Cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the appearance and aesthetics of your smile. Common cosmetic dental procedures include teeth whitening, dental bonding and veneers. A general dentist is a primary dental care provider. They offer preventative care, like teeth cleanings, and restorative dentistry treatments, such as dental fillings, crowns and bridges.
A bright smile can enhance your appearance and give you more confidence. When your teeth become yellowed, you might be reluctant to smile. You might discuss with your dental professional a home bleaching kit that will lighten your teeth. The kits are generally safe, although some people may feel a little numb to the cold quality dental care. The whitening gel is PH-neutral, which helps prevent cavities. A bleaching kit for home use offers many advantages to patients. It can be done at home. The kit is also gentler for the gums compared to kits purchased in stores. Your dentist will show you how to use the system before you leave.
You may have noticed a little blood on your sink after brushing your teeth. This bleeding is one of the early warning signs of gingivitis.
Gingivitis is the mild form. Only your gums will be infected. If you do not treat it, infection can spread below the gumline into your bones. It can then progress to a more severe form of gum infection called periodontitis.
Gingivitis or periodontitis can increase your risk for diabetes, heart disease and other diseases such as pneumonia, cancer, osteoporosis and even heart attack.
Early detection is the best option.Treatments for gum disease ,vary depending on your stage, your response to previous treatments and overall health.
Treatments can range from nonsurgical treatments that control bacterial proliferation to surgery that restores supporting tissues.If you don’t treat it, the infection can travel below your gumline and into your bone. Then it becomes a more serious form of gum disease called periodontitis.
If you do not treat it, infection can spread below the gumline into your bones. It can then progress to a more severe form of gum infection called periodontitis.
There are a variety of treatments for gum disease, depending on the stage of the disease, how you’ve responded to past treatments, and your overall health. There’s no magic pill or cream that can cure gum disease, Sahl says. Still, your dentist may prescribe medication as part of your treatment.
Nonsurgical treatments. Some treatments that don't involve surgery include:
During a typical checkup, your dentist or dental hygienist will remove the plaque and tartar (plaque that builds up and hardens on the tooth surface and can only be removed with professional cleaning) from above and below the gumline of your teeth. If you have signs of gum disease, your dentist may recommend professional dental cleaning more than twice a year. These cleanings aren’t treatments for active gum disease. But they’re important preventive measures.
This deep cleaning is done under a local anesthetic. In this procedure, your plaque and tartar from above and below your gumline are scraped away (scaling) and rough spots on your tooth roots are made smooth (planing). Smoothing these rough spots removes bacteria and provides a clean surface for your gums to reattach to your teeth. Scaling and root planing is done if your dentist or periodontist finds you have plaque and calculus (hardened plaque, also called tartar) under your gums that need to be removed.
Antibiotics can be used along with surgery and other therapies, or alone, to reduce or temporarily get rid of bacteria linked to gum disease. They can also help suppress destruction of your tooth's attachment to your bone. Chlorhexidine (Peridex, PerioChip, PerioGard) is an antimicrobial used to control plaque and gingivitis in your mouth or in periodontal pockets.