Treatment

Dental braces are placed on the teeth and used to help align and straighten teeth and reposition poorly aligned jaws. 

Crooked teeth and misaligned jaws can be caused by a number of different things, such as inheritance, injury, or thumb-sucking. Typically, dentists begin examining and screening children for the possibility of braces between the ages of 7 and 14, because the bones and features in their faces are not fully developed yet, and there are more malleable. 

Orthodontics is a specialty of dentistry that deals with adjustments to the teeth, mouth, and jaw. There are three main types of braces which are:

The process of getting braces is complex, but nothing a trained orthodontist cannot handle. First, they will make an impression of your teeth and x-ray both the head and the mouth. Then a second appointment is made for the actual placement of the braces. Before this second appointment you should make sure that your teeth are completely clean from plaque. Then the brackets, wires, and bands are placed on your teeth and tightened. If you feel some mild discomfort in your mouth afterwards, don’t worry, it is completely normal. Once your braces have been put in your mouth, occasionally you will need to return to the orthodontist’s office to have them adjusted and tightened, so that they can adjust your teeth and make sure that they get in the correct position. Finally, after your braces are off, after approximately two years, you will need to continue to wear a retainer so that you can ensure that your teeth stay in place.

When someone has braces it complicates a person’s regular dental hygiene routine a little bit. Food is more likely to get stuck in between the brackets and wires, so the person wearing the braces needs to make sure to always at least rinse their mouth out with water after they eat in order to dislodge some of the debris that may have gotten stuck and they need to try and not eat super sticky, chewy, or crunchy foods. If the teeth are not properly cleaned on a daily basis, you will run the risk of stains developing on the enamel around the bracket. 

Space maintainers are custom-made dental devices that are usually either acrylic or metal and they keep the space open in a child’s mouth so that the permanent tooth has a place to come in to when it is time. These are usually used when a child unexpectedly loses a primary tooth early on. If a space maintainer is not used, the child runs the risk of their permanent tooth not having enough room, which runs the risk of the child having crooked teeth.

A sealant is a thin plastic coating that is painted on the surface of teeth, quickly bonding and forming a protective layer over the enamel. This acts as a barrier for plaque and acids, preventing tooth decay. Scientists developed the first sealants in the 1950’s, but they weren’t available commercially until the 1970’s. 

Sealants are recommended for people of all ages, but especially for children and teenagers. This will help them from getting cavities on their permanent teeth, while they are still learning and remembering to follow through with good dental hygiene practices. 

If you have missing teeth, there are a few different options that you have. Fixed bridges, crowns, implants, and bridges are all common and effective procedures for correcting bite problems and replacing missing teeth.

Bridges are natural-looking dental prosthesis that are created to replace the gap made by one or more missing teeth. Bridges are custom-made and are barely noticeable since they are formed and then bonded to your existing teeth or implants. They can help to improve the natural curve of teeth and can promote a healthy bite relationship between the teeth in the upper and lower jaw.

Bridges, also known as fixed partial dentures, are bonded to the existing teeth or implants and are semi-permanent. There are several different types of bridges, which include conventional fixed bridges, resin-bonded bridges, and cantilever bridges. 

Bridges usually require a few office visits in order to fully complete the procedure. First, the teeth are prepared by re-contouring and removing part of the enamel. Then an accurate impression of the teeth are made, which a lab then uses to construct the bridge. Next the new synthetic bridge is placed in the mouth and periodically adjusted in order to ensure a proper fit. Finally the bridge is cemented into place.  

Crowns are commonly confused with veneers, but in fact are very different. Crowns are synthetic natural-looking tooth-shaped caps, commonly made of either porcelain, ceramic or resin, and are cemented on top of a tooth. They are used in a variety of different situations which can include: correcting sever discoloration, protecting a cracked or weak tooth after severe decay, cosmetically modifying a tooth, sealing a tooth with a large filling, restoring a broken tooth, covering a dental implant, securing a dental bridge, among others. 

In order for a crown to be placed, a tooth must first be filed down, and the size reduced. Then an impression is formed from the existing tooth and is sent to a special lab who then make a customized crown. In certain cases, a temporary crown may need to be placed on the tooth and then is removed once the permanent crown is finished and cemented into place.

