Hygiene

Routine Check-ups

The American Dental Association recommends frequent dental checkups and professional cleanings for patients of all ages. At your checkup, the dentist may take X-rays or photographs, and he or she will thoroughly inspect your teeth and gums for signs of trouble. Issues like hairline cracks and small areas of decay can be treated quickly and effectively. By identifying and resolving problems early, we can save you time, money, and inconvenience.


Charting and Diagnosing

Scaling and Root Planing - Periodontal scaling and root planing is a conservative cleaning procedure removing contamination and infection beneath the gum. Scaling removes deposits of bacterial plaque, calculus and pus that have accumulated in the infected pocket due to periodontitis. Root planing smooths and cleans the root of the tooth.


Gum Disease

Periodontal (gum) disease is an infection of the teeth, gums and the bone that surrounds the teeth. It is the leading cause of adult tooth loss. Stopping this condition begins with a thorough diagnosis. To identify periodontal disease, we perform a comprehensive examination including periodontal charting and x-rays. If we detect periodontal disease, we will talk with you about treatment options and proper home care to minimize bone loss and restore the health of your gums. Our approach is conservative. We use the non-surgical method whenever possible, using the latest antibiotic therapy techniques to fight the bacteria causing advanced forms of periodontal disease.

Composites and Resins

A composite resin is used on the affected tooth or teeth.It is molded and sculpted over an adhesive gel that is placed on the tooth. After the resin has been applied an ultraviolet light is used to harden the resin, which is then polished to give you a fresh, new smile.Bonding is an obvious improvement over unsightly silver amalgam fillings. With the advancements in dental technology,treatments bonding usually lasts for over 10 years. It is a safe, affordable, and attractive solution for many dental problems. Many Insurance companies will downgrade a composite to an amalgam for payment purposes, this will result in a slightly larger out of pocket expense for some patients.

Crowns and Bridges

The process of installing a crown takes 2-3 visits to the dentist. On the first visit the tooth with be reshaped by filing down the enamel so that the crown can be placed over it. You will be given a local anesthetic before this part of the procedure so that you do not experience any discomfort. Once the tooth has been reshaped, a mold will be taken of that tooth and the surrounding teeth. This mold will be send to a dental lab so that your new crown can be made so that it fits in the spot created for it and looks the same relative to the surrounding teeth.Before leaving, your dentist will fit you with a temporary crown untilyour permanent crown is ready.The crown takes about 2-3 weeks to be returned to your dentist. At this time you will have another appointment to place and fit the permanent crown. You will again have a local anesthetic to numb the area and the tooth will be placed using a cement to ensure the tooth sets in place. When you look in the mirror, you will see your old smile back. Crowns are durable and will usually last about 10-15 years. You should care for it as you would any of your other teeth with regular brushing and flossing.

When teeth are missing and there are teeth on either side of the space a bridge is the ideal way to replace the missing teeth. When there has been the loss of a tooth or teeth and there is a tooth on either side of the open space, replacement teeth can be attached to two crowns constructed for the 2 teeth on either side of the open space. This is called a bridge because it bridges the open space. When a tooth is lost 5 or more other teeth may drift so it is essential to place a replacement tooth as soon as possible. The space left from missing teeth may cause one of several problems. Teeth may drift into the space changing your bite, this changed bite may result in sore jaws, A fixed bridge is used to replace one or several teeth. The teeth on each end of the space is used to as anchors (abutments). Bridges are not removable by the patient. As with other types of crowns (caps), a bridge can be made of metal or porcelain, or a combination of these two.

Implants

This is a clever way to solve the problem of a missing tooth. A dental implant is basically a titanium tooth root replacement with a“crown” on top. The advantages of this technique are simple, you only need to replace what is currently missing and there is no need to involve your adjacent teeth. This means that the final results are stronger, easier to clean, and last longer than any other option.

Extractions

Extractions are often categorized as "simple" or "surgical".Simple extractions are performed on teeth that are visible in the mouth, usually under local anesthetic and require only the use of instruments to elevate and/or grasp the visible portion of the tooth. Typically the tooth is lifted using an elevator, and using dental forceps, rocked back and forth until the periodontal ligament has been sufficiently broken and the supporting alveolar bone has been adequately widened to make the tooth loose enough to remove. Typically, when teeth are removed with forceps, slow, steady pressure is applied with controlled force. Surgical extractions involve the removal of teeth that cannot be easily accessed, either because they have broken under the gum line or because they have not erupted fully. Surgical extractions almost always require an incision. In a surgical extraction the doctor may elevate the soft tissues covering the tooth and bone and may also remove some of the overlying and/or surrounding jawbone tissue with a drill or osteotome. Frequently, the tooth may be split into multiple pieces to facilitate its removal. Surgical extractions are usually performed under a general anesthetic.

Cosmetic

The purpose of cosmetic dentistry is to improve the appearance of the teeth using whitening, bonding, reshaping, orthodontics, or implants. We offer all of these services at Kingston Dental, schedule a consult today to update your smile.