Frequently Asked Dental Questions – Topsham, ME
Providing the Answers to Your Dental Questions
The better you understand dentistry in general, the more prepared you will be when the time comes to make important choices regarding the health of your smile. This page includes short but detailed answers to a number of dentistry-related questions that our patients tend to ask. You can bring up any other dental inquiries you might have during your next visit to Androscoggin Dental Care.
Is it necessary to see the dentist every six months?
We definitely recommend making time for a dental checkup and cleaning at least once every six months. These visits can help you protect your grin from issues such as tooth decay and gum disease. On top of that, if you have dental insurance, there’s a chance that your plan will fully cover the cost of a dental checkup and cleaning, meaning you don’t have to worry about preventive care putting too much of a strain on your budget.
Is a chipped tooth an urgent dental problem?
If the damage to the tooth seems to be minor, you don’t necessarily need a same-day appointment, but you also shouldn’t wait too long for treatment. Make arrangements to visit our office as soon as you can. In the meantime, you will need to take care not to make the damage even worse; be very gentle when cleaning your teeth, and stay away from hard foods that tend to be harsh on enamel.
Does root canal treatment hurt?
Despite its reputation, root canal treatment is not an especially painful procedure. In fact, many patients compare it to what they might experience when having a filling placed. If anything, root canal treatment will actually help put a stop to the pain caused by infected dental pulp. There will typically be some discomfort after the procedure, but taking over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen can often help. Generally speaking, the discomfort should fade after three days.
Can I enjoy a natural-looking smile with dental implants?
Your dental implants will support a crown, bridge, or denture made out of materials that closely resemble natural tooth enamel. Meanwhile, the actual implant posts themselves will be concealed by the gums. As a result, your new smile will indeed be very natural-looking, and it will feel natural as well due to the implant posts acting as new tooth roots.
Is a smile makeover right for me?
You might be a candidate for a smile makeover if most or all of your teeth are suffering from serious cosmetic dental imperfections, but the only way to know for sure is to visit our practice for a consultation. Let our team know if there are any flaws that have been bothering you; once we have examined your smile and confirmed that your mouth is in generally good health, we can help you decide whether pursuing a smile makeover is the right choice in your case.
Do you accept my dental insurance plan?
Our practice is in-network with a number of PPO dental insurance companies in order to help our patients save money on their dental care. If you let us know what dental insurance plan you have, we can review your policy with you and give you an idea of how you can make the best use of your benefits when you visit our office.