Whether it’s been a few months since your last visit or a  few years, we can help you have the smile you desire. If you’re a new patient, you’ll receive a comprehensive oral examination and x-rays to help your dentist assess your oral health.  

Cleanings

Don’t you love the feeling you have right after your teeth have been  cleaned and polished? Only a dentist or a hygienist can remove plaque  buildup from those hard-to-reach places that regular brushing and  flossing can’t get.  

Plaque is the sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth and  multiplies deep below the gum line. Everyone has plaque. When you eat or  drink something, some of the particles get stuck around your teeth. If  you don’t remove them, the bacteria in your mouth will break down the  particles into acids, and those acids will eat away at the enamel and  cause decay.  
Plaque not only causes cavities, it also caused periodontal disease, which is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.

Many  people think of a teeth cleaning as just the polishing of the tooth  enamel above the gum line. But bacteria can exist below the gum line,  too. The type and frequency of procedure you need to address the  bacteria in your  mouth depends on the clinical findings of the exam and  x-rays.

Prophy: Patients who just need to have their teeth cleaned above  the gum line to remove cavity-causing plaque and surface stains receive  a prophylaxis cleaning — the kind that most insurance companies cover.  This procedure removes plaque on the teeth and at the gum line, but does  not address bacteria below the gum line.

Gingivitis Therapy: Patients diagnosed with gingivitis, a  reversible form of periodontal disease, may need additional services to  remove plaque build-up on the teeth and just below the gum line.

Scaling & Root Planing (SRP): Patients diagnosed with active  periodontal disease require treatment above and below the gum  line.These patients generally receive SRP, a non-surgical treatment that  removes build-up, smooths out exposed root surfaces and may include the  application of localized antibiotics. SRP often takes several visits to  complete and ongoing periodontal maintenance is prescribed at regular  intervals afterward.

Periodontal Maintenance

Periodontal disease is a systemic disease like diabetes that requires  careful monitoring. Your dentist may prescribe a periodontal maintenance  routine to provide cleanings above and below the gum line to help  manage the disease and keep it from becoming worse.

Implants can support an entire row of upper or lower replacement teeth that are fixed in the mouth and never removed. Sometimes, the replacement teeth can be supported by just four implants. If the jaw bone has deteriorated, more implants may be needed to support a row of 10 to 12 teeth. Dental implant-secured replacement teeth protect your jaw bone, won’t slip, and should last a lifetime.

 

Have you lost all of your top or bottom teeth? You may notice that your denture doesn’t fit as snugly as you like. Implants can make dentures more comfortable to wear so you can eat and talk with confidence. Here’s what happens with traditional dentures: since you no longer have tooth roots, your jaw bone recedes, eroding the bone ridges that support your dentures. Receding bone will most likely impact your appearance. As your jaw bone recedes over time, your face will begin to sag, making you appear older. By placing implants in the top or bottom jaw, over which the removable denture can attach, we transfer pressure away, preserving the bone ridge. The stability provided by the implants also prevents the tongue from easily displacing the lower denture. Implant-secured dentures also reduce or eliminate the need for denture adhesives.

 

A dental implant restoration refers to the replacement tooth that is placed on top of the dental implant titanium post. The restoration may be a crown, a bridge, or a denture.

Dental implants can help your smile in many ways. Ask us how they can help you. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have.