Full Mouth X-Rays, also called a Full Mouth Series, are a series of X-Rays angled to show all the teeth (their crowns and roots), plus the surrounding bone and other structures. It is a combination of 14 or more general x-rays aimed at filming the apex of a root of a tooth and 4 bite-wing x-rays to film the back teeth. The full mouth series ensures a complete examination of the health of the tooth roots and helps to check for some types of tumors and lesions. Full Mouth Series X-Rays are recommended about every three to five years.

Used by dentists for more than a century, a dental amalgam is the most thoroughly researched and tested restorative material among all those in use. It is durable, easy to use, highly resistant to wear and relatively inexpensive in comparison to other materials. For those reasons, it remains a valued treatment option for dentists and their patients.

Composite fillings are a tooth-colored restorative material composed of plastic with small glass or ceramic particles that are mixed into a gel-like substance. After being applied to a tooth, the material is then hardened with a curing light, a visible blue light that causes it to harden almost instantly. Composite fillings are often preferred by patients over amalgam fillings, especially for the front teeth, as they restore the natural appearance of the tooth.

An Inlay is essentially a filling made by a dental lab that is cemented or bonded into place and doesn’t completely cover the chewing or biting surface. Inlays are generally made in tooth-colored porcelain, but they also can be made in gold or composite materials. Inlays are far more durable than typical silver or composite fillings as they don’t require much of the actual tooth structure to be removed in order for a dentist to set them in place.

An Onlay is a tooth restoration, also made by a dental lab, that covers one or more cusps of a tooth. It can be made from porcelain, gold or composite resin, and serves to protect the tooth from breakage should the cavity or old filling be too large. Onlays created from tooth-colored material makes them virtually undetectable to the naked eye. Onlays also help to conserve more tooth structure as their use requires less removal a tooth’s surface. An Onlay can help patients avoid the eventual need for more extensive dental restorations.

Porcelain (ceramic) crowns are desirable by many patients as their tooth-colored materials mimic a tooth’s natural enamel. All porcelain restorations require a minimum of two visits and possibly more. Porcelain Crowns are prone to fracture when placed under a lot of tension or on impact. Their strength largely depends on an adequate thickness of porcelain and their ability to be bonded to the underlying tooth. They are highly resistant to wear but the porcelain can quickly wear opposing teeth if the porcelain surface becomes rough.

The combination of porcelain bonded to a supporting metal structure creates a stronger restoration than porcelain used alone. However, more of the existing tooth structure must be removed to accommodate it. Although porcelain restorations are highly resistant to wear, they can wear opposing natural teeth if the porcelain surface becomes rough. There may also be some initial discomfort to hot and cold. While these restorations are highly biocompatible, some people may show an allergic sensitivity to some types of metals used.

Gold alloys contain gold, copper and other metals that result in a strong, effective crown. Since they are metal through and through, gold crowns withstand biting and chewing forces well and they are also highly resistant to corrosion and tarnishing. Of all of the types of dental crowns, gold crowns probably have the greatest potential for lasting the longest. Gold alloys are also gentle to opposing teeth and are well tolerated by patients. However, one thing to keep in mind is that their metal colors do not look like natural teeth.

When bonded to the teeth, the ultra-thin porcelain veneers are virtually undetectable to the naked eye. In addition, they are also highly resistant to coffee, tea, wine, or even cigarette stains. Veneers can be typically set in place in just a few dental appointments and can actually strengthen your teeth. With proper care, porcelain veneers will brighten your smile for well over a decade. There is no additional maintenance required by patients, other than routine visits to your dentist and proper brushing and flossing on a daily basis.

A Traditional Bridge consists of two dental crowns that are placed (cemented) onto natural teeth that exist on each side of the missing tooth, with a false tooth in between. The false tooth in between the two crowns is what covers the gap left behind by a missing tooth. Traditional bridges are the most commonly used dental bridges and are made of ceramic or porcelain fused to metal. They are fixed, stable, and feel like your own teeth. However, the two teeth beside the missing one have to be prepared to support the bridge.

A Cantilever Bridge is a fixed bridge that is attached to adjacent teeth on one end only. They are used in cases where a bridge can only be anchored to a tooth on one side of the gap. Thus, Cantilever Bridges are best suited to areas of your mouth that are less prone to stress, such as the front teeth. This dental procedure involves anchoring the false tooth to one side over one or more natural and adjacent teeth. As a result, they are best suited and ideal for situations where a traditional dental bridge or a dental implant isn’t an option.

