Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Caring for a crown or bridge is similar to caring for your natural teeth. Brush twice daily, floss every day, and keep up with regular dental checkups.

With proper care, crowns typically last 10 to 15 years, and bridges have a similar lifespan, though both can last longer depending on your oral habits and how well you maintain them.

Daily Care for Dental Crowns

A crown covers a single tooth, so you can brush and floss around it just like your other teeth. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste to avoid scratching the surface. Pay attention to the gumline where the crown meets your natural tooth. Plaque can still accumulate there, leading to decay underneath.

Daily Care for Bridges

Bridges require a little extra attention because they span a gap with a false tooth in between. Regular floss won't thread underneath, so you'll need a floss threader or a water flosser to clean beneath the artificial tooth and around the anchor crowns. This prevents bacteria from building up and affecting the supporting teeth.

Avoid These Habits

• Chewing ice, hard candy, or other hard objects
• Using your teeth to open packages or tear tape
• Biting down on pens, pencils, or fingernails
• Grinding or clenching without a night guard

When to Call Your Dentist

If your crown feels loose, your bridge shifts when you chew, or you notice any discomfort, contact our office. Early attention to small problems can prevent bigger issues later.

Questions about your restoration? Call our Mayfield Heights, OH, office at (440) 585-4200. 

The lifespan of cosmetic dental work depends on the treatment, your oral hygiene habits, and how well you care for your teeth. With excellent home care and routine checkups, most cosmetic treatments can last for years, sometimes even decades. Here's what you can generally expect.

Cosmetic Dentistry Lifespans

• Teeth Whitening: Professional whitening results can last six months to two years. How long depends on your diet and habits. Coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco can stain teeth more quickly. Touch-up treatments or take-home trays can help maintain your brightness over time.
• Composite Bonding: Bonding usually lasts five to seven years. Because composite resin isn't as strong as porcelain, it may chip or stain over time, especially on teeth that withstand significant biting force. Avoiding hard foods and keeping up with regular cleanings helps extend its life.
• Veneers: Porcelain veneers typically last 10 to 15 years or longer. Composite veneers have a shorter lifespan of around five to seven years, but can be easier to repair.
• Dental Crowns: Crowns generally last 10 to 15 years, though many last longer with proper care. Avoiding hard or sticky foods and wearing a night guard if you grind your teeth will help protect your investment.

Have questions about maintaining your cosmetic work? Call our Mayfield Heights, OH, office at (440) 585-4200. We welcome patients from Gates Mills, Chesterland, Hunting Valley, Kirtland, and beyond.

Most adults with missing teeth can be candidates for dental implants. The key factors are healthy gums, adequate bone density in the jaw, and a commitment to good oral hygiene.

What Makes a Good Dental Implant Candidate

Dr. Hudzinski looks for several things when evaluating patients for implants:

• Healthy gum tissue: Active gum disease should be treated before implant placement.
• Sufficient jawbone: The implant post needs enough bone to anchor securely.
• Good overall health: Certain medical conditions or medications may affect healing, so we'll review your health history.
• Non-smoker or willing to quit: Smoking significantly increases the risk of implant failure.
• Commitment to aftercare: Implants require the same care as natural teeth, including brushing, flossing, and regular checkups.

What If Don't Have Enough Bone?

Bone loss doesn't automatically rule out implants. If your jaw has lost density due to missing teeth, gum disease, or other factors, bone grafting can rebuild the area, creating a solid foundation. Dr. Hudzinski offers bone grafting and sinus lift procedures in-office, so patients who might not otherwise qualify can still become candidates after a healing period.

The Best Way to Know for Sure

Every situation is different. Dr. Hudzinski will take 3D images of your jaw, review your medical history, and provide an honest assessment of your options.

Call our Mayfield Heights, OH, office at (440) 585-4200 to schedule a consultation. We welcome patients from Gates Mills, Chesterland, Hunting Valley, Kirtland, and beyond.

Even with diligent brushing and flossing, you can't remove all the plaque and tartar that accumulate on your teeth. Professional cleanings reach areas your toothbrush and floss miss, preventing problems that daily home care alone cannot address.

