Service Categories


Schneider Dental
8928 E. 96th Street
Fishers, IN 46037
Phone: 317-598-9380
Fax: 317-813-1982
info@schneiderdentaloffice.com

Office Hours
Mon., Wed., and Thur.
7:00am to 4:00pm
One Friday per month
One Saturday per month
Emergencies welcome

Dental Problems

Abscessed tooth
An abscessed tooth is an infection at the root of the tooth or between the gum and the tooth. The most common cause is severe tooth decay. Other causes that may develop into an abscessed tooth are; trauma to the tooth, such as when it is fractured or chipped, and gingivitis or gum disease.

Tooth decay and broken or cracked teeth can cause openings in the tooth enamel, which allows bacteria to infect the center of the tooth (called the pulp). The infection may also spread from the root of the tooth to the bones supporting the tooth.

What are the symptoms of an abscessed tooth?

A severe toothache that is severe and continuous with throbbing lingering pain or sharp or shooting pain are common symptoms of an abscessed tooth. Other symptoms may include:

  • Fever
  • Pain when chewing or biting
  • Sensitivity of the teeth to hot or cold
  • Bitter taste in the mouth
  • Foul smell to the breath
  • Swollen neck glands
  • General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling
  • Redness and swelling of the gums
  • Swollen area of the upper or lower jaw
  • An open, draining sore on the side of the gum


If the nerve in the root of the tooth dies as a result of infection, the toothache may cease. However, this doesn't mean the infection has healed; the infection remains active and continues to spread and destroy tissue. Therefore, if you experience any of the above listed symptoms, it is important to see a dentist even if the pain subsides.
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Bad Breath
Bad breath, or halitosis, can result from poor dental health habits and may be a sign of other health problems. Bad breath can also be related to the types of foods you eat and other unhealthy lifestyle habits.

Possible causes of bad breath

Poor oral hygiene, gum disease (periodontal disease), gingivitis, tooth decay, bacteria on the surface of the tongue, and dry mouth (xerostomia) are common reasons for bad breath. There are also many other diseases and illnesses that may cause bad breath including respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia or bronchitis, chronic sinus infections, postnasal drip, diabetes, chronic acid reflux, and liver and kidney problems.

Treatment for Bad breath

Usually to rule out problems related to the teeth and surround tissues a complete dental examination is completed. Dental radiographs are taken to detect any signs of tooth decay and periodontal disease. Often dental cleanings are performed to remove plaque and tarter. The dentist will check the tongue and throat for bacterial deposits and any signs of other diseases. Good oral hygiene including brushing after every meal, flossing daily, mouth rinses and sugarless gum may help eliminate bad breath. Please ask the dentist if you have any further questions.

Canker Sores & Cold Sores
Canker sores

It is thought that stress or tissue trauma cause simple canker sores, however, the exact cause is unknown. Certain foods including citrus or acidic fruits and vegetables (such as lemons, oranges, pineapples, apples, figs, tomatoes, and strawberries) can trigger a canker sore or make the problem worse. Often, a sharp tooth surface or dental appliance, such as ill-fitting dentures or braces might also trigger canker sores.

Treatment of simple canker sores are difficult to treat. Most treatments do not eliminate the sores but usually treated with over-the counter topical gel and time to heal. Also, try and avoid spicy foods, carbonated soda, and foods with high citric acids which seem to irritate the areas. The sore usually heal in one to two weeks.

Some cases of complex canker sores are caused by an underlying health condition, such as an impaired immune system; nutritional problems, such as vitamin B-12, zinc, folic acid, or iron deficiency; and gastrointestinal tract disease, such as Celiac disease and Crohn's disease.

Cold sores

Cold sores or fever blisters are a painful infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). They may present on any area of the body but are most likely to appear on your lips, gums, nose cheeks and fingers. Blisters form, then break and ooze; a yellow crust develops and eventually sloughs off, revealing new skin underneath. The sores usually last seven to ten days and are contagious until they crust over completely.

Cold sores are usually treated by over-the counter topical anesthetics providing soothing relieve until the sore has healed and also, prescribed antiviral cruds may reduce the occurrences.
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Cavities
Cavities also called dental caries or tooth decay is a bacterial disease process occurring inside the mouth attacking the surfaces of the teeth. Tooth decay is caused by your teeth being frequently exposed to foods rich in carbohydrates (starches and sugars) like soda pop, candy, ice cream, milk, and cakes. Ironically, even fruits, vegetables, and juices can lead to tooth decay. After extended periods of time the tooth surfaces are destroyed allowing the bacteria to encroach on the nerve often causing pain, tooth loss, and infection.

