Dental X-rays

Dental X-rays are pictures of the teeth, bones, and supporting soft tissues. They are necessary to diagnose problems with the teeth, mouth, and jaw. Dental X-rays can show cavities, hidden dental structures (such as wisdom teeth), abscesses, and bone loss that cannot be seen during a visual examination. Dental X-rays may also be used during and after dental treatments.
 

Dental X-rays are needed to:

Without X-rays, the early stages of decay between teeth cannot be detected.

Bitewing X-rays show the upper and lower back teeth and how the teeth touch each other in a single view. These X-rays are used to check for decay between the teeth and to show how well the upper and lower teeth line up. They also show bone loss when severe gum disease or a dental infection is present.

• Occlusal X-rays show the roof or floor of the mouth and are used to find extra teeth, teeth that have not yet broken through the gums, jaw fractures, a cleft in the roof of the mouth (cleft palate), cysts, abscesses, or growths. Occlusal X-rays may also be used to find a foreign object.
• Panoramic X-rays show a broad view of the jaws, teeth, sinuses, nasal area, and temporomandibular (jaw) joints. These X-rays do not find cavities. These X-rays do show problems such as impacted teeth, bone abnormalities, cysts, solid growths (tumors), infections, and fractures.

A full-mouth series of X-rays (typically about 14 to 21 X-ray films) are most often taken during a person's first visit to the dentist. Bitewing X-rays are used during checkups to look for tooth decay. Panoramic X-rays may be used occasionally. Dental X-rays are recommended based on age, risk for disease, and signs of disease. The radiation needed to produce a Dental X-ray is minimal.

Digital X-rays are the newest way to take Dental X-rays. A small sensor unit sends pictures to a computer to be recorded and saved. Digital X-rays use 90% less radiation than traditional film X-rays.

Gum Disease

What is gum disease?

Gum disease is an infection of the tissues and bones that surround and support the teeth. It is also called periodontal disease.

The two stages of gum disease are called gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is mild gum disease that only affects the gums, the soft tissue that surrounds the teeth. Periodontitis is gum disease that has progressed and has spread below the gums to damage the tissues and bone that support the teeth.

• Periodontitis develops if gum disease goes untreated. The gums will pull away from the teeth, leaving deep pockets where bacteria can grow and damage the bone that supports the teeth. Gums can also shrink back from the teeth, making the teeth appear longer. The teeth may become loose, fall out, or have to be pulled out by a dentist.

                                                       
                                      
                              
What causes gum disease?

Bacteria in your mouth stick together to form substance called plaque. The bacteria in plaque make poisons, or toxins, that irritate the gums and cause the gum tissues to break down. If you don't do a good job of removing plaque from your teeth, it can spread below the gums and damage the bone that supports the teeth. Over time, the plaque will harden into a substance called tartar that has to be professionally removed by a dentist or dental hygienist.

You are more likely to get gum disease if you:

• Do not clean your teeth well.
• Smoke or chew tobacco.
• Have someone in your family who has gum disease.
• Have a condition that makes it harder for your body to fight infection, such as:
  • Uncontrolled diabetes, AIDS, or leukemia.
  • A high level of stress.
  • A poor diet that’s low in nutrients.

What are the symptoms?

It may be hard to tell if you have gum disease. Healthy gums are pink and firm, fit snugly around the teeth, and do not bleed easily, but even mild cases of gum disease can cause these symptoms:

• Gums that are red, swollen, and tender.
• Gums that bleed easily during brushing or flossing.

As gum disease gets worse (periodontitis), the symptoms are easier to notice, such as:

• Gums that pull away or shrink from the teeth.
• Bad breath that won't go away.
• Pus coming from the gums.
• A change in how your teeth fit together when you bite.
• Loose teeth.

How is gum disease diagnosed?

To find out if you have gum disease, your dentist or dental hygienist will do an exam to look for:

• Bleeding gums.
• Hard buildups of plaque and tartar above and below the gums.
• Areas where your gums are pulling away or shrinking from your teeth.
• Pockets that have grown between your teeth and gums.

Treatment for Periodontal disease:     

                                                                                         
         *Scaling and Root Planing: This is usually the first  step in the treatment of periodontal disease. These procedure is often referred to as "deep cleaning". Scaling and root planing may be necessary when pockets around the teeth are greater than 4mm. Scaling is done to remove plaque and tarter beneath the gum line. Root planing will smooth the tooth and root surface to ensure that the gum tissue heal and that the pockets will shrink. This treatment typically requires 4 separate appointments of 1 hour each. At each appointment the hygienist will clean one quadrant at a time. To reduce discomfort he/she will often use local anesthetic. After the scaling and root planing procedure has been completed another appointment will be scheduled about 4 weeks later to evaluate the healing of the pockets and gum tissue.
                                                                                          

        *Periodontal Maintenance: A person with periodontal disease requires more frequent and detailed cleanings since they are at higher risk of re-infection. Periodontal cleanings are usually performed every 3-4 months. The dental hygienist will measure the periodontal pockets and check for bleeding at least once a year to make sure your condition is not progressing.

