Prevention is the most important step to having a sparkling smile. Preserving the natural beauty and strength of your smile is a cooperative effort by you, your dentist, and our whole team at Corner Stone Dental. We provide professional assistance for your smile through regular treatment and cleaning.
Your regular dental exams will be conducted by one of our general dentists, Dr. Wilson, Dr. Lauren, or Dr. Banker. This examination is essential for the early detection of oral issues. You’ll also be provided with a thorough dental cleaning by our dental hygienist.
During your professional cleaning, we’ll remove plaque, tartar, and other debris. This helps protect you against cavities and gum disease. Even when you’re brushing and flossing every day, there are areas of the mouth that are easy to miss. And once tartar has attached itself to your teeth, it can only be removed by a dental hygienist.
A professional cleaning will also eliminate minor stains that can’t be removed with regular brushing. Our hygienist will leave your smile spotless and feeling fresh.
An oral cancer screening is always a part of your regular exam. This is a quick check of your face, neck, lips, tongue, and other tissues for early signs of oral cancer. It’s extremely important because the earlier oral cancer is discovered, the easier it is to treat.
Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is a dangerous infection that attacks the patient’s gums. It’s caused by bacteria that feed on plaque and tartar. When left untreated, gum disease will wreak havoc on your smile. Fortunately, our doctors have effective treatments for all stages of gum disease.
Oral disease above the gum line can develop into tooth decay. It begins by eating through your enamel, the hard outer layer of your tooth, to form a hollow space called a cavity. We can eliminate cavities by removing the infected portion of the tooth. Then we’ll use an attractive tooth-colored filling to restore your tooth so it looks like new.
If a cavity is left untreated, the decay will travel further into your tooth, making its way through the dentin, which is the soft middle layer of your tooth. Then the infection can penetrate the innermost area of the tooth, known as dental pulp. The dental pulp contains sensitive tissues that nurture the living tooth.
When the pulp inside your tooth becomes infected, it can be severely painful. Other signs that you may require root canal therapy include:
After providing a local anesthetic, your dentist will create a tiny hole in the affected tooth. The infected tissue will be removed and the space will be filled with a rubbery substance called gutta-percha to prevent future infection. In most cases, a natural-looking dental crown is placed over the surgical site, restoring the tooth to full function.
You need to get dental cleanings every six months or twice a year to make sure your teeth stay clean and healthy. Cleaning your teeth at home is an integral step to keeping your smile beautiful, but even the best of us can miss hard-to-reach areas of our mouths. Your dental team will make sure these areas of your mouth are clean and aren’t vulnerable to decay or disease.
Yes, dental cleanings do help keep your teeth healthy and beautiful. You may clean your teeth well at home, but it’s still important to get a professional cleaning. We can more thoroughly clean your teeth and gums, including areas that are difficult to clean yourself.
We’ll also examine your oral health to make sure you aren’t at risk for any oral diseases or complications. Many oral health issues aren’t noticeable to you until they’ve progressed, but we can detect them before they cause pain or damage to your teeth.
No, dental cleanings don’t damage your teeth. Teeth cleanings help keep your teeth from decay and damage. During your cleaning, we’ll clear away any plaque and tartar on your teeth to give you a clean slate to care for your oral health until your next appointment. Your dental team will let you know if you have any oral health concerns and how you can care better for your teeth at home.
Your dental cleaning shouldn’t hurt. It may be a little uncomfortable sometimes, but if you experience pain during your cleaning, please let us know immediately. We’ll examine the source of your pain and determine if you need dental care. If your pain isn’t caused by an oral health issue, we can talk about the potential for dental sedation to ease your pain during regular cleanings.