Surgical and Non-Surgical Gum Disease Treatments

If you have been diagnosed with gum disease, it is important to consider the various treatment options and to make a decision about whether to have surgical or non-surgical gum disease treatments to restore your gum health. The decision you make is going to directly impact the recovery outcome. There are several things to keep in mind when making this decision.

How bad is the gum disease?

Gum disease can range from being minor to severe. If we can catch the gum disease at an early stage, non-invasive methods are typically all that is necessary to treat the condition. Having a deep dental cleaning, for example, can restore the health of the gum tissue. Some dental offices do this using metal dental tools to scrape off the plaque while others use dental lasers.

We will remove the plaque and tartar from underneath the gum tissue so that the gums can begin returning to good health. If effective, there will be no need for more intensive treatments such as oral surgery.

Have all non-invasive measures been tried yet?

Since a deep cleaning can help to improve gum health, it is wise to start with this treatment option. If the non-invasive measures are effective enough for restoring the health of the gums, there will be no need to try more invasive measures. Non-invasive options can result in saving cost and time, so it is important to exhaust these non-invasive methods first.

Have pockets formed in the gum tissue?

If there are pockets in the gum tissue, it is a clear sign that gum disease has progressed to the point of a surgical option becoming necessary. A gum graft is likely to be the best treatment option at this point. By suturing new tissue to the natural gums, we can secure the gums around the teeth. This way, the lower areas of the teeth and roots are no longer exposed.

Preventing root exposure is a critical step in the restoration process and important for protecting the teeth and preventing tooth loss. Typically, surgery is part of this process. However, some dentists are using alternative therapies to restore gum tissue that does not require a scalpel.

Are teeth wiggly or feeling loose?

If teeth are already loose, gum disease has probably progressed to the point where immediate treatments are going to be necessary and surgery required. Additionally, the teeth themselves may need to be restored, root canals completed, etc. in order to eliminate an infection.

What does the dentist recommend?

Asking a dentist if they recommend surgery or non-surgical treatment is important when making a decision on how to treat gum disease. They are going to make the recommendation that they feel will best resolve the issue so it is important to carefully consider any advice that they give.

Consider the recovery process

When debating between surgery and non-surgical alternatives, it is important to consider the recovery process. Anytime a patient undergoes surgery it is going to take longer to recover, there could be complications and there will be a level of discomfort for several days.

Gum surgery is no different. Before it is scheduled, it is necessary to prepare by taking time off work and planning to take it easy for a few days.

Learn more about your options

Get help deciding between surgical and non-surgical gum disease treatment options by discussing them with our dentist. Schedule a consultation today in order to do so.

A Family Dentist in Green Brook Debunks Common Oral Health Myths

As a family dentist in Green Brook, we are asked many questions about oral health. Often, these questions arise from common myths that circulate from time to time. The problem with myths is that many of them are born out of convenience or from popular ideas that are not particularly healthy.

Do not hesitate to ask us any questions

It is important for patients to visit us and bring up any questions they have to ensure they have the facts straight. For example, many parents will send their children to bed with a bottle or cup of milk. Since milk is full of calcium, they assume that milk is safe for the teeth.

However, milk is also full of sugar, so if a child takes it to bed, the sugar will remain on the teeth and increase the risk of getting cavities. This popular myth is widespread and partially to blame for why baby bottle tooth decay is so prevalent. With that in mind, we have listed a few common myths we hear and our answers to them.

Myth: Fillings have to be replaced, no matter what.

As a family dentist, we do not put a set expiration date on fillings. How long the fillings last depends on several factors, including one's general oral hygiene. If one brushes and flosses his or her teeth, eats a healthy diet, and avoids activities that can damage the teeth, then the fillings can last for a long time. Some people never have to replace their fillings.

However, simply filling a cavity, does not mean the decay will stop. There are times where the decay continues to spread and we need to replace a filling because it is no longer big enough. When a patient visits our office for regular dental exams, we will inspect the fillings and let the patient know how the fillings are holding up.

Myth: Cavities are painful.

