EXPERT
WIlliam F. Scott, DMD
Dentist
Dr. William Scott is a Cosmetic, Implant & Family Dentist practicing in Warren, NJ at Deluxe Dental Group. Dr. Scott specializes in preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases and conditions associated with the mouth and overall dental health. He is trained to carry out such treatment as professional cleaning, restorative, prosthodontic, and endodontic procedures, and performing examinations, among many others.
10 years
Experience
WIlliam F. Scott, DMD
- Warren, New Jersey
- Temple Dental School
- Accepting new patients
No results found
How many mm of gum recession is normal?
Hello, This is a very interesting question. Without getting too much in the the philosophy of the meaning of "normal", recession is something that we do not want any of; however, READ MORE
Hello,
This is a very interesting question. Without getting too much in the the philosophy of the meaning of "normal", recession is something that we do not want any of; however, it does occur in most people in at least one area. There are a few different reasons why this occurs, but 0 mm would be ideal. Seeing as we do not live in an ideal world; we might consider it normal if most people have it; and most people have between 1-3mm of recession.
Recession is often not the most important aspect of the gums and most dentist/hygienists are measuring the depth of the gum pockets when then read the millimeters numbers out loud. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
This is a very interesting question. Without getting too much in the the philosophy of the meaning of "normal", recession is something that we do not want any of; however, it does occur in most people in at least one area. There are a few different reasons why this occurs, but 0 mm would be ideal. Seeing as we do not live in an ideal world; we might consider it normal if most people have it; and most people have between 1-3mm of recession.
Recession is often not the most important aspect of the gums and most dentist/hygienists are measuring the depth of the gum pockets when then read the millimeters numbers out loud. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
Can you get teeth implants after a root canal?
Hello, Implants are for replacing teeth, while root canals are usually performed for rebuilding teeth. So when a root canal is performed on a tooth, it is usually believed that READ MORE
Hello,
Implants are for replacing teeth, while root canals are usually performed for rebuilding teeth. So when a root canal is performed on a tooth, it is usually believed that the tooth can be saved and built up into a tooth again. Implants are usually used when a tooth is considered hopeless and can not be made into a tooth again. The focus gets shifted into replacing the tooth instead of rebuilding the tooth.
However, if the root canal was done a while ago and there is something causing the tooth to be hopeless; yes, an implant can and is often recommended in replacing that tooth. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
Implants are for replacing teeth, while root canals are usually performed for rebuilding teeth. So when a root canal is performed on a tooth, it is usually believed that the tooth can be saved and built up into a tooth again. Implants are usually used when a tooth is considered hopeless and can not be made into a tooth again. The focus gets shifted into replacing the tooth instead of rebuilding the tooth.
However, if the root canal was done a while ago and there is something causing the tooth to be hopeless; yes, an implant can and is often recommended in replacing that tooth. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
Does Listerine kill gingivitis?
Hello, Listerine kills the germs or bacteria that cause gingivitis. Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gingiva (gum tissue). When certain bacteria take over in a person's READ MORE
Hello,
Listerine kills the germs or bacteria that cause gingivitis. Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gingiva (gum tissue). When certain bacteria take over in a person's mouth they irritate the gingiva and this causes the immune system to try and fight the infection. The gingiva swells up, becomes red, and bleeds easily. Listerine helps in this process by killing the bacteria that irritate the gingiva in the first place.
It should be noted that bacteria grow in the hundreds of billions and it only takes one bacterial cell to survive and multiple. Listerine advertises that they kill 99.99% of bacteria (not all bad bacteria). So if bacteria grow to 1 billion and listerine kills 99.99% of them that means there is 0.01% left or 100,000 bacterial cells to start growing again. This is why listerine is needed daily. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
Listerine kills the germs or bacteria that cause gingivitis. Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gingiva (gum tissue). When certain bacteria take over in a person's mouth they irritate the gingiva and this causes the immune system to try and fight the infection. The gingiva swells up, becomes red, and bleeds easily. Listerine helps in this process by killing the bacteria that irritate the gingiva in the first place.
