FAQ

What can you do to help ease my fears about visiting the dentist?

We understand; dental fear and anxiety are both very common. That’s the reason we offer a quiet, comfortable environment with a variety of amenities and gentle sedation options so you can sit back, relax and let us do all the work. We are happy to offer our patients nitrous oxide to help reduce any stress they may feel about their dental procedure.

What if it’s difficult for dentists to get me numb before treatment?

At One Smile Dental, we mainly use Articaine, which is a newer, safer, and more effective anesthetic. This advancement means you’re more likely to get thoroughly numb with less shots than with Novocain. We also realize that no two patients are exactly the same, and we can find a place for the anesthetic that might work better for you.

What if I always get a bad taste in my mouth while receiving dental treatment?

You want to leave our dental office feeling fresh, not like you’ve just eaten something horrible. Patients love our Isolite comfort system, which allows you to rest your mouth while protecting your tongue, cheek, and lips. It suctions up all of the water so you’ll never feel like you’re going to swallow something distasteful.

GUM DISEASE

How do I know if I have gum disease?

Common signs of gum disease are bleeding gums, bad breath, bone loss around teeth, and loose teeth. During your exam, we check your oral health by measuring your gums.

If I have gum disease, do I need a different type of dental cleaning?

There are two different levels of cleanings. People with healthy gums will require only a basic cleaning to maintain their oral health. People with less healthy gums or with gum disease benefit from a deeper cleaning to restore their health.

What are the risks of not treating my gum disease?

After a few years, your teeth will begin to look longer and will become more sensitive to hot and cold. After a few more years, teeth will begin to come loose and eventually the loss of bone will require you to have your teeth removed. Gum disease is actually the main reason people lose their teeth and have to get dentures.

Is it true that gum disease makes me more likely to have heart problems?

Gum disease has been linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Additionally, diabetic patients with gum disease have a harder time controlling their blood sugar.

FILLINGS

Does One Smile Dental offer tooth-colored fillings?

Yes, all of the fillings we provide to our patients match the color of their teeth! We use our shade guide to select a color to custom match the color of the filling to the color of your tooth.

Do your fillings contain any silver or mercury?

Nope! We don’t provide any silver or mercury fillings.

What should I expect after I get a new filling or after I get a filling replaced?

After the anesthesia wears off, your bite should feel even and the filling should feel smooth to your tongue. Sometimes a new filling will be sensitive to cold, but this normally passes within a week. If your bite seems off or the filling feels rough, please call our office and we’ll be happy to adjust it for you free of charge.

Can I whiten my fillings?

Sadly, no. We can’t whiten fillings but we can change the color by replacing them with another shade.

How long will my filling last?

It depends on a lot of factors, but on average, fillings last 7 to 12 years. For example, small fillings tend to last longer than big fillings. Just like with your teeth, fillings need to be cleaned after every meal to prevent cavities from forming around them.

DENTAL CROWNS

What is a dental crown or cap?

A dental crown is used whenever a tooth has such a large cavity or filling that it will become weak and break if it is not reinforced. It fits right over the top of your tooth, and it looks and functions just like your other teeth. Dental crowns last many years, but just like your other teeth, they require regular brushing and flossing to prevent cavities around the crown.

Will my dental crown match my other teeth?

While there are some dental crowns that are made of silver or gold metal, we match the color of your crown to your other teeth so it blends in naturally and hardly anyone will be able to tell that you have it.

If my tooth needs a dental crown, will I need a root canal, too?

The only reason you would need a root canal is if the nerve inside the tooth is damaged. If your tooth is broken, but the nerve is still okay then you’ll only need a crown. In fact, the dental crown can actually prevent the need for a root canal in the future!

What if my dental crown has a grey line at the gums?

This is actually a common problem with older dental crowns. It happens when your gums recede over time and expose the metal that’s underneath the white porcelain and used to be hidden by your gums. We can correct this issue by fitting you with a new crown made without the metal so you can get back your white smile!

Does One Smile Dental offer same-day or CEREC crowns?

