FAQs

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions we are asked by patients, as well as excerpts from Dr. Gladnick's column in the Wilmington News Journal's "Ask the Dentist."

• I have two grade-school aged children. How do I keep their teeth cavity free?
• What is the difference between bonding and veneers?
• Do you think that tongue piercings can cause problems?
• Why do I get frequent head or neck aches and hear a click when I open my mouth?
• How can I change the appearance of my teeth without orthodontics?
• How can my dentist find illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes?
• What can I do to get rid of those chalky white spots on my teeth?
• How do I know whether to get a bridge or an implant?
• How do I know if my dental pain will go away on its own? When is it time to call the dentist?
• I am not sure it is worth spending the money on a nightguard. What is the real benefit?
• Are root canals painful?
• How can I find a great dentist?
• My child swallows funny. Her tongue comes out between the lips on every swallow. Is this a problem?
• I am 8 months pregnant and would like to know what I need to do to keep my baby's teeth healthy.
• How will a woman’s hormonal changes affect oral health?
• What is the difference between sealants and PRRs (preventive resin restorations)?
• How does a sealant help prevent decay?
• I am concerned about getting too many x-rays. Are they all really necessary?
• What are digital x-rays? Are they better than conventional dental x-rays?
• I am 33 years old and my dentist has suggested that I have braces. He says it is not just for my appearance. He tells me that it will be easier to keep my teeth clean and will mean less chances of developing gum disease. Is this right?
• Can I change my smile by just changing the front four or six teeth?
• When I bite down I have a sharp pain in my tooth. What could be wrong?
• What are the advantages of having Invisalign braces over conventional braces?
• Why should I replace a missing back tooth?
• Are implants really as good as a bridge?
• My husband's teeth look worn down, flat, and discolored because of his nighttime grinding habit. Can veneers help improve the appearance of his teeth?
• Do you put on “temporary” teeth while the veneers are being made? I’ve had temporaries that did not look good and I don’t want to walk around with ugly teeth for 2 weeks.
• Does thumb sucking or using a pacifier hurt my baby’s teeth?
• What is the best age to bring my child to see the dentist?
• Does my child need supplemental fluoride?
• What about whitening strips...do they do a good job?
• How do you get the new teeth to match the natural teeth?
• Does the whitening solution I buy at the store give the same results as the solution I would buy from my dentist?
• I have one dark front tooth that I want fixed. What are my options?
• Which is better – base metal crowns, porcelain, or gold?
• I have unexplained headaches and neck aches. Can you help?
• I often awaken with an earache. Could grinding be the problem?
• What's the link between diabetes and gum disease?
• What can I do about these canker sores?
• My dentist said I have gum disease and I am only twenty! I thought that only elderly people get gum disease. Is that not true?
• I wanted to get my teeth cleaned, but my dentist said I needed to have scaling and root planing first. Why?
• I’m so embarrassed about my worn teeth – I never smile anymore. Is there anything I can do about?
• Can my teeth ever look natural again?
• I have had headaches repeatedly. Could they be related to my teeth?