Welcome to our "Frequently Asked Questions" series.

If you have a dental related question, please post a comment or send an email through our Contact Us form. Today's question comes from one of our Facebook Fans.

Waxed floss vs. cloth floss...which is considered better?

Dental floss comes in many forms: waxed and unwaxed, woven "cloth", flavored and unflavored, wide and regular. Wide floss, or dental tape, may be helpful for people with a lot of bridgework. They all clean and remove plaque. Waxed floss might be easier to slide between tight teeth or tight restorations. However, the unwaxed floss makes a squeaking sound to let you know your teeth are clean.

The type of floss we give to you at your dental appointment is the woven variety. We prefer this floss because it removes more plaque due to its texture. The important part is that you floss daily, so if you are more comfortable with a different type of floss let us know. Also, if you have questions about how to floss, ask us at your next dental appointment.

Welcome to our "Frequently Asked Questions" series.

If you have a dental related question, please post a comment or send an email through our Contact Us form. Today's question comes from one of our FaceBook friends.

"When/If your filling falls out, how long can you go before it needs to be refilled? (an old filling fell out, and I've been working extra hard to keep my tooth clean... because there's not enough time in the day. Plus, my ins. will only cover it once a year!)"

Fillings, and crowns sometimes loosen and fall out. This is rarely an emergency, but it can be painful because the exposed tooth tissue is often sensitive to pressure, air or hot and cold temperatures. In some cases, a filling or crown may come loose because decay has developed underneath it. The decay can cause the tooth to change shape and as a result, the crown of filling no longer fits the tooth properly.

You may be eating, or biting on something hard when you discover that a filling or a crown has become lose or fallen out. You may feel the lost filling or crown in your mouth.

If it's a crown, put it in a safe place and make an appointment to see Dr. Zimmerman as soon as you can. You don't want to wait too long because the tooth will be weak and could be damaged more if it is not protected by the crown. Also, when a crown is missing for a long time, your teeth may move. If this happens your crown may no longer fit.

What you can do

• If you can reach the sensitive area, apply a little clove oil with a cotton swab. It works well to dull tooth pain. You can buy clove oil in pharmacies and also in the spice aisle of many supermarkets.
• If you have the crown, you may be able to slip it back over the tooth. Before you do that, it's important to clean the inside of the crown as best you can. To hold it in place temporarily, coat the inner surface of the crown with tooth "cement," which you can buy in the dental section of your pharmacy. There are several temporary cements available. Some need to be mixed; others come ready to use. You also can use denture adhesive or even petroleum jelly if nothing else is available. These aren't permanent solutions, but they will help to hold the crown in place until you can see your dentist. You should not use any household glues to hold the crown in place. These products are not safe to put in your mouth and can damage the tooth and crown.
• If you've lost the filling or crown, you can use over-the-counter dental cement to cover the tooth surface. This will help to protect and seal the area until you're able to see Dr. Zimmerman, and can make you more comfortable.

What Dr. Zimmerman Will Do

• If the tooth is structurally sound and the crown still fits properly, Dr. Zimmerman will clean the area and then replace the crown.
• If the tooth has been affected by decay, Dr. Zimmerman will need to prepare the tooth again by removing the decay and then making a new filling or crown to replace the old one.
• If you don't have insurance coverage right now or the waiting period has not been met on your insurance there may be temporary procedures Dr. Zimmerman could do until your insurance starts; such as temporary fillings or temporary crowns. Though these procedures may not be covered by your insurance either they may be less costly then a permanent solution however, keep in mind, they are only meant to last a short time.

For the most part, it is best to see Dr. Zimmerman right away. However, if you are unsure, just give us a call.

^{Disclaimer: Dr. Zimmerman does NOT recommend and has no knowledge of the reliability of any temporary dental products mentioned in this article except the products used in his office by him}

Welcome to our "Frequestly Asked Questions" series.

People often have questions about their teeth and we hope to answer some of those questions with this new series. If you have a dental related question, please post a comment or send an email through our Contact Us form. Our first question comes from one of our FaceBook friends.

When should my child first see a dentist?

The timing of the first visit to the dentist is a little controversial. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry states that children should see a dentist when they get their first tooth and not later than 1 year of age. In contrast, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, unless your child has risk factors for having problems with his teeth, such as sleeping with a cup or bottle, teeth staining, thumb sucking, etc., the first visit to the dentist should be by around the third birthday.

