The ADA stamp for approval, which is on all medications topical or otherwise, for consumption or use by patients that is made for dentistry is safe to consume as long as it's in small amounts as in an accidental occurrence. READ MORE
What causes dental erosions?
Erosion may have social causes that are gender-specific. The pH balance of the oral cavity is meant to be in a delicate balance. Anytime this balance is interrupted chronically over a long period of time it can affect the consistency of the enamel in the form of erosion such as in tobacco juice or excessive citric acid from overconsumption of pizza, orange juice lemonade or the habit of adolescent sucking on lemons. It is likely the acid in the foods or drink that are causing the rosian if not over brushing with a hard bristle toothbrush and using the wrong stroke as opposed to the correct rolling motion we are taught that is best to rid the food particles from the teeth. READ MORE
Is it bad that I leave food in between my teeth?
You need an oral adjunct in the form of either a product called a hummingbird, or oral irrigator to get this food out from between your teeth if flossing doesn't seem to be effective. This food becomes bacterial in the dark, warm recesses between the teeth and, once it becomes calcified, is the root cause of periodontal disease and recession and premature loss of teeth. It is very important to remove all food from the teeth between meals. READ MORE
I have a boil on my gums. What should I do to treat it?
This is likely the result of a badly decayed tooth which is in the process of losing its nerve supply in the form of inflammation, which is adjacent to the area you describe and must be confirmed by an X-ray. This infection can be very painful and unhealthy has the bacteria from this can spread to the heart and cause SBE, which is subacute bacterial endocarditis. Go to your dentist let them take an X-ray and fix the problem as this can't get much worse. READ MORE
Can braces get rusted?
Orthodontic appliances are made from stainless steel and do not rust although the food left on them can cause tarnishing if not cleaned off daily READ MORE
Is fever after a root canal normal?
It wouldn't be out of the question because the infection in the tooth cause the need for root canal is also close to the brain and lots of vascularity, nerves, and muscles and it is a busy place with chewing speaking swallowing and muscles of facial expression what causes inflammation to spread all over the head. READ MORE
After my tooth extraction, I have swelling in my face. Is it normal?
Yes it is and it should have been approached at the time you had your surgery with post-operative instructions of what to expect to control swelling. Usually depending on the trauma that was involved by the estimation of your Dr, bed rest, cold compresses for contacting the skin to reduce the swelling, alternating with warm compresses to increase the circulation and possible anti-inflammatory medication as well as instructions how not to rinse vigorously so that clotting might occur effectively for a few days. READ MORE
What can I do to help with my bad breath problem?
Halitosis is usually easily controlled by proper brushing and monitoring your intake of foods and fluids after you brush before bedtime. Sinus drainage, over retained wisdom teeth that should have been removed, or condition known as periodontal disease which needs to be diagnosed by your dentist are the most common reasons for chronic conditions you describe. Also your salivary glands maybe infected which is part of the lymphatic system and this could be out of balance as would be determined by your ear nose and throat specialist. Over the counter remedies will generally be unsuccessful without ruling out any pathology that actually treats the problem and doesn't cover it up. READ MORE
Is excessive gum chewing harmful in any way?
As long as the gum is sugarless, and I'm careful to say overdoing any habit is a negative, but the only thing I can think of is that it may produce soreness of the jaw muscles from over activity as the grinding effect may cause some discomfort depending on the length of time. READ MORE
How can I prevent loss of calcium from my teeth?
Even a calcium supplement would not affect the calcium in your teeth as far as longevity is concerned, because it is taken orally. The calcium that is in your teeth is a mineral which is there naturally as part of the bone structure and a component part of the enamel. Good hygiene is the best way to prolong a lifetime of good dental health, and no dietary calcium or anything else that is over-the-counter that you can swallow would have an impact on your teeth except fluoride mouth rinse, and this would be predominantly in adolescents who tend to ingest more sugar than adults. READ MORE
How can I stop my husband from grinding his teeth in his sleep?
Grabbing is called bruxism and is usually the result of too much stress in our lives. Sleep is meant to let us recharge our batteries and if we have to so much nervous energy but we have to grind our teeth this means we have a subconscious need to resolve issues of the day during the time that we should be sleeping. Eliminate all causes of stress which is easier said than done and Institute the use of a Night Guard to protect the teeth rule out sleep apnea and you should be good to go with a comfortable night's rest for all concerned READ MORE
Why does my 5 year old daughter keep getting cavities?
She's either not brushing properly, which should be supervised at 5, or she's getting too much sugar in the form of what she is drinking or eating that is not being effectively removed from the surfaces of the teeth and is being allowed to become bacterial. I would start by analyzing how and what she is eating or drinking that has sugar in it and when. Then I would cross that with when she brushes. This should produce an obvious result that tells you whether it's the hygiene or the lack of the food groups that need to be modified and corrected quickly because it does get expensive. READ MORE
What can I do about my sensitive teeth?
Sometimes dentistry can be discussed, but no solution without an examination. You're just going to have to bite the bullet and go see your dentist and let him help you with X-ray determination and an oral examination as well as examining your habits to determine the etiology of where the sensitivity is coming from. It's possible even your diet is causing it. A few minutes of discussion should yield the proper course of action. READ MORE
Can teeth whitening strips damage your enamel?
There's an old saying if a little bit's good, a whole lot is better, but this is not true in the case of whitening. What you are doing if you are not closely following the instructions is possibly over-applying caustic acidic acid. READ MORE
Why are my father's gums swollen?
This condition is known as gingival hyperplasia and is associated with adult diabetes and epilepsy. Another reason for the swelling that you noticed might be pathology in the form of calculus deposits beneath the gum tissue itself. Only a dentist can determine the root cause of this uncomfortable and unsightly condition by probing and measuring the depth of pockets to determine the level of inflammation and how best treat with either medication in the form of oral rinses or actual curettage of the roots in order to ameliorate the contamination the calculus causes READ MORE