General Dentistry

At Dental Day, our excellent dentists know that great dentistry starts with accurate diagnosis.  Our dentists use the highest quality dental x-ray technology to accurately diagnose the health of each patient’s teeth and jaws.

WHAT TYPE OF X-RAYS ARE TAKEN?

We use the latest technology in digital radiography. This provides high-definition images that give our dentists detailed information about your teeth.  Our HD x-rays show a clear view of cavities in their earliest stages, called incipient lesions.  Catching cavities early gives you the ability to stop them and prevent the need for invasive dental treatment.

These images also show a close-up view of the jawbone surrounding the teeth.  Monitoring the health of the supporting bone is vital to preventing gum disease.

At your first visit, we take a full mouth series of x-rays in order to get a comprehensive view of your mouth.  Then each year, we obtain a much smaller set of images to continue evaluating your dental health.

ARE THE X-RAYS SAFE?

Yes!

Digital x-rays require far less radiation than traditional film x-rays.  The air you breathe in one year exposes you to 450 times the amount of radiation as your yearly dental x-rays.  The risk for any problems from dental radiation is negligible.

ARE YOU OVERDUE FOR DENTAL X-RAYS?

Consistent dental x-rays can help your dentist catch problems earlier, which leads to less extensive and less expensive treatment.

The most first and most important part of preventative dentistry the cleaning and checkup exam. Consistent cleanings and visits with the doctor allow an assessment of the stability and condition of your mouth and allow your dentist the ability to recommend treatments or home care techniques that may prevent more serious or costly problems.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A PROFESSIONAL TEETH CLEANING

During a teeth cleaning, your dental hygienist gently removes plaque and tartar buildup from exposed tooth surfaces. The hygienist may use various hand instruments or an ultrasonic scaler to remove plaque and the build-up we call calculus.

If you have healthy teeth and gums, professional teeth cleaning should not cause any pain!

If you have receding gums, cavities, or gum disease, some discomfort is possible. Make sure to let your hygienist know if anything is painful while they are working.

The dental hygienist may also take measurements of your gum tissues. This is an important step in determining the health of the bone and gums that support your teeth. During these measurements, you will feel the hygienist gently “poking” around the gums of each tooth.

While the hygienist is cleaning your teeth, he or she will also be evaluating your entire mouth for areas of risk or concern. The hygienist will inform the dentist of these areas during the exam portion of the appointment.

WHY ARE CONSISTENT TEETH CLEANINGS IMPORTANT?

The professional term used for a dental cleaning is “prophylaxis”. This is the word that may appear on paperwork from your dental office or your dental insurance company. “Prophylaxis” is defined as an action taken to prevent disease. Regular teeth cleanings are preventive dentistry.

By consistently removing bacterial buildup and calcifications, as well as identifying the early indicators of problems, teeth cleanings can prevent cavities and gum disease!

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A CHECKUP

In most cases, a periodic oral evaluation by a dentist accompanies each teeth cleaning with your dental hygienist. During a checkup or a ”periodic oral evaluation”, your dentist performs an in-depth evaluation of your teeth, gums and tissues of the oral cavity. You may feel the dentist pushing or poking on the teeth. This is a normal way to asses the integrity of the enamel in areas that might look stained or darkened. The dentist uses a tool called an explorer to check the edges of any fillings or crowns you already have.

In addition to the teeth and gums, your dentist should also evaluate the soft tissues of the mouth the alignment of your teeth, and the function of your jaw joints (TMJs). The dentist will carefully look at any areas of concern that either you or the dental hygienist have noticed.

After gathering all of this information, your dentist diagnoses any problems that currently need treatment. He or she also informs you of any signs in your mouth that point to an area of risk or disease.

ARE X-RAYS NECESSARY?

Yes, they are! Dental x-rays are often the only way identify if you have cavities between your teeth. Additionally, x-rays allow your dentist to screen for problems in the bone surrounding the teeth, including the bone loss associated with periodontal disease, infections around roots of teeth and other problems that can occur in the jawbones. Modern dental x-rays are very safe.

Digital technology has allowed us to significantly reduce the amount of radiation needed to obtain a typical dental x-ray. In fact, you are exposed to higher amounts of radiation through natural environmental exposure than from your routine dental x-ray. One dental X-ray exposes a patient to the same amount of radiation as eating around 50 bananas! (Bananas contain a small percentage of radioactive potassium).

