Bleaching is a safe, effective way to lighten the color of teeth. A mold of the teeth are taken to fabricate bleaching trays which custom fit the patient's mouth. The patient wears these trays usually for 30-45 minutes or overnight depending on the product strength selected. Most treatment takes two weeks, however, more time may be needed in severely stained or discolored teeth. There are new technology chemicals that will allow us to achieve excellent whitening results in one weekend of home use or one to two visits in our office. Ask us for details.
A procedure whereby a dentist uses special dental adhesives between tooth surface and another material. The tooth is first chemically treated with a special dental acid which causes microscopic porosites in the enamel. The adhesives form a bond with the bonding material. These materials come in various colors and shades. There are also flowable and dough-like materials. The dentist chooses the one he feels best suits the procedure he is performing. The materials at present are highly polishable, are very strong and most last quite a long time. Some even contain fluoride which aids in preventing new cavities from forming. Bonding uses include restoring chips, filling holes, spaces or discolorations. A longer lasting, more esthetically pleasing result is to use veneers.
Composites are a plastic-like material in the resin
family used to fill teeth. The traditional composite resins are made up of a
large amount of inorganic filler particles bound by an organic polymer matrix or
mesh. The newer generation composites have superior properties which include
higher strength, hardness, elasticity, abrasion resistance and high
polishability to make the restoration appear lifelike. Uses include cosmetic,
filling cavities, correcting size, color and shapes of teeth. They can be used
in front as well as back teeth.
This is a removable appliance that is custom fabricated for the patient to replace missing teeth. The materials used are made of acrylic resins alone or in conjunction with various metals. A partial denture replaces some teeth where the patient has some remaining permanent teeth. A complete or full denture replaces all teeth. An immediate denture, whether complete or partial, involves placing the appliance the same day the teeth are removed.
An extraction of a tooth is a last resort. If you cut your finger badly, would you ask the doctor to "just cut it off, I can't afford to mess with it"? Extracting teeth versus saving teeth that are restorable can cause you severe problems later on in life. The only real exception to this is 3rd molars, or wisdom teeth. Most people do not need these teeth and they can harbor periodontal disease or other infections later on in life. We recommend having these removed in the 20 to 28 year old range, as the surgery is usually easier and healing time for a younger person is typically reduced when compared to someone older.
An extraction is the removal of a tooth or teeth that is non-restorable, non-useful, or harmful to the patient. There exists many systemic precautions, do's and dont's that should be discussed by each individual and their dentist. Post extraction precautions include some of the following:
If bleeding persists, it is important to call your dentist. If sutures were placed after extraction it is important to return for removal of sutures and to evaluate healing. If swelling occurs, which often happens after extractions, it can be minimized by placing an ice bag as soon as possible on the side of the extraction for a 15 minute interval and can be repeated every 30 minutes for the next six hours post-operatively. Ice should be used only on the day of surgery. For pain and infections, your dentist may require oral pain medications and/or antibiotics.
A mouthguard is an appliance made to protect teeth and surrounding tissue from oral trauma during athletic or physical activities. The mouthguard can be prefabricated or stock, or custom made by a dentist. Custom fit ones have been shown to be more comfortable. For children, they must be changed as new teeth erupt. It is known that mouthguards can prevent serious injuries such as jaw fractures, neck injuries, concussions, and teeth fractures. Studies have reported that concussions can be decreased by almost 50% by wearing a mouthguard. Any activity where there is a strong chance for contact, it is recommended that the mouthguard be worn. A more advanced use of these devices is to reduce the damage you do to your teeth from grinding the during times of high stress or while you sleep. The device created for this treatment is usually thinner (more comfortable) than the traditional athletic mouthguard.
Orthodontics is the art of aligning the teeth and jaws to improve the patient's smile and oral health. It is recommended that a child be seen by an orthodontist early on so as to form a baseline on development of the child’s arch and jaw. If braces are needed, placement usually occurs between ten and fourteen years old. The reason for this age is due to the fact that the mouth and head are still growing. Braces are worn depending on each individual case. The average length of time is between eighteen and thirty months which is followed by wearing a retainer for a few months to allow the tissues and bones to form around new tooth position. With braces, oral hygiene is more important than ever before. Due to the appliances and tiny spaces that they contain, food and plaque get trapped. Decalcification and cavities can form quickly so children must brush more often. The use of fluoride toothpastes and rinses are also recommended to protect the teeth.
Periodontal scaling is a procedure whereby a dentist or hygienist removes the deposits from under the gum line to treat gum disease. Plaque and tartar is removed from the root surface. The procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia so as to make the patient more comfortable. Many times it can be performed in two to four visits depending upon the amount of deposit or inflammation present. This procedure is usually done in conjunction with local antibiotics and/or local antimicrobial medications to reduce inflammation, speed healing, and reduce the oral bacteria causing the disease. Periodontal disease can be categorized in 5 basic levels: Type 0 - No disease present; Type 1 - Gingivitis; Type 2 - Gingivitis plus the beginning stages of bone loss and soft tissue detachment; Type 3 - bone loss present, gums bleed frequently, loss of attachment of the soft tissue to the teeth, and possibly lose teeth are among some of the symptoms; Type 4 - lose teeth, severe bone loss, severe loss of soft tissue attachment, frequent and easy bleeding of gums are some of the symptoms. This level of disease may require surgery to correct or may be uncorrectable.
