Most of the conditions that negatively affect your smile can be avoided with regular care. Your team at Lawrence Family Dentistry is committed to answering your questions about proper hygiene and to providing you with the most advanced preventative dentistry.
Preventative Fluoride Therapy
Fluoride is a mineral that is found naturally in many things we eat or drink. It is nature’s way of helping prevent cavities. Professional strength (in-office fluorides) and low strength (home fluorides) each play important roles in helping to keep your teeth healthy. Professional fluorides make teeth stronger and even heal weakened areas, while home fluorides assist in this process. In the lifelong fight against cavities, both adults and children benefit from in-office treatment.
Sealants
Dental sealants are plastic coatings or barriers that protect the teeth against decay-causing bacteria. Usually, sealants are applied to the chewing surfaces of your back teeth (premolars and molars) where decay most often occurs. Applying a sealant to your teeth can prevent cavities and the need for fillings, which must be replaced every six-to-eight years. Children especially benefit from sealants.
Oral Cancer Screenings
Oral cancer affects tens of thousands of Americans every year, and one case in four is fatal. As with most cancers, the key to beating the disease is catching it before it progresses to a later stage. With early detection from a routine oral cancer screening, there is a 90% rate of cure after diagnosis. A trusted dentist like Dr. Lawrence is truly your only line of defense against oral cancer. He and his team of dental professionals are the only ones to regularly evaluate your oral health and to notice any potential abnormalities. Gain the peace of mind that comes with a regular oral cancer screening from Dr. Lawrence. With the help of the latest dental technology, even a diagnosis of oral cancer can be successfully treated through early detection.
Night Guards/Occlusal Guard
Many people who notice chipped or cracked teeth, but who don’t remember when the injury occurred, damaged their teeth while they were sleeping. Grinding or clenching your teeth during the night will cause your teeth to chip, crack, and even break. To keep you from seriously damaging your teeth, we recommend a dental appliance called a night-guard, which protects your teeth from grinding and clenching in your sleep. Our team takes great care in making sure you have a proper fit to prevent pain in your jaw joint. Do you also suffer from headaches? If so, you may find that a side benefit of your night-guard is headache prevention. Many headaches start during the night, caused by the extreme pressure generated as you grind and clench your teeth. Ask our team about having a night-guard custom created just for you.
Periodontal Therapy
Most Americans experience some form of periodontal disease, often without even realizing it. Periodontal disease is chiefly responsible for adult tooth loss, bleeding gums, bad breath, and receding gums. The truth is, that periodontal disease is easily prevented with proper hygiene, and home care and with professional treatment. If diagnosed in its early stages, gum disease treatments are easier, less invasive and more effective. Your visit to Dr. Lawrence includes a complete examination of your gums and supportive structures, and you will have access to advanced periodontal therapy to heal and restore your oral health.
Fillings
When the decay has been removed from the tooth, it is replaced with “filling” material. In the past, amalgam (silver) fillings were placed into the cleaned-out portion of the tooth. However, with advancements in dentistry, you can now have tooth-colored fillings instead of silver fillings. You may even elect to remove your old silver fillings in favor of new, undetectable tooth-colored ones.
Root Scaling and Planing
This extensive cleaning treatment is provided by the hygienist for patients who have tartar, calculus, and bacteria buried below the gum line on the tooth. Your regular tooth brushing and flossing removes the tartar that is above the gum line of your tooth.
During your evaluation, the dentist or hygienist will use the periodontal probe to gently measure the spaces between the teeth and gums. In a healthy mouth, this space (pocket) is usually less than three millimeters deep. Very deep pockets are a sign of advanced periodontal disease.
The first step in treating the disease usually involves a special deep cleaning called “scaling and root planing”. In this treatment, the hygienist removes plaque and tartar down to the bottom of each periodontal pocket. This treatment may be done over several visits, depending on your needs.
Root Canals
Damage to the nerve tissue inside of a tooth sometimes requires a root canal procedure. Dr. Lawrence takes advantage of advances in technology and in dental techniques that make root canal procedures more effective while also taking less time.
A root canal involves removing the soft tissue within the tooth(the pulp) when it has become infected and inflamed. Your dentist gently files the infected tissue out of the root canals of the tooth (this is where the procedure gets its name) and fills the void with an inert material. The procedure is completed with the placement of a filling or, in some cases, with a crown.
Tooth Extractions
In some cases, injury or decay damages a tooth extensively, and an extraction is the proper treatment option to start you on the path toward complete dental health. We can remove your troublesome tooth and give you the treatment options for replacing that tooth in order to complete your beautiful smile.