Our General Dentistry Services Include:
Routine Cleanings & Preventive Care
When you have healthy gums, our hygienist will gently clean your teeth. We periodically take dental digital X-rays, as well, to check for cavities and monitor the overall health of your mouth. We also provide dental sealants to both our children and adult patients to help prevent decay, and we provide fluoride treatments.
Periodontal Health (Gum Health)
Gum disease is more common than some people might think. More than 75% of the adult population in the U.S. has some form of gum disease, ranging from gingivitis to periodontitis. Both are serious infections, but often there is no pain to warn you. Here are some signs and symptoms to help you know if you are at risk for gum disease:
- Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing
- Puffy, swollen, or red gums
- Persistent bad breath
- Loose teeth
The easiest way to prevent gum disease is to practice good oral health
habits at home and to have regular checkups at our office. If you are diagnosed with gum disease, a scaling (a non-surgical treatment) usually will improve the health of your mouth. For patients who have had scalings, more frequent cleaning visits may be recommended (every 3 months instead of the regular 6 months between checkups).
Tooth Decay & Cavities
At our office, patients have choices when it comes to filling cavities. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), silver (amalgam) fillings are a safe and affordable way to fix teeth with cavities. Tooth-colored composite fillings are another alternative. Composite fillings work well for small to medium-sized cavities. For large cavities, an onlay or dental crown may be recommended by Dr. Healey to ensure successful repair of the decayed tooth/teeth.
Dental Implants & Dentures
You have options for replacing your missing teeth. At our office, these include dental implants, bridges, and complete or partial dentures.
Dental implants are the ideal way to restore one or more missing teeth. The advantage of implants compared to a bridge is that the adjacent teeth are not crowned, because implants are self-supporting.
Implants can also be used to hold dentures in place. Denture wearers who have trouble with loose dentures can experience a huge improvement in comfort and chewing through implant stabilization of their dentures. The denture simply snaps on over the implants and then stays put! Dentures are especially appropriate for patients who will probably continue losing their teeth due to disease.
Complete and partial dentures are another option for reclaiming your smile that many patients find more cost-effective than dental implants. A complete denture replaces all of the teeth in an entire arch of the mouth while a partial denture fills in any gaps between your natural teeth. Dentures also offer support for your cheeks and lips, helping you avoid a sunken, older appearance.
If you have dentures, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t go to the dentist anymore. You should have your dentures evaluated every 5-7 years for wear and proper fit, and you should have your gums examined annually.
Root Canals
A root canal becomes necessary when the inside of a tooth gets infected and/or inflamed. Possible reasons for this infection and inflammation are deep cavities, repeated dental treatment, and cracks or breaks in teeth. If left untreated, infected and inflamed teeth can lead to serious pain, swelling, and eventually abscess. Some symptoms of pulp or nerve damage are long-lasting sensitivity to heat or cold, tooth discoloration, and swelling or tender gums.
Root canal treatments are typically highly successful. A treated tooth can remain tender or sore for a few days after the root canal procedure, but this can be minimized with over-the-counter or prescription medications. If a treated tooth is not restored following a root canal, you could risk fracturing it. To prevent this from occurring, a dental crown helps make the treated tooth as strong as possible.
Headache Relief with NTI Appliance
We feel compassion for any pain you may have. If you are suffering from tension or migraine headaches and take strong medicine to alleviate the pain, we have a solution. The NTI appliance is a drug-free option for relieving pain from headaches. It is FDA approved to reduce migraine events. When you wear this device, it helps the jaw muscles relax, preventing most occurrences of headaches. Clinical results show that 82% of patients had a 77% reduction in pain. Better still, it’s easy to wear and not bulky like a night guard!
Call us today to schedule your appointment! 978-262-0066