WHY ARE CONSISTENT CHECKUPS IMPORTANT?

Do not wait until something hurts!

Waiting until something hurts usually means you have waited too long. Many dental problems need fixing well before the patient feels any symptoms. By having your teeth checked regularly, we are able to intercept problems before they cause any pain.

By catching dental problems early, the treatment is less extensive and less expensive!

WHAT IS RISK ASSESSMENT, AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

Risk categories in dentistry include caries (or tooth decay), gum and periodontal disease, bruxism (clenching or grinding your teeth), and TMJ disorders. As your dentist notices signs or symptoms in any of these categories, he or she will make recommendations to help reduce or mitigate your risks and keep you healthy.

DO YOU NEED A CLEANING AND CHECKUP?

Has it been a while since your last teeth cleaning? When was your last checkup with a dentist?

What is a deep cleaning?

A deep cleaning, or scaling and root planing, is a different type of cleaning than your typical six-month cleaning visit. At your six-month recall visit, a hygienist works to remove plaque, stain and calculus from areas on your teeth above your gums. Occasionally, plaque and calculus can accumulate below the gum line in “pockets” that form around each tooth.

These plaque deposits cannot be removed with brushing and flossing and require a special cleaning visit to rid the gums and bone of infection. We are learning more and more the effects these infections can have on the rest of the body. The bacteria involved in infections of the gums have been shown to have an association to heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, COPD, and even Alzheimer’s disease… If you have or are at risk for any of these systemic issues, please notify your dentist.

Who needs a deep cleaning?

Patients who have active periodontal disease often need a deep cleaning. At your six month checkup, the hygienist or dentist may take a series of measurements at each tooth. The numbers are the depth, in millimeters, of the pockets around your teeth.

Essentially, these numbers are measuring the distance between where your gums rest against your tooth and the height of the bone supporting each tooth. Infections in the gum tissues around a tooth can cause the bone to resorb, shrinking away from the height of gums and creating a “pocket” of tissue.

As these pockets get deeper and deeper they become harder to clean. Eventually, a deep cleaning or even a surgery may be needed to rid the bacteria from these areas. Pockets of 1-3 millimeters are considered normal but as pocketing deepens beyond 4 millimeters it indicates that infection or trauma has caused a loss of bone around a tooth. Over time, this infection can cause the loss of a tooth or several teeth if left untreated.

Periodontal disease has been called a “silent disease” since there may be no symptoms or pain associated with its presence. Gums that bleed when brushing or flossing may be an early indicator but patients may not notice the progression of this disease until its too late.

As the bone around a tooth is lost, the tooth will become loose and wiggle slightly in the socket. It is not uncommon for patients to fail to perceive severely loose teeth from periodontal disease.

What should you expect at your deep cleaning appointment?

Deep cleanings are only effective if they rid the deep pockets around the teeth of plaque and debris. To remove these deposits, your gums will be numbed at the start of your appointment. This allows the hygienist to adequately clean these areas without any discomfort to the patient. Specially shaped hand tools similar to the ones you often see at your regular cleanings are used to reach below the gums and scrape off the plaque deposits from the roots.

Your hygienist may also use an ultrasonic scaler to help in this process. These instruments vibrate very fast and use water to flush the tissues clean. Occasionally, a laser may even be used to kill bacteria at the bottom of the pockets. These treatments are painless and have a very easy recovery. Some patients report very moderate soreness of the gums after a deep cleaning but generally, people describe a new, clean sensation. Some patients report sensitivity in the teeth following the deep cleaning.

Sometimes, if calcified plaque has been covering large parts of the tooth for longer periods of time, the removal can result in a temporary sensitivity until your tooth acclimates to being clean and exposed to air and the fluids of the mouth.

What maintenance is required following a deep cleaning?

A deep cleaning is often just the first step in eliminating periodontal disease. You will likely be prescribed an antibiotic mouth rinse to use in the week or so following your deep cleaning but pockets will not heal overnight. In the weeks and months immediately following your appointment, it is essential that you maintain a very regular brushing and flossing schedule.

Keeping food and plaque out of the pockets is the only way to promote healing and resolve the disease. Some pockets may never fully heal but clean pockets, even if deep, can be healthy and stable. You will be asked to return between four and six weeks following your deep cleaning to “touch up” some areas and to assess your healing.

