How can we help you?
Frequently Asked Questions
Choosing a dentist to protect and treat your family’s smile is an important decision. After all, your dentist is an important member of your healthcare team. You probably want to make sure that your dentist has all of the services you need and will make sure your treatment is comfortable.
We want you to feel confident in your oral health and are here to answer any questions you have. Contact our dental office if your question is not listed here, and our knowledgeable team is here to help.
Is teeth whitening safe?
At Matt McGee, DDS Family, and Cosmetic Dentistry, we offer custom teeth bleaching options to help patients eliminate the stains that make a smile look aged and dark. We will take impressions of teeth to make models that we use to form whitening trays just for you.
We recommend a consultation to determine if the stains on your teeth will respond to whitening and if you are healthy enough to whiten your teeth.
We also recommend that you begin whitening your teeth immediately following a professional dental cleaning. Your teeth cleaning will remove surface stains and tartar that can negatively impact teeth whitening treatment.
Choosing custom options reduces many of the side effects that are common with over-the-counter whitening kits or strips because they hold the whitening gel in place on the front of your teeth, where whitening is most crucial.
If you have deep stains due to trauma or medication, teeth whitening may not be sufficient for your condition. If that is the case, we provide dental bonding or porcelain veneers as an alternative.
If you are having cosmetic restorations such as crowns, fillings, or veneers, you might consider starting with teeth whitening for a brighter outcome.
Do you treat children?
We welcome patients of all ages to Matt McGee Family and Cosmetic Dentistry. Children are our very special guests and making sure they have the proper dental care early in life can impact their adult smiles.
We welcome your child from his or her first dental visit. To help familiarize them with the dental office, we will take your little one for a ride in the chair and show them their teeth in the mirror. You can even bring them to your regular dental visit as a trial run to see how they do.
Baby Teeth Are Important
Baby (primary) teeth fall out, so must not be important. This is a common misconception. Baby teeth not only help kids eat a healthy, well-balanced diet but also act as space holders and guides for their adult teeth. Premature primary tooth loss can lead to problems such as overcrowding and misalignment.
Treatment for Older Kids and Teens
As your child develops, they will receive the preventive and restorative dentistry they require, based on their needs. This may mean dental sealants or fluoride treatments to prevent decay or maybe even the occasional filling.
We will always make sure your kids feel comfortable – both physically and mentally. Our caring team and Dr. McGee’s gentle treatment will help your child stay on track with his or her oral health.
Are dental implants possible for anyone?
For most healthy patients, dental implants provide an excellent and reliable solution for missing teeth. You must be healthy enough for dental implants because they do require surgery. A full exam will help Dr. McGee determine if you have enough bone to support dental implants. He will also review your medications and medical history to rule out any complications.
Oral conditions, such as periodontal disease and decay, must be treated before placing implants. This eliminates active infections and reduces bacteria in the mouth making it a safe environment for surgery.
Dental implants require a few steps to complete. Therefore, they are not an instant fix.
Once Dr. McGee places the implant post in the jawbone, we allow time for osseointegration to occur. Osseointegration allows the dental implant and your bone to fuse together. We can arrange for a temporary tooth-replacement to fill the gap in your smile in the meantime.
This is why dental implants are so effective at replacing missing teeth. They are stable and can last a lifetime when you take care of them properly.
Once your bone and implant integrate, we will place a custom dental implant crown on your implant to restore chewing function and your appearance.
What should I do if my dentures do not fit?
Denture fit poses a real challenge for some patients – especially those with bone loss or who have had dentures for a long time.
In some instances, we can reline the denture in-house or send it off to our dental lab for a reline to improve the fit. Unfortunately, this is nothing more than a temporary fix.
Dentures typically need replacement every 5-8 years, and maybe more often if your overall health or weight has changed dramatically. This is because your bone structure changes with time.
We design beautiful, natural-looking dentures in our Nashville dental office. We can discuss your options for conventional dentures, or you may opt for stable implant-retained dentures.
Four to six dental implants placed in the upper or lower jaw act as a locking mechanism to hold dentures in place using either a bar or ball locks. You can still remove them for cleaning and maintenance. Otherwise, they will stay put.
Implant-retained dentures eliminate slipping and moving as you eat or smile. Many of our socially active or professional patients prefer dentures with this added security.
A complete exam will determine if you are a candidate for dental implants and we will discuss your options so that you can make a great choice for your smile.
Am I too old for braces?
You are never too old for a healthy, beautiful smile. Many adults never had an opportunity to wear braces during childhood, or they failed to wear their retainers, resulting in orthodontic relapse.
We can help.
At Matt McGee, DDS, Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we offer Invisalign clear braces as an alternative for our adult patients. Many adults want to avoid the appearance of metal braces and the impact they have on their day-to-day lives.
Invisalign provides an alternative that is often considered more comfortable and is definitely more discreet!
Using clear, BPA-free plastic, our lab will design custom aligner trays that gradually nudge teeth into proper alignment. For most patients, this means a new set of trays every two weeks or so.
Patient compliance is important, which is why Invisalign works best for older teens and adults. You should wear them for 22 hours or more each day, removing them only to eat, drink hot liquids, and to clean your teeth.
Patients love Invisalign because the system is so easy to use and does not irritate the tissue inside the mouth.
To learn more about Invisalign in the Nashville area, give us a call! Dr. McGee will help you decide if Invisalign is right for you.
How do I know if I need a root canal?
We always recommend that you contact our Nashville dental office and arrange an appointment with Dr. Matt McGee to determine the cause of your pain or symptoms. While we cannot make a diagnosis without an exam, a few signs point to needing root canal therapy.
Inflammation (Swelling)
Swelling indicates the presence of an infection or trauma and can accompany an infected nerve. Inflammation can occur near the tooth, on the gums, or even in the face. Infected teeth are particularly dangerous to your health because bacteria move freely through the bloodstream.
Sensitivity to Cold and Hot
Sensitive teeth may indicate an infected nerve, especially if they are sensitive to hot liquids or foods. Infections are often irritated with heat. Cold foods and beverages can cause sensitivity for many reasons, but you should still have a check-up.
Pain with Pressure
Does it hurt to chew? Pain with pressure could indicate the need for a crown or root canal treatment. We will give you a proper diagnosis once Dr. McGee takes a look and an x-ray.
A Bump on the Gums
A bump on the gums, especially one that looks like a pimple, can indicate a fistula. A fistula is a drainage point that the body develops to relieve pressure from an infection.
