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Our adolescent and adult practice
professionals are experts at delivering dental care with an emphasis
on preventive, restorative and aesthetic treatments. We offer dental
implant restorations, porcelain veneers, fillings, crowns, and also
in-office tooth bleaching. Plus, a standard examination for all
recall visits includes an oral cancer screening, digital
radiography, and a TMJ and occlusion check. Young or old, The Dental
Place is the place for you!
For more information concerning dentistry, please visit the
website for the American
Dental Association.
General Topics & Procedures
How Often Should I Visit the Dentist?
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends visits to the
dentist at least once every six months for a professional exam and
cleaning. Regular dental visits are necessary for the maintenance of
healthy gums and teeth. Your dentist may recommend more frequent
visits, depending on the status of your oral health.
Bridges
When one or more teeth are missing, the remaining teeth can shift
out of position, which can lead to a change in your bite, the loss
of additional teeth, decay and gum disease.
In the case of missing teeth, your dentist may recommend the
placement of a bridge. A permanent bridge is one or more replacement
teeth anchored by one or more crowns on each side. A removable
bridge, or removal partial denture, usually consists of replacement
teeth attached to pink or gum-colored plastic bases, which are
connected by metal framework.
Bruxism – “Tooth Grinding”
Patients are often concerned about the nocturnal grinding of
teeth (bruxism). Often, the first indication is the noise created by
the grinding on your teeth during sleep. Or, you may notice wear
(teeth getting shorter) to the dentition. One theory as to the cause
of grinding is stress. Another theory relates to pressure in the
inner ear at night.
The majority of cases of bruxism do not require any treatment. If
excessive wear of the teeth (attrition) is present, then a mouth
guard (night guard) may be indicated.
Crowns
A crown can be used to cover a fractured tooth, a tooth with a
large, old filling, or a tooth that is severely damaged by decay.
Crowns strengthen and protect the remaining tooth structure and can
improve the appearance of your smile. Crowns are also used to cover
teeth that are discolored or badly shaped or to cover a dental
implant. Types of crowns include the full porcelain crown, the
porcelain-fused-to-metal crown and the all-metal crown. Your dentist
can recommend the crown that is best for you.
Fitting a crown requires at least two visits to your dentist.
Initially, the dentist removes decay and shapes the tooth. Then he
makes an impression and fits a temporary or transitional crown of
plastic or metal. On the next visit your dentist will remove the
temporary crown, fit and adjust the final crown, then cement it into
place.
Emergencies
Toothache: Clean
the area of the affected tooth thoroughly. Rinse the mouth
vigorously with warm water or use dental floss to dislodge impacted
food or debris. DO NOT place aspirin on the gum or on the aching
tooth. If face is swollen apply cold compresses. Take the child to a
dentist.
Cut or Bitten Tongue,
Lip or Cheek: Apply ice to bruised areas. If there is
bleeding apply firm but gentle pressure with a gauze or cloth. If
bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes or it cannot be controlled
by simple pressure, take child to hospital emergency room.
Knocked Out Permanent
Tooth: Find the tooth. Handle the tooth by the crown, not the
root portion. You may rinse the tooth but DO NOT clean or handle the
tooth unnecessarily. Inspect the tooth for fractures. If it is
sound, try to reinsert it in its socket. Have the patient hold the
tooth in place by biting on a gauze. If you cannot reinsert the
tooth, transport the tooth in a cup containing the patient’s saliva
or milk. The tooth may also be carried in the patient’s mouth. The
patient must see a dentist IMMEDIATELY! Time is a critical factor in
saving the tooth.
Implants
 Tooth
loss can have an effect on your dental health and personal
appearance if not dealt with properly. When you lose or have one or
more permanent teeth extracted, your remaining teeth can drift out
of position. This can lead to a change in your bite, and/or decay
and gum disease, not to mention a change in your personal
appearance.
Dental implants are an effective method in replacing one or
several teeth. Each implant consists of a metal post that is
inserted into the jawbone under your gums. During a healing period,
the bone grows around the implant. Then the post is outfitted with
an artificial tooth, which is similar to your natural tooth.
Implants can also support a bridge, replace a partial denture or
secure a fixed denture.
