Skip to main content
Nov 22
Naperville-General-Dentistry-blog

What amount of dental work can be done in one sitting?

By Sedation Dentistry

I have a TON of dental work that needs to be done. I need several root canals. I also have a few cavities and need some cosmetic work done. I don’t want this to drag out and have to keep taking time off work. How much work can I get done in one appointment?

Bill K. -Draper, Utah

Bill,

You will get a variety of answers to this question depending on the dentist you choose. Each dentist has a different comfort level when it comes to this issue. You will find that dentists who do sedation dentistry are comfortable with the most amount of work in one sitting. You can easily find one by doing a google search for “draper sedation dentist”.

If you are not comfortable with sedation dentistry, then it also depends on your endurance level with treatment. If you are not bothered by dental treatment, you could do as much as four hours at a time and get a great deal done depending on how fast your dentist works.

Something else to bear in mind.  It can take a general or cosmetic dentist one and a half to two hours to do a molar root canal, but a root canal specialist (an endodontist) is able to get the whole thing done in an hour without a problem. So if your root canals are all on front teeth, you’re fine with a general dentist. However, if they are on molars you’ll need a specialist to get several done in one appointment.

This blog is brought to you by Naperville cosmetic dentist Dr. La Vacca.

 

Nov 07

Teeth Whitening Systems

By Teeth Whitening

A few years ago my dentist gave me a whitening tray called Opalescence. I’m wanting to bleach my teeth. Do I have to only use the opalescence brand with this tray? Could I also use other brands, or could I just use Crest whitestrips without the tray? What about Brite Smile To Go?

Thanks,

Todd M.- Florida

Todd,

Opalescence is a good whitening gel, but it is not the only one you can use with your tray. It is one of several brands that cosmetic dentists use to whiten their patient’s teeth. Another popular brand is Nite White. The benefit of the tray is it should have been custom made for your teeth, so you’ll get better coverage.

Brite Smile to Go is an over the counter paint on whitener. I have not seen any studies on its effectiveness, so could not give a definitive answer. However, looking at the ingredients and the instructions, it appears to be a mild whitener that is safe to use. Crest White Strips have been around for years and have a number of studies on them. They are perfectly safe and will whiten your teeth, but it is a much milder form of whitener and will take a while.

If you’re looking for a faster teeth whitening system, you might consider Zoom Whitening. It is administered by a dentist and can give you a brilliantly white smile in just one appointment.

This blog is brought to you by Naperville Cosmetic Dentist, Anthony LaVacca.

Sep 27

Novocain doesn’t work for me

By Sedation Dentistry

I have a very high tolerance for novocain, so dental procedures are a complete nightmare. I need to get a tooth extracted and wondered if there is anything I can do.

Jeanne S.- San Francisco

Jeanne,

Most people who have a high tolerance for novocain, it is because they are nervous about the procedure. The adrenaline causes the Novocain to wear off quicker. There is a solution though. First, you want to go to a dentist that practices sedation dentistry.  What you need is something to relax you enough to allow the novocain to take affect. There are a couple of options. You could take nitrous oxide, or an oral sedation pill. Either one will give you the edge you need to get through the procedure pain free.

This blog is brought to you by Naperville Cosmetic Dentist Dr. La Vacca.

Sep 14

Really Bad Breath

By Bad Breath Treatment

I hope you can help me. I have really bad breath, but it seems like no matter how often I brush I can’t get rid of it.

Wallace- Little Rock

Wallace,

Bad breath is caused by bacteria multiplying in your mouth. While brushing is great, you will also need to floss. Many dentist’s have some specialized products that can help neutralize the odors while your dentist gets to the underlying cause.

 

This blog is brought to you by Naperville dentist Dr. LaVacca.

Aug 24

Porcelain veneers for one crooked tooth

By Porcelain Veneers

I have one crooked tooth in the front. I was wondering if I could get porcelain veneers to fix it, or if I have to have braces.

Jennie I. – Sandy, Utah

Jennie,

If you don’t want traditional braces you have two wonderful options. The first one is porcelain veneers. They are an excellent solution for your crooked tooth. If it sticks out in the front it would need to be shaved down first. It is important you go to a qualified cosmetic dentist to get these done. It takes a lot of artistic skills to do veneers, your basic family dentist may not have the needed training.

A second option for you is invisalign. It sounds like you are uncomfortable with the idea of traditional braces. However, I wanted to make sure you were aware that with invisalign there is not the same issue with pain/discomfort that you get with wire & brackets. Plus, they are completely invisible. No one will know you are wearing braces.

This blog is brought to you by Naperville Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Jul 30

First Dental Visit

By Pediatric Dentist

I’m about to take my son to his first dental appointment. I wondered what your opinion is as to how to prepare him. He’s three years old and likes to know things ahead of time, but I’m not sure how much to say.

Deanna D.- Tallahassee

Deanna,

It is fantastic that you are being so proactive with your son’s dental care. My suggestion is when you bring up his dental appointment, don’t make a big deal out of it. If you treat it as a normal part of his dental hygiene, like brushing, he’ll be less uptight. Children sense when we are nervous and it makes them nervous as well. You could simply say that he is going to get a special cleaning for his teeth and leave it at that. Of course, answer any questions he has, but keep the tone upbeat and simple.

