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Maximizing The Benefits Of Your Dental Team

The new dentistry brings together a unique complement of skills, knowledge, and capabilities with one primary focus: ensuring your dental health care. Working as a team, your dentist and the dental finance team he or she has assembled wants to recruit you to join them in making sure this focus is maintained. The dental team has two major parts that you may hear referenced during your visits: the "back" and the "front." These terms refer to two very specific functions of your dental team. The front office handles all the administration, scheduling, and dental financing, and the back office provides the treatment.

Your front office team makes sure you know about scheduling opportunities, handles dental finance, and keeps the administrative details under control to provide you efficient services and support. The back office team is thus free to do what they do best: provide the best dental health care, financing health care and service for you. You'll find the dentist, dental hygienist, and dental assistant ready to assist you during your appointments.

The key component for success of any team is each member's commitment to do their part. As a consumer and team member, your commitment involves three things:

• Maintaining your commitment to your dental health through regular hygiene appointments and the daily practice of flossing and brushing.
• Asking questions and getting the essential information you need about your teeth and gums or to understand any treatment plans or dental financing.
• Staying open to options and opportunities that the new dentistry offers you by thinking about the information and feedback that your dentist provides you about the status of your dental health.

You can maximize the benefits of the skills and expertise of your dental finance team by deciding for yourself what kind of relationship you want with your dentist and the dental team and how they can help you achieve a positive outcome for your dental future.

By Brian DesRoches, PhD

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

Find A Dentist: Frequently Asked Questions

Q. If a pain in a tooth goes away, should you still see a dentist?

A. Either minor or severe pain that goes away may indicate that you have a cracked tooth. A cracked tooth hurts because the pulp, the soft inner tissue of the tooth, is irritated. If treatment is delayed, the tooth may split and be more difficult to treat successfully.

The sudden absence of pain also may be a sign that the nerves of the tooth have died. It might also be due to a chronic infection that is draining. Even if the pain stops, if the pulp is damaged or diseased, pain will likely return and the tooth will require treatment. It is important to find a dentist who can treat the situation.

Q. After a traumatic injury, if teeth aren't chipped or broken but there's bleeding in the gums, is dental care necessary?

A. It's not always easy for people to tell when to seek a dental evaluation. However, if the gums bleed, it's important to see a dentist because the trauma may have caused damage. The tooth may have been "jammed" into the socket and severe problems could develop.

Prompt treatment often prevents more serious problems or complications from developing later. A tooth can develop problems long after the injury, so it's very important to be checked.

Q. What might be the cause of a dull ache in your upper teeth and cheek?

A. It can indicate several conditions. It could be associated with a tooth or gum problem, bruxism (grinding teeth), TMD (temporomandibular disorder), a sinus infection, headache, or salivary gland infection.

Check with your dental provider first, and if it's not related to a dental condition, you will be referred to a physician. Click here to find a dentist who specializes in TMJ/TMD.

Q. What should you do when you have a toothache?

A. Clean your mouth by rinsing with warm water and remove any food that is trapped between teeth with dental floss. Do not apply aspirin on the aching tooth or gum tissues. See your dentist as soon as possible.

Q. What should you do if your tooth is knocked out?

A. If your tooth is knocked out, you should carefully rinse the tooth with water. You should attempt to place the tooth back in its socket and secure it with a wet wrap. If you cannot place the tooth back in its socket, put it in a glass with either saliva or milk. Then you should contact your dentist so you can be seen immediately.

Q. What are extruded teeth?

A. Extruded teeth are teeth that are forced out of position.

Q. What is the treatment for a broken tooth?

A. Rinse the mouth with warm water. Try to remove any dirt, blood, or debris from the injured area using sterilized gauze or a clean cloth and warm water. Apply cold compresses on the face next to the injured tooth to reduce swelling. Cover the tooth with cotton or gauze if the rough edges are cutting you or if it is sensitive to air, and see your dentist immediately.

Q. What should you do if your tooth is pushed out of position?

A. If your tooth is pushed out of place, you should reposition it to its normal alignment using very light finger pressure. You should hold the tooth in place with a moist gauze or tissue. Make sure that a dentist sees you ideally within a half-hour.

Q. What causes a constant throbbing pain in your jaw or tooth?

A. A throbbing pain is usually a symptom from two different causes: either the nerve inside the tooth or the ligament around the tooth is damaged, irritated, or inflamed. A cavity, traumatic injury, or other factor can damage or irritate the pulp inside the tooth.

Severe gum disease affecting the ligament that surrounds and cushions the tooth roots can result in throbbing pain. An erupting tooth, including a third molar or wisdom tooth and TMD are also potential sources of throbbing pain.

Q. What is considered to be a minor tooth fracture?

A. A minor fracture is considered to be a tooth that is only broken in the hard outer enamel part.

Q. How do you treat a minor tooth fracture?

A. Your dentist can smooth a minor fracture with a sandpaper disc or just leave it alone. You can also restore the tooth with a composite restoration if necessary.

Q. What do you consider to be a moderate tooth fracture?

A. A moderate fracture is considered to be damage to the enamel, dentin, and/or pulp of the tooth.

Q. How do you treat a moderate tooth fracture?

A. A moderate fracture can be restored with a full permanent crown if the pulp is not permanently damaged. Sometimes, an onlay or bonding will be appropriate as well. Occasionally, root canal treatment (endodontics) may be required.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.