If pockets do not improve, we offer ARESTIN^®. ARESTIN^® is a locally administered antibiotic treatment for gum disease. It is a powder composed of 100,000 tiny microspheres that release antibiotics over time. In a single visit, your dental professional will add ARESTIN^® to the pocket between your gum and tooth. It is a painless procedure. ARESTIN^® placement in conjunction with scaling procedures can make your gum disease treatment more effective by killing the bacteria left behind. Best of all, ARESTIN^® keeps working long after you leave the dental chair.

                                                                               

Tooth Decay  

Although tooth decay has declined among young children as a group, it can still be a problem for individual children, and even teens and adults. That’s because plaque, a sticky film of bacteria, constantly forms on your teeth. When you eat or drink foods containing sugars or starches, the bacteria in plaque produce acids that attack tooth enamel. The stickiness of the plaque keeps these acids in contact with your teeth and after many such attacks, the enamel can break down and a cavity forms.

Preventing Decay:

• Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
• Clean between teeth daily with floss or an interdental cleaner.
• Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks.
• Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral exams.
• Ask your dentist about dental sealants, a protective plastic coating that can be applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth where decay often starts

The cost is moderate and depends on the size of the filling and the technique used by the dentist to place it in the prepared tooth. It generally takes longer to place a composite filling than what is required for an amalgam filling. Composite fillings require a cavity that can be kept clean and dry during filling and they are subject to stain and discoloration over time.

Composite Fillings  

Composite fillings are a mixture of glass or quartz filler in a resin medium that produces a tooth-colored filling. They are sometimes referred to as composites or filled resins. Composite fillings provide good durability and resistance to fracture in small-to-mid size restorations that need to withstand moderate chewing pressure. Less tooth structure is removed when the dentist prepares the tooth, and this may result in a smaller filling than that of an amalgam. Composites can also be "bonded" or adhesively held in a cavity, often allowing the dentist to make a more conservative repair to the tooth.

Root canal treatment

Root canal treatment (also called a root canal) is done when decay will likely damage or has already killed a tooth. During a root canal, a dentist or endodontist removes the pulp from the center of a tooth and fills the pulp cavity. This can prevent the development of a painful infection in the pulp that may spread to other teeth. A root canal can also treat an infection that has developed into an abscessed tooth. This procedure can relieve toothache, stop infection, and promote healing.

A general dentist or one who specializes in diseases of tooth pulp (endodontist) can perform a root canal. To completely restore the tooth, a core buildup and crown will be needed after the root canal is done. 

Risks

If you have an infected tooth, bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream and cause infections in other parts of the body. People who have a hard time fighting off infections may need to take antibiotics before and after a root canal. Such people include those who have artificial heart valves or were born with heart defects.

Why Is a Dental Crown Needed?

A dental crown may be needed in the following situations:

1. To protect a weak tooth (for instance, from decay) from breaking or to hold together parts of a cracked tooth
2. To restore an already broken tooth or a tooth that has been severely worn down
3. To cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there isn't a lot of tooth left
4. To hold a dental bridge in place
5. To cover malformed or severely discolored teeth
6. To cover a dental implant

What Types of Crowns Are Available?

 Permanent crowns can be made all-metal, porcelain-fused-to-metal, all-resin, or all-ceramic.

    -Porcelain-fused-to-metal dental crowns can be color-matched to your adjacent teeth (unlike the metallic crowns). Next to all-ceramic crowns, porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns look most like normal teeth. These crowns can be a good choice for front or back teeth.

    -All-ceramic or all-porcelain dental crowns provide the best natural color match than any other crown type and may be more suitable for people with metal allergies. All-ceramic crowns are a good choice for front teeth.

Complete Dentures

Complete dentures can be either "conventional" or "immediate." Made after the teeth have been removed and the gum tissue has begun to heal, a conventional denture is ready for placement in the mouth about 8 to 12 weeks after the teeth have been removed.

Unlike conventional dentures, immediate dentures are made in advance and can be positioned as soon as the teeth are removed. As a result, the wearer does not have to be without teeth during the healing period. However, bones and gums shrink over time, especially during the healing period following tooth removal. Therefore a disadvantage of immediate dentures compared with conventional dentures is that they require more adjustments to fit properly during the healing process and generally should only be considered a temporary solution until conventional dentures can be made.

Partial Dentures

A removable partial denture or bridge usually consists of replacement teeth attached to a pink or gum-colored plastic base, which is connected by metal framework that holds the denture in place in the mouth. Partial dentures are used when one or more natural teeth remain in the upper or lower jaw. A fixed (permanent) bridge replaces one or more teeth by placing crowns on the teeth on either side of the space and attaching artificial teeth to them. This "bridge" is then cemented into place. Not only does a partial denture fill in the spaces created by missing teeth, it prevents other teeth from changing position. A precision partial denture is removable and has internal attachments rather than clasps that attach to the adjacent crowns. This is a more natural-looking appliance.