FILLINGS
Fillings are done to remove decay, and replace the affected tooth structure. It is called a filling because the new material fills the holes that decay left behind. Most teeth are treated with bonded tooth colored composite resin fillings. When caught early enough, cavities can be treated easily and painlessly. If not treated, decay can lead to pain and/or infection of the tooth, which may require root canal treatment or extraction of the affected tooth.
BONDING
Bonding involves adhering composite resin material, which is matched to the color of the natural teeth, to an area of a tooth. This is done to repair damage done to the tooth by decay, to alter the alignment of the tooth with others, to close gaps between the teeth, or for other cosmetic purposes.
SEALANTS
Sealants are used to fill in narrow grooves in the teeth that cannot be adequately cleaned by brushing. In some cases, the tooth structure has fine grooves or pits which accumulate plaque, not because the person doesn't brush, but because the grooves are too narrow to allow even one bristle into them. These can develop cavities over time without proper care. So, in order to prevent this, dental staff may choose to place a sealant coating on the teeth to seal the grooves & prevent plaque from building up on unreachable areas of the teeth.
NON-SURGICAL GUM TREATMENTS
The gums, ligaments, and bone structure around the teeth form their foundation. This group of structures is referred to as the periodontium. In the same way that an unstable foundation jeapordizes the stability of a home, unhealthy periodontium jeapordizes the teeth. It is important to seek treatment at the earliest sign of a problem. Signs of unhealthy periodontium, also known as gum disease, may be as follows: gums that are red and bleed easily, persistent bad breath, gums that have pulled away from the tooth, loose teeth, or changes in the position or bite of the teeth. Any of these signs may mean something is wrong. With proper care, however, it may be possible to return the periodontium to a healthy state. Treatment usually involves a deep cleaning or root planing, which is done under a local anesthetic with administered antibiotic agents. However, if the gum disease gets too severe, proper treatment may require surgery or extraction. This is why it is important to seek treatment at the first sign of a problem.
X-RAYS
Simply puy, X-rays are focused beams of electromagnetic waves. These waves are able to pass through structures at varying rates and, once they've reached a receptor, will produce a digital image of the structures it passed through. This process produces the familiar black and white images that you see doctors and dentists use. X-rays are a necessary part of the diagnostic process. Without an image of the whole tooth and it's supporting structures, there is no real way to detect infection or pathology that requires attention.
In our office we use digital radiography, which allows us to take x-rays using 50-70% less radiation than conventional x-ray methods. Coupled with computer monitoring, digital x-ray technology allows us to enhance the images for better diagnosis of any dental concerns.