General Dentistry

Used to prevent the spread of tooth decay or correct any cosmetic damage, a filling is just one of the ways our dentists preserve your health. Before placement, any decay and decayed tooth structure must be removed. We administer local anesthesia to ensure maximum comfort for our patients. There are two different types of fillings: amalgam (otherwise known as silver fillings) and composite resin, the color of which can be customized to match your natural teeth.

Composite Resin

Composite resins are the most esthetically pleasing filling material of choice because the color can be matched to same color as the tooth/teeth. Composite resin is ideal for repairing chipped or cracked teeth, filling in a tooth gap, correcting dental discoloration, protecting any exposed tooth root from gum recession, or changing the shape of teeth. As technology improves, resin materials are the usual filling material of choice today as their strength to withstand biting and chewing forces is excellent while maintaining esthetics.

Amalgam

Made up of silver, copper, mercury, and tin, amalgam fillings are less commonly used today, but are still an excellent option. In certain situations the silver filling may be best when a back tooth cannot be isolated and kept dry for proper bonding of a resin material. They last up to ten years and are less likely to fall out or break. Commonly used for filling in molar cavities, amalgam fillings can withstand biting pressure. Despite the mercury content, these silver fillings are perfectly safe for anyone as the level of mercury is very low/non detectable. If you have any concerns or questions about the use of the amalgam fillings please feel free to address it with our dentist.

Among the causes for periodontal (gum) disease are genetic susceptibility, smoking, and other illnesses like diabetes. Periodontal maintenance involves removing plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line. Most gum diseases are preventable with proper oral hygiene. However, what can start out as gingivitis (inflamed or bleeding gums) can quickly turn into periodontitis. In such cases, gums pull away from the tooth to create “pockets,” thereby exposing a dental root to infection. It can also lead to prolonged bad breath, loose teeth, painful chewing and other complications.

Diagnosing Gum Disease

Gum disease is first detected by visualizing red, inflamed gums that are affected by plaque. The gums swell and will bleed easily by simply brushing or touching with dental instruments. Gum disease can be reversed with proper oral hygiene and removal of all plaque at your biannual cleaning. If the gum disease is not treated the inflammation of your gums will eventually spread to the underlying bone. When this happens the bone begins to resorb and periodontal disease is diagnosed. Proper diagnosis involves examining the inflamed gums and visualizing the loss of bone on xrays. Periodontal disease can be treated if caught early and maintained with proper oral hygiene.

Further Treatment

Once periodontal disease is diagnosed we might recommend scaling/root planing or more commonly called a “deep cleaning.” This involves getting the gums and teeth numb and cleaning deeper then we do with a regular cleaning. We also advise more frequent cleanings, about every 3-4 months, to maintain the healthy of the gums.

If Periodontal disease is far advanced we will recommend seeing a periodontists, who is a gum specialist. They may recommend additional treatment beyond a cleaning or deep cleaning to eliminate disease and prevent the loss of teeth.