Patient Resources

1. New Patient Medical History and HIPPA form (Requires Adobe Acrobat to Download)
2. View Post Operative Instructions For Oral Surgery (Download Word Document )

Frequently Asked Questions

Please click on the link below for more information on some frequently asked questions. Additionally, the American Dental Association has a wealth of information for patients that can be accessed here.

1. What causes cavities and how are they treated?
2. What causes gum disease and how is it treated?
3. What are my options for replacing a missing tooth or several missing teeth?
4. What causes a tooth to become infected and how is it treated?
5. What can be done if I don’t like the way my teeth look?
6. What if I am anxious about having dental work done?

What causes cavities and how are they treated?

Caries can appear as dark spots
in the deeper pits of this stained tooth.

Tooth decay is a destruction of the tooth enamel. It occurs when foods containing carbohydrates (sugars and starches) such as milk, pop, raisins, cakes or candy are frequently left on the teeth.

Bacteria that live in the mouth thrive on these foods, producing acids as a result. Over a period of time, these acids destroy tooth enamel, resulting in tooth decay.

It is especially important to develop good habits including proper brushing, flossing, and fluoride intake. Many studies show that children with cavities are more likely to have cavities as adults. You can minimize cavities by following these recommendations:

• Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
• Clean between your teeth daily with floss or interdental cleaner
• Eat nutritious and balanced meals and limit snacking
• Check with your dentist about use of supplemental fluoride, which strengthens your teeth, and about use of dental sealants applied to the chewing surface of the back teeth to protect them from decay
• Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral examination

This picture shows a molar tooth stained with an indicating paste. Caries can appear as dark spots in the deeper pits. Many times a tooth can be sealed to prevent a cavity from developing.

What causes gum disease and how is it treated?

Periodontal disease is an infection of the tissues that support your teeth.

Your gum tissue is not attached to the teeth as high as it may seem. There is a very shallow v-shaped crevice called a sulcus between the tooth and gums.

Periodontal diseases attack just below the gum line in the sulcus, where they cause the attachment of the tooth and its supporting tissues to break down.

As the tissues are damaged, the sulcus develops into a pocket: generally, the more severe the disease, the greater the depth of the pocket.

Periodontal diseases are classified according to the severity of the disease. The two major stages are gingivitis and periodontitis.

Gingivitis is a milder and reversible form of periodontal disease that only affects the gums. Gingivitis may lead to more serious, destructive forms of periodontal disease called periodontitis.

Some factors increase the risk of developing periodontal disease:

• Tobacco smoking or chewing
• Systemic diseases such as diabetes
• Some types of medication such as steroids, some types of anti-epilepsy drugs, cancer therapy drugs, some calcium channel blockers and oral contraceptives
• Bridges that no longer fit properly
• Crooked teeth

Scaling a root planning can stop the
progression of periodontal disease
• Fillings that have become defective
• Pregnancy or use of oral contraceptives

Several warning signs that can signal a problem:

• Gums that bleed easily
• Red, swollen, tender gums
• Gums that have pulled away from the teeth
• Persistent bad breath or bad taste
• Permanent teeth that are loose or separating
• Any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
• Any change in the fit of partial dentures

Treatment for periodontal disease varies but usually involves a deep cleaning also called scaling a root planning.

During this procedure the gum tissue around the teeth is numbed and the hygienist cleans the infected tissue and plaque from around the tooth. Antibiotics may be used in conjunction with scaling a root planning.

Following a deep cleaning, the patient is typically put on a 3 month schedule for periodontal maintenance.

What are my options for replacing a missing tooth or several missing teeth?

When a tooth or multiple teeth are missing, there are typically four options.

Adjacent teeth often shift into spaces
left by missing teeth

1. The first option is to do nothing. Some patients choose to do nothing when a tooth is lost.

   Although this may be ok in the short term while the patient considers his or her options, in the long term significant changes can occur with the adjacent teeth tipping into the missing space.

   This unwanted movement leads to an increase in periodontal disease and makes it difficult to restore the teeth in the future.

