Preventive Care: This includes the exploration and rational for preventing the development of tooth decay, gum disease and halitosis (bad breath). Preventive care includes educating people about the causes of dental disease, as well as the dietary, office and home care techniques and procedures needed to prevent dental disease. Routine cleanings, exams, fluoride treatments and periodontal maintenance are also part of preventive care.
Periodontics: Periodontal care includes surgical and nonsurgical gum treatment, implant placement to replace missing teeth, cosmetic gum lifts to improve the smile, gum and bone grafts to replace receded gum and bone and gum health maintenance care.
Cosmetic Dentistry: This relates to the art of what is needed to give an aesthetic smile. It includes tooth colored fillings, onlays, cosmetic reshaping, cosmetic crowns and bridges (to replace missing teeth), teeth whitening (ZOOM one visit whitening or At Home whitening) and porcelain laminates (veneers), for the correction of poorly positioned, discolored or misshapen teeth. Gum lifts to eliminate a gummy smile are also cosmetic. (Note: If you are fortunate to have dental insurance most insurances do not include ‘cosmetic correction of unaesthetic smiles’ many of the procedures listed above are restorative and general dental treatments that are covered by dental insurance)
Endodontics (Root Canal): Root canal treatment repairs and saves teeth that are badly decayed or broken and becomes infected. In a root canal procedure the nerve and pulp are removed from the inside of the tooth and the root canal is then filled. Without treatment, the tissue surrounding the tooth will become infected painful.
Prosthodontics: The branch of dentistry dealing with the replacement of teeth and related mouth or jaw structures by artificial devices. These devices include dentures, partial dentures, crowns, fixed bridges and the implant crowns and bridges.
