Tag Archives: Plano dentist

How soon can I smoke after my tooth is pulled?

How soon can I smoke after my tooth is pulled? Thanks Matt

Matt – Smoking affects the healing process after tooth extraction. It is best to avoid smoking at least 24 hours before surgery and 72 hours after.

When you smoke, carbon monoxide enters your bloodstream and slows the healing process. If you smoke right after a tooth is extracted, the sucking action of inhaling can disrupt the blood clot or cause it to dislodge. A dry socket may develop if the tooth nerve is exposed, and it will be very painful.

Allow time for the surgical site to begin healing before you smoke. It will help you avoid additional pain and expense.

This post is sponsored by Plano, TX dentist Miranda Lacy.

Why is my tongue white?

My tongue is white. Maybe it’s been that way for years. I don’t know. I am noticing it more since I bought a tongue scraper. Is this a problem? Why causes a white tongue? Thanks. Beth from Frisco

Beth – When you use a tongue scraper, it removes bacteria, food debris, and dead cells from the surface. You will see white or cream-colored residue as the tongue scraper removes it.

If your tongue is  white after using the tongue scraper, or it’s best to bring it to the attention of your dentist or medical doctor for examination and to see if there is a need to be concerned, and to receive an accurate diagnosis for your case. There are several conditions that can cause your tongue to be white, even after the tongue scraper is used. Some of them are listed below.

  • Candidiasis (as oral thrust or moniliasis) – This if a fungal infection that causes red or white patches in your mouth, including your tongue. It can be painful and cause bad breath. The Candida alibcans yeast can flourish after antibiotic treatment, when your mouth is excessively and continuously dry (from medication or a medical condition), or if your immune system is compromised. Your dentist will review your medical condition to find the underlying cause and recommend treatment.
  • Inflamed papillae (finger-like projections on your tongue) – When bacteria, debris, and dead cells get lodged between the inflamed papillae, your tongue will be white and coated. Smoking, excessive alcohol use, dry mouth, fever, and dehydration can cause inflammation
  • Medication – Certain medication is associated with white patches or discoloration of your tongue.
  • Medical condition – Certain medical conditions, including some auto-immune disorders can cause discoloration of your tongue.
  • Leukoplakia, or thickened white patches on the gums, inside of cheeks, and tongue, is common with tobacco users. It is not dangerous in itself, but it can be a precursor to cancer.

An examination and review of your medical history, along with tests or blood work, is required to receive an accurate diagnosis.

This post is sponsored by Plano dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

Nervous about getting crown on front tooth

2 years ago I injured my front left tooth in an accident. The tooth didn’t appear to be damaged, but it is slowly turning darker. My dentist has made several attempts to whiten the tooth and do a root canal treatment but the color is off and it’s becoming increasingly noticeable. He told me that I can get a crown for the tooth but that scares me. One of my best friends has two crowns on her front teeth and they look horrible. Are there any other options that I should consider? Thanks. Doris

Doris – The look of a dental crown on any tooth depends on the skill and artistic talent of the dentist who provides it.

A cosmetic dentist who has skill in restoring teeth, along with an artistic approach, will ensure that your crown looks completely natural in every way. The crown will match the color and characteristics of your natural teeth so that people won’t be able to distinguish it from your natural teeth.

Find a few cosmetic dentists in your area. Ask to see pictures of completed work, including crowns. You can also ask questions about your concerns to help build your confidence in the dentist that you select for your crown. When you select an experienced cosmetic dentist, the results will be beautiful.

This post is sponsored by Plano dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

I’m 24 years old with 4 baby teeth

I am 24 years old and I still have 4 baby teeth. 2 top teeth and 2 bottom ones. Am I ever going to get my permanent teeth? Natalia

Natalia – A definite answer to your question can only be determined by an exam and diagnostic studies. When primary teeth persist in adults, it is often the lower molar permanent teeth that fail to erupt.

There are several reasons that primary teeth don’t erupt. The most frequent reason is congenital. In other words, from birth, the permanent teeth were not present to succeed the primary teeth. The second reason is that the permanent teeth are impacted in the gums. The teeth may be incorrectly positioned, or there may not be enough space for them to erupt.

A dentist can perform the necessary studies to let you know what you can expect regarding your permanent teeth. Orthodontic or restorative treatment may be recommended.

This post is sponsored by Plano dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

Tomato sauce stained my Invisalign

I ate out 2 times in the past 2 days and both nights me and my coworkers went out for Italian food. I took my Invisalign out to eat and put them back in after. There was no sterile place for me to brush my teeth. We went out for drinks afterward dinner. Today I am noticing that my Invisalign is stained. I know it’s from the tomato sauce. Ugh! I just put the aligners in 4 days ago. Is there any way to get the stains out? It is so embarrassing because you can actually tell they are stained. – M.K.

M.K. – Invisalign® can be stained from certain foods and drinks. Foods like blueberries or tomato sauce create tough stains that are difficult to remove.

If you are not able to brush your teeth after a meal, it is important that you thoroughly rinse your mouth. Although it may not be so appealing, if you know that you won’t be able to clean your teeth and mouth properly after a meal, try to avoid foods and drinks that will stain your aligners.

If you have thoroughly rinsed your aligners and used the Invisalign cleaning system but the stains are still there, unfortunately, they will likely remain in your aligners.

