Procedures
to Create A Healthy Smile
Cleaning is a preventive procedure that
is important to have done at least every six months; certain
individuals may require more frequent cleanings or more thorough
cleanings called root planing. Regular cleanings keep your teeth
free from plaque, and prevent many problems before they begin. At
our office, we combine cleanings with a complete oral examination.
The oral examination is a complete
visual inspection of the oral cavity along with any necessary
x-rays. During an oral examination, we also screening for oral
cancer and periodontal disease.
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The clear
alternative to traditional mercury fillings. A composite filling
is a tooth colored quartz-like material. After tooth decay is
removed and cleaned, this tooth colored material is layered into
the tooth. Each layer is hardened or cured with highly intense
visible light, and the final surface is shaped and polished to match the tooth.
The final restoration is virtually invisible.
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Before removing a wisdom tooth, your
dentist will give you a local anesthetic to numb the area where
the tooth will be removed. Your dentist will probably recommend that you don't eat
or drink after midnight on the night before surgery, so you are
prepared for the anesthetic.
To remove the wisdom tooth, your
dentist will open up the gum tissue over the tooth and take out
any bone that is covering the tooth. He or she will separate the
tissue connecting the tooth to the bone and then remove the tooth.
Sometimes the dentist will cut the tooth into smaller pieces to
make it easier to remove.
After the tooth is removed, you may
need stitches. Some stitches dissolve over time and some have to
be removed after a few days. Your dentist will tell you whether
your stitches need to be removed. A folded cotton gauze pad placed
over the wound will help stop the bleeding.
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A bone graft is a surgical procedure
that replaces missing bone with material from the patient's own
body or an artificial, synthetic, or natural substitute. The graft
not only replaces missing bone, but also helps your body to
regenerate its own bone. This new bone growth strengthens the
grafted area by forming a bridge between your existing bone and
the graft material. This bone loss can be reversed. Over time your
own newly formed bone will replace much of the grafted material.
Over a period of time, the jawbone
associated with missing teeth atrophies or is reabsorbed. This
often leaves a condition in which there is poor quality and
quantity of bone suitable for placement of dental implants. In
these situations, most patients are not candidates for placement
of dental implants.
We now have the ability to grow bone
where needed. This gives us the opportunity to place implants of
proper length and width, and it also gives us a chance to more
effectively restore esthetic appearance and functionality.
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Over the years these have become a more popular way to replace
missing teeth. The success rate has been very high and many
options are available to dentists to replace missing or damaged
teeth. Dr Higuchi can go over your history and evaluate if
this is an option for your needs.
A
dental implant is a titanium "root" device used in dentistry to
support restorations that resemble a tooth or group of teeth to
replace missing teeth. These teeth are then attached to the
titanium base and are made of materials much like a crown or cap.
Implant surgery may be performed as an outpatient service.
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Inside each tooth is a pulp chamber that
contains the nerves and blood supply for the tooth. When this pulp
becomes infected due to decay or injury to the tooth, the pulp
must be removed from the center of the tooth and the canals of
each root. Once the infected pulp is removed, the remaining
chamber is filled with a rubber-based material to seal it off.
All teeth that have had root canal therapy must be protected with
a tooth-like artificial covering known as a crown (see crown
section.) This is because teeth that have had the pulp removed are
more susceptible to fracture.
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Dental
sealants are thin plastic coatings that are applied to the
teeth, and grooves of the chewing surface of the back teeth to
protect them from tooth decay. This is where most decay is
prominent in children and teens. This sealant protects the
tooth from decay by keeping germs and food particles away from the
grooves.
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Tooth bleaching, also known as tooth whitening, is a process to
remove stains from teeth. Stains are inescapable due to the
foods and drinks we consume (wine, coffee and tea). There
are many forms of tooth whitening from in home procedures and
dental procedures. The whitening process prescribed or
performed by a dentist will actually have longer lasting results.
Dr Higuchi will explain the options he provides in his office and
help you decide what procedure suits your lifestyle the best.
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A
crown, also known as a cap, is a type of restoration that is placed on
the tooth after the tooth has been significantly jeopardized
by a large cavity that threatens the ongoing health of a tooth.
Most crowns are made of either gold or ceramic materials.
There are various steps to making a crown from impressions to
receiving a temporary crown. The final steps to the process,
after a laboratory has created the crown, is to make necessary
adjustments and cementing it to the tooth.
