Teeth cleaning and polishing
The ADA recommends the following for good oral hygiene:
- Brush your teeth twice
a day with a fluoride toothpaste. Replace your toothbrush every three or four months
or sooner if the bristles are frayed.
- Clean between teeth daily
with floss. Decay–causing bacteria still linger between teeth where toothbrush bristles
can’t reach. This helps remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth
and under the gum line.
- Eat a balanced diet and
limit between-meal snacks.
Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral exams.
Cosmetic teeth whitening Zoom 2
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You may
want to start by speaking with us. We can tell you whether whitening procedures
would be effective for you. If you are a candidate for bleaching, we may suggest
a procedure that can be done in our office. This procedure is called chairside bleaching
and may require more than one office visit. Each visit may take from 30 minutes
to one hour. During chairside bleaching, we will apply either
a protective gel to your gums or a rubber shield to protect the oral soft tissues.
A bleaching agent is then applied to the teeth, and a special light may be used
to enhance the action of the agent. |
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Restorations: Fillings, Onlays, Crowns, Veneers
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Thanks to advances in modern dental materials and techniques, dentists have more
ways to create pleasing, natural-looking smiles. Dental researchers are continuing
their often decades-long work developing materials, such as ceramics and polymer
compounds that look more like natural teeth. As a result, today we have several
choices when it comes to selecting materials to repair missing, worn, damaged or
decayed teeth.
If you want a smile that's your crowning glory, you may need a crown to cover a
tooth and restore it to its normal shape and size. A crown can make your tooth stronger
and improve its appearance.
It can cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there isn't
enough tooth left. It can be used to attach a bridge, protect a weak tooth from
breaking or restore one that's already broken. A crown is a good way to cover teeth
that are discolored or badly shaped. It's also used to cover a dental implant. |
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Fixed Bridges
Designed to replace missing teeth, a fixed bridge
is used in conjunction with adjacent teeth and/or implants to support natural looking
teeth that rest in open spaces. A fixed bridge can replace as few as one missing
tooth or as many as ten.
Root Canal Treatment
Once upon
a time, if you had a tooth with a diseased nerve, you'd probably lose that tooth.
Today, with a special dental procedure called a root canal therapy you may save
that tooth. Inside each tooth is the pulp which provides nutrients and nerves to
the tooth, it runs like a thread down through the root. When the pulp is diseased
or injured, the pulp tissue dies. If you don't remove it, your tooth gets infected
and you could lose it. After the dentist removes the pulp, the root canal is cleaned
and sealed off to protect it. Then your dentist places a crown over the tooth to
help make it stronger.
Your restored tooth could last a lifetime, if you continue to care
for your teeth and gums. However, regular checkups are necessary. As long as the
root(s) of a treated tooth are nourished by the tissues around it, your tooth will
remain healthy. Most of the time, a root canal is a relatively simple procedure
with little or no discomfort involving one to three visits. Best of all, it can
save your tooth and your smile!
Removable Partial and Full Dentures
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Removable
partial dentures usually consist of replacement teeth attached to pink or gum-colored
plastic bases, which are connected by metal framework. Removable partial dentures
attach to your natural teeth with metal clasps or devices called precision attachments.
Precision attachments are generally more esthetic than metal clasps and they are
nearly invisible. Crowns on your natural teeth may improve the fit of a removable
partial denture and they are usually required with attachments.
There are various types of complete dentures. A conventional full denture is made
and placed in the patient’s mouth after the remaining teeth are removed and tissues
have healed which may take several months. An immediate complete denture is inserted
as soon as the remaining teeth are removed. The dentist takes measurements and makes
models of the patient’s jaws during a preliminary visit. With immediate dentures,
the denture wearer does not have to be without teeth during the healing period.
Even if you wear full dentures, you still must take good care of your
mouth. Brush your gums, tongue and palate every morning with a soft-bristled brush
before you insert your dentures to stimulate circulation in your tissues and help
remove plaque. You also need to see your dentist to check the tissues and the denture
fit. |
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Treatment of gum disease
Periodontal
disease is an infection of the tissues that support your teeth. Your gum tissue
is not attached to the teeth as high as it may seem. There is a very shallow v-shaped
crevice called a sulcus between the tooth and gums. Periodontal diseases attack
just below the gum line in the sulcus, where they cause the attachment of the tooth
and its supporting tissues to break down. As the tissues are damaged, the sulcus
develops into a pocket: generally, the more severe the disease, the greater the
depth of the pocket.
Periodontal diseases are classified according to the severity of the disease. The
two major stages are gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is a milder and reversible
form of periodontal disease that only affects the gums. Gingivitis may lead to more
serious, destructive forms of periodontal disease called periodontitis.
Some factors increase the risk of developing periodontal disease:
- Tobacco smoking or chewing
- Systemic diseases such
as diabetes
- Some types of medication
such as steroids, some types of anti-epilepsy drugs, cancer therapy drugs, some
calcium channel blockers and oral contraceptives
- Bridges that no longer
fit properly
- Crooked teeth
- Fillings that have become
defective
- Pregnancy or use of oral
contraceptives
Several warning signs
that can signal a problem:
- Gums that bleed easily.
