General Dentistry

Dental Fillings

A small cavity, left untreated, can grow to destroy an entire tooth. Unlike our skin, teeth don’t heal naturally. Only professional dental care can correct your cavities and return you to optimal oral health. A dental filling, made from tooth colored composite resin can fill a prepared cavity and reinforce a tooth’s structure.

How we can help: To place a filling, Dr. Carrie Hansen will first prepare your tooth by removing decay and bacteria. She will make sure you’re comfortable during treatment. After the tooth is prepared, a composite resin is placed into the cleaned cavity and, once the material hardens, the filling will sculpted and polished.

Extractions

In some cases, extracting a tooth is the best treatment option due to trauma,  crowding, preparing for dentures, or eliminate a diseased tooth.

How we can help: Extraction is a common procedure. Dr. Carrie Hansen will refer you to the proper oral surgeon who will guide you through the extraction process in the most comfortable and efficient manner.

Root Canals

In some situations, you can avoid tooth extraction by undergoing a root canal. An internally infected or inflamed tooth may be treatable. Inside every tooth, canals house the pulp (nerve) that sustains the tooth’s life. A deep cavity or crack can compromise the pulp and cause infection or inflammation. As infection and inflammation builds, the tooth begins to ache from internal pressure. At this point, your dentist will recommend extraction or a root canal.

How we can help: An Endodontist is a specialist who performs root canal therapy. Dr. Hansen will refer to the Endodontist, which in most cases will complete root canal treatment in just one appointment.

Periodontal Therapy

‘Periodontal’ refers to gums, the soft pink skin that supports teeth and covers bones in the mouth. About 80 percent of American adults have gum disease, a bacterial infection that breaks down the bond between gums and teeth. Gum disease has serious overall health implications in that it is associated with increased potential for:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Dementia
• Diabetes complications
• Heart attack/heart disease
• Low-weight births
• Osteoporosis
• Respiratory problems
• Stroke
• Tooth loss

How we can help: Depending on your level of gum disease, your hygienist and dentist will recommend the appropriate therapy. If you have mild gingivitis, changing your oral home care routine could solve the problem. However, a deep cleaning is often recommended for mild to moderate gum disease. This procedure involves scaling to remove hardened plaque (tartar or calculus) from below the gum line and root planing to reduce rough areas on your teeth’s roots where bacteria tend to gather and flourish. A slow releasing antibiotic (Arestin) may be placed to help reduce bacteria as your gums heal. Advanced gum disease cases may be referred to a periodontist. In some cases, surgery may be required.