Williams Dental

We all have bacteria that can live in our mouths in the form of plaque, which if not removed regularly can cause cavities and gingivitis, which in turn can lead to periodontal (gum) disease. Studies have shown that gum disease that is left untreated can lead to other more serious systemic (total body) health problems.

In order to keep your mouth clean and healthy, you must practice good oral hygiene every day. However, cleaning your teeth with daily brushing and flossing at home is not enough to remove all of the plaque and calculus (hardened plaque) that forms.

A regular professional cleaning is necessary in order to maintain oral and overall health. If you are a new patient to the practice, we recommend seeing the doctor first to determine what type of cleaning is best for you. Patient’s who have gum disease require more in depth treatment that just a simple scale and polish, and often will require more frequent visits than every 6 months.

Fillings help restore teeth damaged by decay back to their normal function. At Williams Dental, we consider a number of factors when choosing which type of filling material is best for you.

These factors include the extent of the repair, where in your mouth the filling is needed and the cost. As with any form of restorative dentistry, fillings do not last forever.

Depending on the situation and the patient, some fillings will require replacement over time and may require an upgrade to a different type of restoration, such as a crown, in the future.

A crown is a type of dental restoration that covers or “caps” a tooth (or teeth) to restore it to normal shape, size and function.

It helps to strengthen and improve the appearance of the tooth after destruction from decay or fracture. Crowns are also the standard of care restoration after a tooth has received root canal treatment.

Crowns are often necessary when a tooth has been damaged significantly and cannot be adequately restored with a filling. A crown can protect a weak tooth from fracturing, help prevent a cracked tooth from further damage, and can also help cover discolored or mis-shapen teeth for a nicer looking smile.

A dental implant is a titanium post surgically placed in the jawbone to mimic a natural tooth root. The surgical grade titanium found in dental implants is the same as that used in other surgical procedures in the body, such as total joint replacement.

This titanium post fuses with the surrounding natural bone of the jaw in a process called osseointegration. This allows for a sturdy foundation for a replacement tooth. Implants can be used to replace a single tooth, or multiple missing teeth with either a bridge or denture supported by implants.

According to the The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the recommended age to start bringing children to the dentist is when the first baby tooth comes into the mouth, and no later than his/her first birthday.

This first visit with us may just involve an exam to assess for any major problems, and will help your child become familiar with the environment so it is not so scary for them. Learning dental care at an early age is essential to a long life of healthy teeth and a healthy smile.

Mouthguards that are fabricated to help prevent damage to teeth from effects of Bruxism, or clenching and grinding, are also called Occlusal guards or Night guards.

The term “Night-guard” is really a misnomer, as you can really wear these devices during day or night. Most people tend to wear them at night, as wearing of the appliance can make it difficult to speak or chew.

Bruxism is the technical term for clenching and grinding of teeth. Some people could be classified as “clenchers” and some could be classified as “grinders”, or a combination of both. In any event, most people are unaware that they clench or grind their teeth.

But we as dentists can tell just by looking at your teeth, as the damage caused by these conditions can be clearly evident on the structure of the teeth (picture of wear) Bruxism can also lead to symptoms of sore jaw, muscles and headaches. The pain from these symptoms can be debilitating if left untreated.

Each visible portion of a tooth is supported by a single or multiple roots that are embedded in the jawbone. Within each root is a canal that allows blood, nerve and lymph systems to sustain the cells that reside in the connective tissue of the dental pulp. The pulp is in a small chamber in the middle of the crown of the tooth.

Teeth require extraction when they are damaged or diseased beyond repair, for orthodontic reasons to aid the Orthodontist in moving teeth to achieve the desired cosmetic result, or sometimes when a baby tooth just doesn’t want to come out on it’s own. Patients with periodontal disease often require removal of loose teeth, as the gum disease process also destroys the bony foundation of the teeth. Impacted teeth may also require extraction to help prevent decay, disease and or cyst formation.

Tooth extractions are a common form of oral surgery, and are relatively low risk. However, it is still a surgery with the potential to cause infection and other complications. Therefore, it is important that you disclose all of your medical and dental history to the doctor and provide a complete list of medications you are taking and have been prescribed (including supplements!). This will allow the doctor to tailor a pre and post operative treatment plan to best fit your needs.

Teeth Whitening, or Bleaching, is a popular way to lighten your teeth and is one of the many cosmetic procedures we offer at Williams-Dental to help you achieve a brighter smile.

Discoloration of the enamel of teeth can be caused by a variety of factors, including but not limited to coffee, tea, wine, some medications, and cigarette use. Today, there are many options available for whitening your teeth, including many over the counter products.

Over the counter may seem less expensive, but keep in mind that these products may also be less effective for some individuals, as the concentration of bleach that is offered over the counter is less than what a licensed dental professional is authorized to use in office.

Also keep in mind that Whitening is an irreversible procedure that can be harmful to your teeth if not practiced properly or under supervision of a licensed dental professional.

It is very common for whitening to cause sensitivity in teeth, but we do have ways to help you manage this. Moreover, not everyone’s tooth structure is the same, and some may find that whitening procedures are not very effective for them.

This may not be a fault of the product. People with translucency in their dentition, and those with “grayish” type stain or teeth color will generally not achieve the stunning results that someone with more opaque, yellowish stained teeth will.

For these reasons and more, we recommend that you always consult with a licensed dental professional before undertaking any bleaching procedure on your teeth, whether it be over the counter or in office.

Removable Dentures are a replacement for missing teeth and their supporting tissues. Complete Dentures replace an entire arch of missing teeth, and a Partial Denture replaces some missing teeth and is anchored by healthy teeth remaining. Complete dentures may be “immediate” or “conventional”.

An immediate denture is placed directly after the existing teeth have been removed. A conventional denture is fabricated weeks after healing takes placed following tooth removal.

Over the past decade, denture fabrication at our office has become an alternative care option to the placement of dental implants, which when restored, more closely replace the function, appearance and phonetics of the natural dentition.

However, not everyone is a candidate for implant therapy, so please talk to our Doctors and staff to determine which treatment option may be best for you.

Periodontal means “around the tooth.” Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth. Periodontal disease can affect one tooth or many teeth.

It begins when the bacteria in plaque (the sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth) causes the gums to become inflamed. Gingivitis is the mildest form of the disease. In this stage, the gums redden, swell, and bleed easily.