FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

and Aftercare Instructions

Establishing a proper brushing technique is key to keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Typically, you will want to start with a fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush. Follow the two by two rule, meaning brushing for two minutes, two times a day. We recommend starting with the inner and outer surfaces of the teeth before moving onto the chewing surfaces, or tops of your teeth. Brush gently along your gum line and make sure you are reaching the back teeth. End your brushing with cleaning your tongue to help remove food particles and curb bad breath.

Your dental professional can discuss additional instructions with you, depending on your specific dental needs.

As dental technology has advanced, electronic toothbrushes have become increasingly popular. While they serve the same purpose, there are some key differences between traditional toothbrushes and their electric counterpart.

A manual toothbrush is what you find in your typical grocery or pharmacy store. These are a cost-effective option, with most only costing a few dollars. Some studies have found that we are more likely to brush too hard with a manual versus an electric toothbrush.

Electric toothbrushes have gained popularity and can be found in an increasing number of stores. The pricepoint for an electric brush can range from $15 to around $250 per brush and require the purchasing of additional heads when it is time to replace. While the investment is significantly larger than a manual brush, many find their benefits outweigh the larger price tag. Electric brushes have bristles that can vibrate or rotate to assist in plaque removal. These micro-movements can allow for a more effective cleaning, with some studies showing an increase in the amount of plaque removed. Many electric brushes now come equipped with timers to help you know when you have sufficiently cleaned your teeth, making them a perfect option for children. Since electric brushes do most of the brushing for you, it also makes them a helpful option for people with limited mobility or disabilities.

Water flossers are a recent addition to the dental lineup that deliver a convenient and easy way to keep your teeth and gums clean. While not meant to replace the action of flossing, a water flosser, such as the Waterpik® can be a great way to encourage flossing and provide a deeper clean. A Waterpik® can help:

• Better clean dental appliances, braces, and implants
• Provide a more comfortable way to achieve a deeper clean around your gums
• Freshen your breath by removing plaque and bacteria buildup
• Lead to healthier gums and better dental checkups

Learn more about the Waterpik® and how it works.

The term may be familiar as an ingredient found in most toothpastes or a treatment provided by your dentist. Fluoride is a naturally occuring mineral that is often added to drinking water and dental care products. It helps to harden the enamel on the exterior of your teeth, protecting your tooth from decay and warding off cavities. Patients that experience a higher propensity for cavities or have excessive wear to their tooth enamel can benefit from a professional fluoride treatment from a licensed dentist to help better protect their teeth.

A plant-derived sugar alternative, xylitol contains fewer calories and doesn't affect blood sugar levels. It can be found in sugar-free chewing gums, candies, and even oral-care products.

Recent studies have shown that xylitol can help prevent tooth decay. The bacteria that causes decay and gingivities feeds on sugar, or glucose. Since xylitol does not contain sugar, this denies the bacteria its glucose-rich food source. The xylitol is still ingested by this bad bacteria, but it actually prevents them from digesting any more glucose, causing them to starve and die. Many dentist have started to recommend sugar-free gum sweetened with xylitol as a way to help keep your mouth's bad bacteria in check.

These common dental treatments help to restore appearance and functionality to damaged or missing teeth, but what is the difference between them?



A crown is a popular treatment for a damged tooth and works as a cap to cover the broken tooth. Crowns provide a natural solution to restore your tooth's aesthetic and function.



A bridge is used in the instance that the tooth, or teeth, are missing. This provides a seamless appearance and is a great treatment when one to three teeth are missing. A bridge uses the surrounding teeth as an achor for the dental appliance.



An implant is the most permanent option for restoring a damaged smile. An anchor is implanted into the jaw bone, providing unparalleled stability. Over time, your bone will heal over the anchor, creating an extremely strong foundation for your implant.

When you receive a temporary or permanent crown, it is important to follow your dentist's instructions for proper aftercare. Download our convenient aftercare sheets or call (205) 733-8300 to speak with our dental team.

