Office Location: 540 East Main Street, Lexington, KY 40508
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Our Reviews

Archives for September 2018

Infant Teeth Grinding

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My toddler now has three teeth. One on top and two on the bottom. Ever since the top one came in she’s been grinding the teeth together. I’m very worried about this. Is there something I can do?

Betty

Dear Betty,

Smiling boy with tooth brush

Children are our biggest joy and constant worry. We want to keep them safe. We want to keep them healthy. We want them to grow to be people of character. We want them to be successful. It’s understandable you’re worried about her teeth grinding. In adults, it destroys their teeth. However, with infants and toddlers, this is quite common.

We don’t really know why they grind their teeth. It could be just the sensation of new things in their mouth and they’re fascinated. It could be the feeling of teething is driving them bonkers. Either way, most of them outgrow it fairly quickly.

When to See a Pediatric Dentist

If she hasn’t already had a pediatric dental appointment, go ahead and schedule one. It’s always better to bring children to the dentist early before there’s time for problems to develop. Too many parents wait until their child has a toothache to bring them in. Then their first experience with a dentist is a painful one. That memory sticks with children and sets them up for a lifetime of dental anxiety.

If you go now, your dentist can give her a positive experience, as well as check to make sure she’s not damaging any enamel. There are things a dentist can do to help strengthen her teeth and protect her from cavities.

He can also keep an eye on whether or not she’s developing any cracks or breaks in her teeth as a result of the grinding.

So, take a deep breath. Your daughter will likely be just fine, as long as you don’t wait until she has a dental emergency to bring her in.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Whitening a Discolored Crown

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I have a dental crown which can be seen when I smile. It’s started getting darker than usual. I don’t know what happened. I’ve had it for a bit so maybe it’s just wearing out?? I need to get it whitened, but don’t know what procedure to ask for. I thought while I was at it, I’d whiten my teeth too and start with a brand new smile. What do I do for the crown?

Amanda

Dear Amanda,

An image of a crown being placed on a tooth

If this staining started suddenly, it sounds like something recently happened to your crown which removed the glazing from it. Unfortunately, the only solution for a stained crown is to replace it. If you’ve had it for a while, it was probably getting close to the end of its lifespan anyway, so that won’t be as tragic as if it was a fairly new crown.

Teeth whitening only works on natural tooth structure. While we can make a dental crown or bridge any color the patient requests, We don’t yet have a way to whiten dental work which is already completed.

However, this doesn’t have to interfere with your plans to renew your smile through whitening.

Do You Need a Cosmetic or General Dentist for Teeth Whitening?

While there are certain procedures which really require some artistic expertise in cosmetic dentistry, such as porcelain veneers, that’s not the case with teeth whitening. Any general dentist should be able to provide it.

There are generally two main professional teeth whitening options: in-office and at-home. Most dentists offer at-home whitening. But, if you’re wanting to whiten your teeth fast, you’ll want a dentist who offers an in-office option, such as Zoom! Whitening. This allows you to get your teeth whitened in just one appointment.

When it comes to which came first the chicken or the egg, there’s still debate. However, the question of the crown or the whitening is much easier. Do the teeth whitening first. That way, you’ll have all your teeth the color you want and your new porcelain crown can be made to match.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.