General Services

Fillings/Restorations

Dental restorations, commonly known as fillings, are placed after the removal newly found decay or decay found under a current filling. The decat can be found either by an exam that includes an x-ray. The filling replaces the damaged part of the tooth. These treatments are commonly called “fillings” because new bonded resin material fills the cavity/hole left after the decay is removed.

If caught early, cavities can be treated easily and painlessly and with good success if maintained with a healthy diet, brushing and cleaning in-between teeth and regular dental check-ups. But, if left untreated, decay can lead to unnecessary pain and more costly treatment.

Bonding

Bonding is the term commonly used when resin material that closely matches the color of the tooth is added or used in a creative way to improve a smile. It is very helpful in closing gaps between teeth.

While dental bonding is thought to be limited to the improving the smile of front teeth, the same bonding technique is used to restore (fill) cavities in back teeth.

Sealants

Sealants are used to fill-in the crevices called “fissures” which are mostly seen on the chewing surfaces of back teeth. These fissures can be narrow and deep enough that even by the thinnest bristles of your toothbrush cannot reach into them to clean out the bacterial plaque in these fissures. The bacteria in plaque make acids from the foods we eat which over time may dissolve tooth enamel and make a hole or a cavity.

Your dental hygienist or dental assistant can block the bacterial plaque that leads to tooth decay from entering into these deep fissures. A flowable resin material is placed and cured to hardness which “seals” out cavity-causing plaque. The added bonus is that the tooth’s surface is easier to clean with your toothbrush!

Remember, these sealants are like any filling. They must be examined at your regular dental check-ups to ensure that they continue to protect your teeth.

Non-Surgical Gum Treatments

Oral health is not just about teeth! A balanced diet, daily homecare and regular hygiene visits are the basics in achieving a health in our mouth that includes the gums, ligaments, and bone around each tooth.

These foundational parts of the mouth are called the periodontium. When these supporting tissues becomes inflamed and/or infected, the result is periodontal disease. The health of the mouth and body become at risk as much as a bad foundation threatens the structural integrity of a home.

Signs of gum disease can be gums that are red, swollen and bleed easily, bad breath, gums that appear to separate from the tooth, loose teeth, and/or changes in how your bite feels.

With proper treatment and guided home care, it is possible for these tissues to be healthy again. Personalized treatment plays a big part in restoring teeth, gums and bone back to health. We can recommend custom treatment and help you make decisions to return your mouth back to health.

Gum treatments involve a visit with one of our team hygienists. In this visit, special attention is given to the infected deep pockets around your tooth/teeth.

Sometimes, your treatment needs may be a referral to a specialist in gum disease called a periodontist. Either way, you will be given a roadmap that guides you back to good oral health.

If you notice a problem with your gums, please call to schedule an appointment.

X-Rays

How can we know if there is decay between teeth if we do not look? X-rays are one of the most valuable tools in the diagnostic process. We cannot “see” cavities between teeth without the help of digital x-rays.

Digital x-rays become even more important to check for tooth decay when a patient is not flossing or cleaning in-between teeth regularly.

For those worried about exposure, digital radiology allows us to take x-rays using 50-70% less radiation than traditional x-rays. Digital x-ray technology allows us to enlarge images for best diagnosis and to better show you a concern.