We all know that good oral hygiene keeps your teeth looking clean and shiny, but did you know that it’s also essential to your overall health? It’s true, poor oral hygiene can lead to a variety of dental and medical problems such as gum disease, infection, heart disease, stroke, and even diabetes.
That’s why dentists recommend that teeth be cleaned professionally twice a year. Teeth cleaning is the removal of dental plaque and tartar in order to prevent cavities, gingivitis and gum disease. The average dental cleaning is a routine procedure that is rarely painful and takes 30 to 45 minutes.
At Absolute Smile, we specialize in and frequently perform a variety of dental cleaning procedures, from scaling to whitening, so you can rest assured that yours will be performed by a skilled and experienced medical professional.
You may have been told you need scaling and planing. This is just a deep cleaning. It only differs from a general cleaning in that we clean under your gums and sometimes scale the tooth if ridges in the margin of your tooth are preventing you from adequately clening your teeth.
Root scaling and planing my be needed if you have noticed you have bleeding gums when you brush your teeth, floss, have loose teeth, or tarter and plaque buildup along the gumline that is causing recession of your gums. All these symptoms can be caused by gingivitis or periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease is irreversible, but can be prevented from causing further gum recession if you stick to your bi annually cleanings, brush and floss every 12 hours irregardless of when you eat (bacteria builds up in our mouths every 12 hours) , and follow a treatment plan for root scaling and planing.
For over a century cavities were filled with a mixture of metals, including silver and mercury. It was the norm to see people with dark gray areas in their mouth when they smiled or laughed. Today with the advancement of new dental technology you can have your teeth filled with composite fillings.
Composite fillings are made from resins that are matched to your tooth’s color so they are virtually invisible. Composite fillings also provide an excellent seal to the affected area preventing tooth decay to continue. There are a number of factors that go into our decision to use composite fillings:
* The size of the are to be filled
* The location of the affected area to be filled
* Allergies the patient may have
* The preference of the patient regarding the use of metals in the mouth
* Whether it is necessary cosmetically to have a tooth-colored filling
Made to look like your own tooth, a crown is a dental restoration used to rebuild decayed or broken teeth that are not candidates for fillings. Also known as caps, crowns encase the entire visible surface of the teeth that have been reshaped (prepared) by the dentist. The crown is held onto the tooth by strong permanent cement. A crown can protect a fractured tooth and preserve the functionality of a damaged tooth by restoring its shape and strength. A crown may also be used simply to improve the cosmetic appearance of a tooth. Crowns can take many forms and can be made from various materials.
Typically, it takes two appointments to fabricate a crown. Anterior teeth may take more visits due to fact that esthetic's must be checked to insure the best and most natural look for your smile. Today, crowns are made from materials that are nearly the same look and feel of the natural enamel of your teeth. Do you have old, large and unattractive fillings that need a new look? Maybe you have some old crowns that were made of older materials that are now unattractive? Call now to schedule an appointment.
A bridge is needed when there is one missing tooth or a small grouping of missing teeth. Not only do they provide cosmetic restoration, but they help keep teeth from shifting. Many patients think implants are the better option for replacement, but this is not always the case.
Generally, bridges are less noticeable than implants, cheaper, and are safer. There are multiple options available when it comes to securing the placement of a bridge. A stationary dental appliance overlaid on the surrounding teeth may be used. This option is removable, and needs to be taken in and out to brush and floss. This option is sometimes referred to as a partial denture.
Placing crowns on the surrounding teeth, and cementing a porcelain tooth to each attached crown is a permanent option. This type of bridge is referred to as a pontic, and is the best way to restore missing teeth that are visible when smiling. They provide a seamless fit, and less expensive than implants. and offer by joining an artificial tooth permanently to adjacent teeth or dental implants.
Complete or full dentures are an all inclusive full mouth reconstruction that work to restore function, youthful appearance, improved speech, facial support and patient self-esteem. If you have older dentures or think you may need dentures, you’re in luck. Dentures technology has never been better. You may be saying goodbye to denture paste. Implants are now able to be used as a bridge across the entire length of the jawbone.
