Other Services

You may need a bone graft if you have missing teeth, need a tooth extraction, or have experienced bone loss from periodontal disease.

• Missing teeth – When a tooth is missing, the supporting bone shrinks about 50 percent within six months. One of our dentists will confirm whether you have enough quality bone to support a dental implant. If you lack enough bone, a grafting procedure will ensure your dental implant has the right environment to integrate with the bone.

• Tooth extraction – Unsavable teeth that require extraction often need a grafting procedure to build up the bone before dental implants. We may recommend a bone graft and dental implant immediately after tooth extraction. Immediate graft and implant placement help prevent the need for future surgeries.

• Bone loss from periodontal disease – Progressive gum disease destroys the bones that support your teeth. A bone graft supports loose teeth and ligaments, helping them resume healthy positions.

Deep dental cleaning, or scaling and root planing, becomes necessary when plaque and tartar harden on your teeth from a lack of routine professional cleanings to remove them. Inflammation eventually causes your gums to separate from your teeth, forming pockets that fill with bacteria and cause gum disease.

Only deep dental cleaning, or scaling and root planing, removes the plaque and tartar below the gum line, down to tooth roots. It is essential for stopping the progression of gum disease. Routine dental exams and teeth cleaning can help prevent plaque and tartar buildup and the need for deep cleanings.

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the jaw joint on each side of your head, connecting your lower jaw to your skull’s temporal bones. TMJ disorders can cause various symptoms, including:

• Dental discomfort, such as a bite that feels “off”

• Dizziness• Ear pressure, pain, ringing (tinnitus)

• Headaches

• Jaw pain, clicking, popping, stiffness, or locking

• Neck pain or stiffness

• Shoulder pain or stiffness

TMJ treatment may include one or more of the following recommendations:

• A custom night guard to minimize the effects of teeth grinding or clenching on your jaw joints

• A custom splint to stabilize the jaw joints and prevent malocclusion (how your upper and lower teeth meet)

• Botox injections to relax your jaw muscles

• Physical therapy, including posture correction or exercises to relieve muscle tension

• Restorative dentistry to achieve a healthier bite

One of our dentists will complete an oral exam and take X-rays to determine whether your symptoms are TMJ-related. Afterward, the dentist will explain your personalized treatment options for relieving your symptoms.

Treatment for a cracked tooth depends on the crack’s location, size, and direction, and your symptoms. After an exam, X-ray, and sensitivity test, your treatment options may include one or more of the following:

• A tooth filling for protection

• Root canal treatment if the tooth’s pulp and nerves are affected

• A dental crown to protect the tooth

• Tooth removal if the tooth is unsavable, followed by a dental implant

If you have symptoms of a cracked tooth, contact us to schedule an exam. Prompt treatment can stop your discomfort and prevent the crack from worsening.

Dental trauma is an injury to teeth, gums, surrounding bone, or other oral tissue. A fall or an impact on your face or mouth can damage teeth or oral tissue even if you do not see or feel it. Depending on the type and extent of injury, one of our dentists may want to see you the same day, if not immediately. Even if your dental emergency occurs when our office is closed, if you are an existing patient, please leave a message with our answering service to get a return call from a dentist.

If you have experienced any events listed below, please get in touch with our office now to report the concern, and we will explain what to do next:
• Teeth – A chipped, broken, displaced, split, loose, or knocked-out tooth
• Lip or tongue – A bite or cut that causes excessive bleeding or pain
• Persistent pain or swelling – An injury that interrupts your sleep or daily routine
• Broken oral appliance – Fracture to a denture or dental bridge that affects its function or affects your ability to eat
• A fall or impact to your mouth – Internal tooth damage can occur, although you may not see or feel it

Deep dental cleaning, or scaling and root planing, is the first phase in treating gum disease. It differs from routine dental cleaning, which removes plaque and tartar on and between your teeth. A dentist or dental hygienist must complete deep cleaning with instruments designed for this treatment. It is not safe to try it at home.

Deep cleaning has two steps:
1. Scaling – Removes plaque and tartar (hardened plaque) below your gum line, down to tooth roots
2. Root planing – Smooths tooth roots, allowing the gums to reattach to and support your teeth

Before the procedure, we will numb your gums to ensure your comfort. Your dentist will assess the stage of gum disease affecting your oral health and determine how many deep cleanings you need to stop its progression.

A gum graft is a surgical procedure to replace damaged or receding gum tissue. Causes of gum recession include:

• Aggressive tooth brushing

• Certain medical conditions

• Periodontal (gum and surrounding bone) disease

• Tobacco use

• Tooth misalignment

A gum graft protects formerly exposed tooth roots from sensitivity and decay. It also helps prevent further gum recession and bone loss. Your gum line around your teeth or dental implants will look healthy and natural.

A dental bone graft is a procedure to replace lost or damaged bone that supports a tooth. Bone loss can occur from periodontal (gum and bone) disease, missing teeth, or tooth extraction.Our dentists can take bone from other parts of your mouth or body or use artificial bone for grafting. After the dentist attaches the graft to your bone and closes the incision, it will encourage new bone growth. Depending on the dental graft type and procedure, bone healing and hardening take about four months.

After applying a numbing agent, one of our dentists will take soft tissue from the roof of your mouth or use a soft-tissue grafting material to replace the areas of gum recession. Our dentist will stitch the grafting material in place, allowing your gums to heal and integrate with the graft for natural-looking results. Healing can take one to three weeks, depending on the graft type and extent.

A cracked tooth can result from advanced decay, injury, uneven chewing pressure, or stress from teeth grinding. The crack may be too small to see, but you may feel symptoms, including:

• A sensation that something is stuck in your tooth

• Pain that comes and goes• Pain when biting or chewing that stops afterward

• Sensitivity to sweet, sour, sticky, cold, or hot foods or drinks

• Sensitivity when eating

An X-ray will help our dentists identify the source of your symptoms and the tooth’s condition.

The treatment for dental trauma depends on the type and extent of the injury. Regardless, one of our dentists will do the following:

• Examine the affected area

• Relieve your discomfort

• Stop excessive bleeding

• Stabilize or replant teeth

• Take X-rays as needed

After evaluating the condition of your teeth, oral tissue, or dental appliance, we will explain your treatment options.