Some dental offices have a CEREC machine that creates a crown the same day as your appointment. While we would like to offer such a convenient service, the material these crowns are made out of is unfortunately only about half as strong as traditional dental crowns. This makes them more prone to fracture, which would only make things less convenient and more costly for our patients. Once this problem is solved, One Smile Dental will be happy to offer same day crowns.

DENTURES

What keeps a denture in place?

Full dentures are generally held in by suction. Some patients also use denture adhesive for a tighter hold. Nowadays, patients can even have implants placed for their denture to snap onto. Then there are partial dentures, which are secured in place by being attached to the nearby remaining teeth.

I don’t like the metal that shows when I smile with my partial denture; is there any way to make one without metal?

Yes! We offer metal-free Valplast partials. Many patients tell us they are more comfortable than metal partials, and since they are more durable, they won’t bend or break if dropped like with metal partials.

My dentures are loose; how can I make them fit well again?

It’s normal for patients with dentures to lose bone over time, affecting the fit of their dentures. If this happens, you can get a reline, where we add more material to your dentures to keep a tight fit.

If I want dentures, do I have to go without teeth while you make my denture?

We don’t want to send you home toothless! We’ll make you a temporary set of dentures ahead of time so they’re ready for you the day your teeth are removed. You will never have to leave our office without teeth!

ROOT CANAL THERAPY

Why would I need a root canal?

Everyone has bacteria in their mouths. Sometimes deep cavities or cracks develop in your teeth that let these bacteria into the nerve of the tooth causing an infection. Because of this, the nerve of the tooth dies and the bacteria will continue to live in the root causing infection until the tooth is cleaned out with root canal therapy.

Why can’t I just take an antibiotic to kill off the bacteria?

Since the nerve is dead, there’s no blood flow into the tooth to carry the antibiotic inside. That means it can only fight the infection as it leaves the tooth, not the actual source of the infection inside.

Is there another treatment option besides a root canal?

The other option is to have the infected tooth removed, or extracted, since that will also remove all of the infection along with it. While tooth extractions are often cheaper than a root canal and crown, you should also consider the cost of replacing the tooth, which can be as high as $5,000.

Why is there a different cost for a root canal on different teeth?

Some teeth have only one straight canal in which case the root canal can be completed in thirty minutes. Other teeth can have four or more canals that twist and turn like tree roots, which can take multiple hours to complete.

After my root canal, will I have no feeling in my tooth?

Patients often think because a tooth has had all the nerves removed, it won’t feel anything. The truth is, the gums and fibers that hold the tooth in the bone are still alive even after a root canal so you’ll be able to feel how you’re biting down as well as hot and cold around the tooth, just like before the procedure.

How long will my root canal last?

Most root canals have a 95% success rate meaning they will last as long as the tooth stays in place. With the remaining 5%, some of the infection may have been left behind or bacteria reenters if there was no crown placed over the root canal and you get a cavity causing the root canal to be infected again. This problem is often solved by repeating the procedure.

ORAL SURGERY

Do you remove teeth at One Smile Dental?

Yes, we do! However, we do not remove teeth that are impacted. These teeth are more difficult to remove and have a higher risk for problems during the removal so they are best handled by an oral surgeon. If you require an oral surgeon to remove an impacted tooth, please call our office at (512) 582-7970 and we will be happy to find one for you.

What does it mean if my tooth is impacted?

Impacted is just a fancy word for blocked. The tooth may be blocked either by another tooth or by bone. Wisdom teeth are often impacted.

Can I be put to sleep when my tooth is removed?

We do offer laughing gas and oral conscious sedation to relax our patients and help them deal with any anxiousness they might be having, but we do not put patients to sleep at our office. If you wish to be put to sleep to have a tooth removed, we will be happy to find an oral surgeon that provides IV sedation for you.

TEETH WHITENING

How can I whiten my teeth?

At One Smile Dental, we offer three different ways you can whiten your teeth: custom trays, deep bleaching, and one-visit whitening. Contact us to see which is right for you!

Will whitening damage my teeth?

No, whitening your teeth won’t damage them, but it may cause some temporary sensitivity. This sensitivity will go away after a few days, but if it’s uncomfortable or severe, we recommend using desensitizing toothpaste, such as Sensodyne, for a few days before and during whitening.