Dr. Deister’s answers to commonly asked questions:

Are powered toothbrushes really better than hand brushing?

Just a few years ago I would have said “no.” The powered toothbrushes simply amounted to a mass of bristles on a brush head that swirled around and accomplished little. With the advent of sonic technology by Procter & Gamble Oral B (“Sonic Complete”) and the Philips Company (“Sonicare”), there is no better way to clean your teeth. The other essential key to good oral hygiene is flossing once a day.

What is cosmetic dentistry?

This term has come into vogue as though there is a specialty called “cosmetic dentistry.” There is no such specialty. It simply refers to performing dental work that not only functions well but looks beautiful. There are various products and techniques (some new and some I have used for 33 years) that create stunningly beautiful results. The main ingredient is skill of the dentist who performs the cosmetic dentistry.


What is a dental implant?

Traditionally when teeth are removed, the resultant space is bridged by crowning (capping) the tooth on either side of the space and cementing a replacement that consists of three teeth; two crowns (caps) joined together by a false tooth in the middle. This “bridging” method is appropriate for many applications. However, another wonderful alternative is available. An implant is simply an artificial root replacement upon which a tooth can be made. Tested and researched for nearly a century now, implants in their present form, are nearly 100% successful.
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What is the difference between gingivitis and periodontitis?

Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gums with symptoms of redness and puffiness. This is the body’s response to plaque bacteria staying in the same place for more than 24 hours. People who do not floss once daily will have constant low grade gingivitis.

Periodontitis is the infection of the gums and bone holding the teeth. It is caused by continued inflammation, in addition to, proliferation of certain bacteria that tend to destroy the bone support around the teeth.

Do “whitening” toothpastes really whiten teeth?

The advertisements may lead you to believe that the tooth shade itself changes (an intrinsic change). The truth is, whitening toothpastes are very abrasive and only remove extrinsic (outer surface) stains such as tea, coffee and tobacco. Indeed the teeth may be cleaner because they have been subjected to such a scrubbing. Brushing the teeth with whitening toothpaste will clean the teeth, but bleaching them to change the shade is a totally different procedure.


What is a “root canal”?

Every root has a canal down in the center in which nerves and blood vessels are found. These keep the tooth vital (alive). If the tooth is insulted enough by decay or trauma, the contents of the canal necrose (die), and infection at the end of the root may follow. This necessitates filling the canal with a substance that seals the end of the root and the infection subsides. The tooth can then be crowned (capped) and kept as a useful part of the dentition.