Most patients will also be directed to get regular cleanings every three months (rather than six) to be sure the pockets remain clean and to help establish a healthy, consistent condition in the mouth. Once the gums and hygiene appear stable, you may return to cleanings every 6 months.

On occasion, the deep cleaning procedure does not produce the results intended. Every person is different and people respond to treatments differently. If adequate healing and elimination of infection are not achieved, surgery may be indicated. Please ask your doctor if you have any questions about the prognosis or goals of your periodontal therapy.

WHY DO SOME TEETH NEED EXTRACTION?

A prognosis is a prediction.  When a dentist diagnoses a tooth with a major problem, the dentist gives a prognosis or prediction of the success of dental treatment.

When an oncologist gives a cancer patient 6 months to live, he is predicting the outcome of the patient’s disease.

Similarly, a dentist gives a prognosis on a tooth to predict the outcome of its disease and any treatment it undergoes.

Hopeless Prognosis – A tooth has a hopeless prognosis when there is no dental work that will restore it to normal function.  In these cases, the only solution is an extraction of the tooth.  When a tooth is hopeless, an extraction is necessary to prevent the spread of infection to other areas of the mouth and body.  An extraction is the only treatment option.

Poor long-term prognosis – Often, teeth have a poor long-term prognosis.  This means there is dental work that can restore the tooth to function, but it is likely to fail at some point in the future. Examples of this are cracked teeth, root canals with new infections or extensive tooth decay. An extraction is not the only treatment option, but it is usually the best treatment option for teeth with poor long-term prognoses.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT DURING A TOOTH EXTRACTION?

A tooth extraction is dental surgery. The area of your mouth where the tooth is located will be anesthetized (numbed) so that you feel no pain during the procedure.

Many patients have teeth extracted with no sedation. They are able to proceed comfortably because the local anesthetic used to numb the area removes the sensation of pain.

When a person loses a baby tooth, he waits until it is loose and then wiggles it out.  Some permanent teeth become loose on their own, but many do not.

When the dentist extracts a permanent tooth, he or she must make it loose. There are many technical terms describing the forces put on a permanent tooth to extract it.  Simply put: the dentist pushes on it.

While you are numb and do not feel pain, you will feel the pressure the dentist puts on the tooth to loosen it. If you do feel pain, you should let your dentist know so that they can address it with local anesthetic.

WHAT IS A SURGICAL EXTRACTION?

There are some teeth that we are unable to remove with just pulling force. This can be due to severe breakdown of the tooth from a large cavity or crack. A tooth with an old root canal is also difficult to remove in one piece.

These teeth require different surgical techniques in order to remove the entire tooth with all of its roots.

There is no increase in pain during a surgical extraction versus a simple extraction. In fact, patients often state that they are less uncomfortable during a surgical extraction because there is less pushing.

A surgical extraction does carry an increased risk for dry socket afterwards.  Post-operative instructions must be followed diligently to lower this risk.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT AFTER A TOOTH EXTRACTION?

After an extraction, we give each patient strict post-operative instructions. These instructions help to minimize pain after the dental surgery.

It is normal for the surgical site to bleed for several hours after the procedure. Your instructions will include the protocol for the promotion of a healthy blood clot in the extraction site.

After the local anesthesia wears off, you will experience some post-operative pain.  Most patients experience pain at the extraction site for the first 2-3 days and take over-the-counter medications to address it.

Stitches are not always necessary. We place stitches only as needed. If you do have stitches, you will receive instructions on the care and removal of them.

The gum tissues will close over the extraction site after 2-3 weeks. It is important to keep the surgical site clean while it is healing.

DO YOU NEED A TOOTH EXTRACTION?

WHAT IS FLUORIDE?

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral commonly known for its ability to help strengthen teeth an fight cavities. Fluoride is present in rocks and soils all over the world and found in nearly all fresh and saltwater sources… in fact, fluoride is the 13th most abundant element on the earth! In high enough concentrations, fluoride can be toxic but at lower doses, fluoride has a tremendous ability to lower the rate of cavity formation in teeth.

In the early 1900’s, curious dental researches began to report that most children born and raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado had dark brown stains on their teeth. What we now know to be fluorosis – caused by too much fluoride in the water supply – was a mystery to most of the dental community.

