Question 1

DEEP SCALING & CLEANING

Accepted Answer

Scaling & root planning
Scaling and root planing, otherwise known as conventional periodontal therapy, non-surgical periodontal therapy, or deep cleaning, is the process of removing or eliminating the etiologic agents – dental plaque, its products, and calculus – which cause inflammation,[1] thus helping to establish a periodontium that is free of disease.

Question 2

WHITE COMPOSITE FILLINGS

Accepted Answer

What are composites (tooth colored fillings)?
Composites or tooth colored fillings are used to “fill” areas of decay, restore fractured teeth in which cosmetic appearance is important. The shade of the restoration material is matched as closely as possible to the color of the natural tooth. This is typically the restoration of choice, unless treatment conditions dictate the use of another material.

Question 3

PORCELAIN INLAYS & ONLAYS

Accepted Answer

In dentistry, an inlay is an indirect restoration (filling) consisting of a solid substance (as gold or porcelain) fitted to a cavity in a tooth and cemented into place.[1] An onlay is the same as an inlay, except that it extends to replace a cusp. Crowns are onlays which completely cover all surfaces of a tooth.

Question 4

CROWNS & BRIDGES

Accepted Answer

A crown is a type of dental restoration which completely caps or encircles a tooth or dental implant. Crowns are often needed when a large cavity threatens the ongoing health of a tooth.[1] They are typically bonded to the tooth using a dental cement. Crowns can be made from many materials, which are usually fabricated using indirect methods. Crowns are often used to improve the strength or appearance of teeth. While inarguably beneficial to dental health.   A bridge is a fixed dental restoration used to replace a missing tooth by joining an artificial tooth permanently to adjacent teeth or dental implants.   Types of bridges may vary, depending upon how they are fabricated and the way they anchor to the adjacent teeth. Conventionally, bridges are made using the indirect method of restoration. However, bridges can be fabricated directly in the mouth using such materials as composite resin.   A bridge is fabricated by reducing the teeth on either side of the missing tooth or teeth by a preparation pattern determined by the location of the teeth and by the material from which the bridge is fabricated. In other words, the abutment teeth are reduced in size to accommodate the material to be used to restore the size and shape of the original teeth in a correct alignment and contact with the opposing teeth. The dimensions of the bridge are defined by Ante’s Law: “The root surface area of the abutment teeth has to equal or surpass that of the teeth being replaced with pontics”.[1]   The materials used for the bridges include gold, porcelain fused to metal, or in the correct situation porcelain alone. The amount and type of reduction done to the abutment teeth varies slightly with the different materials used. The recipient of such a bridge must be careful to clean well under this prosthesis.   When restoring an edentulous space with a fixed partial denture that will crown the teeth adjacent to the space and bridge the gap with a pontic, or “dummy tooth”, the restoration is referred to as a bridge. Besides all of the preceding information that concerns single-unit crowns, bridges possess a few additional considerations when it comes to case selection and treatment planning, tooth preparation and restoration fabrication.

Question 5

DENTURES PORCELAIN VENEERS

Accepted Answer

Natural-looking porcelain veneers are an excellent choice for covering teeth that are chipped, discolored, or slightly misaligned. The veneer is a thin shell of porcelain that is custom-made to fit perfectly over the front of a tooth. Because the porcelain is translucent, it lets the color of the existing tooth shine through for a completely natural appearance.

Question 6

DENTURES - COMPLETE

Accepted Answer

Complete dentures can be either “conventional” or “immediate.” Made after the teeth have been removed and the gum tissue has begun to heal, a conventional denture is ready for placement in the mouth about eight to 12 weeks after the teeth have been removed.   Unlike conventional dentures, immediate dentures are made in advance and can be positioned as soon as the teeth are removed. As a result, the wearer does not have to be without teeth during the healing period. However, bones and gums shrink over time, especially during the healing period following tooth removal. Therefore a disadvantage of immediate dentures compared with conventional dentures is that they require more adjustments to fit properly during the healing process and generally should only be considered a temporary solution until conventional dentures can be made.

Question 7

DENTURES - PARTIAL

Accepted Answer

A removable partial denture or bridge usually consists of replacement teeth attached to a pink or gum-colored plastic base, which is connected by metal framework that holds the denture in place in the mouth. Partial dentures are used when one or more natural teeth remain in the upper or lower jaw. A fixed (permanent) bridge replaces one or more teeth by placing crowns on the teeth on either side of the space and attaching artificial teeth to them. This “bridge” is then cemented into place. Not only does a partial denture fill in the spaces created by missing teeth, it prevents other teeth from changing position. A precision partial denture is removable and has internal attachments rather than clasps that attach to the adjacent crowns. This is a more natural-looking appliance.

Question 8

ORAL SURGERY EXTRACTIONS

Accepted Answer

A dental extraction (also referred to as exodontia) is the removal of a tooth from the mouth. Extractions are performed for a wide variety of reasons, including tooth decay that has destroyed enough tooth structure to render the tooth non-restorable. Extractions of impacted or problematic wisdom teethare routinely performed, as are extractions of some permanent teeth to make space for orthodontic treatment.