A Resin Bonded Bridge, also known as the Maryland Bridge, is often used to replace teeth that are missing in the front of the mouth, providing that the gums are healthy and the surrounding teeth do not have extensive dental fillings. Resin Bonded Bridges are usually less expensive than traditional bridges as the adjacent teeth require less preparation. Only the inner surfaces of the adjacent natural teeth are shaped and grooved without removing all of the enamel. However, these bridges are only as strong as the bonding material used.

A Complete Denture, also known as a conventional full denture, is made and placed in the patient’s mouth after the remaining teeth are removed and the surrounding tissues have healed. The healing process varies and can take between 6 to 10 weeks or longer. New dentures may feel awkward and loose for a few weeks while the muscles of your cheek and tongue learn to keep them in place. It is not unusual to experience minor irritation or even soreness. As your mouth becomes accustomed to them, these problems should diminish.

A removable partial denture or bridge consists of replacement teeth attached to a pink or gum-colored plastic base, which is connected by metal framework that holds the denture in place in the mouth. Partial dentures are used when one or more natural teeth remain in the upper or lower jaw. Not only does a partial denture fill in the spaces created by missing teeth, it also prevents other teeth from changing position. A precision partial denture is removable and has internal attachments instead of clasps for a natural looking appearance.

When nerve tissue or pulp is damaged, it breaks down and bacteria begins to form inside the pulp chamber. The bacteria can cause an infection or abscessed tooth. An abscess is a pus-filled pocket that forms at the end of the roots of the tooth. A root canal requires one or more office visits and can be performed by a dentist or endodontist. The choice of which type of dentist to use depends to some degree on the difficulty of the root canal procedure needed. Your dentist will discuss who might be best suited to perform the work.

After a tooth is extracted, some bleeding is normal and usually lasts for about a day. A gauze pad applied to the area helps to control the bleeding. Pain, swelling or jaw stiffness generally lasts no more than a day or two after the procedure and may be treated with medications and warm or cold compresses. To keep the extraction site clean, gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water. Mix half a teaspoon of salt in an eight-ounce cup of water and gently swish with that. Contact your dentist if any bleeding or swelling persists.

If after consultation with our office it is determined that you can receive dental implants to replace missing teeth, we will refer you to an Oral Surgeon (an oral health care specialist who performs many types of surgical procedures in and around the entire face, mouth, and jaw area) who will perform the implant procedure. For patients with existing dental implants, who have experienced any chips or cracks to the crown or bridge that is placed over the implant, our office can restore any damage to the crown or bridge for you.

Opalescence Boost is an in-office teeth-whitening system containing potassium nitrate and fluoride for stronger enamel, decreased sensitivity, and cavity prevention. It is chemically activated using a 38% hydrogen peroxide solution and does not require light. The unique syringe-to-syringe mixing system ensures freshness and convenience in application, while the distinct red color aids in proper application and ensures complete removal. The procedure lasts about 60 minutes and offers high-quality whitening with immediate results.

Fluoride is a mineral that helps strengthen teeth enamel making teeth less susceptible to decay. Low concentrations have been found to greatly lower the amount of cavities in our society. Fluoride is also a poison to many oral bacteria and thus prevents cavities and gum disease. Fluoride is ingested through food or water and is available in most toothpastes. It can also be applied as a gel to the surface of teeth by a dentist or hygienist. The fluoride treatments from a dental office have a higher fluoride content than consumer products.

Scaling is a nonsurgical, deep-cleaning procedure whereby plaque and tartar (calculus) from above and below the gum line are scraped away (scaling) and the rough spots on the tooth root are made smooth (planing). Without proper cleaning and dental visits, plaque and tartar build up in the mouth and collect at an area just below the gum line. This buildup will eventually cause the gums to recede (move away) from the teeth, forming pockets in the mouth. This plaque and tartar buildup can then lead to periodontal disease.

When plaque and tartar collect just below the gum line, the gums can eventually recede (move away) from the teeth, forming pockets in the mouth. Although Scaling and Root Planing can remove the plaque and tartar buildup, additional treatment may be needed if the pockets have become infected. For adults with advanced stages of periodontal disease, Arestin, an antibiotic with an active ingredient called minocycline hydrochloride, is used together with scaling and root planing procedures. It is painless to apply and is completely absorb, leaving nothing to be removed and can help shrink periodontal pockets.