Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis - Trench Mouth Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis (ANUG), which is also known as trench mouth or Vincent's Stomatitis, is a painful bacterial infection and ulceration of the gums. The term "trench mouth" comes from World War I, when the disorder was common

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Treatment of an abscessed tooth An abscessed tooth is a pocket of pus, usually caused by some kind of infection and the spread of bacteria from the root of the tooth to the tissue just below or near the tooth. In general, a tooth that has become abscessed is one whose underlying pulp (the tooth's

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  Oral changes with age Is tooth loss inevitable in your later years? How much should adults be concerned about cavities? Here you will find helpful answers to some frequently asked questions about oral health questions you may have as you get older. National survey reveals baby boomers miss

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Implants for All Teeth If you are missing all of your teeth, an implant-supported full bridge or full denture can replace them. Dental implants will replace both your lost natural teeth and some of the roots. What are the advantages of implant-supported full bridges and implant-supported dentures

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The Importance of Preventive Care: Maintaining Good Oral Health Preventative dental care is a significant part of overall dental health, but it's often an afterthought. Our dedicated dentist sees many patients who don’t keep up with consistent preventative oral care and then must fix the problems

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Bad Breath (Halitosis) Bad breath (halitosis) can cause embarrassment, create social and psychological barriers, and even affect relationships. Causes The majority of bad breath problems begin in the mouth. Bad breath that is of oral cavity origin can be traced to a sulfur compound produced

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An estimated sixty-five percent of Americans have bad breath. Over forty-million Americans have "chronic halitosis," which is persistent bad breath. Ninety percent of all halitosis is of oral, not systemic, origin. Americans spend more than $1 billion a year on over the counter halitosis products,

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Finally, a painless way to reshape and permanently whiten your smile! Chipped and Stained Spaced Teeth Good to Beautiful Fanged Teeth Replace Old Crowns and Bridgework

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Bleaching and non-bleaching products are the two basic kinds of whitening products available today. Non-bleaching products normally use abrasives or chemicals and only remove surface stains on teeth. Bleaching products work with a chemical called peroxide and can brighten your teeth several shades. Another

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Bonding Before Bonding is a cosmetic dentistry procedure that enables the restoration of chipped, spotted, discolored or gapped teeth. We use modern materials that match the shade, translucency, and texture of your teeth. Our goal is to have the end result appear as if no treatment was performed.

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Bonding is a process in which an enamel-like material is applied to a tooth`s surface, sculpted to an ideal shape, hardened, and then polished for an ideal smile. This procedure usually can be accomplished in a single visit. Bonding is often performed in order to fill in gaps or change the color of

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Bone Grafting This tooth is unrestorable due to the large amount of bone loss that is missing on the front side of the tooth. The tooth is removed and there is a large hole in the bone that needs to be filled in. The defect in the bone is filled in with bone used from various sources. The

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Braces are applied to teeth for various reasons, including poorly aligned jaws, crooked, crowded and missing teeth, or a bad bite (also called malocclusion). Various things can cause teeth to become crooked or jaws misaligned, including thumb-sucking or a traumatic injury. Some conditions are inherited. Children

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Bridges A missing molar The adjacent teeth prepared for a bridge When a tooth has been lost and healthy teeth are located on both sides of the newly missing tooth or teeth, then a fixed bridge is a treatment option. The other options are implants or a partial denture. The procedure for

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Bridges are natural-looking dental appliances that can replace a section of missing teeth. Because they are custom-made, bridges are barely noticeable and can restore the natural contour of teeth as well as the proper bite relationship between upper and lower teeth. There are several types of fixed

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Brushing is the most effective method for removing harmful plaque from your teeth and gums. Getting the debris off your teeth and gums in a timely manner prevents bacteria in the food you eat from turning into harmful, cavity causing acids. Most dentists agree that brushing three times a day is the

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Bruxism (Habitual Grinding of Teeth) Have you ever been told that you grind your teeth? Tooth grinding [bruxism] is an oral habit which involves clenching and grinding of the teeth. It is not uncommon in our society. Approximately 50% to 96% of adults experience bruxism and 15% of children acquire