It should be noted that bacteria grow in the hundreds of billions and it only takes one bacterial cell to survive and multiple. Listerine advertises that they kill 99.99% of bacteria (not all bad bacteria). So if bacteria grow to 1 billion and listerine kills 99.99% of them that means there is 0.01% left or 100,000 bacterial cells to start growing again. This is why listerine is needed daily. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
What happens if you don't have enough bone for dental implants?
Hello, This is a very good question! The size, shape, and type of bone is very important for dental implants. Shape is usually compensated for by changing the size of the bone READ MORE
Hello,
This is a very good question!
The size, shape, and type of bone is very important for dental implants. Shape is usually compensated for by changing the size of the bone (either increase or decreasing it). There is not much we can do about the type of bone other then alter the size of bone or implant, or alter the healing time for a dental implant.
If there is inadequate amount of bone for a dental implant there are a few things that can be done. First of all we increase the amount of bone available. This is accomplished by adding more bone as a graft, lifting up the sinus and adding more bone there, or separating the bone and adding more in the middle. Secondly, we can change the size, shape or type of implant that goes into a certain area. Finally, we can change the area itself that the implant is going to go into.
All these factors depend how many teeth and in what manner are the teeth being replaced. There are usually other options to compensate for the lack of adequate bone. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
This is a very good question!
The size, shape, and type of bone is very important for dental implants. Shape is usually compensated for by changing the size of the bone (either increase or decreasing it). There is not much we can do about the type of bone other then alter the size of bone or implant, or alter the healing time for a dental implant.
If there is inadequate amount of bone for a dental implant there are a few things that can be done. First of all we increase the amount of bone available. This is accomplished by adding more bone as a graft, lifting up the sinus and adding more bone there, or separating the bone and adding more in the middle. Secondly, we can change the size, shape or type of implant that goes into a certain area. Finally, we can change the area itself that the implant is going to go into.
All these factors depend how many teeth and in what manner are the teeth being replaced. There are usually other options to compensate for the lack of adequate bone. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
Can radiology detect an impacted tooth?
Hello,
That is a great question! Yes, radiology of the correct area can detect impacted teeth. Determining if a tooth is impacted is as simple as just being able to view the READ MORE
Hello,
That is a great question! Yes, radiology of the correct area can detect impacted teeth. Determining if a tooth is impacted is as simple as just being able to view the tooth in most cases. Visualizing the tooth can be done with an X-ray (radiograph), CT scan (cat scan), or sometimes simply looking at it with your eyes (these are usually just impacted in the gum tissue or gingiva). Just like looking at a wisdom tooth with your eyes an X-ray or CT scan needs to capture the area where the impacted tooth is expected to be. After the X-ray or CT scan is completed; looking at the angle, shape, and position of the tooth will determine if it is impacted or not. Impaction usually occurs with wisdom teeth; however it can occur in any other tooth as well. Upper (maxillary) canine teeth are common to get impacted when then are erupting around age 12.
Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
That is a great question! Yes, radiology of the correct area can detect impacted teeth. Determining if a tooth is impacted is as simple as just being able to view the tooth in most cases. Visualizing the tooth can be done with an X-ray (radiograph), CT scan (cat scan), or sometimes simply looking at it with your eyes (these are usually just impacted in the gum tissue or gingiva). Just like looking at a wisdom tooth with your eyes an X-ray or CT scan needs to capture the area where the impacted tooth is expected to be. After the X-ray or CT scan is completed; looking at the angle, shape, and position of the tooth will determine if it is impacted or not. Impaction usually occurs with wisdom teeth; however it can occur in any other tooth as well. Upper (maxillary) canine teeth are common to get impacted when then are erupting around age 12.
Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
How fast does gingivitis progress?
