Most of the conditions that negatively affect your smile can be avoided with regular and preventive care. Your team at LifeSmile Dentistry is committed to answering your questions about proper hygiene and providing you with the most advanced preventive dentistry.
Perio Therapy
What you don’t know can hurt you. 35.7 million Americans are living with a bacterial infection of the gums known as periodontal disease. Many think this disease, commonly called gum disease, is common and harmless. It’s common but it’s definitely not harmless! Your oral health affects your whole body. For example, emerging research suggests that oral bacteria of gum disease can enter the bloodstream and cause a defense reaction throughout your body and that bacteria from your mouth can also travel to important organs in your body, including the heart, and begin a new infection and/or spark cardio vascular disease.
Root Canal
Damage to the nerve tissue inside of a tooth sometimes requires a root canal procedure. Despite the tales you may have heard regarding the procedure, most root canals are only minimally uncomfortable, especially compared to the pain and discomfort you may be feeling before the procedure. Dr. Arms takes advantage of advances in technology and dental techniques that make root canal procedures more effective while taking less time. A root canal involves removing the soft tissue within the tooth – the pulp – when it has become infected and inflamed. Your dentist gently removes the infected tissue out of the root canals of the tooth (this is where the procedure gets its name) and fills the void with an inert material. The procedure is completed with the placement of a filling or, in some cases, a crown.
Tooth Extraction
If you have dramatically broken, damaged or decayed teeth, you may be a candidate for tooth extraction. This basically is the process of removing a tooth from its socket in the bone. Teeth are often removed because they are impacted or prevented from growing into their normal position in the mouth by gum tissue, bone or other teeth. Impaction is a common reason for the extraction of wisdom teeth. Extraction is the only known method that will prevent further problems.
Teeth may also be extracted to make more room in the mouth prior to straightening the remaining teeth (orthodontic treatment), or because they are so badly positioned that straightening is impossible. Extraction may be used to remove teeth that are so badly decayed or broken that they cannot be restored. Tooth extraction can be performed with local anesthesia if the tooth is exposed and appears to be easily removable in one piece. An instrument called an elevator is used to loosen the tooth, widen the space in the bone, and disconnect the tiny elastic fibers that attach the tooth to the bone. Once the tooth is dislocated from the bone, it can be lifted and removed. If the extraction is likely to be difficult, Dr. Arms may refer you to an oral surgeon specialist.
Bonded Composites
When you have decay that needs to be removed and then the tooth needs to be protected from further decay and restored, bonded composites may be your best bet. As opposed to the shiny silver fillings of decades gone by, bonded composites can now be crafted out of a tooth colored composite resin that not only looks great but functions great too. Dr. Arms blends composite shades and shapes to match your original teeth. Once it’s in place, it actually helps support the remaining tooth structure, preventing breakage and providing insulation against temperature changes.
Nightguard
If you grind your teeth in your sleep, a night guard appliance, which is a soft or firm device inserted over your teeth, can help prevent grinding and excessive wear of your teeth.
NTI
Some patients may have a nerve condition that results in excessive jaw muscle contraction, during certain stages of sleep, resulting in intense jaw clenching and/or vigorous teeth grinding. These two activities produce a significant jaw muscle bombardment creating "TMD" (temporomandibular disorders), thereby becoming a self-perpetuation of chronic headaches and/or migraines. In order for jaw clenching and teeth grinding to achieve intensity, the molars and/or canine teeth must be touching each other. By keeping the molars and canines from touching anything during sleep, Nociception to the Trigeminal is Inhibited, thus the NTI acronym. The NTI device is a dental mouthpiece that Dr. Arms prepares for you to wear on either your upper or lower front teeth while asleep.