If cavities grow untreated, they will eventually cause discomfort and even pain. However, in their early stages, cavities can go undetected. As a family dentist office, we encourage patients to visit us twice a year so we can both prevent and catch cavities. If we treat them immediately, the patient will never experience cavity-related discomfort.

Myth: Only cavities and infections create the need for a root canal.

In our dental office, we perform root canals for a variety of reasons. While they are typically necessary due to a cavity, root canals can also treat damage from an accident or due to grinding and clenching teeth. Regardless of why a patient needs a root canal, we can complete the procedure while keeping the patient entirely comfortable.

Myth: Children are the only ones really at risk of getting cavities.

This is simply not the case. Anyone can get a cavity, regardless of age. In fact, we have seen more seniors getting cavities due to dry mouth caused by medications. Regardless of how old you are, it is important to have your teeth professionally cleaned twice a year.

A Smile Makeover Can Fix Your Smile After an Accident

If you have been in an accident that has damaged your teeth, a smile makeover can restore your smile. Whether you have cracked your tooth or lost your tooth, a smile makeover could be just what you need to correct the damage. We offer many techniques that will greatly improve your smile including, but not limited to, bonding, crowns, veneers, bridges, and even implants.

Smile Makeover Treatments

Tooth Bonding

Bonding involves the use of a tooth-colored composite resin that is applied to the chipped, cracked or discolored area of your tooth and then hardened to a smooth, natural looking surface. This process will repair minor damages and give your teeth a perfect finish that makes any imperfection unnoticeable to the naked eye.

Crowns

Our attractive, durable crowns can improve the look of a tooth that sustains too much damage for bonding to cover the imperfections. Crowns are a permanent, protective solution to harmful damages that could encourage decay if left untreated. Our crowns will completely encapsulate your tooth so no damage will be visible and your tooth will have the ultimate defense against further harm.

They come in silver amalgam or tooth colored porcelain or ceramic material. For a smile makeover, our patients tend to prefer natural looking crowns since they can correct both physical damage and any aesthetic imperfections.

Veneers

For a large scale smile makeover, veneers are a good solution since they can close gaps, cover stains, and change the overall appearance of your teeth. Veneers are a porcelain type shell that covers the front of your teeth, shielding any chips, discoloration, or other noticeable damage. They can also improve shaping if your teeth have been misshapen from an accident. Veneers are tooth-colored and will be bonded to your teeth to create a lasting repair.

Dental Bridge

If you have lost your teeth in an accident or you have suffered from irreparable damage, a dental bridge may be the best option for your smile. A dental bridge is created by placing crowns on existing teeth, anchoring the bridge to them, and securing a permanent tooth to that bridge. Dental bridges are natural-looking and feel secure in your mouth. Most people will not even notice you have a bridge, and you will be able to eat the food you like. This is an attractive solution for your smile.

Dental Implant

For the most permanent solution, a dental implant is the best choice. During the procedure, we will insert a dental implant into your dental cavity on your jawbone where the root of your former tooth was. The secure, titanium metal post is a permanent replacement to your original tooth root. A manufactured tooth that looks similar to your other teeth will be created and attached to the titanium rod. A dental implant will be one of your most attractive routes to a great smile after an accident. It will look very natural and blend in with your other teeth.

No matter which of the smile makeover procedures you may need, our services will help you attain a smile like you originally had or better. You will be pleased with our natural looking, durable solutions and the attractive smile they produce.

We Offer Implant Supported Dentistry to Expand Your Options

Implant supported dentistry has changed the face of how we deal with tooth loss and continues to revolutionize the role that dental prosthetics play in supporting tooth replacement. Given that tooth loss is as old as man, and quite common due to age, diseases, or accidents, this meant that a large segment of the population was using wires, dental cement, and adhesives to help hold their new false teeth in place.

With the help of implant supported dentistry, this is slowly changing. Today we can replace not only the upper, visible tooth, which is more commonly known as the crown but also the lost root, through dental implants.

