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The name for a procedure of sealing and shaping the submerged root end of a tooth. This procedure involves surgical entry through soft tissue and bone to gain access to the root end.
A biopsy is the removal of a sample of tissue from the body for examination. The tissue will be examined under a microscope to assist in diagnosis.
Sometimes, it is enough just to scrape over an area. The biopsy may aim to remove an area completely (an excision biopsy). This is usually only appropriate for small lumps or swellings. Occasionally only a small piece of an abdominal area is removed to confirm a diagnosis (an incisional biopsy).
In most cases biopsies are carried out under anaesthesia and it means that the biopsy will be painless.
Also referred to as teeth whiteningis, a cosmetic dentistry technique designed to remove stains and areas of discoloration from the teeth.
Commonly used to describe a fixed orthodontic appliance, usually comprised of brackets, bands and wires.
A dental bridge is a false tooth, known as a pontic, which is fused between two porcelain crowns to fill in the area left by a missing tooth. The two crowns holding it in place that are attached onto your teeth on each side of the false tooth. This is known as a fixed bridge.
This procedure is used to replace one or more missing teeth.
Fixed bridges cannot be taken out of your mouth as you might do with removable partial dentures.
Looking for certain indicators and palpating (feeling) for lumps or irregular tissue changes in your mouth, head and neck.
The insides of your cheek, your gums, the sides, top and bottom of your tongue, the roof and back of your mouth will be examined for normal and abnormal sores or lesions.
A biopsy will be conducted on any suspected areas.
By following a systematic approach to the oral, head and neck cancer physical examination, clinicians will be more effective at diagnosing such cancers at an early and more treatable stage.
Cavities occur as a result of tooth decay. Tooth decay is the destruction of tooth structure.
Tooth decay occurs when foods containing carbohydrates (sugars and starches) such as breads, cereals, milk, soda, fruits, cakes, or candy are left on the teeth. Bacteria that live in the mouth digest these foods, turning them into acids. The bacteria, acid, food debris, and saliva combine to form plaque, which clings to the teeth. The acids in plaque dissolve the enamel surface of the teeth, creating holes in the teeth called cavities, or caries.
Dentist will utilize this procedure to graft tissue from the roof of the mouth to the receded gum line.
Not only can receding gum lines affect the aesthetic value of a smile, but if left untreated, teeth can eventually come loose or shift. By transferring this soft tissue to the areas of loss, Cosmetic Gum Grafting helps the teeth to stay in place and protects the tooth roots from damage.
A crown is a cover for a decayed or damaged tooth made of porcelain and/or metal.
Procedures to improve a "gummy" smile when teeth appear short.
Teeth may actually be the proper lengths, but they're covered with too much gum tissue.
To correct this, periodontist performs crown lengthening.
During this procedure, excess gum and bone tissue is reshaped to expose more of the natural tooth. This can be done to one tooth, to even your gum line, or to several teeth to expose a natural, broad smile.
Curettage removes the diseased soft tissue lining the periodontal pockets. It is a manual procedure and permits a deeper and more complete cleaning than ultrasound. Local anesthesia is often used.
Lesions on the skin are lumps or bumps such as moles, cysts, warts or skin tags. Most are benign (non-cancerous), but if they are painful, unsightly or restrict movement, you may want to have them removed.
The operation is usually performed using a local anaesthetic, in which case the area around your skin lesion will be numb but you will be awake.
Some lesions can be shaved down to the level of the surrounding skin, either using a surgical blade or electro-surgery, which uses an alternating current to destroy skin tissue.Other lesions can be cut out entirely (excised) and the wound closed up with stitches.
Dental prophylaxis (also called dental cleaning) includes teeth cleaning, fluoride treatment and oral hygiene instructions.
During the procedure the hygienist removes soft and hard food deposits by using dental hand and rotary instruments. A special paste is then used to polish your teeth.
Recent dental research has found that gum disease can cause heart attacks and strokes.
Everyone should have one done every six months. Patients with periodontal disease should have a prophylaxis every three to four months.