Although this is the most expensive option for dentures, it offers a permanent solution for the restoration of your smile. The American Dental Association recommends that dentures be replaced every 4 to 7 years. As time passes, loss of facial muscle tone can lead to head and facial pain, and discomfort when chewing. Decreased chewing efficiency can also lead to stomach disorders and digestive problems. Furthermore, worn out dentures can cause you to appear old and tired, which in turn can lead to loss of self esteem. Wearing old and worn out dentures can lead to chronic gum irritation and possible pre-cancerous lesions. Many patients think that after a set of dentures they never have to go to the dentist again.
That is far from true. When wearing dentures the gums under the dentures will continue to change forever. The gums tend to shrink leaving a gap between the denture and the gums. This will cause the denture to become mobile and loose and could causes sore areas and difficulty eating. Gum tissue and the dentures should be monitored by a dentist at least annually.
When your left with a gap in your smile don't worry its fixable! Implants offer a modern permanent solution for missing teeth. Implant insertion is completely harmless to your surrounding teeth, unlike pontic bridges that require shaving down surrounding teeth and fitting them with crowns. They are composed of titanium screws that are mounted along your jawbone. The screw acts as a root, and attaches to the surrounding bone during the process of osseointegration. A porcelain tooth is then attached to the screw. They are able to replace one missing tooth or can be used as a bridge to replace a row of missing teeth. In some cases, complete denture sets can be attached to multiple implants creating a permanent denture.
Implants are a great option for many people who want permanent solutions to missing teeth. They look and feel like your real teeth, and are not affected by disease and decay. However, not every smile qualifies for an implant, and they are the most expensive option for a replacement tooth. Schedule an appointment today to find out if an implant is the best solution for you.
When infection or inflammation spread to the root of your tooth from a cavity you may may need a root canal. This procedure involves removing the infected root, placing a stint into the gum line, and placing a temporary filling around the tooth. In a follow up visit a crown is then placed on the tooth to protect it from future decay.
If you are suffering with severe pain due to dental decay we urge you to come in and see us. In some cases antibiotics may be able to treat the infection without the need for a root canal procedure. The longer you wait to come in, the worse the infection will get, which in turn can lead to more serious problems. Many people choose extraction of an infected tooth instead of paying for a root canal. Although, extraction is cheaper in the short term, the gap the tooth creates will still need to be filled. Allowing space to remain in between teeth can lead to more costly dental issues in the future, as well as, cause shifting, and affecting the aesthetic of your smile.
At Absolute Smile Dental and Orthodontics we want our patients pain free and smiling. That's why we offer in house financing for payment arrangements, and accept most insurances including Medicaid. We never want the expense of a healthy smile to prevent you from getting care. So don't put off seeing the dentist, book an appointment with us today!
At Absolute Smile Dental and Orthodontics our objective is to save your natural teeth. Unfortunately, there are cases where the tooth is irreparably damaged. If a tooth is broken, cracked or extensively decayed it may be necessary to remove it. Also, a tooth that is associated with advanced stages of periodontal disease may need to be removed, as well as teeth that are poorly positioned or non-functional. When there is not enough healthy tooth structure to support restoration the only remaining solution is to remove the tooth completely.
Once we have completed a tooth extraction it is important to fill the void left behind by the extracted tooth to protect the remaining teeth, and avoid any shifting. To fill in the void we may use a dental implant or a bridge.
In most cases a general dentist can extract the tooth, but in some instances an oral surgeon may be required. Local anesthetic is all that is needed unless surgery is mandated, in which case sedation is used.
When infection or inflammation spread to the root of your tooth from a cavity you may may need a root canal. This procedure involves removing the infected root, placing a stint into the gum line, and placing a temporary filling around the tooth. In a follow up visit a crown is then placed on the tooth to protect it from future decay.
If you are suffering with severe pain due to dental decay we urge you to come in and see us. In some cases antibiotics may be able to treat the infection without the need for a root canal procedure. The longer you wait to come in, the worse the infection will get, which in turn can lead to more serious problems.
Many people choose extraction of an infected tooth instead of paying for a root canal. Although, extraction is cheaper in the short term, the gap the tooth creates will still need to be filled. Allowing space to remain in between teeth can lead to more costly dental issues in the future, as well as, cause shifting, and affecting the aesthetic of your smile.
At Absolute Smile Dental and Orthodontics we want our patients pain free and smiling. That's why we offer in house financing for payment arrangements, and accept most insurances including Medicaid. We never want the expense of a healthy smile to prevent you from getting care. So don't put off seeing the dentist, book an appointment with us today!
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