Dr. David Kaffey

You did not develop an abscess after your wisdom tooth was removed. If you had intense pain about 3 days after the tooth was removed, you may have a dry socket. This needs immediate dental attention and you need to see either your general dentist or, if the tooth was removed by an oral surgeon, the oral surgeon. A tooth abscess only develops if there is a tooth present. I recommend you have this looked at immediately.

Best regards,

David M. Kaffey, DDS

When directions are followed, teeth whitening is safe and will not damage enamel. The bigger question is what is effective. Over-the-counter products have limited whitening ability and, depending on what shade range you are in to start, OTC products may not work at all. Do not have high expectations for OTC products. Professional whitening is more expensive, but it works. If you want white teeth, have them professionally whitened and then maintain the whiteness with OTC products.
Watch the video to see how it’s done and our results: https://www.lansdalecosmeticdentist.com/cosmetic-dentistry/teeth-whitening







Keep smiling,

David M. Kaffey, DDS









David M. Kaffey, DDS

Leading Dental Solutions, President

2032 North Broad St., Ste 1

Lansdale, PA 19446

215.368.6636

<mailto:drkaffey@leadingdentalsolutions.com> drkaffey@leadingdentalsolutions.com



Check out our new website:

www.leadingdentalsolutions.com <http://www.leadingdentalsolutions.com/>

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Montgomery Bucks Dental Society, President

PO Box 633

Green Lane, PA 18054

215.234.4203

www.mbds.org

<mailto:drkaffey@leadingdentalsolutions.com> drkaffey@leadingdentalsolutions.com



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Many times you will not need to take an opioid pain medication. I do not know the specifics of your case or your medical history. With that said, most patients are able to manage their pain with 600mg ibuprofen (3 200mg Advils) + 1000mg of Tylenol taken at the same time every 4 to 6 hours for a few days after surgery.
I hope this helps.

Keep smiling,

David M. Kaffey, DDS

You are both correct. This is common in many children and most do grow out of it. It is often not too serious of an issue and frequently does not require treatment with a night guard. Some children who do this will also have enlarged tonsils and/or adenoids, sleeping disorders, restlessness, difficulty concentrating in school, and attention deficient disorder (ADD). Those issues should be evaluated by the appropriate doctor and checking the tonsils/adenoids is usually the place to start. If you child has been diagnosed with ADD, I would recommend that they be evaluated by a Sleep Medicine Physician for OSA (obstructive sleep apnea). ADD can be misdiagnosed when the child really has OSA. Treatments are very different.

Keep smiling,

David M. Kaffey, DDS

Here’s the irony: whitening toothpastes do a so-so job of whitening. They are much better at maintaining white teeth once they have been professionally whitened. There is no whitening toothpaste that works “best” for everyone. They will all do the same job. If you find your teeth are not as white you want, consider professional whitening. Here is some info: https://www.lansdalecosmeticdentist.com/cosmetic-dentistry/teeth-whitening

Keep smiling,

David M. Kaffey, DDS

No need to worry. I am assuming that when you say your daughter ate toothpaste you mean she swallowed some while brushing. The level of fluoride is low so it will do no harm. She may get an upset stomach, but no long-term damage.
I would highly recommend you watch her brush for a while to make sure this does not continue.

Keep smiling,

David M. Kaffey, DDS

Hi,

That is a great question and one I am asked very often. The answer is yes, yes, and yes. Here is some information from the American Dental Association concerning diabetes and oral health:

https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/d/diabetes

I hope this helps.

Keep smiling,

David M. Kaffey, DDS

If the chip is small, it can be repaired with a plastic composite material. We call that “bonding.” This treatment can range from $75 to a few hundred dollars. That is the cheapest way to fix a chip, but it is not the longest lasting. Longer lasting options include veneers and caps, which are more costly and time intensive. Crowns and veneers can range $700 - $1300 each. Most dental insurances will cover some of these costs.

Bonding information: https://www.lansdalecosmeticdentist.com/cosmetic-dentistry/tooth-bonding

Veneer information: https://www.lansdalecosmeticdentist.com/cosmetic-dentistry/porcelain-veneers

Caps (also called crowns) information: https://www.lansdalecosmeticdentist.com/general-and-restorative/dental-crowns

Best of luck,

David M. Kaffey, DDS

Whitening toothpastes do not contain bleach. Many will have hydrogen peroxide, which is safe for long-term use. Do not expect significant results from over-the-counter products like whitening toothpastes. If you want white teeth, have them professionally whitened and then use one of those products to help maintain the whiteness.

Keep smiling,

David M. Kaffey, DDS

Yes, a few weeks between appointments is normal.

David M. Kaffey, DDS

Most children start teething at 6-8 months. You son is slightly delayed. If he does not start teething by 9.5 months, he should be seen by a pedodontist (a dentist who specializes in children).

David M. Kaffey, DDS

There are many causes of tooth sensitivity. In order to recommend the proper care, an examination to determine the cause is needed. Conditions such as teeth grinding and gum recession are amongst the most common causes and as such each requires different treatment.

