A dental cleaning is performed by a dentist or hygienist and that usually last around 45 minutes. Dental cleanings include the removal of plaque and tartar from the teeth surface (scaling), polishing, and smoothing the root surface and a deep cleaning below the gum line (root planing) if needed.

Dental cleaning should occur every six months to ensure plaque build-up is kept in check. Modern scaling uses a combination of hand and advance electric scaling tools to increase cleaning effectiveness and efficiency.

Non-surgical gum treatment may be needed if the periodontium, the foundation of teeth structure gums, ligaments, and bone is unhealthy.

Signs of an unhealthy periodontium and gum disease are:

With proper treatment the conditions that enable the periodontium to heal may be reestablished. The gum treatment may include a root planing deep cleaning, local anesthetic, and antibiotics. Untreated gum disease may lead to more extensive surgeries or tooth extraction.

Many people have narrow groves in their teeth that are very hard to or can't be cleaned with a toothbrush. In these cases the dentist will clean the tooth surface and use a sealant to seal and smooth the tooth surface so it can be cleaned by brushing.

If not treated the groves will develop tooth decay eventually leading to a cavity and the need for a filling or more serious corrective procedures.

Natural Ways to Keep Your Gums and Teeth Healthy

Do you prefer natural ingredients when it comes to your healthcare? If so, there are a variety of great options that you can use in order to ensure that your gums and teeth remain healthy. However, if you do choose to use a natural product, you need to remember that it should never be a replacement for brushing and flossing, as you still need to keep up these habits in order to maintain a healthy smile.

Try Baking Soda

Baking soda is a popular option for fighting off tooth decay. While baking soda is often found in toothpastes and whitening products, many people brush with it on its own. It is a great way to remove stains from the teeth, as sodium bicarbonate can serve as an excellent abrasive.

Use Green Tea Oil

Green tea oil can help to protect your teeth from erosion. It is thought to stop starchy foods from causing your teeth to decay, and studies have shown that when people regularly drink green tea, they tend to have healthier gums than people who don’t.

Try Other Natural Oils

Natural oils like tea tree, menthol, and eucalyptol can be beneficial in keeping your mouth healthy by killing off harmful bacteria. This step is crucial in order to keep your gums from suffering inflammation. There are a variety of mouthwashes and toothpastes that contain these ingredients.

If you are interested in other natural dental options that can help to keep your mouth healthy, contact our office for guidance.

Fillings are used to restore tooth damage caused by tooth decay. After removing the decay and cleaning the area the dentist adds the filling material. Fillings are made from traditional amalgam (silver colored) gold, silver, or a composite (tooth colored). Composite fillings, in addition to being more esthetically pleasing, bond directly to the tooth surface unlike traditional fillings.

A root canal becomes needed when tooth decay is so badly neglected it reaches the tooth pulp. Once the pulp is infected it cannot heal on its own. Sometimes tooth trauma such as a fracture can lead to the need for a root canal as well. In addition to being painful, untreated infections can reach the root tip and compromise the entire immune system.

Symptoms of pulp infections may be:

A root canal procedure includes cleaning out the infected pulp, disinfecting the canals and filling the void with a rubber like substance to prevent further infection. Sometimes a crown is recommended to restore the tooth shape, look, and to strengthen the tooth structure.

Tooth Bonding is composed of a ceramic resin that is brushed onto the tooth and hardened with intense light. Prior to bonding application the tooth surface must be prepared to accept the bonding. This is accomplished by roughening the tooth surface and applying a gel to micro-etch the surface. A primer agent is then applied so the bond will adhere properly.

Tooth Bonding is used for:

Cosmetic Dental Bonding

Bonding is a fairly simple way to improve the appearance of your teeth if there are gaps between them, and it can also be used for chips, breaks, stains, and cracks. We use a special tooth-colored bonding material to fill in imperfections, and as it hardens, it can be shaped in order to match the original shape of your tooth.

When cared for properly, bonding can last for several years. Bonding material cannot be "whitened" with tooth whitening products, however we can often match the shade of the bonding material to your teeth. This is why we will often recommend whitening your teeth first before applying bonding material or using dental crowns to enhance your smile.

Crowns are used to restore severely damaged teeth due to fracture or decay. After the tooth surface is cleaned and prepared the crown is placed to cover the remainder of the tooth. The crown strengthens the tooth structure and helps prevent future decay. Crowns also improve the tooth's look, shape, and alignment.

Crowns are used to:

Bridges are used to replace a missing tooth in both a cosmetic and functional fashion. A bridge structure is one or more artificial teeth anchored in place by natural teeth, crowns, or implants, on each side of the bridge. Using a bridge to fill the gap from missing teeth helps restore proper bite and prevent teeth from shifting to fill the gap (which may lead to additional bite and jaw joint issues). Bridges can be constructed from gold, porcelain and metal, or all ceramic. Ceramic bridge color is made to match your natural tooth color. Depending on structural requirements, wear, and esthetics will influence material choice.

Bridges are used to:

Implants may be the best option for replacing a single or multiple missing teeth. An implant is a metal post that is attached directly to the jawbone. After the bone and surrounding tissue has healed an artificial tooth attached to the implant. Implants provide superior benefits compared to bridge work as they do not depend on neighboring teeth for structural support, though they are more expensive. Implants are the closest dental structure in durability to natural teeth and have greater cosmetic appeal.

Implants are used to:

Over time, most of us experience stains and discoloration to our teeth. Smoking, certain medications, and eating staining foods can all contribute to discoloration. However, our teeth whitening process allows us to improve the appearance of your smile, either with an in-office procedure or by providing you with a system to use at home. Teeth whitening tends to be one of the most affordable options, and can significantly improve the youthfulness of your smile, even with just one application!

As the name implies, teeth whitening, is the act of whiting teeth and therefore making them more attractive. Teeth whitening can be used to whiten stained, discolored, or dull teeth to improve your smile. Whitening is one of the most cost effective ways to improve your smile and is relatively painless.

There are two primary methods of teeth whitening; in office and at home trays.

In office teeth whitening is ideal for people looking for immediate results or active lifestyles that don't have time for a series of at home treatments. The procedure usually takes about an hour. In office teeth whitening starts with the application of a protective gel to the gums and surrounding soft tissue for protection from light. A different gel that activates under light is applied to the teeth surfaces. An intense light is used enhance the whitening gel's effectiveness.

At home trays are generally less expensive than in office treatments and require the making a mold of the teeth to create trays. After a few days the trays will be ready for pick-up and receive instruction on proper use. The trays are taken home, filled with a bleaching gel, and worn for up to one hour at a time, up to twice a day. Bleach trays allow for gradual whitening of the teeth over several days or weeks ending in fabulous result. Bleaching may cause tooth sensitivity, if this occurs inform your dentist.

Veneers are a porcelain or ceramic cover for the visible portion of teeth to dramatically improve the esthetics of your smile. Veneers usually require a couple dental visits. First the teeth are prepared and impressions are taken, and temporary covers are placed on the teeth. Using the impressions the custom veneers are precisely manufactured in a dental lab. The process takes about two weeks. When complete the temporaries are removed and the veneers are bonded to the teeth. Veneers require less tooth material removal and the procedure is more comfortable than crowns.

Veneers are applied by dentists with extensive cosmetic training and can also be used to correct gaps, chips, permanent stains, and teeth that are slightly crooked. Veneers are customized porcelain shells that will cover up the front of your teeth to improve the shape and color.

If you are interested in learning more about the cosmetic options available, please visit our website, or give us a call today!