Dental FAQs

The bacteria in your mouth turn them into acids. The bacteria, acid, food debris, and your saliva combine to form plaque, which clings to the teeth. The acids in plaque dissolve the enamel, creating holes called cavities.

There are no published studies showing that damage to your teeth can be caused by lightening them. There is no structural damage to the tooth and the effect from lightening is not permanent. Some people might experience sensitivity. The longer the lightening agent is on your teeth the deeper it goes and the closer to the nerve it gets. The nerve can get irritated by have peroxide near it causing it to become a little hypersensitive to hot or cold or certain foods. The sensitivity from lightening your teeth is not permanent, it usually fades in a few hours to a day.

The American Dental Association recommends that you visit your dentist at least once a year to get a routine examination and cleaning. If you have a history of periodontal disease, you should get your teeth cleaned more often in order to prevent the recurrence of infections or disease.

Ideally, your child should go the dentist by her first birthday, but it’s generally fine to wait until 2 or 3. Putting it off any longer than that, however, increases your child’s risk of having plaque buildup or cavities at her first visit. Some parents assume that because baby teeth will eventually fall out there’s little point in caring for them, this is a huge mistake. Even though you can’t see them, your child’s permanent teeth are developing under their primary ones and it’s important to have a dentist check that everything in your child’s mouth is developing normally.

A dental implant feels and looks like a normal tooth. Many people who were shy about smiling due to a space from a lost tooth feel whole again after a dental implant. Beyond the aesthetics, a dental implant also makes it easier to eat and speak, since a titanium post secured directly in the jaw holds the implant in place. Thus, an implant doesn’t come loose like a denture. Dental implants also benefit general oral health since they do not have to be anchored to other teeth, like bridges.

The dental damage that comes from chewing on ice often includes cracked and chipped teeth, damage to tooth enamel, problems with existing dental work such as fillings and crowns, and sore jaw muscles.

You may also find your teeth become extremely sensitive to hot and cold drinks and foods, and are more prone to cavities.

NO. Dental implants are made of titanium metal and therefore are not magnetic. Hence they do not set off alarms at airport security.