EXPERT
Dr. Mitchell V. Karl, DDS
Dentist
Dr. Karl has been practicing in the field of dentistry for 31 years. He graduated from NYU Dental School in 1981, and completed a general practice residency program at Monmouth Medical Center the following year. The F.A.G.D. (Fellow, Academy of General Dentistry) honor was awarded to him in 1986. Prior to dental school, Dr. Karl attended Rutgers University. He graduated Rutgers College with Phi Beta Kappa, and Honors in Biochemistry as a Henry Rutgers Scholar.
Dr. Karl has been servicing the central New Jersey area in the private practice of dentistry since November 1983, maintaining staff affiliation with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.
Dr. Karl has been servicing the central New Jersey area in the private practice of dentistry since November 1983, maintaining staff affiliation with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.
Dr. Mitchell V. Karl, DDS
- East Brunswick, New Jersey
- New York University College of Dentistry
- Accepting new patients
Head, Neck, and Face Pains
Most people have experienced a "toothache" at one time or another. Have you ever wondered why some aches seem to go away and others do not? How can you determine when it is wise...
Should I put ice on the area my tooth was extracted?
Initially, ice can be helpful in order to minimize swelling and inflammation. Soreness can be normal for 2-3 days. I would recommend you see the dentist if prolonged pain or bleeding READ MORE
Initially, ice can be helpful in order to minimize swelling and inflammation. Soreness can be normal for 2-3 days. I would recommend you see the dentist if prolonged pain or bleeding occurs beyond 2-3 days. When using ice, do not place it directly onto your skin, and use for periods of 10-15 minute intervals.
Can a decaying wisdom tooth cause headaches?
It is not possible to confirm that you indeed have a decaying wisdom tooth without visual and/or radiographic examination. However, the direct answer to your question is that yes, READ MORE
It is not possible to confirm that you indeed have a decaying wisdom tooth without visual and/or radiographic examination. However, the direct answer to your question is that yes, it is possible for a tooth to be the source of frequent headaches. With that being said, my best advice is to seek a professional dental examination to determine the true source of your
headaches, and to determine how badly decayed and/or infected is this particular tooth. Headaches have many sources, and the only way to start to find the cause is with a complete dental examination.
headaches, and to determine how badly decayed and/or infected is this particular tooth. Headaches have many sources, and the only way to start to find the cause is with a complete dental examination.
Why are toothaches worst at night?
The simplest explanation deals with the process of inflammation. One of the more probable reasons for your tooth pain is that either the pulp nerve tissue, or some of the surrounding READ MORE
The simplest explanation deals with the process of inflammation. One of the more probable reasons for your tooth pain is that either the pulp nerve tissue, or some of the surrounding tissue or structures are inflamed for some reason. The exact reason for the inflammation has yet to be determined. But when you lie down, the blood is allowed to pool nite readily in the head and neck region. This extra blood just adds to the already inflamed tissues in the area. When you are standing upright, gravity helps to drain blood from the area, thus decreasing the resultant inflammation. You still need to seek care as son as possible in order to find the source of the inflammation that is causing the pain. Good luck.
How long does it take to fill 3 cavities?
The number of teeth is not directly correlated to the length of the appointment. Three tiny single-surface cavities will be much quicker than three 4-surface fillings. The difference READ MORE
The number of teeth is not directly correlated to the length of the appointment. Three tiny single-surface cavities will be much quicker than three 4-surface fillings. The difference between those 3 cavity appointments could be 30 minutes or as much as 120 minutes! You need more information to determine how much time the visit will require. My best advice is to ask the dentist how long he expects you to be in his/her chair.
Does cavity pain go away?
The reason may be that the decay is getting deeper and approaching the pulp, or nerve of the tooth. Once symptoms begin, such as in your case, I suggest seeking treatment as soon READ MORE
The reason may be that the decay is getting deeper and approaching the pulp, or nerve of the tooth. Once symptoms begin, such as in your case, I suggest seeking treatment as soon as possible. The main reasons to seek care are to arrest the symptoms of your discomfort, and to hopefully treat the tooth before the decay gets too deep, thus requiring root canal treatment. Safe travels getting home, and see your dentist as soon as possible!
How do dental onlays differ from crowns?
An inlay conserves more tooth structure as compared to a crown. An onlay covers the cusps of a tooth, and is usually less costly than a full crown. A dental onlay can be thought READ MORE
An inlay conserves more tooth structure as compared to a crown. An onlay covers the cusps of a tooth, and is usually less costly than a full crown. A dental onlay can be thought of like a mini-crown.
What kind of doctor should I see for TMJ?
