General Dentistry in Wilmington, MA
The most important part of oral health is preventive care. Our mission is to preserve healthy teeth and gums and prevent dental caries and oral disease. This is done through regular brushing and flossing at home and routine visits to dentist for exams and cleanings. At each 6 month recall appointment, you will receive a thorough dental cleaning, full oral and head neck exam by the dentist, necessary dental x-rays. Healthy teeth and gums not only look good, but are an important part of your overall health!
Oral Cancer Screenings
As part of your dental examination each visit, the doctor checks your mouth, neck and oral tissues for any signs of oral cancer. As with most other types of cancer, early detection is extremely important for more successful treatment. Smoking (cigarettes, cigars or pipes) especially combined with heavy alcohol consumption (20 drinks a week or more), is the primary risk factor for oral cancer. Oral lesions, which are detected early offer a better chance for a more successful treatment – making oral cancer detection one more reason to see us regularly!
Sealants are a great way to protect against tooth decay and cavities on your back teeth (molars). These are the teeth that are most vulnerable to decay because their anatomic formation (fissures and pits) make them the most difficult to reach and clean. Molars first come in at around 5-7 years of age, with a second set coming in between the ages of 11-14. It is best to have sealants placed when the molars first come in to ensure they are protected early.
The sealant is placed over fissures and pits as a liquid, as if it is painted right onto the tooth. The liquid then hardens by curing light and creates a barrier between your tooth and any plaque, food particles, and bacteria. Sealants can be reapplied if necessary.
Why fill baby teeth?
There are twenty primary teeth (baby teeth) and while the front (incisors) upper and lower teeth begin to fall out between the ages of 6-8 years of age, the back teeth (canines and molars) will remain present until the child is 10-12 years of age. Primary teeth allow children to eat properly, maintain space for the permanent teeth and quide the growth of the jaws and eruption of the permanent teeth. Decay in primary teeth can cause pain and can affect a child's ability to eat, both of which can adversely affect their nutrition. Early loss of primary teeth can affect a child's self esteem, ability to eat normally and create space loss for permanenet teeth. Additionally, untreated decay in primary teeth can put a child at a much greater risk of decay in his or her permanent teeth.
Composite (White) Fillings
A composite (or tooth colored) filling is used to repair a tooth that is affected by decays, fractures or other damage. Composite fillings provide good durability and resistance to fracture in small to midsize restorations that need to withstand moderate chewing pressure. Decays of the tooth are removed and replaced with a composite filling. Composites can also be bonded or adhesively held with tooth structure, allowing for a more conservative repair on a tooth. Because there are many color options, composite fillings can be closely matched to the color of existing teeth, making them ideal for use in front teeth or the more visible areas of the mouth.
Composite fillings can be used for:
Closing space between two teeth
Cracked or broken teeth
A crown is a dental restoration that completely covers or "caps" a tooth. It is used in many situations including:
Protect a weak tooth from fracturing
Restore a tooth that has fractured
Replace a large filling when there is not much tooth structure remaining
Attach a bridge
Cover a dental implant
Cover a poorly shaped or discolored tooth
Protect a tooth after a root canal treatment
If you've lost all of your natural teeth, whether from periodontal disease, tooth decay or injury, complete dentures can replace your missing teeth, benefiting not only your appearance but also your health. A complete denture replaces natural teeth and provides support for cheeks and lips. There are various types of complete dentures. A conventional complete denture is made and placed in the patient's mouth after the teeth are removed and tissues have healed. An immediate complete denture is inserted the same day when remaining teeth are removed, and the patient doesn't have to be without teeth during the healing period. The bone and gum tissues of the dental ridge support the denture. The framework of a denture (the base) is generally made of gum-colored acrylic plastic and dentures are made to closely resemble your natural teeth. A complete denture may also be attached with conventional mini dental implants to provide a more secure fit and better chewing function.
Removable Partial Denture
A removable partial denture is often used when someone is missing multiple teeth. The denture can be taken out of the mouth for cleaning. Removable partial dentures usually have replacement teeth attached to plastic bases connected by metal framework. They may attach your natural teeth with metal or gum color clasps. Removable partial dentures are often less expensive and easier to repair than a fixed partial denture. At your consultation, you and the dentist will discuss which is more suitable for your mouth.
Endodontics (most commonly known for root canals) is the dental specialty that deals with the nerves of the teeth. When a tooth becomes infected it is usually related to the nerves in the root of the tooth. The infected nerves need to be removed. If left untreated, an infection can turn into an abscess, which is a much more serious problem that might be life threaten.
The area around the tooth is numbed with a local anesthetic to start the procedure. The dentist will then drill down into the tooth to create an opening into the nerve canal. They will then be able to remove infected tissue and clean the canal. After the infection has been removed, the space if filled up with more permanent materials. It is highly recommended that a tooth that has undergone a root canal is protected with a crown. This will improve the appearance of the tooth, and will also make it much more resistant to future fracture of the tooth.
"Root canal" has become a scary term for dental patients to hear, but the benefits of the procedure and advances in dental technology have made it much less "scary". Local anesthetics and proper pain medication allow the procedure to be performed with little to no pain in most cases. There may be some soreness following the procedure, but that is normal for most dental procedures. Over the counter painkillers are usually enough to relieve any pain afterwards, but your dentist may prescribe medication. The procedure will also relieve you from pain caused by the infection allowing you to enjoy all the foods you love without any pain from heat, cold, or biting too hard. Certain, special cases may need to be referred to an Endodontist for further care. If you are experiencing pain, consult your dentist today.
Dental Care of Wilmington
(978)694-1090 • 66-T Concord Street • Wilmington, MA 01887
Serving Wilmington, North Reading, Reading, Burlington, Andover, Woburn, Tewksbury and surrounding towns.
Dental Care of Wilmington, Wilmington, MA.
Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
Dental Care of Wilmington
66-T Concord Street
Wilmington, MA 01887