With proper dental hygiene and care, a high-quality crown can last up to ten years. Paying special attention when brushing and flossing around the area of the crown is very important in order to avoid excess plaque buildup or particles or debris getting caught around the remodeled area. It is also important to avoid eating ice, hard candy, or brittle foods so that the crown does not get damaged. If a patient clenches their jaw or grinds their teeth a lot, preventative measures should be taken since those behaviors can significantly cut down on the overall life of a crown.

Root canal therapy is a procedure that relieves pain by treating the unhealthy pulp of a tooth in order to both prevent the spread of current, and protect from future, infection. A tooth's pulp is made up of cellular entities, nerve tissues, and blood vessels which are found below the enamel of your teeth and spread from the crown to the bottom tip of the root. 

If root canal therapy is the recommended treatment option for you, there is no need to worry because it is possible for your teeth to survive without the pulp, because the tissues around the tooth continue to nourish it. This particular therapy may be necessary if the pulp of your teeth is inflamed or infected, which could be caused by a crack in the tooth or possible problems with the crown. Failure to treat the infection or inflammation may result in extreme pain and discomfort. 

First, we use a needle to thoroughly numb your tooth with anesthesia. It may be necessary to apply a dental dam to keep the area clean during the procedure. We will then use tools to access and open up the top part of the affected tooth, using files to get rid of the affected pulp, and reshaping the inner parts of the tooth. We then clean the area and apply a disinfecting solution to prevent any re-occurrence of the problem and to get rid of any remaining bacteria. After cleaning the inside of your tooth, we will fill it temporarily. Later, we will place a permanent crown on your tooth, at which point the treatment is considered complete. 

Afterwards, we may prescribe a medicine if the area becomes inflamed after the treatment, because even though we remove the nerves of your tooth, your tooth might still be sensitive. We highly recommend that you practice good oral hygiene and take good care of your teeth and gums after the treatment. We also suggest that you schedule a follow-up appointment to ensure that your tooth is completely treated and that there are no more signs of infection. 

There are a variety of different reasons as to why someone would need a tooth extraction. Their mouth might be too crowded or other procedures such as a crown, filling, or root canal, was not enough to save the tooth. Before, it was very painful to get a tooth removed, but today, with the help of pain medications and sedatives, the patient only has a slight bit of discomfort, if any at all.

First the dentist usually has the patient take an antibiotic the day before surgery to prevent an infection from occurring. Then on the day of surgery, the patient goes back into the room and the affected area is numbed with an anesthetic (Novocaine). Many times, some form of sedative is also administered before extracting the tooth. After the extraction ibuprofen and ice are recommended and occasionally prescription pain medication is also given.

After the procedure, you should refrain from smoking, brushing or rinsing too hard, and sucking liquids through a straw because all of these things can slow down recovery time and may cause the wound to re-open.

Wisdom teeth come in last and are located in the very back of your mouth. Some people’s wisdom teeth come in without an issue, other people’s wisdom teeth don’t come in at all, but they don’t experience pain, and lastly there are all of the others who experience some sort of discomfort when their wisdom teeth come in, usually because they are misaligned and are coming in at an angle, putting pressure on the tooth next to it. Unfortunately, when there is pain, that usually is not a good sign; the tooth may be impacted and will need to be removed.

The following are symptoms of an impacted wisdom tooth:  

Scaling and root planing, also known as conventional periodontal therapy, is a type of surgical deep cleaning that removes plaque from the tooth and then smooths the surface. This procedure is needed when a patient has a severe case of gum disease where no other treatments have worked.

First a local anesthetic is administered to the patient, so they can remain calm and comfortable throughout the procedure. Then a scaler (ultrasonic cleaner) removes plaque and tartar buildup by cleaning under the gum line. Finally, the tooth’s root’s surfaces are smoothed out. When this procedure is done, the gums should be able to easily reattach to the tooth structure.  

Ideally, between the bone and gum tissue in your mouth, they should hug your tooth. But many times, when a person suffers from gum disease, the bone is slowly destroyed which in turn causes pockets to form in the mouth which serve as a breeding ground for bacteria. The more bacteria the area accumulates, the more bone and tissue loss happens until the tooth needs to be extracted.

Flap surgery is a solution that re-constructs the tooth area. Sometimes this procedure is done so that tartar deposits that have accumulated in the pockets can be removed. During the procedure, a section of the gums is lifted back and we go in and remove al of the tartar buildup. We then put the gums back on the tooth and stitch them back together tightly, so they are hugging the tooth, just as they are supposed to. 

