Life happens and people move, change careers, simply forget, or have more pressing issues and don’t get their teeth cleaned for while. It’s never too late to work on having great oral health and we have dental appointments specifically designed in order to get patients back on track with their oral health. Sometimes, it is little more than just getting a dental cleaning, x rays, and an exam to get back to healthy. However, just like your car, the longer you wait between getting it serviced can also create a little more work to get it where you want it to be. Don’t be embarrassed or feel guilty, we are here to help you achieve your dental goals and get you back on track with what you want. Dentistry is a life long process and can go in many different directions depending upon the patient. If you have questions or want us to take a look, check out our website at www.drkutsch.com Dr. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist
Posts Tagged ‘Teeth’
Haven’t been to the dentist in a while?
Tuesday, June 29th, 2010How do I know what kind of dentistry I want?
Wednesday, May 12th, 2010Sometimes we use the analogy that your mouth is like owning a car. Owning and maintaining a car is based on the confidence and purpose that you need in that car. Some people have cars that may or may not make it from point A to point B. Others have cars that are very utilitarian, reliable, well maintained, and could drive across the country. There are also those people that don’t care so much about the mechanics of the car but more about how the car looks. Your mouth (oral health, dentistry) can be very much the same. We have patients that live from one dental emergency to another, patients that want everything to be very functional and reliable, and those that not only do they want their teeth to work but they also want to look good. It all boils down to what you want and need to feel confident in your own teeth. Thus, as a dentist, we ask a lot of questions since not every patient wants the same thing. We have the ability in our practice to offer everything from cosmetic and family dentistry (dental implants, laser dentistry, etc.) to basic emergency care. By working together with our patients based on what they want for their oral health and teeth, we can better serve our patients and help them achieve their goals. Dr. Carson Kutsch DDS Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
Why do you get cavities in your teeth?
Tuesday, April 6th, 2010Dental decay has been an area studied by dentistry for hundreds of years. With the invention of the microscope and microbiology, a significant advance was made in how we understand the process of dental decay. Today, we know that the pH, or acid level, of the biofilm (bacteria living on the teeth) is what plays a key role in whether or not a patient is likely to get cavities. Dental caries is a bacterial disease in the oral cavity that has symptoms including cavities in the teeth. We know that there are two areas that primarily affect a patient’s risk of decay and these are diet and medical history (acid reflux, medications that cause dry mouth, etc). In the past, we thought that the risk of getting cavities could be solved with good oral hygiene and some fluoride. However, even with superb hygiene you can still get decay if you have other risk factors. Therefore, we measure the bacteria on our patient’s teeth on an annual basis and determine their risk for dental cavities. Not only does this protect the teeth but it also protects previous dental work as well. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
Dental costs
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010Patients frequently call our office and ask about the cost of specific procedure. The cost of dentistry can range very significantly depending upon the procedure, materials used, technology, and even warranty. Most practices in an area will charge within 10-20% of each other. Some offer discounts for those without insurance or seniors citizens. Other practices might include several things into one fee. It becomes very difficult to exactly compare “apples to apples” as not everyone does everything exactly the same. The bottomline is that it is like anything else in this world and you usually get exactly what you pay for. Find a practice where you are comfortable, you understand your options, and you trust the quality of your care. The way to save money on your oral health is usually over a long period of time as the smaller the problem usually the less it costs to fix. Carson Kutsch Dentist Albany Oregon www.drkutsch.com
Sinus Infections and Tooth Pain
Tuesday, January 12th, 2010During the cold and flu “season,” we commonly have patients visit our office with nonlocalized tooth pain on their upper jaw. It is very common to have tooth pain when you are experiencing a sinus infection or heavy congestion. How do you differentiate a sinus problem from tooth pain? If you notice symptoms arising in the teeth that seem to start at the same time as a sinus infection, it is likely that it is a sinus problem. However, if the sinus issue resolves and the tooth pain persists then it most likely a tooth problem. On the other hand, if symptoms such as pain or tenderness begin first in the tooth and then lead to sinus problems, this would also be a tooth issue. If you have questions, please feel free to ask as you are not the only one with this issue. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com