General Dentistry

Comprehensive Evaluation / Oral Examination

An oral examination is a visual inspection of the mouth, head, and neck, performed to detect abnormalities. Radiographs allow for a more complete examination, helping the doctor to detect cavities, problems in existing dental restorations, gum and bone recession or other abnormal conditions within the mouth, head and neck area.

Procedures used alone or in combination to create beautiful smiles include:

Cleaning

A dental cleaning, also known as an oral prophylaxis, is the removal of dental plaque and tartar (calculus) from the teeth. Specialized instruments are used to gently remove these deposits without harming the teeth. First, an ultrasonic device that emits vibrations and is cooled by water is used to loosen larger pieces of tartar. Next, hand tools are used to manually remove smaller deposits and smooth the tooth surfaces. Once all the tooth surfaces have been cleaned of tartar and plaque, the teeth are polished.

Custom Mouth Guards

Many sports require athletes to use a mouth guard to protect their teeth while practicing and playing. Frequently used in contact sports, the mouth guard covers the gums and teeth to provide protection for lips, gums, teeth, and arches. A properly fitted mouth guard can reduce the severity of dental injuries.

Other types of mouth guards include night guards for grinding and snore guards.

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Scaling and Root Planing

Scaling and root planing is a non-surgical procedure used to treat gum disease. During the scaling process, specialized dental instruments are used to remove dental plaque and calculus from beneath the gums. Planing is the procedure used to smooth the tooth roots after the scaling process. Root planing helps the gums heal and reattach themselves to a cleaner and smoother root surface.

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Extractions

A tooth that can not be saved with restorative procedures may need to be removed. Before removal of the tooth, the area will be numbed with anesthesia. The tooth is loosened from the jawbone and surrounding ligaments and tissues with a gentle rocking motion. Once it is loose, it is gently removed. Stitches may be necessary after the removal of a tooth.

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Lasers in Dentistry

Our state-of-the art soft tissue laser changes the way we think about certain dental procedures! In addition to opening up many new treatments, the laser can also reduce the treatment time, bleeding, pain and the need for stitches for certain gum surgeries.

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Root Canal Treatment

Root canals are most often necessary when decay has reached the nerve of the tooth or the tooth has become infected. When root canal therapy is performed, infected or inflamed pulp is removed from the tooth chamber. The inside of the tooth is then cleaned and disinfected before being filled and sealed to limit the possibility of future infection. Soon after the root canal is performed, the tooth is restored with a dental crown or filling to protect the tooth and restore normal tooth function.

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Wisdom Teeth/Third Molars

Wisdom teeth represent the third and final set of molars to emerge. Unfortunately, these teeth are known for trouble. Often due to lack of jaw space, the wisdom teeth can grow sideways, partially erupt or become impacted and trapped below the gum line. This can pose a serious threat to the healthy adjacent molars as well as your entire oral health. Improperly erupted wisdom teeth can increase the risk for decay and infection, and cause problems in your mouth such as damage to neighboring teeth, painful jaw cysts and bite misalignment.