Being Just OK Is Not OK: Signs of Quality Dental Care

“Just OK” dental care rarely announces itself. The cleaning is quick, the checkup feels routine, the filling seems fine, and nothing hurts, so it is easy to assume all is well. But care that is merely adequate tends to find problems late, repair them in bigger ways than needed and leave you without a clear picture of your own mouth. Quality dental care is thorough, catches problems while they are small, explains what it finds and uses repairs that last.

This article covers what “just OK” care looks like, the signs of problem dental work you can check for yourself, what thorough care includes at the Timonium office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS, and what to do if you think your care has fallen short.

What “just OK” dental care looks like

No single visit tells the whole story. These are patterns that suggest your care is getting by rather than getting ahead.

Problems are only found once they hurt

Tooth decay, gum infection and even an abscess can develop without pain. If every problem you have had was discovered only after a toothache, the early warning signs may be getting missed at your checkups. Good care is designed to find trouble before you feel it.

The same repair keeps coming back

A filling that has to be redone again and again, a crown that keeps loosening or a tooth that stays sensitive for months after treatment is worth a closer look. Sometimes a repair fails for reasons nobody could control. When it keeps happening, the diagnosis or the work itself may need a second look.

You leave without knowing where you stand

After a checkup you should know how healthy your gums are, whether any teeth need attention and what, if anything, can safely wait. If you only ever hear “see you in six months” or a list of procedures with prices, you are missing the information you need to make good decisions.

Treatment jumps straight to the biggest option

A crown where a smaller repair would have done, or an extraction offered before anyone discusses saving the tooth, can be a sign that conservative options are not being considered. Every tooth is different, but you should hear why a particular treatment is the right one.

Signs of problem dental work you can check at home

You don’t need dental training to notice when a filling or crown is not quite right. Mention any of these at your next visit, or sooner if something hurts:

• Floss that catches or shreds on the same filling or crown every time, which can mean a rough or overhanging edge.
• Food that packs between two teeth after new dental work, which can point to a contact that is too loose.
• An edge you can feel with your tongue where a filling or crown meets the tooth.
• A bite that feels high. If a treated tooth seems to touch before your other teeth, call the office for an adjustment rather than getting used to it.
• A filled tooth that hurts when you chew. Discomfort in a tooth that already has a filling is often caused by tiny cracks on the chewing surface, and covering the tooth with a crown can relieve the pain and restore full function.
• A filling that looks worn at the edges or seems to be pulling away. Fillings can wear, fracture or fall out over time, and a gap at the edge can let decay develop underneath.

Some sensitivity to hot, cold and pressure is normal for a short time after a filling. Sensitivity that lingers, or pain that gets worse, deserves a call.

What thorough dental care includes

Here is what quality care looks like in practice, and how each part is handled in the Timonium office.

An exam that looks at more than cavities

A thorough exam covers your teeth, your gums, your bite and your general health. At a first visit with Dr. Haywood, that means X-rays and photos, models that help analyze your bite and any potential TMJ issues, and an oral cancer screening as part of the checkup. ViziLite screening is available during office examinations, and the practice recommends that all patients over eighteen be screened every year.

Cleanings with enough time to be thorough

Cleaning appointments here last a full 60 minutes, so plaque and tartar are removed thoroughly and your gums are checked rather than rushed. The practice holds very high standards for gum health and strives for zero bleeding and zero infection. A professional cleaning every six months is recommended. Read dental cleanings and preventive care.

Finding problems early

Early detection is where quality care saves you the most. Digital X-rays appear on screen right away, with as much as 90 percent less exposure than film. Intraoral cameras zoom in on each section of your mouth. DIAGNOdent, a laser pen, can detect small amounts of decay at the earliest stages, sometimes before it shows on an X-ray. Oral DNA testing identifies which bacteria are behind gum disease, and a Green CT scanner creates accurate 3D images with a much lower radiation dose. See dental technology in Timonium.

Repairs that keep more of your natural tooth

Where the damage allows, a filling, inlay or onlay comes before a crown, because it keeps more of your natural tooth. Onlays restore part of the biting cusp while conserving the healthy parts of a damaged tooth, and crowns are reserved for teeth that are extensively damaged or cracked, or that have had a root canal. Fillings are tooth-colored composite, matched to your teeth and bonded in place, and the practice never uses amalgam. For more, read less is more in dentistry.

Materials chosen with care

Quality includes what goes into your mouth. Dr. Haywood avoids mercury, fluoride, nickel and bisphenol plastics, and restores teeth with non-toxic, metal-free and biocompatible materials. Learn about holistic dentistry at the practice.

A clear explanation before anything begins

Every visit starts with a conversation, not a drill. The team walks you through what needs doing, what can safely wait and exactly what it costs, before anything begins. Because your X-rays appear on screen, a recommendation comes with a picture of the reason behind it.

Experience behind the care

Thorough care depends on the person providing it. Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS has more than 35 years of experience, graduated with distinction from the University of Detroit dental school in 1987 and completed a U.S. Air Force advanced residency with internships in oral surgery, orthodontics, endodontics, pediatric dentistry and oral facial prosthodontics. Further training followed at New York University’s Aesthetic Continuum and the Peter Dawson Institute. Dr. Haywood is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, a Member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and an Elite Invisalign Provider. Read the profile of Dr. Haywood.

Having general, cosmetic, restorative, implant and orthodontic care in one office also matters for quality: the same team that finds a problem plans and completes the repair, and sees how it holds up at later visits.

If you think your care has been just OK

You don’t have to start over to raise the bar. A few practical steps:

1. Ask to see your X-rays and have any recommended treatment explained with them.
2. Ask what can safely wait. A good plan separates urgent needs from things you can schedule later.
3. Report dental work that doesn’t feel right instead of living with it. A high bite or rough edge is often a simple adjustment.
4. Get another look if something still doesn’t add up. Bring your records and recent X-rays. If you haven’t seen a dentist recently, the standard of care requires the necessary X-rays and a thorough exam before treatment.

If you are weighing a change, read questions to ask when choosing a dentist and not happy with your Timonium dentist? For a step-by-step switch, see switching dentists in Timonium.

Paying for quality care

The practice is out of network with all dental insurance companies. You pay at the time of your visit, and the office files the claim on your behalf so your plan can reimburse you for what it covers. Health savings and flex plans are welcome, and financing is available through CareCredit, with no-interest options for up to 12 months, and Cherry, with payment plans from 3 to 24 months. See financing options.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if my dental work is failing?

Watch for floss that catches, food trapping, an edge you can feel, a filling that looks worn or seems to be pulling away, and sensitivity or pain when you chew. None of these proves a problem on its own, but each is worth having checked, because a gap at the edge of a filling can let decay develop underneath.

Is it normal for my gums to bleed at every cleaning?

No. Bleeding or receding gums, bad breath and deep pockets in the gums are signs of infection. Caught early and treated as a serious infection, gum disease can be managed and controlled. Read about gum disease treatment.

Can a filling or crown that doesn’t feel right be fixed?

Often, yes. A treated tooth that touches before your other teeth usually needs a bite adjustment, so call the office. A filled tooth that hurts when you chew may have tiny cracks, and a crown can relieve that pain.

Will a new dentist need new X-rays?

Bring your recent X-rays and records. If you haven’t seen a dentist recently, the standard of care requires the necessary X-rays and a thorough exam before treatment begins.

Expect more than just OK in Timonium

You deserve dental care that is thorough, explained and built to last. Request an appointment or call (410) 453-9399. The office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS is at 108 W Timonium Rd, Ste 200, Timonium, MD 21093, and new patients are always welcome. Browse more articles on the blog.