Category
Dental Q&A
Short, clear answers to questions that come up in the clinic
Do I Really Need to Floss Between Teeth Every Time During Orthodontic Treatment?
Explains which surfaces brushing and flossing each cover during orthodontic treatment, and why interdental cleaning is hard to skip.
4 min read
How Are Local Anesthesia and Sedation Used When Removing a Wisdom Tooth?
Local anesthesia used when removing a wisdom tooth blocks pain, while sedation reduces anxiety. This explains why breathing must be monitored more closely as sedation gets deeper.
4 min read
If a tooth still feels sensitive after a deep cavity was filled with composite resin, does that mean I need a root canal?
Sensitivity after a deep cavity is filled with resin is usually a temporary reaction that appears in the early period after the filling. This article explains how to tell apart pain that only reacts to a stimulus from pain that continues even without one.
4 min read
My Front Tooth Still Hurts After a Fall, but It Looks Fine. Do I Still Need a Checkup?
Explains why a front tooth that still hurts after a fall or blow needs an exam and follow-up even when it looks intact, covering periodontal ligament injury and the limits of electric pulp testing.
3 min read
Is a Bone Graft Always Necessary for Dental Implants?
A bone graft for dental implants isn't a step every patient needs; it's a reinforcement procedure performed only when an assessment of the alveolar bone's thickness and height at the implant site finds it insufficient or defective. This explains what determines whether one is needed.
3 min read
My Jaw Hurts and I Can't Open My Mouth Wide: Can a Splint Help?
How much a splint (occlusal stabilization appliance) can help with jaw joint pain and limited mouth opening depends on the underlying cause. This article explains why the condition of the articular disc must be assessed first, and what appliance therapy can and cannot achieve.
5 min read
If a Cavity Doesn't Hurt, Is It Safe to Delay Treatment?
A dark spot on a molar can't be judged by pain alone. This explains why management depends on whether the lesion is active or arrested, and on the person's individual caries risk.
5 min read
Does a Resin Filling for a Gap Between Front Teeth Come Off Easily?
Explains that closing a gap between front teeth (diastema) with composite resin is a restoration bonded onto the tooth without cutting it down, and that the size of the bonded surface and the occlusal force applied to that area determine how long it lasts.
4 min read
If an X-ray Shows a Gap After Root Canal Treatment, Do I Need Retreatment?
A dark gap seen on an X-ray after root canal treatment can mean different things depending on whether it is a void inside the filling material or a healing apical lesion. This article explains how to judge the need for retreatment by looking at symptoms together with changes on imaging over time.
4 min read
If a Lost Baby Tooth's Root Looks Short or Missing, Is It Broken?
When a loose baby tooth falls out with a short or barely visible root, it's usually the result of normal root resorption. Since a photo alone can't confirm whether a fragment remains, this explains when you should have it checked at the dentist.
4 min read
Is Fluoride Application the Same as Tooth Remineralization?
Fluoride application done at the dental clinic and remineralization, in which a tooth refills itself with minerals, are not the same thing. This explains how remineralization works, what role fluoride plays, and how far fluoride alone can reverse the process.
4 min read
What Should You Check to Make a Front Tooth Crown Look Natural?
A front tooth crown's material alone isn't enough to make it look natural. This explains why a plan that also weighs the shade and shape of the existing teeth, the gum condition, and the bite relationship is needed.
5 min read
Should I Wait If the Temporary Filling or Crown Falls Out During Root Canal Treatment?
Explains why you should contact your dentist promptly rather than waiting until your next appointment if the temporary filling or crown placed during root canal treatment falls out, based on the sealing material's role and the risk of bacterial reinfection.
3 min read
Should I See a Dentist Even for a Tiny Chip on My Front Tooth?
Even if a small chip in a front tooth doesn't hurt, only an exam can tell whether the fracture stopped in the enamel or reached the dentin. This explains what that exam checks and how the restoration is chosen.
4 min read
If My Child Has Blisters and Ulcers in the Mouth and Won't Eat, Could It Be Herpes?
If a young child develops blisters and painful ulcers in several spots in the mouth and refuses to eat, herpetic gingivostomatitis is a possibility worth considering. This explains why a dental visit is needed to confirm the diagnosis and why unnecessary antibiotic use should be avoided.
3 min read
What Should You Watch Out for After Composite Resin Repair of a Broken Front Tooth?
After a broken front tooth is repaired with composite resin, it can last for years only if you avoid habits that concentrate force on one point and get the pulp checked regularly, since this tooth has already been through trauma.
4 min read
How Do You Find Which Tooth Is Causing a Severe Toothache You Can't Pinpoint?
This article explains how dentists identify the source tooth when a toothache is severe but its exact location is unclear. It walks through the step-by-step process of narrowing down the affected tooth, from history taking through temperature testing, percussion, palpation, bite and transillumination tests, to the anesthetic test.
4 min read
Does a Post After Root Canal Treatment Make the Tooth Stronger?
When you're worried a root-canal-treated front tooth filled only with resin might crack, this article looks at whether adding a post makes the tooth stronger. It explains why a post is a device for retaining the core rather than for increasing tooth strength, and why the need for one depends on how much tooth structure remains.
4 min read
If a Resin-Filled Tooth Hits First and Hurts When Chewing, Does It Need Adjustment?
If a tooth filled with resin hits first and hurts when chewing, it may need a bite check and adjustment. This explains how to monitor pain changes after the adjustment.
3 min read
How Are Teeth That Have Worn Down and Shortened Overall Restored?
If your teeth have worn down and shortened overall, the first step is identifying what caused the wear. This explains the basic principle of distinguishing tooth-to-tooth friction, external friction such as toothbrushing, and acid-related damage, and assessing bite force before deciding on a restoration method.
4 min read