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Dental radiographs (x-rays) are pictures of the teeth, bones, and the surrounding soft tissues used to safely and accurately detect hidden dental abnormalities that cannot be seen during a visual examination. Dental X-rays may also be done as follow-up after a dental treatment. Our office uses digital X-ray technique that exposes 90% less radiation than traditional X-ray techniques.
Depending on the patient’s needs, the following types of X-rays can be done:
Fluoride is a natural mineral found throughout the earth's crust and widely distributed in nature. It protects teeth from cavities in two different ways:
1) Fluoride concentrates in the growing bones and developing teeth of children, helping to harden the enamel on baby and adult teeth before they emerge;
2) Fluoride helps to harden the enamel on adult teeth that have already emerged.
Your dentist may apply a fluoride treatment of higher dosis than is found in commercial products to help give extra protection against tooth decay and/or to alleviate tooth sensitivity.
Sealants are a white or tooth shaded material that is bonded to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, sealing off deep grooves and pits. They act as a barrier, protecting enamel from plaque and acids. Sealants make the grooves of the teeth smoother so your toothbrush can more easily keep the teeth clean.
A composite filling (also called a white filling) is a mixture of glass or quartz filler in a resin medium that produces a tooth-colored filling. Composite fillings are a safer alternative to metal or silver amalgam fillings and are used to treat decay on a portion of a tooth replacing an old silver amalgam filling and to maintain a white smile.
Composite fillings are environmentally non-toxic because they contain no mercury. They are stronger because they bond directly to the surface of the tooth. They protect the tooth from fracturing because they don’t require the severe ”undercut” (removal of healthy tooth structure) as compared to amalgam fillings.
Plaque is a sticky, almost invisible film that forms on the teeth. It is a growing colony of living bacteria, food debris, and saliva. The bacteria produce toxins (poisons) that inflame the gums. This inflammation is the start of periodontal disease. Calculus is hardened plaque that has been left on the tooth for sometime and is now firmly attached to the tooth surface. Calculus forms above and below the gum line, and can only be removed with special dental instruments.
Professional dental cleaning includes scaling, root planing, and polishing:
Dental inlays are used to treat teeth that have decay or damage lying within their indented top surfaces. They can also be used to replace old or damaged metal fillings. Dental inlays can be made from durable, tooth-colored porcelain, therefore, they offer much more enduring and natural-looking results than metal fillings. In addition, their customized nature allows dentists to securely bond them to the tooth surface, adding structural integrity and preventing bacteria from entering and forming cavities.
Dental onlays are made of a strong, natural-looking material, such as porcelain, that are used for larger restorations extending over one or more sides of the tooth, and can be used similar to a crown or cap. An onlay is a conservative tooth restoration procedure that requires far less tooth removal than its metal counterpart. It also increases strength and provides enduring protection for the tooth.
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped "cap" that is placed over a tooth – covering the tooth to restore its shape and size, strength, and/or to improve its appearance. Crowns protect and strengthen tooth structure that cannot be restored with fillings or other types of restoration. Permanent crowns can be made from all metal, porcelain-fused-to-metal, and all ceramic.
A bridge is a fixed appliance used to replace one or more missing teeth. As the name suggests, it ‘bridges’ a gap between teeth. The teeth on either side of the gap are specially prepared to take either inlays or crowns and a connecting piece is designed to span the gap. The whole structure is known as a bridge and the adjoining teeth to which the bridge is cemented are known as abutments. Simple bridges are composed of three units and complex bridges can be anything up to 14 units bonded together.
When the pulp (the nerve) of a tooth becomes infected or abscessed, Root Canal Therapy is the only way to save the tooth. A tooth may become abscessed as a result of deep decay, a cracked tooth, or trauma to the tooth. During a root canal, a dentist removes the pulp from the center of a tooth and fills the pulp cavity. This procedure can relieve toothache, stop infection, and promote healing. The only alternative to Root Canal Therapy is an Extraction.
A denture is a removable dental prosthetic device to replace missing teeth. Dentures may be partial to replace only a section of teeth, or full to replace the entire upper or lower sections of teeth.
A partial denture rests on a metal framework that attaches to your natural teeth. Sometimes crowns are placed on some of your natural teeth and serve as anchors for the denture. Partial dentures offer a removable alternative to bridges.
A denture is a removable dental prosthetic device to replace missing teeth. Dentures may be partial to replace only a section of teeth, or full to replace the entire upper or lower sections of teeth. Replacing missing teeth benefits both your health and your appearance. It improves speaking and eating, improves your smile and, especially in the case of a complete denture, helps support your facial muscles, providing a more youthful appearance.
There are two types of full dentures:
Minor oral surgery includes procedures such as teeth extractions (including wisdom teeth), bone grafting, crown lenghtening, soft and hard tissue reshaping (alveoplasty), implants.
The patient loses a significant amount (30-40 percent) of alveolar bone shortly after a tooth extraction. The existence of alveolar bone is critical for any type of dental restoration (implants, full and partial dentures, bridges). The only way to restore or to maintain the required amount of alveolar bone is through bone grafting. Bone grafting is strongly recommended after almost all tooth extractions.
A night guard is a horseshoe-shaped, retainer-like, plastic appliance with shallow borders that can be worn on either the top or the bottom arch. It is designed to protect teeth from the pressure of clenching and grinding (bruxism) by providing a protective cushion between the upper and lower teeth. Also, it helps to prevent and treat TMJ problems.
An estimated 80 million people in North America snore. If you are one of them, you can still enjoy a restful night by wearing a custom-made snore prevention device recommended by your dentist. Anti-snoring device is flexible, thin, and comfortable to wear. It positions the lower jaw into a forward position by means of special connectors that are attached to transparent flexible upper & lower forms. The forms are custom laminated with heat and pressure to the dentist’s model of the mouth. The fit is excellent and comfortable.
Silent Nite devices do not interfere with breathing through the mouth. Even in cases of congested nasal passages, the device prevents snoring and allows uninhibited oral breathing.
Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) occurs when the joint that attaches the upper jaw and lower jaw is not working properly. People with TMJ may have a clicking sound when opening or closing their mouth impeding the correct functionality. This syndrome can cause headaches, tooth sensibility, neck, shoulder and mandibular muscle pain.
Temporomandibular disorder affects the muscles that control chewing and the articulation of the jaw.