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SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Dentistry
Licenses
United States: New York
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
72 Answers
2 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 44-year-old male asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Yes: With the new bis-gma resins used for temporary crowns, 3 weeks and longer is not a problem. A lab fabricated temporary crown can last for many months.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Six to eight weeks: Pain should subside relatively quickly but healing of the gum is usually six to eight weeks and complete filling in of bone another few months. If th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
No: Supernumerary teeth are actually more common then one would think, just as congenitally missing teeth are not that uncommon.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Rinses & pain meds: Usually hot salt water rinses and antiinflammatory meds like Ibuprofen and Naproxen will take care of it. Occassionally, antibiotics may be necessary.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Whitening or veneers: There are a variety of over the counter whitening materials as well as whitening systems done in the dental office. If teeth already have multiple fil... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Magnetic resonance : A TMJ MRI is a magnetic resonance imaging of the temporomandibular joint. It used to better visualize the hard and soft tissues of the jaw joint when ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Edge to edge: You can also have a situation where the upper and lower front teeth touch only at their biting edges when fully closed. This is an edge to edge bite.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
At least one: There are complete dentures which replace all upper and or lower teeth and there are partial dentures that can peplace one or more missing teeth.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Gum disease: Most often loose teeth are the result of gum or periodontal disease where the bone supporting the teeth has shrunken down. Osteoporosis from menopau... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 71-year-old male asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Not really: Hydrogen peroxide used full strength(3%) over a long period of time will deprive the gum tissues of oxygen.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Many solutions: Discolored teeth can be fixed by any number of techniques. Whitening is an option as is composite or porcelain veneers. Crowns may also be placed depe... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Yes: There are varying strengths available for whitening , some less concentrated and some more concentrated then 22%. The more concentrated, the quicker i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Yes you can: Peroxyl is used for gum problems and won't hurt if you have thrush. You do, however, need an antifungal medication to clear up the thrush which is a f... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
White area & tongue: Leukoplakia means white plaque or patch. It can occur any where in the mouth. Hairy leukoplakia is specific to the fuzzy areas on the tongue and can b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
No: The real question is why are you using it. Benzocaine is a topical anesthetic. It will not correct a tooth problem only sometimes mask the discomfort.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
No: High narrow palate is usually congenital or the result of breathing problems causing the muscles of the jaw and face to restrict normal expansion of t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Possibly: A gingivectomy will remove some of the gum height around the tooth. As the gums heal following the proceedure, they may retract some more. If the crow... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Remove them: If your mouth is crowded , you may need to have your wisdom teeth out to avoid problems with them and the molars in front of them. Unfortunately in ma... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Dental: Any dentist be it general dentist or oral surgeon who specializes in TMJ problems is the best person to consult.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
White spot: Leukoplakia is a white spot or area due to thickening of the tissue for a variety of reasons. It is usually benign.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old male asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Chronic abscess: The tooth evidently had a nerve problem which was the reason for the pain. Very often the nerve or pulp wil die completely and the pain goes away. The... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Yes: If you know you have a sinus infection and are planning to fly, both an antibiotic and decongestant would be advisible. Due to pressure changes, even ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Somewhat: Dexamethasone is a antiinflammatory and it does seem to aid in lessening of post extraction swelling and pain.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Yes, but why?: Gold fillings are the most biocompatable of all the materials we use in the mouth. However, they are also the most expensive. If they are being done o... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Yes: Rubber dam is standard proceedure for root canals. If you are allergic to latex, there are hypoallergenic alternative material tht can be used.
... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Silver to grey-black: New amalgam fillings are usually a bright silver color. As the amalgam filling ages, it may start to darken and usually will turn a dark vgrey to blac... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Yes: Partial removable dentures are an excellent replacement for back teeth as long as the abutment(anchor) teeth are sound and decay free.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Get it checked: Sometimes even after root canal treatment and crown, the tooth can develop a vertical fracture or a recurrence of the abscess can occur. It is best to... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Not usually: Root canal therapy is usually necessary when the nerve of the tooth is inflammed or infected due to deep decay or sometimes if the decay is very close... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Yes: Missing teeth can be replaced by implants, fixed bridges and removable partial dentures. These options can be discussed with your dentist.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Yes: Premature loss of baby teeth can cause problems with crowding of permanent teeth. Also if the teeth are left to decay long enough, the child could dev... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Whitening: Carbamide peroxide is one of the more commonly used material for tooth whitening. It may also be found in some over the counter products for canker so... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Depends on Trimester: Usually in the first trimester only emergency treatment for dental problems should be done. The second trimester is generally okay to have more routin... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Big difference: An extraction is final. The tooth is taken out of the mouth and is gone unless replaced some type of appliance, be fixed or removable bridge or implan... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Go to dentist: You should have the tooth seen and evaluated by a dentist. An abscessed tooth is never good.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Definitely yes: Periodontal or gum disease has been shown to cause low birth wight and early delivery . It very important to maintain gum health during pregnancy.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old female asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Angular cheilosis: If you are talking about the area where your upper and lower lips meet at the corner of your mouth, that is known as angulae cheilosis. It a pooling o... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
They should: All 20 baby should under normal circumstances have permanent teeth to replace them. Occasionally one or more permanent teeth may be congenitally missi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Depends : Once decay has worked through the enamel(outer layer) and into the dentin(softer layer), the decay can spread through it very rapidly. Depending upon ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Yes: For purposes of dental insurance, any thing done to enhance the smile in absence of decay or fracture is considered cosmetic and usually not covered. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Either: If you have receeding gums and have a lot of debris and plaque forming on the exposed root surface, you may have either a cavity or just stain. A dent... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Four: Incisors, cuspids, bicuspids and molars.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Sugarless is best: Chewing sugared gum constantly bathes the teeth in sugar. Sugarless is preferred. If you get headaches or a tired jaw from chewing then you should avo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Dentist or pharmacy: You can find a generic type of grinding appliance at most pharmacies. They often need to be adjusted by you at home. The dentist can also make you a c... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Probably: An athletic mouthguard while not ideal is better than nothing to help prevent the effects of severe bruxing. A bruxing appliance made by a dentist to ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Yes: Orthodontics can be done on adults as long as the supporting bone(periodontal) has not been compromised. There are a variety of ways to treat from reg... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Highly unlikely: The tooth buds that will eventually form wisdom teeth usually do begin to form until around the age of nine or later. It is very possible what you are... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Yes, it is possible: If there is exposed bone somewhere in the socket area and it dries out or is infected the area can develop a dry socket or alveolitis.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old female asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
Possibly: There is a technique called "all on four" that is done where a hybrid bridge is created and attached to the implants. Whether or not your situation is... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:

Dr. Howard Banneranswered
Dentistry 50 years experience
They can: It is entirely possible to do individual implant supported crowns throughout the entire mouth. The biggest deterrent is the cost.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
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Recommendations
169
Thank you notes
Mar 20, 2015
Good doc!!
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Banner is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
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Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Banner is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
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Thank you, your answer or tip was very helpful!
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Thank you, your answer put my mind at ease.
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Thank you, your answer was very helpful!
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Baltimore College of Dental Surgery - University of Maryland
Graduated 1973MD
Awards
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