Many people think that dentures are only used when a whole set of teeth is missing, but specialty dentures replace your missing teeth and it is possible to craft them to fit into any size gap in your mouth. Even with today's technological dental advancements and dental health education, many people across the nation still live with tooth loss. Missing teeth may be a source of embarrassment, and can affect a person's nutrition and dental health. Dentures are great option for missing teeth, regardless of the degree of tooth loss and they are appropriate for people who have recently lost their teeth, as well as for people who have been living with tooth loss for many years. Dentures are very popular all around the world because they feel and look like natural teeth.

Immediate dentures are temporary and help your muscles to readjust when you are initially getting used to wearing them. You typically use these types of dentures right after a tooth extraction. 

Implant-Supported Overdentures get their support from tooth implants, to which they are attached. We recommend these types of dentures when even though they are missing all of their teeth, the patient has sufficient bone in the jaw which can adequately support the implants.  

Conventional Full Dentures are made to look exactly like your natural teeth, and after some time, they conform to your jaw and gums feel as good as they look.  

Removable partial dentures have a more natural look than transitional partial dentures. Removable partial dentures are very light, and they are made to have a superior fit. It is recommended that you get dentures as soon as you lose your teeth because they not only look great, but also enhance your bite and improve your speech. When you start wearing dentures, they may not feel natural but with time, your mouth will get used to the feeling. It is important to note that your immediate dentures may not have the same fit after a few months, because sometimes the tissues may shrink. You have the option of relining your temporary dentures or buying a new set of dentures that fit better. We recommend the latter option.

Transitional partial dentures are removable. You can use them as temporary replacements for your lost teeth while you recover from a tooth extraction procedure. 

From start to finish it usually takes about a month, in which time the patient comes to the office for five visits, give or take, in order to get the dentures measured, made, and properly fitted.

After deciding on the denture treatment plan, the next office visit will be used to take accurate measurements of your mouth and jaw, as well as making a mold of your teeth. The mold is one of the most important steps, as it will be used to make sure that the patient has a good bite, and to ensure that the dentures are not too big or small in reference to the size of the patient's face.

Sometimes after we take the mold, we may apply a temporary set of dentures in order to make sure that the look, feel, and fit of your new teeth are what you wanted.

When a patient gets dentures for the first time, or a new set of dentures, it is expected that there will be an adjustment period while they are getting used to them. This can sometimes take up to two months. If a patient is experiencing any pain or discomfort, we may ask them to wear their dentures for a certain amount of time in order to make the necessary adjustments for a perfect fit.

Even though dentures are not your natural teeth, they are made from high quality materials to make them look like they are. As such, it is very important that patient's care for them as they would their natural teeth, which includes daily brushing and regular dental visits in order to ensure that they still have a seamless fit. Remember that dirty, malformed dentures cause gum irritation and infection.

When your dentures are clean and plaque, food, and other debris are regularly removed, the soft tissue in your mouth will remain healthy. You should always brush and rinse off your dentures when you are finished eating a meal and at the end of the day, they should be put in a denture solution to soak overnight. Removing and soaking your dentures while you sleep will allow your gums to rest and breathe. 

A person's mouth, more specifically their gums and jaw, are constantly changing; gums recede after a tooth extraction, for example. Because of this, occasional adjustments are not only recommended, they are necessary. Good oral hygiene and maintenance of the dentures will help reduce the number of adjustments a patient will need in the long run.

For the majority of people who wear dentures, the first two months serve as a "break-in" period while the tissues in their mouths around the extractions have a chance to heal. During this time a patient may need to be seen several times so that we can properly monitor the healing process. After that, it is very important to have regular periodic adjustments in order to replace and repair any loose, chipped, or cracked teeth on your dentures. If you don't, and your dentures are loose or ill-fitting, pressure points can form which in turn leads to mouth sores and infection. Over time, since your dentures are constantly rubbing against the roof and soft palate in your mouth which causes them to begin to wear down, you may have to have your dentures "re-lined." 

A well-fitting pair of dentures will still need a small amount of good quality denture adhesive to completely stay put. If the dentures are ill-fitting and older an appointment should be made to replace them as soon as possible because if not, there is a higher risk of damaging the soft tissues in the mouth.