However, an early visit to the dentist is a good way for parents to learn proper oral hygiene for their children including avoiding nighttime bottles or cups of formula or juice, proper tooth brushing, and a diet that promotes good dental health. We recommend seeing children as soon as they are old enough to sit in the dental chair and hold their mouth open. However, even children younger then that are welcome to sit on their parents lap, for a short time, in the room at their parent's teeth cleaning appoinment. This helps your child become used to Dr. Zimmerman and our hygienists, as well as, help make thier first dental appoinment feel familiar.

The initial appointment in our office will include different things depending on the reason your child is seeing us and if it is their very first dental appointment. It is our desire to that your child's first dental appointment is fun, and bringing your child to us BEFORE they have trouble with their teeth makes this possible.

In our office, the initial "check-up" appointment will include an introduction to the dental chair, which will give your child a "ride" up and down, Mr. Squirt, who squirts water, Mr. Vacuum who slurps up the water Mr. Squirt squirts, our spinning rubber toothbrush which polishes each of your child's teeth, and our special camera that can take pictures of teeth. After the introductions are done, we will paint clear but yummy flavored fluoride on each of the teeth and your child will meet Dr. Zimmerman who will "count" their teeth, and make sure there are no cavity bugs on them. When we are all finished, your child will get to pick out a little prize and get an awesome cookie coupon for the local cookie shop here in Woodland. If your child's teeth are cavity free, they will become a member of our "No Cavity Club" and have a chance to win another prize in our monthly drawing for that month. If they win they will receive a free $10.00 video rental gift card and get their picture in the local newspaper.

All of us, at Dr. Zimmerman's, understand how important it is for you to find the knowledge and care that helps you keep your child healthy. Send us a message or give us a call with any questions you may have.

Why do I need dental x-rays?

Radiographic, or X-ray, examinations provide Dr. Zimmerman with an important tool that shows the condition of your teeth, its roots, jaw placement and the overall composition of your facial bones. X-rays can help Dr. Zimmerman determine the presence or degree of periodontal (gum) disease, abscesses and many abnormal growths, such as cysts and tumors. X-rays also can show the exact location of impacted and unerupted teeth. They can pinpoint the location of cavities and other signs of disease that may not be possible to detect through a visual examination.

What is my schedule?

Your radiographic schedule is based on Dr. Zimmerman's assessment of your individual needs, including , whether you're a new patient or a follow-up patient, adult or child, as well as the ADA's recommendation. In most cases, new patients require a full set of mouth X-rays to evaluate oral health status, including any underlying signs of gum disease, and for future comparison. Follow-up patients may require X-rays to monitor their gum condition or their chance of tooth decay.

Concerned about radiation exposure?

Dental X-rays require exposure to very low levels of radiation, which makes the risk of potentially harmful effects very small. We are all sensitive to our patients' concerns about exposure to radiation. Dr. Zimmerman has been trained to prescribe X-rays when they are appropriate and and each of his staff assigned to take X-rays has been trained and licensed to do so. By using state-of-the-art technology and by staying knowledgeable about recent advances, Dr. Zimmerman and his staff know which techniques, procedures and X-ray films can minimize your exposure to radiation.

Need more information?

If you have further questions on how Dr. Zimmerman determines the need for X-rays, just give our office a call at (530) 661-1155.

^{Source: Academy of General Denitistry Know your teeth Oct 2008}

USE IT, or LOSE IT!


That's right, on Dec 31st your Flex Benefit Dollars and Insurance Benefits will go away, never to return.

The cooling temperatures outside remind us that the end of the year is fast approaching. So what does this have to do with your benefits?

• Most insurance companies base their plans on a calendar year so any benefits that have not been used by the end of the year are lost.
• Insurance benefits are Use It or Lose It, so now is the perfect time to get any needed dental treatment done.
• Your dental insurance policy allows for a certain dollar amount of coverage to be provided each year. If your maximum coverage benefit is not used during the year, you lose those benefits, because unused coverage does not carry over to the next year.
• Although treatment is never dictated by an insurance policy, our experience has shown that careful planning can often maximize benefits. Most dental plans allow teeth cleanings two times a year.
• If you are due for a cleaning, have dental treatment pending or if you feel you may need treatment that hasn't been planned yet and you haven't maxed out your insurance benefits for the year, we encourage you to schedule an appointment before the end of the year.
• You may also participate in a Flexible Spending or Health Savings Account. In most cases, any money left in these accounts at the end of the year is forfeited. These are benefits you have paid for!

If you have questions about what insurance you have remaining for the year or what treatment has been recommended, please contact Tina or Christina. They are always happy to help with scheduling or benefit questions.

Call us today at (530) 661-1155 to schedule your next appointment and take full advantage of your remaining dental insurance or flex spending benefits.