Faq's

Q: Which type of toothbrush should I use?

A: The brand of the toothbrush is not as critical as the type of bristle and the size of the head. A soft toothbrush with a small head is recommended because medium and hard brushes tend to cause irritation and contribute to recession of the gums, and a small head allows you to get around each tooth more completely and is less likely to injure your gums. It's unnecessary to "scrub" the teeth as long as you are brushing at least twice a day and visiting your dentist at least twice a year for cleanings.

Q: Is one toothpaste better than others?

A: Generally, no. However, it's advisable to use a fluoride containing toothpaste to decrease the incidence of dental decay. We recommend our patients use what tastes good to them as long as it contains fluoride.

Q: How often should I floss?

A: Flossing of the teeth once per day helps to prevent cavities from forming between the teeth where your toothbrush can't reach. Flossing also helps to keep your gums healthy.

Q: What's the difference between a "crown" and a "cap"?

A: These are restorations to repair a severely broken tooth by covering all or most of the tooth after removing old fillings, fractured tooth structure, and all decay. The restoration material is made of gold, porcelain, composites, or even stainless steel. Dentists refer to all of these restorations as "crowns". However, patients often refer to the tooth-colored ones as "caps" and the gold or stainless steel ones as "crowns".

Q: What's the difference between a "bridge" and a "partial denture"?

A: Both bridges and partial dentures replace missing teeth. A bridge is permanently attached to abutment teeth or, in some cases, implants. A partial denture is attached by clasps to the teeth and is easily removed by the patient. Patients are usually more satisfied with bridges than with partial dentures.

Q: What about "silver" fillings versus "white" fillings?

A: Although the U.S. Public Health Service issued a report in 1993 stating there is no health reason not to use amalgam (silver fillings), more patients today are requesting "white" or tooth-colored composite fillings. We also prefer tooth-colored fillings because they "bond" to the tooth structure and therefore help strengthen a tooth weakened by decay. While fillings are also usually less sensitive to temperature, and they also look better. However, "white" fillings cannot be used in every situation, and if a tooth is very badly broken-down, a crown will usually be necessary and provide better overall satisfaction for the patient.

Q: Do I need to have a root canal just because I have to have a crown?

A: No. While most teeth which have had root canal treatments do need crowns to strengthen the teeth and to return the teeth to normal form and function, not every tooth needing a crown also needs to have a root canal.

Q: Doesn't everyone end up wearing dentures as they get older?

A: No - and this is great news! With good home care and routine visits to the dentist to address problems early, it is possible for just about everyone to keep their teeth for their entire life. The number one cause of tooth loss in older adults is Periodontal Disease. We recommend that you spend some time with Dr. Pippin and your Dental Hygienist to learn about how to prevent this destructive disease.

Q: What types of foods are good for my teeth?

A: Good nutrition supports good dental health. A well-balanced daily diet that follows the USDA recommendations from the Five Basic Groups: Grains, Vegetables, Fruits, Milk and Meat & Beans contains the necessary vitamins and nutrients to keep your teeth healthy and strong.

- Healthy snacks such as fresh fruit and vegetables are always a smart choice.

- A note of caution: beware of sports drinks and sodas - many contain high levels of sugar, that, if consumed frequently, can lead to tooth decay.

Q: My dental insurance plan uses the term, "Usual, Customary and Reasonable" regarding dental coverage. What does this mean?

A: "Usual, Customary and Reasonable" (UCR) is the term used by many insurance companies to describe their fee table. Most carriers have a maximum allowed fee for a covered dental procedure, and refer to this as the UCR amount for a plan region. In response to claims, submitted dental fees may be "within" or "exceed" UCR.

- UCR tables vary greatly from one insurance company to another, and many treat this as confidential information. We recommend that our patients send their insurance information to us prior to their appointment so that we may assist in researching plan benefits and coverage.

Q: Does over-the-counter whitening work?

A: Most over-the-counter whitening products contain a whitening agent, such as peroxide or carbamide peroxide, so they will usually whiten teeth to some degree. The key to effective whitening is the 1) strength of the whitening agent and the 2) amount of time it stays on the teeth. This is where over-the-counter whitening products do not perform as well as whitening prescribed by a dentist.


- Professional whitening products used by the dentist are applied with in-office isolation of tooth surfaces or through the use of custom-fitted trays - either approach is a more effective application that a loose strip, brush-on whitening or bulky store-bought trays that are not fitted to your teeth.


- Professional strength whitening solutions have been specially formulated to be administered and monitored by a dentist to achieve maximum whitening. We have found that the cost of professional take-home whitening trays made in our office along with periodic whitening refills compares reasonably to the cost of buying over-the-counter products, with much better results.

Q: Why do I need dental xrays?

A: Dental xrays allow the dentist to "see" where the human eye cannot, such as between teeth and under the gums. By taking xrays periodically, Dr. Pippin is able to look for signs of gum disease, decay, bone loss, abscesses or tumors and take appropriate action, which helps to prevent pain and more serious conditions.