   
   

A dental bridge replaces missing teeth
with artifical teeth

2. Placement of a Bridge. Sometimes called a fixed partial denture, a bridge replaces missing teeth with artificial teeth, looks great, and literally bridges the gap where one or more teeth may have been.

   The restoration can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain or a combination of these materials and is bonded onto surrounding teeth for support.

   The 10 year success of bridges in close to 90%, however the 15 year success is only 70%. Bridges permanently alter the adjacent teeth and can lead to loss of the adjacent teeth as a result of recurrent cavities.

   
   

Dental implants are the latest way
to replace a missing tooth

3. Implant Restoration. The least invasive and most cost effective over the long term, a implant restoration is an excellent way to permanently replace a single tooth or multiple teeth.

   Surgically placed below the gums over a series of appointments, implants fuse to the jawbone and serve as a base for individual replacement teeth, bridges or a denture.

   Implants offer stability because they fuse to your bone.

   Integration of the implants into your jaw also helps your replacement teeth feel more natural and some people also find the secure fit more comfortable than conventional substitutes.

   The 10 Year success for implants is greater than 95% and the 20 year success is similar, demonstrating increased longevity over bridges. Additionally, the adjacent teeth have a 99.5% survival rate at 10 years since they are left intact and are more cleansable.

   
   

Dental Implants can be used to increase
the stability of lower dentures

4. Partial denture or full denture. If you’ve lost several teeth or all of your teeth, then dentures can replace the missing teeth and restore your smile.

   Replacing missing teeth will benefit your appearance and your health. Without support from the denture, facial muscles sag, making a person look older.

   You’ll be able to eat and speak – things that people often take for granted until their natural teeth are lost.

   Both complete and partial dentures can incorporate implants to increase their retention and stability. This is especially important in the lower denture as it often has a tendency to move around in the mouth.

What causes a tooth to become infected and how is it treated?

A tooth becomes infected if the nerve
becomes diseased or injuried

A tooth can become infected if the nerve becomes diseased or injured.

A diseased tooth typically occurs because bacteria invade the nerve canal from a large cavity or leak under old fillings causing.

The nerve can also be damaged from trauma such as a sports related injury or by having many dental procedures done on the same tooth.

When a tooth becomes infected you may have a range of symptoms which include dull ache, throbbing sensation, intense pain, swelling, or you may not experience much pain at all depending on how the infection forms.

An infected tooth can be saved by having a procedure called a root canal. Root canals are a relatively simple procedure with little or no discomfort.

If the tooth cannot be restored because it is badly damaged you may elect to have the tooth extracted and consider placing an implant immediately in the socket.

What can be done if I don’t like the way my teeth look?

Teeth can become stained,
badly shaped or crooked

There's no reason to put up with gaps in your teeth or with teeth that are stained, badly shaped or crooked.

Today a veneer or crown placed on top of your teeth can correct nature's mistake or the results of an injury and help you have a beautiful smile.

Veneers are thin, custom-made shells crafted of tooth-colored materials designed to cover the front side of teeth. A dental technician usually makes them in a dental lab, working from a model provided by your dentist.

Dental veneers and crowns can
greatly improve the look of teeth

You should know that this is usually an irreversible process, because it's necessary to remove a small amount of enamel from your teeth to accommodate the shell.

Your dentist may recommend that you avoid some foods and beverages that may stain or discolor your veneers such as coffee, tea or red wine.

Sometimes a veneer might chip or fracture, however newer materials are more durable. But for many people the results are more than worth it.

What if I am anxious about having dental work done?

Dental anxiety can be
overcome with sedation

Do you ever get nervous just thinking about going to the dentist?

With dentistry's many advances, diagnosis and treatment gets more sophisticated and comfortable all the time.

In addition, we offer sedation either by Nitrous Oxide or a drug called Halcion. Both are extremely safe and reversible if necessary.

Please speak with the doctor or staff and inform them that you would like to have sedation during your visit. We will do everything to make your experience a positive one.

You may want to bring a portable audio player such as an iPOD so that you can listen to your favorite music.