Dr. Bryant P. Lee, DMD

You are likely putting excessive pressure on your teeth, probably during the night. I’d see a dentist to get an exam and invest in an over the counter night guard until the source of your problem is addressed.

Bryant Lee, DMD

Dental plaque should be removed at least twice per day utilizing proper brushing and flossing techniques. If the plaque still feels like it is on your teeth after brushing, you likely have hardened plaque, called calculus, that needs to be removed by a dental hygienist or dentist.

For tooth sensitivity, the first thing you should try is to switch to a desensitizing toothpaste like Sensodyne. You should also be aware if you are grinding or clenching your teeth, either during the day or at night, which can cause tooth sensitivity as well. Gum recession can cause tooth sensitivity by exposing the top of the root surface. Tooth sensitivity can be either caused by a single factor or it can be multi-factorial.

I would visit the dentist to make sure no bone is broken and that the tooth is intact. The traumatic incident you experienced will take a little bit of time to recover from, but if the tooth and bone are intact, you will likely be back to normal before you know it! Loose teeth after experiencing trauma is normal, soreness will peak at the 3rd or 4th day and slowly diminish. I also want to let you know that sometimes a traumatic incident will "squish" the nerves and blood vessels at the base of the root, which can cause tooth discoloration and/or cause the tooth to die. If this is the case, visit the dentist for root canal therapy in conjunction with internal bleaching.

Very normal. Small gaps can be fixed either with orthodontics or minor fillings. Larger gaps can be treated with orthodontics or crown and bridge work.

Often times tooth stains can be reversed and/or eliminated. Smoking causes superficial staining of the enamel - a simple cleaning and home whitening regiment can be very effective!

Soda, coffee, tea, and wine are among the many different beverages and foods that can cause discoloration. Easy ways to reduce the stain effect are to rinse with water after consumption, limiting the volume and duration of beverages, and home whitening routines.

This is likely due to an isolated "pocket" where the gums are chronically irritated, possibly due to a food trap or subgingival calculus. I'd recommend going to the dentist for a limited exam.

Black stains close to the gumline can either be actual stain or a cavity. IF it is just a stain, a cleaning would likely take care of it.

Hypersensitivity is relatively normal following either a filling or a crown appointment, and should go away over time. If you didn't have sensitivity until after you got your final crown (after the temporary), then it's possible that the crown is hitting too hard on the opposing tooth. Go back to the dentist to get the bite checked if that is the case.

Most dental whitening toothpastes will contain some sort of peroxide, not bleach. My experience is that toothpastes are not effective for whitening, but home strips and/or gel are.