Teeth are the hardest structure in the body, however, when they have dental decay (dental caries) or large fillings, they are at high risk for cracking and breaking. Teeth that have cracked or broken are consequently at even higher risk for a root canal or being lost (dental extraction). Therefore, for patients that want to keep their teeth we routinely place dental crowns (caps, cerecs) over teeth that begin to crack, or have already broken, in order to prevent losing the tooth. Today, dental crowns are made by computers and can be completed in one appointment with a technology called the Cerec. This makes getting a crown more comfortable, predictable, and convenient for our patients. Dr. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
What happens if you crack a tooth?
Wednesday, September 8th, 2010What else is on the horizon for our practice?
Tuesday, September 7th, 2010There is a new technology, called cone beam, which is an x-ray device that allows us to get a three dimensional image of your mouth with less radiation than a previous full mouth set of x rays. The benefit of the cone beam is that it provides more accurate information, can help find pathology (disease) sooner, enables us to design dental implant placement in 3d, and eliminates the necessity for the patient to have 18 small, uncomfortable x rays taken in their mouth. The cone beam takes one image in a matter of seconds. Dr. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
Dental emergency
Wednesday, September 1st, 2010There’s nothing worse than having a holiday weekend or vacation ruined by a dental emergency. Sometimes you can do things in advance, such as preventative dentistry, to help avoid having a dental emergency or pain. However, emergencies involving the teeth can also happen without any warning. In our practice we have an emergency cell phone that is answered 24 hrs/day and 365 days per year in order to provide our patients with the best possible care. In most cases, emergencies can be handled over the phone and we can help you enjoy the rest of your day. No matter where you are in the world, we will help you work through any problem, get you out of pain, and get things resolved until you are able to make it to our dental office office. Dr. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
Do you suffer from TMJ pain?
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010There are many patients in our practice that live life with constant TMJ pain. In many cases this can be treated without surgery. Sometimes the position of the teeth and bite (occlusion) is in a position that is uncomfortable for the TMJ (temperomandibular joint). If the teeth are in good condition and haven’t broken down as a result of this, orthodontics (braces) can often solve the problem and eliminate TMJ pain. This is a very conservative treatment and helps preserve both the TMJ and the teeth. If the teeth have been worn down or broken, it is often necessary to cover several of the teeth with crowns to reconstruct a bite (occlusion) that is comfortable for the joint and protective of the teeth. If you suffer from TMJ pain, you have options. Dr. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
Teeth whitening
Monday, August 30th, 2010There are many ways to whiten (teeth bleaching) your teeth. The simplest way is to have your teeth cleaned (dental prophy, periomaintenance) in order to eliminate any stain from the teeth. The teeth can also be whitened through a process called teeth bleaching. This can be done either in or out of the office. Whitening the teeth at the dental office (Laser bleaching, Power bleaching) is quicker, has a stronger effect and includes materials to touch up and whiten at home. Bleaching at home can also be effective, however, it requires multiple applications to get the same result as in office bleaching. In our office, most patients do the in office bleaching in order to get quicker results and we give them the take home bleaching for free in order to touch up their teeth as desired. If you want whiter teeth, call for a free consultation. Dr. Carson Kutsch Dentist Albany Oregon www.drkutsch.com
What else do you get with your cleaning?
Wednesday, August 25th, 2010In our office we offer the Carifree cavity test as well as the Velscope oral cancer screening as a service that is included in the cost of getting your teeth cleaned (prophy) or having periodontal maintenance. The Carifree cavity test is like taking your blood pressure. It gives us a number that indicates a patient’s risk of getting cavities. Thus, we can prevent cavities before they form. The Velscope is a technology that enables us to find oral cancer before it is visible in the mouth. Finding oral cancer as soon as possible is the key to survival. In the near future we will also provide Laser Bacterial Reduction. This is a new technology allowing the hygienist to “sterilize” the gum tissue around the teeth after the cleaning with a laser. This stimulates better blood flow and promotes faster healing. Dr. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
Why would I need a dental bone graft?
Tuesday, August 24th, 2010As people lose teeth or suffer from periodontal disease, they typically lose bone along with the lost teeth. This situation can often make it impossible to make a denture, place dental implants, or have a cosmetically pleasing smile. Thus, we can do several types of bone grafting procedures in order to prevent this problem. The most common type of bone graft is done when teeth are extracted. Bone is placed into the empty socket in order to reduce the amount of bone loss. There are also other types of bone grafts in order to replace larger amounts of bone. Dr. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
Do adults get braces?
Monday, August 23rd, 2010We have a lot of adult patients who are interested in orthodontics (braces, straightening teeth). Straightening teeth with orthodontics, whether it is accomplished with conventional brackets and wire or other technologies like Invisalign and SureSmile, can be done at any point in life. Most commonly, patients want braces in order to correct the appearance of the teeth. However, besides for cosmetic purposes, orthodontics can also correct TMJ pain, problems with the bite, excessive wear and tear on the teeth, and speech problems. In addition, orthodontics can be used to help make other types of dentistry possible such as veneers or dental implants. It is never too late to have braces and in most cases it provides the most minimally invasive type of dentistry. Dr. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
Single appointment crowns
Wednesday, August 18th, 2010With computer technology, we have the ability to make dental crowns (caps) in one appointment without having to take impressions or make a temporary crown. Thus, we can eliminate the need for two appointments, getting numb a second time, and much of the postoperative sensitivity. The computer, or Cerec, takes a three dimensional picture of the tooth, which is more accurate than an impression, and relays this information to another computer that makes the crown. These appointments typically take 1-2 hours with time during the appointment for the patient to take a break. Having a crown doesn’t have to be as uncomfortable or time consuming as it used to be now that we have the Cerec technology. Dr. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
What can lasers do in dentistry?
Tuesday, August 17th, 2010There are many different types of lasers. Some are used to treat soft tissue, like the gums (gingiva), and others can treat hard tissue such as the teeth. On soft tissue, lasers are much kinder to the gums allowing for less postoperative pain and faster healing. We use these lasers for procedures such as frenectomies (eliminating being tongue tied for example), gingivectomies (changing the shape of the gums), tissue grafting for recession and treating gum disease. Hard tissue lasers can be used for preparing fillings, root canals, dental extractions (having a tooth “pulled”), and dental implants. Again, it creates less sensitivity for the patient and promotes faster healing. Lasers have been around in dentistry for over thirty years and allow us to use technology to provide better care for our patients. Dr. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com