ASK YOUR DENTAL PROVIDER THESE AND ANY OTHER QUESTIONS

• What are the various dental specialties?
• Periodontics – gum or periodontal disease as well placing dental implants
• Endodontics – treatment of root canals
• Oral surgery – extraction of wisdom teeth, implant placement and sedation
• Pedodontics – specialized care of children
• Orthodontics – braces for adults and children
• Prosthodontics – full and partial dentures, bridges and implants
• How often should I get a check-up, cleaning and x-rays?
• Ideally every 6 months although if you have periodontal (gum) disease you may have to get cleaned more frequently
• Is there a connection between gum disease and heart disease?
• We now know that the very same bacteria that cause cardiovascular disease are found in the inflamed pockets around teeth. To fight this we combine deep cleaning with the newest antibiotics placed right into these “pockets.” This results in a dramatic reduction of inflammation and we are often able to eliminate the need for costly gum surgery.
• What are implants?
• These are small titanium pegs placed right in to the jaw bone. The body accepts them as teeth and your dentist can use them to support caps, bridges or even dentures. It’s as close as dentistry can get to replacing missing natural teeth.
• When should children first go to the dentist?
• The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a child’s first visit at 1 year of age, although there are rarely any problems at this young age
• What are mouth guards?
• These are custom made protective appliances to protect the teeth of children and adults paying contact sports
• Is Oral Cancer very common?
  • Yes, it is now the 6th most common cancer with 28,000 Americans each year being diagnosed. 8000 people in the US die each year from oral cancer.