Baker & Graham
Overview
Regular Exams and Cleanings
Regular exams are an important part of maintaining your oral health and your total body health. During your regular exam, we will check for any problems that you may not be able to see or feel, look for cavities and other signs of tooth decay, inspect your teeth and gums for gingivitis and signs of periodontal disease, and provide a thorough teeth cleaning.
Bonding
Bonding
Bridges
Bridges
However, the success of your bridge depends on its foundation – the other teeth, gums, or bone to which it is attached. Therefore, it’s very important to keep your existing teeth, gums, and jaw as healthy and strong as possible.
Crowns
Crowns
Put simply, a crown is a kind of “cap” that is cemented to an existing tooth and usually covers the entire portion of the tooth that sits above the gum line. In effect, the crown becomes your tooth’s new outer surface. They can be made of porcelain, metal, or both. Porcelain crowns are most often preferred because they mimic the color and translucency of natural teeth and are very strong. Plus, unlike fillings, which apply the metal or porcelain directly into your mouth, crowns are fabricated in a lab from your unique tooth impression. This allows a dental lab technician to examine all aspects of your bite and jaw movements and sculpt a perfect-fitting crown that will keep your bite and jaw movements functioning normally after the crown is placed.
Dentures
Full & Partial Dentures
Flouride
Dental Flouride
Dental
Sealants
Sometimes brushing is not enough, especially when it comes to those hard-to-reach spots in your mouth. Plus, it is difficult for your toothbrush to get in-between the small cracks and grooves on your teeth. However, if left alone, those tiny areas can develop tooth decay. Sealants give your teeth extra protection against decay and help prevent cavities.
Furthermore, dental sealants are a plastic resin that bonds and hardens in the deep grooves on your tooth’s surface. Plus, when a tooth is sealed, the tiny grooves become smooth and are less likely to harbor plaque. Additionally, with sealants, brushing your teeth becomes easier and more effective against tooth decay.
Moreover, sealants are typically applied to children’s teeth as a preventive measure against tooth decay after the permanent teeth have erupted. However, adults can also receive sealants on healthy teeth. It is more common to seal “permanent” teeth rather than “baby” teeth, but every patient has unique needs, and your dentist will recommend sealants on a case-by-case basis.
Sealants last from three to five years, but it is fairly common to see adults with sealants still intact from their childhood. Lastly, a dental sealant only provides protection when it is fully intact, so if your sealants come off, let your dentist know, and schedule an appointment for your teeth to be re-sealed.
Extractions
Extractions
Moreover, once a tooth has been removed, neighboring teeth may shift, causing problems with chewing or with your jaw joint function. To avoid these complications, your dentist may recommend that you replace the extracted tooth with a partial denture, implant, or other tooth replacement.
Fillings
Dental Fillings
Furthermore, there are two different kinds of fillings: direct and indirect. Direct fillings are fillings placed directly into a prepared cavity in a single visit. Indirect fillings generally require two or more visits. Additionally, these fillings include inlays, and veneers fabricated with ceramics or composites.
Implant Restoration
Dental Implant Restoration
However, if you have missing teeth, it is crucial to replace them. Without all your teeth, chewing and eating can destabilize your bite and cause you discomfort. Plus, when teeth are missing, your mouth can shift and even cause your face to look older. Implants are a great way to replace your missing teeth, and if properly maintained, can last a lifetime!
In addition to tooth replacement, implants may be used to anchor dentures, especially lower dentures that tend to shift when you talk or chew. However, for patients with removable partial dentures, implants can replace missing teeth so you have a more natural-looking smile.
Nightguards
Nightguards
Veneers
Veneers
Veneers are thin, custom-made shells made from tooth-colored materials (such as porcelain), and they are designed to cover the front side of your teeth. To prepare for veneers, your doctor will create a unique model of your teeth. This model is sent to the dental technician to create your veneers. Before placing your new veneer, your doctor may need to conservatively prepare your tooth to achieve the desired aesthetic result.
When placed, you’ll be pleased to see that veneers look like your natural teeth. While veneers are stain-resistant, your doctor may recommend that you avoid coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco to maintain the beauty of your new smile.
Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth are types of molars found in the very back of your mouth. These teeth usually appear in late teens or early twenties, but they may become impacted (fail to erupt) due to lack of room in the jaw or angle of entry. When a wisdom tooth is impacted, it may need to be removed. If it is not removed, you may develop gum tenderness, swelling, or even severe pain. Impacted wisdom teeth that are partially or fully erupted tend to be quite difficult to clean and are susceptible to tooth decay, recurring infections, and even gum disease.
Wisdom teeth are typically removed in the late teens or early twenties because there is a greater chance that the teeth’s roots have not fully formed and the bone surrounding the teeth is less dense. These two factors can make extraction easier as well as shorten the recovery time.
For more information on our common procedures in Hattiesburg, be sure to contact us today!
