Dentistry with Intention

What Is A Cavity? & Why Did You Get One?

Cavities, as their name implies, are essentially holes in your teeth caused by decay. You can sometimes spot a cavity, as the area surrounding the hole generally looks dark brown or gray.

The main culprits to blame for your cavity are certain types of bacteria in your mouth. These bacteria are contained in plaque and they interact with the carbohydrates and sugars in your food creating an acidic environment that dissolves the protective enamel on the outer layer of your tooth. Once the acid succeeds in eroding the enamel, your tooth is exposed, leaving just the softer dentin layer, which will ultimately cause the formation of a cavity. At this point the decay process rapidly speeds up and spreads deeper into the tooth.

A filling is necessary to treat your cavity because if left untreated the decay will eventually grow and will enter into your nerve canal. And yes, this can be as painful as it sounds. It can also lead to more serious problems such as infection or abscess.

Dental Implants: Modern Replacements for Missing Teeth

An accident, injury, or disease can cause tooth loss. Having an incomplete smile may damage your self esteem and cause oral health problems. Without a replacement tooth, the remaining teeth shift and the bone can start to deteriorate. Dental implants can replace missing teeth and allow patients to lead the full, active lives they deserve.

What are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root which acts as an anchor for replacement teeth. Shaped like a screw, it is surgically placed into the jawbone to secure a replacement tooth or bridge in place. Stable and permanent, implants do not rely on neighboring teeth for support. They are an ideal tooth replacement procedure because they look and feel like natural teeth. Studies show that dental implants have a 95 percent success rate in most cases.

With cosmetic dentistry , we focus on dental procedures that restore teeth to their natural beauty and enhance a smile’s esthetic appeal, while also maintaining optimum health and functionality. Cosmetic dentistry can improve your self-image because updating your smile often has a positive emotional and psychological impact. Research indicates that people with bright, white smiles are often seen as smarter, more attractive, and more successful.

If you feel embarrassed by how your teeth look, consider cosmetic dentistry. The modern dental procedures and techniques your dentist uses can remove imperfections and create a fabulous, new image. With a customized plan and advanced materials, your doctor will completely revitalize your oral health and appearance.

Cosmetic dentistry includes, but is not limited to:

Porcelain veneers and inlays to repair broken/cracked, even mismatched teeth, or correct gaps between teeth

Dental implants to replace missing teeth

Teeth bleaching and whitening to remove stains

At our dental office we provide dental crowns and bridges solutions. We create customizes dental crowns and bridges for those patients with missing teeth, fractured, damaged or decayed tooth. Our dental crowns and bridges look and feel like natural tooth. These treatments are used for a long-lasting correction of major dental problems. No matter how complex your dental condition, we are here to improve your dental health and appearance of your mouth with a dental crown and bridge. Schedule an appointment with us or contact us to discuss your cosmetic goals, perform a comprehensive examination of your dental health to ensure that you receive exactly the care to restore your attractive and natural smile.

A dental crown is tooth-shaped cap that is permanently cemented over a tooth, in order to restore the tooths strength, shape and size, and improve its appearance. The crown will cover the visible portion of the tooth above and right at the gum line, once it is cemented into place.

Like many things in life, the importance of something is never truly appreciated until it is gone. If you’ve lost your teeth, whether due to injury, tooth decay or gum disease, you surely understand. The good news is that you have options to replace them. Dentures can help restore your way of life by helping you with day-to-day functions, such as eating and speaking, as well as help restore your confidence by improving your appearance and smile.

Making a denture is a process that usually takes about 6-12 weeks, however this can vary from one patient to another.

It also depends on the type of the denture and the technique the dentist or the laboratory technician uses to make the denture.

Denture Treatment Process

Complete dentures are made using your mouth as a model. First, the dentist will take an accurate impression of the upper and lower arches of your mouth. This impression is then sent to the dental laboratory.

In the U.S., an estimated three out of four adults have some level of gum disease, and many don’t realize it. Gum disease is the inflammation and infection of the gums and the surrounding tissue. Generally caused by bacterial plaque, it is the biggest cause of adult tooth loss.

