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Digital Imaging:
Peppes Dental doesn’t just use digital imaging for an accurate diagnosis, as you will see below, it’s also a great tool for cosmetic procedures. Cosmetic Imaging is software that gives you an opportunity to view your teeth and overall appearance before and after cosmetic procedures. A picture is taken of your face with a big cheesy smile, and that image is then stored in the computer and enhanced using the cosmetic imaging software, so that you can better imagine yourself with that Hollywood smile. Whether you’re inquiring about teeth-bleaching or full-mouth reconstruction, digital imaging provides excellent solutions for cosmetic dental procedures.
Digital X-rays:
Digital x-raying is a new system of taking x-rays, called digital radiography, which reduces radiation by as much as 80%. It doesn’t require films of any sort, which means you don’t have to sit and wait. The x-ray image is transferred to the computer, where it is stored and can be viewed at any time. This image can then be enlarged, inverted, and colorized, so that the Doctor can see any problems or irregularities to then make an accurate diagnosis.
Intraoral Camera:
Peppes Dental utilizes an intraoral camera to help enhance your understanding of your diagnosis. This very small camera allows us to clearly take and view images of your mouth, teeth and gums in order for us to accurately make a diagnosis. With these clearly defined images, you are able to see details that may be missed by just a standard examination. This can also mean a faster diagnosis with less chair-time for you!
Being digital enables us to save and store your images in our computer to provide a permanent record. These images can then be printed out for you or other specialists and insurance companies at any time.
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| Fillings/Restorations |
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Fillings/Restorations Before |
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Fillings/Restorations After |
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Dental research has resulted in the development of new tooth-colored materials that are not only durable and long lasting, but attractive as well. These materials, porcelain and composite resin, provide an attractive, natural look while at the same time restoring strength and durability to your tooth. Another bonus…tooth-colored fillings blend in beautifully!
Both porcelain and composite resin are bonded directly to the tooth, restoring it to near its original strength and function. Both can be custom-colored to precisely match your teeth, so when porcelain or resin fillings are placed, they’re extremely natural looking. This can really make a difference in your appearance, especially if the restoration is visible when you smile.
When we place an amalgam filling, we have to remove extra healthy tooth structure, just so the filling will stay in place. When we restore your tooth with composite resin, we need to remove only the decayed portion because the bond anchors the material tightly in place. This means you retain a healthier tooth structure. Also, because “tooth-colored” fillings are bonded to your tooth, they add strength to the tooth.
So…if you’re looking for an attractive and effective option for restoring one or more decayed teeth, be sure to ask us about the latest choices in “tooth-colored” restorative materials.
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| Sealants |
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Sealants Before |
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Sealants After |
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When our back teeth are developing, depressions and grooves form in the chewing surfaces of our tooth enamel. They are impossible to keep clean because the bristles of a toothbrush can’t reach into them. As a result, these depressions and grooves are snug places for plaque and bits of food to hide. By flowing a thin covering over the depressions and grooves, sealants keep out plaque and food, and as a result, decrease the risk of decay.
Each tooth takes only a few minutes to seal. The teeth being sealed are first cleaned and then the chewing surfaces are conditioned to help the sealant adhere to the tooth. The sealant is then “painted” onto the tooth enamel, where it bonds directly to the tooth and hardens. A “curing” light is often used to help the sealant harden.
When the sealant is applied, finger-like strands penetrate the depressions and grooves of the tooth enamel. The sealant can’t be seen with the naked eye, but the protective effects of these strands continue. As a result, it may be several years before another application of sealant is needed.
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| Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatment |
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Scaling |
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Root planing depth |
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Probe measures periodontal pockets |
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| Treatment methods depend upon the type of disease and how far the condition has progressed. Many times, the early stages of periodontal disease are best treated with non-surgical periodontal therapy. This usually consists of placing a fine ultrasonic tip or hand scaler/curette in between the tooth and gum tissue to remove bacterial plaque and calculus (tartar) below the gum line. The tooth roots may also be planed to smooth the root surfaces. This procedure is commonly known as Scaling and Root Planing or Periodontal Debridement. This initial periodontal therapy, along with good personal oral hygiene, allows the gum tissue to heal and reattach to the tooth. Four to six weeks later, periodontal pockets are eliminated due to gum shrinkage (if the disease is in its earliest stage). Then the patient can personally maintain these areas with routine brushing and flossing. |
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| Crowns/Bridges |
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Crowns
A crown is a special dental restoration that entirely covers or “caps” a tooth. Besides strengthening a damaged tooth, a crown can be used to improve its appearance. Gold, Porcelain, Ceramic, or a combination of these materials are used to make crowns. Porcelain attached to a durable metal shell is commonly used for its strength.
