A Portland Dentist Answers Common Oral Health Problems

In our Portland dentist office, we treat people of all ages and are asked a lot of questions about oral health. We are happy to answer them and to discuss ways that you can improve your health at home.  We know that even if you visit our office once a year, you still need to take care of your teeth on a daily basis in order to keep them healthy.  As such, we invite you to ask as many questions as you need to in order to determine the best way to care for your teeth and gums.  Here are some of the questions that patients ask us on a regular basis.

Do some health conditions put teeth at a greater risk?

Yes, if you use any tobacco products, you are at a greater risk for gum disease and tooth decay along with oral cancer.  We recommend quitting tobacco altogether and if you use it, schedule an appointment for several times a year. Additionally, both diabetes and pregnancy can negatively impact your oral health because they tend to restrict blood flow to the gums.  While not detrimental in and of itself, this should prompt you to visit our office twice a year so that we can remove the plaque and tartar from around your gums before they have the chance to become infected.

Will you be able to fix my loose crown in your Portland dentist office if you didn’t place the crown initially?

Certainly, we can help you, regardless of who placed your initial crown or when they did it.  We will warn you, however, that you should have the crown replaced right away.  Typically a crown is placed because the tooth underneath is damaged, or a portion of the enamel is gone.  This means that the tooth is naturally more susceptible to infection.  With a loose crown, bacteria can get trapped in between the crown and tooth, resulting in a greater health issue.  Replacing it immediately, therefore, is the best solution.

My tooth hurts.  How long should I wait before having it checked out?

If you have a toothache, feel free to call us right away so that we can examine your tooth.  One of the reasons that people have a toothache is that food becomes stuck in between their teeth.  You should try brushing your teeth and flossing first to see if that helps.  If not, you may have a common cavity or the center of your tooth (dental pulp) may be infected.  In both cases, we can remove the decay or infection and restore your tooth to good health so that you can feel comfortable again.

I cracked my tooth.  How can you fix it in your Portland dentist office?

Absolutely, there are multiple ways that we can restore a cracked tooth.  If we are treating a child, we typically recommend a bonding procedure since this can be done on the same day and without needing to significantly prepare the tooth.  For adults, a dental veneer or crown is a more commonly used solution.  All are effective.