Plaque, a thin, colorless film, is caused by bacteria in your mouth and it develops on your teeth. Left untreated, bacterial plaque will harden to tartar. A rough, porous mineral buildup usually yellow or brown in color, tartar forms at and underneath the gum line. Tartar excretes the toxins that cause gum inflammation, resulting in the development of periodontal pockets that hold even more toxins and bacteria. This condition can lead to the loosening of the teeth, or even make teeth fall out. As the condition worsens, the accumulated toxins and bacteria move deeper into the jaw to destroy the bone that holds your teeth in place.

Stopping the progression of gum disease before it escalates can save patients added time, discomfort, and expense. Signs of gum disease can include:

Bleeding while brushing or flossing

Pediatric dental exams are more extensive than just looking at the teeth. The dentist performs a review of the childs health history to determine if there is a need for any special dental care. The examination will note the health and condition of the teeth, gums, soft tissues, head and neck. The dentist also monitors the growth of the jaws and development of the teeth, and evaluates any oral habits, such as thumb sucking. The pediatric dentist will use all of these factors to make a diagnosis and create a custom treatment plan and instructions for home care.

Pediatric Office Cleaning

The dentist or hygienist will clean the childs teeth to remove any plaque or calculus. Without treatment, this build up can cause gum disease and tooth decay. The dentist will also treat the teeth with fluoride to strengthen them and make them resistant to tooth decay. Cleanings and fluoride treatments are recommended twice a year to maintain your childs dental health and prevent decay.

Oral Hygiene Instructions:

Chips, stains, or gaps between teeth don’t have to mean an end to your vibrant smile. Porcelain veneers, thin shells of ceramic material placed over the natural tooth surface, can remove these flaws and restore your smile’s appearance. Designed to mimic the natural translucency of enamel, porcelain veneers look and feel like your natural teeth.

Reasons to Choose Porcelain Veneers:

If you want to straighten crooked teeth, repair cracks, or remove deep discolorations, porcelain veneers can completely transform your smile. Blending artistry and science, your dentist will select veneers that compliment your other teeth, facial features and personality. Many patients select porcelain veneers because they:

Offer strength and durability

Cost less than other options

Renew your image and boost confidence

Revitalize Your Smile with Porcelain Veneers

What is root canal therapy?

Root canal therapy is the most commonly performed procedure amongst all endodontic treatment procedures. An endodontist performs root canal treatment to treat problems related to the soft inner pulp of a tooth.

Why do I need a root canal?

Root canal treatment is required when nerve tissue inside the teeth degenerates. Without root canal treatment, the infection in the tooth pulp can result in an abscess, which in turn can cause damage to the jawbone. You will need a root canal to save your tooth and to ensure that the tissue around the root of the tooth remains healthy and free from inflammation.

There are several reasons why your tooth may become irritated and inflamed, such as: deep decay, big fillings, trauma to the tooth, a chipped tooth or even repeated dental work.

What are the symptoms or signs that a root canal is needed?

When you look and feel your best, people notice the difference. Modern cosmetic dentistry can totally transform your smile if you want to change your image. If you are considering more than one procedure, you may want a smile makeover, a comprehensive combination of cosmetic dental procedures intended to enhance your smile’s beauty and appearance. The makeover will focus on correcting various problems, including broken, chipped, crooked, missing, or discolored teeth.

With a smile makeover, your dentist can also fix uneven, unsightly gums. The makeover process can also dramatically change the length, width, color, and shape of your teeth to produce a uniform, vibrant appearance. Your dentist will talk with you about whether you want a more feminine look, a more attractive smile line, or whiter teeth. A smile makeover, however, is not just cosmetic in approach. During the evaluation, your dentist will also check for functional problems such as a bad bite or malocclusion.

Benefits of Making Over Your Smile

The advantages of having a smile makeover include:

Zoom! Advanced Whitening is a chair side bleaching process that lightens the discoloration of tooth enamel through the use of a special light and a whitening gel containing hydrogen peroxide.

