Common Ailments

Signs and Symptoms of Gum Disease
If you notice any of the following signs of gum disease, see your dentist immediately:

• Gums that bleed when you brush your teeth.
• Red, swollen, tender gums or gums that have pulled away from the teeth.
• Bad breath that doesn't go away.
• Pus between your teeth and gums.
• Loose teeth a change in the way your teeth fit when you bite.
• A change in the fit of partial dentures.

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Root Canal (Endodontic) Treatment
Your teeth are meant to last a lifetime. Even if one of your teeth becomes injured or diseased, it often can be saved through root canal (endodontic) treatment. Root Canal -- Saving Precious Teeth Once upon a time, if you had a tooth with a diseased nerve, you'd probably lose that tooth. Today, with a special dental procedure called a root canal therapy you may save that tooth. Inside each tooth is the pulp which provides nutrients and nerves to the tooth, it runs like a thread down through the root. When the pulp is diseased or injured, the pulp tissue dies. If you don't remove it, your tooth gets infected and you could lose it. After the dentist removes the pulp, the root canal is cleaned and sealed off to protect it. Then your dentist places a crown over the tooth to help make it stronger. Most of the time, a root canal is a relatively simple procedure with little or no discomfort involving one to three visits. Best of all, it can save your tooth and your smile!

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Crown and Bridge Restoration
Many patients ask why do I need a bridge?
If you're missing one or more teeth, you may be aware of their importance to your appearance and dental health. Your teeth work together to help you chew, speak and smile. When you lack teeth, it's difficult to do these things. Fortunately, missing teeth can and should be replaced. The answer may be a bridge. A fixed bridge is commonly cemented to the natural teeth next to the space left by the missing tooth and can be removed only by a dentist. There's also the removable bridge, which you can take out for cleaning. Removable bridges are generally less expensive, but they're not as strong or stable as fixed bridges. Your dentist can determine which bridge will work best for you. Bridges can help all your teeth work better and broaden your smile

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Bleaching/Whitening
Future Looks Bright for Whiter Teeth Better oral hygiene and advanced dental techniques are enabling more Americans to keep their teeth for a lifetime. But as Americans age, so do their teeth — often taking on a darker shade. The American Dental Association explores the ease and availability of teeth whitening techniques available through the dental office. Whether a patient chooses "power bleaching," an in-office technique producing results after one visit, or elects to whiten teeth at home with a daily routine of applying a custom-fitted mouth applicator tray filled with dentist-dispensed gel, the results are often the same. And both techniques dramatically remove the stains and discoloration commonly caused by age, coffee and tea drinking, or smoking.

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