One of the negative side effects of grinding your teeth is developing a jaw disorder called temporomandibular disorder, or TMD for short. This disorder is named after the temporomandibular joint, which is the joint that connects your lower jaw to the rest of your skull and acts as a hinge so that your mouth can open and close. Many people mistakenly call this disorder TMJ, after the joint, but it is in fact called TMD.

When people suffering from TMD open and close their mouths, many times there is a popping or clicking sound or their jaw will get stuck either with their mouth open or closed. These people many times will also suffer from head, neck, and shoulder aches or a tired feeling or swelling in their face.

Treatment for TMD can include medications such as muscle relaxants, aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), hot or cold packs applied to the area, and physical therapy or massage. It is important to seek treatment right away if you are suffering from TMD because it starts as a small discomfort, but can escalate quickly, leading to joints that are not properly aligned, dislocated joints, or even arthritis of the jaw joint.

Maxillofacial surgeons specialize in the neck and head, so when you need surgery on your mouth or jaw, they are who you would call.

Sometimes there are irregularities with your jaw bones, such as the top grew larger than the bottom, or your jaw doesn’t align with the other bones in your head. This is not only aesthetically not pleasing, but it can cause health complications and risks as well. When this is the case, maxillofacial surgery can help to move your jaw bones back to where they belong. 

Surgery may not be enough to properly fix your jaw problem right away, so braces may be needed to help fix the bite relationship. Sometimes wires or rubber banks are placed in order to keep the jaw immobile and to help shorten the recovery time. Other times, plates or screws are placed in the jaw to help the jaw move a little easier immediately after surgery.

When a patient has worn dentures over an extended period of time, it is not uncommon for them to experience some form of gum tissue and bone loss. This is caused by the dentures constantly rubbing and wearing on their mouth. If the problem is severe, surgery may be recommended to permanently correct the issue. 

There are a variety of different reasons people choose to have cosmetic dental procedures done. Some people are looking to repair damage done after an injury, some to fix their crooked teeth or misaligned bite, and others who want to have a whiter, brighter smile. As one of the fastest growing areas of dentistry, cosmetic procedures are not only popular but are also very important to the industry.

Some of the cosmetic dentistry procedures we offer include:

When a patient has cosmetic problems with their teeth, whether it is the color, size, shape, or length, veneers are an excellent option. 

Veneers are special wafer-thin laminates, which can be thought of as customized shells for your teeth, and are used to correct any tooth damage or chipping, to cover stains, and can even help to close small gaps between the teeth. This procedure is typically irreversible since we have to remove about a 1/2 millimeter of enamel from your teeth, so that the customized shell can properly sit on your tooth. Veneers are a popular choice among many people because they last longer and maintain their color longer than bonding, not to mention that they also are highly resistant to staining from cigarettes, tea, and coffee.

When looking to have veneers placed, three appointments are usually needed. They are:

-Diagnosis - During the first appointment it is important that we are able to examine your teeth to see if veneers are appropriate for you. During this visit we may also take X-Rays of your teeth. 

-Preparation - During the second appointment, we prepare your teeth for the veneers. During this visit, which typically lasts 1 to 2 hours, depending on what you want, we may decide to use a a small amount of a local anesthetic, or we may not. Your teeth in this visit will be lightly buffed so that there is room for the shell to sit on top of them. We also will take an impression of your teeth, which is then sent to a lab where a technician makes the veneers. 

-Bonding - During the third and final appointment, which also typically lasts 1 to 2 hours, the veneer is bonded to the natural tooth. First, water or glycerin is placed on the tooth's surface and the the veneer is put on top and checked to ensure that it fits, and also to check the color. If the color needs adjusted, various shades of cement can be applied to make sure that they perfectly match. Then the tooth is cleaned with a special chemical solution, which helps the tooth to bond, and the cement is placed in between the veneer and tooth. Then, using a special light, we cure the cement. 

The next two weeks are referred to the adjustment period. During this time the shape and size of your teeth may change slightly, which is completely normal. Your follow up appointment will be scheduled out a couple of weeks. It is important to note that you must practice good oral hygiene and continue to brush and floss daily. Veneers are not a perfect replacement for natural teeth, and as such it is not uncommon for the color to be a slightly different.