Useful Information

Self Tests

Cosmetic Dental Makeover

The following self test involves some questions that if answered yes may signify that you would benefit and feel better about yourself from a cosmetic dental makeover:

Are you self-conscious about your smile?

Do you avoid smiling when photos are taken of you?

Do you tend to cover up your mouth with your hand when you speak or smile?

Are you conscious about spaces and gaps in your teeth?

Do you feel that your teeth make you look older?

Do you feel that your teeth are stained or too yellow?

Do you notice excessive areas of tooth wear that make your smile feel older?

Do you notice any dark fillings that are apparent when you smile?

Are your teeth crooked, chipped or crowded?

 

Dental Anxiety

Many people have a high level of anxiety and avoid visiting the dentist. This can cause future dental problems. Below are some questions that, if answered yes, may signify that you have some form of dental anxiety. It is important to note, however, that many new, wonderful products and procedures are available that can make the dental visit a pleasant experience.

Do you feel slight uneasiness and tension the evening prior to your dental visit, which makes you cancel your dental appointment?

While waiting in the reception area of the dental office, do you feel nervous about the visit?

Have you had a prior dental experience that was unpleasant?

While in the dental chair, do you feel uneasy and anxious?

Does the thought of having a dental injection make you feel physically ill and tense?

Does seeing the dentist or dental hygienist's instruments make you anxious?

Do you feel embarrassed that the dentist will say you have the worst mouth they have ever seen?

Do objects placed in your mouth during the dental visit make you panic and feel like you cannot breath correctly?

Do you feel that your dentist is unsympathetic only with you?

 

Nitrous Oxide or "Laughing Gas" is one of the safest forms of sedation available and can take the anxiety out of most routine dental procedures and cleanings. Non-allergenic and non-irritating, most patients feel the onset effects within minutes and these effects are completely reversed within about 5 minutes of gas termination. At the end of the procedure, you can safely drive home or go to work. More Information....

Gum Disease

The following self test involves some questions that if answered yes may signify that you have or will have periodontal disease:

Do you smoke?

Do you chew tobacco?

Does bad breath remain after you brush, floss and brush your tongue?

Do your gums bleed when you brush?

Are your gums swollen or puffy?

Do your teeth feel like they are separating?

Do your teeth feel loose?

Do your parents have a history of loose or missing teeth?

Do you notice that you show more tooth structure over the years?

Are you a diabetic?

 

Cavity Formation Signs and Symptoms

The following questions, if answered yes, may signify that you have or may be at risk of dental decay (cavities). You should see your dentist as soon as possible to evaluate any dental problems:

Do you have sensitivity to sudden temperature changes of foods or liquids (i.e. , hot and cold)?

Do you often have an unpleasant, foul taste that includes bad breath?

Do you notice any discoloration or darkening in your teeth especially between your teeth, on the biting surfaces of your teeth or at the gum line of your teeth?

Do you notice some level of discomfort in a tooth or teeth during or after you eat sweets?

Do you have poor nutrition?

Do you have poor oral hygiene habits?

 

Dental Abscess

The following self-test involves some questions, that if answered yes, may signify that you have or will have a dental abscess and should have a dental examination by your dentist as soon as possible.

Do you have bad breath or a foul taste in your mouth?

Do you have an earache?

Do you have an intermittent or continuous throbbing pain or toothache?

Do you have a general weakness and ill feeling?

Do you have a fever?

Do you have tender, swollen glands on the same side as the toothache?

Do you notice the onset of pain when you are eating or drinking?

 

Although these are some of the questions associated with a dental abscess, answering yes to any of them may also signify other medical or dental conditions. Professional care should be obtained as soon as possible.

Bad Breath

Many people have questions regarding their breath. Many are unable to tell if they have bad breath. Often times, you will hear a friend talk about someone else's horrible breath, yet never tell the other person. A simple technique one can perform on their own, is to take a bad breath self-test which involves a few simple steps:

Take a dry, clean unscented cloth and retract the tongue

with one hand and scrub the furthest part of your tongue for about 5 seconds. This should include about 4 good scrubs. Wait approximately 30 seconds and smell the cloth. If it has a bad smell, it may signify halitosis.

Take a piece of unwaxed, unscented floss and floss the upper or lower posterior teeth. Usually 2 to 3 teeth should be sufficient. Wait about 30 seconds and smell the floss. Again, if it has a smell one may have halitosis.

Lick the back part of your hand ( not the palm side), for about 5 seconds. Wait about 30 seconds. If you smell a bad odor this too may indicate halitosis. These are some of the simple techniques one can use to help determine if they have bad breath. By brushing , flossing and gently brushing your tongue and visiting the dentist regularly, you may reduce the level of bad breath. If this does not help, your dentist can place you on an anti-halitosis program to help alleviate the problem.

 

Canker Sore

The following self test involves some questions that if answered yes, may signify that you have a greater risk of developing painful, annoying canker sores that affect about 20 percent of Americans at one time or another:

Do you frequently eat hot, spicy and abrasive foods?

Do you have a high level of physical and/or emotional stress?

Do you wear removable dental appliances that are ill-fitting or worn?

Do you have a poor nutritional diet?

Do you frequently have gastrointestinal problems that cause you to have difficulty digesting certain foods?

Do you frequently have allergic reactions to certain foods?

Do you have a medical condition that has compromised your natural immune system?

Are you near or in your monthly menstrual cycle?

Do you have other family members who frequently have canker sores? Oral Cancer

Oral Cancer

The following self-test involves some questions that if answered yes, may predispose or signify that you have or may develop oral cancer. Regular dental and medical examinations are a must, so that cancer screenings can be performed by trained professionals. The success of treatment and survival rate of cancer greatly increases with an early diagnosis. Please go to the self-examination of oral cancer section for more information. Never use this or other self-tests as a means for self diagnosis.

Do you smoke?

Do you drink excessive amounts of alcohol?

Do you have difficulty swallowing or chewing?

Do you have oral habits such as cheek or lip biting?

Do you wear dentures that are old or ill fitting?

Do you notice any swelling, lumps or bumps anywhere in the mouth?

Do you notice any white, red or dark lesions anywhere in the mouth?

Do you notice any tingling or numb feeling anywhere in the mouth, neck or facial regions?

Do you notice repeated bleeding anywhere in the mouth?

TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction)

The following self-test involves some questions that if answered yes, may signify that you have TMJ Dysfunction, although they may also be caused by other medical and dental conditions which may require immediate medical and dental evaluations by professionals:

Do you have difficulty opening your mouth?

Do you have chronic headaches?

Do you have difficulty chewing certain types of foods?

Do you have ringing or popping sounds in one or both ears?

Do you have facial or neck pains?

Does your jaw feel sore at times or constantly?

Do you have difficulty turning your head in either direction?