Taking care of your oral health starts with a dental cleaning. During your cleaning, our dentist will check your gums, teeth, fillings, crowns, and other dental restorations to ensure that everything is up to par. We’ll also remove plaque from your teeth and polish them for a stain-free smile.
Call To Schedule An AppointmentEven if you brush your teeth twice every day, you’ll still need a professional to take a look at your teeth. Brushing isn’t enough to stop oral health problems from occurring. During a dental cleaning, we’ll deep-clean your teeth and monitor how well your teeth are doing.
Dental scaling is a routine procedure for all dental cleanings. Your dentist will clean your teeth with a small, specialized dental tool that is shaped like a hook. Scaling helps remove plaque from your teeth and keep your smile beautiful.
To maintain your oral health, we recommend regular flossing, brushing, and rinsing with mouthwash. If you have a unique oral health situation, we may ask you to take additional steps to keep your teeth safe.
If you're concerned that you're at risk of developing oral cancer, let us know. Our dentist will inspect your lips, tongue, throat, tissues, and gums for early signs of oral cancer. If we see any possible signs, we’ll advise you on potential next steps and ensure that you’re informed of all your options.
Call To Schedule An AppointmentYour dentist will specifically check for swelling, patches of color, ulcerations, and more problems with your mouth. We examine the gums, tongue, inner cheeks, tonsils, roof of the mouth, and more. We may also check outside your mouth for unusual lumps.
Adults who regularly smoke or drink, have a family history of oral cancer, or have been diagnosed with HPV are at high risk of developing oral cancer. Request an appointment with us if you have any of these risk factors.
If it’s been a while since you last had x-rays done, your dentist may request a new set of x-rays. By using our state-of-the-art x-ray equipment, we can inspect your teeth under the gumline. Our dentist will take a look at your x-ray to see tooth root positions, detect bone loss, check for decay, and more. Our x-rays are a vital part of oral health upkeep.
Call To Schedule An AppointmentAn x-ray is one of your dentist’s most powerful tools. With an x-ray, we can detect problems that may slip by in a visual examination. That’s why we make sure to keep your x-rays current.
We do our best to ensure the safety of our patients. When you are being x-rayed, we’ll follow the proper procedures to reduce your radiation exposure and keep you safe. Our professionals have years of experience working with x-rays, and we know how to minimize your exposure.
Most dentists use two types of x-rays: panoramic x-rays and bitewing x-rays. The panoramic x-ray scans the entire structure of your mouth to create one big picture, which shows all of your jaw and teeth. A bitewing x-ray involves the patient biting down on a small plastic tool that holds x-ray film or a sensor. We then take an x-ray of that section of your mouth.
Panoramic x-rays are better for showing a more general, single-image view of your mouth. This allows us to monitor general oral health. Bitewing x-rays are better for honing in on a specific area of your mouth, allowing us to catch smaller issues like root structure, bone levels, cysts, abscesses, and more.
Acidic or sugary foods can wear down your tooth enamel, causing a cavity. If you have a cavity, our dentist can get you back to regular oral health with a filling. We’ll treat your decayed tooth and close up your cavity with a small filling. When we add fillings, we make sure to put your comfort and health first.
Call To Schedule An AppointmentThe most common type of filling is a composite filling, which is made of a tooth-colored resin and some additives. These are common for treating cavities or reshaping teeth. Other fillings can be made from gold, porcelain, and silver amalgam. There are several differences in durability, price, and aesthetics between all filling types.
First, our dentist will numb the area so you feel no pain. Then we’ll carefully remove any damaged tooth enamel and clean the area to prepare it for the filling. Once we’re sure we’ve removed all tooth decay, we’ll fill the cavity with filling material and shape it to fit the rest of your tooth.
Luckily, fillings are low-maintenance. Simply follow your usual brushing, flossing, and mouthwash rinsing steps. Make sure to visit the dentist regularly for your checkups.
Patients who practice good dental hygiene can have fillings that last for years on end. We will also check your filling every time you come in for a regular dental checkup.
If a tooth is too far gone for dental restorations or is growing in an inconvenient place, we’ll have to extract it. Our dentist understands that undergoing a tooth extraction can be a scary process, and that’s why we make sure that you’re always informed about all the possible steps and how to best prepare for extraction. We pride ourselves on our reputation for being a kind, caring dental office.
Call To Schedule An AppointmentWe often extract teeth that have been damaged beyond repair, decayed, overcrowded, or infected. We also remove wisdom teeth that are in the way of your other teeth.
During a tooth extraction, we numb the local area where we’ll be removing the tooth. Then we’ll remove the gums and bone tissue to get to your tooth and gently take it out. Afterward, we’ll close up the extraction site.
After tooth extraction, you should rest and relax for 24 hours. Your socket will form a blood clot that will start the healing process. Patients should leave the clot undisturbed while it heals, which means that patients should avoid rinsing, using straws, or smoking. Chew away from your extraction site and eat soft foods during this time. The soft tissue should heal in about two weeks.
When a tooth is badly damaged or infected, we can try to save it with a root canal treatment. When left untreated, an infected tooth can cause an abscess or total tooth loss. During a root canal, our dentist will clean bacteria out of the roots of your teeth and make sure that all infection has been removed. We strive to make the process as pain-free as possible.
Call To Schedule An AppointmentYou may need a root canal if your tooth is cracked, chipped, has been damaged or infected, or has a deep cavity. Symptoms of a damaged tooth include severe pain when biting, swollen gums, dark gums, and sensitivity. Our dentist will conduct a thorough exam to determine if root canal treatment is necessary.
Before we start with the root canal procedure, we’ll take an X-ray of the infected tooth so we know what areas to treat. After that, we’ll numb the area and prep the tooth by removing any saliva and bacteria. Then we’ll make a small incision to expose your tooth’s pulp and infected tissues. Our dentist will carefully remove the decay and kill any infection. To finish the procedure, we’ll fill and seal the tooth and place a crown on top that protects the tooth and restores your smile.
Patients often recover quickly from a root canal. You may experience some discomfort after the treatment, but many patients return to work or school the next day. If you experience severe, lasting pain, let us know and we’ll take a look.
Did you lose a tooth or need relief from a painful toothache? We’re here to help. Our emergency dentist can meet with you promptly to fix your urgent dental needs. We work quickly because time is of the essence.
Call To Schedule An AppointmentMissing teeth, chipped teeth, severe gum pain, tooth abscess, lost crown, and lost filling are all dental emergencies that require immediate care. If you are experiencing severe tooth pain, we can help. Our dentist is available at (906) 774-0220.
If you have lost a tooth, your dentist may be able to restore it if you preserve it. Put your tooth in a glass of milk or warm saltwater to preserve it and increase your chances of replacement.
