Preventing Cavities

The best way to prevent cavities is by practicing good oral hygiene habits. This includes brushing your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing once a day, reducing the amount of sugar in your diet, avoiding frequent snacking, and attending regular checkups with your dentist. Your dentist may use X-rays to check for decay between teeth and under existing fillings or crowns.

Our dentist could also suggest that you get a preventive sealant treatment, which uses a plastic resin material to seal cracks and crevices of the teeth where plaque can hide. Sealants can last for several years before needing replacing.

Preventing Sensitivity

When a tooth’s gums have recessed, the root of the tooth becomes exposed. The root surface is softer than enamel, so when the toothbrush bristles come in contact with it during brushing, the roots become irritated and inflamed. This can cause the tooth to ache or feel sensitive to hot or cold temperatures.

To diminish sensitivity and alleviate pain, our dentist can apply bonding agents or sealants to the root surfaces of your teeth. These treatments block irritants from causing inflammation in the gums, allowing them to heal. Once the gum tissue is healthy, it won’t become sensitive when you brush and floss.

A more advanced type of treatment for receding gums is soft tissue grafting. Our doctor will reposition the tissue in your mouth to cover the exposed roots of the teeth so your gums can heal and become less sensitive.

Microabrasions

A microabrasion is a technique we use to polish away minor stains from teeth using a high-speed instrument that sprays a fine stream of aluminum oxide crystals onto the surface of a patient’s tooth enamel. The aluminum oxide is gently smoothed into a clean surface. This treatment effectively removes superficial discolorations caused by coffee, tea, tobacco, and other causes. 

Materials Used

Your dentist will discuss the material they will use to fill your teeth at your preventive appointment. If your cavity is deep enough that the nerve tissue is involved, then amalgam or silver fillings are normally the best options because of their strength and durability. If the cavity is not very deep and the appearance is essential, tooth-colored fillings like composite resin can be used. 

For more significant decay, inlays or onlays may be recommended to keep your tooth’s structure intact while restoring the appearance and function of your smile. These restorations are made in a dental lab from impressions of your tooth. They are made of porcelain and can last many years, if not a lifetime, with proper care.

Finally, a dental crown may be the best treatment option for severely decayed teeth. Usually, when dentists refer to “crowns,” they refer to caps placed over damaged teeth to restore them. A dentist can help you decide which type of crown is best for you based on your dental health needs and goals.

3D Scanning of Occlusion

Many patients clench or grind their teeth at night time while sleeping. This can cause various issues, from tooth damage such as fractures to headaches to TMJ disorders. By performing a digital scan of your bite, we can detect any abnormalities in your bite patterns that may be causing you to grind or clench your teeth. Looking at your scans will enable us to determine if you would benefit from an occlusal guard that will prevent you from grinding your teeth while you sleep!