Dental Health

Fillings are done to remove decay and replace the affected tooth structure. It is called a filling because new material fills the hole that decay left. Nowadays, most teeth are treated with bonded tooth-colored composite resin fillings. If caught early enough, cavities can be treated quickly and painlessly. If left untreated, decay can lead to tooth pain and/or infection, and the tooth would need root canal treatment or extraction.

Bonding involves adhering composite resin material matched to the tooth’s color and to the front of the tooth. This is done to repair the damage done to the tooth by decay, to alter the alignment of the tooth, to close gaps between the teeth, or for cosmetic purposes. First, the tooth’s surface is roughened to accept the bonding and hold it. A gel is applied to micro-etch the tooth surface, and a primer/bond agent is applied so the material adheres to the surface. Then, the material itself is placed on the tooth and hardened with intense light. The composite resin material is shaped and polished to get a lustrous finish as a last step.

Sealants are used to fill narrow grooves in a tooth that cannot be adequately cleaned by brushing. Sometimes, the tooth structure has fine grooves or pits that accumulate plaque, not because the person doesn’t brush but because they’re too narrow to allow even one bristle into them. These will develop cavities over time, and you don’t want that. So, the dentist will brush on a coating that seals the grooves and pits, making it possible to brush off all the plaque and keep your teeth healthy.

The gums, ligaments, and bone around the teeth form the foundation for one’s teeth. All structures are also referred to as the periodontium. When the periodontium is not healthy, it jeopardizes the teeth just as a bad foundation would threaten the stability of a house. Signs of unhealthy periodontium (gum disease) may be as follows:

• Gums that are red and bleed easily.
• Persistent bad breath.
• Gums that are pulled away from the tooth.
• Loose teeth.
• Changes in the position or bite of the teeth.

Any of these signs may mean something is wrong. With the proper care, however, it may be possible to return them to a healthy state. This is where appropriate gum treatments come in. If you’re having a problem, come see us so we can take care of it immediately. The treatment usually involves deep cleaning or root planing done under a local anesthetic and antibiotic agents. If the gum disease gets too severe, it may need to be treated through surgery or extraction. This is why getting it treated at the first sign of a problem is essential.

This is a focused beam of X-ray particles through bone, which produces an image on special film, showing the structure through which it passes. This gives the familiar black-and-white images doctors and dentists use to diagnose problems. X-rays are a necessary part of the diagnostic process, and not using them could lead to an undiagnosed disease. Without an X-ray of the whole tooth and supporting bone and gum tissues, there is no real way to detect infection or pathology that requires attention.

In our office, we use digital radiography, which allows us to take X-rays using 50-70% less radiation versus conventional X-rays. Coupled with computer monitoring, digital x-ray technology allows us to enhance the images for better diagnosis of any dental concerns.