Smile Solutions in Fargo provides comprehensive dental care for the entire family. Our Services include: Dental Hygiene, Flouride Treatments, Treatment of Gum Disease, Gingivitis, Periodontitis, Root Planing and Scaling, Sealants, Children's Dentistry, Night Guards, Treatment for TMJ Disease, Orthodontics, Root Canals, Tooth Extractions, Dentures and Partials.
People with healthy teeth and gums should have their teeth cleaned every six months. A professional cleaning (prophylaxis) is the only way to effectively remove tarter from your teeth. Plaque is the soft layer of bacteria that initially forms on your teeth. Plaque calcifies into calculus (tarter), a hard mineral buildup which the dental hygienist removes from your teeth. The hygienist also polishes and flosses your teeth, and in some cases applies a fluoride treatment.
Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in water. Every day, minerals from the enamel layer of your teeth are lost when acids from plaque and sugars in the mouth attack the enamel. Fluoride treatments are used to restore these minerals. The fluoride used in the dental office contains a much higher level of fluoride than the amount found in toothpastes and mouth rinses.
Gum disease is a bacterial infection of the tissues and bones that surround and support the teeth. It is also called periodontal disease.
Gingivitis is mild gum disease only affecting the gingiva, or gums, the tissue surrounding the teeth. Gingivitis causes red, swollen gums that bleed easily when brushed. Because gingivitis usually does not cause pain, many people do not get the treatment they need. Gum disease that progresses and reaches below the gum line to damage the tooth-supporting tissues and bone is called periodontitis.
Periodontitis develops when gum disease progresses. The gums pull away from the teeth, leaving deep pockets where bacteria can grow and damage the bone that supports the teeth. Gums can also shrink back or recede. Teeth may become loose or fall out.
Root planing and scaling (deep cleaning) is required when the gums have started to pull away from the teeth or the roots of the teeth have hard tarter deposits on them. Root planing and scaling is one of the most effective ways to treat gum disease before it becomes severe. This procedure cleans between the gums and the teeth down to the roots. If you maintain good dental care after the procedure, the progression of gum disease should stop, and your gums should heal; becoming firm and pink again
Sealants are thin, plastic coatings which are painted on the chewing surfaces of teeth, usually the back teeth (premolars and molars). The painted on liquid sealant quickly bonds into the depressions and grooves of the teeth forming a protective shield over the enamel of each tooth. Sealants protect these vulnerable areas from tooth decay by "sealing out" plaque and food.
Teaching your child proper dental care at a young age is an investment in his or her health that pays lifelong dividends. You can start by setting a good example; taking care of your own teeth sends a message that oral health is something to be valued. Make sure your child brushes twice a day, show them the proper way to floss, limit between-meal snacks and see your dentist regularly.
Most dentists recommend that children start their dental visits by age two. It is important for your dentist to monitor your child's dental growth and development. This is also your a chance to learn about tooth development, the need for fluoride, how to help your child maintain proper oral hygiene, how to deal with your child's oral habits (such as pacifier use or thumb sucking), and how to prevent oral injuries. By taking your child to the dentist for regular exams and cleanings, you can prevent serious problems from happening later on. Learn more about Children's Dentistry.
Dr. Wehrman may fit you with a night guard (hard splint or occlusal guard) to protect your teeth during sleep. A night guard is made by taking an impression of your top and bottom teeth. A night guard is a removable appliance and should be worn every night. They are used to protect teeth from injury due to clenching and grinding. Wearing a night guard can reduce symptoms such as jaw pain, headaches and toothaches.
This is a condition in which the temporomandibular joint does not function properly. This joint connects the temporal bone (the bone that forms the sides of the scull) with the mandible (the jaw bone). We put the TMJ to work every time we talk, chew, bite down, or swallow. Even lightly holding your teeth together can cause extreme pressure on your teeth and TMJ. This condition produces pain in the muscles and joints of the jaw that can radiate to the face, neck, head, and even shoulders. There also may be difficulty opening the mouth, or clicking and popping noises made when chewing, yawning, kissing, or moving the joint. The most common causes of TMJ are a poor bite, and stress, combined with grinding of the teeth, especially at night. Gum chewing can make this problem worse.
Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that corrects improperly positioned teeth and gums. Crooked teeth and teeth that do not fit together correctly are harder to keep clean. This causes a greater risk of tooth decay and periodontal disease. It also causes stress on the chewing muscles that can lead to headaches and TMJ syndrome, in addition to neck, shoulder and back pain. The benefits of orthodontic treatment include a healthier mouth, reduced pain, and a great looking smile. Smile Solutions is a certified Invisalign provider. Learn more about Invisalign.
Root canal treatment is the removal of the tooth's pulp, a small, thread-like tissue in the center of the tooth. First the damaged, diseased, or dead pulp is removed. The remaining space is cleaned, shaped and filled. This procedure seals off the root canal. Years ago, teeth with diseased or injured pulps were removed. Today, root canal treatment can save many teeth.
The most common causes of pulp damage or death to a tooth are:
* A cracked tooth
* A deep cavity
* An injury to a tooth, such as a severe trauma to the tooth.
Once the pulp is infected or dead, pus can build up at the root tip, forming an abscess. An abscess can destroy the bone surrounding the tooth and cause pain. In some cases, a referral to a root canal specialist called an Endodontist is needed.
Teeth are extracted for a variety of reasons:
* Decay has reached deep into the tooth
* Infection has destroyed a large portion of the tooth or surrounding bone
* There is not enough room for all the teeth in your mouth
Many dentists recommend extracting impacted teeth that are only partially erupted. Bacteria can enter around a partially erupted tooth and cause an infection, which can extend into the surrounding bone and become extremely serious. Impacted teeth continue trying to break through the gum tissue even if there is not enough room to accommodate them. The continued pressure caused by this attempted eruption can eventually damage the roots of nearby teeth. Removing a tooth that is impacted can often prevent infection, damage to adjacent teeth and bone, and save pain in the years to come.
A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissues. Complete dentures are used when all the teeth are missing. A denture is made up of plastic teeth with pink colored acrylic to mimic the gums. Implants are now used to attach dentures firmly in the mouth.
A removable partial denture usually consists of replacement teeth attached to a pink or gum-colored plastic base, which is connected by metal or plastic framework that holds the denture in place in the mouth. Partial dentures are used when one or more natural teeth remain in the upper or lower jaw. Not only does a partial denture fill in the spaces created by missing teeth, it prevents other teeth from changing position.