Your Dentist will examine and clean your teeth, check for cavities and gum disease, look for signs of Oral Cancer and other disease, and diagnose any oral health problem and recommend a treatment plan. During Dental exams dentist will also ask about any health problems you have or medications you’re taking and discuss how they might affect your oral health, will demonstrate proper brushing and flossing techniques, might also counsel about diet, use of tobacco products and other lifestyle factors that can affect overall oral health.

What does Dental Check-up involve?

During a dental exam, the dentist or hygienist will:
Evaluate your oral hygiene and overall health,
Evaluate your risk of tooth decay, root decay, and gum or bone disease
Evaluate your need for tooth restoration or tooth replacement
Check your bite and jaw for problems
Take dental X-rays or, if necessary, do other diagnostic procedures

Dental impression

In some cases, the dentist might recommend making a dental impression of jaws to produce a replica of your teeth. This will help the dentist evaluate your bite or make a mouthguard or bleaching trays.

The dentist will fill horseshoe-shaped trays with a soft, gelatin-like material and place them over your upper or lower teeth. After a few minutes, the trays are removed and used to create a dental cast of your mouth.

Root canal therapy is needed when the nerve of a tooth is affected by decay or infection. In order to save the tooth, the pulp (tissue inside the tooth), and any decay are removed and the resulting space is filled with special dental materials, which restore the tooth to its full function. Having a root canal done on a tooth is the treatment of choice to save a tooth that otherwise would die and have to be removed. Root canal treatment is highly successful and usually lasts a lifetime, although on occasion, a tooth will have to be retreated due to new infections.

Signs and symptoms for possible root canal therapy:

An abscess on the gums,
Severe toothache pain,
Sensitivity to hot and cold,
Swelling and/or tenderness, &
Sometimes no symptoms will be present

Reasons for root canal therapy:

Decay has reached the tooth pulp
Infection or abscess have developed inside the tooth or at the root tip
Injury or trauma to the tooth

What does root canal therapy involve?

A root canal procedure requires one or more appointments and can be performed by a Dentist or Endodontist.

While the tooth is numb, a rubber dam (a sheet of rubber) will be placed around the tooth to keep it dry and free of saliva. An access opening will be made on top of the tooth to remove the pulp, and if tooth decay is present, that will also be removed.

Once the tooth is thoroughly cleaned, it will be sealed with either a permanent filling or, if additional appointments are needed, a temporary filling will be placed.

At the next appointment, usually a week later, the roots and the inside cavity of the tooth will be filled with special dental materials. A filling will be placed on top to cover the opening of the tooth. In addition, all teeth that have root canal treatment should have a crown (or a cap) placed. This will protect the tooth and prevent it from breaking, and restore it back to its full function.

After treatment, your tooth may still be sensitive, but this will subside as the inflammation diminishes and the tooth is healed. You will be given post-op care instructions after each appointment.

Finally, good oral hygiene and regular dental visits will aid in the life of your root canal treatment.

Periodontal disease (also known as Gum Disease or Periodontitis) is a common inflammatory condition which affects the surrounding and supporting soft tissues of the tooth (and when in its most advanced stage also effects the jawbone itself). Periodontal disease is most often preceded by gingivitis which is a bacterial infection of the gum tissue. A bacterial infection affects the gums when the toxins contained in plaque begin to irritate and inflame the gum tissues. Once this bacterial infection colonizes in the gum pockets between the teeth, it becomes much more difficult to remove and treat. Periodontal disease is a progressive condition that eventually leads to the destruction of the connective tissue and jawbone. If left untreated, it can lead to shifting teeth, loose teeth and eventually tooth loss. The three stages of gum disease — from least severe to most severe — are gingivitis, periodontitis and advanced periodontitis.

Treatment for Periodontal Disease

There are many surgical and nonsurgical treatments the periodontist may choose to perform, depending upon the exact condition of the teeth, gums and jawbone. A complete periodontal exam of the mouth will be done before any treatment is performed or recommended.

Common treatments for periodontal disease:

Scaling and root planing – In order to preserve the health of the gum tissue, the bacteria and calculus (tartar) which initially caused the infection, must be removed. The gum pockets will be cleaned and treated with antibiotics as necessary to help alleviate the infection. A prescription mouthwash may be incorporated into daily cleaning routines.

Tissue regeneration – When the bone and gum tissues have been destroyed, regrowth can be actively encouraged using grafting procedures. A membrane may be inserted into the affected areas to assist in the regeneration process.

Pocket elimination surgery – Pocket elimination surgery (also known as flap surgery) is a surgical treatment which can be performed to reduce the pocket size between the teeth and gums. Surgery on the jawbone is another option which serves to eliminate indentations in the bone which foster the colonization of bacteria.

Dental implants – When teeth have been lost due to periodontal disease, the aesthetics and functionality of the mouth can be restored by implanting prosthetic teeth into the jawbone. Tissue regeneration procedures may be required prior to the placement of a dental implant in order to strengthen the bone.

Oral Surgery is the removal of teeth from the dental alveolus (socket) in the alveolar bone. The most common reason to remove teeth which have become unrestorable through tooth decay, dental trauma or periodontal disease, and when they are associated with toothache. At times wisdom teeth are impacted either because they don’t have enough room to erupt into the mouth or develop normally and may cause recurrent infections of the gum. Tooth extraction is relatively straightforward, however, some teeth are more difficult to remove due to the tooth’s position, or the shape of the tooth roots, or the overall integrity of the tooth.

