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Fillings
Fillings are done to remove decay, and replace the
affected tooth structure. It is called a filling
because new a material fills hole that decay left.
Our office only places bonded tooth colored
composite resin fillings (not old silver and mercury
amalgams). If caught early enough, cavities can be
treated easily and painlessly. If not treated decay
can lead to tooth pain and/or infection, and the
tooth would need root canal treatment or extraction.
Bonding
Bonding involves adhering composite resin material
that is matched to the color of the tooth, to the
front of the tooth. This is done to repair damage
done to the tooth by decay, to alter the alignment
of the tooth, close gaps between the teeth, or for
cosmetic purposes.
First the surface of the tooth is roughened in order
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
This is used to fill in narrow grooves in a tooth
that cannot be adequately cleaned by brushing. In
some cases, the tooth structure has fine grooves or
pits which 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.
Non-Surgical Gum
Treatments
The gums, ligaments, and bone around the teeth form
the foundation for ones 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, and 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 in and see us so we can take
care of it right away. The treatment usually
involves a deep cleaning or root planning done under
a local anesthetic, along with local antibiotic
agents. If the gum disease gets too severe it may
need to be treated through surgery or extraction.
This is why it is important to get it treated at the
first sign of a problem.
X-Rays
This is a focused beam of X-Ray particles through
bone which produces an image on special film,
showing the structure through which it passed. This
gives the familiar black and white images that
doctors and dentists use to diagnose problems.
X-rays are a necessary part of the diagnostic
process, and not to use them could lead to
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.
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