Download Temporary Crown Aftercare Sheet
Download Porcelain Aftercare Sheet

Before any type of extraction, an anesthetic will be administered that will numb the area. You should not experience pain during your procedure. The recovery period for a tooth extraction may involve some soreness around the extraction site, but pain can be managed with over the counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. You will receive special instructions after your procedure to help reduce any pain and the recovery period.

Following a tooth extraction, such as the removal of a wisdom tooth, the empty cavity will begin to clot and heal. Caused by a partial or total loss of a blood clot, a dry socket is a painful condition in which a clot is pulled from the newly empty tooth socket. Your dentist will send you home with instructions to aid in recovery and prevent dry sockets from happening, so it is important to continue with any aftercare instructions you receive.

How to Prevent a Dry Socket:

• Post-extraction, you should not use or drink through a straw. The suction movement can dislodge the clot.
• Avoid all tobacco products for a minimum of 48-hours.
• Stick to soft foods immediately following your surgery. Harder foods may be introduced in the days following, but if you experience any pain, you should return to softer foods.
• Keep your mouth clean by adhering to the post-op care instructions provided by your dentist.

Implementing a daily flossing routine is critical to your dental health. Flossing helps remove build up and plaque that accumulates around your teeth and along the gum line that are difficult to remove with brushing alone. Flossing helps to prevent problems, such as gingivitis, excessive plaque, tooth decay, and more.

When used as instructed, whitening treatments should not cause damage to the enamel, or protective coating, of your teeth. You may, however, experience some tooth sensitivity during or following the whitening process. Our practice offers both in-office and take-home whitening treatments, complete with desensitizing qualities to help manage any discomfort.

Simply put, the major difference between the two comes down to the material used.

Amalgam fillings are the traditional metal filling that has long been a popular choice to treat cavities. It is comprised of a mix of different metals.

Composite fillings, on the other hand, are a newer filling method created by combining a mixture of polymers that are cured by light. It also provides a more natural finish, as it can be made to match the color of your tooth. This composite material provides a durable solution for correcting cavities.

Consisting of a combination of metals, amalgam fillings can include silver, tin, mercury, and more. Many patients may worry about using a material that contains mercury. The FDA has conducted numerous studies and concluded that due to how little amounts of mercury are contained within this material, patients will not experience any adverse affect to choosing amalgam fillings.

It is recommended to begin bringing your child to a child-friendly dentist by the age of one, or around 6-months after their first tooth has erupted. While this may seem early, this is a great way to establish the routine of regular dental visits, helping to relieve anxiety once your child gets older.

It also allows our trained dental team to keep an eye on your child's primary teeth before any problems could arise. This can help to prevent space issues for permanent teeth, help with speech development, and more.

Adding mouthwash to your daily dental routine can help in a variety of ways, from eliminating odor-causing bacteria to helping to prevent gingivitis and gum disease. It is important to note that mouthwash is intended to be used alongside brushing and flossing and not as a replacement. Since mouthwash contains fluoride and some may contain alcohol, it is not recommended for use by children under the age of 6.

Is it painful to eat hot foods or consume cold beverages? Do acidic foods cause you to cringe? Then you may be suffering from tooth sensitivity. This sensitivity can be caused from a number of things, from exposed roots to damaged tooth enamel.

If you experience consistent discomfort, then it is time to talk to your dentist. Our team can help to find ways to alleviate the pain, address any underlying issues, and provide you with options or treatments to provide ongoing relief.

If you experience pain or sensitivity eating hot or cold foods, beverages, and more, a toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth may help you find some relief. These toothpastes are designed to target exposed nerves in the dentinal tubules on the surface of your teeth that become exposed from the wearing down of your enamel. While it cannot cure your sensitivity, it can help manage the symptoms. Ongoing or severe sensitivity should be discussed with your dentist.