Preventive Care and Gum Disease

Comprehensive Initial Oral Examination
The examination is a complete visual inspection of the oral cavity. It will include the recording of patient's dental and medical history, along with give a general health assessment. This exam will also evaluate a patient's bone loss, missing or unerupted teeth, restorations, occlussal relationships, periodontal conditions, and an oral cancer screening. To evaluate these findings on a patient, the hygienist will take a panoramic film (a full mouth x-ray, which includes the sinus and jaw regions) and bitewings (quadrant x-rays.)

Cleaning (oral prophylaxis)
Regular professional visits, every six months or as scheduled by your dental hygienist, will help you learn more about proper care for your teeth and gums. Regular professional visits are important because gingivitis, the early stage of periodontal disease, is usually painless; you may not be able to detect it on your own.

Periodontal Therapy
The leading cause of tooth loss in adults today is periodontal, or gum, disease. Early diagnosis and treatment for this condition is critical for maintaining healthy teeth and gums.

If the initial exam reveals that you have moderate periodontitis, there are several non-surgical techniques that can stave off surgery. These include laser curettage (cutting away the infected gum tissue), antibiotics both topical and oral, and root planning (also called scaling.)

Root planning is similar to normal dental cleanings, but the procedure is more aggressive and requires removal of plaque and tartar from below the gum line. Root surfaces are cleaned and smoothed with specially designed instruments. Once the accumulated plaque and calculus have been removed, a prescription anti-microbial is applied and the gums can heal, tightening around the teeth. If the disease is advanced, you may be referred to a specialist for periodontal surgery.

Maintenance therapy is an ongoing program designed to prevent periodontal disease from recurring in people who have undergone periodontal treatment or surgery.

Regular periodontal monitoring is especially important for women because of hormonal fluctuations which can affect gum tissue and menopause which can increase the likelihood of osteoporosis.

Sealants
A sealant is a plastic resin material that is applied to the chewing surfaces of back teeth. This preventative measure allows the dentist to seal out plaque and food from the grooves and pits in teeth that are prime targets for decay.

Mouth Guards
Mouth injuries resulting in lost teeth, fractured jaws and concussions are often sports related. Many of these injuries could be prevented by wearing a mouth guard. A professionally fabricated mouth guard not only protects well, but allows for easy speech and breathing.

Restorative Services

Fillings
There's some debate in the dental industry regarding the pros and cons of using silver fillings, or dental amalgams, to fill cavities. At our office, we exclusively use composite resins for several reasons. First, composite resin actually bonds to your tooth structure, protecting against decay and strengthening the tooth. And of course, strength means better longevity…increasing your chances of keeping that tooth for life. By contrast, dental amalgams do not form such a bond: they simply form a mechanical barrier to decay. Thus, over time, the amalgam-treated tooth can weaken, often creating a liability to your long-term dental health.

Resins are also advantageous in providing long-term bacterial invasion protection. Once bonded, the filling won't wear down or change its shape despite the incredible forces of biting and chewing. Since there's no cracking or shifting involved, there's no 'place of entry' for bacteria. However, silver amalgams on biting surfaces do change shape with biting and chewing impact. Thus, little by little, the filling may not 'fill' the cavity any longer. Tiny cracks and shifts in the material can easily allow bacterial reinvasion, creating a bigger decay problem than you had at first. In addition to these functional reasons, we appreciate the esthetic value of composite resins: allowing us to match your normal enamel color so closely that your dental work will be nearly invisible. So, all things considered, we find white fillings to be the conservative, durable, and attractive!

Extractions
Extractions are performed when teeth cannot be saved or when they need to be removed for other reasons, such as orthodontics (braces.)

Root Canal Therapy
When the pulp that is inside the tooth becomes infected, it cannot repair itself. Years ago, extraction was the only option. Today, through endodontics, or root canal therapy, these teeth can be saved.

Crowns
A Full coverage restoration. When too much of a tooth is decayed or broken away, it is best restored with a crown. This will protect the tooth after a structural loss due to trauma or decay. A crown is typically fabricated with porcelain (a tooth-colored material) or gold.

Bridges
When single or multiple teeth are missing, they can be replaced with bridges.

Dentures
When too many teeth are missing to be restored by bridgework, dentures offer a good solution.

Cosmetic Services

Bleaching
Dentist supervised bleaching is the safest and most effective method to brighten your smile. Two systems are offered for your convenience: an in-office procedure and a take-home delivery system.

Enamel Bonding
The appearance of malformed or broken teeth can be amazingly improved by bonding a veneer of porcelain or composite to their surfaces.