Holbrook Dental Associates

Nothing affects your appearance and self-image more directly than the health of your teeth and supporting oral structures. Your ability to speak, smile and communicate effectively all depend on good oral health. Others judge you on how you present yourself. To look good, fell good, speak well and enjoy good nutrition, you should put priority on good dental health. Don't wait, contact us today for your comprehensive dental exam.

In recent years tooth whitening has become extremely popluar. It is an inexpensive way to lighten the color of your teeth, and most important, it is non-invasive. No tooth structure has to be removed to undergo the whitening procedure.

To whiten the teeth, a mould of your mouth is made and a custom bleaching tray made to fit in your mouth and hold the bleaching materials. You perform the procedure at home while sleeping. At bedtime, you place the whitening chemicals in the custom tray, put the tray in your mouth, and go to sleep. In the morning the tray is removed and you brush and clean as normal. Several nights of treatment are usually required to obtain the desired result.

Fillings and crowns (caps) on any teeth will not change color with the whitening material. Only natural tooth enamel will whiten. Accordingly, any restorations in the teeth that are whitened will have to be replaced after whitening in order to match the new, lighter tooth color.

The most common cause of tooth loss in patients over 35 years old is gum disease. Nearly 70% of the older adult population has some form of gum disease. Gum disease is particularly problematic and insidious because it may not exhibit noticable symptoms until it is so advanced that tooth loss may occur.

Gum disease is a bacterial infection that destroys the soft tissue and bone that support the teeth. By the time the teeth become noticeably loose, it may be too late to treat the problem and save the teeth. That is why regular checkups are so important.

The most common cause of tooth loss in adults over 35 is gum disease NOT tooth decay!

Treatment of Gum Disease
Treatment of early and moderate gum disease consists of mechanical removal of tarter, plaque and infectious debris from the affected areas. Additionally, a layer of infected tissue is removed so that the tissue can heal and reattach to the tooth root surface. This procedure is known as root planning and/or gingival curretage. These procedures are usually done by the dental hygienist under local anesthesia. The procedure usually takes multiple visits so that your whole mouth does not have to be "numb" at any one time.

Advanced gum disease may require gum surgery. This is much more aggressive and involved than the root planing procedures. Early detection and treatment of gum disease can usually avoid the need for surgery.

Treatment of gum disease is therapeutic and definitive in nature as opposed to preventive procedures such as "cleaning". Consequently, your insurance deductible will usually apply to these treatments and may be covered at a lower percentage than routine preventive measures. If you have any questions about coverage, please ask our staff.

Our office offers a complete array of restorative dentistry procedures including implant dentistry, crowns and bridges, cosmetic dentistry and bleaching (whitening of teeth).

A smile can be the most eye-catching feature of a face. With dentistry's many advances, you no longer have to settle for stained, chipped, or misshapen teeth. You now have choices that can help you smile with confidence.

Even the most subtle change in your smile can make a dramatic difference in the way you look and feel about yourself. Talk to Dr. Holbrook about the options most suitable for you, what your expectations are and the dental fees involved.

If you’ve lost all of your natural teeth, whether from tooth decay, injury or periodontal disease, dentures can replace your missing teeth and help restore your smile. Replacing missing teeth will benefit your appearance and your health. Without support from the denture, lip and facial structures sag, making a person look older. You’ll be able to eat and speak again.

There are various types of complete dentures. A conventional full denture is placed in the patient’s mouth after the remaining teeth are removed and tissues have healed. An immediate complete denture is inserted as soon as the remaining teeth are removed. The dentist takes measurements and makes models of the patient’s jaws during a preliminary visit. With immediate dentures, the denture wearer does not have to be without teeth during the healing period.

Even if you wear full dentures, you still must take good care of your mouth by brushing your gums, tongue and palate every morning with a soft-bristled brush before you insert your dentures. This will stimulate circulation in your tissues and help remove plaque.

Crowns and conventional bridges or dentures may not be your only options when replacing missing teeth. For some people, dental implants offer a smile that looks and feels very natural. Surgically placed below the gums over a series of appointments, implants fuse to the jawbone and serve as a base for individual replacement teeth, bridges or a denture.

