Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
At Kelso Family Dental, we understand that you may have questions about your oral health, dental procedures, and our services. Our FAQ page is designed to provide clear and concise answers to the most common questions we receive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What our patients commonly want to know about Dentistry.
The American Dental Association (ADA) guidelines recommend visiting a dentist at least twice a year for a check-up and professional cleaning. Our office also recommends a minimum of two visits per year.
Painless dentistry is a means of ensuring your total experience in our office is as stress-free and pain-free as possible. We will discuss treatment options that range from referral for sedation dentistry all the way to providing pain free no anesthesia dentist whenever possible. We will alleviate your discomfort by the means most comfortable to you.
Please call our office as soon as you determine that you have a dental emergency. We will be glad to work you in to our schedule if you have a dental emergency during regular business hours. After hours, over the weekend and during holidays, please call our office for the doctor’s emergency contact number.
We can assist you in applying for Care Credit to finance your dental treatment. We will also do our best to phase your dental treatment to allow limited treatment spread out over time to make your payments manageable whenever possible.
There are several methods available for whitening t teeth: Let us help you consider your options. We do not offer in-office one-day whitening. For take home bleaching, we make an impression of your teeth and create a whitening tray that fits your teeth. Each day you fill the tray with a small amount of bleaching gel and wear it for as little as 30 minutes or up to a few hours during the day. This bleaching process takes approximately two weeks.
Other over-the-counter daily bleaching products are available, but it is important to use any bleaching product only under the supervision of a dentist. To achieve the whitening results you desire, the ADA recommends that you seek the professional advice of a dentist, including examination and diagnosis of the cause of tooth discoloration, before you begin any bleaching program.
We have many different procedures that can help these problems. Porcelain veneers are designed to look like your natural teeth and are individually attached to the fronts of your existing teeth. Veneers can be positioned to close gaps. Bonding utilizes a composite material made of plastic to fill in areas of your teeth and correct chipping and shape problems. Both porcelain veneers and bonding are color-matched to the rest of your teeth.
Adults should use a small to medium size toothbrush with soft to medium bristles. The head of the brush needs to be small enough to brush all areas of the mouth thoroughly, specifically the back of the mouth, which can be hard to reach. Children should use small toothbrushes with soft bristles. People with sensitive teeth can benefit from using gentle, soft bristled toothbrushes. Many kinds of toothbrushes are available. Your dentist can help you decide which type of brush is most suitable for you.
The American Dental Association recommends that you replace your brush every 3 to 4 months. With each use the bristles become worn and cleaning effectiveness decreases. Depending on your oral health, you may need to replace your brush sooner. Typically, children toothbrushes need to be replaced more regularly than adults.
Generally, manual toothbrushes are just as effective as powered toothbrushes. Children and the senior may find brushing with a powered toothbrush more effective. If you have difficulty using a manual toothbrush, a powered toothbrush may be much more comfortable and easier to use. Regardless of what toothbrush you choose, be sure to select one you like and find easy to use.
No. However, we recommend you use a toothpaste that contains fluoride, and carries the ADA Seal of Acceptance, which means it has been assessed for safety and effectiveness. Studies consistently show that fluoride helps strengthen and rebuild tooth structure, and helps prevent dental decay.
You should floss once daily to prevent cavities from forming in between the teeth. Flossing also helps preserve the health of your gums.
As long as you brush and floss thoroughly, it does not matter if you brush then floss, or floss then brush. But flossing before brushing enables the fluoride in your toothpaste to better reach the areas between the teeth.
A cap is the same as a crown. Both restorations are designed to restore a tooth that is severely broken, fractured or decayed by literally covering or capping the tooth. Dentists often use the term crowns. But most people call stainless steel or gold restorations crowns, and tooth-colored restorations caps.
Both are used to replace missing teeth. A bridge is sometimes called a fixed partial denture. It fills a space previously occupied by a tooth. There are three main types of bridges. A fixed bridge is the most popular, and consists of a filler tooth attached to two crowns, which fit over existing teeth and hold the bridge in place.
A partial denture is removable, and typically consists of replacement teeth attached to gum-colored bases that are connected via metal framework. The denture is attached to natural teeth with either metal clasps or precision attachments, which are virtually invisible.
Not necessarily. While, most teeth do need a crown following a root canal, every tooth that needs a crown does not need root canal treatment, and in some cases, the original tooth is healthy enough on the exterior to not need a crown.