You want his first appointment to be before he has any dental issues. Focus his preparation on hygiene training. Brushing his teeth should be mandatory. There are plenty of ways to make this fun, instead of a battle.  You can play games together, or get stickers. Whatever works best for him. This way his first appointment will be a good experience, instead of dealing with a cavity.

Equally as important as preparation for the appointment is choosing the dentist. There are many great pediatric dentists available. However, there are also great general dentists who are qualified and love treating children. It is convenient to have the whole family seen in the same office. You want it to be a dentist who is comfortable with and enjoys children.  One way to tell if a dentist is comfortable treating children is the age they prefer to see them. If they prefer to wait until they are over seven, that is a sign they’re not comfortable around children. On the other hand, if they’ll see children as young as one you can tell they are comfortable with them and enjoy treating them. Some dentists do not allow parents in the treatment room, so if that is important to you or your child, you should ask the office ahead of time about their policy.

You may also be interested on our page on Tooth Decay Treatment and Prevention.

This blog is brought to you by Naperville Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

 

Jul 14

Getting a Hollywood smile

By Porcelain Veneers

I have always been embarrassed by my teeth. Not only are they yellow and crooked, but they are much shorter than most people’s teeth. I’ve never been able to afford a smile makeover, but I had been saving up for teeth whitening and invisalign. Recently, I just inherited a lot of money and am free for the first time in my life to do whatever I want. Well, what I want is a Hollywood smile. Would  you recommend anything other than the services I had already been saving up for?

Denise in Washington

Denise,

Congratulations on your windfall! The two procedures you had in mind are a great start, but will not do anything about the shortness of your teeth. Instead of a bunch of different procedures, I’m going to recommend one “all encompassing” procedure. Getting porcelain veneers will solve all of your mentioned issues and it can be done in only two appointments. You can learn more about the procedure on our website.

One word of caution. Make sure you use a qualified cosmetic dentist with a lot of experience. Look through their smile gallery to see if you are impressed with the quality of his or her work. Just because someone says they are a cosmetic dentist, doesn’t mean they are artistic enough to give you a truly spectacular smile.

This blog is brought to you by Naperville Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Feb 15

How do I prevent from losing my teeth if I have gum disease?

By Gum Disease

Not long ago, I was told by a dentist that I have gum disease. I currently do not have dental insurance, so I haven’t been back to the dentist to get this checked. Now I’ve noticed my lower front gum is getting really low, and two of my bottom front teeth have become slightly loose. How do I prevent from losing my teeth? If I lose these two teeth, will my other teeth shift over where the gap is?

Gary from Memphis

Gary,

Once your teeth become loose from gum disease, there really isn’t much you can do to save them. Gum disease shouldn’t be taken lightly. If some of your teeth are loose, then you may have more that will become loose. I strongly urge you to see a dentist, regardless of not having dental insurance. It isn’t that expensive to prevent gum disease. Start by going for your checkups and cleaning right away.

Had you kept up with your routine dental care, you would have been much better off. If you want to slow down or stop gum disease, schedule an appointment with a dentist right away.

Read through our website to learn how to avoid these common dental problems.

Jan 11

My Baby’s teeth are not falling out.

By Pediatric Dentist

It looks like my 6 year old son has his second set of teeth coming in, but he hasn’t lost his baby teeth yet. In fact his baby teeth aren’t even loose. Should I wait until the baby teeth loosen, or do you think I should take him to the dentist to have them removed?

Monica from Columbus, OH

Monica,

If your son’s baby teeth have not fallen out yet, and if they are not loose enough to jiggle them out yourself, then you should take your son to the dentist to have them removed before his permanent teeth come in.

If you can see the permanent teeth coming in but the baby teeth haven’t fallen out, and you can’t jiggle them out yourself, I’d take your son to a dentist and have the dentist take them out. The baby teeth can redirect his permanent teeth if they’re prevented from coming out the way they should.

At Naperville Dental Specialist, we specialize in pediatric dentistry. Learn more dental care for children and explore our website here.

Dec 15

Is this a fair price for a dental bridge?

By Dental Bridge, Dentures

I was told by my dentist that I need a five unit bridge. I have a great deal of bone loss due to gum disease, and my teeth are loose, so my dentist is afraid that a partial will put too much stress on my teeth. I was quoted $5500 in addition to extraction costs. I this a fair and reasonable price?

Tory from Houston

Dear Tory,

The fee seems reasonable for Texas. However, I’m not sure why your dentist is suggesting a dental bridge instead of a removable partial denture. A removable partial is less risky and will place less stress on the adjacent teeth.  Also, a bridge puts much less stress on the teeth it attaches to. You would need to scrap using the dental bridge and start over again if you have an issue with one of those teeth it is resting on. If you go with a partial, then you can add a tooth to it later with much less work and expense.

What I encourage you do is get a second opinion to find out if the bridge is the best way to go.

You can read more about this procedure here on our website.

Close Menu