FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Dental Health Online
American Dental Assocation

Q: Which type of toothbrush should I use?
A: The brand of the toothbrush is not as critical as the type of bristle and the size of the head. A soft toothbrush with a small head is recommended because medium and hard brushes tend to cause irritation and contribute to recession of the gums, and a small head allows you to get around each tooth more completely and is less likely to injure your gums. It's unnecessary to "scrub" the teeth as long as you are brushing at least twice a day and visiting your dentist at least twice a year for cleanings.

Q: How long do I need to brush?
A: Manual brushing should require about 4 minutes for a proper cleaning.  With an electric brush, about 2 minutes (some electric burshes have their own built-in timer).  A thorough brushing should be done at least twice per day.

Q:  Should I brush manually or use an electric toothbrush?
A:  As long as you are brushing twice per day, either method, or a combination, is fine.

Q:  Is one toothpaste better than others?
A: Generally, no. However, it's advisable to use a toothpaste which contains fluoride to decrease the incidence of dental decay. We recommend our patients use what tastes good to them as long as it contains fluoride.  Remember to brush at least 2 times per day.

Q: How often should I floss?
A: Flossing of the teeth once per day helps to prevent cavities from forming between the teeth where your toothbrush can't reach. Flossing also helps to keep your gums healthy.

Q: Are water jet devices better than flossing?
A: While this can be a personal preference, and either method is much preferable to doing neither, many hygenists feel that flossing gives the best results as long as it is done gently, correctly and daily.

Q: What's the difference between a "crown" and a "cap"?
A: These are restorations to repair a severely broken tooth by covering all or most of the tooth after removing old fillings, fractured tooth structure, and all decay. The restoration material is made of gold, porcelain, composites, or even stainless steel. Dentists refer to all of these restorations as "crowns". However, patients often refer to the tooth-colored ones as "caps" and the gold or stainless steel ones as "crowns".

Q: What's the difference between a "bridge" and a "partial denture"?
A: Both bridges and partial dentures replace missing teeth. A bridge is permanently attached to abutment teeth or, in some cases, implants. A partial denture is attached by clasps to the teeth and is easily removed by the patient. Patients are usually more satisfied with bridges than with partial dentures.

Q: What about "silver" fillings versus "white" fillings?
A: Although the U.S. Public Health Service issued a report in 1993 stating there is no health reason not to use amalgam (silver fillings), this issue continues to have ongoing study.  More patients today are requesting "white" or tooth-colored composite fillings.  Dr. Anderson also prefers tooth-colored composite fillings because they "bond" to the tooth structure and therefore help strengthen a tooth weakened by decay. Composite fillings are also usually less sensitive to temperature, and they look better. However, composite  "white" fillings cannot be used in every situation, and if a tooth is very badly broken down, a crown will usually be necessary and provide better overall satisfaction and longevity for the patient.

Q: Do I need to have a root canal just because I have to have a crown?
A: No. While most teeth which have had root canal treatments do need crowns to strengthen the tooth and to return it to normal form and function, not every tooth needing a crown also needs to have a root canal.  Consult with Dr. Anderson.