As more attention was paid to these patients with severe staining it became evident that these children were also highly resistant to cavities. Continued research eventually identified the fluoride mineral naturally found in the Rocky Mountain water supply to be both the cause of the brown staining and the low rate of cavities found in the patients in these areas. Years of study were able to find optimal concentrations where the cavity preventing effects could be achieved without the brown staining.

HOW DOES FLUORIDE HELP TEETH?

Fluoride has several beneficial effects on teeth. When fluoride is present in the mouth, it is deposited in a very thin layer on the surface of teeth. This layer aids in repairing and strengthening the tooth by helping to attract minerals like calcium back into the tooth.

Additionally, fluoride can be incorporated into the mineral structure of the tooth itself. This new combination of tooth and fluoride is stronger than a natural tooth and even more resistant to the acids that cause breakdown of teeth. Teeth strengthened with fluoride are less sensitive and the presence of fluoride is known to keep away the bacteria that cause cavities. Research has demonstrated that a topical fluoride varnish placed at your dentist office reduces the number of cavity-causing bacteria ten-fold!

WHAT IS A TOPICAL FLUORIDE TREATMENT?

Topical fluoride treatment is an application of prescription strength fluoride onto your teeth by your dentist, assistant or hygienist. Older therapies involved trays with foam or rinses but contemporary fluoride therapy uses a “varnish” that sticks to the teeth and supplies the surface of your teeth with fluoride for days after your visit. The application takes less than one minute and does not cause any sensitivity or pain.

WHO NEEDS TOPICAL FLUORIDE TREATMENTS?

We typically recommend topical fluoride treatments for all patients. You can think of fluoride as like a vitamin for your teeth… and regular application at your dental visits can help keep teeth strong and reduce your risk of cavities.

Young and old patients, patients with increased risk of cavities, patients taking medicine which may cause dry mouth, cancer patients, diabetics, or patients with fillings, crowns or partial dentures should have regular fluoride applications. We are particularly conscious of the way prescription medications for things like blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes or other systemic conditions can impact the quantity and quality of saliva in the mouth. Because of dry mouth, these patients are at increased risk for cavities or breakdown of teeth and can benefit greatly from fluoride applications.

Occasionally, if you have a prevalence of cavities that are too small to drill, your dentist may recommend several fluoride applications over the course of a month or more to help remineralize the teeth and avoid conventional fillings.

ARE PROFESSIONAL FLUORIDE TREATMENTS SAFE?

Yes, absolutely! The safety and efficacy of both community water fluoridation and professional topical application have been well studied and documented extensively. The CDC called community water fluoridation one of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 20th century. Many patients have questions as to the safety of topical or water fluoridation.

We encourage all patients to ask questions and be curious about what products or medicines they are using, but patients should also be vigilant and discerning about the credibility of various sources of information on these matters. Please ask your dentist what the benefits and risks are of any potential treatment… and don’t believe everything you read on the internet.

We also reiterate that the safety and efficacy of prescription strength topical fluoride has only been established for trusted brands available from your local dental office. Topical treatments available online for at home application have not been tested and may not be from a reputable source. Only use over-the-counter products that carry the American Dental Associations seal of approval.

THE NEED FOR SCREENING.

Oral cancer incidence has been growing at an alarming rate year over year. The primary drivers include tobacco & alcohol use and the pervasive presence of HPV (Human Papilomavirus), which can be transmitted to the mouth and throat. Consider these facts:

• Roughly 36,000 cases of oral cancer will be diagnosed this year. (American Cancer Society)
• 40% of those diagnosed will die within five years. (National Cancer Institute)
• The high oral cancer mortality rate is due to late-stage diagnosis. (Oral Cancer Foundation)
• Exposure to the HPV-16 virus is the fastest-growing risk factor for oral cancer. (Oral Cancer Foundation)
• Men above the age of 45 and elderly patients have the highest risk of developing oral cancer. (Oral Cancer Foundation)
• 90% of oral cancer occurs in patients 45 years or older, which encompasses “all” 84M Baby Boomers. (Oral Cancer Foundation)

Bridges and dentures are dental prosthetics used to replace missing or lost teeth. A dental bridge is what we call “fixed”, meaning the prosthetic is glued into your mouth and cannot come out unless removed by your dentist.