Hello,
Sorry to hear about your gingivitis. There are a lot of different factors that make gingivitis progress differently for different people. First of all, there are different READ MORE
Hello,
Sorry to hear about your gingivitis. There are a lot of different factors that make gingivitis progress differently for different people. First of all, there are different forms of gingivitis; some of which are very rapid and some which are slow. Secondly, there are patient factors such as immune system, diabetes, habits, and the bite of a patient that can affect the progression of gingivitis. For example, a diabetic person who smokes and has crooked teeth causing more trauma has a lowered immune system which will allow the progression of gingivitis a lot faster than someone who is not diabetic and does not smoke and has no trauma. Finally, there are habits that can be modified easily that will affect the progression of gingivitis; such as frequency of brushing, flossing, and dental cleanings which can really slow it down and possibly stop it in its tracks.
Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
Sorry to hear about your gingivitis. There are a lot of different factors that make gingivitis progress differently for different people. First of all, there are different forms of gingivitis; some of which are very rapid and some which are slow. Secondly, there are patient factors such as immune system, diabetes, habits, and the bite of a patient that can affect the progression of gingivitis. For example, a diabetic person who smokes and has crooked teeth causing more trauma has a lowered immune system which will allow the progression of gingivitis a lot faster than someone who is not diabetic and does not smoke and has no trauma. Finally, there are habits that can be modified easily that will affect the progression of gingivitis; such as frequency of brushing, flossing, and dental cleanings which can really slow it down and possibly stop it in its tracks.
Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
How long after crown lengthening can I get a crown?
Hello, This is a great question! The answer however, is not as straight forward as we would like it to be. First of all, it is important to know the reason why we wait to do READ MORE
Hello,
This is a great question! The answer however, is not as straight forward as we would like it to be. First of all, it is important to know the reason why we wait to do a crown after crown lengthening is mainly because we want the gums to heal and know where they are going to end up after the healing process.. A crown that is placed so the edges (margins) of the crown are tucked underneath the gum line gives the best aesthetics. This is obviously something that is more concerning in the front of the mouth then in the back. If the crown is in the back 2 weeks is plenty of time after the crown lengthening. In fact, a lot of times it is preferable to not have the crown tucked under the gum line in the the back of the mouth due to the disadvantages. If the crown is in the front, it could take as little as 2 weeks, but studies have shown that it could take as long as 4 to 8 weeks for complete healing of the gingiva. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
This is a great question! The answer however, is not as straight forward as we would like it to be. First of all, it is important to know the reason why we wait to do a crown after crown lengthening is mainly because we want the gums to heal and know where they are going to end up after the healing process.. A crown that is placed so the edges (margins) of the crown are tucked underneath the gum line gives the best aesthetics. This is obviously something that is more concerning in the front of the mouth then in the back. If the crown is in the back 2 weeks is plenty of time after the crown lengthening. In fact, a lot of times it is preferable to not have the crown tucked under the gum line in the the back of the mouth due to the disadvantages. If the crown is in the front, it could take as little as 2 weeks, but studies have shown that it could take as long as 4 to 8 weeks for complete healing of the gingiva. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
Can a bridge be recemented?
Hello, Yes, a bridge can be re-cemented! When a bridge comes out, a good dentist will spend some time analyzing why it came out and if it can be re-cemented. Bridges usually READ MORE
Hello,
Yes, a bridge can be re-cemented! When a bridge comes out, a good dentist will spend some time analyzing why it came out and if it can be re-cemented. Bridges usually come out for 2 reasons; 1) the cement gives way, or 2) a cavity develops around the edges of the bridge.
When the cement gives way it could be from 2 different areas. First of all, there is cement holding the bridge to the tooth which can loosen over time. Secondly, there can be cement holding a post into 1 or more teeth. Usually if this post is there it is the cement on the post that gives way first. These can usually go back in, but sometimes they will not because of the angle the post is on. After the doctor makes the determination, he/she will discuss the options with you.
