Dental checkup:
- During a dental checkup, we examine:
- The temporomandibular joint
- The teeth to detect any cavities, defective restorations and other anomalies
- The soft tissues to check for oral cancers and gum disease
- X-rays to identify any cavities, cysts, bone loss, impacted teeth and other anomalies
Cleaning:
During a cleaning, the hygienist removes plaque and tartar deposits on the teeth and above the gum line.
Gum therapy:
Tartar can sometimes build up below the gum line, irritating the gums and causing bleeding and inflammation. Left untreated, tartar can cause the teeth to detach from the gums, leading to possible bone loss and loose teeth.
Tooth decay:
In the first stage of tooth decay, the enamel becomes demineralized and softens. In more advanced stages, a cavity will form in the tooth. Tooth decay is often painless until it reaches an advanced stage.
Endodontics:
In some deep cavities, the decay can reach the nerve tissue. As a result, the tooth can become infected and necrotic. A root canal involves disinfecting and cleaning out debris (including infected nerve tissue) from the pulp chamber.
CBCT scans:
We use 3D imaging as a diagnostic tool to take a three-dimensional look at the jaw bones so we can plan the placement of implants and detect anomalies that would otherwise be difficult to assess on a panoramic X-ray.
Gum grafts:
A gum graft is a procedure to cover an exposed root or reinforce thinning gum tissue due to gum recession.
Surgery and wisdom tooth extraction:
Wisdom teeth are extracted when they don’t have room to grow properly. They may be more difficult to remove according to their position (some could be partially or completely encased in tissue or bone).