Dental Prophylaxis is a regular teeth cleaning that is performed every six months to prevent disease and done when the gums and bone around the teeth are considered healthy or are in the reversible, initial stages of gum disease, called gingivitis.
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Scaling and Root Planing is a deep type of cleaning that is done when there is heavy tartar build-up (calculus) and active bacterial infection of the gum and bone surrounding the teeth, called periodontal disease.
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Periodontal Maintenance is required when periodontal disease is diagnosed, typically based on the measurements of deeper gum pockets around the teeth, x-rays confirming bone loss, and presence of bleeding. This type of cleaning usually requires numbing of the gums and the use of special instruments to manually remove infection and tartar. If the initial treatment is successful, the patient will be seen in three or four month intervals for maintenance to keep the disease in remission. If unsuccessful, a referral to a periodontist, or gum and bone specialist, may be necessary.
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Oral Cancer Screening Exams
With exams, we routinely perform an oral cancer screening. We check for abnormalities in the tissues and lymph nodes, masses, boney lesions, and anything out of the ordinary. HPV virus-related cancers are becoming more common, and oral cancer represents four percent of all cancer among men. The dental profession is best suited to find oral cancers because it is our area of expertise. We are used to looking at oral tissues, we know when it is not normal, and we check for it every time. |
SealantsSealants are thin, white plastic coatings placed on molars that protect biting surfaces from decay. They are applied selectively in areas that seem more at risk, and are sometimes applied preventatively on children as well as adults.
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Tooth Colored Fillings and Bonding“Bonding” is the term to describe how we adhere tooth-colored filling material (composite) to a tooth. It is an affordable way to easily improve the aesthetics of your smile. Bonding can be used to correct cracks or gaps in teeth, usually without local anesthetic, and is very effective in reshaping front teeth to give a straighter and lighter smile. Bonding can last for up to and more than 10 years in many circumstances.
A composite resin is also used to bond and to fill teeth. It can be a replacement material for failing fillings and for new cavities. It is sculpted to represent a natural or improved shape, cured with a bright light, and then polished to give you a new smile. As a filling material, composite is:
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Silver Fillings
A filling is typically indicated due to the presence of a cavity or fractured tooth structure. Its purpose is to replace the missing space after tooth structure is removed for function and to provide strength and limit sensitivity. Silver amalgams are the traditional fillings that are still being used today and endorsed by the ADA, FDA, EPA, and CDC.
As a filling material, silver amalgam is:
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Night GuardsMany people clench and grind and are not aware of it. It is the clenching and grinding during sleep that creates high forces not possible while awake. It damages enamel, wears down teeth and produces cracks, and causes jaw pain and headaches.
If you grind your teeth you should consider a night guard, which is very similar to a mouth guard worn by athletes. Night guards are dental appliances that provide a barrier between your top and bottom teeth while you sleep. Our office offers two options for treatment: a temporary night guard and a permanent night guard. All night guards are custom fitted. Temporary night guards are fabricated to make sure sleeping with an apparatus is tolerable. A permanent night guard is basically a durable, clear retainer that snaps onto the teeth and is typically worn at night. The appliance allows even distribution of forces throughout the teeth and protects the teeth from losing enamel. The appliance can also help position the jaw in a more natural position to help relieve pain. |
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Sports GuardsIf you or your child participate in contact sports you are at risk for jaw injury and tooth fracture. A sports guard can help prevent fracture of teeth and help to distribute forces to the jaw. Sports guards are inexpensive, easy to make, and protective against destruction.
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Oral Surgery
Few people have space for wisdom teeth to push through the gums and grow in naturally. For most, wisdom teeth cause problems as they attempt to erupt due to lack of space. When a wisdom tooth is impacted, the tooth is coming in at an angle and cannot emerge straight through the tissues. This can cause pain, the tooth can come in unevenly, or the tooth may only emerge partially.
Impacted wisdom teeth can cause structural damage to the jaw and other teeth. They can provide a place for bacteria to gather since they are hard to reach and clean, resulting in infection. These problems make it necessary to remove wisdom teeth so that larger problems do not arise. This is done preventatively before the roots develop too long or too close to the nerve in the jaw, preferably in the teens or early 20s. Other causes of tooth extraction are fracture and/or decay. Some baby teeth are not shed and sometimes orthodontists recommend extractions of permanent teeth in very crowded cases. Whatever the reason you may need extraction of a tooth, we can assess your individual suitability for extraction in the office. Nitrous oxide or premedication are adjuncts that can help you cope with anxiety. |
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Root CanalsEndodontics, or a root canal, is treatment of an irritated or infected tooth from the inside, like a filling, allowing you to keep the tooth rather than have it extracted. A common view of patients is that this is a surgical procedure. No hard tooth structure or jaw bone is removed in a root canal. This common therapy removes the diseased or infected tissue from inside the tooth and then seals it. The result is relief from pain and a sound tooth that can then be restored to full function. The long-term success rate is very high with endodontic therapy. Root canals can cause people anxiety, but most patients are surprised by how easy the procedure is and how grateful they feel to be out of pain and able to keep their tooth. Nitrous oxide or oral sedatives can help with anxiety.
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ImplantsImplants have become the gold standard for tooth replacement, as the success rates are extremely high. An implant is a titanium fixture placed in the jaw much like a tooth root, which later supports a custom-made crown. The implant crown looks and functions much like your original tooth.
The implant process starts at our office to see if it is the best choice for replacement. The next step is performed by an oral surgeon or periodontist, where the implant is placed into the jaw with a possible graft procedure. After a time of healing and check-ups by the specialist, you will return to our office for an impression to send to our dental lab where the permanent implant crown is made. When the crown is ready, we attach a custom “abutment” or connector and cement the crown on top. |
Denture and PartialsOur office provides removable appliances to patients who have suffered from tooth loss to restore function and esthetics. A complete denture is fabricated when all teeth on either the upper or lower jaw are missing. A partial denture is fabricated when there are some teeth missing, but with some teeth remaining to help support the appliance. For both of these prosthetic devices, titanium implant screws can be placed into the jaw allowing the appliance to easily snap onto the screws. This can greatly increase the stability of the appliance and patient satisfaction.
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Crowns and BridgesA crown is a cap that is put over a tooth for added strength or protection. They are typically indicated due to tooth fracture, cracks, large cavities, severe wear, or root canal treatment. A crown will create a more structurally sound tooth that will hold up to everyday use.
During crown treatment, some tooth structure is removed to make room for the crown material. An impression is then made for our dental lab technicians to fabricate a custom-made crown. While the lab is making your crown, we send you home with a temporary crown to protect the tooth. When the crown is completed, you’ll return to our office to try it on and make sure you like how it looks and feels. A bridge is a multi-unit crown, which is indicated when replacing a missing tooth or multiple teeth. Typically, the teeth on either side of the space are prepared for crowns and our dental lab connects replacement teeth in between those two crowns to “bridge” the gap. The main categories of crown materials include: Porcelain
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WhiteningWhitening or “teeth bleaching” is a procedure that we help you achieve with custom bleach trays or professional-strength whitening gel strips. All processes of whitening involve“carbamide peroxide” which forms peroxide and water in the oral environment. We have found that in-office bleaching causes more sensitivity, and generally is more affordable and comfortable when done at home at your leisure.
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