Dr. Noah's Dentistry Blog

Questions About Dentistry Answered

Why is my gumline turning grayish?

by

I have a dental crown on one of my front teeth. It’s been Ok and not giving me any problems.  For some reason, lately there has been a dark line at my gumline.  Could I be having a reaction to the crown even if I don’t feel anything?

Dana L. – Montana

Dana,

Based on your description, I suspect the type of dental crown you have is a porcelain fused to metal crown. Those eventually develop a gray line at your gumline.  It’s not an infection. Neither is it a reaction, so you don’t have to worry about that.

The only real problem you face with it is there is no real way to remove it, unless you switch to all-porcelain crowns. You mentioned this is a front tooth. Was there some reason you haven’t mentioned that prompted your dentist not to use an all-porcelain crown on your front teeth?

If not, my suggestion would be to have it replaced.  Although you’ve been happy with the feel of your crown, I’m sure you’re going to find the all-porcelain crown much more natural looking. Plus, there is the added benefit of no dark line.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.

Professional Teeth Whitening vs. Crest Whitestrips

by

Will Crest Whitestrips really whiten your teeth? If so, what is the difference between that and the teeth whitening you get with a dentist?

Sarah A. – Vermont

Sarah,

I can kind of answer your first and second question simlutaneously. Yes, the will whiten, but it will take much, much longer than if you did professional teeth whitening with a local dentist.

The reason for this is the strength of the bleaching gel. There are restrictions as to how strong over-the-counter bleaching gel can be.  The reason for this is safety. Unfortunately, this means that it could take months longer to get your teeth whitened, which will mean a lot of whitestrip kits.

There is the additional issue that the strips are not very long. This means that depending on your smile, it may only cover four to six of your teeth. You’ll have many more teeth visible than that which won’t be whitened. Professional teeth whitening trays will go across your arch.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.

 

Can any dentist do teeth whitening?

by

I have a great general dentist. He’s good at what he does and very dependable. However, I want my teeth whitened. I asked him to recommend a good cosmetic dentist, but he said he could do the job himself. I wondered if that was true or I needed someone who was a specialist?

Denae H. – Florida

Denae,

There is a common misconception that cosmetic dentistry is a recognized specialty. In fact, any general dentist can call themselves a cosmetic dentist. There are some cosmetic procedures, such as porcelain veneers, that would require some additional training. In those cases you’d want someone with some expertise and artistry.

Teeth whitening is different. Any dentist can do it. It’s fairly straight forward. I’d go ahead and let your general dentist do it.

Enjoy your new smile.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.

Gorgeous teeth for prom

by

My prom is in two weeks. Is that enough time to get gorgeous white teeth?

Allison M. – Little Rock, AR

Allison,

It certainly is enough time if you do in office whitening. If you do take home whitening they will get whiter, but not as white as they can get. The trick will be getting an appointment before your prom.

I suggest you call around and see what dentist in your area does Zoom Whitening and can get you in before prom.  It will completely whiten your teeth in just one appointment.

Have lots of fun at prom.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.

Unnecessary Root Canal

by

My son’s dentist said his canal is getting calcified and he needs a root canal. I’ve never heard of this and wondered if that is true?

Meagan L. – Conway, AR

Meagan,

Are you asking if a canal can get calcified or if that means it needs a root canal treatment?

If the former, then yes, a canal can get calcified. However, that does not mean it needs a root canal treatment. In fact, the only thing that would require that procedure is if the tooth is infected.

Did his dentist mention a tooth infection? If not, I would not go through with the treatment. I don’t know why his dentist would recommend an unnecessary procedure. Find out if the calcification was the only issue. If so, I think your son needs to get a different dentist.

It is sad that there are incompetent and even disreputable dentists. I don’t know which is the case for your son, but neither is a great scenario.

This blog is brought to you by Glenpool, OK Dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.

Too old for braces?

by

I’m 38 years old. I’ve had an overbite my whole life, but I’ve never been able to afford braces. I’ve recently come into some money and can finally get my teeth fixed. Do you think someone my age is too old for braces?

Christine- Brooklyn

Christine,

There are many adults who get braces, so you are not alone in getting braces at your age. There are many more options in braces than their used to be. Not only is there the traditional braces, but now there are self-ligating braces.

If you are concerned about your appearance with braces, you can get what is known as invisable braces. They’re not really braces at all. Instead, Invisalign are are clear aligners. No one will be able to tell you are wearing them, even at a conversational distance.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Orthodonist Dr. Ryan Noah.

