General Dentistry FAQ

How often should I brush my teeth?

The average person will benefit from brushing their teeth twice a day for two minutes each time. If you can brush your teeth after each meal, then it doesn’t hurt to add one more brushing to your schedule.

What type of toothbrush and toothpaste should I use?

There are many types of toothbrushes and toothpaste out there. Each is made for a specific dental health need. It is best to talk to a dentist to see if you should get a softer brush and fluoride toothpaste, for example, or if a different setup would be better.

Do I really need to floss?

Flossing is an excellent way to remove plaque and gunk buildup between your teeth that can’t be reached by a toothbrush. If you want to optimize your oral health, then you really do need to floss.

Does a rinse or mouthwash help?

Certain mouthwashes can help eliminate oral bacteria that otherwise might have remained after brushing. While mouthwashes and rinses aren’t substitutes for brushing and flossing, they can help.

Are dental x-rays safe?

Dental x-rays are safe, especially when wearing a provided lead vest. The average dental x-ray procedure exposes the patient to 2 millirems (mrem) of radiation. It is estimated that the average American receives at least 360 mrem of radiation from other sources each year, meaning that a few dental x-rays in a year will hardly make a difference when all things are considered.

What is a cavity?

A tooth cavity is a form of permanent damage to the hard surface of the tooth. Cavities are often caused by bacteria buildup, an excess of sugar or acid in the diet, and overall poor dental hygiene.

How do fillings work?

A filling or cavity filling is used to fill in any gaps in the tooth after a dentist has excavated the decay there. Fillings literally fill a tooth to prevent more bacteria and food debris from entering the cleansed area.

At what age should I start taking my child to see the dentist?

Pediatricians usually recommend that parents take their child to a pediatric dentist at 12 months of age, or no more than 6 months after the child’s first tooth appears, whichever comes first.

How often should I see the dentist?

Everyone should see the dentist as often as required for their oral health needs. The average person can benefit from two general dentistry checkups a year, spaced six months apart.

Orthodontics FAQ

Is there an age requirement for braces?

There is no official age limit for braces. However, it's unlikely that a child would need orthodontic treatments before the age of 7 when the alignment of their teeth becomes clearer.

How can I take care of my teeth if I'm wearing braces or a retainer?

If you have braces or a retainer, you still need to regularly take care of your teeth by brushing, flossing, and rinsing. We can recommend specialized toothpaste and toothbrushes for you to use, as well as show you the proper way to gently brush your teeth.

If I get braces, how long do I have to wear them?

Braces can sometimes be worn for 24 months before they can be removed. In other cases, some can be worn for as few as 6 months. Each patient’s need for braces is unique.

Do braces hurt?

Braces can cause mild discomfort when they are placed or adjusted. It is rare for braces to cause lingering pain that lasts more than a few days. If it has been a week since your braces were adjusted or placed and you still feel discomfort, please contact us.

Can I get braces if I'm missing teeth?

You can get braces if you are missing teeth or have other oral health concerns. We can also discuss the best way to plan for braces while also receiving prosthodontist care to replace the missing tooth.

How much does orthodontic treatment cost?

The cost for braces and other orthodontic treatments can vary depending on what treatments and braces are required and how long you will need to use them. You can also expect a difference in out-of-pocket costs based on your dental insurance plan, either purchased individually or held as an employment benefit.

Do I have to have insurance to have orthodontic treatment?

It is highly recommended that you use dental insurance to pay for orthodontic treatments. If possible, you should review your benefits to see if you can add orthodontic-specific insurance to your policy. If you don’t have dental insurance that covers orthodontic treatments, speak with a member of our intake team, and we can see what options are available and how we can help.

Endodontics FAQ

Is endodontic surgery painful?

Before endodontic surgery or procedures, local anesthesia is usually used to numb or soften the pain. Afterward, some patients will feel mild or moderate pain as the mouth heals. Typically, off-the-shelf painkillers like acetaminophen are enough to lessen the pain.

Can an endodontist do a root canal through a crown?

