General Dentistry & Cleanings Serving Greensboro, High Point, and Winston-Salem

Flossing removes bacteria hiding in between your teeth. Flossing massages gum tissue and stimulates circulation to the tissue. Studies show that people who floss have less gum disease and therefore have healthier hearts and pancreases.

Following scaling and root planning, a 3-month recall appointment is recommended to debride and irrigate residual pocketing. It takes 90 days for bacteria to reorganize and mature into anaerobic organized dangerous bacteria.

The by-products of this bacterium need to be physically and chemically removed to stop or slow the destruction of bone.
Some patients need a 3-month recall due to the fast build-up of calculus to make the appointment more comfortable.

***Tidbit*** – The idea and protocol of a 6-month recall was started by a dental insurance company in the 1960s. A dentist or dental hygienist wasn’t consulted.

We recommend a full mouth series of x-rays which consists of 18 films which show the dentist an in-depth look at all teeth and the roots. This is so a potential problem can be caught at an earlier stage. This set of x-rays allows us to detect abscesses, decay and even cysts for which the patient had no symptoms. We have saved many teeth due to this set of x-rays!

Our x-rays are digital. We use the latest technology available. Our low dose gives off less radiation than the sun. X-rays allow us to detect a problem before you are in pain and have extensive damage. Read more here.

Clinically the dentist can only see approximately 40% of the tooth. Only digital x-rays can reveal if there is decay in between the teeth or under an existing restoration. It is healthier to do a small filling, and also less expensive for the patient.

There is a major salivary gland behind your lower front teeth that bathe these teeth. Minerals in the saliva harden the plaque into calculus. Calculus can build on a tooth in 13 days. There are also major salivary glands near your upper molars and this area builds calculus quickly. This is not necessarily a brushing issue.

You need deep cleanings because tartar is like having a “splinter” in your gum tissue. It festers, harbors bacteria and pocketing begins. Pocketing leads to bone loss and bone loss leads to tooth loss. There is no cure for periodontal disease, we remove physical irritants at a scaling and root planning appointment, and we recommend you continue 3-month cleaning appointments.

Yes. Studies have shown that the average person brushes for 20 seconds and that they brush on one side of the mouth harder and longer than the other. The electric toothbrush that we sell in our office has a 2-minute timer that signals you to brush each quadrant for 30 seconds. It also will slow down if too much pressure is applied to a tooth.

Patients that use an electric toothbrush can tell a difference in the amount of calculus buildup and say their cleanings are “easier.” If you have a family member with braces, it is highly recommended that they use an electric toothbrush because braces are hard to keep clean. Also, remember to change your brush head every 4 to 6 months.

Our goal is to treat the tooth before it begins to hurt. When the tooth starts to hurt, it usually means that the decay has gotten to the nerve and infected it. Once this happens a root canal may be needed in addition to a filling or crown.

A filling can last anywhere from 5-30 years. Again, homecare, occlusion, sugar habits, and regular dental checkups can influence how long it may last.

A sealant is a thin clear or white plastic coating painted on the chewing surface of the molars. They help protect against cavities in the deep grooves of the teeth.

Extracting a tooth is like pulling a handful of books off a bookshelf; the books above it fall and the books beside that area topple over. Teeth are the same way. The teeth above or below are affected and the teeth beside your missing teeth will topple over, adversely affecting your bite.

Brushing alone simply isn’t enough! I challenge you to floss your teeth and then smell the floss. This will give you an idea of how your breath smells. Bacteria in the mouth give off sulfur compounds (similar to a rotten egg) and make breath smell bad.

Brush and floss daily, also brush your tongue gently. Other causes of bad breath can be cryptic tonsils. Cryptic tonsils have craters in them that harbor bacteria and can even make way for tonsil stores. Other bad breath culprits can be gastric reflux or even a low-grade sinus infection. Dry mouths are more susceptible to bad breath due to a lack of cleansing saliva.

Dry mouth can have many causes; medications, age, hormones. Drink plenty of water and use Biotene or Oasis products which can be found at most drug stores. Sugarless gum or mints may also help. Read labels and make sure you use sugar-free products.

Saliva is cleansing and patients with dry mouth are VERY susceptible to decay. We would recommend having your teeth cleaned every 3 months.

Oftentimes cold sensitivity occurs near the gum line. If there is any root exposure from receding gums, the root of the tooth can become more sensitive to cold. The root of the tooth is covered in cementum, which is not as thick or strong as enamel which covers the crown of the tooth.

In addition, teeth have microscopic holes that send the pain message to the pulp of the tooth. Fluoride will close off those microscopic holes. Sensodyne is an over-the-counter product that may help. In our office, we offer a prescription-strength fluoride paste or varnish that is painted on the teeth. Bonding may also be indicated if topical medicaments do not help.