Frequently Asked Dental Questions

For most healthy adults we recommend a professional cleaning and exam every six months. Patients with active gum disease, a history of cavities, dry mouth, certain medical conditions, or pregnancy may benefit from a three or four month interval. We will tell you exactly what is right for your mouth, not what is convenient for our schedule.

Use a soft bristled toothbrush, a pea sized amount of fluoride toothpaste, and brush for two minutes twice a day. Hold the brush at a 45 degree angle to the gum line and use short, gentle, circular strokes. Replace your toothbrush every three to four months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed. An electric toothbrush with a pressure sensor is a great upgrade for most adults.

Yes. Toothbrushing alone misses about a third of every tooth surface. Daily flossing or interdental cleaning is the only practical way to remove plaque from between teeth and under the gum line, where most adult cavities and gum disease actually start. Water flossers are an effective alternative if string floss is hard for you.

Yes. Modern digital dental x-rays use a tiny fraction of the radiation of older film systems and a fraction of what you absorb from a single cross country flight. We follow ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) protocols and only take images that change a clinical decision.

Professional whitening uses a higher concentration of peroxide than over the counter strips, applied either in office or in custom trays you wear at home. It works by breaking apart the stain molecules in the enamel without damaging the tooth structure. Sensitivity is usually short lived and managed with desensitizing toothpaste.

Bonding uses tooth colored composite resin shaped directly onto the tooth in a single visit. It is the most affordable option for small chips, gaps, or discolorations. Veneers are thin custom porcelain shells bonded to the front of teeth. They cost more, last longer, resist staining better, and produce a more dramatic transformation.

For most adult and teen cases, yes. Invisalign uses a series of clear, removable aligners to move teeth into position. It works extremely well for crowding, spacing, and most bite issues. For very complex skeletal cases we may recommend traditional braces or refer to an orthodontist for a second opinion.

A dental implant is a small titanium or zirconia screw placed in the jawbone to replace the root of a missing tooth. After it integrates with the bone over a few months, we attach a custom crown on top. Implants look, feel, and function like natural teeth and do not damage the teeth on either side the way a bridge can.

No. The pain people associate with root canals is the toothache that brings them in, not the procedure itself. With modern anesthesia and rotary instrumentation a root canal usually feels similar to having a filling placed. The relief afterwards is usually dramatic.

In most cases yes, especially on back teeth. A root canal removes the tooth's blood supply, which makes it more brittle. A crown protects the remaining tooth structure and dramatically improves the long term success of the treatment.

We accept most major PPO dental insurance plans. Call us with your carrier and group number and we will look up your specific benefits before you come in.

You can still get great care here. We offer transparent pricing, in office payment plans, and financing through Cherry and CareCredit so you can spread the cost over time. See our financing page for details.

Call us as soon as you can. We hold same day emergency slots open whenever possible. If we are closed, our after hours line will route you to one of our doctors. For life threatening swelling or trauma, go to the nearest emergency room first.

You can book a real time slot online with NexHealth from any device, or call our office during business hours.