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8 Dental Questions You Should Know

Posted by Dr. Mark Mann

Apr 17, 2014 9:40:00 AM

 

21497968_mThere are some dental questions that are asked more often than others. These are questions that you should know to enhance your knowledge and bust myths and misinformation. Here are some of the questions that dental patients often want answers to.

1. What are the things I should look for when choosing a dentist?

You will have a long-term association with your dentist. Hence, it is important you find a dentist with whom you feel comfortable. Also, the dentist should be able to meet your needs. For this, the dentist’s office should be easily accessible from your workplace and home; the dentist should be licensed and trained; the dentist should advocate preventive dentistry; and the dentist should transparent and open in all his and her dealings.

2. Is dental X-ray safe?

There is a misconception about dental X-rays. People believe having dental X-ray will damage their body cells and tissue, leading to cancer. On the contrary, dental X-ray is safe, as you are exposed to low doses of radiation that cannot prove to be fatal. Furthermore, your body is constantly exposed to radiation from the sun, home appliances and minerals in the soil. Over the course of your life, all sources of radiation will have an impact on your health.

3. Are there any new methods to prevent and treat tooth decay?

Dental science is developing by leaps and bounds. Many new treatments to treat and prevent tooth decay have come out, but are still in experimental stage. One such treatment is using fluorescent light to discover tooth decay before it can be found through dental examination and dental X-rays.

There also is smart filling in the horizon that prevents tooth decay through slow release of fluoride around fillings and onto neighboring teeth. However, your best bet is brushing and flossing your teeth regularly and visiting your dentist for regular oral checkups.

4. Who should get dental sealants?

Dental sealants are plastic coatings that are painted onto premolars and molar. These sealants are used just on chewing surface and help protect the enamel of the teeth. Usually, kids are treated with dental sealants the moment their permanent back teeth erupt. This helps prevent cavities between the ages of 6 and 14 which are known as cavity-prone years. However, even adults can get dental sealants, as long as they do not have fillings and tooth decay.

5. Are amalgam fillings unsafe?

People assure amalgam fillings (silver-colored fillings) are dangerous because of mercury and can cause serious diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis and autism. However, the U.S. FDA and the American Dental Association has constantly maintained amalgam fillings are safe and no connection has been found between them and any disease.

6. Can I suffer an allergic reaction to amalgam filling?

There are rare cases when people have reported allergic reactions to amalgam fillings. According to the American Dental Association less than 100 cases have been reported. If you are allergic, you will develop itching and skin rashes. Your dentist will be able to change the filling material if an allergy is confirmed.

7. Do teeth whitening toothpaste actually work?

All toothpastes have the ability to remove stains from the surface of teeth, as they contain mild abrasives. Some whitening toothpastes contain chemical agents that have additional stain removal properties. It is prudent to remember, a whitening toothpaste will help remove surface stains and it does not contain any bleach. However, you will get best results only if you visit a dentist for teeth whitening, as instead of one shade whiteness that whitening toothpaste provide, you can enjoy three- to eight-shade whiter teeth.

8. Can I change the shape of my teeth?

There are many options to change the shape of teeth. You can use veneers, crowns, bonding and re-contouring to change teeth shape. Consult your dentist to find out which option is best suited for your needs.

These are some dental questions that people ask regularly. Do you have questions that you want answers to?

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The Mann Dental Care Blog features important topics regarding dental health. Over one-hundred dental care posts have been published, providing our readers with a great resource for timely news about dental care.

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