Gum disease is an infection of the tissues that surround and support your teeth. It is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Because gum disease is normally painless, you may not know you have it. Also referred to as periodontal disease, gum disease is caused by plaque, the sticky film of bacteria that is constantly forming on our teeth.

The sooner you treat gum disease the better. The early stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. If you have gingivitis, your gums may become red, swollen and bleed easily. At this stage, the disease is still reversible and can usually be eliminated by a professional cleaning followed by daily brushing and flossing.

There are many successful treatment options available for gum disease of any stage – losing teeth doesn’t have to be an option. Our dental professionals will help decide which method of treatment is best for you, getting you your smile back to the way it once was.

A simple tooth extraction is an in office procedure that can be completed by your regular doctor, involving specialized tools to lift or pull the tooth from its socket. Teeth can be removed much easier than you might think. Teeth are held inside its bony socket by a set of elastic fibers, and your dentist will use a set of specialized tools to gently manipulate the tooth, causing the fibers to loosen and ultimate disconnect. After the tooth is removed, the extraction site may be filled with bone grafting material to minimize shrinkage in the surrounding bone tissue. Teeth that haven’t yet erupted are removed surgically, often with the patient under IV anesthesia to prevent discomfort and trauma. If necessary, the extracted tooth can later be replaced by a dental implant or bridge.

Dental extractions are usually performed when teeth are too badly damaged to be saved, or when leaving a tooth in the mouth will cause more harm than good. There are four primary reasons why you might need to have a tooth extracted.

• Tooth Decay
• Tooth Damage
• Dental Abscess
• Misalignment or Crowding

Sealants are quick and easy tooth-colored plastic coated resin coatings designed to fill little grooves in your teeth to prohibit bacteria buildup. The process is quite simple. Your dentist will clean your teeth, then apply a solution that will allow the sealant to stick tightly to the tooth. The first dental sealant to be placed is usually on the fissure of the first permanent molar tooth, once the chewing surface of the tooth has erupted completely beyond the gum. Your dentist will then paint the sealant on in a liquid form that hardens in just about a minute, and that’s it! Best of all, studies have shown that sealants can reduce decay up to 70% and can last nearly a decade!

Tooth-colored fillings are made of porcelain, which is a mixture of plastic and glass that not only looks good, but is also better for your teeth. Today’s tooth-colored filling materials physically attach or bond to natural tooth service. Tooth colored fillings are strong, yet flexible. They absorb and transfer force...

Your regular exam will take about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Each regular exam includes a detailed teeth cleaning, in which we will clean, polish, and rinse your teeth to remove any tartar and plaque that have built up on the tooth’s surface. We suggest visiting our office every six months to give yourself the chance to....