Oral Cancer
According to the American Dental Association (ADA), oral cancer
kills more people nationwide than either cervical cancer or melanoma
(skin cancer). Currently only half of all patients diagnosed with
oral cancer survive more than five years. Good news is that it is
now easier than ever to detect oral cancer early, when the
opportunity for a cure is great.
Regular dental check-ups are essential in the early detection of
cancerous and pre-cancerous conditions. You may have a very small,
but dangerous, oral spot or sore and not be aware of it. In about
10% of patients, the dentist may notice a flat, painless, white or
red spot or a small sore. Although most of these are harmless, some
are not. To ensure that a spot or sore is not dangerous, your
dentist may choose to perform a simple test, a biopsy, which can
detect potentially dangerous cells when the disease is still at an
early stage.
Signs of oral cancer that you may want to be aware of may
include:
- a sore that bleeds easily or does not heal
- a color change of the oral tissue
- a lump, thickening, rough spot, rust or small eroded area
- pain, tenderness, or numbness anywhere in the mouth or on
the lips
Although oral cancer occurs most often in those who use tobacco
in any form, more than 25% of oral cancers occur in people who do
not smoke and have no other risk factors.
Remember to see your dentist regularly because in many parts of
the mouth you may not be able to see a small spot or sore yourself.
If you do notice any of the above signs, you should call your
dentist as soon as possible.
Root Canal Treatment (Endodontics)
To understand endodontic treatment, it helps to know something
about the anatomy of the tooth. Inside the tooth, under the white
enamel and a hard layer called the dentin, is a soft tissue called
the pulp. The pulp contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective
tissue and creates the surrounding hard tissues of the tooth during
development. The pulp extends from the crown of the tooth to the tip
of the roots where it connects to the tissues surrounding the root.
The pulp is important during a tooth’s growth and development.
However, once a tooth is fully mature it can survive without the
pulp, because the tooth continues to be nourished by the tissues
surrounding it.
 Endodontic
treatment is necessary when the pulp becomes inflamed or infected.
The inflammation or infection can have a variety of causes: deep
decay, repeated dental procedures on the tooth, or a crack or chip
in the tooth. In addition, a blow to a tooth may cause pulp damage
even if the tooth has no visible chips or cracks. If pulp
inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can cause pain or
lead to an abscess.
Signs of pulp damage include pain, prolonged sensitivity to heat
or cold, discoloration of the tooth, and swelling and tenderness in
the nearby gums. Sometimes, there are no symptoms.
When a root canal is necessary, the dentist, or endodontist
removes the inflamed or infected pulp, carefully cleans and shapes
the inside of the tooth, then fills and seals the space. Afterwards,
you will return to your dentist who will place a crown or other
restoration on the tooth to protect and restore it. After
restoration, the tooth continues to function like any other tooth.
Tooth Eruption
Children’s teeth begin forming before birth. As early as 4
months, the first primary (or baby) teeth to erupt through the gums
are the lower central incisors, followed closely by the upper
central incisors. Although all 20 primary teeth usually appear by
age 3, the pace and order of their eruption varies.
Permanent teeth begin appearing around age 6, starting with the
first molars and lower central incisors. This process continues
until approximately age 21.
Adults have 28 permanent teeth, or up to 32 including the third
molars (or wisdom teeth).
Tobacco Use
Tobacco in any form can jeopardize your health and cause
incurable damage. Smokeless tobacco, also called spit, chew or
snuff, is often used by teens who believe that it is a safe
alternative to smoking cigarettes. This is an unfortunate
misconception. Studies show that spit tobacco may be more addictive
than smoking cigarettes and may be more difficult to quit. People
who use it may be interested to know that one can of snuff per day
delivers as much nicotine as 60 cigarettes. In as little as three to
four months, smokeless tobacco use can cause periodontal disease and
produce pre-cancerous lesions called leukoplakias.
If you are a tobacco user you should watch for the following that
could be early signs of oral cancer:
- A sore that won’t heal
- White or red leathery patches on your lips, and on or under
your tongue
- Pain, tenderness or numbness in the mouth or lips
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving your jaw
or tongue; or a change in the way your teeth fit together
Because the early signs of oral cancer usually are not painful,
people often ignore them. If it’s not caught in the early stages,
oral cancer can require extensive, sometimes disfiguring, surgery.
Even worse, it can kill.
