General Dentistry

A comprehensive, periodic dental care is key to long term dental health. This includes a dental checkup and a professional dental cleaning to remove plaque, calcified build-ups and any irritants from the oral cavity. The teeth are flossed thoroughly and polished to remove any stain, leaving a smoother surface less likely to have tar buildup.

Gum or Periodontal treatment is the treatment and prevention of gum disease. The primary goal of the treatment is to control and minimize the infection. There are several methods for performing a gum or periodontal treatment. Deep cleaning involves removing the plaque by scaling and root planning. Scaling is done by scraping off the tartar from the gum line, while root planning is done by getting rid of the rough spots on the tooth root. Medications may be used along with the deep cleaning treatment. Examples include prescription antimicrobial mouth rinse, antiseptic chip, antibiotic gel, antibiotic microspheres and enzyme suppressants.

Flap surgery is the process of removing tartar deposits by lifting back the gums. This is performed if the inflammation and deep pockets persist despite having a deep cleaning treatment and undergoing medication. Lastly, bone and tissue grafts are a way of replacing or encouraging the growth of new bone or gum tissue.

Oral Surgery is a dental procedure which involves the diagnosis, surgical treatment of diseases, injuries and defects that affect the functional and aesthetic aspect of the tissues in the mouth. There are many types of surgery procedures, but here are some of the most common ones. A tooth extraction involves opening of the gum tissue and removing any bone that covers the tooth; the connecting tissue is then separated to allow the removal of the entire tooth. Orthognathic surgery is popularly known as corrective jaw surgery and is the process of aligning a jaw that does not fit properly. It also involves straightening the teeth with orthodontics. Oral cancer screening and biopsy are performed by removing a sample of tissue to determine whether or not cancer is present.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, or TMD for short (also called TMJ), is a term that refers to the pain and dysfunction of the muscles that move the jaw as well as the temporomandibular joints, which connects the mandible to the skull. While TMD is not life-threatening, it may be detrimental to the quality of life of the person suffering from such disorder because of the excruciating pain, restricted mandibular movement and noises from the temporomandibular joint during jaw movement. Many things can cause TMD, for example, injury to the jaw or head and neck muscles, grinding of the teeth that put pressure on the joint, movement of the disc between the ball and socket of the joint, arthritis and stress.

Temporomandibular joint disorder may be treated with home remedies such as ice packs to joints, over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, massage of the jaw or neck, avoiding chewing gum and reducing stress. If conditions persist, it is advised to see a professional and discuss your situation.

Snoring is an indication of obstructed breathing while sleep apnea is a condition characterized by multiple episodes of breathing pauses caused by the narrowing of the upper airway. Both snoring and sleep apnea can be serious and must be closely monitored. Management of these conditions may include lifestyle changes such as losing weight, minimizing drug use and alcohol intake, getting plenty of sleep, quit smoking and treatment of breathing problems.

Continuous positive airway pressure refers to the use of a machine that utilizes a positive airway pressure to enhance breathing. Oral breathing devices like nasal dilators can be worn at night. Surgery can be performed when all other treatments have failed. Surgery choices include Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, Tonsillectomy or Adenoidectomy, Tracheostomy, Maxillo-Mandibular Advancement, Radiofrequency Ablation, Palatal Implants, Bariatric, Nerve Stimulation and other surgical procedures which will help in repairing the bone and tissue problems in the mouth and throat.