- Red, swollen, tender gums.
- Gums that have pulled
away from the teeth.
- Persistent bad breath or bad taste.
- Permanent teeth that
are loose or separating.
- Any change in the way
your teeth fit together when you bite.
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Any change in the fit of partial dentures.
Invisalign
Breakthrough technology that lets you have the smile you've always
wanted — without the hassle of braces.
The clear alternative to metal braces.
By using a series of clear, removable aligners, Invisalign straightens your teeth
with results you'll notice sooner than you think. The course of treatment involves
changing aligners approximately every two weeks, moving your teeth into straighter
position step by step, until you have a more beautiful smile. And unlike braces,
these clear aligners can be removed while you eat and brush your teeth as usual.
Less treatment
time. An average Invisalign course of treatment takes about
a year. You'll see your Invisalign Certified Dentist every 6 to 8 weeks for adjustments
and to check progress. At regular intervals, you'll receive a new set of custom-molded
clear aligners to continue the straightening process. The total number of clear
aligners is specific to you, determined by your doctor for your course of treatment.
Clear and comfortable.
Since Invisalign is practically invisible, there's no unwarranted
attention to your mouth. In fact, very few people will notice at all—unless you
tell them. They're comfortable to wear and remove easily when you eat, brush, and
floss.
Get that gorgeous smile you’ve always wanted. For more information
visit www.invisalign.com
or give us a call. We’d be happy to sit down with you and show you how Invisalign
can improve your smile. |
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Implants
Crowns
and conventional bridges or dentures may not be your only options when replacing
missing teeth. For some people, dental implants offer a smile that looks and feels
very natural. Surgically placed below the gums over a series of appointments, implants
fuse to the jawbone and serve as a base for individual replacement teeth, bridges
or a denture.
Implants offer stability because they fuse to your bone. Integration of the implants
into your jaw also helps your replacement teeth feel more natural and some people
also find the secure fit more comfortable than conventional substitutes.
Candidates for dental implants need to have healthy gums and adequate
bone to support the implant. A thorough evaluation by your dentist will help determine
whether you are a good candidate for dental implants.
Oral Cancer screening
We have recent good news about progress against cancer. It is now easier than ever
to detect oral cancer early, when the opportunity for a cure is great. Currently
only half of all patients diagnosed with oral cancer survive more than five years.
We have the
skills and tools to ensure that early signs of cancer and pre-cancerous conditions
are identified. You and your dentist can fight and win the battle against oral cancer.
Know the early signs and see your dentist regularly.
- Oral Cancer often starts
as a tiny, unnoticed white or red spot or sore anywhere in the mouth.
- It can affect any area
of the oral cavity including the lips, gum tissue, cheek lining, tongue and the
hard or soft palate.
Regular dental check-ups, including an examination of the entire mouth,
are essential in the early detection of cancerous and pre-cancerous conditions.
You may have a very small, but dangerous, oral spot or sore and not be aware of
it. We often will notice a spot or sore that looks harmless and does not have a
clear cause. To ensure that a spot or sore is not dangerous, we may choose to perform
a simple test, such as a brush biopsy, which usually is painless and can detect
potentially dangerous cells when the disease is still at an early stage.
Bite splints and mouth guards
What Is Bruxism?
"Keep a stiff upper lip" or "get a grip!" That's often the advice we get—and give—on
how to cope with stress. If you take it literally, the result could be grinding
your teeth or clenching your jaws. It's called bruxism, and often it happens as
we sleep, caused not just by stress and anxiety but by sleep disorders, an abnormal
bite or teeth that are missing or crooked.
Symptoms include a dull headache or a sore jaw. You could have teeth
that are painful or loose from severe grinding. This can lead to fractures in your
teeth.
We can fit you with a mouth guard to protect your teeth during sleep.
If stress is the cause you need to find a way to relax! Physical therapy, muscle
relaxants, counseling and even exercise may help reduce tension.
Don't make your teeth the brunt of your stress
Mouthguards
Use a mouthguard during any activity that could result in a blow to
the face or mouth. A properly fitted mouthguard can help prevent broken teeth and
injuries to the lips, tongue, face or jaw. It will stay in place while you are wearing
it, making it easy for you to talk and breath. Talk to us about having a custom
mouthguard made specifically for you. This will fit comfortably and offer the best
protection for your smile.
Bad breath treatment
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Whether you call it bad breath or halitosis, it’s an unpleasant condition that’s
cause for embarrassment. Some people with bad breath aren’t even aware there’s a
problem. If you’re concerned about bad breath, see us. We can help identify the
cause and, if it’s due to an oral condition, develop a treatment plan to help eliminate
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Digital X-Ray
Digital x-rays are quickly becoming the standard in dental imaging.
Digital x-rays allow the doctor to get a much better view of your teeth and potential
dental conditions. The digital imaging software allows the doctor to see a number
of different views of the tooth to gain a better understanding of the proper course
of management. Digital x-rays provide a great benefit to the patient. Not only are
they an excellent diagnostic tool, but they decrease radiation to the patient by
over 80%.
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