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
Posts Tagged ‘Dentist’
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
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
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
What is minimally invasive dentistry?
Monday, August 16th, 2010This is a growing group of dentists that work toward respecting the health, function and aesthetics of oral tissue by preventing disease from occurring or intercepting its progress with minimal tissue loss. So, what does this mean? Previously in dentistry there was an idea of “extension for prevention.” This is why there are so many large silver fillings throughout the world. The idea was that if we could eliminate all of the ways that you could get a cavity in your tooth, thus placing a larger filling, it would save you from more dental problems. However, as the science of dentistry has learned more about the bacteria that cause decay we have learned that filling teeth doesn’t cure caries (or the disease of dental decay) and the less natural tooth structure you have the more likely you will have more dental problems. Therefore, today in dentistry we are trying to prevent decay before it even starts (with bacteria tests and treatments from Carifree) and we work toward preserving as much natural tooth when possible. Dr. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
When should a child first see the dentist?
Wednesday, August 11th, 2010This is a frequent question that we receive. I would recommend that you begin bringing your child to our office around the age of two so that they can get used to seeing our environment and team. We usually don’t begin cleaning their teeth until all of their baby (deciduous) teeth have erupted but it is nice to get them comfortable with going to the dentist prior to them actually being the patient. If you have an appointment to get your teeth cleaned when they are between 2-3 years old, just bring them along and we can introduce them to our office and help make them comfortable prior to their first visit. Today’s dentistry doesn’t have to be scary but it all starts with having non-threatening first experiences. We love working with children. Please call if you have any questions. Dr. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
Are you missing teeth?
Tuesday, August 10th, 2010Do you have missing teeth that you would like to replace? This is very common in our dental practice and can be solved in a couple of ways. For those that want something that feels, looks, and functions like a natural tooth, dental implants are the best option. A dental implant essentially replaces the tooth root and enables us to build a whole new tooth in the missing space. Missing teeth can also be replaced with dental bridges and removable partial or full dentures. A bridge consists of crowning (capping) the adjacent teeth to a space and connecting them together. This is usually done when a patient wants solution that doesn’t come in and out of their mouth and they are not a candidate for dental implants. Removable dentistry can also be a great option. Removable dentistry won’t feel and look quite as natural as a dental implant, however, this option is the most economical and can give you back the smile or bite that you want. Dr. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
Albany Oregon Dentistry
Saturday, August 7th, 2010We have had patients ask, “can I get modern dentistry in a small town like Albany, Oregon?” The answer is “absolutely!” In fact, we have patients that come to our dental practice from as far away as Seattle and Los Angeles. Dentistry boils down to some basic concepts like relationships, quality, technology, and customer service. These four values can create world class dentistry in the smallest of towns. If you have a dental team that is committed to a relationship with their patients, provides an uncompromising quality of care with family styled customer service, then getting the technology is easy! If you looking for a new dental team to help you accomplish your oral health goals, or haven’t been to the dentist in a long time, I would like to welcome you to check out our practice. We love our patients and we love what we do! Dr. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com