During the procedure:

Your dentist may use one of three types of anesthesia, depending on the expected complexity of the tooth extraction and your comfort level.
Options include:
Local anesthesia: Your dentist will administers local anesthesia with one or more injections near the site of each extraction after applying a substance to your gums to numb them. You will be awake during the tooth extraction. Although you’ll feel some pressure and movement, you will not experience pain.

Sedation anesthesia: Your dentist will gives you sedation anesthesia through an intravenous (IV) line in your arm. Which suppresses your consciousness during the procedure. You won’t feel any pain and will have limited memory of the procedure.

General anesthesia: In special circumstances, you may be given general anesthesia. either by inhaling medication through your nose or have an IV line in your arm. You will lose consciousness and your surgical team will closely monitors your breathing, temperature, medication, and blood pressure. You will have no memory of the procedure and won’t experience any pain.

Will make an incision in the gum tissue to expose the tooth and bone
Removes bone that blocks access to the tooth root
Divides the tooth into sections, if it’s easier to remove in pieces
Removes the tooth
Cleans the site of the removed tooth of any debris from the tooth or bone
Stitches the wound closed to promote healing, though this may or maby not always be necessary
To control bleeding a gauze will be placed over the extraction site to help blood clot

After the procedure:

If you received sedation anesthesia or general anesthesia, you’re taken to a recovery room after the procedure. If you are given local anesthesia, your recovery time will be brief and most likely be in the dental chair.

As you heal from your surgery, follow your dentist’s instructions on the following:

Bleeding: Some oozing of blood may occur the first day after tooth removal. Try to avoid excessive spitting so that you don’t dislodge the blood clot from the socket. Replace gauze over the extraction site as directed by your dentist.

Pain management: If bone has been removed during the procedure your dentist will prescribe main medication, other wise over-the-counter pain relivers such Tylenol should help mange the pain.

Swelling and bruising: Any swelling usually improves in two to three days, bruising may take several more days to resolve.

Activity: After your surgery, plan to rest for the remainder of the day, you can resume normal activities in couple of days. Avoid any strenuous activity for a week as it might result in losing the blood clot from the socket.

Beverages: Drink lots of water after the surgery. Don’t drink with a straw for at least a week as the sucking action can dislodge the blood clot from the socket. Also for the first 24 hours, don’t drink alcoholic, caffeinated, carbonated or hot beverages in the first 24 hours.

Food: As far as eating goes, eat only soft food (like yogurt), for the first 24 hours. You can start eating semisoft foods when you can tolerate them. But avoid hard, chewy, hot or spicy foods that might irritate the wound or get stuck in the socket.

Antibiotics: Your dentist will prescribe antibiotics to reduce risks of certain post extraction complications.

Dentures can drastically improve beauty of your smile after widespread tooth loss.  These full-arch restorations are great for patients missing most or all of their teeth on one or both arches (mandibular arch and maxillary arch).  Dr. G offers both traditional and implant-supported denture options to her patients.  Each denture is custom-made according to each patient’s unique physical needs, esthetic preferences, and budget.  They are made from detailed impressions of your mouth for ultimate comfort and a snug fit. Whether you would like to restore the smile you used to have or achieve the smile of your dreams, we can help.

What is a Denture?

Dentures are designed to restore a full arch of missing teeth, or they can be made to replace a few missing teeth in an arch.  Both traditional and implant-supported dentures are designed to fit snugly within a patient’s mouth, whether they rest upon your gums or upon dental implants that have been previously inserted within your jaw.

Implant-supported dentures have many benefits when compared with traditional dentures.  Implants are titanium posts or screws that are surgically placed within a patient’s jaw bone.  They mimic the function of natural tooth roots, providing support for dentures and other types of prostheses.

Traditional dentures, conversely, rest directly upon your gums, held in place by suction or a gel- or paste-like adhesive that you apply each morning.  Because they rest directly upon your gums, the construction of traditional dentures is important for your comfort and functionality.  Each denture comprises fused-together dental crowns that are secured upon an acrylic base.  While implant-supported dentures stay securely in place, removed only by Dr. G for inspection or replacement, traditional dentures are removed and cleaned each evening.

Denture Candidates

Dr. G can customize dentures for virtually any patient who has endured major tooth loss.  A denture is an ideal solution for patients who have several missing teeth, and those that are missing all of the teeth.

Denture recipients should properly care for and maintain their prostheses.  Implant-supported dentures must be brushed regularly to prevent the buildup of plaque, which can cause gum disease and decay.  Traditional dentures must be removed each night and cleaned thoroughly, to prevent bacterial buildup.

Benefits of Dentures

Dentures provide many functional and esthetic benefits.  They allow you to eat and speak and go about daily activities with confidence.  When you receive dentures from Dr. G, you can be rest assured they will look naturally beautiful within your smile.

There are some additional benefits provided by implant-supported dentures.  Implants themselves stimulate the jaw bone, preventing natural resorption that happens after tooth loss.

• Invisalign (or invisible braces) are aligners that are virtually unnoticeable, removable, and straighten your teeth without metal wires or brackets in relatively short time period.
• The aligners are made through a combination of Dentist’s expertise and 3-D computer imaging technology.
• You wear each set of aligners for about 1 to 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 prescribed by the dentist.
• You’ll visit Dr. G about once every 6 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned.
• Total treatment time averages 9 to 20 months and the average number of aligners worn during treatment is between 16 to 30. But again both will vary from case to case.