Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does sugar cause cavities?

A: Plaque forms on your teeth daily. When sugar combines with the bacteria in plaque it produces acids that damage the enamel on your teeth. Although decreasing sugar intake will help, it is impossible to avoid sugar completely as it is naturally found in many of our foods, including fruits and vegetables. In order to maintain healthy teeth and gums you must brush and floss daily using good techniques to ensure the best results.

Q: There are so many different toothbrushes. Which one should I buy?

A: The brand of the toothbrush is less important than the type of brush, and how often you brush your teeth. We recommend that you have a soft bristle brush. This type of brush will effectively remove plaque and a soft brush will not damage your gums. We also recommend that you brush at least twice a day. The condition of your brush is also important, as when the bristles begin to bend over it is time to start using a new brush. When the bristles on your toothbrush are bent over they lose their ability to remove food and plaque. It is the tip of the bristles that clean your teeth the best.

Q: How does fluoride help my teeth?

A: Tooth enamel is hard but also has microscopic pores in it. Sugar combines with the bacteria in plaque, which forms on your teeth daily, to produce acids that seep into the enamel's pores. This causes the enamel to demineralize and become weak contributing to the formation of cavities. Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by slowing the breakdown of enamel and speeding up the natural remineralization process. This keeps your teeth strong and healthy. Fluoride also fights cavities by reducing the amount of acids that are produced by plaque.

Q: Why do my teeth feel sensitive?

A: Tooth sensitivity is often experienced when the surface of the tooth has been worn down. One of the most common reasons for adults is that the roots of the teeth are exposed because the gums are receding. This allows the effect of heat and cold to penetrate to the pulp where the nerves are located. The problem gets worse as you tend not to brush your teeth properly if they are causing you pain. If you are experiencing pain or sensitivity, let us know so we can assess your situation and recommend the best treatment to take care of your discomfort.

Q: Is there anything I should do before my appointment?

A: There are a few things that you should keep us informed about in order to ensure that we are most effective when treating you. Please keep us informed about:

whether your teeth or gums are more sensitive to heat, cold or sweets
any changes in your gums, such as changes in color, tenderness or bleeding when you brush or floss
whether your floss catches on rough edges of teeth that causes the floss to tear
any changes in the skin on the inside of your mouth, such as changes in color
if you clench or grind your teeth, or if your neck and jaw muscles are tense or sore
inform us of any allergies you have
if you are pregnant
any medicine you are taking
if your medicine has changed since your last check-up
any health problems or medical condition that you are being treated for
any other changes in your general health

Q: Does Dr. Theroux take x-rays?

A: X-rays help us see problems in the early stages of development; this helps us treat problems long before they become serious. If we catch a cavity early, we may be able to treat it without even having to fill or restore the tooth. If decay is not detected soon enough, you may not know you have a problem until it is causing you some pain or discomfort. Major tooth restoration may be needed to repair a tooth if the decay has advanced enough. X-rays reveal:

cavities between teeth, under the gums and around old fillings
bone loss due to periodontal disease
problems below the gums, such as long or crooked tooth roots

Q: Are x-rays safe?

A: We utilize the most current and safe x-ray technology available: digital. We turn down the exposure to the lowest possible setting (almost to zero) and then a computer allows us to capture a picture of your teeth.

Q: What is Invisalign®?

A: Invisalign® straightens your teeth with a series of clear, virtually invisible custom-molded aligners. By using a series of clear, removable aligners, Invisalign® straightens your teeth with results you'll notice sooner than you think. The course of treatment involves changing aligners approximately every two weeks, moving your teeth into straighter position step by step, until you have a more beautiful smile. And unlike braces, these clear aligners can be removed while you eat and brush your teeth as usual.

Q: What kind of sedation or relaxation technique do you offer?

A: Our office uses nitrous oxide (N20) mixed with oxygen, the result being a pleasurable sedation tool often referred to as "laughing gas". It's a gas that you simply breathe in while seated comfortably in our chair, to completely relax you before and during your dental procedure. You might even get "the giggles" with this technique, hence the name "laughing gas"!

There are many advantages to using laughing gas, the top one of course being the degree of comfort you will experience during your dental visit. The depth of sedation is easy to control, so we can monitor and adjust it continuously throughout your visit. And when your procedure is finished, we simply turn it off, and within minutes you're back to your old self!

Q: How common is gum disease?

A: It is the most common dental problem, and it can progress quite painlessly until you have a serious problem. The end result is bone loss and the loss of teeth. Even though you may brush and floss regularly, regular visits to the dentist will help detect gum disease in the early stages.

Q: What if I am already in the early stages of gum disease?

A: If you already have gum disease, getting rid of plaque and tartar gives your gums a chance to get better. That's why in the early stages of gum disease, the best treatment is:

regular cleanings in our practice
brushing twice a day
flossing once a day

Q: Why do I have bad breath?

A: Many people suffer from bad breath; in fact, 40% of the population has problems with bad breath at some time in their lives. Some reasons for bad breath may be:

poor dental hygiene
eating certain foods, such as garlic or onions
smoking
chewing tobacco
diseases, such as cancer or diabetes
dry mouth (often called morning breath)

You can help reduce the incidence of bad breath by brushing and flossing each day to remove plaque. By avoiding certain foods you can also eliminate a lot of bad breath problems. If you wear a denture or removable partial denture, it is important to clean it thoroughly everyday and remove it at night so your mouth tissues can restore themselves daily. If a bad breath problem persists then let us know and we will try to discover what the problem is and recommend a treatment.

Q: What is sedation dentistry?

Sedation dentistry refers to dentistry being done on a patient that is sedated. The patient is typically given a small pill that allows him or her to totally relax so that the visit can be done comfortably and without the high level of anxiety typical for those that are highly fearful. While general anesthesia puts patients “to sleep”, conscious sedation allows the patient to remain awake and usually not remember most or all of their visit.

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