Certain endodontic treatments can be performed through a pre-existing crown, which makes the procedure simpler overall. We will let you know if drilling through a crown or otherwise avoiding it will not be possible based on the specifics of your treatment.

Dental Implants FAQ

What is the cost of dental implants?

The cost of dental implants can vary depending on the type of implant you need and how many implants you need overall. Your dental insurance coverage can also make a significant difference in how much you have to pay out of pocket for your dental implants. Feel free to contact us and we would be happy to give you an overview of the costs of dental implants before you decide they are the right choice for your smile.

Who can get dental implants?

Dental implants are a great choice for many patients. Yet some people might be more prone to procedure complications than others, such as people with blood clotting disorders or certain bone cancers. We will only recommend dental implants to a patient if we know they will be safe.

What are the benefits of dental implants?

After receiving a dental implant, you may enjoy a variety of benefits. A dental implant can improve your quality of life by correcting certain oral health problems and maintaining your jawbone’s structure. Dental implants are also often recommended by dentists because there is no need to file your teeth to complete the procedure, and the implants are very close to natural teeth in form and function.

Are dental implants painful?

Most patients who receive dental implants report only mild pain or discomfort that fades within 48 hours of the procedure. Over-the-counter painkillers are often enough to reduce this pain.

What is the success rate of dental implants?

Dental implants are highly reliable when installed by a professional dentist. About 95% of dental implant patients report that the implant is still solidly in place and comfortable at least five years after the procedure.

How long do dental implants last?

As long as you continue to treat your dental implants with proper dental care as you would any other teeth, the implants can easily last for decades before needing work. Some patients will never need any work done on their implants thanks to routine visits to the dentist.

How long does it take to complete a dental implant treatment?

The average dental implant procedure can take about one hour per jaw being worked on. Therefore, if you need one implant on the top row of teeth and one on the bottom row, then the procedure could take about two hours. However, this isn’t a guarantee. Some procedures will take less time, and others could take longer. We will give you an honest estimate of how long it should take based on the specifics of your dental health needs.

How do I care for dental implants?

You should care for your dental implants as you would your teeth. Brushing twice a day is the best way to care for them. Usually, a toothbrush with soft bristles and low-abrasive toothpaste are best for dental implant care. Using a water pick and oral rinses can also provide great care for dental implants and natural teeth alike.

Oral Surgery FAQ

Are you put to sleep for oral surgery?

General anesthesia that puts you to sleep is available and recommended for some forms of oral surgery like wisdom teeth removal. Not all oral surgeries will require general anesthesia, though. Some procedures only need local anesthesia like a procaine injection to temporarily numb nerve sensations in the area.

How long after dental work can I have oral surgery?

The waiting period between typical dental work and oral surgery will depend on the oral surgery that you need. We might advise that you wait two or three weeks to schedule the oral surgery if you just had other dental work. Oppositely, we might recommend waiting upward of eight weeks for dental work if you just had oral surgery.

How long does oral surgery take?

Each oral surgery will take a unique amount of time to complete. For example, single tooth extraction can take roughly 30 minutes, but jaw surgery can take longer than an hour.

Is oral surgery medical or dental for insurance purposes?

Oral surgery is usually considered a dental procedure for insurance purposes. Some more involved oral surgeries can be covered or partially billed to medical insurance providers, though.

When can I go back to work or school after oral surgery?

Minor oral surgery can have little to no effect on your ability to work, depending on your job. Other oral surgery procedures might require you to take anywhere between two and seven days off work.

Can oral surgery be performed by a dentist or only an oral surgeon?

General dentists can perform some minor oral surgeries like gum surgery. The expertise of an oral surgeon is required for many other procedures, though. It depends on the dentist’s credentials and experience. You can expect a highly qualified oral health professional to complete your oral surgery when you come to our clinic.

What does it mean if my lip or tongue feels numb after oral surgery?

Local anesthesia can make your lips or tongue feel numb for a while after oral surgery. The numbness should wear off within a few hours. In extremely rare cases, this numbness or tingling sensation can last for days or weeks due to nerve irritation near the injection site. If the problem persists, please reach out to us.

What do I do if my oral surgery sutures come out?