Question 9

Oral Surgery Post-Op Instructions

Accepted Answer

Care of the Mouth after Extractions:
The gauze needs to stay in place with biting pressure for 15-30 minutes. This will reduce the amount of bleeding.
Give your child the appropriate dose of children’s Tylenol, Motrin or Advil when you take the gauze out (NO aspirin). Your child should only need this for approximately 12 to 24 hours. If pain persists beyond 48 hours, please call our office.
Allow your child to begin eating only soft foods (mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, yogurt, jell-o, etc) for the first 24 hours. Please avoid sharp, crunchy foods because the area may be a sensitive. Encourage plenty of liquids (water, soups, etc.). You can transition to a regular diet as the gum tissue begins to heal.
NO spitting or drinking through a straw or “sippy” cup for 24 hours. The force can start the bleeding again.
A clean mouth heals faster. Gentle brushing around the extraction site can be started immediately along with warm salt-water rinses (1/4 teaspoon to a glass of water) to aid with any discomfort.
Activity may need to be limited.
Your child’s cheek, lip and tongue will be numb for approximately 1-2 hours. Please be very careful that your child does not bite at his/her cheek or scratch this area. As this area “wakes up” it may feel funny. A self-inflicted bite injury is the most common post-op complication. Please monitor your child closely.

Question 10

ROOT CANALS

Accepted Answer

A root canal is the space within the root of a tooth. Part of a naturally occurring space within a tooth, it consists of the pulp chamber (within the coronal part of the tooth), the main canal(s), and more intricate anatomical branches that may connect the root canals to each other or to the surface of the root.

Question 11

CEREC ONE VISIT CROWN

Accepted Answer

CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, or CEramic REConstruction[1]) is a dental restoration product that allows a dental practitioner to produce an indirect ceramic dentalrestoration using a variety of computer assisted technologies, including 3D photography and CAD/CAM. With CEREC, teeth can be restored in a single sitting with the patient, rather than the multiple sittings required with earlier techniques. Additionally, with the latest software and hardware updates, crowns, veneers, onlays and inlays can be prepared, using different types of ceramic material.

Question 12

ZOOM!

Accepted Answer

ZOOM! Whitening is one of the safest, most effective, and fastest, procedures available for dramatically brightening your smile. A high-concentration peroxide gel is applied to the teeth by a trained dental professional. Then, a special light is aimed at the teeth for 15 to 20 minutes that activates the gel’s bleaching power.   The process is performed several times until the desired whiteness is achieved. The entire appointment takes approximately two hours. Once your ZOOM Whitening procedure is complete, the results will last for years with proper care and periodic touch ups.   ZOOM! Whitening is perfect for people with yellow or darkened teeth due to aging, or those with stains from things like tobacco, red wine, coffee, tea, blueberries or other food or drink. However, it is important to note that ZOOM! will not work in certain cases, like when a tooth is darkened due to trauma, exposure to medication like tetracycline, or other factors. In these cases, procedures like veneers and crowns are a better option. When you come in for your appointment, we’ll be able to tell you if ZOOM! will work for you

Question 13

6 MONTH SMILE ADULT BRACES

Accepted Answer

Six Month Smiles® short term orthodontic treatment is a modern twist on tried-and-true orthodontics.  There is little debate within the orthodontic community that braces are the most widely used and most effective method to give patients straight, healthy teeth and a beautiful smile.  Six Month Smiles has taken the best aspects of braces and modified the treatment and the materials to give adults a common-sense, cosmetic solution that fits your lifestyle.  Here is what makes Six Month Smiles so innovative … Average treatment times of only six months Six Month Smiles Lucid-Lok® clear brackets and tooth-colored wires are barely visible Use of braces has shown to provide the most conservative and predictable final result Six Month Smiles Patient Tray Kits™ ensure that your appointments are fast and comfortable Low forces and short overall orthodontic treatment times increase comfort, safety, and hygiene Six Month Smiles is typically less expensive than traditional braces, aligner therapy, or veneers

Question 14

TREATMENT UNDER NITROUS OXIDE

Accepted Answer

What is Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen?
Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) is ALWAYS administered with oxygen. Nitrous oxide is a safe gas and is 100% exhaled by the patient. The combination of nitrous oxide and oxygen, inhaled by your child during the restorative appointment, is used to relax a mildly anxious child. Nitrous Oxide/oxygen also acts to minimize discomfort during dental treatment. Your child does not fall asleep and can effectively communicate with the dentist. Your child should be able to return to normal activities upon leaving the dental office, however limit the amount of physical activity immediately following treatment.

Question 15

HOSPITAL DENTISTRY

Accepted Answer

Do you allow parents to come back with their children?
Parents are invited back to accompany their child during the initial examination and during any treatment your child may receive. Parents are always allowed to accompany any child three years of age or younger We do encourage parents, however, to allow children to enter the treatment area alone if we think your child will behave better and have a more positive experience. Please let our receptionist know if you request special accommodations. If your child needs to be sedated for treatment or needs hospital dentistry care under general anesthesia, parents are asked not to accompany their child. There are no exceptions to this rule.

Welcome to the Happy Teeth Family

Happy Teeth for Healthy Smiles!

Happy Teeth Dental Care

135 Boston Turnpike

Shrewsbury, MA 01545

Office Phone Number: (508) 425-3316

Office Fax Number: (508) 753-3318