Dental sealant is a plastic, professionally-applied material that is put on the chewing surfaces of back teeth to prevent cavities. Sealants provide a physical barrier so that cavity-causing bacteria cannot invade the pits and fissures on the chewing surfaces of teeth.
Dentures are removable replacements for missing teeth typically made out of an acrylic resin which at times incorporate porcelain or metal for additional structural support.
There are two main types of dentures - Full (complete) Dentures and Partial Dentures.
If some of your teeth remain and are healthy, a partial denture may be your way to a great smile.
Both Complete Dentures and Partial Dentures are finely crafted, custom-fitted. If you properly maintain your dentures they will appear natural and provide a perfect smile.
The dentist must probe the gums to see if any pockets exist as this can lead to more severe periodontal conditions if not treated early.
Also, the dentist will conduct an oral cancer screening, soft tissue evaluation, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) test.
An inspection of all existing restorations (fillings and/or crowns) will be performed to look for leakage or cracks that may result in decay. The dentist also may evaluate possible cosmetic alternations that he may feel will improve your esthetic appearance and smile. Assessment of the occlusion for bite problems and an orthodontic screening are also parts of this thorough examination.
An arch expander can be used to create a proper alignment of the arches so permanent teeth have room to erupt in a natural position. The use of an arch expander will generally minimize or eliminate the need for braces when the patient gets older.
Wisdom teeth are often impacted (obstructed from erupting) and have to be extracted.
To treat a cavity your dentist will remove the decayed portion of the tooth and then "fill" the area on the tooth where the decayed material once lived.
Fillings are also used to repair cracked or broken teeth.
The periodontist makes an incision in the gum where periodontal pockets have formed. He reflects the gum flap away, exposing the tooth root and cleans all infection out from the pocket. Bone regeneration procedures such as bone - grafting may be performed at this point. The periodontist then positions the gum to reduce the pocket and promote healing. The incision is sutured closed following the procedure.
Periodontal (gum) disease is an infection of the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth. It is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Because periodontal (gum) disease is usually painless, however, you may not know you have it.
It is caused by plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on the teeth. These bacteria create toxins that can damage the gums.
In the early stage of periodontal (gum) disease, called gingivitis, the gums can become red, swollen and bleed easily. At this stage, the disease is still reversible and can usually be eliminated by daily brushing and flossing.
In the more advanced stages of periodontal (gum) disease, called periodontitis, the gums and bone that support the teeth can become seriously damaged. The teeth can become loose, fall out or have to be removed by a dentist.
An inlay made of porcelain or composite material and is usually custom made to fit the tooth's damaged area. This inlay is then permanently attached to the tooth. Since the color is more natural than traditional fillings, it will ensure a beautiful and flawless smile.
It is proven technology designed to give you the smile you've always wanted, without the pain and anxiety associated with metal braces.
To help you get a more beautiful smile, Invisalign® uses a series of clear, removable aligners to gradually move your teeth. You wear a set of aligners for about two weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush and floss. As you replace each set of aligners with the next in the series, your teeth will gradually move until they reach the position your doctor has prescribed for you. The average treatment time is about a year.
Dental implants are fixtures of titanium which are surgically screwed into your jaw bone. It acts as an anchor for a false tooth or a set of false teeth.
Implants are great for replacing missing teeth. It is important that you have enough bone in the area of the missing teeth for the implants to be attached to.
Implants are increasingly being used to replace certain types of bridges and removable partial dentures.
Porcelain veneers that offer the painless way to a permanently whiter and perfectly aligned smile.
LUMINEERS® are contact lens-thin and are placed over existing teeth without having to remove painful tooth structure. LUMINEERS® is the painless, permanent cosmetic solution for stained, chipped, discolored or misaligned teeth. LUMINEERS® can even be placed over existing crown or bridgework without having to replace them.
Mouth guards are coverings worn over teeth, and often used to protect teeth from injury from teeth grinding and during sports.
This treatment includes scaling and root planning. It is a careful cleaning of the root surfaces to remove plaque and calculus (tartar) from deep periodontal pockets and to smooth the tooth root to remove bacterial toxins.