Sutures used in oral surgeries are designed to dissolve or come loose on their own. If one comes loose, you can gently remove it on your own and discard it without worry. If a suture comes loose shortly after the oral surgery and you experience noticeable bleeding, please call us so we can assess the situation.

Pediatric Dentistry FAQ

When will my baby start getting teeth?

Babies usually get their teeth around 6 months. Typically, the bottom incisors in the front are the first to appear. More teeth will appear gradually, often taking another 6 months to finish appearing.

Why care for baby teeth?

Some adults wonder if it is worth caring for a child’s baby teeth if they are going to be replaced by adult teeth eventually anyway. Baby teeth need care because neglecting them could result in tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health problems.

At what age do children stop going to a pediatric dentist?

Pediatric dentists usually see their child patients from the first time a tooth appears until the age of 18. Some parents will choose to switch their children to a general dentist in their late teens, though.

Should my child have an early orthodontic evaluation?

A full orthodontic evaluation for your child should be completed before they turn 7. This evaluation can help our pediatric dentists catch early signs of potential issues, which makes them more manageable.

When should my child begin using toothpaste and how much should we use?

If your child has teeth, then they can benefit from pediatric toothpaste. We usually recommend avoiding toothpaste with fluoride until age 2. For a child’s toothbrush, only a thin smear of toothpaste is needed for each brushing.

Can I stay with my child during the visit?

VZ Dental is all about making our patients happy and comfortable, which is why we encourage you to stay with your child throughout their dental appointment. From routine checkups to specialized pediatric dental treatments, you can stay by their side.

Clear Aligners FAQ

How Long Do I Have to Wear Clear Aligners?

The duration of Clear Aligners use depends on the specific needs of your dental health. Some patients wear a clear aligner for about six months, but others might need a clear aligner for more than a year. We will always give you an honest assessment about how long you might need to wear your clear aligners to work. However, most patients start to see smile improvements within a month or so of using Clear Aligners.

Will I Need a Retainer After Clear Aligners?

Some patients will wear a retainer after completing a clear aligner treatment. The retainer is used to make sure your smile stays beautifully straight for years and years.

Are Clear Aligners Comfortable?

Clear Aligners is one of the most popular clear aligners on the market for many reasons, including their comfortable design. Most patients who have used metal braces before switching to Clear Aligners are shocked at how comfortable it is to wear a Clear Aligner. You might feel some discomfort toward the beginning of your treatment, but it shouldn’t take long at all for that to fade. Your orthodontist at VZ Dental will be available to adjust the aligners should any discomfort persist.

Clear Aligners also helps you stay comfortable at work, school, or social settings due to its discreetness. Most people will never notice you’re wearing a clear aligner or hear any difference in your speech.

Cosmetic Dentistry FAQ

How much does cosmetic dentistry cost?

The cost of cosmetic dentistry depends on the procedure being completed. We can’t promise one cost or another without first sitting down with you and reviewing your options.

Who can receive cosmetic dentistry?

Anyone can schedule a cosmetic dentistry procedure if they want to improve the quality and shine of their smile. For example, teeth whitening is one of the most commonly requested forms of cosmetic dentistry. Otherwise, people with teeth damage or gaps tend to receive cosmetic dentistry the most.

Will cosmetic dentistry improve my oral health?

Certain cosmetic dentistry procedures are more than just aesthetic; they are also good for your oral health. Crowns that cover cracks in teeth, for example, can help make sure those teeth do not fracture.

Is a cosmetic dentist the same as a dentist?

Dentists can specialize in all sorts of different treatments and procedures, including cosmetic dentistry. In this way, every cosmetic dentist is a dentist, but not all dentists are cosmetic dentists. When you want cosmetic dentistry done, you should make sure that you choose a dentist who understands the specific procedure that you are requesting or need.

Is cosmetic dentistry permanent?

Some cosmetic dentistry procedures will be permanent. Veneers are considered permanent because they attach to your teeth after some enamel is removed to allow the attachment. Other procedures aren’t permanent, though, like teeth whitening, which can be done routinely to ensure that your smile is always bright.