The best advice is to avoid tobacco in any form. By doing so, you
will avoid bringing cancer-causing chemicals in direct contact with
your tongue, gums and cheek.
Tongue Piercing
You might not be surprised anymore to see people with pierced
tongues, lips or cheeks, but you might be surprised to know just how
dangerous these piercings can be.
There are many risks involved with oral piercings including
chipped or cracked teeth, blood clots, or blood poisoning. Your
mouth contains millions of bacteria, and infection is a common
complication of oral piercing. Your tongue could swell large enough
to close off your airway!
Common symptoms after piercing include pain, swelling, infection,
an increased flow of saliva and injuries to gum tissue.
Difficult-to-control bleeding or nerve damage can result if a blood
vessel or nerve bundle is in the path of the needle.
So follow the advice of the American Dental Association and give
your mouth a break – skip the mouth jewelry.
Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are the final teeth to develop in
the back of your mouth. Most people have four wisdom teeth, which
erupt during our late teens or early twenties.
Oftentimes, problems develop that require the removal of your
wisdom teeth. When the jaw isn’t large enough to accommodate them,
they can become trapped or impacted. Wisdom teeth may grow sideways,
emerge only part way from the gum or remain trapped beneath the gum
and bone. In most cases, it is recommended that impacted wisdom
teeth are extracted (removed).
Wisdom tooth surgery is performed, usually under local
anesthesia, in your dentist’s or oral surgeon’s office, an
outpatient surgical facility, or a hospital.
Prevention
Fluoride
Fluoride is an element, which has been shown to be beneficial to
teeth. However, too little or too much fluoride can be detrimental
to the teeth. Little or no fluoride will not strengthen the teeth to
help them resist cavities. Excessive fluoride ingestion by
preschool-aged children can lead to dental fluorosis, which is a
chalky white to even brown discoloration of the permanent teeth.
Many children often get more fluoride than their parents realize.
Being aware of a child’s potential sources of fluoride can help
parents prevent the possibility of dental fluorosis.
Some of these sources are:
- Too much fluoridated toothpaste at an early age.
- The inappropriate use of fluoride supplements.
- Hidden sources of fluoride in the child’s diet.
Two and three-year olds may not be able to expectorate (spit out)
fluoride-containing toothpaste when brushing. As a result, these
youngsters may ingest an excessive amount of fluoride during tooth
brushing. Toothpaste ingestion during this critical period of
permanent tooth development is the greatest risk factor in the
development of fluorosis.
Excessive and inappropriate intake of fluoride supplements may
also contribute to fluorosis. Fluoride drops and tablets, as well as
fluoride fortified vitamins should not be given to infants younger
than six months of age. After that time, fluoride supplements should
only be given to children after all of the sources of ingested
fluoride have been accounted for and upon the recommendation of your
pediatrician or pediatric dentist.
Certain foods contain high levels of fluoride, especially:
powdered concentrate infant formula, soy-based infant formula,
infant dry cereals, creamed spinach, and infant chicken products.
Please read the label or contact the manufacturer. Some beverages
also contain high levels of fluoride, especially: decaffeinated
teas, white grape juices, and juice drinks manufactured in
fluoridated cities. Blending the syrup, carbonation and the city
water supply often makes soft drinks at fast food restaurants – so
if fluoride is in the water – this is another source.
Parents can take the following steps to decrease the risk of
fluorosis in their children’s teeth:
- Use baby tooth cleanser on the toothbrush in the very young
child.
- Place only a pea-sized drop of children’s toothpaste on the
brush when brushing.
- Account for all of the sources of ingested fluoride before
requesting fluoride supplements from your child’s physician or
pediatric dentist.
- Avoid giving any fluoride-containing supplements to infants
until they are 6 months old.
- Obtain fluoride level test results for your drinking water
before giving fluoride supplements to your child (check with
local water utilities).
Good Diet
Healthy eating habits lead to healthy teeth. Like the rest of the
body, the teeth, bones and the soft tissues of the mouth need a
well-balanced diet. In order to promote good dental health, we
should eat a variety of foods from the five major food groups. Most
snacks that we eat can lead to cavity formation. The more frequently
we snack, the greater the chance for tooth decay. How long food
remains in the mouth also plays a role. For example, hard candy and
breath mints stay in the mouth a long time, which cause longer acid
attacks on tooth enamel. If you must snack, choose nutritious foods
such as vegetables, low-fat yogurt, and low-fat cheese, which are
healthier and better for your teeth.
