Frequently Asked Dental Questions – Garland, TX
Want Answers to Your Dental Questions?
We receive countless questions from our patients every single day. As such, Dr. Knott has decided to share the answers to some of the questions that we’ve heard most often on this page. If there’s something you’ve always wanted to know about our dental office or dental care in general, check this page to see if it’s covered here. Then you can call our dental office if you need additional help.
How Often Should I Visit the Dentist?
Under normal circumstances, you should have two checkups or cleanings per year. If it’s been more than six months since your last appointment, we recommend that you call us as soon as possible for an appointment with Dr. Knott. Note that if you have gum disease (or another persistent oral health problem), you might need more than two visits per year to keep it under control.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Crown?
If you visited a dental office that relied on an outside lab to provide dental crowns, it would take at least two visits: one to prepare the tooth and take an impression, and the other to place the crown once it arrives. But with the CEREC technology that our dental office uses, we can create the crown ourselves on the same day that we take the impression, meaning it takes just one appointment for us to repair your tooth.
What Should I Do If I Have a Toothache?
Try flossing around the tooth; you might just have a stuck piece of food that needs to be removed. If the pain fails to go away after one or two days, or if it becomes a severe problem, call our dental office immediately. Tooth pain can usually be managed with over-the-counter medication, and an ice pack can help provide temporary relief, but to treat the underlying source of the pain, you may need root canal therapy or another treatment.
Do I Need to Replace a Missing Tooth?
Yes, even if the tooth wasn’t one that most people would see when you smile, you should have it replaced quickly. An incomplete set of teeth makes it difficult to chew and speak clearly; it can also lead to bone loss in your jaw and cause your remaining teeth to drift. We can examine the empty space and help decide whether a dental implant or
What Can I Do If I’m Unhappy with How My Smile Looks?
You can discuss the parts of your smile that you’re unhappy with during a consultation with Dr. Knott. The next step depends on the changes you want to make. You might get veneers to cover a crack, or you might brighten all of your teeth with a whitening procedure; different smiles call for different improvements, and Dr. Knott will always be honest about what you can realistically expect from your treatments.
Should I Be Screened for Oral Cancer?
Tobacco and HPV infection can put you at a higher risk of oral cancer, but almost anyone can develop the disease, and the symptoms aren’t always obvious until it’s already in the advanced stages. You should therefore undergo an oral cancer screening regularly. We can provide one at each of your regular checkups.
Do You Take My Insurance?
We are in-network with most dental PPOs, so if you belong to a major dental insurance plan, odds are we can take it and help you maximize your savings. Call us today with your insurance information to see if we take your plan; you can also use our online insurance checker.