Common Questions

• How often should I visit the dentist?
• What is your recommended daily routine for my teeth?
• How are emergencies handled?
• Should I whiten my teeth?

How often should I visit the dentist?

The answer to this question depends on each individual patient's oral health. For patients with healthy gums, little or no history of decay, good homecare and no significant medical conditions, we can usually help you maintain optimal health by scheduling cleanings and check-ups twice a year.

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What is your recommended daily routine for my teeth?

As a baseline, all patients should brush at least twice a day and ideally floss once a day. Daily flossing seems to be a major obstacle for most people. As a starting point, even flossing just twice a week would make a huge difference in the health of your gums.

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How are emergencies handled?

We recognize that you can have an emergency situation arise, and we will do our best to respond to your problem promptly. If you do have such a problem, please call us as early in the day as possible. If the problem arises when the office is closed, and you feel it requires immediate attention, you may call Dr. Stoner at home.

Dr. Stoner's home telephone number is (412) 828-2624. Dr. Stoner provides emergency coverage for the other dentists in Oakmont when they are out of town, and they provide coverage for Dr. Stoner when he is out of town.

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Should I whiten my teeth?

White teeth, everyone wants them. Most people are getting them. And, why not? Your smile is the first thing others notice about you. Like it or not, your smile tells more about you than any other physical feature. So, it’s important to keep it looking bright…right?

Oakmont Dental Associates offers a variety of ways to whiten your teeth. You have the choice of whitening during the day or overnight. We offer products that will remain active for up to 10 hours and whiten much faster than store bought systems. We create a custom fabricated tray made just for you. This lessens the likelihood of sensitivity and allows for more uniform whitening.

An exam and diagnosis should always be performed prior to whitening your teeth. It’s important for you to understand the whitening process. Tooth enamel discoloration can be caused by staining, aging, or chemical damage to teeth. Some of the more common causes of tooth discoloration are medications, coffee, tea, colas, or tobacco. Though not a permanent solution, teeth whitening is very effective with results that can last for years. Whitening your teeth is irreversible. When hair is bleached, it can easily be dyed or at least grow out to the original color within a few months. This is not the case with teeth. However, depending on your personal habits and diet, your teeth may darken slightly with time. Refill kits can be used every 6-12 months to touch-up, enhance and maintain the whitening results.

Teeth with defective restorations or decay should be addressed prior to whitening. Whitening agents on an unhealthy tooth can lead to severe discomfort. Whitening may cause sensitivity for some patients, especially patients who already have sensitive teeth. The dental team at Oakmont Dental Associates can monitor and provide appropriate treatment should sensitivity occur.

Dental restorations, such as crowns, fillings, veneers, etc., will not bleach. Whitening without dentist monitoring can cause a mismatch and may result in the need for expensive restoration replacement. Ideally, whitening should be performed prior to other esthetic dental procedures. The dental team at Oakmont Dental Associates can then match your new restorations to your lighter teeth.

Occasionally, too much whitening can cause some teeth to become translucent, causing them to appear darker. This can also cause metal fillings to show through the tooth structure. We can help to ensure that you don’t over whiten. We will help you choose the method that is best for you.

Your satisfaction is the top priority of our office. It is important that you are happy with your smile. We have the means to ensure that you get the fastest, safest, most powerful whitening available. We have had remarkably high success rates and our goal is to make sure you are completely satisfied.

If you have a picture of yourself anywhere on your computer and you want to see yourself with a new smile, just click on the following link to give yourself an online Venus Virtual Smile makeover.

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