Glossary of Dental Services Available

Anesthesia

A drug that causes temporary numbing of sensations. A topical anesthetic can be used any time the surface of the gum needs to be numbed. Local anesthetics are available in several strengths so the sensation is gone after leaving the dental office.

Bleaching

Bleaching, also called Tooth Whitening, is a mild process that restores stained or discolored teeth to a healthy, natural color.

Bonding

Bonding is simply adding tooth-colored composite material to fill in the space. A frequent uses of the bonding technique is to fill in a gap between front teeth.

Bone Tissue Regeneration

When the damage caused by Peridontal Disease is significant, a Bone and Tissue Regeneration procedure may be necessary to save your teeth.

Bridges

A Permanent Bridge replaces one or more missing teeth. It will keep teeth from drifting into the space created from a missing tooth and help preserve normal function and normal bite for the jaw joint.

Cleaning

Your regularly scheduled check-up is often referred to as a Cleaning.The technical term is oral prophylaxis, which means prevention of oral disease

Contouring, Enamel

Enamel Shaping (Contouring) is the process of shaping natural teeth to improve their appearance.

Contouring Gums

If the gum is uneven around a tooth, gum contouring can smooth and balance the way your tooth and gum look. The procedure produces a consistent, even gum line that is esthetically pleasing.

Crowns

Crowns (or Caps) are used less frequently since the advent of veneers, but in somecases a crown may be necessary for a particular tooth. A tooth with a bad fracture or a large filling may be a candidate for a crown instead of a veneer.

Dentures

An appliance that artificially replaces missing teeth. There are different types of dentures available, Complete Denture, Over denture, and Partial Dentures are a few.

Extractions

Extraction is the complete removal of a primary or a permanent tooth.

Fillings

After decay is removed from a tooth, a Filling must be placed in that space to give strength back to the tooth.

Fluoride

A chemical solution or gel which is placed on the teeth. Fluoride helps prevent decay.

Frenectomy

A Frenectomy is a simple procedure where either part or all of the frenum in question is removed in order to return a healthy balance to the mouth.

Full Mouth Reconstruction

Full Mouth Reconstruction may involve bridges, veneers, and/or crowns. It is the optimal choice when several teeth are decayed or missing, affecting the occlusion (the way the teeth come together) and/or the appearance of the face.

Gum Treatment

Gum treatment is the treatment of active gum and jaw bone disease. The treatment can slow or stop the progression of the disease.

Implant Restoration

The surgical phase of treatment is completed by the oral surgeon who places the implants, and the restorative phase is completed by the practice.

Invisalign

Invisalign is a clear, removable tooth straightening system. Your Invisalign treatment will consist of a series of aligners that you switch out about every two weeks. Each aligner is individually manufactured with exact calculations to gradually shift your teeth into place. And since your Invisalign system is custom-made for your teeth and your teeth only, with a plan devised by you and your dentist, you know you’ll end up with a smile that truly fits.

Lumineers

The safe painless porcelain veneer. Lumineers developed by CERINATE is a contact lens-thin porcelain technology that provides beauty and strength while preserving your natural tooth structure. Lumineers are thin porcelain shields that are bonded to the front of your teeth to create dramatic changes in your smile. Lumineers require little to no preparation. There is no need for shots or drilling of sensitive tooth structure.

Night Guard

Since most of the damage typically caused by bruxism (grinding of the teeth) is during sleep, a night guard can usually be made to stop further damage.

Non-Vital Bleaching

Internal, or non-vital, bleaching is used to lighten a darkly discolored tooth that has had root canal therapy.

Pocket Depth Reduction

Normal, healthy gums have small pockets around each tooth. The bacteria and infection associated with periodontis causes these pockets to become deeper,rapping more bacteria and causing more infection.

Root Canal Therapy

When the nerve of a tooth becomes infected or abscessed, Root Canal Therapy is the only way to save the tooth.

Root Planing

Scaling and Root Planing is a common non-surgical treatment for periodontal disease. By using special instruments, bacteria is removed and infection from the unhealthy deep pockets around the teeth below the gum line.

Sealants

Sealants are a white or tooth shaded material that is bonded to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, sealing off deep grooves and pits. This makes the grooves of the teeth smoother so your toothbrush can more easily keep the tooth clean.

Space Maintaner

A space maintainer keeps baby teeth from shifting into the space where the tooth was lost so the permanent tooth can erupt in its natural proper space.

Sports Guard

A specially fabricated mouth guard can be made for your teeth. This guard fits over the upper or lower teeth to prevent broken or chipped teeth due to contact. It is appropriate for sports where incidental contact with solid objects and other participants is common.

Veneers

Veneers are custom, porcelain facings that are bonded to the front surfaces of teeth to whiten teeth, close spaces, straighten teeth, or repair chipped or worn teeth.

X-Rays

What most people call X-rays are actually X-ray photographs (also known asradiographs). An image is made using X-rays, which are similar to sunlight, but of a shorter wavelength, and able to show us what’s below the surface of a tooth.