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 BASIC HEALTH

FILLINGS

Fillings are done to remove decay, and replace the affected tooth structure. It is called a filling because a new  material fills the hole that the decay left.  Most teeth are now treated with bonded tooth colored composite resin fillings. Caught early enough, cavities can be treated easily and painlessly. Decay left untreated can lead to pain and/or infection, and in severe cases, possible need for root canal treatment or an extraction.

SEALANTS

This is used to fill in narrow grooves in a tooth that cannot be adequately cleaned by brushing. In some cases, the tooth structure has fine grooves or pits which accumulate plaque, not because the person does not brush, but because they are too narrow to allow even one bristle into them. These will develop cavities over time, and you do not want that. So the dentist will brush on a coating that seals the grooves and pits, making it possible to brush off all the plaque and keep your teeth healthy.

Easy to use technique.

Preparation: Thoroughly clean teeth to remove plaque and debris from enamel surfaces and fissures. Rinse thoroughly with water and dry. 

1. Brush adhesive onto surface to be sealed; scrub for 15 seconds applying moderate pressure. Do not shorten this time. Proper bonding will not occur if the solution is simply applied and dispersed.
2. Use a gentle stream of air to thoroughly dry the adhesive to a thin film. A second layer is not required for bonding sealants.
3. Apply a light-cured sealant. 
4. Light-cure the sealant and adhesive together with a halogen, LED or plasma light for the amount of time specified to cure the sealant.

NON-SURGICAL GUM TREATMENTS

The gums, ligaments, and bone surrounding the teeth form the foundation for a person's teeth. All structures are also referred to as the periodontium. When the periodontium is not healthy, it jeopardizes the teeth just as a bad foundation would threaten the stability of a house. Signs of unhealthy periodontium (gum disease) may be as follows: gums that are red and bleed easily, persistent bad breath, gums that are pulled away from the tooth, loose teeth, and changes in the position or bite of the teeth. Any of these signs may mean something is wrong. With the proper care, however, it may be possible to return them to a healthy state. This is where appropriate gum treatments come in. If you're having a problem, come in and see us so we can take care of it right away. The treatment usually involves a deep cleaning or root planing done under a local anesthetic, along with local antibiotic agents. If the gum disease gets too severe it may need to be treated through surgery or extraction. This is why it is important to get it treated at the first sign of a problem.

X-RAYS

This is a focused beam of X-Ray particles through bone which produces an image on special film, showing the structure through which it passed. This gives the familiar black and white images that doctors and dentists use to diagnose problems. X-rays are a necessary part of the diagnostic process. Without an X-ray of the entire tooth, supporting bone and gum tissues, there is no real way to detect infection or pathology that requires attention.

VIZILITEPLUS EXAM  

One person dies every hour from oral cancer in the United States.  Late detection of oral cancer is the primary cause that both the incidence and mortality rates of oral cancer continue to increase. As with most other cancers, age is the primary risk factor for oral cancer.  Though tobacco use is a major predisposing risk factor, 27% of oral cancer victims have no lifestyle risk factors.

                                    

Clinical studies have determined that using ViziLite Plus after the standard oral cancer examination improves the dental professional's ability to identify and evaluate suspicious areas at their earliest stages.  Early detection of pre-cancerous tissue can minimize or eliminate the potentially disfiguring effects of oral cancer and possibly save your life.  ViziLite Plus is an easy and painless examination that gives this practice the best chance to find any oral abnormalities you may have at the earliest possible stage.