Veneers are porcelain or ceramic wafers that are laboratory fabricated and are bonded onto the tooth. They are highly esthetic and lifelike. They are designed to correct colors, sizes, shapes, spaces and alignments of teeth. They are stronger and more durable than composites or procedures used in bonding.
POSTERIOR PORCELAIN INLAY/ONLAY
This is a highly esthetic, non-metallic restoration that is bonded on the prepared tooth to restore the beauty, strength and function of the tooth. The procedure is similar to that of a crown, however, due to new techniques of minimal invasiveness, the dentist tries to maintain as much sound tooth structure as possible. An accurate impression is taken of the tooth, a temporary filling is placed and a porcelain restoration is fabricated by the dental laboratory. Upon return, the tooth is chemically prepared, and the inlay/onlay is bonded onto the prepared tooth. The bite is adjusted and polished. The tooth is once again functionally restored to its almost natural form. This procedure is stronger and longer lasting than a simple filling restoration. It is normally used for areas of large decay that do not require a full coverage crown. We now have technology in the office that allows us to fabricate porcelain / ceramic inlays, onlays and crowns in our office. Go here for more information.
A root canal is needed when the pulp or nerve of a tooth gets affected by decay or trauma. The blood flow within the tooth rushes to the site of inflammation in order to aid the tooth, but what occurs as a result is a pressure on the nerve endings which generates the pain response. Pain usually occurs at night or when lying down, can be triggered by hot or cold and can be occasional or continuous. What occurs is a slow progression whereby decay may invade the pulp space and travel through the canal and settle at the end of the root. What occurs is an abscess or swelling at this site. Other causes of nerve pain can be fractures of teeth, large fillings that are not tolerated by the pulp or constant trauma to the tooth. Occasionally, it is difficult to diagnose which tooth may be the culprit until localization occurs. Treatment involves cleaning the canal space by removing the infected or affected nerve, washing the space and filling the space with an inert, rubber-like material that helps seal the space. Bio-compatible cements are used with this material to seal any smaller openings. As with any procedure, success or failure of a procedure depends on the circumstances, infection and patient. These can be discussed with the individual dentist. After endodontic therapy, the patient returns to the dentist to restore the tooth.
Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings which are applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to prevent decay. Most tooth decay in children and adolescents occur on the chewing surfaces of these back teeth or molars. This is because molars have irregular surfaces with pits and grooves which tend to trap food and bacterial debris. Sealants flow into and coat these pits and grooves so that bacteria cannot multiply and cause decay. The teeth most likely to benefit from sealant applications are the first and second molars just after they have erupted and before decay has had a chance to occur. Generally, the first molars erupt at six years old and second molars at about twelve years old.
These are fillings which contain amalgam. Amalgam is formed from particles that contain silver, copper, tin and mixed with mercury. It is packed into the cavity before it hardens into a strong alloy. At first the color is a silver color but after oxidation occurs it turns black. While there is little or no evidence that the use of mercury in amalgam fillings causes systemic health problems, we no longer offer this treatment option. The controversy on the use of this material along with the tighter regulations imposed (tighter restrictions are on the way) by the EPA and FDA on the storage and disposal of mercury have prompted us to discontinue use of dental amalgam. Today's technology using composite, ceramic, and porcelain restorations gives us more flexibility and better results long term than using dental amalgam.
Prophylaxis is a procedure where a dentist or dental hygienist removes plaque and tartar from the teeth. This will make the gums and teeth healthier. It is not uncommon for patients to note that teeth appear slightly more sensitive after a dental cleaning. The reason for this is that plaque and tartar coat the tooth surface and shield them from substances in the mouth. Once they are removed a transient sensitivity may occur but soon leaves. It is important for one to brush and floss after every meal to prevent buildup of plaque and tartar.
TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDER - TMD
This a condition whereby jaw muscles, temporomandibular joints, and the nerves associated with this region cause pain. TMD most often affects women twice as much as men. The causes include, overuse of jaw muscles and trauma. The symptoms can include jaw pain, especially in morning, earache - with no infection-, jaw clicking when opening jaw, difficulty in opening mouth, stiff or locked jaw. The treatment would include resting of jaw, anti-inflammatory drugs (non-aspirin), stress management, eating soft foods, wearing a splint or mouthguard and avoiding chewing gum.
X-rays are an important tool that provides the dentist the ability to examine the roots, jaws, and facial bones of the patient. X-rays aid the dentist in determining the degree of decay, periodontal disease, abscesses or any pathology, i.e. cysts or tumors, that may not show clinically through a visual examination alone. X-rays are taken based on the individual dentist's assessment of the patient. Most new patients have a full set of x-rays taken and check-up x-rays are taken as needed.
Types of X-rays:
Bitewing - determine the presence of decay in between teeth. Periapical - shows root structures, cysts, bone level or other pathology.
Panoramic - a broad view of entire structure of mouth on one film. It is used to determine if pathology is present, position of wisdom teeth, etc. It is not used to diagnose cavities.
By using new, state-of-the-art technology, and by using new fast film, radiation exposure has been greatly decreased.