Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Dry mouth, or xerostomia, can be caused by numerous things. Traditionally, dry mouth was thought to only inflict older patients, but today we are seeing dry mouth in younger and younger patients. The reason we are seeing more cases of dry mouth and cases in younger patients is due to adverse side effects of many common medications. Dry mouth is very detrimental to the oral environment and can lead to aggressive decay. 

The idea that silver fillings contain mercury and are bad for your health has been a hot topic in the media and on the Internet. While it is true that silver fillings do contain mercury, the form of mercury that is in silver fillings is not a hazard to your health. Repeated testing by the CDC and the U.S. Department of Public Health has shown silver fillings to be safe, and no ill effects have been linked to the mercury in silver fillings.

Drs. Charles and Emily Hurley do not recommend removing a silver filling unless there is a true need such as decay or a crack in the filling. Silver fillings can be replaced with a tooth-colored filling upon a patient’s request, but you should be aware that most insurances will not cover the procedure due to it being considered cosmetic. 

At our practice, we use tooth-colored composite fillings whenever possible. These fillings blend in beautifully with your enamel to the point where it is highly unlikely that even you would be able to spot the filling in your tooth! Tooth-colored fillings also require less removal of healthy tooth structure since they bond directly to the tooth and do not need us to create an "anchor" to mechanically hold the filling in place. 

If you have any concerns about your fillings, please call our practice for an evaluation.

Even though your child will eventually lose these baby teeth, it is important to keep baby teeth healthy until the permanent teeth are ready to come in.

If we prematurely lose our baby teeth, it can delay eruption of our permanent teeth. Our baby teeth act as a guide for the adult teeth to properly erupt. Without our baby teeth, it is more likely that we will have crowding and misaligned teeth. To correct crowding or misaligned teeth, more expensive treatment, like orthodontics, will be required. 

Even though we have the skills to treat many dental problems and excellent relationships with local orthodontists and other specialists, we would prefer to prevent problems from developing in the first place – a sentiment we are sure you share! 

Fillings, or even crowns, on damaged baby teeth can prevent significant future treatment, which makes them worthwhile now. 

If your child is complaining of a toothache or has had an accident that resulted in damage to a tooth (even if damage is only suspected!), please call our office to schedule an evaluation with one of our friendly, gentle dentists. Drs. Charles and Emily Hurley have experience treating children, and we take extra steps to make sure their experiences in our office are comfortable and even fun! 

It might seem counterintuitive for a dentist to recommend extraction of teeth when the goal of a dentist is to save teeth.

Typically, a dentist recommends extraction of wisdom teeth for two reasons:

One – a patient does not have enough room in their mouth for these additional teeth. Many times an impacted tooth will develop a cyst that will cause a patient to lose bone, which can cause additional problems to the teeth in front.

Two – the further back in the mouth, the harder it is to keep our teeth clean and the more likely we are to develop a cavity on a wisdom tooth. Typically, this is not an issue until later in life, but by this time, the extraction will likely be more difficult due to our bone becoming more dense. It's usually better to extract wisdom teeth between the ages of 16 and 25. 

The short answer is yes!

At Hurley Family Dentistry, we understand life gets busy with work and family, but it is important to keep up a regular schedule of dental examinations and cleanings because the six-month checks allow us to detect disease early. Early detection of cavities can mean the difference between a filling versus a crown or – even worse – an extraction.

Your cleanings are also a key treatment in the fight against periodontal disease. Cleanings allow us to remove debris from beneath the gumline (where your toothbrush and floss have a hard time reaching), significantly reducing your risk for this chronic infection. At your six-month check, we'll also look for any signs of developing periodontal disease so that we can begin treatment early, when necessary. 

Cavities and periodontal disease aren't the only things we're looking for at your examinations, either. Oral cancer is a very serious threat and can strike just about anyone at any age. The early detection of a cancerous lesion in the mouth greatly increase one's survival rate. 

We take your dental health and your overall health seriously. Regular preventive cleanings and checks go a long way toward reducing risk and could even save your life. 

