Don Swearingen, DDS Blog

Why aren’t they trying to save the tooth?

April 18, 2012

My roommate had a root canal last year and now it is abscessed. Her dentist wants to extract her tooth without trying to do anything to save the tooth. I don’t understand this. Am I missing something? My dad was a dentist before he died a couple of years ago. I remember him saying it was always important to do everything to save a tooth before you extract it. My poor roommate is taking about 12 advils a day. They haven’t given her any antibiotics and can’t see her for at least five more weeks. Do you have a recommendation?

Jennifer A.- Wyoming

Jennifer,

It sounds like you are proud of your father and he was a good dentist. You are also a great roommate to care enough to get information for her. Each dentist has a different treatment philosophy. So, some feel it is more important to save a tooth than others.

Your roommate has what is known as a failed root canal treatment. This can happen even when everything is done correctly. I am concerned that she hasn’t been given many explanations or options. Plus her appointment is so far out that I wonder if this office is just too busy.There is almost always an option going back in and re-treating the root canal, or root canal surgery to save a tooth. Those options and the risks and benefits should be explained. If I were in her place, I would get a second opinion.

This blog is brought to you by Oklahoma City Dentist Dr. Don Swearingen.

Comments Off

Chipped tooth

March 22, 2012

Filed under: Porcelain Veneers — Tags: fixing a chipped tooth, Tooth bonding — okcitydentist @ 2:51 pm

I’ve got a chip in the bottom of one of my front teeth. It’s not very big, but it sure makes me uncomfortable to smile. Would getting a porcelain veneer work in my case? Are there other options?

Sammie- Denver, CO

Sammie,

Yes, you could get a veneer on that tooth. Porcelain veneers work just fine, even with chipped teeth. A simpler option may be to get tooth bonding done. That will fix your chip with a composite resin and won’t affect the rest of your tooth. Either one will work for you.

This blog is brought to you by Oklahoma City dentist Dr. Don Swearingen.

Comments Off

Snap on smile with missing teeth

Filed under: Missing Teeth,Snap-on Smile — Tags: dental implants, Dentures, partial dentures, snap on smile with missing teeth — okcitydentist @ 2:40 pm

I’ve only got about four teeth left, and wondered if snap on smile would be a good solution for me?

Joanne B.- Phoenix

Joanne,

Unfortunately, Snap-on Smile would not work in your case. It would just put too much stress on your remaining teeth, putting you at risk for losing all your teeth. You have several other options though.

The best option is to get dental implants. They are permanent and secure. They look and function just like your natural teeth did, and they protect you from facial collapse. The downside is they are the most expensive option. If they are unattainable for you, you can look into partial dentures. With the amount of teeth you have missing, you would need the partial dentures that rest mostly on soft tissue.

This blog is brought to you by Oklahoma City Dentist Dr. Don Swearingen.

Comments Off

Fastest Teeth Whitening

February 29, 2012

Filed under: Teeth Whitening — Tags: Teeth Whitening in one appointment, Zoom Whitening — okcitydentist @ 9:55 pm

Are some whitening brands more effective than others? I want to get my teeth whitened very quickly for a special engagement I have in a few weeks.

Brandi- California

Brandi,

I would recommend for you to get Zoom Whitening. It uses a special light that activates a powerful bleaching gel. This enables you to get your teeth whitened in just one appointment. Dentists vary in the amount of time for that appointment, but you can generally have it done between one to two hours. At the end of your appointment, you’ll have dazzlingly white teeth.

This blog is brought to you by Oklahoma City Dentist Dr. Don Swearingen.

Comments Off

Whitening and Bonding

February 14, 2012

Filed under: Teeth Whitening — Tags: Dental Bonding, Over-the-counter whitening, Whitening dental bonding — okcitydentist @ 7:27 pm

I have a large dip in the middle of my front tooth. My dentist is about to fix it with dental bonding. I’m so excited about my new smile, that now I think I want to get my teeth whitened as well. Should I wait until he fixes my front tooth, or should I do the bonding first? Also, will whitening strips damage the bonding?

Casey W.- Austin, TX

Casey,

If you want to whiten your teeth, I would definitely do the teeth whitening before you get the bonding done. The bonding will not whiten, but the teeth around the bonding would, making it look weird. Get your teeth whitened to the color you’ll be happy with, and then your dentist can match the tooth bonding to the new color.

I wouldn’t bother with the over-the-counter whitestrips. First, they will only cover your front six teeth. You’ll want to whiten all of your teeth, or it will not look that great. Second, the whitening you can buy at the store is pretty weak, and would only be temporary. The kind of whitening you can get with your dentist is considerably stronger and does more than remove tooth stains. It whitens your teeth from the inside out, and is permanent.

This blog is brought to you by Oklahoma City Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Swearingen.

Comments Off

Fixing a crooked front tooth

January 12, 2012

Filed under: Invisalign — Tags: crooked teeth, porcelain veneers — okcitydentist @ 8:24 pm

I have one front tooth that is really crooked. It goes kind of behind my other tooth. My dentist said he thinks it would be best to pull it and put in an implant. I’d rather keep my tooth. I’ve heard that invisalign works with a computer. Do you think the computer could figure out a way to straighten that tooth or do I need to pull it?

Pauline- California

Pauline,

Unless there is some other condition I am not aware of, then Invisalign should work just fine for straightening your teeth. I haven’t examined you, but based on it just being crooked, there is no reason to pull your tooth. One of the great things about Invisalign is that no one will even know you are having your teeth worked on. Generally it takes between six months and one year for Invisalign to work, which is much easier than the one to two years of traditional braces.

There is another option for your teeth. If you’re in a hurry to re-make your smile, you can get porcelain veneers. They will not straighten your teeth, but instead they give the appearance of straight teeth. Veneers can change the shape and color of your smile in just two appointments.

This blog is brought to you by Oklahoma City Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Don Swearingen.

Comments Off

« Newer Posts