If the bridge comes out because a cavity develops around the edges of the bridge, most of the time these can not simply be re-cemented. The cavity needs to be removed and from there the options of the bridge can be discussed. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
Yes, a bridge can be re-cemented! When a bridge comes out, a good dentist will spend some time analyzing why it came out and if it can be re-cemented. Bridges usually come out for 2 reasons; 1) the cement gives way, or 2) a cavity develops around the edges of the bridge.
When the cement gives way it could be from 2 different areas. First of all, there is cement holding the bridge to the tooth which can loosen over time. Secondly, there can be cement holding a post into 1 or more teeth. Usually if this post is there it is the cement on the post that gives way first. These can usually go back in, but sometimes they will not because of the angle the post is on. After the doctor makes the determination, he/she will discuss the options with you.
If the bridge comes out because a cavity develops around the edges of the bridge, most of the time these can not simply be re-cemented. The cavity needs to be removed and from there the options of the bridge can be discussed. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
Will my teeth shift if I lose a molar?
Hello, This is a good forward thinking question. Yes, most of the time when a molar is removed the teeth around it tend to shift. Teeth behind it usually shift forward and the READ MORE
Hello,
This is a good forward thinking question. Yes, most of the time when a molar is removed the teeth around it tend to shift. Teeth behind it usually shift forward and the teeth opposing it (the upper tooth if the one removed is in the lower, and visa-versa) will drift down into the space of where the molar used to be. When this happens it does become a little bit of a headache to replace that tooth in the future, dentistry is all about space. It would involve moving those teeth out of the space one way or another.
Think about it this way, our teeth shift all the time without losing a molar. This is why invisalign is so popular and why people are told to wear their retainers for the rest of their lives. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
This is a good forward thinking question. Yes, most of the time when a molar is removed the teeth around it tend to shift. Teeth behind it usually shift forward and the teeth opposing it (the upper tooth if the one removed is in the lower, and visa-versa) will drift down into the space of where the molar used to be. When this happens it does become a little bit of a headache to replace that tooth in the future, dentistry is all about space. It would involve moving those teeth out of the space one way or another.
Think about it this way, our teeth shift all the time without losing a molar. This is why invisalign is so popular and why people are told to wear their retainers for the rest of their lives. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
What is a fixed dental bridge?
Hello, A fixed dental bridge is a way to replace one or more missing teeth. If we break down the words "fixed dental bridge" to what they mean it helps a lot. The word "fixed" READ MORE
Hello,
A fixed dental bridge is a way to replace one or more missing teeth. If we break down the words "fixed dental bridge" to what they mean it helps a lot. The word "fixed" refers to the fact that the bridge is fixed in place and cannot be taken out (not without a lot of effort at least). This is in contrast to something that we refer to as "removable" (like a denture that gets taken out every night).
Obvious "dental" refers to dentistry and teeth.
"Bridge is exactly like a bridge you drive over. There is a road on each side that support the road in middle from the sides. In dentistry there are a couple ways to accomplish this. The most common way is to put a crown on the teeth next to the one being replaced and simply suspend a false tooth in the toothless area from the sides of the crown. The whole thing then gets cemented in place. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
A fixed dental bridge is a way to replace one or more missing teeth. If we break down the words "fixed dental bridge" to what they mean it helps a lot. The word "fixed" refers to the fact that the bridge is fixed in place and cannot be taken out (not without a lot of effort at least). This is in contrast to something that we refer to as "removable" (like a denture that gets taken out every night).
Obvious "dental" refers to dentistry and teeth.
"Bridge is exactly like a bridge you drive over. There is a road on each side that support the road in middle from the sides. In dentistry there are a couple ways to accomplish this. The most common way is to put a crown on the teeth next to the one being replaced and simply suspend a false tooth in the toothless area from the sides of the crown. The whole thing then gets cemented in place. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
Can you get a bridge for 3 missing teeth?
