Does a root canal kill the tooth? Not exactly. If done correctly, it removes the diseased nerve from inside the root and allows it to stay functional for a long time afterwards. You should know that the nerves around the tooth are still left intact and this allows you to feel the pressure of biting on the tooth. The tooth can also be restored so most of the original function of the tooth is still present. After all, when the choice is a root canal or an extraction, the tooth lasts a lot longer with a root canal than when you extract it.

One way to look at it is to imagine a tall tree that is cut down, treated with creosote, and then used as a telephone pole. The tree is not the same, but with the proper treatment it can become something useful that will provide service for many years to come.

Congratulations, you have just asked the most controversial question in dentistry today. In the interest of fairness, I will try to answer objectively.

As for mercury, if you are truly allergic to it, you should have all your silver fillings replaced. If you have certain diseases (for example, some that compromise your immune system), your medical doctor may advise you to have your silver fillings replaced. You should ask your doctor if you have any indication to do so.

As for function, I will tell you what I told my uncle when he asked me the same question. He asked me if he should replace his fillings because some of them were 70 years old. I asked him, “What else did you buy 70 years ago that you are still using every day?”

As for demand, most people today choose tooth-colored restorations. The gray, dark look is out and the natural, healthy look is in. If that concerns you, go ahead and replace them. You will like your new look.

As to replacement choice, I am currently very excited about a new type of restoration. It uses a combination of zirconium for strength and porcelain for beauty. Zirconium is the same substance that is used for imitation diamonds. It provides the strongest and most natural-looking restorations available, both large and small. Ask your dentist about it.

Congratulations on those first two teeth! I'm so glad you are asking about how to clean them. First, realize you don't have to sterilize your baby's mouth, it's more important to establish a consistent habit than to worry about how throughly you clean the teeth. At 10 months I would recommend something soft, like gauze or terry cloth, dampened with warm water. A gently massaging action for only a few seconds will suffice. There are some devices made to slip over your finger and make that easier. Avoid tooth brushes until your baby has several teeth, then use a small and very soft brush.

For my kids I would lay them on my lap with their legs around my waist and their head cradled in my left hand. I would have put just a tiny bit of tooth paste on their brush and I would brush their teeth gently for just a few seconds, then I would set them up and give them the brush. They would then chew it, suck on it, or whatever. It gave them a reward for holding still and it helped develop the habit of brushing before going to bed. Don't worry about how well or how poorly they brush. Studies show that children don't have the manual dexterity to properly brush their teeth until they are about 5 years old. That's why you should start early but don't expect too much. Later when they are 6 or 7 you can use disclosing tablets (available in stores) that color the plaque. Make a game of having them brush, then use the tablets and see how much plaque is left behind. It will only take a time or two for them to learn how to brush effectively.

As to the best age to begin bringing your child to the dentist, some say as early as one year. But I tell mothers that with one exception, they could wait until their child has gotten over their early stage of Separation Anxiety. That usually is gone (or greatly reduced) by about three years of age. The exception is if you see any dark spots developing on their front teeth. It may be Baby Bottle Syndrome. This is decay due to the child being put to bed with a bottle of milk or juice. This is basically bathing their teeth for hours in sugar. If you must give your baby a bottle as they go to bed, be sure it is only filled with water.

Like teeth, children are our treasures, take good care of them.

Greetings Concerned Parent,

 Since I don't have enough information to properly diagnose your daughter's condition I will respond to the general subject of retained baby teeth. I would guess that between two and five percent of my patients have retained baby teeth.  Statistically most people have lost all their baby teeth by the age of fifteen.  Does that make your daughter abnormal?  I would never call her that, in fact, if pressed for an answer, I would say she is "special" because she is different than most.  I would try as hard as I could to protect her feelings about herself, especially at 15.

 Is it something to be concerned about?  Maybe.  We would have to know if the retained tooth is because of an impacted (or blocked) permanent tooth below it or is it because there is no permanent tooth there at all.  A simple x-ray would be enough to tell.  If there is an impacted tooth your best treatment may be to extract the baby tooth and have the permanent one drawn into the proper position.  If there is a missing permanent tooth you may elect to leave it alone.  Teeth grow from tooth buds like turnips grow from seeds.  If the seeds are missing, nothing grows.  It is what it is.  However, it is my experience that retained baby teeth are often lost eventually when the patient is between 30 and 45 years of age.

 My recommendation to you is to have a consultation with a General Dentist or an Orthodontist for advice in your specific situation.  But remember, normal is a statistical concern.  Love and caring should be a parent's concern.

I hope this helps your, Dr. Laurence Amelang