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Bruxism (Habitual Grinding of Teeth) Have you ever been told that you grind your teeth? Tooth grinding [bruxism] is an oral habit which involves clenching and grinding of the teeth. It is not uncommon in our society. Approximately 50% to 96% of adults experience bruxism and 15% of children acquire

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People with eating disorders can suffer from oral health problems as well. This is because many of the behaviors associated with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa—such as binge eating, self-induced vomiting, and use of diuretics or laxatives—cause changes in the mouth.  For example, repeated

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People sometimes confuse canker sores and cold sores, but they are completely unrelated. Both can be painful, but knowing the differences can help you keep them in check. A canker sore is typically one that occurs on the delicate tissues inside your mouth. It is usually light-colored at its base and

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What Is Tooth Decay? Tooth decay is caused by a variety of things; in medical terms, cavities are called caries, which are caused by long-term destructive forces acting on tooth structures such as enamel and the tooth's inner dentin material. These destructive forces include frequent exposure to

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Chemotherapy and Your Mouth Are You Being Treated With Chemotherapy for Cancer? How Does Chemotherapy Affect the Mouth? What Mouth Problems Does Chemotherapy Cause? Why Should I See a Dentist? When Should I See a Dentist? What Will the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Do? What

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Special thin laminates, called veneers, can often be used to correct discolored, worn down, cracked and chipped teeth. Veneers can also be used to close unsightly gaps between teeth. Stronger types of veneers made of porcelain, also called composite veneers, typically last longer because they are bonded

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Cleanings and Prevention A preventive (recare) program is a joint cooperative effort between you and our team to preserve your natural teeth, gums, and bones of the oral area by preventing the onset, progress, and recurrence of dental diseases and conditions. Preventing dental disease starts at home

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Common Orthodontic Treatment Orthodontics gives you a beautiful smile and a healthier mouth. It is an important branch of dentistry, which deals with correcting the positioning of the jaw and the alignment of the teeth. Remember, there is no age restriction for orthodontic treatment. There are many

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Conditions of the Tongue Hairy Tongue Hairy tongue is a benign change of the top surface of the tongue that is characterized by elongation of the many small nodules called papillae. It gets is name because the papillae resemble stubby hairs. The papillae can become stained from coffee, tea, colored

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Crown Lengthening This procedure is typically needed for one of two reasons; either cosmetic or restorative. Crown lengthening can cosmetically improve the smile line by eliminating the "gummy" smile look. The restorative reason is to provide more tooth to be visible in the mouth so the tooth can be

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Crowns A severely chipped front tooth The tooth prepared for a porcelain crown When the structure of an entire tooth is compromised, a crown, which covers all of the surfaces of the tooth, will need to be placed. The example to the left illustrates a fractured front tooth. The first step

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Crowns are synthetic caps, usually made of a material like porcelain, placed on the top of a tooth. Crowns are typically used to restore a tooth's function and appearance following a restorative procedure such as a root canal. When decay in a tooth has become so advanced that large portions of the

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Bridges Bridges are natural-looking dental appliances that can replace a section of missing teeth. Because they are custom-made, bridges are barely noticeable and can restore the natural contour of teeth as well as the proper bite relationship between upper and lower teeth.Bridges are sometimes referred

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Refrain from eating for at least 2 hours and/or until the anesthesia has worn off. Temporary: A temporary is a crown or bridge that is placed on the prepared teeth while the final restoration is being made. The temporary serves a very important purpose. It protects the exposed dentin so it is not

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A knocked out tooth or bitten tongue can cause panic in any parent, but quick thinking and staying calm are the best ways to approach such common dental emergencies and prevent additional unnecessary damage and costly dental restoration. This includes taking measures such as application of cold compresses

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Dental Glossary Our dental glossary is a definition of terms used on our website and in dentistry. Please click on a link below to go directly to that section of the glossary. A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z A Abfraction Wear,

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Dental X-Rays - Radiographs What is a Dental X-Ray? The term x-ray is actually referring to the radiation that is used to make the image on the film. The radiograph or picture on the film is the resultant picture that we see. A radiograph is an extremely important diagnostic tool. These pictures

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Denture Care Just because you may have dentures does not mean that you can ignore your oral health and hygiene. It is still important to seek regular dental services for evaluating the soft tissues and to examine the denture for proper fit, comfort, and function. Why should I clean my denture daily? Daily

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