Plaque and Tartar

Dental plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on a tooth’s surface. Plaque develops when food is left on teeth. Regular brushing and flossing are excellent deterrents for plaque.

Tartar is the hard buildup that forms if plaque is not removed. It cannot be removed by brushing and flossing alone. Tartar and plaque contribute to the formation of both cavities and gum disease.

We use state-of-the-art hygiene protocols to make sure your mouth is as healthy as possible, removing all the plaque and tartar.

Cavities

Cavities are a common occurrence for many patients. A cavity is an area of permanent dental decay on your tooth that creates an opening and exposes the softer dentin beneath. Cavities are painful and will continue to grow until treated.

Good oral hygiene at home along with regular dental visits protect against cavities.

During your general dentistry checkup, we will look for signs of decay and cavities, oral cancer, and tooth wear and tear. We can provide tooth-colored dental fillings for patients with cavities. Our dental fillings and other restorations are biocompatible and carefully matched to your natural teeth.

Gingivitis and Periodontal Disease

Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease that can cause inflammation and irritation to your gums around the base of your teeth. Gum disease is caused by bacteria around your teeth.

Signs of gingivitis include:

• Bad breath
• Tenderness
• Inflammation
• Discoloration
• Receding gums
• Bleeding during brushing/flossing

If left untreated it can develop into a more serious case called periodontitis. Periodontitis damages your gums and can destroy the bone that supports your teeth. Treatment includes a deep cleaning, lifestyle changes, and laser therapy.

Toothaches

Toothaches that last a few days are the result of minor changes in your mouth that will resolve themselves. Other toothaches occur because of serious problems that require a dentist’s attention. Toothaches are commonly caused by issues such as:

• Food lodged between your teeth and gums
• Chipped or cracked teeth
• Damaged fillings
• Abscessed teeth
• Infected gums
• Erupting teeth
• Cavities

Chipped or Cracked Tooth

Broken teeth pose a risk to your oral health if left alone. Ever wonder how a dentist repairs damaged teeth? Options for tooth repair include:

• Same-day CEREC crowns to cover and protect a severely damaged tooth
• Porcelain veneers for surface cracks and chips that need minimal help
• Dental bonding moldable filling material that can replace sections of a tooth

It’s important to treat chipped, cracked, or broken teeth. Leaving these issues can allow bacteria to enter the inner parts of your teeth and cause tooth infections that can quickly spread.

Tooth Appearance

Teeth come in all shapes and sizes, and unfortunately, some of them aren’t the shape or size you want. There are all sorts of cosmetic treatments you can get to improve the look of your teeth. You can create the look you want with cosmetic services.

These services include:

• Veneers: Make your teeth look smooth, white, and even
• Invisalign® Clear Braces: Straighten your teeth and close gaps
• Dental Crowns: Fix broken, cracked, or chipped teeth
• Dental Implants: Permanently replace missing teeth
• Teeth Whitening: Whitens your teeth up to 10 shades

Mouth Sores

Most canker sores go away on their own with time. You can speed up the process using over-the-counter products, gargling baking soda water, and avoiding acidic foods. These solutions can help alleviate irritation and promote healing.

If you have long-lasting or recurring mouth sores, it could be a symptom of a serious condition. Seek professional dental care if you notice your canker sores last longer than two weeks.

Want to avoid mouth sores? Make sure to keep your mouth clean and get enough iron in your diet.

Impacted Teeth

Impaction can happen to any tooth if something prevents it from emerging from the gums. Wisdom teeth often become impacted because they very rarely have the room they’d need to grow in fully.

Regular dental appointments can catch impacted teeth before they cause pain, discomfort, or alignment problems. Treatment depends on the location of the tooth and the severity of impaction.

Impacted teeth can be painful and cause other complications. Symptoms of impaction include:

• Jaw pain
• Infection
• Shifting bite
• Swelling
• Bad smell around the affected gums

Tooth Erosion

By making and keeping regular appointments with our dentist, you can help prevent dental decay from developing and damaging your tooth structure. Tooth erosion does happen with age, but it doesn’t have to diminish your quality of life.

You can get treatment for dental decay and tooth erosion that repairs tooth damage and protects vulnerable teeth from further harm. The primary treatment is a dental crown, but depending on the condition, we may also recommend root canal therapy, dental fillings, dental bonding, or extraction and replacement.

Oral Cancer Screening

During a regular exam, we perform an oral cancer screening. Oral cancer can be found in anyone, regardless of age, habits, or lifestyle. We want to catch it early if we can.

A regular oral cancer screening can help with early diagnosis and intervention. During your exam, we’ll check for signs and symptoms:

• Redness
• Unusually white areas
• Swelling
• Sores or abscesses
• Pain
• Strange lumps

It’s a good idea to be on the watch for any of these symptoms yourself. If you do start to notice them, you can act quickly to get a dental exam.