Family Dentistry
Root Canals - Don’t let a Root Canal scare you! When you hear that you need to have a Root Canal it means that the part of the tooth inside the tooth, that houses the nerve and the blood supply, is diseased. This can be the result of trauma and/or dental decay and because of this the nerve and the blood supply feeding the tooth is no longer healthy. A Root Canal is simply a cleansing process that 1) removes the decayed material in the canal, 2) sterilizes the canal and then 3) fills in with a specially formulated biocompatible filler. After these steps the tooth is finished with either a typical filling or with a crown depending on how much natural healthy tooth structure is present. Root Canals extend the life expectancy of the tooth and preserve the overall health of the mouth by eliminating disease. Dental X-Rays - Sometimes our patients express a concern over being exposed to the radiation. Rest assure that At My Best Smile we only take the X-Rays we feel are truly necessary. Also, we are using Digital techniques and the exposure dosage is reportedly 50% less than that of the traditional X-Rays. Dental X-Rays are our GPS to your healthy mouth. They help us to diagnose many oral conditions that we can help correct such as dental decay, infections, and diseases. Crowns - What is a crown? Hollywood has referred to these as “caps” for years, so often we find that that is what our patients call them. Dental professionals call them crowns because they are restorations that replace the entire outer visible layer of the tooth, anatomically called the crown. Crowns are typically recommended when the tooth has a large filling, and is therefore functionally weak. They are also recommended for protection when the tooth has had a root canal and no longer has a blood supply and will become weaker with time. Crowns are custom, fabricated restorations that are permanently placed. While you are waiting for your crown to made, you typically wear a plastic temporary crown to protect your tooth until it is finally restored. Today there are many different types of crown materials. Some of the choices include porcelain, ceramic, metal and gold. Your dentist will decide which material will work the best and function for many years to come based on where the tooth is located in the mouth and your wear patterns. Bridges - What is a Bridge? Bridges are used when teeth are missing and healthy adjacent teeth are present for support. They are restorations that use multiple crowns, fused together, to “bridge” the gap of the missing tooth. A bridge is inserted in one whole piece and does require additional brushing and flossing techniques to maintain them. With the advent of implants, this type of tooth replacement is becoming obsolete. Implants are placed as single units and therefore allow the replacement of missing teeth without involving the use of adjacent teeth. They are easy to maintain with regular brushing and flossing and have been shown to stimulate bone growth. Non-Metal Fillings - With the advancement of new technologies, there are new alternatives for restoring the areas of the tooth that has been destroyed by decay. These filling materials are synthetic plastics that have evolved to replicate and resemble natural teeth. They are scientifically engineered to hold up to normal wear and biting forces and are bonded to the remaining healthy tooth structure for years of use with regular home and professional care. Velscope - Oral Cancer Screening - Starting in 2010, all of our adults patients will receive one free, annual oral cancer screening of your mouth's soft tissue as part of your routine exam. Early detection is the key. Non Surgical Gum Therapy by Perio Protect - this painless USDA Patented system for the treatment of moderate gum disease uses soft trays especially designed to hold the liquid medicine. As you wear the trays, the medicine is delivered into the deep pockets in your gums to kill bacteria. It is a simple and effective method that restores your gums to their optimum health. |
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