expert type icon 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

How do you relieve pain after tooth extraction?

Hopefully, your practitioner would give you appropriate instructions, but if they don't, you should ask them - all practitioners have their own preferences because some use NSAID's READ MORE
Hopefully, your practitioner would give you appropriate instructions, but if they don't, you should ask them - all practitioners have their own preferences because some use NSAID's (Ibuprofen, Naproxen [Aleve]) for their anti-inflammatory effects and pain relief, and some still hold onto older, less desirable tendencies to prescribe narcotic pain relievers, which led to the opioid crisis. We always recommended naproxen (Aleve) or ibuprofen (Motrin) to patients as long as they weren't allergic to NSAID's (or they were contra-indicated by their physician due to other conditions such as history of gastric ulcers, bleeding disorders, etc.

How can I straighten my teeth?

Find a reputable dentist and have Invisalign done - there are a million do-it-yourself techniques out there, but we've seen a lot of people who try that and THEN showed up in our READ MORE
Find a reputable dentist and have Invisalign done - there are a million do-it-yourself techniques out there, but we've seen a lot of people who try that and THEN showed up in our office to have it fixed (and they wish they had started with us instead of trying to do it inexpensively).

Are you put to sleep for dental implant surgery?

Although it's possible to be under general anesthesia for a dental implant, it would require double or triple the cost and it is almost never required. Most patients say the process READ MORE
Although it's possible to be under general anesthesia for a dental implant, it would require double or triple the cost and it is almost never required. Most patients say the process is as easy as having a minor dental procedure with a local anesthetic. I, personally, have had an implant placed along with a sinus lift procedure for a bone graft and it was painless. You should certainly discuss this with your practitioner in order to relieve any concerns.

What should you not drink after a tooth extraction?

If you haven't had the extraction yet, make sure you ask your dentist about this because every case has some differences depending on the complexity of the extraction. If you've READ MORE
If you haven't had the extraction yet, make sure you ask your dentist about this because every case has some differences depending on the complexity of the extraction. If you've already had the extraction, hopefully, you got a sheet of instructions about eating and drinking afterward - if you didn't, you should call the dentist and inquire about this. What you drink isn't
nearly as important as how you drink it - the use of a straw is absolutely forbidden after extraction due to the problems associated with damaging the clotting that needs to take place at the extraction site.

How often do you need a teeth cleaning while doing Invisalign?

A lot depends on your overall gum/bone health, but generally, Invisalign doesn't alter the frequency with which you should be seeing the hygienist for a dental cleaning - especially READ MORE
A lot depends on your overall gum/bone health, but generally, Invisalign doesn't alter the frequency with which you should be seeing the hygienist for a dental cleaning - especially if you stay committed to brushing multiple times a day and flossing once a day.

Can you be more prone to cavities?

There are many factors involved with whether someone has more incidence of decay, including diet, cleaning habits, salivary flow, etc. There is no such thing as being more prone READ MORE
There are many factors involved with whether someone has more incidence of decay, including diet, cleaning habits, salivary flow, etc. There is no such thing as being more prone to decay just because of your dental makeup - if people say "I have soft teeth" because they get a lot of decay, it's likely that they eat a diet with more sugar content, they don't clean their
teeth properly (brush frequently and floss every day) or they have poor salivary flow (affected by age, medication, medical conditions).

So, make sure you clean your teeth frequently and your diet doesn't include a lot of simple carbohydrates (high decay-causing) and see your dentist regularly - your teeth can last a lifetime if you pay attention.

Is it better to whiten teeth at dentist or home?

You can do it either way, one costs more, the other requires more discipline (home). Both will work effectively and the only reason to have it done at the office would be to have READ MORE
You can do it either way, one costs more, the other requires more discipline (home). Both will work effectively and the only reason to have it done at the office would be to have it done quickly, as when you're getting married in 2 weeks or similar. If you do elect to do it at home, just choose a whitening agent that's neutral pH (so that it doesn't cause damage to your teeth). There are several brands out there that are very good and safe, such as Crest Whitestrips, Rembrandt, etc.

What happens if you leave teeth whitening gel on too long?

First of all, most gels lose their effectiveness after about an hour of contact so it's not worth using it longer. Second, the chemicals that make up the whitening agent break READ MORE
First of all, most gels lose their effectiveness after about an hour of contact so it's not worth using it longer. Second, the chemicals that make up the whitening agent break down and they're not good for you, so it's best to use it for no longer than an hour. We used to tell our patients it was okay to put in at night and sleep with the material in their trays, but we now
know that's not only not beneficial, but it's not good for you to have those materials in there after the whitening is no longer effective.

How long after tooth bonding can I eat?

There’s no need to wait to eat after bonding unless you’ve had local anesthetic that could spell trouble if you bite your lips or tongue. The bonding is as strong as it’s ever READ MORE
There’s no need to wait to eat after bonding unless you’ve had local anesthetic that could spell trouble if you bite your lips or tongue. The bonding is as strong as it’s ever going to be after the procedure so go ahead and eat if your mouth isn’t numb - just don’t chew things like ice cubes because that can damage bonding.

How can I prevent my gums from receding around my crown?

Unfortunately, gum recession is a fact of life for everyone, but it’s more apparent when a crown is present because it’s more obvious when you have 1 mm of recession occur - on READ MORE
Unfortunately, gum recession is a fact of life for everyone, but it’s more apparent when a crown is present because it’s more obvious when you have 1 mm of recession occur - on your other teeth you wouldn’t notice it. Your best bet is to keep up your regular visits to the dentist and hygienist as well as doing impeccable brushing and flossing to prevent inflammation (that accelerates recession).

