EXPERT
Dr. Paul R. Brand, DDS
Dentist
Dr. Paul Brand is a Dentist practicing in Plymouth, NH. Dr. Brand specializes in preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases and conditions associated with the mouth and overall dental health. Dentists are trained to carry out such treatment as professional cleaning, restorative, prosthodontic, and endodontic procedures, and performing examinations, among many others.
Dr. Paul R. Brand, DDS
- Plymouth, NH
- Accepting new patients
No results found
Which toothpaste is the best for getting whiter teeth?
Any whitening toothpaste is going to do about the same thing as any other TP, because the amount of whitening that occurs with just using TP is minimal. If you want to have a noticeable READ MORE
Any whitening toothpaste is going to do about the same thing as any other TP, because the amount of whitening that occurs with just using TP is minimal. If you want to have a noticeable whitening effect, you should consider Whitestrips or other tooth-whitening products that allow the whitening material to be in contact with your teeth for long enough periods of time to work effectively. TP just doesn't do much.
How long should you wait to eat after a filling?
The only other limiting factor is to wait long enough to allow the local anesthetic to wear off so you don't bite your cheeks, lips or tongue.
How many teeth can be on a bridge?
The answer to this is "it depends" - on a lot of things. Where is the bridge to be located? What is the condition of the teeth that will support the bridge? What does the occlusion READ MORE
The answer to this is "it depends" - on a lot of things. Where is the bridge to be located? What is the condition of the teeth that will support the bridge? What does the occlusion (bite) look like? Are there habits present (like bruxism, parafunction) that could affect the prognosis of the bridge? This is not something that should be decided without careful consideration by a dentist with good background in occlusion and prosthodontics (crown and bridge) who can help make the proper determination - it isn't something that should be decided without proper study of your mouth.
What is the best mouthwash to use for periodontal disease?
If you're talking about using a mouthwash in collaboration with periodontal treatment at a periodontist or dentist, then using a chlorhexidine mouthwash would be ideal. If you're READ MORE
If you're talking about using a mouthwash in collaboration with periodontal treatment at a periodontist or dentist, then using a chlorhexidine mouthwash would be ideal. If you're not getting definitive periodontal treatment but are hoping to treat it with just a mouthwash, that's a dangerous path - not only will you risk further complications from periodontal disease, but your overall health can be impacted as well. Make sure you are seeking professional treatment for your perio condition the risks can be significant.
What is the success rate of TMJ surgery?
This isn't an easy question to answer because it depends on a lot of things. It's like asking how successful knee surgery is when there are a multitude of different types of surgery READ MORE
This isn't an easy question to answer because it depends on a lot of things. It's like asking how successful knee surgery is when there are a multitude of different types of surgery on both the knee and the TMJ. Anyone trying to answer this would be foolish if they didn't know exactly what you were having done, plus there's the variable of who is doing the surgery? I would get a professional opinion from an oral surgeon who does a fair amount of joint surgery about what the typical prognosis is, and maybe even get a third opinion before undergoing your surgery - it's irreversible and is always valuable to determine the risk/benefit ratio before making the decision. Lastly, make sure the person doing the surgery has done a lot of them because that's another variable if it's an unpredictable procedure.
Can I drink through a straw with braces?
Yes, you can use a straw with braces
What happens if you smoke after getting dental implants?
Smoking deteriorates the prognosis for your dental implant each time you light up, so if you want your implant to be successfully integrated and function a long time, you should READ MORE
Smoking deteriorates the prognosis for your dental implant each time you light up, so if you want your implant to be successfully integrated and function a long time, you should seriously go through a smoking cessation program. Yes, it's difficult to quit, but if you want your implant to succeed, that's what is important.
Can you get a filling without an injection?
There is no requirement to have a local anesthetic injection when a filling is done, but most people would not want to experience the discomfort associated with the procedure. READ MORE
There is no requirement to have a local anesthetic injection when a filling is done, but most people would not want to experience the discomfort associated with the procedure. There are some hardy souls who claim they don't have discomfort, but they are not typical. If it's a small filling with not a lot of decay removal required, it is possible you could have it done without discomfort, but it's very individual. We treat every patient differently because everyone has a different tolerance level. Ask your dentist about it.
What can you eat after gum grafting?
This is a question for the periodontist or dentist who will be doing the procedure - call their office and ask to talk to whomever deals with preparing patients for procedures READ MORE
This is a question for the periodontist or dentist who will be doing the procedure - call their office and ask to talk to whomever deals with preparing patients for procedures like this - they should be prepared to guide you in relation to what you can eat and when.
Does an overbite get worse with age?
As a rule, it's difficult to know whether your particular bite will change over time because there are multiple factors involved in what drives the worsening (or not) of your bite. READ MORE
As a rule, it's difficult to know whether your particular bite will change over time because there are multiple factors involved in what drives the worsening (or not) of your bite. My guess is that you're talking about the horizontal mismatch between your upper and lower teeth (which is called overjet), not the vertical depth of your bite (which is called overbite). Either way, your bite may appear to worsen over time because crowding (misaligned teeth) tends to allow teeth to become more crowded/overlapped over time. This isn't your imagination, because malocclusions (mismatched bites) do tend to worsen over time, so correcting it sooner than later is always good if you're able to have it corrected orthodontically.
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.
Why is my mouth dry even though I drink a lot of water?
