Dental Blog | Professional Oral Health Tips & Advice

Mouth Guards For Sports

By Smiles of Virginia Family | February 9, 2017

What sports do you recommend mouth guards for? ANY COLLISION OR CONTACT SPORTS REQUIRE THE USE OF AN ATHLETIC GUARD/ MOUTH GUARD. Some examples of high-risk sports include: Boxing Basketball Football Ice hockey ATHLETIC GUARD USE CAN BE BENEFICIAL FOR OTHER NON-CONTACT SPORTS SUCH AS GYMNASTICS AND SKATING. On a national level, all states generally mandate mouth guard use in

Night Guards

By Smiles of Virginia Family | February 9, 2017

Night Guards: Frequently Asked Questions QUESTION: DO I HAVE TO WEAR IT EVERY NIGHT? A: This depends on the indication for the night guard. In general, you need to use it every night for maximum effect. QUESTION: IF I STILL GRIND MY TEETH WHEN I WEAR MY NIGHT GUARD WON’T I STILL WEAR MY TEETH DOWN? A: The night guard is made

Nitrous Oxide Common Questions And Answers

By Smiles of Virginia Family | February 9, 2017

Nitrous Oxide: Q&A QUESTION: DO I HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING OVER MY FACE? A: Nitrous oxide is an odorless gas that we mix with oxygen and administer through a mask that covers your nose. This mask also has a scavenger system attached to it to prevent us from inhaling it. QUESTION: HOW LONG WILL I BE SEDATED FOR? A: Unlike oral or

Oral Cancer Screening

By Smiles of Virginia Family | February 9, 2017

Oral Cancer Detection: Frequently Asked Questions QUESTION: HOW MANY PEOPLE DIE FROM ORAL CANCER? A: About 36,500 people will be diagnosed with oral cancer each year and about 7,900 will die from the disease per year. About 61% of those with the disease will survive more than 5 years. QUESTION: DO YOU USE VELSCOPE? A: VELscope is a light that claims

Partial Dentures: Your Questions Answered

By Smiles of Virginia Family | February 9, 2017

Partial Dentures: Frequently Asked Questions QUESTION: WILL THE PARTIAL DENTURE CHANGE HOW I SPEAK? A: It can be difficult to speak when you are missing teeth! And when we replace missing teeth it also takes a little practice to get used to having a new denture in your mouth. As soon as you receive your new partial denture, we recommend reading

Common Questions About Periodontal Treatment

By Smiles of Virginia Family | February 9, 2017

Periodontal Therapy: Frequently Asked Questions QUESTION: HOW IS SCALING AND ROOT PLANING DONE? A: After numbing you up with local anesthetic we use small ultrasonic instrument that makes very microscopic vibrations while extruding water to clean the pockets around the tooth. We then use hand instruments to clean out any remaining remnants of calculus and or tartar. QUESTION: WHAT IS ARESTIN?

Powerprox Six Month Braces – Common Questions

By Smiles of Virginia Family | February 9, 2017

PowerProx Six Months Braces© FAQ: QUESTION: DO YOU JUST TIGHTEN THE BRACES MORE OFTEN? A: This is a very common misconception and the answer is no! Actually stronger forces that over-tighten the braces slow down movement. Lighter forces move the tooth faster than higher forces. This is because around your tooth there is a layer called the PDL (periodontal ligament) that

Questions And Answers About Dental Cleanings

By Smiles of Virginia Family | February 9, 2017

Prophylaxis/Dental Cleanings: Frequently Asked Questions QUESTION: HOW OFTEN DO I NEED TO GET MY TEETH CLEANED? A: We try to provide individualized care for all of our patients. So it all depends on your oral hygiene and level of disease activity. We see most of our patients every 6 months. Some of our patients, for example, those who have been

Questions And Answers About Root Canals

By Smiles of Virginia Family | February 9, 2017

Root Canal: Frequently Asked Questions QUESTION: DOES A ROOT CANAL HURT? A: Most of us have heard horror stories about the dreaded root canal. What you may not know is that, with today’s technological advancement, root canal therapy (also known as endodontic therapy) is most often a completely painless and very successful procedure that can save your natural tooth. When you

Sealants: Questions And Answers

By Smiles of Virginia Family | February 9, 2017

Sealants: Frequently Asked Questions QUESTION: HOW DO YOU PLACE A SEALANT? A: The tooth is first cleaned using a 2-step process. Then, while keeping the tooth dry, a thin tooth-colored material is flowed into all the groves to seal the tooth. A special blue light is then placed for 20 seconds to make the material harden. QUESTION: DOES IT HURT