Frequently Asked Questions

There's no getting around the need to get around your teeth daily with dental floss. It clears food and plaque from between teeth and under the gumline. If you don't, plaque hardens into tartar, which forms wedges and widens the space between teeth and gums, causing pockets. Over time, gums pull away and teeth loosen.

Many of our patients invite their family and friends to join our practice. The referrals we receive are the best compliment you can give us. We will strive to make your visit enjoyable so that you, too, will feel inclined to recommend our practice to your family and friends.

Regular exams help spot trouble early to prevent bigger and more costly treatments later.

A dental hygienist will start by cleaning buildup from your teeth. Then the dentist will probe spots on the surfaces and near the gumline with special tools. If it's been a while between appointments, you may have some sore and sensitive areas.

You should get an exam every 6 months, or more often if your dentist recommends it.

If you have any of these issues or see your child having trouble chewing or complaining of soreness:

• Mouth sores
• Jaw pain
• Redness
• Swollen face or gums
• Tooth sensitivity
• Broken teeth
• Dry mouth
• Bleeding gums
• Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
• Getting checked out right away prevents more serious problems and infections.

Yes, you should be very concerned about bleeding gums, especially if you haven't had an exam in a while. Bleeding gums may be a symptom of several problems, such as leaky fillings or gum disease. While it may seem harmless, bleeding gums can cause a variety of serious health problems. If your gums are bleeding, call us as soon as possible to schedule an appointment so we can analyze the cause.

Everyone knows that cavities are bad, but a surprising amount of people don’t know exactly what cavities are. A cavity is simply a small hole in the tooth that develops as a result of tooth decay. In other words, decay eats away at the tooth and results in a void space that disrupts the structure of the tooth. It’s important to get cavities repaired because they will continue to grow larger with time.

We follow many health and safety guidelines. First, our office complies with and exceeds OSHA standards for safety. Every member of our team also maintains current CPR certifications. With every patient, we follow universal precautions. These safety procedures are established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Dental Association (ADA).

Under these precautions, our dental team is required to use the appropriate protective wear, such as gloves, masks, and eyewear. After your visit, we disinfect the operatory and sterilize all the equipment. We have a sterilization center where we can maximize efficient sterilization and minimize the chance of contamination through human error. If you have any questions, we would be happy to demonstrate our sterilization procedures. You can also view the CDC Infection Control guidelines online at http://www.cdc.gov.

Patients ask us about whitening their teeth all the time. It’s a tough question because there is no universal answer that applies for everyone. The fastest and most effective way to whiten teeth is typically an in-office professional whitening procedure. However, depending how dramatic you need your results to be, you may not require this type of procedure. Our best advice is to speak with your dentist or dental hygienist about what type of teeth whitening they would recommend. The best results are always going to be a result of a professional treatment, but your dentist can help you determine which treatment is right for you.

Dr. Prida will answer dental health related questions personally via emails received from the contact us located at the footer of the website.