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 ‘Root Canal’
What happens if you crack a tooth?
Wednesday, September 8th, 2010What 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 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
What happens when a tooth breaks?
Monday, July 5th, 2010More often than not, teeth break that have large mercury (silver, amalgam, alloy) fillings in them. When a tooth has a lot of fractures in it or starts to hurt upon biting, it is a good time to consider your long term plans for the tooth. For patients that intend to keep the tooth, we place a dental crown (cap, CEREC) on the tooth to keep it from breaking and decrease the risk of having a root canal. Once a tooth has already broken, we evaluate whether or not it can be saved, if it needs a root canal, and how to provide a long term solution for the tooth. If you have questions about your older fillings or want to create a long term plan and budget, a routine dental exam with x rays/photos will help you work toward your oral health goals. Dr. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
Nervous about dentistry?
Wednesday, June 9th, 2010There are many options today in dentistry to decrease the amount of anxiety involved in your appointment. Sedation dentistry is a rapidly growing area in our field. We offer nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, and oral sedatives, which is in the form of a pill taken prior to the appointment. Both of these help decrease the amount of anxiety that the patient experiences during their appointment. These can be utilized for something more simple like a cleaning or longer appointments for crowns, root canals, and implants. It is completely up to the patient’s comfort level. We can also utilize our specialist for IV sedation dentistry in the most extreme cases. Sedation dentistry has been around for over 100 years. If you are nervous about going to the dentist, this is okay and normal. There are options to help make you more comfortable. Dr. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
Tooth pain
Tuesday, May 4th, 2010Pain is one of the most common driving forces in getting patients to the dentist. However, there are several things that can cause dental pain and not all of them should cause concern. If you have spontaneous pain, swelling of the gum tissue or face, redness, fever, or acute pain on a tooth that hasn’t hurt before, then you should contact your dentist immediately. If you recently had dental work performed and there is mild muscle soreness or slight sensitivity in the tooth, this is very typical and usually goes away within a few days. If you have a history of fibromyalgia, sleep apnea, or sinus problems, there may be another cause of discomfort other than the teeth. Patients that have recession can experience sensitivity to hot and cold as well as patients with bite (occlusion) problems. Consequently, there are several reasons for tooth pain. It is generally a good idea to call your dentist and inform them of your symptoms as small problems are typically easier to manage, take less time, and are more comfortable for the patient. Dr. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry
Thursday, April 1st, 2010Although we focus our practice on family dentistry, we provide several other types of services that most people may not know about. I work very hard to have the best technology available in dentistry and have put together a team of individuals who pride themselves in providing great customer service. We don’t have the largest, fanciest building, we have the best technology, materials, and educated dental team in Albany. We are also proud of the fact that we have a small practice setting so that patients see the same people every time they come to our practice and we treat one patient at a time. So, what types of services do we offer? Cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, laser gum treatment (Lanap), Velscope oral cancer screening, Carifree cavity testing, mercury free fillings, single appointment Cerec crowns, laser fillings, digital x-rays, intra-oral digital photos, laser whitening, root canals, extractions (tooth removal), micro airabrasion, and much more. Carson Kutsch 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
What is a dental crown?
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010A crown, or cap, is a something that is designed to completely cover a broken tooth and preserve it from being lost. Teeth can fracture due to having large amounts of decay, trauma, or a lifetime with a large silver-mercury filling. Thus, in order to prevent tooth pain or tooth loss, a crown is a way to protect the tooth and keep it functional for a long period of time. There are many types of crowns but the most popular type today is that which looks like a natural tooth. Carson Kutsch Dentist Albany Oregon www.drkutsch.com