Dentures and partial dentures are also used to replace missing teeth, however, these prosthetics are removable. They are designed to fit in your mouth resting on gum tissue or remaining healthy teeth and are removed and cleaned regularly at home. There are various pros and cons to each appliance. Ask your dentist which might be best for you.

DENTAL BRIDGES

A dental bridge works by preparing the healthy teeth on either side of a missing tooth area for crowns. Rather than the crowns being separate and distinct units, a dental bridge suspends a fake or “pontic” tooth in between these two new crowns to “span” the gap much like a roadway on 2 pylons over a gorge or river. The bridge is made by a technician in a dental laboratory as one solid piece of metal, ceramic or a combination of the two.

A “three unit bridge” uses two existing teeth to help carry the load and fill the space of a single missing tooth. Occasionally, additional teeth may be added into the bridge to add strength or improve aesthetics. Dental bridges can also be made using 2 or more implants to achieve a similar result.

Pros of Dental Bridges:

• The entire process, from start to finish, takes only a few weeks. Bridges are often the quickest way to replace a missing tooth.
• While bridges work by using the strength of existing teeth, they are not dependent on the density or shape of the bone at the site of the missing tooth.
• Dental bridges are a routine procedure for dentists and often do not require any additional treatments or surgeries to complete.
• If the neighboring teeth are already in need of large fillings or crowns, bridges are an ideal way to fix and strengthen those teeth while also filling in the gap of a missing tooth.

Cons of Dental Bridges:

• Bridges can be costly… Essentially, a bridge is three crowns and you can often estimate the cost of a bridge by multiplying the cost of a single crown by three. If two teeth need replacing, a bridge may involve four or five units to complete the prosthetic.
• Bridges require relatively healthy adjacent teeth both in front of and behind the area needing a new tooth. Since we are asking these existing teeth to carry the additional load of the new tooth, the gums and bone around in these areas must be in relative health.
• Because the three or four teeth in a new bridge are actually one single unit, you will be required to perform some extra tasks to keep these areas clean. You will not be able to floss in a conventional way around some parts of the bridge and keeping all the teeth of a bridge healthy is very important.
• Problems to one of the support teeth involved in the dental bridge can compromise the entire prosthetic. If one of these teeth breaks or fails the entire bridge may be lost.

DENTURES

“Dentures” is a shorthand term that patients often associate with a complete loss of all teeth. In reality, “dentures” can be an all-encompassing term used describe removable prosthetic devices replacing any number of teeth. We often split dentures into two categories.

PARTIAL DENTURES

A removable partial denture or “partial” is a dental prosthetic used to replace missing teeth in the upper or lower jaw. A partial uses remaining natural teeth as anchors, often latches on to these teeth with plastic or metal clasps to help stabilize the denture during chewing and talking.

Pros of removable partial dentures:

• Partials can be a very economical way to replace missing teeth. The number of teeth being replaced does not affect the cost of a partial denture.
• A single partial may be able to replace every missing tooth in the arch.
• Because a partial is removed, the prosthetic and remaining teeth are often easily cleaned.
• Partials can be very sturdy and if cared for, can last for many years.

Cons of removable partial dentures:

• Because of the lab time involved and the necessity of try-in and check up/adjustment appointments, the process of a partial may take several months and involve several appointments.
• Remaining teeth used to clasp or support the partial must be healthy and structural sound. These teeth may need to be shaped or fixed to allow room for the partial and occasionally, anchor teeth need to be crowned to ensure they are strong enough to hold the denture in place during chewing and talking.
• Partials may put stress on remaining teeth in the mouth and can weaken them over time.
• Patients may notice changes in speech or chewing ability because of the shape and bulk required to make a strong partial.
• Partials use metal or plastic clasps, plastic teeth and pink acrylic resin to hold the shape and replace teeth. These solutions and materials are less aesthetically appealing than implants or bridges.
• Loss of or damage to remaining teeth may jeopardize the partial. If teeth are lost a partial may need to be repaired, modified or replaced entirely.
• Small changes to the shape of the gums, the position of the teeth or even the patient’s weight may change the fit of the partial. Sore spots may develop and adjustments or repairs may need to be made from time to time.

