Your regularly scheduled check-up is often referred to as a “cleaning”, but there is much more to it than that! The technical term is oral prophylaxis,which means prevention of oral disease. One way to prevent oral disease is to remove harmful plaque and tartar (calculus) both above and below the gum line. You may also be
Normal, healthy gums have small pockets around each tooth. The bacteria and infection associated with periodontitis causes these pockets to become deeper, trapping more bacteria and causing more infection. When the pockets become too deep for scaling and root planing, a Pocket Depth Reduction procedure is often a solution. During a Pocket Depth Reduction procedure, Dr. Gaitan gently folds
Tooth Decay begins when the protein of your saliva combines with the sugars and carbohydrates of food particles left on and between your teeth. This combination creates bacteria-laden plaque, from which acid is produced that eats away at the hard enamel shell around your tooth. Left unchecked, a hole will be created in the enamel
If you have a broken or chipped tooth that is not the result of a recent trauma, Dr. Gaitan can evaluate the tooth for possible treatment. It is still important to have the tooth evaluated right away, because in some situations a minor procedure now can save you from a more significant procedure in the near future! A very
Permanent Fixed Bridge A Permanent Bridge replaces one or more missing teeth. A Bridge will: Keep teeth from drifting into the space created from a missing tooth Help preserve normal function and normal bite for the jaw joint A Permanent Bridge is usually anchored to the teeth on both sides of the space from the
Since most of the damage typically caused by bruxism is during sleep, a night guard can usually be made to stop further damage. A night guard is custom made to fit over the upper or lower teeth. With the night guard in place, the patient can’t grind their teeth together and cause further damage.
When the damage caused by Periodontal Disease is significant, a Bone and Tissue Regeneration procedure may be necessary to save your teeth. During this treatment, Dr. Gaitan gently folds back the gum and removes the disease-causing bacteria and infection. He will then place membranes, bone grafts and tissue-stimulating proteins to help your body naturally heal and regenerate
Bonding is simply adding a little tooth-colored composite material to “fill in the blanks.” One of the most frequent uses of the bonding technique is to fill in a gap between front teeth. Before: A noticeable space between the front teeth. After: Bonding fills the space, but still keeps the teeth looking natural
Mal – occlusion literally means “poor closing” or “bad bite.” A bad bite can be caused by several factors: Dental malocclusion A dental malocclusion occurs when the teeth are not lined up properly, even though the jaws may be properly aligned. Dental malocclusion caused by crowding Skeletal malocclusion A skeletal malocclusion occurs when the upper and
Healthy gums do not bleed. Healthy gums do not bleed. Healthy gums do not bleed! Bleeding gums are a sign of infection. Healthy gums do not bleed. Brush and floss the area well. If bleeding persists, Contact Us immediately for an appointment. Infection can lead to Gum Disease and tooth loss. Bleeding gums can often be your first indication of infection. Early stages of Gum Disease are