You should see a dentist that sub-specializes in TMD, or commonly referred to as TMJ. You can find appropriate doctors online, and read about their philosophy and credentials. READ MORE
You should see a dentist that sub-specializes in TMD, or commonly referred to as TMJ. You can find appropriate doctors online, and read about their philosophy and credentials. Try to read some patient reviews if possible. Good luck in your search.
How can I get rid of gum pain at home?
Unfortunately, it is not a normal circumstance to have gum pain. This indicates that something is wrong. Even though you may not be able to visually see a problem in the mirror, READ MORE
Unfortunately, it is not a normal circumstance to have gum pain. This indicates that something is wrong. Even though you may not be able to visually see a problem in the mirror, it does not mean that you are not in need of professional attention to resolve gum disease, a gum infection, or even a tooth infection. Any of those can be the source of your gum pain. Therefore, in answer to your direct question as to what you can do at home to resolve your issue, I would say that you would be making an error in judgement by trying to do so. I cannot begin to imagine what the source of your gum pain is. Therefore, my recommendation to you is to seek dental care as soon as possible in order to avoid the situation from escalating into something more severe than it already is at this time. In this instance, self-diagnosis and treatment will surely lead to future pains, headaches, and heartaches.
Good luck.
Good luck.
How long does a dry socket last with medication?
Dry socket is another name for incomplete healing following tooth extraction. The dry socket can last from 1-2 weeks depending upon the individual. Usually the paste medication READ MORE
Dry socket is another name for incomplete healing following tooth extraction. The dry socket can last from 1-2 weeks depending upon the individual. Usually the paste medication is changed every other day or so until healing is far enough along to no longer require the medication in order to keep the patient comfortable. Every individual patient is unique in that the healing process can take different times for different people. Keep having the paste replaced until your dentist informs you that it is no longer necessary.
Why do my gums bleed in the mornings?
There is a very good possibility that you have some form of gum disease. It's not possible to determine from this limited information if you have the beginning stages of gingivitis, READ MORE
There is a very good possibility that you have some form of gum disease. It's not possible to determine from this limited information if you have the beginning stages of gingivitis, or a more advanced stage of periodontal disease. In either case, the disease is treatable with the help of your dental professional. You may only need to have a thorough cleaning, but you may also be in need of more comprehensive gum treatments. Try to see your dentist as soon as convenient in order to determine the extent of the disease and the measures necessary in order to treat it.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Can a cracked dental bridge be repaired?
If you are referring to a removable bridge that you take in and out at night, then chances are good that it can be repaired. However, if it is a cemented bridge that remains in READ MORE
If you are referring to a removable bridge that you take in and out at night, then chances are good that it can be repaired. However, if it is a cemented bridge that remains in your mouth all of the time, then usually they cannot be easily repaired. If it were a temporary bridge, then that could easily be repaired. As you can see, it is vitally important to seek professional dental treatment to determine what type of bridge you are referring to, as well as what it will take to either repair or replace the cracked bridge. Try to see your dentist before the situation worsens.
Can teeth whitening treatments damage teeth?
Teeth whitening is generally very safe. Most patients respond with little or no subsequent sensitivity to temperatures. For those that do, the sensitivity is usually very transient READ MORE
Teeth whitening is generally very safe. Most patients respond with little or no subsequent sensitivity to temperatures. For those that do, the sensitivity is usually very transient and resolves within days at most. Of course, there are always exceptions where some patients find the sensitivity to temperature changes following bleaching treatments to not be tolerable for them. This is the main reason why we suggest using at-home bleaching trays instead of the in-office whitening procedures. The patient has more control, and can tailor the bleaching process to their own needs and likes.
Good luck with your bleaching.
Good luck with your bleaching.
Can bad breath be caused by dental issues?
Bad breath can be caused by numerous different things. Biologically it is a sulphur release that causes the odor. But some of the sources may be a post nasal drip, a dental infection READ MORE
Bad breath can be caused by numerous different things. Biologically it is a sulphur release that causes the odor. But some of the sources may be a post nasal drip, a dental infection in either the gums OR the teeth, remnants of various foods, or even medication induced odors. Sometimes there is a plaque layer that develops and grows on the tongue. It may not be easy to determine the true source in your particular case, but try to eliminate the ones mentioned first. If unsuccessful, visit the dentist to eliminate any growing bacteria or infection somewhere in you mouth. By the way, some people subscribe to brushing your tongue exactly for this reason!
A huge gap in dental treatment. What should I expect?
The only way to answer that is to be prepared to expect the unexpected! This is a double edged sword that can go either way with regards to you needing a lot of dental treatment, READ MORE
The only way to answer that is to be prepared to expect the unexpected! This is a double edged sword that can go either way with regards to you needing a lot of dental treatment, or needing only minimal treatment. I don't know which would be more surprising to you. But since you don't seem to be in any pain or discomfort, chances are that routine maintenance is necessary. Good luck, and get to your dentist sooner than later!
