General Dentistry
* All services provided by a General Dentist
Emergencies
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Root Canal Therapy
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Extractions
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Wisdom Teeth
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TMJ Disorder
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Gum Therapy
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Frenectomy
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Cold Sore Laser Treatment
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Emergencies
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Some dental issues develop slowly over time, while others happen suddenly in just a matter of hours.
We offer same day Emergency Appointments for dental pain or injury, tooth loss, infection or failing restorations.
At your Emergency Appointment we will address the primary cause of your pain, and discuss future treatment options tailored to your needs and budget.
Root Canal Therapy
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The purpose of Root Canal Therapy is to try to repair and save a badly damaged or infected tooth instead of removing it.
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The pulp inside of your tooth may become infected with bacteria because of an injury or a severe, untreated cavity. During this procedure, bacteria and dying or dead tissue are removed from inside the tooth. The canals are then sealed and protected with a filling or a crown.
Without treatment, the infection can cause increased pain, and may lead to tooth loss.
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Signs that you may need a Root Canal include:
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Persistent pain
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Sensitivity to heat and cold
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Tooth discoloration
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Swollen gums
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Pain when you eat or touch the tooth
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A chipped or cracked tooth
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We use CBCT imaging to determine the length and shape of the canals, making treatment more precise and efficient.
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Extractions
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Tooth Extraction may be recommended in several cases, including:
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advanced cavities and infection
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gum disease
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trauma or injury to the tooth or surrounding bone
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to prepare for a dental procedure such as implants or dentures
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before placement of braces, if the teeth are too crowded
A simple extraction involves a tooth that is visible above the gum line and that can usually be removed in one piece.
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A surgical extraction is more complicated and involves the removal of gum tissue, bone, or both. The dentist may need to remove the tooth in pieces.
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Wisdom Teeth
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Wisdom teeth are third molars, usually erupting between the ages of 17 and 21. Wisdom teeth are the last to erupt and usually the first to require extraction because in many people, they are impacted. This means that they have not fully emerged from the gums and are trapped in the jaw or under the gums.
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Wisdom teeth can cause problems if there isn’t enough space for them to surface or they erupt in the wrong position.
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We use CBCT imaging to determine the exact position of wisdom teeth. Your dentist will discuss your options with you, so that you can make an informed decision.
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We offer Oral Conscious Sedation for qualifying patients that experience anxiety, especially during surgical procedures.
TMJ Disorder
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The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are the joints and jaw muscles that make it possible to open and close your mouth. Your TMJ work together when you chew, speak or swallow and also controls the lower jaw.
The exact cause of a TMJ disorder is often difficult to determine. Your pain may be due to a combination of factors, such as arthritis, genetics or an injury. Some people who have jaw pain also tend to clench or grind their teeth (bruxism).
Signs and symptoms of TMJ disorders include:
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Pain or tenderness of your jaw
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Pain in one or both of the temporomandibular joints
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Aching pain in and around your ear
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Difficulty chewing or pain while chewing
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Aching facial pain or headaches
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Locking of the joint, making it difficult to open or close your mouth
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Clicking sound or grating sensation when you open your mouth or chew.
In some cases, a night guard will be recommended to decrease clenching or grinding of teeth. Your dentist may also recommend fixing an uneven bite by adjusting or reshaping some teeth. Orthodontic treatment may also be recommended.
Gum Therapy
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Gum disease is a serious problem and can lead to bone loss, tooth loss and affect your overall health if left untreated. Non-surgical gum therapy can help many patients who have gum disease.
Also known as scaling and root planing or a deep cleaning, gum therapy treats the area beneath the gum line when signs of gum disease are present. Plaque is constantly forming on your teeth, and if it is not effectively removed, it can cause the gums to get inflamed. When this occurs, gum tissue begins to pull away from teeth and create tiny pockets which trap bacteria inside.
If left untreated, these pockets can lead to progressive periodontal disease that can ultimately cause tooth and bone loss. If minor gum disease is caught in time, a professional teeth cleaning may be enough to keep it from damaging structures below the gum line. If pockets have already begun to form, however, your dentist may recommend gum therapy.
This procedure involves eliminating plaque and tartar from the teeth and pockets below the gum line. The hygienist will use manual scaling tools and/or electric or ultrasonic instruments to perform a deep cleaning. The hygienist will also perform a root planing procedure, which involves smoothing out your teeth roots to encourage your gums to reattach to your teeth.
Frenectomy
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Frenectomy procedures are quite common, especially during the infant stage of life.
The frenum is a piece of soft tissue connected to the lips and gums. If the frenum is too short or too tight, it can interfere with breastfeeding, swallowing, or speech development.
A lip adhesion can also affect dental development and make it hard to fully clean the gums and front teeth. This raises the risk of gum disease and other dental complications.
We routinely perform Frenectomy procedures using a laser, which minimizes the risk of infection and blood loss.
Cold​ Sore Laser Treatment
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The symptoms of cold sores may include a tingling, itching or pain around the mouth and on the lips, a fever, a sore throat, or swollen glands in the neck or other parts of the body. After the blisters appear, the cold sores usually break open, leak a clear fluid, and then crust over and disappear after several days to 2 weeks. For some people, cold sores can be very painful.
Cold sores will usually start to heal on their own within a few days and then disappear within a couple of weeks. However, if they cause pain or make you feel self-conscious, they can be treated.
Laser treatment at the first sign of a tingling sensation can prevent the cold sore from breaking out and forming blisters. If the cold sore has already formed blisters, the laser treatment should lessen the discomfort and help it to dry up and heal much faster.
The herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores cannot be cured, but laser treatment may reduce the number of cold sores that develop and how severe they are. After being treated with a laser multiple times, there is a good chance that a cold sore will not appear again in the same spot.
Laser treatment usually takes just a few minutes and anesthesia is generally not needed.