First, a protective coating is painted on to the patient’s gums surrounding the treatment area. This protective coating is allowed to harden, and serves to shield the gums. The whitening gel is then applied to the teeth, and a special light is applied to enhance the whitening process. This light aids in activating the hydrogen peroxide and helps it penetrate the surface of the tooth.

Use of the Zoom! Advanced Whitening light increases the effectiveness of the whitening gel by 26%, providing whitening improvement by up to eight shades. Post treatment, the dentist can provide the patient with a tooth tray, home whitening kit and instructions for touch ups.

Marion Dental Health prides our self on Dentistry with Intention. In order to comprehensively treat patients, a thorough initial examination is necessary. The exam is the first step in getting to k now you and determine your wants and needs.

Your first visit will be with Dr. Erin Hoye or Dr. Alex Doe. The visit will include the following:

Review of your Medical and Dental History

Digital Radiographs (x-rays) and Photographs

Oral Evaluation – Extraoral exam and Intraoral exam: including evaluating existing fillings and restorative work and oral cancer screening. Restorative work such as fillings, crowns and cosmetic needs will be charted

Periodontal (Gums) Evaluation to determine the health of your gums, bone and degree of inflammation. This evaluation will allow us to determine the type of cleaning you will need.

Oral Hygiene Instruction: we think it is extremely important to teach you the skills to maintain your oral health on a daily basis.

A brilliant, attractive smile conveys confidence and vitality. As we age, our teeth naturally darken. One of the most popular ways to enhance your smile and improve your appearance is teeth whitening. Patients can visit the dentist at lunch and leave with a stunning, white smile.

With teeth whitening, we can bleach the enamel to remove discolorations and stains from teeth. Research and clinical studies show that under the supervision of your dentist, chair-side teeth whitening with carbamide peroxide and/or hydrogen peroxide is safe for both teeth and gums. You can choose from in-office whitening, like Zoom!, for an immediate transformation or take-home kits, which will gradually brighten your smile over a few weeks.

Tooth stains fall into two categories – extrinsic and intrinsic stains. The extrinsic, or external, stains only impact the surface of the teeth. Intrinsic stains are present inside the teeth and are harder to remove than extrinsic stains. Usually, extrinsic stains look yellow or brown, while internal stains are typically gray or blue in color.

Our dental office is devoted to general and family dentistry. As your primary dental care provider, we are responsible for the general diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and management of a wide range of dental conditions, disorders, and diseases that affect the teeth, gums, jaw, and face. We provide the coordination of services related to the oral health needs for patients of all ages so everyone in your entire family can visit our practice.

General dentistry includes:

Restorative services like fillings, crowns, and bridges

Fitting and placement of dentures

With a highly educated, well-trained team, we will develop the best course of treatment for your complete dental needs. Give us a call to schedule an appointment today!

Finding the Perfect Dentist

Selecting the right person to care for your family’s dental health takes careful consideration. A good dentist combines clinical expertise with warmth and a genuine concern for patients. Points to consider:

Are your goals, concerns, and ultimate satisfaction seen as important?

No treatment will be effective unless you follow it up with routine and proper home care. This means you should brush and floss regularly after every meal and at a minimum twice a day. The key is not only to do it regularly but also to do it right. Here’s how.

To properly floss you should wind the floss around both of your index fingers and push it between each of your teeth in your mouth. Make sure to freely move the floss upwards, downwards and even sideways to remove any food particles or plaque that may be lodged between your teeth or under the gums.

Teeth grinding or bruxism is a neuromuscular disorder that can damage and loosen the teeth. The severity of teeth grinding varies with the individual. Children usually outgrow the condition. Stress and abnormally aligned teeth are common causes of teeth grinding and treatment should focus on these factors. Night guards are effective devices to treat teeth grinding. Night guards are made of high-grade plastic. They are worn at night and they prevent the upper teeth from grinding against the lower teeth. Comfort and durability are important considerations when purchasing a night guard. Although ready made night guards are available at many stores, custom-fit night guards prepared by dentists obviously have a better fit.