Implants offer stability because they fuse to your bone. Integration of the implants into your jaw also helps your replacement teeth feel more natural and some people also find the secure fit more comfortable than conventional substitutes.

Candidates for dental implants need to have health gums and adequate bone to support the implant. A thorough evaluation by your dentist will help determine whether you are a good candidate for dental implants.

Underneath your tooth's outer enamel and within the dentin is an area of soft tissue called the pulp, which carries the tooth's nerves, veins, arteries and lymph vessels. Root canals are very small, thin divisions that branch off from the top pulp chamber down to the tip of the root. A tooth has at least one but no more than four root canals.

Why do I feel pain?
When the pulp becomes infected due to a deep cavity or fracture that allows bacteria to seep in, or injury due to trauma, it can die. Damaged or dead pulp causes increased blood flow and cellular activity, and pressure cannot be relieved from inside the tooth. Pain in the tooth is commonly felt when biting down, chewing on it and applying hot or cold foods and drinks.

Why do I need root canal therapy?
Because the tooth will not heal by itself. Without treatment, the infection will spread, bone around the tooth will begin to degenerate, and the tooth may fall-out. Pain usually worsens until one is forced to seek emergency dental attention. The only alternative is usually extraction of the tooth, which can cause surrounding teeth to shift crookedly, resulting in a bad bite. Though an extraction is cheaper, the space left behind will require an implant or a bridge, which can be more expensive than root canal therapy. If you have the choice, it's always best to keep your original teeth.

What is a root canal procedure?
A root canal is a procedure done to save the damaged or dead pulp in the root canal of the tooth by cleaning out the diseased pulp and reshaping the canal. The canal is filled with gutta percha, a rubberlike material, to prevent recontamination of the tooth. The tooth is then permanently sealed with possibly a post and/or a gold or porcelain crown. This enables patients to keep the original tooth.

What is involved in root canal therapy?
Once your general dentist performs tests on the tooth and recommends therapy, he or she can perform the treatment or refer you to an endo-dontist (a pulp specialist). Treatment usually involves one to three appointments.

First, you will probably be given a local anesthetic to numb the area. A rubber sheet is then placed around the tooth to isolate it. Next, a gap is drilled from the crown into the pulp chamber, which, along with any infected root canal, is cleaned of all diseased pulp and reshaped. Medication may be inserted into the area to fight bacteria. Depending on the condition of the tooth, the crown may then be sealed temporarily to guard against recontamination, or the tooth may be left open to drain, or the dentist may go right ahead and fill the canals.

If you're given a temporary filling, usually on the next visit it's removed and the pulp chamber and canal(s) are filled with rubberlike gutta percha or another material to prevent recontamination. If the tooth is still weak, a metal post may be inserted above the canal filling to reinforce the tooth. Once filled, the area is permanently sealed. Finally, a gold or porcelain crown is normally placed over the tooth to strengthen its structure and improve appearance.

What are the risks and complications?
More than 95 percent of root canal treatments are successful. However, sometimes a case needs to be redone due to diseased canal offshoots that went unnoticed or the fracturing of a canal filing instrument used-both of which rarely occur. Occasionally, a root canal therapy will fail altogether, marked by a return of pain.

What happens after treatment?
Natural tissue inflammation may cause discomfort for a few days, which can be controlled by an over-the-counter analgesic. A follow-up exam can monitor tissue healing. From this point on, brush and floss regularly, avoid chewing hard foods on the treated tooth, and see your dentist regularly.

Dr. Holbrook will numb the area to lessen any discomfort. After the extraction, Dr. Holbrook will advise you of what post extraction regiment to follow, in most cases a small amount of bleeding is normal.

Avoid anything that might prevent normal healing. It is usually best not to smoke or rinse your mouth vigorously, or drink through a straw for 24 hours. These activities could dislodge the clot and delay healing.

For the first few days, if you must rinse, rinse your mouth gently afterward, for pain or swelling, apply a cold cloth or an ice bag. Ask Dr. Holbrook about pain medication. You can brush and floss the other teeth as usual. But don't clean the teeth next to the tooth socket.

When having an extraction, today's modern procedures and follow up care as recommended by Dr. Holbrook are there to provide you great benefit and comfort.