Dentist in Lewiston: Serving Residents near Pippin’s Island

Nothing good. A toothache usually means something’s wrong — a cavity, an infection, a cracked tooth, or gum disease. If you ignore it, the problem doesn’t go away on it’s own. Cavities get bigger. Infections spread. Cracks get worse. What starts as a simple filling can turn into a root canal or even tooth loss if you wait too long. Plus, dental infections can actually spread to other parts of your body and make you seriously sick. Some people think the pain will just go away eventually, and sometimes it does — but that usually means the nerve has died, which means the infection is still there and getting worse even though you can’t feel it anymore. If you’ve got a toothache that lasts more than a day or two, call us. We’d rather catch it early when it’s easier and cheaper to fix.

The main difference is where the problem is. A filling handles decay that’s on or near the surface of the tooth. When the infection gets down into the pulp — the inner part of the tooth where the nerve lives — that’s when a root canal becomes necessary. Signs that you might be past a filling: pain that comes on its own without you biting anything, sensitivity to heat that sticks around for more than a few seconds, or swelling near the tooth. If you’re in Gurney and noticing any of those things, call Dr. Fisher’s office and get it checked. Waiting usually makes it worse.

Whitening treatments work on natural tooth enamel, but they don’t change the color of crowns, veneers, or bonding. So if you whiten your natural teeth and you have existing dental work, you might end up with some mismatched shading. That doesn’t mean you can’t whiten — it just means it’s worth talking through with Dr. Fisher first so you know what to expect. In some cases, patients decide to replace older dental work after whitening so everything matches up. It’s a pretty common conversation at the office.

It can be, but it depends on how sensitive your teeth are. Whitening products work by opening up the tiny pores in your tooth enamel to remove stains, which can temporarily make sensitivity worse. If you already have sensitive teeth, professional whitening under our supervision is actually safer than drugstore products because we can control the strength and give you desensitizing treatments before and after. We might recommend a lower concentration whitening gel that you use for longer, or we can do the treatment in shorter sessions spread out over time. Some people with really sensitive teeth decide whitening isn’t worth the discomfort, and that’s okay too — we’re not going to push it. But if you want to try it, we have ways to minimize sensitivity and make it more tolerable.

The main difference is where the problem is. A filling handles decay that’s on or near the surface of the tooth. When the infection gets down into the pulp — the inner part of the tooth where the nerve lives — that’s when a root canal becomes necessary. Signs that you might be past a filling: pain that comes on its own without you biting anything, sensitivity to heat that sticks around for more than a few seconds, or swelling near the tooth. If you’re in Gurney and noticing any of those things, call Dr. Fisher’s office and get it checked. Waiting usually makes it worse.

Yes, but there’s an adjustment period. New dentures take some getting used to — usually a few weeks where your mouth is figuring out how to work with them. Start with softer foods and gradually work your way up to tougher stuff. Some foods like really sticky candy or super hard nuts can be tricky even after you’re adjusted. Well-fitted dentures should let you eat most of what you enjoy. If you’re having ongoing problems with eating or your dentures are slipping around, come see us. That usually means they need an adjustment, and that’s a problem we can fix pretty easily.

Professional teeth whitening at our Lewiston office typically runs between $300-$600 depending on whether you go with in-office treatment or take-home trays. In-office whitening is more expensive but gets you results in one visit — usually 1-2 hours. Take-home kits cost less and you do the treatment yourself over a couple weeks using custom trays we make for you. Both options work well. The results last around 1-3 years depending on your habits — coffee, tea, red wine, and smoking all affect how long it stays white. We go over pricing and options during your consultation so there’s no surprises.