Frequently Asked Questions
All your dental questions answered here to help put your mind (and your wallet) at ease.
Whitening
A variety of factors can cause discoloration and staining of your teeth, but it is usually a result of what you are eating and drinking on a regular basis. The most common culprits include:
Berries
Citrus fruits
Soda
Balsamic vinegar
Coffee, tea, and wine
Cigarettes and other tobacco products
Your teeth can also become internally discolored from illness, trauma, and certain medications. Interior discoloration usually cannot be fixed with traditional teeth whitening and typically requires a new crown to achieve a whitening effect.
Once your teeth whitening treatment has ended, there are several ways to maintain your new smile:
• Brush your teeth twice daily with a teeth-whitening toothpaste
• Floss daily
• Eliminate foods and drinks from your diet that cause tooth discoloration
• Use a straw to help prevent direct contact of liquids to your teeth
• Avoid chewing tobacco products and smoking
Extractions
It normally takes a few days to recover after a tooth extraction. The Century team will recommend the following steps to help ensure that your recovery goes well:
• Rest and relax for the first 24 hours.
• Apply ice to your cheek following procedure to reduce swelling.
• Take any medications as prescribed.
• Do not use a straw for at least 24 hours.
• Do not smoke or spit.
• Do not rinse for at least 24 hours after the tooth extraction.
• Use pillows to prop your head up when you lie down.
• Brush and floss your teeth like normal but be careful to avoid the extraction site.
• Eat soft foods the day after the procedure.
• After 24 hours, add a half-teaspoon of salt to eight ounces of warm water to rinse out your mouth.
While there are a few minor risks associated with tooth extraction, the benefits heavily outweigh the chance of complications. Following an extraction, natural blood clots form in the hole where the tooth has been extracted. If this natural clot becomes dislodged, a dry socket may form.
Other risks are uncommon but could include: bleeding that lasts longer than 12 hours, severe fever and chills (usually signaling infection), nausea/ vomiting, a cough, chest pain/ shortness of breath, and swelling/ redness at the surgical site.
ClearCorrect™ & Invisalign®
ClearCorrect™ & Invisalign® are commonly used to treat patients with crowded teeth, extra spacing between teeth, overbites, underbites, and crooked or rotated teeth; However, these may not be suitable solutions to certain complex misalignment cases or complicated bite problems.
Impressions of your teeth are taken in your first visit. These impressions are then used to create a 3-D computer model of your teeth. This information is sent to the lab where they use it to fabricate your aligners.
Checkups & Cleanings
Professional teeth cleaning is a preventative oral health service that supports your daily at-home oral hygiene routine. Although regular brushing and flossing removes food debris and bacteria, keeping your teeth and gums healthy, you cannot get rid of all your bacteria in your mouth. The leftover bacteria produce a biofilm called plaque that accumulates on your teeth and tongue and under your gums, furthering the development of cavities and gum disease. When not removed, this plaque can harden into a calcified substance called tartar. Tartar traps bacteria on your teeth and under your gums and leads to tooth decay, gum disease and tooth loss if left untreated. Unlike plaque, brushing and flossing cannot remove the hardened tartar that collects on your teeth and gums. A professional teeth cleaning is the only proven way to remove this tartar.
First, you dental professional will review your medical history, examine your teeth and gums and assess your bite. Once your initial examination is complete, your dental hygienist starts cleaning your teeth, which includes:
Removal of plaque & tartar from teeth and under gums with a scaler, polishing of teeth with special toothpaste and brush, Professional flossing, mouth rinsing, and fluoride application.
Depending on your oral health needs, your provider may also take x-rays to look for oral health issues that a visual oral exam cannot see.
Implants
Dental implants are currently the most natural looking and feeling replacement for absent teeth. Unlike dentures that may move around a patient’s mouth, creating discomfort- dental implants do not move or slide when you eat or talk. They can last a lifetime with proper care and hygiene.
Dental implants not only replace missing teeth, they also relieve pain, restore chewing ability and improve structure of facial tissues in the process.
To be a good candidate for dental implants, you must have enough bone to support the implant and healthy gums
Dentists and dental professionals have used dental implants as a treatment method for missing teeth for more than 30 years. Dental implants are commonly made of titanium because it is a biocompatible material that is accepted by the body. They can even strengthen your jaw, promoting bone growth.
You’ll be at peace knowing that dental implant surgery ranks among the safest and most predictable operations in dentistry.
There are numerous benefits that dental implants offer over other tooth-replacement methods. Dental implants:
• Look, feel, and function like your natural teeth
• Look, feel, and function like your natural teeth
• Don’t interfere with speaking, eating, or smiling the way
dentures do
• Allow you to bite and chew naturally, with very few restrictions on what
you can eat
• Don’t need to be removed when brushing your teeth
• Can’t get cavities like your natural teeth can
With dental implants, your adjacent teeth do not need to be prepared or ground down to hold your new replacement tooth or teeth in place, which is often necessary with some dental bridges.
Dentures
Dentures should be cleaned everyday. It is best to use a special denture-cleaning brush to remove plaque and food particles gently- doing so will help ensure that your dentures do not become discolored and stained. It is also important to make sure that you are not aggressively brushing, as this could damage your dentures. We recommended removing your dentures while you sleep, soaking them directly in room temperature water or denture cleaning solution. It is important to NEVER use hot water because it could warp the dentures. Handle dentures with caution because they may break if dropped. Never try to adjust your dentures yourself. Always seek assistance from our team if your dentures feel uncomfortable or loose.
Dentures will last several years but may require rebasing and relining, and in some cases, the Century team will have to remake them due to regular wear and tear. If you notice any damage, or if your dentures begin to feel uncomfortable, it is essential that you speak with us as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, dentures may never feel fully comfortable in the mouth of some patients. In many cases, dental implants can be used to support cemented bridges, eliminating the need for a denture. The cost is usually greater, but the implants and bridges last much longer and more closely resemble the feel of real teeth. Dental implants are becoming the alternative to dentures but not everyone may be a candidate for implants. Ask the Century team if dental implants are a viable option for your dental needs.