Mouth Guards
If you participate in recreational activities and organized
sports, injuries can occur. A properly fitted mouth guard, or mouth
protector, is an important piece of athletic gear that can help
protect your smile, and should be used during any activity that
could result in a blow to the face or mouth.
Mouth guards help prevent broken teeth, and injuries to the lips,
tongue, face or jaw. A properly fitted mouth guard will stay in
place while you are wearing it, making it easy for you to talk and
breathe.
Ask your dentist about custom and store-bought mouth protectors.
Seal Out Decay
A sealant is a clear or shaded plastic material that is applied
to the chewing surfaces (grooves) of the back teeth (premolars and
molars), where four out of five cavities in children are found. This
sealant acts as a barrier to food, plaque and acid, thus protecting
the decay-prone areas of the teeth.
Cosmetic or Esthetic Dentistry
Bonding
Bonding restores chipped, cracked, miscolored or misaligned teeth
by rebuilding the surface with a resin material. To place the bond,
your dentist prepares your tooth with an etching solution. Then
special resin materials are blended in colors carefully chosen to
match your own teeth. These materials are applied to your teeth,
then shaped into just the right contours. Finally, they’re hardened
or bonded in place. Bonding provides wonderful results at an
affordable cost.
Inlays and Onlays
Tooth-colored restorations that are used on the chewing surfaces
of the back teeth. They can be placed instead of silver fillings or
to replace existing silver fillings.
 Invisalign®
The invisible way to straighten your teeth, without
braces.
Invisalign® can give you the beautiful straight teeth you’ve
always wanted. It works through a series of invisible, removable,
and comfortable aligners that no one can tell you’re wearing. So you
can smile more during treatment as well as after. Invisalign® has
been proven effective in clinical research and in dental and
orthodontic practices nationwide.
How Does Invisalign® Work?
- You wear each set of aligners for about 2 weeks, removing
them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss.
- As you replace each aligner with the next in the series,
your teeth will move – little by little, week by week – until
they have straightened to the final position your orthodontist
or dentist has prescribed.
- You’ll visit us about once every 6 weeks to ensure that your
treatment is progressing as planned.
- Total treatment time averages 9-15 months and the average
number of aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30,
but both will vary from case to case.
Veneers
Veneers are thin, custom-made shells crafted of tooth-colored
materials designed to cover the front side of teeth. Porcelain
laminate veneers are commonly used to correct teeth that are stained
or discolored, badly shaped or crooked, or damaged due to an injury.
Placing a veneer is usually an irreversible process, because it’s
necessary to remove a small amount of enamel from your teeth to
accommodate the shell.
Whitening (Bleaching)
Several options are available to help make your smile brighter
and whiter. In-office bleaching, at-home bleaching, or whitening
toothpastes. Ask your dentist which technique is the best suited for
you.
Zoom!™ Teeth Whitening
 Do
you want to Zoom!™?
The Zoom! In-Office Whitening System is a revolutionary tooth
whitening procedure. It’s safe effective and fast, very fast. In
just over an hour, your teeth will be dramatically whiter. Zoom!
Whitening is ideal for anyone looking for immediate results. The
convenience of Zoom! in comparison to days of wearing trays and
gradual whitening makes it the perfect choice for the busy
individual.
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- Before Zoom
Get ready to Zoom!
The Zoom! Whitening procedure is simple and painless. It begins
with a short preparation to isolate your lips and gums. The Zoom!
clinician then applies the proprietary Zoom! Whitening Gel, which is
activated by a specially designed light. Teeth typically become at
least six to ten shades whiter, sometimes more. A five-minute
fluoride treatment competes the procedure. You’ll be amazed with the
results. In most cases, teeth get even whiter the first few days
after the procedure.
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- After Zoom
How Zoom! Works!
The Zoom! light activated gel was developed after years of
research by Discus Dental, the leaders in professional take-home
tooth whitening. The gel is a scientifically formulated, pH balanced
Hydrogen Peroxide that, when activated by the Zoom! light, gently
penetrates the teeth to remove deep stains and discoloration. With
proper care and an occasional touch-up at home, your whiter smile
will sparkle for years.
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