• Dental check ups
• Digital X-ray
• Hygiene, teeth cleaning
• Cavity fillings

Dental check ups

Dental check ups help to diagnose disease before it becomes a problem. We work hard to prevent cavities from occuring. You should take advantage of these preventive measures, because your insurance usually covers 100% of the fee. Your dental examinations generally include the following:

• Oral cancer screening
• Gum disease evaluation
• Visual examination of tooth decay
• Examination of diagnostic x-rays to see cysts, tumors, invisible decay and other problems that can't be seen by the naked eye
• Evaluation of status of current restorations (fillings and others)

We cannot express enough how important it is to see your dentist regularly. Remember, preventing disease is always better than treating disease.

Digital x-rays

We use the most modern x-ray technology available today. Because our x-ray machines are digital, your radiation exposure is reduced by about 90 percent.

FACT: 90% less radiation exposure than regular x-rays

Dental x-rays or radiographs are very important. They allow the dentist to detect problems that cannot be seen by the naked eye. These items include: loss of bone supporting the teeth (periodontal disease), cysts (sacks of fluid that form on the roots of teeth), cancerous and non-cancerous tumors, decay that occurs between teeth, and the location of teeth that haven't yet erupted into the mouth.

By using an x-ray to make certain no pathology is present, we can help save you time, expense, pain, and money by possibly avoiding additional treatments. In some cases, when dental x-rays show the location of tumorous growths, x-rays can be responsible for saving your life.

Hygiene, regular and deep teeth cleaning

These treatments are mainly done to help prevent gum diseases and cavities. Gum disease is basically the tissue around the teeth starts to recede. This leads to many painful symptoms: gum bleed, loose teeth, bad breath and other problems. These are definitely preventable, please take advantage of these treatments, especially if you have insurance. Insurance usually covers 100% of the fees for this. These treatments should be done twice or more per year.

What is the difference between regular and deep teeth cleaning?

What teeth cleanings will do for you:

• Remove calculus (tarter) above the gum line.
• Remove plaque from the teeth.
• Polish and remove stains from teeth

What is plaque?
What is calculus or tarter?

Cavity fillings

A filling is a way to restore a tooth damaged by decay back to its normal function and shape. We first removes the decayed tooth material, clean the affected area, and then fill the cleaned out cavity with a filling material.

By closing off spaces where bacteria can enter, a filling also helps prevent further decay. Materials used for fillings include gold, porcelain, a composite resin (tooth-colored fillings), and an amalgam (an alloy of mercury, silver, copper, tin and sometimes zinc).

Sealants

Protect the chewing surface of teeth from decay.

The Problem:

• Protect normal pits and grooves on the chewing surface of back teeth
• Stop small amounts of decay from growing larger

The Solution:

Normal pits and grooves on the chewing surfaces of back teeth can trap food that can't be removed by brushing or washed out by water or saliva. A sealant is a tough, plastic material designed to bond (stick) to tooth enamel. These clear or tooth colored sealants are painted onto the tooth surface to "seal" the pits and grooves and protect against decay. They are generally applied to children's first permanent back teeth. They can also be useful for adults in certain situations.

Advantages:

Sealants are an excellent way to protect chewing surfaces of teeth from decay. They are a much better financial investment than treating decay after it has started.

Disadvantages:

Sealants are not permanent. They generally last about five years with normal wear, but can wear off or chip off earlier in certain instances. Also, sealants do not prevent decay between teeth or the onset of gum disease, so regular home care and dental visits are important.

Alternatives:

There are no appropriate alternatives to sealants. If a tooth has decay, it will need a filling or other restoration.