This post is sponsored by Plano dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

How can I find a more affordable rate for dental care?

I need a few crowns and some other dental work and I got a quote that is almost $2000 dollars. This is not reasonable to me. How can I find a more affordable rate? Dean

Dean – You didn’t mention where you live, exactly how many crowns you need, and what other work needs to be completed, but the price you mentioned doesn’t necessary sound unreasonable, especially if it is being done by an expert cosmetic dentist.

Your location has an effect on the cost of dental care, just as the cost of food or gasoline varies from one part of the country to the next. If you want a second opinion, you can visit a cosmetic dentist for an exam and estimate.

This post is sponsored by Plano dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

Whitened teeth and they don’t match my crown

I have a 2 yr old crown that looks really good. There is nothing at all wrong with it. It looked like one of my own teeth until I whitened my teeth this month. I didn’t think about it before I did it. I found a good whitening kit online with professional strength whitening and my teeth are beautifully white but now the crown looks dull next to them. Can a dentist lighten the crown? – Cyndee

Cyndee – When teeth are whitened after a crown is received, the crown won’t match the teeth. If you had been able to speak with your dentist about the whitening, he or she would have helped you anticipate what to expect with your teeth whitening.

The color of a porcelain crown is stabilized and can’t be altered. But if you really want a crown to match your teeth, a cosmetic dentist can provide you with a new crown.

This post is sponsored by Plano dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

How do I whiten patchy spots on teeth after braces are removed?

Hi. I saw the orthodontist last week and I will be getting braces soon. I have to wear them for 2 years. I am afraid that after wearing them so long I will get patchy spots on my teeth like some of the kids I go to school with. If I have patchy teeth when the braces are removed after 2 years, how can I get rid of the patches? Brooke Turner

Brooke – Instead of treating patchy spots on teeth after braces, we advise you to follow the steps required to avoid the patchy spots altogether.

Patchy spots on teeth after your braces are removed are the result of poor oral hygiene. When food is left on your teeth, it comes in contact with acid, causing bacteria to form on your teeth. When food and bacterial are trapped between braces and are not removed, calcium and phosphate are depleted from your teeth. The decalcification is the cause of the white spots on your teeth.

The white spots can be prevented if you avoid sugary and acid foods and drinks. Use fluoride toothpaste and brush your teeth thoroughly after every meal. Floss daily, and keep your regular appointments with your dentist for an exam or cleaning. Your dentist may recommend a fluoridated mouthwash or fluoride treatments.

When braces are removed and a person has white spots on their teeth, a cosmetic dentist can help. The teeth may need to be carefully remineralized with fluoride. Or, microabrasion—gently removing the damaged enamel from the tooth can help. If teeth are excessively spotted, they can be restored with porcelain veneers.

If you are diligent about oral hygiene you won’t have patchy spots on your teeth, but there may be stains on your teeth from the composite that was used to bond the braces to them. A cosmetic dentist can polish away the composite stains. After that your teeth can be whitened.

This post is sponsored by Plano dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

The dentist’s drill chipped my tooth

I had 3 cavities filled on Tuesday. Everything seemed to be going fine. I didn’t feel any pain with the drilling, and I was quite pleased. But then the drill hit one of my front teeth! I know that I must have looked alarmed, because the dentist kept saying everything is okay. This is not the dentist I would normally go to. This one is less expensive than my regular dentist, so I decided to give him a try for a cleaning. I liked him so I decided that I would let him fill my cavities. This was just my second visit. When I got home and really looked at my teeth, I saw I small chip on a left front tooth! I am torn about what to do. It’s not difficult to see the chip. If this dentist didn’t tell me that he chipped my tooth can I trust him to fix it, or will he just say that he fixed it? – Noel T.

Noel – You do have a big decision to make. You should let the new dentist know about the chipped tooth right away. It may be wise to schedule an appointment to speak with him in person about it.

After you speak with the dentist, if you don’t want him to restore your tooth, you can ask if he will pay for the cost of having it restored. You can then return to your usual dentist or go to a cosmetic dentist for the restoration. Dental bonding can be made to match the color of your natural tooth. The bonding will be applied to the tooth, shaped, hardened, shaped again, and polished. If it’s done by a cosmetic dentist, people won’t be able to tell where your tooth was chipped.

This post is sponsored by Plano dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

Does a dentist need to check out my cut tongue or will it heal by itself?

Last Thursday I did something dumb that cut my tongue. I didn’t have scissors so I was trying to break into a hard plastic package with my teeth. The package slipped and cut my tongue. It hit my bottom teeth too but they are fine. My tongue started bleeding and I compressed and iced it but my tongue still hurts. I see a gash in it and every now and then it still bleeds. It will bleed heavy then stop when I compress it and put ice on it. When will it heal? Will it heal by itself? Do I need to have a dentist check it out? Thanks. Dylan R.

Dylan – A cut tongue usually heals on its own. The time that it takes to heal depends on how deeply it is cut. Hydrogen peroxide rinses, antiseptic rinses, or salt water rinses can help.

The concern is that your tongue is still bleeding, and sometimes heavily. We recommend that you make an appointment with a dentist to examine your tongue. The dentist will confirm whether your tongue will heal on its own or if sticthes are needed.

This post is sponsored by Plano dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.