Frequently Asked Questions

Not necessarily! Power brushes are available in many sizes, prices, and brushing motion. Many patients love using a power brush. But the toothbrush that will work best for YOU is the one that doesn’t feel awkward in your hand and that you enjoy using. Again, follow the recommendations of soft bristles, small head, and circular gumline brushing. Our hygienists can make recommendations according to your specific oral hygiene needs.

Not necessarily! Power brushes are available in many sizes, prices, and brushing motion. Many patients love using a power brush. But the toothbrush that will work best for YOU is the one that doesn’t feel awkward in your hand and that you enjoy using. Again, follow the recommendations of soft bristles, small head, and circular gumline brushing. Our hygienists can make recommendations according to your specific oral hygiene needs.

Flossing your teeth daily is necessary to help prevent cavities by removing bacteria and food between the teeth that toothbrushing alone can’t reach. Floss once after lunch if you can, but always floss just before bedtime and don’t eat or drink anything afterward, except water.

Nothing! Dental crowns (sometimes called caps) are used to repair a severely damaged or fractured tooth by covering the entire tooth once the areas of decay have been removed. They can be made of porcelain, gold, zirconia, stainless steel, or other resin composites which is determined by the location, size, and function of the tooth.

Fixed bridges and partial bridges replace missing permanent teeth. Fixed bridges are permanently attached to surrounding teeth with crowns or dental implants. Partial bridges are attached to nearby teeth using clasps or precision attachments and can be removed by patients.

Tebo Dental only uses tooth colored (white) filling materials made of a type of acrylic resin. Silver fillings are made of amalgam, which is a material made of a combination of different metals.

A root canal is only necessary on teeth that have decay or fracture into the pulp or nerve inside the tooth, and many teeth requiring crowns do not fall into that category. However, most teeth that have a root canal DO require a dental crown to hold the tooth structure together after extensive decay or fracture into the pulp.

The type of procedure necessary to clean the deposits (plaque and tartar) from your teeth is determined by where the deposits have accumulated. Our hygienists measure the depths of the natural space between the teeth and gums. If those depths measure 1 to 3 mm deep, this is an indication that the gums are relatively healthy and the deposits in that space can be removed with a regular prophylaxis. If there are multiple depths of more that 4-5 mm, indicating periodontal (gum) disease, the deposits are too deep to be removed without specialized instruments and techniques to reach deep into the narrow space.