Are ayurvedic toothpastes better than flouride?
Flouride has a proven scientific record of helping the population control the extent of dental caries. Some people "believe" that fluoride is harmful to humans. It is true, that READ MORE
Flouride has a proven scientific record of helping the population control the extent of dental caries. Some people "believe" that fluoride is harmful to humans. It is true, that too much flouride intake is not recommended either, but you only ingest very minute amounts of toothpaste when brushing your teeth. I am familiar with one holistic toothpaste, called Tom's of Maine. I know that there folks that do well with its use. As far as being "better" than a flouride toothpaste, I cannot say that it's comparable. I believe that flouride has helped the population keep dental caries under better control than without it. If you are an individual that has a very low caries index, then the ayurvedic toothpaste may be just fine. But if you are prone to acid and sugar attacks and get cavities frequently, then I think that the flouride toothpaste would be in your best interests.
My crown fell out. What should I do to protect?
If you can easily place the crown back into your mouth, you may be able to recement it using an over-the-counter product until able to see your dentist. Otherwise, unless you READ MORE
If you can easily place the crown back into your mouth, you may be able to recement it using an over-the-counter product until able to see your dentist. Otherwise, unless you are out of the country, I would seek dental help as soon as possible. A crown that is left out of the mouth for a few weeks, may allow the tooth to move. If that occurs, the crown will need to be adjusted at best, and remade as a worst case scenario. Try to be careful as to not swallow the crown IF you replace it into your mouth in the interim. Try to seek dental treatment as soon as feasible for you, and for the best chances of everything being able to be put back where they were previously.
Does novocaine have any side effects?
The only side effect from dental anesthesia is the numbing sensation of the surrounding areas. This may last from 1-5 hours, depending upon the anesthetic used and the biochemistry READ MORE
The only side effect from dental anesthesia is the numbing sensation of the surrounding areas. This may last from 1-5 hours, depending upon the anesthetic used and the biochemistry of the patient. There are times when epinephrine is inadvertently placed into the bloodstream that would result in an epi rush. The symptoms are a racing heart, feeling light headed, shaky hands/feet. This will dissipate within 5-15 minutes. Those episodes are rarely encountered, but do occur on occasion. The administration of “dental Novocaine” is not something that I believe you should be concerned about. It is very predictable and routine. Best of luck with your procedure.
Should I seek a periodontal consultation for my bleeding gums?
The short simple answer is to see ANY dentist for an evaluation. Chances are that you are inflamed and in need of a professional dental maintenance treatment. But there are other READ MORE
The short simple answer is to see ANY dentist for an evaluation. Chances are that you are inflamed and in need of a professional dental maintenance treatment. But there are other reasons for bleeding gums, which are too diverse to discuss in a simple response like this. In any event, depending upon the diagnosis will determine IF a periodontist or other dental specialist is necessary for consultation. So seek out a dentist to evaluate your situation and “get the ball rolling”!!
What could happen when I get my gum surgery?
In answer to your concerns, your dentist/periodontist should thoroughly discuss all of these issues in advance of the surgery. That being said, the main issues after periodontal READ MORE
In answer to your concerns, your dentist/periodontist should thoroughly discuss all of these issues in advance of the surgery. That being said, the main issues after periodontal surgery as the patient, is the soreness and healing of the wound. There is little need to be concerned about surgical failure, because most gum surgery has a very high success rate. And your situation sounds as if it is relatively straight forward. Ironically, the area that may annoy you the most is the donor site of the graft. Those areas sometimes turn out to be the most uncomfortable of all the sites that were worked on. You should be back to normal within a few days to a week. Again, your surgeon should be able to address these issues and allay your concerns.
Good luck with your procedure, and don't look back.
Good luck with your procedure, and don't look back.
Are braces the only way to fix buck teeth?
Physical braces, brackets, rubber bands, and wires are the most controllable technique used by orthodontists today. Those tools allow them to have full control over your orthodontic READ MORE
Physical braces, brackets, rubber bands, and wires are the most controllable technique used by orthodontists today. Those tools allow them to have full control over your orthodontic case. But many adults prefer to use the Invisalign tray system when they are an appropriate candidate for that technique. You, the patient, must wear multiple sets of trays that are custom designed at the Invisalign laboratory. Your dentist will monitor your case during the exchange of tray sets. I have been told that there may be some obstacles to obtaining an excellent end result due to the limitations that the tray system inherently has. The solution is to have the orthodontist place finalization brackets for a short time in order to complete your case to its best possible end. But you need to be under the care of an orthodontist in order for this to be done. So, be aware of that potential situation before having a non-orthodontist specialist take charge of your treatment.
Good luck with your ortho therapy.
Good luck with your ortho therapy.