First, taking x-rays has gotten a lot easier with modern technology. Digital x-rays are a lot quicker and also lower your exposure to radiation.

Radiographs help the doctor to properly diagnosis the presence of disease, and we are not just talking about cavities. Radiographs help a dentist detect abcesses, cysts, and tumors that many times are symptom free. Also, many times waiting until a dentist can see you or until symptoms develop means that the cavity is large and most likely requires additional treatment other than a filling. 

A dentist cannot cure periodontal disease. A dentist can, however,  treat and manage periodontal disease.

The first step to treat and manage periodontal disease is a deep cleaning where the dentist or hygienist cleans the tartar and calculus that extends below the gums to prevent further destruction of bone. Antibiotics may also be placed locally during this treatment.

If a patient does not respond to this first step of treatment, a more aggressive treatment may be needed or may be referred to a specialist, called a periodontist. While certain procedures performed by periodontal specialists, like bone grafting, can repair and replace lost periodontal bone, it is not possible to regrow this bone.

Prevention of periodontal disease is a crucial part of your preventive care. Routine cleanings and exams will help reduce your risk of developing this chronic condition and increase the chances of identifying it as early as possible. 

Periodontal disease does not just affect your oral health. Studies are linking periodontal diseases to more and more chronic systemic health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Your health matters to us, and we want to give you the tools you need to live a long and healthy life. 

Periodontal disease may be diagnosed as either aggressive or chronic.

Aggressive periodontal disease typically occurs during the adolescent stage of life and is caused by bacteria. Hormonal changes often play a role (which is also why pregnancy gingivitis – a gum disease flare-up during pregnancy – can occur).

Chronic periodontal disease is the most common type and is caused by lack of adequate oral hygiene. If a person goes a long period of time without having their teeth cleaned, they develop tartar or calculus. Tartar and calculus irritate the bone. A person starts to lose the bone around their teeth because of tartar/calculus. 

This situation can quickly become quite serious. As your bone begins to deteriorate, gaps open between your gums and your teeth, providing a place for bacteria to reproduce. The infection and inflammation continue the cycle and will eventually cause significant damage to your dental health. Periodontal disease is the number one cause of lost teeth in American adults. 

In its early stages, periodontal disease is easy to reverse. Improved home care and more frequent cleanings will restore your health. In its later stages, however, further treatment will be needed. Additionally, only procedures like bone grafting can restore lost periodontal bone. 

If you are showing any signs of periodontal disease, such as bleeding when you brush or floss or sore, red, puffy gums, please call our office to schedule an evaluation.

The number one reason a dentist recommends a night guard is due to nocturnal clenching and bruxism (grinding). Most people do not know they are clenching or grinding their teeth because they do it subconsciously while sleeping. Clenching and grinding has many detrimental effects on a person’s dentition. Untreated clenching and grinding can lead teeth to chip and crack, which can lead to teeth requiring crowns or, even worse, extraction. It is also believed that clenching and grinding can cause abfraction (wedges or notches in teeth at the gum line). 

One of our goals is to provide long-term preventive solutions that reduce your risk for dental conditions and injuries. Nightguards can be a smart investment in your long-term dental health, especially if you are already showing any signs of grinding or clenching. This condition sets off a vicious cycle that can have serious long-term consequences. 

If your partner has told you that you clench or grind your teeth while you sleep or you've noticed some of the other signs that point to nighttime bruxism such as pain in your jaws, a sense that your teeth are loose, teeth that look unusually short, or frequent headaches, please call our office today for an evaluation.

Sealants are a preventive measure that many dentist are using to help prevent or delay the onset of a cavity on your child.

Children typically start getting their permanent teeth around the age of six. Most children do not have adequate oral hygiene or hand dexterity at that age to properly brush and floss their teeth. Typically, permanent teeth have more peaks and grooves than our baby teeth, which means it is more likely that food will become stuck in these teeth. A sealant fills in the grooves of the teeth, which prevents food from getting stuck. If food is not stuck on our teeth, a person is less likely to develop a cavity.