Cavities usually not life-threatening can cause severe pain and discomfort. Cavities are typically treated according to their size and depth.
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Dry Mouth
Also called "xerostomia," dry mouth is caused by improperly functioning salivary glands. This is often caused by disease, certain medications, or cancer treatment. Dry mouth can make it hard to eat, swallow, taste and speak. You can mitigate dry mouth by drinking lots of water and avoiding sweets, tobacco, alcohol and caffeine. We also may be able to prescribe medications to fight severe dry mouth.

Some medical treatments such as radiation therapy can actually permanently damage the salivary glands. More than four-hundred kinds of medications list dry mouth as a side effect. The more common drugs include decongestants, diuretics, anti-hypertensives, anti-depressants, and antihistamines. Symptoms

  • Burning sensation of the tongue
  • Difficulty eating, especially dry foods
  • Speech difficulty
  • Persistent thirst
  • Difficulty wearing dentures
  • Dry, cracked lips and corners of the mouth
  • Impaired taste
  • mitigate the effects of dry mouth, try these simple steps:
  • Frequently sip water
  • Keep water at bedside at night
  • Chew sugarless gum
  • Avoid tobacco, alcohol and foods high in sugar
  • Use a saliva substitute, which is a commercial product that "wets" the mouth like saliva does
  • Establish a good plaque control program - since heavy plaque accumulations occur with oral dryness
  • Use fluoride - toothpaste, rinse, or gel

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Dry Socket
A dry socket is a painful condition following an extraction. It is due to the loss of the blood clot thus exposing the bone to air, food, and fluids along with an offensive odor. This often occurs two or more days after an extraction and can last about 5-6 days. It is normal to have soreness and discomfort following an extraction. However, pain should be lessening by the second day.

This condition exists when a blood clot is dislodged from the surgery site thus exposing the bone and fine nerve endings. The blood clot helps in the stopping of bleeding and lays the foundation or framework for new tissue and bone to develop over a two-month healing process. This condition is more common in the mandibular area and in back teeth due to poorer circulation in this area, with wisdom teeth being the most common site. Dry socket delays the healing process.

It usually takes gum tissue about 3-4 weeks to heal where as the bone can take up to six months to heal.

It is very important to avoid smoking and drinking through a straw following an extraction to avoid dislodging the blood clot increasing your chances for a dry socket.

If you feel you may have a dry socket please call the office.
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Gum Disease
Also called Periodontitis.

Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth. Periodontal disease can affect one tooth or many teeth. It begins when the bacteria in plaque (the sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth) causes the gums to become inflamed.

In the early stage of gum disease, called gingivitis, the gums can become red, swollen and easily bleed. At this stage, the disease is still reversible and can usually be eliminated by daily brushing and flossing with routine visits to your dentist.

Untreated gingivitis can progress to periodontitis. With time, plaque can spread and accumulate below the gum line. Toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums. The toxins stimulate a chronic inflammatory response and the tissues and bone that support the teeth are broken down and destroyed. Gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums) that become infected. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. Often, this destructive process has very mild symptoms. Eventually, teeth can become loose and may have to be removed.

Treatment of periodontitis includes scaling and root planing in which is a technique performed in a dental office to stop the adverse affect of periodontal disease. The procedure cleans below the gum line and smoothes the roots. When the roots are smoothed, the gums will usually reattach to the root, stopping the bacteria from spreading. In some cases, this procedure may reverse, or at least stop the damage done by periodontal disease. In some moderate and in severe cases, seeking a gum specialist, (periodontist) maybe recommended.

Prevent gum disease by taking good daily care of your teeth and scheduling regular dental checkups.
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Oral Cancer
Oral cancer accounts for roughly two percent of all cancers diagnosed annually in the United States. Approximately 35,000 people will be diagnosed with oral cancer each year and about 7,600 will die from the disease.

The tongue is the most frequent source of cancers in the mouth, followed by the floor of the mouth, soft palate tissues in the back of the tongue, lips, and finally, the gums.

When tobacco use and alcohol use are combined, the risk of oral cancer increases 15 times more than non-users of tobacco and alcohol products.

