We treat mild to moderate craniofacial pain primarily through splint therapy
cosmetics
Real patients
Whitening
TMJ
Our Work and FAQ's
What do I do after whitening? Will my teeth be sensitive?
Left: The photo to the left depicts a challenging case that required more than just whitening; however, the lower teeth we only applied our whitening process of Cold Power Bleaching. Some cases are more difficult and stubborn to whitening than others as depicted here where our patient required whitening of multiple sessions to achieve her desired outcome and to avoid sensitivity.
Making your whitening appointment: make sure you whiten at least one to two weeks prior any important event or deadline. The reason is that whitening is a medication and we cannot guarantee it's outcome after each application; therefore, tweaking sessions are sometimes needed or aesthetic bonding to cosmetically balance areas that cannot or are resistant to whitening.
After whitening it is important to avoid dark liquids or foods for 48 hours. Sensitivity does vary per case and per person.
During the whitening process often people feel a few zings, tingling, or heat; however, rarely does it ever actually hurt. We place a protective coating on the gums to avoid bleaching the gums; however, every now and then a bit of bleaching material leaks onto the gums at the border of the gums and teeth and the gums get white. The gums heal very fast and this often goes away within a couple of days. (Usually this only happens on the lower gums due to gravity; therefore, this will not be visible). We recommend warm salt water for any gum issues. We often encourage the use of sensitivity toothpaste after whitening such as Sensodyne or ProEnamel. Over the next couple of days the whitening often has some latent effects meaning the whitening is still settling and also you should avoid dark liquids since they can be absorbed easier after whitening. Finally even though your teeth may not have been sensitive during the whitening it is not uncommon to have a zing here or there the next couple of days after whitening; therefore, avoid extreme temperatures may be advised. Please let us know if you have any more questions, thanks!.
does it hurt?
We have to be honest, we cannot completely eliminate discomfort; however, we have developed a few techniques to make it much more tolerable. This includes our three step progressive numbing process. This provides more gradual and gentle anesthesia.
what to do after A filling or dental work?
We just worked on your teeth. While we take every measure to avoid any post-op discomfort, often times your teeth may have some sensitivity. Most people recover within the first couple days. There are a few select patients where sensitivity does linger for a much longer. We ask that if it is anything you are unsure about please call us to have us check the area again. We do not charge for the first followup in such cases.
Best toothpaste
For adults, any toothpaste with fluoride. If you are prone to staining or have any gum bleeding issues we do recommend using Arm and Hammer Baking Soda Peroxide toothpaste every third or every other time you brush. Finally, beware of some whitening toothpastes that are too abrasive or sandy.
White Strips. How is this different? Does it work?
Yes it works, kind of...
Typically the active ingredient is similar to ones that most dentists use for professional whitening, either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. The only differences are in the strength and application method. Foremost, you should be careful how you apply these ingredients as excess use or improper use is not healthy especially for the gingiva or cheek cells (therefore rinsing with peroxide is not advised on a regular basis). Screen of your teeth for any deminineralization or hypercalificiation is advised prior whitening because if you whiten these areas you may become hypersensitive or worsen a white spot respectively. Finally, white strips really only work well if you have an idealized arch shape, non-crowded teeth, as it is very difficult and nearly impossible to apply a white strip on crowded teeth. At SoS Dental Care, the cold power bleachin gel is placed selectively on the teeth of interest and the gel can better get into crowded areas than a strip. We do believe white strips have their place, but most likely only significantly effective on 10-20% of patients. Please let us know if you have any more questions, thanks!
When do you need a crown verses a filling?
Usually if one or more cusps on a tooth, if more than 60% of the tooth is filling material, and/or if the tooth has had a root canal or fracture, a crown is indicated. Each case is unique and there are sometimes ways around a crown. For instance if the tooth is not a major functional chewing tooth, then a crown may need be needed even if 60% of the visible tooth is filling material.
A crown is needed when the part of the tooth you see is so damaged that it requires a supra-structure, a covering, basically a helmut to protect it for the future. The purpose of a crown is for longterm stability of a tooth.
Our crowns often E.max which have an average compressive strength of 400mPA equal to that of natural tooth enamel.
what is a deep
cleaning
?
A deep cleaning is actually exactly what it sounds like. A cleaning that is a bit deeper than a regular prophylactic cleaning that you get every 4-6 months. This is needed when there are indications of gum disease or even bone loss around the teeth that often requires local anesthesia number so we can clean deeper into the gums and remove any bacteria or debris that may be causing the gum disease process. Often times patients do not feel the need for this because it is "silent", it is not painful. We say it is analogous to fat building up in your arteries, you don't feel it but it's happening and it's important to get to it before causes an issue requiring gum surgery. In essence, a deep cleaning is therapy for the gums to avoid surgery.
what is a root canal and then what?
A root canal is meant to save a tooth. When tooth has an injury, a large cavity or fracture that encroaches or communicates with the nerve of the tooth, the nerve must then be cleaned out to avoid infection. What happens is the nerve if not treated acts like a wick for bacteria that eventually will cause an abscess. Some patients feel no pain because the infection has a place to drain to; however, it is important whether pain or no pain to treat the area because longstanding infections can affect the bone or other anatomical structures surround the tooth such as the sinus.
After a root canal it is importan to restore the strength of the tooth with a process call a post and core (reinforcement pin inside the tooth) and then a crown (essentially a helmut for the tooth).