Hello, Yes, depending on the circumstances, bridges can be made for 3 missing teeth. However, this can get tricky depending on if the 3 missing teeth are in a row, not in a row, READ MORE
Hello,
Yes, depending on the circumstances, bridges can be made for 3 missing teeth. However, this can get tricky depending on if the 3 missing teeth are in a row, not in a row, in a row and in the back, and what kind of teeth they are.
Bridges to replace the 4 lower front teeth are made everyday. When we start talking about back teeth is when it starts getting complicated. If the teeth are all in a row we need strong teeth with good roots on either side to help balance the forces of chewing (we do not usually chew on our front teeth, only bite into things). In this case it would be worth it to have a conversation about making an implant bridge to replace the teeth. If the teeth are not in a row this presents its own challenges and can also be replaced by implants. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
Yes, depending on the circumstances, bridges can be made for 3 missing teeth. However, this can get tricky depending on if the 3 missing teeth are in a row, not in a row, in a row and in the back, and what kind of teeth they are.
Bridges to replace the 4 lower front teeth are made everyday. When we start talking about back teeth is when it starts getting complicated. If the teeth are all in a row we need strong teeth with good roots on either side to help balance the forces of chewing (we do not usually chew on our front teeth, only bite into things). In this case it would be worth it to have a conversation about making an implant bridge to replace the teeth. If the teeth are not in a row this presents its own challenges and can also be replaced by implants. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
How do you floss under braces?
Hello, Flossing under braces takes a lot more time, concentration, and patience. The wire is the part that really makes flossing difficult, so whenever the wire is changed flossing READ MORE
Hello,
Flossing under braces takes a lot more time, concentration, and patience. The wire is the part that really makes flossing difficult, so whenever the wire is changed flossing in the regular manner should be taken advantage of. In the mean time, floss needs to be threaded around the wire and then between the teeth. This can sometimes be done easily in the front; however, if is not due to the flimsy nature of floss, there are floss-threaders that can be purchased at the local pharmacy. Floss threads are thin strip of plastic with an eye-loop at one end. The floss can be tied to the eye-loop and the rigidity of the plastic will help guide it around the wire. Then the floss can be used between the teeth. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
Flossing under braces takes a lot more time, concentration, and patience. The wire is the part that really makes flossing difficult, so whenever the wire is changed flossing in the regular manner should be taken advantage of. In the mean time, floss needs to be threaded around the wire and then between the teeth. This can sometimes be done easily in the front; however, if is not due to the flimsy nature of floss, there are floss-threaders that can be purchased at the local pharmacy. Floss threads are thin strip of plastic with an eye-loop at one end. The floss can be tied to the eye-loop and the rigidity of the plastic will help guide it around the wire. Then the floss can be used between the teeth. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
Does Invisalign look natural?
Hello, As the age old saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Invisalign usually involves two parts; the clear aligners and the tooth matching attachments put onto READ MORE
Hello,
As the age old saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Invisalign usually involves two parts; the clear aligners and the tooth matching attachments put onto the teeth. The clear aligners are usually the same for everyone; however, the attachments vary in which teeth they are on and how many teeth they go on. Most of the time both the aligners and the attachments blend in and they are not noticed (I personally had to stare at my mother-in-laws teeth to figure out if she had the aligners in whenever I saw her). However, some patients do tend to focus on them so they notice them every time they look into the mirror.
The other thing to consider is that most invisalign treatments are completed in 6 months or less. So is it something that can be dealt with for 4-6 months? Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
As the age old saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Invisalign usually involves two parts; the clear aligners and the tooth matching attachments put onto the teeth. The clear aligners are usually the same for everyone; however, the attachments vary in which teeth they are on and how many teeth they go on. Most of the time both the aligners and the attachments blend in and they are not noticed (I personally had to stare at my mother-in-laws teeth to figure out if she had the aligners in whenever I saw her). However, some patients do tend to focus on them so they notice them every time they look into the mirror.