It is impossible to answer this question.

Toothpastes advertised for tooth sensitivity are very effective. However, they may not treat the cause of the problem. They only treat the symptom – the discomfort. I have to caution that if you are going to use a toothpaste for sensitive teeth, be sure to have a dentist examine you to make sure this is the appropriate treatment. It is very common for lower anterior teeth to become sensitive from grinding. This often requires treatment that is in addition to using a tooth paste for sensitive teeth. If there is gum recession involved, a different treatment approach may be needed. I hope this helps.

Best regards,

David M. Kaffey, DDS

Yes. When we have a cold, the mucus that forms in our sinuses drains down the back of our throats, carrying bacteria, viruses, and inflammatory cells. This mixture can cause bad breathe. In addition to treating your cold, extra good brushing, flossing, and use of a mouth rinse such as Crest Pro Health or Listerine will help as well. If your bad breathe persists after your cold has cleared, you should see your dentist. There are other causes of bad breath.

Keep smiling,

David M. Kaffey, DDS

Cavities do not spread or “jump” from one tooth to the next. You are likely experiencing some localized discomfort from the new filling. If it does not improve within a few weeks after the filling was placed, you should have your dentist look at it.

Keep smiling,

David M. Kaffey, DDS

DO NOT DO THIS.

Salt is much too abrasive and can potentially harm your enamel. The best way to whiten your teeth is to have it professionally done. Yes, that is the most costly, but it will give the best possible results, especially since you are a smoker. Your next bet is the over the counter products. The reality is that, depending on how yellow your teeth are, no home remedy (i.e., salt) is likely to work well.
You should have a professional examine you and explain your options.

Keep smiling,
David M. Kaffey, DDS





David M. Kaffey, DDS

President

Leading Dental Solutions

2032 North Broad St., Ste 1

Lansdale, PA 19446

215.368.6636

<mailto:drkaffey@leadingdentalsolutions.com> drkaffey@leadingdentalsolutions.com



Check out our new website:

www.leadingdentalsolutions.com <http://www.leadingdentalsolutions.com/>

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Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.

An excessive amount of anything is not good. To your question, using an over the counter mouth wash 2x a day is not a problem. Some mouthwashes can dry your mouth out (i.e., high alcohol containing mouthwashes, Listerine) and some prescription mouth washes can stain your teeth. However, generally speaking, if you are using a store bought mouthwash, make sure to look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance. This means the product has been thoroughly tested, is safe, and does what it claims to do. For more dental information, www.leadingdentalsolutions.com.


I hope this helps.

Happy Holidays,

David M. Kaffey, DDS

There are several possibilities. I don’t have enough information to give you a specific answer so I can only answer in generalities.

Some teeth following a root canal can have lingering pain anywhere from a few days to 6-8 months following the procedure. This can be part of the healing process and often resolves by itself.

Other reasons can include infected nerve tissue inside the tooth that was not removed. Either it couldn’t be removed (may depend on the tooth and the anatomy of the tooth) or the diseased tissue was just missed. There are few teeth that this is more likely to happen to so again, I can’t really comment specifically in your case.

More reasons: the tooth may have fractured. The great majority of teeth that have had a root canal procedure, need to have a cap (crown) placed because these teeth become dried out and brittle. As such, they are susceptible to breaking which can lead to pain. As part of that, your bite needs to be adjusted properly so that you are not chewing too hard on the tooth.

And finally, in a very small percentage of patients, the procedure does not solve the initial problem. No dental or medical procedure works 100% of the time for 100% of the people.

If you have not already had the dentist who did the procedure reevaluate the tooth, I would suggest you do so.

Hope this helps. Keep smiling,

David M. Kaffey, DDS

The general rule is that, other than routine checkups and cleanings, we postpone NON-EMERGENT dental care until the 2nd trimester. We avoid treatment in the 1st and 3rd trimesters, unless it is an emergency. Since you are having severe pain, this is considered emergency care and is acceptable to do at this point of your pregnancy. Without knowing your exact situation, I cannot fully comment on how long you can push this off. If the tooth is not currently infected, you do run the risk of developing an infection which is potentially a greater risk to both you and the baby. If you are having severe pain, you need treatment now and should not postpone.

I hope this helps.

Best regards,
David M. Kaffey, DDS

Firstly, you MUST have that looked at by a dentist. Left untreated, it could become infected and lead to many serious problems. For immediate and TEMPORARY pain relief, many people who are able to take ibuprofen find it to work well.

David M. Kaffey, DDS

What your dentist was talking about is not "bone loss in the teeth", but rather bone loss AROUND your teeth. As a Diabetic, you are more susceptible to many types of infections. Periodontal disease ("gum disease") is a serious condition where the bone around your teeth is being destroyed by the bacteria in your mouth. It is critical to have this treated to help prevent further bone breakdown. Left untreated, potential consequences include loose teeth, gum abscesses, and eventual loss of teeth. We successfully treat this condition everyday with a variety of painless procedures in my office.

Hope this helps.