What Home Care Can't Remove

No matter how thoroughly you brush and floss, certain areas remain difficult to clean thoroughly:

• Tartar (calculus): Once plaque hardens into tartar, it bonds to tooth enamel and can only be removed with professional instruments. Tartar buildup irritates gums and creates rough surfaces where more bacteria can accumulate.
• Below the gumline: Plaque and bacteria collect in the small pockets between your teeth and gums, areas your toothbrush simply cannot reach effectively.
• Back molars and tight spaces: Even with careful brushing, the back corners of your mouth and areas where teeth meet can trap food particles and bacteria.

The Benefits of Professional Cleanings

During your cleaning, our hygienist uses specialized tools to remove stubborn tartar deposits and polish away surface stains that brushing leaves behind. We also examine your gums for early signs of disease, check for cavities, and screen for oral cancer—problems you can't detect on your own.

Schedule your next cleaning today. Call Dr. Hudzinski’s office at (440) 585-4200. We welcome patients from Mayfield Heights, Chesterland, Gates Mills, Pepper Pike, Lyndhurst, and beyond

Do not panic—it happens. If you lose a tray or go a few days without wearing your aligners, contact our office so we can advise you on the next steps. In most cases, a short lapse will not derail your entire treatment, but the sooner you get back on track, the better.

If You Lose an Aligner Tray

Call our office right away. Depending on where you are in your treatment, Dr. Hudzinski may recommend:

• Wearing your previous set of aligners until a replacement arrives
• Moving ahead to your next set, if you were close to switching anyway
• Ordering a replacement tray if neither option is appropriate

If You Forget to Wear Your Tray

Your teeth may shift slightly when aligners are not in place. If it has only been a day or two, your current trays will likely still fit. Just put them back in and resume your normal schedule.

If the aligners feel very tight or do not fit properly, contact us before forcing them. You may need to wear your previous set for a few extra days to help your teeth return to position.

Tips for Staying on Track with Invisalign

• Always store your aligners in their case when eating or drinking
• Keep your case with you so you are not tempted to wrap them in a napkin
• Set a daily reminder if you are prone to forgetting

Questions about your Invisalign treatment? Call our Mayfield Heights, OH, office at (440) 585-4200. We welcome patients from Gates Mills, Chesterland, Hunting Valley, Kirtland, and beyond.

Caring for veneers is straightforward: treat them like your natural teeth. Brush twice daily, floss once, and visit your dentist for regular checkups. With good care, porcelain veneers can last 10–15 years or longer. Expect composite veneers to have a shorter lifespan, typically 5–7 years.

Daily Care for Your Veneers

Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste. Avoid whitening toothpaste as it contains ingredients that can etch the surface of the veneers over time. Floss once daily around each tooth, including the edges where the veneer meets your gumline—plaque can still build up there and cause problems.

Damaging Habits to Avoid

Veneers are durable, but they're not indestructible. Protect your investment by avoiding:

• Biting into hard foods like ice, hard candy, or raw carrots with your front teeth
• Using your teeth as tools to open packages or tear tape
• Chewing on pens, pencils, or fingernails
• Skipping your night guard if you grind your teeth

When to Call Us

If a veneer feels loose, chips, or you notice any changes in your bite, contact our office. Small issues are easier to address before they become bigger problems.

Questions about your veneers? Call our Mayfield Heights, OH, office at (440) 585-4200. We welcome patients from Gates Mills, Chesterland, Hunting Valley, Kirtland, and beyond.

A crown protects your tooth after root canal treatment. During a root canal, the infected pulp is removed from inside the tooth. While this process saves the tooth, it does leave it structurally weaker.

What Happens to a Tooth After a Root Canal 

When the pulp is removed, the tooth loses its internal blood supply. Over time, this can make the tooth more brittle and prone to cracking. The tooth also typically has significant decay or damage that required the root canal in the first place, meaning there is less natural tooth structure left to support everyday chewing forces.

Why a Filling Alone May Not Be Enough

A filling restores the opening made during the root canal, but it does not reinforce the tooth. Back teeth especially absorb a lot of pressure when you chew. Without a crown, a root canal-treated molar or premolar is at higher risk of cracking or breaking, which could mean losing the tooth entirely.

