As a general dentist, Dr. Lucy provides dental care to people of all ages. A routine visit you will have an examination of your mouth ( teeth, gums and other structures) cleaning and discussion about your overall dental health.
There will be times when you will need more than just a cleaning. Below, are some of the services and treatments we provide.
Restorations/Filling:
A filling will be needed after removing the decay from a tooth. There are several materials that can be used, including tooth-coloured composite (white filling), silver amalgam, gold, and porcelain.
Extractions
Whenever possible, we recommend to try to save the tooth but in certain cases it is better to remove the tooth. Tooth extraction may be necessary:
There are two types of extractions:
– A simple extraction, usually done using just a local anesthetic, is performed by the dentist loosening the tooth then, using forceps to remove the tooth.
– A surgical extraction is a more complex procedure where you will receive a local anesthetic. If a tooth has broken off at the gum line or has not come into the mouth the doctor will make a small incision into your gum and simply remove the tooth. But, sometimes it’s necessary to remove some of the bone around the tooth or to cut the tooth in half in order to extract it.
For your comfort, we may perform sedation with nitrous oxide.
Crowns and Caps
A crown or cap is a cover that fits over a tooth that has been damaged by decay, broken, badly stained or misshapened. It is prepared by your dentist and usually requires more than one visit to complete.
A crown can be made of acrylic, metal, porcelain, or porcelain bonded to metal. All-porcelain crowns look more like your natural teeth and therefore are usually used for front teeth, while porcelain bonded to metal is stronger and better for crowns in the back of the mouth. Sometimes all-metal crowns are used for back teeth because of the metal’s strength.
To prepare your tooth for a crown, the tooth is first frozen with anesthesia and then filed down so the cap can fit over it. An impression of the teeth and gums is made, and a temporary cap is fitted over the tooth until the permanent crown is ready. On your next visit, the dentist will remove the temporary cap and cement the crown onto the tooth. The crown will closely match the color and shape of your natural teeth.
Bridges
A bridge may be used to replace missing teeth, help maintain the shape of your face, and stabilize your bite. A bridge replaces missing teeth with artificial teeth, looks great, and literally bridges the gap where one or more teeth may have been. Your bridge can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials, and is supported by surrounding teeth, or implants. The success of any bridge depends on its foundation — the other teeth, gums, or bone to which it is attached. Therefore, it’s very important to keep your existing teeth and gums healthy and strong.
Preventive dentistry
Routine dental checkups are vital to good oral hygiene and are the best way to detect problems at their earliest stages. Early detection and treatment save unnecessary discomfort, time and money.
Teeth cleaning
Gum diseases start out as plaque buildup around the gumline and cause the gums to become infected and inflamed. This infection is called gingivitis and later periodontitis. This infection caused the supporting gums and bone to be destroyed consequently the tooth loses support became looser and eventually fall out.
To prevent gum disease professional teeth cleaning is necessary.
Typical teeth cleaning experience may go something like this:
Oral Cancer Examination
Oral cancer starts in the cells of the mouth, tongue or throat. Oral cancer screening is usually a routine part of a dental examination. In this exam, your dentist will feel for lumps or irregular tissue changes in your neck, head, face, and inside your mouth. Your dentist will also look for sores or discolored tissue in your mouth.