COMPLETE DENTURES

A complete denture is a removable prosthetic used to replace all teeth in the upper or lower jaw. Dentures use plastic or porcelain teeth set in a pink acrylic base. Support for the denture comes from the gums, the remaining jaw bones and the muscles and tissues in the mouth. Complete dentures may be made to snap onto implants for added retention and support.

Pros of complete dentures:

• Complete dentures are the least expensive way to replace teeth if they have all been lost.
• Dentures can totally recreate a smile. The patient gets to select the size, shape, color and position of the teeth.
• Complete dentures are usually very durable and can last many years.

Cons of complete dentures:

• Because of the lab time involved and the necessity of try-in and check up/adjustment appointments, the process of a complete denture may take several months and involve several appointments.
• Remaining teeth need to be extracted prior to the fabrication of the long-term complete denture. A waiting or healing period of several months is required to allow complete healing and to ensure a proper fit. A patient may choose to have a temporary or “healing” denture made to wear during this period or elect to live without teeth for several months.
• A certain bulk of acrylic material is required to give the denture adequate strength and allow it to stay in place. Some patients may not tolerate this material very well.
• Patients may experience changes in speech and changes or limitations in chewing ability.
• Dentures require a “learning” period where a patient must get used to taking and chewing with the prosthetic device. Over time, the muscles in the face will accommodate the denture and work to keep the denture in place but this process may take time. Some patients take several months to feel completely comfortable with their new dentures.
• Certain foods or eating patterns may never as they were with natural teeth. Many denture patients will never bite into a sandwich or apple with their front teeth again, and while improvements come over time, there will be some foods that cannot be eaten in the same way as with natural teeth.
• Small changes to the shape of the gums and/or bones of the jaw, may change the fit of the denture over time. Sore spots may develop and adjustments or repairs may need to be made.

Achieve Optimal Oral Health with an Implant-Supported Crown

A missing tooth can significantly affect your appearance and take a toll on your overall oral health.  We can place implant-supported crowns, which provide unparalleled stability and encourage jawbone regeneration to guard against further tooth loss. Like traditional dental crowns, implant-supported crowns are tooth-shaped, custom-crafted restorations. The primary difference, however, is that while a traditional crown is bonded to a natural tooth, an implant-supported crown is attached to a dental implant.

Candidates for Implant-Supported Crowns

Individuals who are missing one tooth or are experiencing isolated tooth loss may be eligible for an implant-supported crown. Patients considering this treatment option should be in good general health and should not smoke. Additionally, candidates should be free from gum disease and extensive tooth decay. If these issues are present, we can address them before beginning implant treatment.

Benefits of Implant-Supported Crowns

Until the advent of dental implants, a single missing tooth was routinely replaced with a traditional dental bridge. Placement of a conventional bridge involves substantially reshaping the adjacent natural teeth to serve as anchors for the restoration, which can weaken an otherwise healthy tooth. An implant-supported crown does not have this drawback, as all healthy tooth structure is left intact.

In addition, replacing a missing tooth with an implant prevents bone atrophy by stimulating the nerves within the jawbone. The dental implant replaces the tooth root, while the restoration replaces the crown for optimal chewing function and long-lasting oral health.

Dental bone grafting is a term that describes a variety of procedures used to “build” bone so that dental implants can be placed. For dental implants to be successful, the jawbone must have enough bone to support them. Having spaces left by missing teeth often leads to more loss of bone, compromising the success rate for any implants that may be placed. If the integrity of your bone is not enough, you will need a procedure to add bone to your jaw before implants can be placed.

What does dental bone grafting involve?

In most cases, dental bone grafting and implants can be completed in one visit. Local anesthesia will be used to numb the area where the bone grafting is needed. The bone graft is demineralized bone (resembling common table salt) which is placed around an implant or where more bone is needed in the jaw. The area is then secured by placing a barrier, which acts as a bandage to protect bone graft, and sutures.

WHAT ARE DENTAL SEALANTS?

Dental sealants are protective coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of your back teeth. The sealant material is very similar to the resin used in tooth colored fillings and is designed to fill in the crevices and groves to keep sugars and bacteria from causing cavities in these areas.

Sealants, if applied and maintained correctly, are more than 80% effective at preventing cavities and have been identified as one of the most effective preventative health measures available to patients.

HOW DO SEALANTS PREVENT CAVITIES?

