Mouth Sores

Canker sores occur inside the mouth, and cold sores usually occur outside the mouth.

A canker sore is a small ulcer with a white or gray base and red border. There can be one or more sores in the mouth. Canker sores are very common and often recur. They usually heal in a week or two. Rinsing with anti-microbial mouth rinses may help reduce the irritation. Over-the-counter topical anesthetics can also provide relief.

A cold sore, also called fever blister or herpes simplex, is composed of groups of painful, fluid-filled blisters. They often erupt around the lips and sometimes under the nose or under the chin. Cold sores are usually caused by herpes virus type I and are very contagious. Cold sores usually heal in about a week. Over-the-counter topical anesthetics can provide temporary relief and prescription antiviral drugs may reduce these kinds of viral infections.

Oral Cancer

Any mouth sore that persists for more than a week should be examined by your dentist.

Cancer Warning Signs

Watch for these early signs of oral cancer:

Pain is rarely an early symptom. That’s why regular dental check-ups are so important.

If you use any type of tobacco product you are more likely to get cancer of the mouth, pharynx, larynx and esophagus. The juice from smokeless tobacco can cause a mouth condition called leukoplakia. Leukoplakia appears either as a smooth, white patch or as leathery-looking wrinkled skin. It results in cancer in 3 percent to 5 percent of all cases. Leukoplakia can also result from irritations such as ill-fitting dentures or a habit of chewing on your cheek.

Orthodontics/Braces

Who should have orthodontics or braces?
Both children and adults can benefit from orthodontics. Children should have an orthodontic evaluation by age seven because some corrections are easiest while the bones are still growing. Treatment may take a little longer for adults and other procedures may be needed in addition to braces.

What problems can orthodontics fix?
Crowded teeth, extra teeth, missing teeth, or jaws that are out of alignment can all be corrected with orthodontics. People may be born with these conditions or they can be caused by accidents, early or late loss of baby teeth, or sucking of the thumb for too long.

How are orthodontic problems corrected?
After a thorough examination, the orthodontist will develop your custom treatment plan. A special treatment appliance will be created for you and adjusted periodically. After the teeth have been moved into their proper positions, you may need to wear a retainer for a time.

How have braces improved?
Today's braces are generally less noticeable, more comfortable and work faster than in the past. The brackets that hold the wires may be metal, clear, or tooth-colored. They are bonded to the front or sometimes to the back of the teeth.

Modern wires are also less noticeable. Because they are made of "space age" materials, they exert a steady, gentle pressure on the teeth. This makes the tooth-moving process faster and more comfortable.

Pain/Toothache

Pay attention to tooth pain. It’s a warning sign you should not ignore.

If the inner pulp of a tooth is exposed to bacteria in the saliva — most often from a neglected fracture or deep cavity — the pulp becomes infected. This infection can spread throughout the pulp and form an abscess. Unless this condition is treated, the tooth pulp will die and the tooth may be lost.

Root canal treatment can remove the infection and help save your damaged tooth. Modern anesthetics can keep you comfortable during the procedure, so you need not fear pain. However, if root canal treatment is not done, the infection may spread into nearby tissues and erode the jaw bone. An abscess can be painful and — if left untreated — can do permanent harm.

Pediatric Dentistry

It takes an especially loving dentist to care for children. We make your child feel at home. And we understand children’s special needs: they are still growing, they are subject to more injuries than adults, and they especially need reassurance. We will evaluate for orthodontics, for athletic protection, for cavity protection, and a host of other dental care items.

Sealants

Give plaque the brush-off with sealants. Your dentist can give extra protection to your teeth by applying a sealant to the top, or biting, surfaces of your teeth. This slippery plastic coating makes it harder for plaque to stick to the tiny grooves on the biting surfaces of the teeth. It also adds a barrier between your teeth and the decay-causing bacteria that live in plaque. This painless treatment usually lasts for many months.

Of course, nothing can take the place of your regular routine of brushing and flossing.

Who should get sealants?
Sealants are most effective in reducing cavities in children with newly formed permanent teeth. They can reduce decay in adult teeth, as well. By reducing the need for fillings and more expensive repairs, sealants can also save you money. Ask your dentist if sealants would be appropriate for you and your children.

Uneven or jagged teeth
Veneers

Are you self-conscious about your teeth? Are they permanently stained or discolored? Poorly shaped or out of alignment? Do you have gaps?

Veneers are custom-made shells that quickly and painlessly repair broken, stained or crooked teeth. It’s a quick, painless and affordable way to give your teeth a whole new wardrobe.

Veneer materials include acrylic, composite resins and porcelain. We will select the material that will provide you with the greatest stain resistance, durability and natural look.

Improving your smile can make a BIG difference in the way you look and feel.

Wisdom Teeth

When the jaw isn't large enough to accommodate wisdom teeth, they may grow sideways, emerge only part way from the gum or remain trapped beneath the gum and bone (impacted).

Extraction may be recommended when:

Ask about the health and positioning of your wisdom teeth. Your dentist may recommend removal or have you confer with a oral surgeon for further options.