FAQs
Helpful Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
- Why are checkups recommended every six months, even for people with great oral health?
- What do you do to maintain a safe and sterilized environment?
- Do you refer patients to specialists?
- What are dental implants and how long do they last?
- Does your office use lasers?
- What are my options to replace missing teeth?
- My teeth are stained. Can you help?
- I have chronic headaches. Can you help?
Why are checkups recommended every six months, even for people with great oral health?
We use DIAGNOdent laser cavity detection to find cavities in the earliest stages, and often that means before you see or feel them. Early detection allows us to provide the most conservative treatment, which saves you time, expense, and possible discomfort. We also use ViziLite to screen for oral cancer, a disease that will affect more than 30,000 Americans this year. Oral cancer is deadly, but early detection offers an 80% cure rate. Gum disease is another sneaky problem that we try to catch early. It’s been linked to stroke, heart attack, osteoporosis, and other health risks, and it’s the leading cause of tooth loss in American adults.
What do you do to maintain a safe and sterilized environment?
Your safety is important to us, so we sterilize our reusable instruments in an autoclave and use disposable products as much as possible. Each operatory is cleaned thoroughly between patients. We adhere to guidelines set by the CDC and OSHA and perform weekly tests on our sterilization equipment.
Do you refer patients to specialists?
While we’re trained and equipped to handle many dental issues in our Charlotte dental office, when a specialist would better serve you, we'll refer. Some dental specialists are oral surgeons, periodontists (supporting structures), endodontists (internal tooth problems), orthodontists (for moving teeth), and pedodontists (for children). We refer to only trusted professionals with whom we have a good rapport.
What are dental implants and how long do they last?
Dental implants are an attractive replacement tooth option. They look, feel, and function like natural teeth because of a titanium anchor attached to the jawbone. As an implant dentist, Dr. Sudikoff performs all phases of treatment, including implant placement, at our Charlotte dental office. Once the implants are secured, Dr. Sudikoff will attach handcrafted, permanent crowns or your prosthetic. The replacement teeth will seamlessly with your natural smile. The life of the implant depends on your age, oral status, and personal hygiene. With proper maintenance, they last most people a lifetime.
Does your office use lasers?
We use many kinds of lasers for precise, comfortable dentistry… DIAGNOdent is our cavity-detection laser. It scans teeth to find decay and areas prone to decay, and prevents the need to use a traditional dental hook to inspect teeth.
Our soft-tissue laser allows us to treat gum disease, perform crown lengthening, harvest and place gum grafts, reduce gum tissue for aesthetics, and do biopsies. You won’t need stitches after laser surgery, and bleeding is minimal. Most patients recover more quickly after laser surgery than they do following traditional surgery.
What are my options to replace missing teeth?
We offer bridgework, partials, full dentures, and dental implants. Learn more about these options on our Restorative Services page, then call for a consultation. With digital X-rays, intraoral photos, and a thorough assessment of your smile, Dr. Sudikoff can help you decide which replacement option is best for you.
My teeth are stained. Can you help?
Yes. We offer teeth whitening solutions to brighten teeth dramatically at home or in our Charlotte office. Call for an appointment today!
I have chronic headaches. Can you help?
Chronic headaches may be a symptom of a misaligned bite, bruxism (grinding), or TMJ disorder. Dr. Sudikoff will carefully examine your occlusion (bite), jaw, head, and neck to determine the underlying causes of your pain. Oftentimes, we can correct the problem with a custom oral appliance. Call our Charlotte dental office if you have more questions about headache relief with non-surgical therapies.
Experience whole-mouth health and a lifetime of beautiful smiles. Call today to schedule your appointment with Dr. Sudikoff. Our Charlotte dental office serves Lake Norman, Concord, Pineville, Matthews, and surrounding areas.