How long can you leave a cavity untreated?

It depends on how advanced the decay is when it is diagnosed, the kind of foods and snacks you eat, and how well you clean your teeth. If you don't have a diet full of sugary snacks READ MORE
It depends on how advanced the decay is when it is diagnosed, the kind of foods and snacks you eat, and how well you clean your teeth. If you don't have a diet full of sugary snacks and drinks, and you brush and floss your teeth very well every day, you don't run into big complications by delaying the treatment for a short period of time (a few weeks). Remember though,
the longer you delay it, the more advanced it becomes and the more damage occurs, sometimes resulting in significantly more extensive treatment. The cost can soar as much as 10X what it costs to have it restored sooner, so do yourself a favor and get it done asap.

What is one advantage of using acrylic teeth instead of porcelain teeth in partial dentures?

Two advantages of acrylic teeth: They will stay bonded in the partial better than porcelain (meaning that you will have less incidents of a tooth coming off the partial); the other READ MORE
Two advantages of acrylic teeth: They will stay bonded in the partial better than porcelain (meaning that you will have less incidents of a tooth coming off the partial); the other advantage is that acrylic is "kinder" to your opposing teeth, meaning your opposing teeth will fair better from a wear standpoint.

Can using a hard toothbrush damage gums?

A hard-bristle toothbrush can not only harm your soft tissues, but it can also abrade away important tooth structure as well - there is no indication these days for a hard-bristle READ MORE
A hard-bristle toothbrush can not only harm your soft tissues, but it can also abrade away important tooth structure as well - there is no indication these days for a hard-bristle brush, as bacterial plaque is easily removed with a soft-bristle brush and circular motions rather than scrubbing back and forth, which can also damage teeth and gums over time (think about how
using a soft cloth with ajax or comet cleanser wears away a shiny finish on your countertops or other surface). If you feel like you need a hard-bristle brush, it may be because you need more frequent visits to the dentist office for the hygienist to remove the hard tartar (and don't forget to floss in between your teeth EVERY day - it's critical to gum health).

Why do my teeth hurt when I chew meat?

Have you asked your dentist? Without a comprehensive exam, you could have issues with your bite, you could be a bruxer (grinder), or you could have some cracked teeth that haven't READ MORE
Have you asked your dentist? Without a comprehensive exam, you could have issues with your bite, you could be a bruxer (grinder), or you could have some cracked teeth that haven't been identified. Make sure your dentist is well versed in occlusion, as that's likely what your problem comes from.

Why does my tooth extraction hurt more at night?

A fresh tooth extraction will typically hurt more when you lay down because there's more pressure in the area from the blood flow that increases when you lay down - it's the reason READ MORE
A fresh tooth extraction will typically hurt more when you lay down because there's more pressure in the area from the blood flow that increases when you lay down - it's the reason you're told to elevate whatever you've injured when you seek care for it because it lowers the pressure in that area when it's elevated above your heart. It will help to use NSAID medication (Ibuprofen, Aleve) before bed to help alleviate some of the inflammation that accompanies an extraction.

Can you floss between implants?

Yes, you not only *can* floss between two implants, but you *should *in order to maintain as clean and healthy a condition there as possible, as long as the crowns on the two implants READ MORE
Yes, you not only *can* floss between two implants, but you *should *in order to maintain as clean and healthy a condition there as possible, as long as the crowns on the two implants are separate crowns (not conjoined as we sometimes do for more support).

Can you get dental anesthesia for getting braces on?

Yes, it is possible to have dental anesthetic with braces, but since most orthodontists don't use anesthetic on a regular basis you would have to check with the particular orthodontist READ MORE
Yes, it is possible to have dental anesthetic with braces, but since most orthodontists don't use anesthetic on a regular basis you would have to check with the particular orthodontist as to whether they use it or not. Some general dentists do braces, and they would be more than capable of doing anesthetic but since Invisalign is a very useful orthodontic method, why not explore that and see if it would work for your particular situation?

Which is better dentures or dental implants?

Your question requires a fairly complicated answer because the two services are at opposite ends of the spectrum financially, which you will find out when you start exploring the READ MORE
Your question requires a fairly complicated answer because the two services are at opposite ends of the spectrum financially, which you will find out when you start exploring the processes. You should find a very reputable prosthodontist (dentists can provide this service, but they would have to do a lot of these procedures to be very competent) and explore what's best for you. Don't settle for someone because the cost is less - sometimes that can be an indication of quality.

Do you a need bone graft for an implant?

Grafting for an implant is needed when there isn’t adequate bone to support the implant, so if there is sufficient bone, it’s not necessary to graft.

Should I brush my teeth after drinking lemon water?

I would recommend that you avoid brushing your teeth immediately after drinking lemon water, but make sure you're not putting too much lemon in the water - more lemon means more READ MORE
I would recommend that you avoid brushing your teeth immediately after drinking lemon water, but make sure you're not putting too much lemon in the water - more lemon means more acid which translates into more risk of enamel damage. If you brush your teeth multiple times a day, then there's no need to brush your teeth after drinking the lemon water, so it would
make more sense to brush your teeth before you drink it and avoid damaging the enamel that can occur if you brush right after exposing your teeth to slightly acidic liquid.