When You Might Not Need a Crown

In some cases, front teeth with minimal damage may not require a crown after a root canal. Because front teeth experience less chewing force, a filling may be sufficient. Dr. Hudzinski will evaluate your specific situation and recommend the best approach to protect your tooth in the long term.

Have questions about root canals or crowns? Call our Mayfield Heights, OH, office at (440) 585-4200. We welcome patients from Gates Mills, Chesterland, Hunting Valley, Kirtland, and beyond.

Many people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) go undiagnosed for years because they don't realize their symptoms are connected. Some signs occur at night while you're asleep, while others show up during the day.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Nighttime

• Loud, persistent snoring*
• Gasping or choking during sleep
• Restless sleep or frequent waking
• Waking with a dry mouth or sore throat

*Loud snoring is not a definitive symptom; not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, and not everyone who has sleep apnea snores.

Daytime

• Morning headaches
• Fatigue, even after a full night's sleep
• Difficulty concentrating or memory problems
• Irritability or mood changes

The Physical Toll of Untreated Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea doesn't just leave you tired. Repeated drops in oxygen levels place substantial stress on your cardiovascular system.

Untreated OSA has been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes. It can also affect your mood, memory, and ability to function safely, with drowsy driving a serious risk for those with untreated sleep apnea.

When to Seek Help for Sleep Apnea

If you or your partner have noticed any of these symptoms, it may be time to talk to a professional. Dr. Hudzinski works with sleep physicians to evaluate patients and recommend appropriate treatment options.

Call our Mayfield Heights, OH, office at (440) 585-4200 to schedule a consultation. We welcome patients from Gates Mills, Chesterland, Hunting Valley, Kirtland, and beyond.

Dry socket is one of the most common complications after a tooth extraction, but it's also largely preventable. The key is protecting the blood clot that forms in the socket after your tooth is removed.

That clot covers the bone and nerves underneath, so it becomes dislodged, and you're left with exposed tissue that can be quite painful.

What Dry Socket Feels Like

Symptoms typically appear two to four days after extraction. You may notice intense, throbbing pain that radiates toward your ear, a bad taste in your mouth, or visible bone in the socket. If you experience any of these, contact our office right away.

How to Avoid Dry Socket

For the first 24 to 48 hours after your extraction:

• Avoid using straws, as the suction can dislodge the clot
• Don't smoke or use tobacco products
• Skip vigorous rinsing or spitting
• Avoid carbonated beverages
• Eat soft foods and chew on the opposite side of your mouth

Basic Extraction Aftercare Tips

• Rest for the first day and avoid strenuous activity
• Apply an ice pack to the outside of your cheek in 15-minute intervals to reduce swelling
• Take any prescribed medications as directed
• After 24 hours, gently rinse with warm salt water to keep the area clean
• Stick to soft foods like yogurt, applesauce, and scrambled eggs for the first few days

Following these steps gives the extraction site the best chance for proper healing. If you have questions during your recovery, don't hesitate to call our Mayfield Heights, OH, dental office at (440) 585-4200.

Both are bone grafting procedures. The difference is where in the mouth they're performed. A standard graft adds bone material to areas of the jaw that have lost density, typically in the lower jaw or the front of the upper jaw. A sinus lift is a specific type of bone graft for the upper back jaw, where the sinus cavity sits just above the tooth roots.

When a Standard Bone Graft Is Needed

If you've lost bone due to missing teeth, gum disease, or trauma, a bone graft rebuilds the area so it can support a dental implant. The graft material—which may come from your own body, a donor source, or a biocompatible synthetic—is placed where additional bone is needed. Over time, your body generates new bone cells that integrate with the graft.

When We Recommend a Sinus Lift

The back portion of your upper jaw naturally has less bone, and the sinus cavity is located just above it. When teeth are missing in this area, the sinus can expand downward, leaving even less bone to work with. A sinus lift gently raises the sinus membrane and places bone graft material beneath it, creating enough depth for implant placement.

Have questions about bone grafting or sinus lifts? Call our Mayfield Heights, OH, office at (440) 585-4200. We welcome patients from Gates Mills, Chesterland, Hunting Valley, Kirtland, and beyond.