What I find happens during most dental appointments is the dentist asks most of the questions. Patients reply to their dentist's specific queries, and we go on to begin active treatment. It might be a time crunch on everyone's part that silences further dialog, but here are 10 things I wish my patients would ask me to clarify for them:
1. Tell me what you believe is the best brush/toothpaste/floss/rinse I can use to keep my mouth clean and healthy.
ANSWER: Slight variations in dental products can help you get the best results. The same regimen will not work for everyone.
2. Tell me what you believe are the foods I should minimize in my diet in order to keep tooth decay/gum problems at bay;
ANSWER: All patients know to avoid table sugar and candy. Did you know that many other foods such as dried fruit, granola, popcorn and sugar-free diet soda can harm your teeth and gums as well?
3. Tell me what you believe are some of the most staining foods, and is there a way to reduce their staining effects?
ANSWER: Coffee, tea, darkly colored sodas, darkly colored candy, darkly colored juices, and red wine are very staining. Adding milk to coffee and tea reduces stain, drinking a glass of water shortly after consuming the staining food helps wash it off the teeth to reduce stain, and, of course, brushing shortly after consuming the staining food reduces its staining effect.
4. Tell me what constitutes excessive tooth whitening product use, and what damage I may be doing to my teeth and gums if I do not cut back;
ANSWER: This answer will be different based on the age of the patient, the condition of the patient's teeth and gums, the type of whitening product the patient is using, the concentration of the whitening product being used, the length of time the product is placed on the teeth, and many other factors, so please ask your dentist to provide you with the answer that applies to you. If you are indeed using the products excessively, your teeth may become more sensitive, your tooth enamel may become damaged, and your gums may become irritated.
5. How can tobacco potentially harm my mouth?
ANSWER: Tobacco can come in the form of chewing tobacco, cigars, pipes and cigarettes. All of these products increase your chances of getting oral cancer. Other conditions that can arise may not cancerous, but the gums may have become chronically irritated or inflamed. Both of these conditions may require surgery to correct.
6. How can unprotected sex potentially harm my mouth?
ANSWER: HPV (human papilloma virus) is a sexually transmitted infection that can infect the mouth during unprotected oral sex. HPV is a known risk factor in oral cancer, and oral cancer is on the rise. There are tests available to determine if you are at risk. They are quick, easy, inexpensive and pain free.
7. What are all the available dental materials available to place in my mouth, and is any one better than another?
ANSWER: If we are talking about fillings, the choices are gold alloy, silver amalgam, tooth colored composite filling material and porcelain. Each has potential advantages and disadvantages, and which one is best for you would be determined based on the condition of the tooth being filled.
8. How long can I expect my dental restorations (fillings, crowns, etc.) to last?
ANSWER: Once again, the answer would depend on the size of the restoration, how the patient bites on the tooth, and the oral hygiene habits of the patient. The answer would be different for each patient based on these factors.
9. At what age should my dentist begin regular dental checkups for my child, and how do I care for my child's mouth?
ANSWER: Children should have their first dental visit at the age of one year. Parents need to keep their baby's/toddler's mouth clean until the child can start brushing on his or her own with supervision, and lastly without supervision. Parents need to limit sugar and carbohydrate intake, and maintain adequate fluoride exposure, in order to prevent tooth decay in both the primary (baby) teeth and permanent (adult) teeth of their child.
10. Is is all genetics or is it mostly what I do on my own that will help me keep my teeth into old age?
ANSWER: While you may inherit the shape and size of your teeth and jaws from your parents, and that may have an effect on brushing and flossing, for the most part, it is what you do in your oral hygiene routine (at home and at the dentist's office) that will determine the health of your mouth.
Read more...