The other thing to consider is that most invisalign treatments are completed in 6 months or less. So is it something that can be dealt with for 4-6 months? Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
What causes your gums to bleed?
Hello,
Gums can bleed because they are inflamed. Just like when someone falls and hits their arm it swells up; gums (or gingival tissue) does the same time. Also if there READ MORE
Hello,
Gums can bleed because they are inflamed. Just like when someone falls and hits their arm it swells up; gums (or gingival tissue) does the same time. Also if there is an infection in the skin it would swell (get inflamed) up and this is also true of the gums. The question then becomes; "What causes the swelling?"
Just like someone's arm, the gums can swell up from trauma; however, this is not usually the case. The usual cause is a bacterial or foreign body (food) infection. When the body detects bacterial or some other material where there should be none, the immune system reacts and tries to fight it. The first response of the immune system is to swell up to allow immune cells to the area. A lot of times this bacteria is in the plaque between the teeth. Most people stop flossing when they see blood because they feel they are doing something wrong. However, In this case stepping up one's flossing game by flossing more often usually disrupts the plaque and therefore the bacteria. The gums will lose their inflammation an stop bleeding in a couple days.
Hope this helps
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
Gums can bleed because they are inflamed. Just like when someone falls and hits their arm it swells up; gums (or gingival tissue) does the same time. Also if there is an infection in the skin it would swell (get inflamed) up and this is also true of the gums. The question then becomes; "What causes the swelling?"
Just like someone's arm, the gums can swell up from trauma; however, this is not usually the case. The usual cause is a bacterial or foreign body (food) infection. When the body detects bacterial or some other material where there should be none, the immune system reacts and tries to fight it. The first response of the immune system is to swell up to allow immune cells to the area. A lot of times this bacteria is in the plaque between the teeth. Most people stop flossing when they see blood because they feel they are doing something wrong. However, In this case stepping up one's flossing game by flossing more often usually disrupts the plaque and therefore the bacteria. The gums will lose their inflammation an stop bleeding in a couple days.
Hope this helps
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
Why do you rinse with salt water after a root canal?
Hello,
Good for you for asking a great question! A warm salt water rinse is an antiseptic technique. It is used to keep things clean, mainly the gingiva (gum tissues). When READ MORE
Hello,
Good for you for asking a great question! A warm salt water rinse is an antiseptic technique. It is used to keep things clean, mainly the gingiva (gum tissues). When a root canal is performed a rubber dam is usually used and this is to help keep the area clean. The canal of a tooth is normally bacteria-free and the goal at the end of the root canal is to keep it bacteria-free. Usually a warm salt water mouth rinse after a root canal keeps the amount of bacteria in the mouth lower and is simply just going one step further.
Truth of the matter is, the tooth that has had the root canal needs to be sealed off at the end. If it is not sealed off bacteria will get in there no matter how many warm salt water rinses are done. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
Good for you for asking a great question! A warm salt water rinse is an antiseptic technique. It is used to keep things clean, mainly the gingiva (gum tissues). When a root canal is performed a rubber dam is usually used and this is to help keep the area clean. The canal of a tooth is normally bacteria-free and the goal at the end of the root canal is to keep it bacteria-free. Usually a warm salt water mouth rinse after a root canal keeps the amount of bacteria in the mouth lower and is simply just going one step further.
Truth of the matter is, the tooth that has had the root canal needs to be sealed off at the end. If it is not sealed off bacteria will get in there no matter how many warm salt water rinses are done. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
What color should a tooth extraction site be?
Hello,
Sorry to hear that your 19 year old son had to have a tooth extracted. The extraction site can be a few different colors depending on what is going on. We would like READ MORE
Hello,
Sorry to hear that your 19 year old son had to have a tooth extracted. The extraction site can be a few different colors depending on what is going on. We would like to see a nice pink gingiva (gum tissue) with a darker reddish area in the middle. This is usually what an extraction site without complications usually looks like.
