Your First Visit

Expect a thorough evaluation of your oral health. This may include full-mouth x-rays, oral cancer screening, periodontal and dental exam, facial muscle and TMJ exam, preparation of diagnostic models and a review of your medical history. At your next visit, we will discuss a complete and caring treatment plan for follow up of your oral health.

Periodontal Disease

Gum disease can take several forms. All are initiated by bacteria that cause infection and destroy gums, bone, and ligaments supporting the teeth. Periodontal disease is often painless and might have no overt symptoms. It can progress slowly or rapidly and is a serious dental health problem in the U.S., afflicting 9 out of 10 people over the course of a lifetime.

Warning Signs:

• Bleeding gums when you brush
• Red, swollen, tender gums
• Gums that pull away from the teeth or pus appearing near the gumline
• Chronic bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
• Teeth that change position or no longer fit together when you bite
• Change in the fit of partial dentures
  
  How Periodontal Disease Develops:
  1. Normal healthy gums help anchor teeth in place.
  2. Gingivitis develops when bacteria in the plaque produce byproducts irritating to the gums, making them tender, inflamed, and likely to bleed.
  3. Periodontitis develops when plaque hardens into tartar. Gums begin to recede from teeth and pockets form between teeth and gums.
  4. Advanced periodontitis occurs when gums recede and bones or ligaments are destroyed. Loose teeth may need to be extracted.

Porcelain Veneers

Veneers can improve your smile. A veneer is a thin shell of porcelain or plastic bonded to a tooth to improve its color and shape. It generally covers the front and top edge of the tooth. Veneers can be used to close spaces between teeth, lengthen smaller or misshapen teeth, or whiten stained or dark teeth. When teeth are chipped or beginning to wear, veneers can protect them from damage, or return their original looks.

Tooth Root Decay, Root Canal Treatment

Tooth root decay remains a problem, particularly for adults who did not have the benefit of fluoride treatments and modern preventive dental care as children. Adults often have secondary decay around old fillings and decay of tooth roots exposed by receding gums. Certain acid producing bacteria break down the tooth enamel, especially as we age, killing the tooth, and resulting in an abscess. At home fluoride treatments may be recommended to help reverse the decay process and prevent cavity formation. Tooth root decay can progress to form a cavity necessitating a filling. If allowed to spread, it can kill the tooth and result in an abcess. The tooth would require root canal treatment.

Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatment may save a tooth when the nerve chamber becomes infected by decay. The root canals contain the pulp, vessels and nerves. Damage to this pulp can cause infection. Root canal treatment cleans out the infected pulp chamber and repairs it.

The Root Canal Treatment Process

1. Tooth is anesthetized and an opening is made through the crown and into the pulp of the tooth.
2. The root canals are measured.
3. Diseased pulp is removed and canal is cleaned and shaped.
4. Canal is filled, and if necessary, a metal post is inserted.
   Tooth is resealed with a permanent crown.

Attrition, or Grinding damage

Wear or loss of tooth structure, often from grinding or clenching of teeth, is called attrition. This condition is often caused by stress. The enamel of the tooth eventually wears away and the tooth becomes prone to chipping. This can lead to the need for root canal treatment or TMJ disorder if not diagnosed and treated early. Generally, a mouth guard worn at night can prevent the teeth from making contact and can last 1-2 years before being replaced.

Contact us, we can help.