There 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
Posts Tagged ‘dental filling’
What can lasers do in dentistry?
Tuesday, August 17th, 2010What does dental insurance cover?
Tuesday, July 20th, 2010Dental insurance is very different depending upon what you or your employer pays for. Typically, insurance covers preventative care such as dental cleanings (prophylaxis), deep cleanings (scaling and root planing), x rays, or exams, very well. In some cases they may pay 100% of the cost after you have met your deductible. On other procedures such as root canals, dental implants, fillings, bridges, dentures, crowns (caps), or extractions (pulling a tooth), they may pay a percentage of the cost. However, every insurance is different and it is a good idea to find out what they will pay prior to having treatment to determine your budget. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Stefanie or Sarah at our office. Dr. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
It’s a good time to think about wisdom teeth
Wednesday, June 30th, 2010Summer time is an excellent time for students to get dentistry completed while they are out of school. Wisdom teeth are typically taken out between the ages of 15 and 20 on most people. Few individuals have the space in their mouth to have healthy, problem free wisdom teeth. Having your wisdom teeth taken out (pulled, extracted) is a very common, routine procedure. Most patients are sore for a couple of days but heal quickly. The younger the patient, usually means it will be easier on the patient. Summer is also a great time to think about orthodontics or simply completing other dentistry such as fillings, sealants, crowns, etc. Dr. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
Want to enhance your smile?
Monday, June 28th, 2010There are many options in dentistry for creating a healthy, beautiful, youthful smile. These can range from simply getting your teeth cleaned to covering the front teeth with cosmetic porcelain veneers. However, there are other options as well. Sometimes there can be a discolored filling or crown that can be replaced, thereby, changing the overall appearance of the smile. The teeth can also be whitened with in office bleaching, or moved with orthodontics to make the teeth more straight. Last but not least, there is also the Snap On Smile. The Snap On Smile fits like a comfortably over all of the teeth, can be taken in and out, and covers everything. Though the Snap On Smile is removable, it can be left in while eating and drinking. If you have questions about the appearance of your teeth or are embarrassed to smile, please don’t hesitate to ask about cosmetic dentistry. Dr. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
What if I have too much dentistry to do all at one time?
Monday, June 7th, 2010For many patients, dentistry is a work in progress. Albeit, some patients complete all of their dentistry in one appointment, or one week, however, for most patients dental work is a process in order to achieve their long term goals for oral health. There are many ways to provide dental care without doing it all at once. Many patients will do the dental work (dental fillings, crowns, implants, etc.) in one area at a time so that they don’t have to continue to get numb multiple times in the same location. Other patients will work on one tooth per appointment. It really boils down to goals, time frame, and budget. Another technology that has recently become available is called Snap On Smiles. This is a cosmetic dental appliance that allows us to cover all of the teeth with an esthetic, removable appliance so that the patient can have a great looking smile while they work toward completing their dentistry. Not only is this option very affordable, it also gives the patient an idea of what their smile could look like. Dr. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
Why do I keep getting cavities?
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010Dental decay is a bacterial disease, called Caries, that cannot be solved by only providing dental fillings, crowns (caps), or root canals. The bacteria enjoy living in an acidic oral environment and make acid from any form of carbohydrate that you eat. This acid demineralizes the teeth and causes holes, or dental decay. Your saliva acts like a buffer and dilutes this acid in order to protect your teeth. Thus, diet and medical condition can affect your risk for getting decay. In a healthy mouth, it takes about an hour for the saliva to neutralize the acid after eating. However, in individuals with acid reflux or dry mouth, for instance, this can compromise their ability to neutralize the acid and result in a higher risk of getting decay. At our office we test the bacteria on the teeth on an annual basis to determine risk of decay. This enables us to help treat patients with alternatives to “drilling and filling.” Dr. Carson Kutsch DDS Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
Why would you want mercury free fillings?
Monday, March 29th, 2010There is growing controversy as to whether or not mercury (amalgam, alloy) fillings should still be used. The ADA has decided that it is best to not use this filling material on children or pregnant women. In our practice, we have eliminated this material completely and are a mercury free dental practice. Regardless of the effects of mercury on the body, this filling material requires that we remove more tooth structure in order to place it and it typically leads to crowns and root canals in the future. The mercury material does not act similar to tooth structure and patients tend to have more sensitive teeth and more problems. Dental composite, porcelain, and gold are all significantly better restorations for the teeth and last much longer. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
Family dentistry-Then and Now
Monday, March 8th, 2010Most of us can remember our first dental appointments and the anxiety that accompanied those experiences. Today, our younger patients (child patients) don’t have the same types of experience with dentistry. As we have increased our magnification, implemented digital x rays, and changed to more conservative materials, the process of getting a dental filling is no longer a traumatic experience. Today’s fillings are smaller, require less anesthetic, and often lead to a shorter appointment time. Thus, our younger patients often enjoy their visit to the dentist and have teeth that will be in much better condition for the long term. Carson Kutsch Dentist Albany Oregon www.drkutsch.com
What to expect after a dental appointment
Monday, January 18th, 2010After routine dental appoinments it is very common to experience some soreness. More often than not, dental anesthetic can create irritation in the tissue along with muscle soreness from holding your mouth open for an hour. Both of these will resolve shortly and can be treated with over the counter pain reliever. In regard to the teeth, anytime treatment is performed such as a filling or cap (crown), the teeth can be sore for a couple of days. This is the reason that we call all of our patients after the appointment to ensure that everything is comfortable and that our patients don’t have any questions. We tell all of our patients what to expect following each dental appointment and follow up with them. If you have questions about a procedure or what to expect, don’t hessitate to contact our office. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com