Dentist in Pullman: Serving Whitlow Residents

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.

Not usually. Here’s why — if a tooth needs a crown, we first need to shape it down and take impressions. Those impressions go to a dental lab that makes your custom crown, which typically takes 1-2 weeks. In the meantime, we give you a temporary crown to protect the tooth. Once the permanent crown comes back from the lab, you come in for a second visit where we remove the temporary and cement the permanent one in place. The whole process usually requires two appointments spaced a couple weeks apart. Some dental offices have same-day crown machines, but we don’t — we work with a high-quality lab that makes crowns that fit better and last longer. The wait is worth it for a crown that’s going to be in your mouth for 10-15 years.

Porcelain veneers typically last 10-15 years, sometimes longer with good care. They’re pretty durable — you can eat normally, you just need to avoid really hard stuff like ice or hard candy that could chip them. The main things that affect how long veneers last are how well you take care of them (brushing, flossing, regular dental visits) and habits like grinding your teeth at night or biting your nails. If you’re a grinder, we’ll make you a nightguard to protect them. When veneers do eventually need replacing, it’s usually because the edges start wearing down or the color doesn’t match your other teeth anymore. We’ll check them at your regular cleanings and let you know when they’re getting close to needing replacement.

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.

With proper care, dental implants can last 20-30 years or even longer — basically the rest of your life for a lot of patients. The implant post itself is titanium and integrates with your jawbone, so it’s extremely durable. The crown on top might need replacing eventually (usually 10-15 years depending on wear), but that’s a simple procedure compared to the initial implant placement. Regular brushing, flossing, and checkups keep them in good shape. Implants are an investment, but when you look at how long they last compared to bridges or dentures that need replacing or adjusting every few years, they often end up being more cost-effective long term.

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 Pullman 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.