OUR SERVICES

• A crown, also known as a cap, is used to strengthen a tooth and improve its overall appearance and function. A crown may be recommended to cover and support a tooth with a large filling, protect a tooth from breaking or restore one that is already broken.

• With age, patients are more susceptible to losing teeth due to decay or bone loss. If missing teeth spaces are left unfilled, the surrounding teeth can drift out of position and can cause teeth and gums to become more susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease that can cause further tooth loss.

• A bridge is a fixed dental appliance that replaces one or more missing teeth, by being anchored to your adjacent teeth. If you are missing any teeth and are committed to maintaining good oral hygiene practices, you may be a good candidate for a bridge. Fixed bridges not only improve your chewing ability and speech, but they also enhance your appearance by preventing the collapse of your facial features.

Caring for Bridges

• With a bridge, it is especially important to brush, floss, and see your dentist regularly in order to maintain the longevity of the bridge. If the buildup of food debris and plaque is not controlled, your teeth and gums can become infected, requiring further treatment and resulting in a potential loss of the bridge. The use of floss threaders can help remove bacteria from hard to reach spaces between the bridge and adjacent teeth and gums.

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• It is important for your child to visit the dentist within 6 months of the first tooth eruption, or by his/her first birthday.

 Early childhood screenings include:

• Evaluation of eruption and growth patterns to see how the teeth are growing into the mouth
• Education for parents on proper care for the child's teeth and gums
• Dietary counseling, including discussion on proper foods and beverages
• Individualized preventive dental health program based on risk for decay and gum disease
• Education on what to do in a dental emergency

Oral Healthcare Recommendations & Tips For Parents

• Children should visit a dentist within 6 months of the eruption of their first tooth or by age one
• Bottles at bedtime only with water. Napping or sleeping with juice or milk can cause childhood tooth decay
• Drink from a cup after age one - wean from the bottle between 12-14 months
• Thumb sucking after age 2 can create crowded, crooked teeth or bite problems
• No sugary substances on pacifiers
• Limit frequency of sugary snacks and juices
• Using only a pea-size amount of toothpaste for children
• Clean gums while teeth are erupting

Parental supervision - monitor brushing and flossing with kids up to about age 8, until they develop manual dexterity

• Patients will be screened for signs and symptoms of gum disease during initial visits to our office. If diagnosed, treatment for gum disease includes non-surgical treatment for earlier stages, or a referral to a specialist for advanced stages. Antibiotic therapy can also be used to treat gum disease and may be recommended as part of your overall care plan.

Signs of gum disease can include:

• Puffy, red, and sore gum tissues
• Bleeding gums
• Bad breath
• Receding gums
• Loose teeth possibly related to loss of bone around the teeth

If you have gum disease, follow-up care is recommended usually every 3 months to reduce the risk for progression of the disease.

• Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) occur as a result of problems with your jaw, jaw joint and surrounding facial muscles that control chewing and moving your jaw. TMD can cause pain or poor function in your jaw joint and surrounding muscles.

Symptoms of TMJ include:

• Headaches
• Earaches
• Trouble/soreness in opening and closing the mouth
• Clicking or popping in the jaw joint
• Pain or stiffness in the jaw muscles
• Soreness in the area, sometimes extending to the face
• Treatments can include the use of a bite splint, drug therapy, physical therapy or surgery. If you think you might be suffering from TMJ, we can help you determine the best course of action.

• A root canal is a treatment used to save a tooth that is extensively decayed and/or infected. The nerve of the tooth can become irritated, inflamed, and infected due to deep decay, large fillings, a crack or chip in the tooth, or trauma to the face. The root canal procedure involves removing the nerve and cleaning and sealing the inside of the tooth.

• Signs you may need a root canal:
  • Severe toothache pain upon chewing or application of pressure
  • Prolonged sensitivity/pain to heat or cold temperatures (after the hot or cold has been removed)
  • Discoloration (a darkening) of the tooth
  • Swelling and tenderness in the nearby gums
  • A persistent or recurring pimple on the gums
  • Sometimes no symptoms are present

• The tooth may feel sensitive the first few days after a root canal, especially if the tooth was infected

Final step of the root canal procedure is generally the restoration of the tooth with a crown to protect and strengthen the tooth.