However, there could be variations to this appearance if there was periodontal disease before the tooth was extracted. This would look similar but there would be little of the pink area and more of the dark red area.
Secondly, the area can be red with splotchy areas of white. This is a common presentation of dry socket. The color will change back to the pink after healing of the tooth. If the tooth that was extracted was a wisdom tooth, then dry socket is more likely.
The trick with dry socket is that it has very different appearances in different people. Some times it can look real white and somtimes it can have some yellow to it. The problem with this is that lots of white or yellow can suggest other things like infection.
As always the best thing to do with something that looks concerning is to call the doctor who extracted the tooth and consult with him/her. If unsatisfied with this a second opinion can be helpful. Hope this helps.
My best to you and your son!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
Sorry to hear that your 19 year old son had to have a tooth extracted. The extraction site can be a few different colors depending on what is going on. We would like to see a nice pink gingiva (gum tissue) with a darker reddish area in the middle. This is usually what an extraction site without complications usually looks like.
However, there could be variations to this appearance if there was periodontal disease before the tooth was extracted. This would look similar but there would be little of the pink area and more of the dark red area.
Secondly, the area can be red with splotchy areas of white. This is a common presentation of dry socket. The color will change back to the pink after healing of the tooth. If the tooth that was extracted was a wisdom tooth, then dry socket is more likely.
The trick with dry socket is that it has very different appearances in different people. Some times it can look real white and somtimes it can have some yellow to it. The problem with this is that lots of white or yellow can suggest other things like infection.
As always the best thing to do with something that looks concerning is to call the doctor who extracted the tooth and consult with him/her. If unsatisfied with this a second opinion can be helpful. Hope this helps.
My best to you and your son!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
How long does it take to get a tooth pulled?
Hello,
What a great question! The answer can vary depending on circumstances such as health status, amount of teeth being pulled (extracted), location of the tooth, and possible READ MORE
Hello,
What a great question! The answer can vary depending on circumstances such as health status, amount of teeth being pulled (extracted), location of the tooth, and possible impaction of the tooth. If the person is in good health, only having one tooth pulled (extracted), it is generally scheduled for an hour. This includes the paperwork that needs to be gone over before and after the extraction (consent for the extraction before and then post-op instructions about how to care for the extraction afterward. If it is a tooth that is in the front and it has suffered from periodontal disease then this process will be a little shorter. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
What a great question! The answer can vary depending on circumstances such as health status, amount of teeth being pulled (extracted), location of the tooth, and possible impaction of the tooth. If the person is in good health, only having one tooth pulled (extracted), it is generally scheduled for an hour. This includes the paperwork that needs to be gone over before and after the extraction (consent for the extraction before and then post-op instructions about how to care for the extraction afterward. If it is a tooth that is in the front and it has suffered from periodontal disease then this process will be a little shorter. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
Will antibiotics help a dry socket?
Hello,
No antibiotics will not help dry socket (alveolar osteitis). After an extraction of a tooth the socket that the bone sits in immediately forms a blood clot; just like READ MORE
Hello,
No antibiotics will not help dry socket (alveolar osteitis). After an extraction of a tooth the socket that the bone sits in immediately forms a blood clot; just like any other cut on the body. This clot helps protect the area while the jaw bone and gum tissues heal and fill in. Dry socket is the lost of this blood clot and it can present in a variety of ways. Most of the time it will have some level of discomfort (usually less discomfort the longer it was before the lost of the clot. Antibiotics are used together with the immune system to fight a bacterial infection. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
Deluxe Dental Group
No antibiotics will not help dry socket (alveolar osteitis). After an extraction of a tooth the socket that the bone sits in immediately forms a blood clot; just like any other cut on the body. This clot helps protect the area while the jaw bone and gum tissues heal and fill in. Dry socket is the lost of this blood clot and it can present in a variety of ways. Most of the time it will have some level of discomfort (usually less discomfort the longer it was before the lost of the clot. Antibiotics are used together with the immune system to fight a bacterial infection. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
Deluxe Dental Group
How long do you have to wear gauze after a tooth extraction?
