Dental FAQs

How do you get cavities? How do they form?

Dental caries is a multi-factorial disease. When the teeth get decayed, the hard tooth structure becomes soft and discolored. The factors that take part in initiating the decay process are:

• Dental Plaque: This thick, whitish yellow biofilm contains food particles and micro-organisms like Streptococcus mutans which is responsible for caries.
• Substrates: Once the fermentable carbohydrates (candy, chips, cookies, etc.) remain in the oral cavity for a long time, the germs produce acidic by-products.
• Host factors: The tooth itself. Caries can initiate and progress through enamel, dentin, and even cementum (in the case of exposed root surfaces due to gingival recession and periodontal disease).

Why do you need to get the cavities filled by a qualified Phoenix dentist?

Once you get a cavity, the tooth becomes soft in that area. The surface of the enamel and/or cementum (if it is a root surface cavity) gets breached and more permeable to bacteria. That is why placing a filling is essential to restore the tooth. Ideally, your Phoenix dentist intervenes at this level, cleans it out and puts a filling in to prevent further food trapping. If a filling is not placed at an early stage, the cavity gets bigger, as the cavity gets bigger, a more extensive restoration may become necessary. These restorations include inlay, onlay, or crowns. These restorations are lab-made and create stability that is not achievable with fillings.

Why do baby teeth need to be filled, aren’t they just going to fall out?

Dental health is an important part of the overall health of every child. Children who have poor dental health may experience pain and infection in their teeth and gums. Although a child’s primary teeth eventually will fall out and be replaced by permanent teeth, it is critical to care for these initial teeth. Poor maintenance of primary teeth can cause them to fall out early, which in turn can cause permanent teeth to emerge through the gums prematurely. Premature permanent teeth may not have enough room in the mouth to come in properly, and therefore may appear crooked.

There are many different toothbrushes, how do I know which one is right for me?

With so many different toothbrushes on the market, deciding which one is right for you can be a difficult decision. Dr. Abedi has tried most toothbrushes on the market and has come to a solid conclusion that the Sonicare Flexcare, is indeed the best. Sonicare® has a patented ultrasonic technology that makes it the most effective toothbrush. Many companies have tried to replicate this technology, but none have been able to surpass. Sonicare uses a dynamic cleaning action to remove plaque between the teeth and along the gumline. Dr. Abedi has no affiliation with Philips Oral Healthcare, Inc., but recommends it because he knows it is the best.

Why do my wisdom teeth need to be removed if they are not bothering me?

Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that most people get in their late teens or early twenties. Sometimes these teeth can be a valuable asset to the mouth when healthy and properly aligned, but more often, they are misaligned and require removal.

Wisdom teeth present potential problems when they are misaligned – they can position themselves horizontally, be angled toward or away from the second molars or be angled inward or outward. Poor alignment of wisdom teeth can damage adjacent teeth, the jawbone, or nerves. Wisdom teeth that lean toward the second molars make those teeth more vulnerable to decay by entrapping plaque and debris. In addition, wisdom teeth can be entrapped completely within the soft tissue and/or the jawbone or only partially break through or erupt through the gum. Teeth that remain partially or completely entrapped within the soft tissue are termed “impacted”. Wisdom teeth that only partially erupt allows for an opening for bacteria to enter around the tooth and cause infection, which results in pain, swelling, jaw stiffness and general illness. Partially erupted teeth are also more prone to tooth decay and gum disease because their hard-to-reach location and awkward positioning makes brushing and flossing difficult.

As your Phoenix dentist, Dr. Abedi may recommend that your wisdom teeth be extracted before problems develop. This is done to avoid a more painful or more complicated extraction that might have to be done a few years later. Removal is easier in young people, when the wisdom teeth roots are not yet fully developed and the bone is less dense. In older people, recovery and healing time tend to be longer.

If you have other questions about your oral health, or concerns about proper dental care and treatment options, our Scottsdale dental team is on hand to answer them. At Desert Dental Solutions, our goal is help you feel educated and informed... and to help you look and feel your best everyday!

Contact our team to request more information now!