There are many nooks and crannies in and around the teeth in your mouth. One area of particular concern is this chewing surfaces of the molars or back teeth. These areas have many grooves and pits and because of the way the teeth develop when we are young, these grooves may be microscopically small.

Their openings can often be narrower than a single bristle of a toothbrush, making cleaning these areas next to impossible for you at home. This may be why, even with great home care, patients may get cavities in these areas. Sealants are effective because they are “bonded” into these groves, keeping sugars and bacterial out, as well as allowing patients the ability to effectively clean the entire chewing surface with a conventional toothbrush.

HOW ARE SEALANTS APPLIED TO THE TEETH?

First, the chewing surface of the tooth is adequately cleaned and dried. After this step the dentist, dental hygienist or certified dental assistant will use various cotton rolls and swabs to isolate the tooth from the cheek and tongue, keeping it clean and dry until the sealant is complete.

A blue gel, called etchant is applied to the tooth and allowed to penetrate for 20-30 seconds. The etchant is acidic and will help to remove any remaining debris from the groove as well as to open up tiny pores in the tooth surface allowing the sealant to lock into place. The etchant is rinsed and the tooth is dried before a bonding agent or glue is painted on, followed by the sealant which is squirted slowly into place. The sealant is very runny and is allowed to flow into all the nooks and crannies of the tooth.

Lastly, a bright blue “curing light” is used to harden the sealant and bond it to the tooth. The application of dental sealants is very efficient… each tooth should only take 1 or 2 minutes. Sealants are painless, very quickly applied and are done without numbing or drilling. Occasionally, if grooves are very deep, the dentist may elect to slightly “open” or widen the groove to allow the sealant to properly penetrate all the necessary areas.

WHO NEEDS SEALANTS?

Everyone! Most dental insurances only pay for sealants on children and young adults. While these patients are often the most susceptible to getting cavities, every patient can benefit from the cavity prevention potential of dental sealants.

HOW LONG DO SEALANTS LAST?

While sealants are applied very quickly, they are actually a very technically demanding dental procedure. Complete isolation of the tooth is required and any contamination of the tooth surface by saliva, while the sealant is being applied, can affect the bond formed between the sealant and your tooth. As you may imagine, sealants placed on young children with curious tongues and plenty of spit can be particularly challenging. It is not uncommon for sealants to have to be redone or “touched-up” from time to time. Patients who chew very hard substances like nuts or ice or those with clenching or grinding habits will likely need sealants replaced more often.

HOW MUCH TO SEALANTS COST?

The full fee of a dental sealant may be as much as $50 to $60 per tooth, however, most insurance plans pay 100% of this cost for children. Adult sealants may be offered at a discounted rate through your insurance carrier or by your dentist. Ask your dentist or hygienist if you would benefit from adult dental sealants.

WHAT ARE ROOT CANALS?

When a tooth becomes badly infected or decayed, a qualified dentist can clean the inside of the tooth by removing the bacteria, soft tissue (called pulp), decayed nerve tissue, and any debris that may be causing the tooth infection from the inside of the tooth. Your qualified dentist will then seal the tooth to prevent further decay and finish by applying a crown or filling. This is the process and purpose of a root canal. The process can be completed, typically, in just a few visits to dental practice. In many cases, a root canal procedure is a better option than removing the infected tooth since it allows you to keep your natural tooth.

Teeth that are more prone to requiring a root canal procedure are cracked or chipped, have received repeated dental procedures, have been damaged by trauma to the face, or are suffering from deep tooth decay. Wearing a mouth guard can help prevent damage sustained to teeth and practicing good oral hygiene habits, such as daily flossing and brushing, coupled with regular dental visits, can reduce the possibility of needing a root canal.

Though a root canal can be intimidating or scary, educating yourself and talking to your dentist is essential and can relieve much of your anxiety. Root canals are often not painful, and for many people the pain of the infection experienced beforehand is worse than any pain that might be experienced during the procedure.

Why Dental Lasers?

We use dental lasers for everything from cavity detection to gum disease treatment. Advantages of dental lasers over other dental tools include:

• A more comfortable procedure with evaporation instead of cutting
• Faster healing and tissue regeneration
• Reduced bleeding
• Reduced need for anesthesia
• Lesser need for sutures
• Lower risk of developing a postprocedural bacterial infection