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In addition to performing diligent oral care at home, you should see your dentist every six months for an oral exam to ensure continued health of your teeth and gums. Regular checkups ensure that problems can be caught early and treated conservatively, and some oral health issues can even be reversed if spotted in the earliest stages.
Teeth cleaning usually involves three simple steps:
Scaling: This procedure is carried out with a tool called a scaler. In cases where there are only a few small spots of hard calculus, your hygienist may use a manual scaler to remove tartar deposits from the teeth by gently scraping them.
Polishing: This step involves using a handheld tool with a spinning rubber head that polishes all tooth surfaces using a slightly abrasive paste.
Fluoride: In most cases, your dentist and/or dental hygienist will recommend a fluoride treatment after each cleaning. Applied as a rinse, gel, foam or a varnish, fluoride is a mineral that helps strengthen the enamel, which is the outermost layer of the teeth, helping it resist the acid attack that can lead to tooth decay.
Dental crowns, also called caps, fit over worn or damaged teeth. They can also serve a cosmetic purpose, restoring a discolored tooth to its former hue. Depending on the material used to make them, the wear they get and the care they receive, permanent crowns last about 5 to 15 years.
A dental bridge spans the gap where a missing tooth once was, filling the space with a synthetic tooth. Like a bridge over a river, most dental bridges need support at either end, although cantilever bridges are an exception. Fitting a bridge requires reshaping the abutment teeth and capping them with crowns to hold the bridge securely.
Dental fillings replace parts of a tooth that has been damaged due to injury or decay. Also known as dental restoration, a filling preserves the integrity of the tooth and prevents further damage from cavities. Fillings can also restore the chewing surfaces of teeth that have become worn.
An implant is a synthetic tooth root in the shape of a post that is surgically placed into the jawbone. The 'root' is usually made of titanium (the same material used in many replacement hips and knees), a metal that is well-suited to pairing with human bone. A replacement tooth is then fixed to the post. The tooth can be either permanently attached or removable. Permanent teeth are more stable and feel more like natural teeth.
Implants look more natural and feel more like normal teeth, with a stronger biting force. Implants can outlast dentures or bridges. Also, implants are self-supporting structures that do not rely on neighboring teeth for support.
Consider your replacement teeth to be the same as natural teeth. They require the same daily brushing and flossing, and the same amount of regular checkups.
Bonding is a conservative way to repair slightly chipped, discolored, or crooked teeth. During dental bonding, a white filling is placed onto your tooth to improve its appearance. The filling 'bonds' with your teeth, and because it comes in a variety of tooth-colored shades, it closely matches the appearance of your natural teeth.
There are many products and techniques available for patients who want to achieve a brighter smile. The best way to begin any teeth-whitening regimen is to schedule an appointment and talk to Dr. Stuckey about the differences between in-office professional whitening and at-home whitening.