Your dentist may recommend a crown to:
- Replace a large filling when there isn’t enough tooth remaining
- Protect a weak tooth from fracturing
- Restore a fractured tooth
- Attach a bridge
- Cover a dental implant
- Cover a poorly shaped tooth
- Cover a discolored tooth, or
- Cover a tooth that has had a root canal treatment
Bridges
A bridge is basically 3 or more crowns connected together in a row. It is used to span a place where one or more teeth are missing. A bridge helps maintain the natural shape of your face and provides support for your lips and cheeks. |
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| Dental Implants |
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Nothing can take the place of a healthy set of teeth, but when disease or an accident ends in tooth loss, or you have full or partial dentures, it’s good to know you have some options in restoring your smile.
Implants are metal posts or frames that are surgically placed beneath your gums – fusing to the jawbone. They act as an artificial tooth root. Replacement teeth are then mounted to the implant. Since implants fuse to the jawbone, they have the advantage of offering stable support to artificial teeth. Dentures, bridges or individual teeth mounted to the implants won’t slip or shift in your mouth, which is important when it comes to eating and talking. The security of the fit helps replacement teeth feel more natural and comfortable than conventional bridges or dentures.
Implants are not an option for everyone. If you are considering implants, a thorough evaluation will help determine if you are a good candidate. Because implants require surgery, you must be in good health, have healthy gums and have adequate bone to support the implant. Certain diseases like diabetes, osteoporosis or chronic sinus problems may interfere with proper healing and could prevent the bone from attaching to the implant. Smoking may also affect the stability of the implant over time. Meticulous oral hygiene and regular dental visits are critical to the long-term success of dental implants.
Implants require a considerable investment of time. The implant process involves several steps and may take up to nine months to complete. First, surgery is performed to place the anchor (the actual implant). The anchor itself is made of metal…usually titanium since it has proven to be very compatible with bone and other tissues. The surface of some implants are treated with a substance that helps them adhere to the bone. It may take up to 3 to six months for the bone to grow around the anchor and firmly hold it in place. After the gums have had several weeks to heal, the next step begins. The replacement teeth are made and fitted to the post portion of the anchor. These are made of the same material as conventional crowns, bridges or dentures. Several fittings may be required, so this step can take one or two months to complete.
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| Root Canals |
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The layers of a tooth |
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Removing infection |
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Filling the root canals |
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Root Canal treatment usually involves the removal of the tooth’s pulp, a small thread-like tissue that was important for tooth development. Once removed, it is replaced with materials that seal off the root canal from bone supporting the tooth’s root. Years ago, teeth with diseased or injured pulps were removed. Today, root canal (endodontic) treatment enables dentists to save many teeth that otherwise would be lost.
When the pulp is diseased or injured and can’t repair itself, it dies. The most common causes of pulp death are a cracked tooth, a deep cavity, or an injury to a tooth. Any of these problems allow saliva to enter the tooth, thus giving rise to an infection. An untreated infection can damage or destroy the bone surrounding the tooth.
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| Fluoridation |
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Tooth decay occurs when plaque breaks down sugars in food. The bacteria produce damaging acids that dissolve the hard enamel surfaces of teeth. If the damage is not stopped or treated, the bacteria can penetrate through the enamel causing tooth decay (also called cavities or caries). Cavities weaken teeth and can lead to pain, tooth loss, or even widespread infection in the most severe cases.
Fluoride combats tooth decay in two ways. It is incorporated into the structure of developing teeth when it is ingested and also works when it comes in contact with the surface of the teeth. Fluoride prevents the acid produced by the bacteria in plaque from dissolving, or demineralizing, tooth enamel, the hard and shiny substance that protects the teeth. Fluoride also allows teeth damaged by acid to repair, or remineralize, themselves. Fluoride cannot repair cavities, but it can reverse low levels of tooth decay and thus prevent new cavities from forming. Fluoride also helps with sensitive teeth in that it remineralizes root surfaces that can cause the sensitivity.
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