Occlusion is how your teeth come together when you close your jaw.
Onlay is a custom-made tooth shaped piece of porcelain that fits On (Onlay) your tooth. Onlays replace missing tooth structure that may be chipped, cracked or decayed. It may also be used when a tooth will not hold a filling and a crown is not necessary. If it covers the tips of the teeth or otherwise supports the tips it is called an onlay.
Treatment for oral cancer is surgical removal of the lesion and is sometimes followed by radiation therapy.
Periodontist will examine your gums, check to see if there is any gum line recession, assess how your teeth fit together when you bite and check your teeth to see if any are loose.
Periodontist will also take a small measuring instrument and place it between your teeth and gums to determine the depth of those spaces, known as periodontal pockets. This helps your periodontist assess the health of your gums.
Radiographs (x-rays) may be used to show the bone levels between your teeth to check for possible bone loss.
Your bone and gum tissue should fit snugly around your teeth. When you have periodontal disease, this supporting tissue and bone is destroyed, forming "pockets" around the teeth.
A thick metal reinforcement inserted into a tooth that has had a root canal to help strengthen it.
Your bone and gum tissue should fit snugly around your teeth like a turtleneck around your neck. When you have periodontal disease, this supporting tissue and bone is destroyed and pockets develop.
Your periodontist may recommend a regenerative procedure when the bone supporting your teeth has been destroyed.
A gadget that the orthodontist gives to wear after he removes patient's braces. The retainer attaches to the upper teeth and holds them in the correct position. Patient wears the retainer at night to make sure that none of his teeth move while his jaw hardens and teeth get strongly attached to the jaw.
Inside each tooth is the pulp which provides nutrients and nerves to the tooth, it runs like a thread down through the root. When the pulp is diseased or injured, the pulp tissue dies. If you don't remove it, your tooth gets infected and you could lose it.
Cleaning out the inside tube of the tooth to preserve the teeth calls root canal therapy.
Root canal treatment includes removing the pulp, cleaning the root canal and sealing off to protect it. Then Dentist places a crown over the tooth to help make it stronger.
Tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth from its socket in the bone.
Periodontal surgery is necessary when your periodontist determines that the tissue around your teeth is unhealthy and cannot be repaired with non-surgical treatment. Following are the four types of surgical treatments most commonly prescribed: pocket reduction procedures, regenerative procedures , crown lengthening and soft tissue grafts.
Teeth grinding can be caused by stress and anxiety, it often occurs during sleep and is more likely caused by an abnormal bite or missing or crooked teeth.
An artificial crown covering mainly three surfaces of anterior teeth (mesial, distal, and lingual) and four surfaces of posterior teeth (mesial, distal, lingual, and occlusal); used as a retainer for a bridge or as a single-unit restoration on a carious fractured tooth. Also called a partial veneer.
The most common form of TMD is discomfort or pain in the muscles that control jaw function and the neck and shoulder muscles.
Symptoms such as headaches, earaches, dizziness and hearing problems may sometimes be related to TMD. It is important to keep in mind, however, that occasional discomfort in the jaw joint or chewing muscles is quite common and is generally not a cause for concern.
The patient's description of symptoms, combined with a simple physical examination of the face and jaw, provides information useful for diagnosing these disorders.
The examination includes feeling the jaw joints and chewing muscles for pain or tenderness; listening for clicking, popping or grating sounds during jaw movement; and examining for limited motion or locking of the jaw while opening or closing the mouth.
X-rays taken may include bitewings that are used to find decay, bone level, calculus (tartar), and periodontal pockets. Other X-rays that may be taken are a full mouth series of 16-18 pictures or a panoramic X-ray that would show root apices (top or bottom of the tooth), possible abscesses, calculus, and bone levels not detected in the oral examination.
The dentist may want a panoramic X-ray that shows tooth position (especially wisdom teeth), sinus cavities, possible abscesses, and TMJ position.
By taking an X-rays of your teeth the Dentist can detect any problems and evaluate for any decay, bone loss, abscesses, impacted teeth or tooth alignment problems.
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