Signs of oral cancer

  • continuous pain in the mouth
  • difficulty moving the mouth or jaw
  • sores and bumps inside the mouth lasting longer than 2 weeks
  • soreness in the throat
  • white or red patches inside the mouth
  • bump, swelling, growth anywhere in the neck or mouth
  • difficulty swallowing or chewing
  • pronounced pain in one ear
  • numbness in a specific area in the mouth or jaw
  • undiagnosed bleeding from the tongue, cheek, or gums

If you are concerned about any signs or symptoms please call for an oral cancer examination.

Sensitive Teeth

If you notice pain or sensitivity when drinking something cold or hot you may have a condition called dentin hypersensitivity. This is a common condition associated with sudden changes in temperatures in the mouth from usually liquids causing changes of contraction and expansion in the teeth. The nerve perceives this as a painful or sensitive stimulus. Overtime small micro cracks can develop in the teeth and increase the degree of sensitivity.

Sensitive teeth may or may not be a true symptom of a cavity, for many people have sensitive teeth without having a cavity. A common culprit in developing sensitive teeth is tooth brush abrasion, which is, due to excessive force applied to the tooth brush overtime wearing the enamel and /or dentin down on the teeth. When this happens, there is less of a barrier protecting the nerve inside the tooth and temperature is transmitted to the nerve of the tooth causing sensitivity or pain.
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TMJ/TMD (Temporomandibular Disorders)
More than fifteen percent of American adults suffer from chronic facial pain. Some common symptoms include pain in or around the ear, tenderness of the jaw, clicking or popping noises when opening the mouth, or even headaches and neck aches.

Two joints and several jaw muscles make it possible to open and close the mouth. They work together when you chew, speak, and swallow. These structures include muscles and ligaments, as well as the jaw bone, the mandible (lower jaw) with two joints, the TMJs.

The TM joint is one of the most complex joints in the body. Located on each side of the head, these joints work together and can make many different movements, including a combination of rotating and translocational (gliding) action, used when chewing and speaking.

Several muscles help open and close the mouth. They control the lower jaw (mandible) as it moves forward, backward, and side-to-side. Both TM joints are involved in these movements.

Each TM joint has a disc between the ball and socket (see diagram). The disc cushions the load while enabling the jaw to open widely and perform rotating and translocational movements. Any problem that prevents this complex system of muscles, ligaments, discs and bones from working together properly may result in a painful TMJ disorder.

Diagnosis & Treatment

A dentist can help identify the source of the pain with a thorough exam and appropriate x-rays. Often, it's a sinus, toothache or an early stage of periodontal disease. But for some pain, the cause is not so easily diagnosed. The pain could be related to the facial muscles, the jaw or temporomandibular joint, located in the front of the ear. Treatments for this pain may include stress reducing exercises, muscle relaxants, or wearing a mouth protector to prevent teeth grinding. They've been successful for many and your dentist can recommend which is best for you.

Several conditions may be related to TMD, but they can be quite varied, and they are often difficult to pinpoint. TM disorders can result when the jaw muscles or jaw joints are affected.

The joint, ligaments, and muscles used for chewing and grinding food may all be involved. In some cases, it is not possible to clearly determine the causes. In some complex cases, where more than one doctor is involved, it may be difficult to get a consensus on treatment.

Some TM problems result from arthritis, dislocation, and injury. All of these conditions can cause pain and dysfunction. Muscles that move the joints are also subject to injury and disease. Injuries to the jaw, head or neck, and diseases such as arthritis, might result in some TM problems. Other factors that relate to the way the teeth fit together the bite may cause some types of TMD. Stress is thought to be a factor. TMD affects women of childbearing age more than men, or older men and women.

There are several ways the TMJ disorders may be treated. Your dentist will recommend what type of treatment is needed for your particular problem or recommend that you be referred to a specialist. Treatment may involve a series of steps. The step-by-step plan is in your best interest because only minor, relatively non-invasive treatment may be needed.

Diagnosis is an important step before treatment. Part of your clinical examination includes checking the joints and muscles for tenderness, clicking, popping or difficulty moving. Your complete medical history may be reviewed, so it is important to keep your dental office record up-to-date. Your dentist may take x-rays and may make a a cast of your teeth to see how your bite fits together. Your dentist may also request specialized x-rays for the TM joints. Depending on your case, the dentist may refer you to a physician or another dentist.