Hello,
The amount of time to use gauze after a tooth extraction can vary from person to person. After getting a tooth extracted the patient is asked to bite down on gauze that READ MORE
Hello,
The amount of time to use gauze after a tooth extraction can vary from person to person. After getting a tooth extracted the patient is asked to bite down on gauze that is strategically placed over the area where the tooth was. The purpose of this gauze is to help form a clot and get the bleeding to stop. After the bleeding has stopped the gauze can be removed. Usually this process takes about 30 minutes; however, there are some factors that can prolong it. For example, if a patient is on blood thinners or has hemophilia it takes a longer time to form a blood clot. The doctor who extracts the tooth should go over this after the tooth is extracted. Also if it takes longer then 30 minutes for the bleeding to stop the doctor should be called and notified. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
The amount of time to use gauze after a tooth extraction can vary from person to person. After getting a tooth extracted the patient is asked to bite down on gauze that is strategically placed over the area where the tooth was. The purpose of this gauze is to help form a clot and get the bleeding to stop. After the bleeding has stopped the gauze can be removed. Usually this process takes about 30 minutes; however, there are some factors that can prolong it. For example, if a patient is on blood thinners or has hemophilia it takes a longer time to form a blood clot. The doctor who extracts the tooth should go over this after the tooth is extracted. Also if it takes longer then 30 minutes for the bleeding to stop the doctor should be called and notified. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
How long should you wait to eat after getting a tooth pulled?
Hello,
What a great question! First off all, if you are not being put to sleep for the extraction then it is better to make sure you eat before the extraction. This will do READ MORE
Hello,
What a great question! First off all, if you are not being put to sleep for the extraction then it is better to make sure you eat before the extraction. This will do 2 things: 1) it will ease the burden about when to eat after the extraction; and 2) it will keep your nutrition up and make the extraction and feeling afterward more pleasant.
However, as far as how long to wait after the extraction before eating there are a few things to keep in mind. First of all, there will be gauze to bite down on to help form a blood clot where the extraction was done. This usually takes approximately 30 minutes to happen. Secondly, local anesthesia is given in the area of the extraction so there will be a profound numb feeling in that area. The numb feeling will make it difficult to eat or drink without drooling. It is best to wait until the numbness has worn off and there is no more bleeding. The numbness usually takes about an hour and a half to wear off, but this depends on the type of anesthesia that was given and when it was given.
Finally it is important to consider what is eaten after a tooth extraction. It is better to eat softer non- sticky foods. It is also important to avoid hot or spicy foods (hot foods will promote bleeding and spicy foods will irritate the area). It is also important to avoid drinking through a straw, spitting, or dragging on a cigarette as this can change the pressure in your mouth and loosen the clot. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
What a great question! First off all, if you are not being put to sleep for the extraction then it is better to make sure you eat before the extraction. This will do 2 things: 1) it will ease the burden about when to eat after the extraction; and 2) it will keep your nutrition up and make the extraction and feeling afterward more pleasant.
However, as far as how long to wait after the extraction before eating there are a few things to keep in mind. First of all, there will be gauze to bite down on to help form a blood clot where the extraction was done. This usually takes approximately 30 minutes to happen. Secondly, local anesthesia is given in the area of the extraction so there will be a profound numb feeling in that area. The numb feeling will make it difficult to eat or drink without drooling. It is best to wait until the numbness has worn off and there is no more bleeding. The numbness usually takes about an hour and a half to wear off, but this depends on the type of anesthesia that was given and when it was given.
Finally it is important to consider what is eaten after a tooth extraction. It is better to eat softer non- sticky foods. It is also important to avoid hot or spicy foods (hot foods will promote bleeding and spicy foods will irritate the area). It is also important to avoid drinking through a straw, spitting, or dragging on a cigarette as this can change the pressure in your mouth and loosen the clot. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
