What is dental health?
In its simplest form, achieving optimal dental health has three main goals.
Goal #1--Elimination of current infection
Some examples of infection include:
- Cavities -
- bacterial infection inside a tooth
- Gingivitis -
- bacterial infection of the gums
- Periodontitis -
- bacterial infection of the bone supporting the tooth
- Pulpitis -
- bacterial infection of the nerve and blood vessel supply deep inside a tooth
Goal #2--Eliminate factors that promote dental and general disease
To provide a cleansable oral environment that allows you to maintain a healthy mouth. Some examples of these are:
- Replacing old, rough, worn out restorations that harbor bacteria using stronger, smoother fillings (materials) to strengthen (bond) teeth
- Frequent professional cleanings to maintain clean root surfaces. That will allow you to floss much more effectively.
- Better ability to floss and cleanse will reduce your risk of developing gum disease and its associated risk with heart disease.
- Restore cracked and broken teeth to prevent infection and pain.
Goal #3--Replace missing teeth
A full dentition is extremely important. When teeth are lost the remaining ones have to work that much harder. As a result, the teeth you have left will be at greater risk of:
- Loosening
- Moving
- Wearing
- Breaking
Besides drastically affecting the health of the teeth, all of these conditions can adversely affect the health of the following:
- jaw joints
- muscles used for chewing
- how you eat
- what you eat
- the nutritional value of what you eat
- facial expression
- self image
Preventative Dentristry:
Preservation and care of natural teeth.
Prosthodontics:
Crowns (caps), bridges, onlays, dentures (complete or partial), and overdentures.
Cosmetic Dentristry:
Crowns, veneers, bonding, inlays, bleaching.
Oral Surgery:
Tooth removal, biopsy and minor surgical proceedures.
Periodontics:
Treatment of tissue (gum & bone) that support teeth.
Implant Dentristry:
Surgical placement and restoration of dental implants.
Endodontics:
Root canal therapy.
Occlusal Analysis:
Bite relationship, facial pain and Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ).
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