Dry mouth is not always dependent on your hydration level - there are a multitude of causes for less saliva to be created - medication can affect it, as well as stress (certain READ MORE
Dry mouth is not always dependent on your hydration level - there are a multitude of causes for less saliva to be created - medication can affect it, as well as stress (certain hormones - like adrenaline, etc.). One very effective way to counteract dry mouth (which carries a higher risk of decay) is to use a product called Xylimelts - they are small lozenges that contain xylitol, which not only increases the moisture content of your mouth, but has a decay-reducing quality to it as well. They can be used at night, when your mouth is usually more dry normal, or during the day to counteract the feeling of dry mouth.
Is it ok to get a crown without a root canal?
Most of the crowns we do for people are done without a root canal if they are treated before there is nerve damage. If there is significant damage to the tooth and the nerve isn’t READ MORE
Most of the crowns we do for people are done without a root canal if they are treated before there is nerve damage. If there is significant damage to the tooth and the nerve isn’t healthy enough, then it could need root canal treatment, but that’s a minor percentage of cases in our experience.
Can I drink coffee after a teeth cleaning?
You can drink coffee after a cleaning, in fact, because your teeth are free from any tartar or plaque, you'll notice your teeth won't stain as much. The staining that some people READ MORE
You can drink coffee after a cleaning, in fact, because your teeth are free from any tartar or plaque, you'll notice your teeth won't stain as much. The staining that some people get from drinking tea or coffee happens because people have more plaque and tartar on their teeth before they drink those things. The cleaner your teeth are before you drink liquids that have staining potential, the less staining you'll get.
Are antibiotics necessary after a root canal?
It depends on the individual case - the treatment consists of doing the root canal; it may or may or require antibiotics depending on whether there is swelling or other indication READ MORE
It depends on the individual case - the treatment consists of doing the root canal; it may or may or require antibiotics depending on whether there is swelling or other indication for antibiotics.
What is the treatment for inflamed gums?
You should first be examined to see what the diagnosis is - you may have simple gingivitis or it could be more involved periodontal disease which involves bone as well as the gum READ MORE
You should first be examined to see what the diagnosis is - you may have simple gingivitis or it could be more involved periodontal disease which involves bone as well as the gum tissue. The treatment usually involves removal of the hardened deposits on your teeth and beefing up your home care to reduce bacterial plaque daily, but that depends on the diagnosis so
make sure you get examined, receive the proper treatment and stay in care so the condition doesn’t worsen.
make sure you get examined, receive the proper treatment and stay in care so the condition doesn’t worsen.
Can gingivitis lead to long-term damage?
It depends on several factors, including how you manage your teeth and gums at home. If you improve your home care, to include thorough and frequent brushing, daily effective flossing READ MORE
It depends on several factors, including how you manage your teeth and gums at home. If you improve your home care, to include thorough and frequent brushing, daily effective flossing and remove the bacterial plaque more than once a day, then you may be able to not only reverse the gingivitis, but avoid the more damaging entity called periodontitis which starts with
gingivitis. Not all gingivitis progresses to periodontitis, but since it's not always clear who progresses and who doesn't, it's much safer to just make the necessary changes to managing your mouth than to take the chance you won't get periodontitis (that's bone loss in addition to inflamed gums). The other factor that is responsible is the genetic predisposition to progressive disease and that's not easily determined. If your parents had more progressive gum disease, you are at an increased risk of developing it. If they didn't, then your risk is lower. But be smart, keep your maintenance at the dental office where they diagnosed you and make the improvements in your home care to keep you out of trouble.
gingivitis. Not all gingivitis progresses to periodontitis, but since it's not always clear who progresses and who doesn't, it's much safer to just make the necessary changes to managing your mouth than to take the chance you won't get periodontitis (that's bone loss in addition to inflamed gums). The other factor that is responsible is the genetic predisposition to progressive disease and that's not easily determined. If your parents had more progressive gum disease, you are at an increased risk of developing it. If they didn't, then your risk is lower. But be smart, keep your maintenance at the dental office where they diagnosed you and make the improvements in your home care to keep you out of trouble.
What could be the cause of my jaw pain?
You should see a dentist who's experienced in occlusal matters - jaw pain can come from a variety of sources, including infection, muscle pain from improper bite relationships, READ MORE
You should see a dentist who's experienced in occlusal matters - jaw pain can come from a variety of sources, including infection, muscle pain from improper bite relationships, etc., and it's impossible to advise you without a good examination being done.
What can I take for my tooth pain?
First of all, you need to have a dentist diagnose why you’re having pain so it can be treated. In the meantime, you can safely take the combination of 600mg ibuprofen, 500mg of READ MORE
First of all, you need to have a dentist diagnose why you’re having pain so it can be treated. In the meantime, you can safely take the combination of 600mg ibuprofen, 500mg of acetaminophen and 25mg of benedryl all at the same time to get the maximum amt of pain relief. This can be repeated every 6 hours but I stress that you must have it diagnosed because there may be a serious underlying problem that this regimen of medication will not fix by itself.
Can a root canal damage nearby teeth?
That’s a non-issue. The procedure is done completely inside the offending tooth so adjacent teeth are uninvolved.
How many times a day should I floss?
Since it takes 24 hours for plaque to form, you only need to floss once a day as long as it’s a thorough job when you do it. Doing it right before bed helps because having plaque READ MORE
Since it takes 24 hours for plaque to form, you only need to floss once a day as long as it’s a thorough job when you do it. Doing it right before bed helps because having plaque on your teeth when your mouth is drier (saliva is less present when you sleep) causes more damage. Brushing, on the other hand, should be done several times a day, particularly after eating.
