FAQs

A.

Cavities are typically due to improper brushing habits.  It doesn't matter how many times a day you brush, rather, the quality of your brushing.  If you are brush this many times a day and are flossing daily, likely there are areas you are not brushing well or your technique is wrong.   So if you've been told "brush better" and you're not seeing the results you expect, then you need to see me.  We will review the "where" and "how" of brushing, I'm going to show you areas which need to be improved and we will also review the flossing technique.

Visit Dr. Stutz's page to see videos on 'how to brush and floss'

http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/oralhealth/OralHealthInformation/ChildrensOralHealth/ToothDecayProcess.htm

A.

Many people do not use floss properly and the remaining bacteria effects the bone.  I have my own technique of using floss which I would like to show you.  If you've been told you have bone loss, clearly something is going on.  However, there can be other causes of bone loss including infection or the way your teeth bite together.  We can treat that as well.  Allow me to evaluate the area and see what is going on.

A.

Ideally, I'd like to see a child when the first tooth comes out.  Generally this is around 8 months old.  There's not much we can do at this appointment but I want to know how you are cleaning your child's teeth and I want to see how clean your child's teeth are are at the time of the appointment.  If there are any cavities, I'll let you know.  If the teeth are not clean, we will talk about that as well.  Also, this first appointment is a great opportunity for your little one to get used to me and familiar with my office... when they realize the dentist is fun, future appointments will be much easier on all of us.  🙂

A.

Dental sealants are thin white coatings we place on the chewing surfaces of back teeth.  The reason I recommend sealants is because the back teeth are the most difficult to reach and therefore are more cavity prone.  With sealants, there is no drilling.  We flow a white material into the grooves of teeth.  This deters bacteria and food from entering inside the tooth and the result is less likelihood of cavities forming.

Children and young adults should get sealants as soon as the back teeth are fully present.  This starts around 6 years old and continues until about age 18.

A.

I believe everyone wants to look and feel good and kids especially want their family to feel proud.  With that said, we have to get everyone in the household on board and moving forward to a common goal.  That includes the family -- parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins, friends, etc.  Are they brushing every day?  If your child is small, who else is in your household can help you to brush?  Perhaps your child simply needs a 'pep talk'.  Nonetheless, this stuff is fun because everyone, as a whole, can participate and make sure your child teeth remain healthy.

A.

The complete implant consists of the implant post and the implant restoration.  During the implant procedure, the implant post will be inserted into the socket left empty by a missing tooth.  The jawbone will naturally secure itself to this post over time, creating a more stable and secure foundation.  Once the jawbone is secure to the post, the implant restoration (crown) can be placed.  Dental implants can replace a single tooth or secure an appliance such as a bridge or denture. Compared to other procedures, dental implants offer many benefits including stability and conservation in replacing a single tooth.   Implants are also easy to clean and and maintain as natural teeth.

A.

My personality is straightforward and optimistic so 'first thing first'.  You have to want to see the dentist-- and you've made it this far.  Second is you have to like that dentist.  If you have been to many dentists and you have never found one you like, you're not alone.  Perhaps you had a bad experience from a previous dentist and you don't want to go through that again.  This is completely understandable. Whatever your situation is, the bottom line is you have to trust the people (that's me and my staff members) and, from there, we all move forward.  At the end of the day, I believe we all want to feel good about our decisions and look forward to a better tomorrow.  Don't you agree? There is only one way to find out.