Your First Appointment
What to Bring With You
Please bring a list of any medications you're taking. This includes both prescriptions and over-the-counter products that you are currently taking.
Cancellation Notice
Life gets in the way, if you are unable to keep your scheduled appointment please inform us at least 24 hours in advance or as soon as possible. We will work to make sure the dentist sees you promptly when you arrive or you can call to reschedule.
Do you Accept Insurance?
Yes we accept most major dental insurances in our Fairfax location. For more information click here.
Does District Dental Group offer payment plans?
Yes have payment options. For more information click here.
Common Dental Related Questions…
What exactly is a porcelain veneer?
A porcelain veneer is a laminate of porcelain that covers the outside of the tooth. It is done to create a lighter appearing tooth. By placing a light layer of porcelain over a darker tooth you can create a very natural appearing tooth that is very esthetic.
What is the difference between a crown and a veneer?
When a tooth is prepared for a crown tooth structure is removed from the entire circumference of the tooth as well as the chewing surface of the tooth. A crown is necessary if the tooth has so many large fillings that there would not be enough natural enamel from the original tooth to bond a veneer to it.
If a veneer can be done it is the esthetic restoration of choice but often times due to preexisting conditions a crown might be the necessary.
How long do veneers last?
On average a veneer is going to last 10 to 15 years. For people who are heavy bruxers that grind their teeth at night it is advisable to wear a night guard to protect their dentistry. Good oral hygiene and avoiding excessive sweets is probably the biggest contributing factor to longevity of veneers. A tooth with a veneer or crown on it is just as susceptible to decay as a natural tooth. The better you take care of it the longer it will last.
Root Canals
What exactly is a root canal?
The best way to explain a root canal is to first discuss the anatomy of a tooth.
The outer layer of a tooth is comprised of enamel. It is a very hard inorganic material that is designed to remain hard throughout years of chewing. The layer under the enamel is called dentin. Good healthy dentin is necessary to support the enamel. Underneath the dentin is the pulp. The pulp is comprised of nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. The main purpose of the pulp is to provide nutrients to the tooth. The blood vessels in the pulp provide fluid to the dentin so that the tooth remains vital.
Why can't I just get a tooth filled if I have a cavity?
In most cases that is all that is necessary. Decay is a colony of bacteria that has eaten away at the dentin in the tooth. Once the decay is removed, if we are still in dentin, then the tooth can be restored without doing a root canal.
When do I need a root canal?
If the decay extends through the dentin and into the pulp then the bacteria will create an infection in the pulp chamber. The pulp will eventually become necrotic which means it will get infected with puss.
If it is an infection why can't I just take an antibiotic?
When the pulp chamber becomes necrotic, the infection constantly leaks out the end of the root. The apex of the root is where the nerves and blood vessels enter the tooth from the jawbone. When a tooth is abscessed the infection is leaking through the apex into the jaw. There are no more intact nerves and blood vessels inside the tooth to transport antibiotics into the pulp chamber. The antibiotics would clear the infection up around the end of the tooth temporarily but eventually the abscess would come back. It would be like leaving a splinter in your finger and never taking it out.
What exactly is a root canal?
A root canal comprises cleaning out the entire pulp chamber in the tooth. The dentist has special files and instruments that allow us to gain access to the apex of the root. After removing the infected pulp, the tooth is disinfected with a chlorox solution. Sodium hypochlorite is still considered to be the most effective disinfectant. Once the pulp chamber has been adequately cleaned then it is filled a pliable rubbery material that seals the chamber all the way to the apex.
Once the pulp is removed isn't the tooth dead?
The inside of the tooth is no longer alive and vital. Fortunately, the tooth is held into the bone with a periodontal ligament. This ligament is completely separate from the pulp chamber and and functions normally. Once the pulp chamber is removed the dentin in the tooth will tend to dry out, thus making the tooth more brittle. Posterior teeth, which are the back chewing teeth will usually need a crown on them to prevent them from fracturing.
How long will a root canal last?
I have numerous patients that have had root canal treated teeth 20 plus years. The biggest contributing factor to success is that the root canal was cleaned and sealed properly to begin with. The biggest benefit of saving your teeth is to keep the entire dental arch intact so the migration and shifting do not occur thus compromising your bite.
Conscious Sedation
Recently I had a new patient come into the office with a severe toothache that needed a root canal. Unfortunately she had developed a dental phobia that literally brought her to tears when she arrived at the office. We chose to get her on pain medication and antibiotics and reschedule an appointment for conscious sedation prior to starting dental treatment.
What is conscious sedation?
Conscious sedation is a means of reducing patient's fears and anxiety to a level that allows them to have a and pleasant experience in the dental office.
What is done to achieve conscious sedation?
In our practice we use a combination of a sleeping pill called Halcyon and nitrous oxide. We have the patient come to the office one hour prior to the dental appointment so that we can administer the sleeping pill. We have a reversing agent on hand in the event that the patient has an adverse reaction to the medication. Depending on the size of the patient will will administer 0.25 or 0.375 mg of halcyon. After one hour we will bring to patient back and start to administer nitrous oxide.
Are you unconscious?
No, this is considered a mild conscious sedation. The patient is still capable of responding to questions and commands. The level of nitrous oxide can be raised or lowered to adjust the level of sedation. Numerous patients sleep through the treatment and numerous don't fall asleep but experience a substantial reduction in anxiety.
Is it safe?
Yes it is. We do have a reversing agent available in case there is an adverse reaction. In the 100+ cases we have done we have never needed to use it. We monitor the patient's oxygen levels with a pulse oximeter that is attached to the patient's finger.
Is this done in place of getting an injection to numb up the mouth?
It is not. We still have to anesthetize the treated area with xylocaine. One of the biggest phobias that patients have is of getting a shot. We always wait until the conscious sedation as in effect prior to giving the injection. It makes the entire visit much more pleasurable.
Can I drive home after conscious sedation?
Absolutely not! It is imperative that the patient has someone take them home and also be present and administer to their needs for the next 4 hours. Usually they will go home and go to sleep, but we will not administer conscious sedation unless someone is with the patient for 4 hours following dental treatment.
