Locations
Pinnacle Dentistry PC
Scottsdale, AZ
Pinnacle Dentistry / Dennis Cufone DDS
Scottsdale, AR
About
Bio
I graduated from USC School of Dentistry in 1989. Since then, I've taken numerous CE courses in Cosmetic Dentistry, lectured nationally for Astra Implants and 3m Lava restoratives, and am currently adjunct faculty at Midwestern University School of Dentistry. My latest toy is an E4D CAD/CAM system to make restorations in our office.
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
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
28 Answers
36 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 41-year-old male asked:

Dr. Dennis Cufoneanswered
Dentistry 34 years experience
Rinse: Warm salt water rinses will do a better job than the biotene for your abcess. Use 2 tablespoons of salt in 1 glass of water. Swish around and spit. Y... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old male asked:

Dr. Dennis Cufoneanswered
Dentistry 34 years experience
Tmj: There are people who can get along with only their back teeth touching and have no problems. The "normal" bite would have anterior contacts also with ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:

Dr. Dennis Cufoneanswered
Dentistry 34 years experience
Yeast infection: Burning tongue can also be from a candida (yeast) infection. If you've been on antibiotics or have a depressed immune symptom it cause cause that sens... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 16-year-old female asked:

Dr. Dennis Cufoneanswered
Dentistry 34 years experience
temporary: Crest white strips are good for temporary whitening, like for a wedding or event. Since you control how long you wear them, you can stop if you start ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:

Dr. Dennis Cufoneanswered
Dentistry 34 years experience
Sometimes: That usually depends upon the size of the filling. Most composite fillings are not sensitive. However, composite fillings are also very technique sens... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:

Dr. Dennis Cufoneanswered
Dentistry 34 years experience
Consider this: I would rather see you use cold rings for your child than to rely on medications. All kids go through this and having them chew on these will get the ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old male asked:

Dr. Dennis Cufoneanswered
Dentistry 34 years experience
Dry socket: More than likely you've developed a dry socket. This happens when the clot gets disturbed after extractions. It is a rather painful infection so pleas... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:

Dr. Dennis Cufoneanswered
Dentistry 34 years experience
Sometimes: It really just depends on how bad the tooth was to begin with. Severely decayed teeth can be symptomatic for several weeks. Cracked teeth can be sensi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old female asked:

Dr. Dennis Cufoneanswered
Dentistry 34 years experience
Absess/bone: Your description could be an abcess in the bone or gums. If it is hard it could be a bony spicule. Time to head out to a dentist to make sure!
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:

Dr. Dennis Cufoneanswered
Dentistry 34 years experience
Could be TMD: If 2 different dentists could find no decay or disease present it could be tmd. This jaw ache can mimic a toothache and occurs in people who clench th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:

Dr. Dennis Cufoneanswered
Dentistry 34 years experience
Many ways: It depends on where you are starting and what your expectations are. It can be as simple as a cleaning, maybe some whitening, or you can try bonding (... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old male asked:

Dr. Dennis Cufoneanswered
Dentistry 34 years experience
No: As others have mentioned, medical/dental procedures are never guaranteed. However, if you are a regular patient going in for your regular check ups, m... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:

Dr. Dennis Cufoneanswered
Dentistry 34 years experience
Probably not: If floss loosens a filling it is because there was a problem with that filling. It was either cracked or there was decay under it that loosened it.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:

Dr. Dennis Cufoneanswered
Dentistry 34 years experience
Get healthy: As others have mentioned, a healthy foundation is the most predictable factor to successful cosmetic dentistry. Extensive cosmetic work needs to be pl... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:

Dr. Dennis Cufoneanswered
Dentistry 34 years experience
TMJ: There is a small disc that sits between your skull and your lower jaw. When there are problems with that disc, you wind up with that and other issues.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:

Dr. Dennis Cufoneanswered
Dentistry 34 years experience
Yes: Many dentists claim to be cosmetic but there is no real specialty in dentistry for this. Do your homework, ask your friends, and consult an organizati... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old male asked:

Dr. Dennis Cufoneanswered
Dentistry 34 years experience
Stress: Many people have occlusal (bite) issues that can remain assymptomatic for years. Under periods of high stress you may be clenching or grinding more th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:

Dr. Dennis Cufoneanswered
Dentistry 34 years experience
Topical: Directly where the injection will go.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:

Dr. Dennis Cufoneanswered
Dentistry 34 years experience
Allergy: I have several patients that have reported that sensation to me and it seems to be a very mild contact dermatitis. Nothing to worry about unless you s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:

Dr. Dennis Cufoneanswered
Dentistry 34 years experience
Night guard: Have your dentist fabricate a night guard for you. When made properly they will protect your teeth from excessive wear and soothe the muscles in your ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:

Dr. Dennis Cufoneanswered
Dentistry 34 years experience
Rinse: There is no real cure for a mouth full of canker sores but one thing you can do to make it feel better is create a rinse of 1/2 maalox and 1/2 benedr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 51-year-old male asked:

Dr. Dennis Cufoneanswered
Dentistry 34 years experience
Ask around: Your best bet is to ask any friends, relatives, co-workers, and neighbors who they use and like. If no one can help you, call the local dental associa... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:

Dr. Dennis Cufoneanswered
Dentistry 34 years experience
Yes: Lidocaine has Epinephrine added to it to make it work better. When you get a jump of epi into your system it will cause the shaking. Many people are s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:

Dr. Dennis Cufoneanswered
Dentistry 34 years experience
Yes: Many dentists claim to be cosmetic but there is no real specialty in dentistry for this. Do your homework, ask your friends, and consult an organizati... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:

Dr. Dennis Cufoneanswered
Dentistry 34 years experience
Depends: It really depends upon how intrusive the surgery is. If the teeth are fully formed and infected, recovery can be prolonged. In general, most people ar... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:

Dr. Dennis Cufoneanswered
Dentistry 34 years experience
Yes: Cabin pressures in the plane are not the same as on the ground. Dental infections can become very uncomfortable during flights from the pressure diffe... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:

Dr. Dennis Cufoneanswered
Dentistry 34 years experience
Veneers: Technically, if you restored your smile with veneers, it is considered a surgery. Cutting down tooth structure to straighten the arch for veneers is a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:

Dr. Dennis Cufoneanswered
Dentistry 34 years experience
Night guard: The gap is forming because you grind your teeth down below the level they contact each other, lowering that point between the teeth which opens gaps a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >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.
4
Recommendations
62
Thank you notes
Sep 10, 2013
Excellent answers and good advice.
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Cufone is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Cufone is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer or tip was very helpful!
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful!
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful!
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
USC
MD
Medical/Graduate school
University of Southern California Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry
Graduated 1989MD
Awards
Top Dentist, Second Place, Arizona - Winter
2013
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