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In dentistry a veneer is a thin layer of restorative material
placed over a tooth surface. This is generally done for one
of two reason: one is it can improve the aesthetics of a
tooth or two it can protect a damaged tooth surface. Veneers
are a newer alternative to crowns and can be made temporary or
permanent. To see if a veneer is right for you, Dr Higuchi
will evaluate your history and help decide if this procedure is
right for you.
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TMJ is
an umbrella term covering acute or chronic inflammation of the
temporomandibular joint, which connects
the mandible to the skull. This
can result in significant pain and impairment.
Symptoms associated with TMJ disorders may be:
- Biting or chewing
difficulty or discomfort
- Clicking, popping, or
grating sound when opening or closing the mouth
- Dull, aching pain in the
face
- Earache (particularly in
the morning)
- Headache (particularly in
the morning)
- Hearing loss
- Migraine (particularly in
the morning)
- Jaw pain or tenderness of
the jaw
- Reduced ability to open
or close the mouth
-
Tinnitus
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Dizziness
Some possible causes of this
may include genetics, hormones, low-level infections, auto-immune
diseases, trauma, and clenching or grinding of the teeth. Because
this disorder transcends the boundaries of other health care
disciplines there are a variety of treatment approaches.
They
are as follows:
Dr.
Higuchi will perform an evaluation and recommend treatments that
best suit your lifestyle.
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A bridge is a single appliance that is
generally attached to two teeth on each side of the space where a
tooth is missing. An artificial tooth attached in the middle of
the bridge fills in the gap where the missing tooth was. The teeth
on either side of the gap are prepared for crowns (see crowns) and
a highly accurate impression or mold is made of the prepared area.
This mold is used to create a gold or porcelain (tooth colored)
bridge in a special laboratory. The bridge is then cemented onto
the prepared surface of the teeth, effectively creating the
appearance of a "new" tooth.
In some instances, a resin-bonded bridge may be used. In this
case, the two teeth on each side of the gap are not prepared for
crowns. Instead, the bridge consists of a false tooth with metal
brackets on the back of each side of the gap. The brackets are
attached to the backs of the real teeth on each side.
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Caring for your oral health includes
regular teeth and gum care. Neglecting your gums can eventually
lead to periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, which is a
culprit for the deterioration of your overall oral health.
Periodontal disease affects 75 percent of adults over 35 years of
age and is responsible for approximately 70 percent of all adult
tooth loss. Since symptoms of periodontal disease are mild, some
people never realize their mouth is under bacterial attack.
Highly recognized as a greatly
progressive disorder, periodontal disease is triggered by
preventable factors, like plaque buildup, tobacco use, certain
medications, and stress, as well as unpreventable causes, like
systematic disease and fluctuating hormone levels during puberty,
pregnancy, or menopause. Research proves up to 30 percent of the
population may be genetically susceptible to gum disease.
Periodontal disease begins when the
bacteria in the sticky film which forms on the tooth surface, what
we call plaque, causes gum inflammation. If the irritation is
ignored, plaque will release toxins to break down the natural
fibers that hold your gums to your teeth, permitting even more
bacteria and toxins to invade. Plaque deposits quickly harden into
calculus or tartar, which is a rough, porous substance that cannot
be removed by brushing. Over time, this progression can lead to
severe inflammation, bone loss, gum recession, and tooth loss.
Symptoms and signs include:
-
Red,
swollen, tender, or bleeding gums
-
Gum
recession, or gums pulling away from teeth
-
Loose
or separating teeth
-
Pus
between the gum and tooth
-
Persistent bad breath (halitosis)
-
Bite
changes
-
Change in the fit of partial dentures
If you have noticed any of the above
signs or symptoms, please call us immediately to schedule a
consultation and assessment. Together, we can win the battle
against periodontal disease and maintain your fresh and healthy
smile.
(Periodontal disease may
significantly impact pregnant individuals or those with diabetes
or cardiovascular disease. Individuals with periodontal disease
may have significantly increased risk for heart diseases and
stroke. Women with periodontitis may have increased risk for
delivering pre-term, low birth weight babies. Preliminary evidence
suggests that periodontal infections may also be associated with
lung disease and other remote site infections.)
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Dentures are replacements for missing
teeth that can be taken out and put back into your mouth. While
dentures take some getting used to, and will never feel exactly
the same as one's natural teeth, today's dentures are natural
looking and more comfortable than ever.
There are two main types of dentures:
full and partial. Your dentist will help you choose the type of
denture that's best for you based on whether some or all of your
teeth are going to be replaced and the cost involved.
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