Dental Implant FAQ's

Dental implants, being a new technology, raises a lot of questions among patients that are considering implant supported dentistry to replace their lost teeth. Some patients have questions about the longevity of the implants while others just want to know if they are eligible to get implant supported dentistry. This second question is more complex than a simple yes or no answer because from a technical perspective virtually anyone can have the benefit of implant supported dentistry.

However, it is important to remember that with everything there are usually caveats. In the case of implants, the caveat is that this kind of dentistry requires oral surgery to place the implants. As such, patients need to be healthy enough to receive an oral surgery. In addition to this, there are a few conditions that may prevent patients from getting dental implants or may delay the process. These include diseases like uncontrolled diabetes, periodontal diseases, and treatment for cancer that includes radiation.

Restore your smile with functional teeth

Implant supported dentistry is one of the most successful forms of replacing lost teeth, partly due to the fact that we are able to replace the root with an implant that holds the crown of the tooth in place securely. This kind of success does not happen by accident. We will take X-rays to determine if the patient's jawbone has sufficient density to support and sustain a dental implant. Since implant supported dentistry depends most heavily on the quality of the implant, the first step is to secure the implant itself.

In many patients, we will find that the loss of teeth has led to a deterioration of the jawbone itself. In situations like this, we will need to perform an alveolar bone graft to make sure that there is a sufficiently dense block of bone into which we can place the implant. This kind of an onlay bone graft typically requires that the patient recovers for around three to six months before we can proceed to the next steps of the implant supported dentistry.

Teeth Whitening Dentist in Green Brook Township: Your Solution for Stained Teeth

People come to a teeth whitening dentist because they are tired of dealing with stained or discolored teeth and want a real solution. Often, patients who come through our doors have gone through various thought processes on how they want to handle their teeth whitening. Given how many products are out there, it is no wonder people are often confused by what the best option really is.
The teeth whitening industry started out small, despite the fact that humans have always sought to have whiter teeth. However, the ease of the ability to have whiter teeth soon caught on and became a household practice, spurring a multi-billion dollar industry of products that promise to give you the beautiful white teeth you desire.

Many Teeth Whitening Options

As a teeth whitening dentist, we have seen all kinds of products, promising all kinds of wonderful results. The reality is that when one is considering whitening his or her teeth, it is best to consult with a teeth whitening dentist first to see what exactly the needs are. For our patients, there is no hassle or worry about selecting the right kind of product.
They come in and let us do all the work, so they can leave with perfectly whitened teeth that are even, well-matched and look great. We train our dentist office in ensuring that we handle the science of whitening the right way. Teeth whitening, whether it is at the hand of a teeth whitening dentist or elsewhere, is a scientific process based on chemistry. The oxide-based solution releases free radicals into the enamel, which then act to make the enamel more transparent and appear whiter. It is quite an amazing process that requires knowing what level of whitening the patient wants, how much of the formula to use, and how to get it all evenly on the teeth.
An uneven bleaching is the largest challenge do-it-yourselfers have. Typically, without speaking to their teeth whitening dentist, patients will attempt to correct these mistakes by reattempting the whitening too soon, leading to sensitivity in the teeth and a need to see a dentist anyway. Overuse is one of the biggest problems when it comes to over-the-counter whitening products.

Teeth Whitening Application

Getting the whitening solution onto the teeth evenly is another challenge. When a patient gets a whitening treatment by a teeth whitening dentist, we custom-fabricate the trays that hold the whitening solution for the patient's teeth. We will capture every nuance and bump in the individual's teeth. This allows the tray to be a perfect fit, keeping the solution from leaking out and providing full coverage to the teeth in an even fashion.
On the other hand, store-bought solutions have a one-size-fits-all tray, which very often allows the solution to come in contact with sensitive gum tissue. These trays also do not provide an even coverage of the solution for even whitening across the spectrum of the teeth.

A Children's Dentist Can Help Prevent Cavities

At our Green Brook Township childrens dentist office, we know how important it is to prevent cavities. Most children will suffer from them, and it has become such a significant issue that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported that this is the most commonly occurring infectious disease among children. It has reached the point that it is impacting the number of days that children miss from school. Tooth decay can even impact young toddlers. Therefore, we focus on preventing it.

