• Comprehensive exams
• Digital X-ray
• Regular and deep teeth cleaning
• Cavity fillings
• Sealants

Comprehensive exams

The doctor will take a look at the health of your teeth. We'll take a couple digital x-rays to make sure there is cavities or cracks in your teeth. The doctor will do a periodontal exam, basically making sure your gums are healthy. Comprehensive exams are usually covered 100% by your insurance.

• 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)
• Oral cancer screening
• Gum disease evaluation

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.

Regular and deep teeth cleaning

Regular teeth cleaning treatments are mainly done to help prevent gum diseases and cavities. The procedure removes plague and tartar around each tooth, which results in less cavities. Our teeth cleaning treatment involves removing the plaque, polishing all the teeth, and applying fluoride if needed. This treatment usually takes an hour. No shots are needed for this. And your insurance usually covers 100% of this treatment fee.

Deep teeth cleaning becomes necessary when you're beginning to have gum disease, gingivitis. Gum disease causes breakdown of the bone, and eventually causes the loss of teeth. Deep cleaning uses a procedure called "root planing". Root planing is the process of smoothening the root surfaces and removing any infected tooth structure.

• What's plaque?
  A build up of microorganisms, which is a soft, sticky, bacteria infested film. It causes cavities and gingivitis.
• What's tartar?
  It's also called calculus. It's a result of plaque build up over a long time. More info on wikipedia.

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.

What does it do?

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

How does it work?

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.