There is always room for improvement in dentistry. Dr. White is committed to learning new concepts. Through his own arduous research, several patents now afford more accuracy from impression dentistry.
Dr. White has published an article in Dentistry Today defining a feature of dental anatomy that is not found anywhere in the literature. In short, it describes curvature of upper teeth, a curvature that does not match the lower arch. This is why individuals feel that their “bite is off”.
Implants:
Fortunately, Dr. White has received advanced training and has placed many implants right in office. A referral to a specialist is not usually the case. Since first placements of implants were started in 2007, Dr. White enjoys a very confident success rate, over 97%.
A dental implant is an option to replace a missing tooth. In this procedure, a small titanium shaft is surgically implanted into the bone and allowed to set. The bone grows around it forming a tight connection, which additionally slows or stops the bone loss that occurs when the root of a natural tooth is missing. Once the implant is firmly set in the mouth, Dr. White attaches the replacement crown onto the implant. This permanent solution has the advantage over bridge work that it does not stress the surrounding teeth for support. Most of the implants placed by Dr. White are a product of Biomet, 3i. Biomet has been producing dental implants since 1987. Astra Tech is a newer family of implants used by Dr. White. Astra Tech promises a system offering better bone retention.
Implants can also be used as support as part of an implant bridge. This is an alternative to partial dentures, and has several advantages. The biggest single advantage of placing implants is that future bone loss is avoided.
Our Cranbury office also offers mini dental implants. These implants are about half the diameter of traditional implants are used mainly to stabilize lower dentures. Mini implants are used also to replace very small individual teeth. These implants can be placed in one appointment and be immediately used. The cost is 50-70% of standard dental implants.
Which type of toothbrush should I use?
The brand of the toothbrush is not as critical as the type of bristle and the size of the head. A soft toothbrush with a small head is recommended because medium and hard brushes tend to cause irritation and contribute to recession of the gums, and a small head allows you to get around each tooth more completely and is less likely to injure your gums. It's unnecessary to "scrub" the teeth as long as you are brushing at least twice a day and visiting your dentist at least twice a year for cleanings.
Is one toothpaste better than others?
Generally, no. However, it's advisable to use a fluoride containing toothpaste to decrease the incidence of dental decay. We recommend our patients use what tastes good to them as long as it contains fluoride.
How often should I floss?
Flossing of the teeth once per day helps to prevent cavities from forming between the teeth where your toothbrush can't reach. Flossing also helps to keep your gums healthy.
What's the difference between a "crown" and a "cap"?
These are restorations to repair a severely broken tooth by covering all or most of the tooth after removing old fillings, fractured tooth structure, and all decay. The restoration material is made of gold, porcelain, composites, or even stainless steel. Dentists refer to all of these restorations as "crowns". However, patients often refer to the tooth-colored ones as "caps" and the gold or stainless steel ones as "crowns".
What's the difference between a "bridge" and a "partial denture"?
Both bridges and partial dentures replace missing teeth. A bridge is permanently attached to abutment teeth or, in some cases, implants. A partial denture is attached by clasps to the teeth and is easily removed by the patient. Patients are usually more satisfied with bridges than with partial dentures.
What about "silver" fillings versus "white" fillings?
Although the U.S. Public Health Service issued a report in 1993 stating there is no health reason not to use amalgam (silver fillings), more patients today are requesting "white" or tooth-colored composite fillings. We also prefer tooth-colored fillings because they "bond" to the tooth structure and therefore help strengthen a tooth weakened by decay. While fillings are also usually less sensitive to temperature, and they also look better. However, "white" fillings cannot be used in every situation, and if a tooth is very badly broken-down, a crown will usually be necessary and provide better overall satisfaction for the patient.
Do I need to have a root canal just because I have to have a crown?
No. While most teeth which have had root canal treatments do need crowns to strengthen the teeth and to return the teeth to normal form and function, not every tooth needing a crown also needs to have a root canal.
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