Can Drinking Coffee Decrease Cancer?

by

Recently, I read somewhere that coffee drinking will reduce the risk of cancer and my friend is arguing that it causes cancer. What have you read about this? What is the truth?
– Ken in Oklahoma

Ken,
As recently as December, 2012, the American Cancer Society released the results of a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology that found people who drank more than four cups of caffeinated coffee a day were at about half the risk of dying from oral/pharyngeal cancer or throat cancer than those who only drank coffee occasionally or never drank coffee. It was based on a study of over 900,000 men and women who were cancer free at the start of the study and consumed a minimum of four cups of coffee daily. Over a course of 26 years, only 868 people died from oral/pharyngeal cancer. They have only made an association which means more studies will be conducted over time. If you are a coffee lover, this is very encouraging but again, more time and studies need to be done to confirm these results.

Learn more by visiting Dr. Noah at Region Dental

Can I Whiten Fake Teeth?

by

When I was born, I was missing my two lateral incisors so I had two fake incisors placed in my mouth. Currently, I have a retainer and the two fake teeth replacing my laterals. My plan is to get implants in the next two years. I have very yellow teeth and want to whiten them a bit. Do fake teeth whiten?

– Dave in Oklahoma

Dave,
The bad news is that prosthetic teeth do not whiten. Many patients do not realize it but only natural teeth whiten, meaning teeth with veneers, porcelain crowns, or composite bonding will not whiten, including your teeth on your retainer. The whitening agent must come into contact with a live surface, like your natural tooth. Whitening agents allow the pores in the enamel to open and remain open reaching the dentin, which is the underlying material in the tooth. The oxygen in the whitening agent penetrates the dentin layer where more whitening takes place and makes it last.

Teeth that have root canals with no porcelain crown on them will not whiten either unless your dentist preforms internal tooth bleaching. This is done by drilling a small hole behind the tooth and adding a whitening agent within the tooth. This procedure may whiten the tooth, however it may never get as white as the other teeth and it may require some type of permanent dental restoration placed on the surface to match the other teeth.

We recommend that you bleach your teeth approximately one month before your porcelain crowns are placed on the dental implants. This will make it easier for the dentist to match your new crowns to your new tooth color. If you are not interested in waiting two years to whiten your teeth, then whiten them now and have a new retainer made to match your new tooth color after you’re done with bleaching. It may cost you several hundred dollars for a new retainer, however if your tooth color is unsatisfactory to you, it may be worth the cost. If you elect to have your teeth whitened now, be sure you touch up your smile and whiten again right before your crowns are made.

This blog brought to you by Dr. Noah of Region Dental

Can I Replace a Single Porcelain Veneer and will it Match?

by

Just over a month ago, I had veneers put on my teeth. One of the veneers on my front tooth is causing me some issues. It was left with some dentin exposed and I have had a lot of sensitivity. Although the sensitivity is getting better, the dentist wants to replace this veneer and fit it properly. I’m worried the color won’t match and I’m also concerned there will be risks to my underlying tooth when the veneer is removed.

What do you think? Will the tooth underneath be okay when the veneer is removed? Will the dentist be able to match the color?
– Brenda from Oklahoma

Brenda,
I recommend you work with a cosmetic dentist with a good track record. A great cosmetic dentist will have no trouble matching your existing porcelain veneers; they are artists and color is just one of many details they master. Excellent cosmetic dental laboratories will keep their color formulas for the cosmetic dentists so the work can match previous projects. These labs realize things may need to be done later and matching is the key in doing great work.

There’s no need to worry about damaging your tooth. This is a non-issue because you actually pose more risk to the tooth by leaving this source of irritation then by redoing the veneer. When teeth have exposed dentin, this causes tooth sensitivity because the dentin has tubules that go straight into the pulp. Open tubules are at risk for attracting bacteria so it’s important to redo the veneers.

For more information about Dr. Noah, visit the Region Dental website.

Dental Hygiene Resolutions

by

I have been exercising and improving some habits in my life. I know I need to do a better job taking care of my teeth. What are some things I can do to improve my oral habits?
– Cindy from Oklahoma

Cindy,
I recommend a few things to make sure you stay on track with your dental care.

1. Start by brushing two to three times a day for at least two minutes and be sure to floss daily. If you’re unsure about the proper technique for brushing and flossing, there are many informative online videos to help you. Just a few small changes in your hygiene make a big difference. One device that helps with brushing is the Sonic toothbrush. This toothbrush removes more plaque than a regular toothbrush and you can even set the time on the toothbrush for two minutes.

2. Make sure you visit your dentist every six months and get an exam and professional cleaning. It’s important to have an oral cancer screening if you have never had one done as the dental professional is trained to detect small changes in the mouth and early detection is important as just over half of the patients diagnosed with oral cancer will survive more than five years. If you are over 50 and smoke or drink excessively or have had the HPV virus (Human Papilloma Virus), you are at higher risk for oral cancer and should be screened.

3. Finally, add an over-the-counter fluoride rinse to fight bad breath and cavities. There are many choices but they should contain sodium fluoride to decrease your risk for cavities. Some studies have indicated a reduction in cavities of up to 70% when used as directed.
By following these practices, you will improve your dental hygiene and suffer from fewer dental issues.

This blog is brought to you by Region Dental.