GENERAL DENTISTRY
General dentistry involves the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of a wide variety of oral conditions. Regular exams and cleanings are the first step to a healthy mouth and help to maintain your oral hygiene. Our dentists will work with you to customize a dental hygiene plan that incorporates examination, cleaning, X-ray, and other diagnostics.
In addition to regular checkups and preventative maintenance, we provide reactive and restorative general dentistry treatments. We are a judgement-free practice and we understand that everyone has unique circumstances which affect their oral health. Our goal is to develop a comprehensive treatment plan that prevents further decay or disease of the teeth, bones, gums, and tongue.
DENTAL FILLINGS
Fillings are done to remove decay and replace the affected tooth structure. It is called a filling because new material fills the hole that the decay left behind. Today, most teeth are treated with bonded tooth-colored composite resin fillings. Caught early enough, cavities can be treated easily and with minimum postoperative discomfort. If not treated, decay can lead to tooth pain and infection, and the tooth could require root canal treatment or even need to be extracted.
X-RAYS
X-rays are a necessary part of the diagnostic process. This is a focused beam of X-ray particles that passes through the teeth and bone. These images give us an internal look at the underlying structure and allows us to diagnose problems. Without an X-ray of the whole tooth, supporting bone and gum tissues, there is no real way to detect infection or pathology that requires attention.
X-rays are usually taken once a year at regular cleanings, to look for decay in between the teeth, and during emergency appointments. We recommend a full set of X-rays, usually a panoramic x-ray, every five years to help us detect any diseases that may be present around the roots of the teeth or in the jaw, but not yet visible in the mouth.
ROOT CANAL TREATMENT
Root canal treatment, also referred to as root canal therapy or endodontic therapy, is necessary when a neglected cavity reaches all the way to the nerve tissue inside the tooth. Sometimes deep fillings or trauma to a tooth may cause the nerve to be damaged to the point that it needs root canal therapy. Once this occurs, the nerve becomes infected and can even extend through the root tip and begin to eat away at the surrounding bone.
By the time the nerve is infected, it must be treated because it cannot heal on its own. Infected teeth can even weaken the body’s entire immune system. This is dangerous, not to mention very painful. Symptoms of an infected nerve include sensitivity to hot/cold and sweets, pain, swelling of the gums or face, pain when biting or with pressure, and a bad taste in the mouth. Sometimes, however, no symptoms are apparent, and the person is unaware of any problem until a checkup.
A root canal is performed to clean out the infected tooth nerve and disinfect the inside of the tooth. Once the infection is resolved, the canal is filled in to prevent any further infection. Following root canal therapy, it is necessary to cover the tooth with a crown to prevent the tooth from fracturing or breaking. In most cases, a root canal and crown can be done in two visits, typically two hours for the first appointment and then only 20 minutes for the second appointment three weeks later for the final crown to be cemented onto the tooth.
BRUSHING & FLOSSING
LASER DECAY DETECTION
Laser decay detection uses a small handheld diode laser to scan the surfaces of your teeth. As the light goes along, any areas of decay show up. Healthy tooth material does not glow under the laser. However, decayed tooth material shows up clearly. This laser allows us to see forming cavities months or years before they will ever show up in x-rays. This early detection makes it very easy to catch small problems long before they get a chance to become big problems.
NON-SURGICAL GUM TREATMENTS
The gums, ligaments, and jawbone form the foundation for our teeth. These structures are also referred to as the periodontium. When the periodontium is not healthy, it jeopardizes the teeth just as a bad foundation would threaten the stability of a house.
Signs of unhealthy gum disease include:
• Gums that are red and bleed easily
• Persistent bad breath
• Gums that are pulled away from the tooth,
• Loose teeth
• Changes in the position or bite of the teeth
However, with proper care, it may be possible to return them to a healthy state. This is where appropriate gum treatments come in. The treatment usually involves a deep cleaning, known as scaling and root planing, which is done under a local anesthetic, along with local antibiotic agents. If the gum disease gets too severe, it may need to be treated through gum surgery or in some cases removal of the teeth. This is why it is important to get it treated at the first sign of a problem.
SEALANTS
Sealants are used to fill narrow grooves in a tooth that cannot be adequately cleaned by brushing. In many cases, the tooth structure has fine grooves or pits which accumulate plaque, not because the person doesn’t brush, but because they’re too narrow to allow bristles into them. These grooves develop cavities over time. To prevent tooth decay, our dentists can brush on a coating that seals the grooves and pits, making it possible to brush off all the plaque and keep your teeth healthy.
Please provide your information below to get in touch with us should you have any questions regarding our dental services or additional information that you may request.
OUR OFFICE
OFFICE HOURS
| Monday | 8:00 am – 7:00 pm |
| Tuesday | 8:00 am – 7:00 pm |
| Wednesday | 8:00 am – 6:00 pm |
| Thursday | 8:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| Friday | By Appointment Only |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |