An extraction is a procedure that removes a tooth. When a tooth is damaged beyond repair, an extraction is the treatment of choice to alleviate pain and infection. If wisdom teeth are not coming in to the mouth properly (impacted), this may result in damage to adjacent teeth. Also, impacted wisdom teeth may develop cysts which can damage and weaken the jaw.

While brushing your teeth after each meal and prior to bedtime along with daily flossing will maintain your teeth and gums, professional cleaning by your Dentist or Hygienist is essential to ensure the health of your teeth and gums. Our preventive hygiene services may include: fluoride, desensitization, polishing, breath control advice, and oral hygiene instruction.

An alternative to bridges is often an Implant. An implant is a titanium root that is placed into the jaw and is allowed to heal for several months. The jaw bone and gums grow around the implant and the implant literally becomes part of the jaw. Titanium implants are safe and biocompatible to the human body.
A crown is then attached to the implant. The benefit of an implant is that it cannot decay and is independent from the surrounding natural teeth. Thus, you can brush and floss an implant like a natural tooth. Once healed, an implant restoration is strong, comfortable, and allows you to enjoy the foods you love.

Some symptoms of Temporomandibular Dysfunction include:

• Pain upon wide opening
• Sore jaw muscles
• Sore jaw joints
• Neck and shoulder pain
• Teeth grinding and/or clenching
• Ear pain/ringing in the ears
• Inability to move the jaw side to side comfortably
• Headaches

The treatment of the above problems is very complex. Successful treatment may require the expertise of other professional such as Orofacial Pain Specialists, Chiropractors, Physicians, Physical Therapists, and Massage therapists. Proper treatment begins with proper assessment of the exact nature of the problem. We will do a thorough examination to determine the best way to help you.

If your front teeth are marred by chips, deep discoloration, and misalignment, veneers may be a good option for you. Porcelain veneers are thin coverings that are bonded to the outside surface of your front teeth and can reinvigorate your smile.

If a tooth has a deep cavity, a fracture, infection, or is injured by an accident, a root canal treatment may be required to alleviate pain and infection. This type of therapy involves gently numbing the tooth with local anesthesia and placing a small sesame seed sized hole on the biting surface of the tooth. Through this hole, specialized fine instruments are passed through and carefully used to clean and shape the “tunnels” (root canals) within the tooth. This removes the infected and inflamed soft tissues that are causing the pain and infection. Then the canals are filled and sealed with a root filling material called gutta percha. The tooth is then sealed with a filling or, more commonly, a crown is placed to ensure strength.

Unfortunately, coffee, tea, red wine, soft drinks, smoking, and berries can cause teeth to permanently stain. Professional cleaning often will not be able to completely remove these stains. Teeth whitening may be a good solution to restore your bright white smile.

Despite your best efforts at home, gum disease can set in. Gum disease includes gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is confined to the gingiva (gums). Periodontitis is an infection of the gum and bone resulting in bone loss and tooth loss. Periodontitis is often caused by bacterial deposits (calculus and plaque) under the gums and is exacerbated by smoking, genetics, and systemic illnesses such as diabetes. There is a positive correlation between periodontitis and heart disease.
Periodontitis is controlled by good home care and treatment in our office using medicines and treatments which remove plaque, calculus deposits, and diseased tissue under the gum line. These therapies are often completed using a local anesthetic that is carefully administered by your Dentist or Hygienist. Gum therapy is usually performed over time and the condition of your gums is reassessed on a regular basis to monitor your progress.