Childrens Dentist Office Exams and Cleanings

In our dental office, we recommend that children come in for a teeth cleaning and exam as young as one year of age. This way we can inspect their teeth and make sure that they are growing in properly. When they get professional teeth cleaning it goes a long way in helping to prevent cavities. No matter how good one is at brushing his or her teeth, there are some places in the mouth that are difficult to reach without a trip to the dentist. We can remove the plaque and bacteria from these areas to reduce the risk of cavities. The best routine involves brushing and flossing twice a day and visiting our office for a professional cleaning twice a year.

Fluoride Treatment

Upon visiting our childrens dentist office, there are additional steps that we can take to prevent cavities such as completing a fluoride treatment. Fluoride is a mineral that we can brush directly onto the teeth. It serves to strengthen teeth, which is significant, considering how many children get cavities. Simultaneously, a fluoride treatment only takes a couple of minutes to complete, and it is entirely non-invasive, so children do not experience any discomfort.

Dental Sealants

Another way that we can help is to place sealant on their teeth. If your child has deep ridges on the chewing surface of their teeth, it will be difficult to clean them all the way. Food particles, plaque, and bacteria can gather here and increase the likelihood that they will develop cavities in these spaces. At our childrens dentist office, we can brush a clear liquid onto their teeth. This sealant will harden and provide a protective barrier so that nothing can get into these deep ridges. As a result, we can significantly reduce the chance of your child developing cavities. Like fluoride, this is a non-invasive solution that only takes a few minutes per tooth.
Regardless of how old your child is or what their oral health has been, it is never too early or too late to focus on improving it. When you visit our dental office, we can take the steps necessary to improve the oral health of our patients. Our goal is to ensure that your child remains healthy as they age and that they will grow with a full set of natural teeth that have not been hindered by decay or gum disease. To schedule your appointment, give us a call.

Visit a Cosmetic Dentist for a Teeth Whitening in Green Brook Township

If you do not like the appearance of your teeth, come to our Green Brook Township dentist office for a teeth whitening. Teeth whitening is perhaps the easiest way to improve the appearance of your smile. As a cosmetic dentist, it is one of the most frequent procedures that we perform. Nearly all adults suffer from some form of discoloration or staining. For some, it is a minor yellowing that they need to address. While for many patients, the staining and discoloration are so severe that it significantly impacts their appearance. In any case, our professional grade whitening solution can positively transform your smile.

Why you should schedule an appointment for a teeth whitening

As a cosmetic dentist, we can whiten a patient's teeth in a way that will produce beautiful results. Our whitening solution can penetrate the enamel of one's teeth to begin the process of oxidization where the molecules inside of the teeth reflect less light and appear colorless. The solutions that one buys in the store typically only remove the surface stains so they are not nearly as effective. In fact, this can lead to further problems.

Since the results are not as dramatic as most people would hope for, it is common for people to apply the solution again. Unfortunately, repeated exposure can cause irritation and even erosion. Erosion is when the enamel on the teeth wears away and they become sensitive, sometimes permanently. Patients can avoid this potential complication by scheduling an appointment with our dental office for a teeth whitening.

The process

Upon visiting our office, we will first examine the patient's teeth to make sure there are no cavities or infections that we need to address. We cannot place the whitening solution onto teeth since it can cause irritation by the peroxide. Plus, treating a cavity is important for the patient's oral health in the long run. We will also look for signs of damage. If the patient has any cracked or chipped teeth, it is important to restore them prior to whitening the teeth.

Leaving a damaged tooth alone can cause the damage to spread and even create a risk of an infection developing. This initial examination and our ability to treat whatever issues we find will make it so that the patient does not experience any unnecessary sensitivity when coming in for a teeth whitening.

As a cosmetic dentist, we also have other solutions that we can provide you with should the teeth whitening treatment not work as well as you would like. We can cover any remaining stains with dental bonding, dental veneers, or dental crowns. All of these are effective solutions for improving the appearance of your teeth and can be completed fairly quickly.

Call us today at (732) 424-8483.