Services
Dr. Richard K. Adams specializes in bringing out the beauty of your smile, your most attractive feature. Advancements in the field of dentistry have made it much easier to maintain and achieve the look you desire. Now you have so many possibilities. Our experienced and friendly staff will help you discover the best options to match your style.
Technologies
Oral Hygiene
Oral Hygiene
Maintaining good oral hygiene is one of the most important things you can do for your teeth and gums. Healthy teeth not only enable you to look and feel good, they make it possible to eat and speak properly. Good oral health is important to your overall well-being.
Daily preventive care, including proper brushing and flossing, will help stop problems before they develop.
In between regular visits to the dentist, there are simple steps that each of us can take to greatly decrease the risk of developing tooth decay, gum disease and other dental problems. These include:
Brush thoroughly twice a day and floss daily
Eat a balanced diet and limit snacks between meals
Use dental products that contain fluoride, including toothpaste
Rinse with a fluoride mouth rinse if your dentist advises you to
Make sure that your children under 12 drink fluoridated water or take a fluoride supplement if they live in a non-fluoridated area
Oral Hygiene Care
Halitosis or “Bad Breath”
Halitosis is the sophisticated word for "bad breath". Depending on the cause, bad breath may strike on occasion or may be a more persistent condition. The most common cause of bad breath is bacteria. Because the mouth is moist and warm, it creates perfect conditions for the millions of bacteria that live in the mouth. In fact, approximately 80% of bad breath is caused by something in the mouth.
Bad breath caused by bacteria in the mouth can easily be treated. Brushing your teeth, tongue and gums after meals as well as flossing and rinsing with mouthwash will usually take care of the problem. Regular visits to the dentist should be made for dental examinations and for professional teeth and gum cleaning.
Some types of bad breath, such as "morning mouth," are considered fairly normal and are not usually health concerns. However, persistent bad breath may be a sign of more serious problems with the gums and teeth.
Bad breath may be caused by the following:
Poor dental hygiene - poor oral hygiene can leave food particles to decay in the mouth
Infections in the mouth such as periodontal (gum) disease, gums that bleed easily or loose teeth
Respiratory-tract infections such as throat infections, sinus infections, lung infections
External agents including foods such as garlic, onions, and coffee, as well as cigarettes and chewing tobacco
Dry mouth caused by salivary gland problems or by breathing through the mouth
Call our office promptly if you have bad breath with painful, swollen gums that bleed easily or loose teeth. We will perform an examination of your mouth to determine the cause. In severe cases of gum disease, we may recommend a doctor specialized to treat gum disease called a periodontist.
Services
Bonding
Bonding involves adhering composite resin material that is matched to the color of the tooth, to the front of the tooth. This is done to repair damage done to the tooth by decay, to alter the alignment of the tooth, close gaps between the teeth, or other cosmetic purposes. A gel etch is applied to micro etch the tooth surface, and a primer/bond agent is applied so the material adheres to the surface. Then the material itself is placed on the tooth and hardened with a light. The composite resin material is shaped and polished to get a lustrous finish as a last step.
Crowns and Bridges
Crowns and bridges are used to restore and enhance teeth that are damaged, or to take the place of missing teeth. A crown, also referred to as a cap, is used to entirely cover a damaged tooth. A crown not only strengthens a tooth, but it can dramatically improve a tooth's appearance, shape and alignment.
Crowns may be used to:
Replace a large filling when there is little tooth structure remaining
Protect a weak tooth from fracturing
Restore a fractured tooth
Attach a bridge
Cover a dental implant
Cover a discolored or poorly shaped tooth
Protect a tooth that has had root canal treatment
A bridge is an ideal method to fill the space created by missing teeth. A bridge is one or more artificial teeth that are cemented into place using the teeth on either side for support, hence the name. This is an option for filling the space created by a missing tooth. A bridge replaces the missing tooth, both functionally and cosmetically. The materials used may be gold, porcelain bonded to metal, or Zirconia. The choice of material depends on requirements for strength, wear, and/or esthetics.
Dental Cleaning
A dental cleaning is a professional cleaning you receive from a dentist or dental hygienist. Most dental cleanings take only between 30 and 45 minutes. Cleanings should be performed every six months to prevent excessive plaque buildup. Plaque left untreated can lead to unhealthy gums and tooth decay. A routine dental cleaning should include scaling and polishing.
Scaling: This is the process of removing plaque and tartar from all tooth surfaces in a variety of methods, depending on the amount of plaque and tartar.
Dental hygienists traditionally perform scaling by hand. However, new and advanced technology has led to more modern methods such as electric scalers.
Dental Implant
A dental implant is an ideal tooth restoration for people who are missing one or more teeth as a result of injury, periodontal disease, or any other reason. A dental implant is a titanium post that can be placed by Dr. Adams into the bone. Once in place and bone surrounding the implant has had time to heal, a replacement tooth is cemented to the post. Implants are stronger than natural teeth and generally last longer than a bridge and don't get decay. They are also a more favorable approach than bridgework since they do not depend on neighboring teeth for support, which means you don't have to prepare healthy teeth down for a bridge that does not need to be restored.
To receive implants, you need to have healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant. You must also be committed to excellent oral hygiene and regular dental visits as these are critical to the long-term success of dental implants. Another advantage of an implant over a bridge is you keep the restoration to one tooth and a floss threader is not needed.
Dentures
A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissues. There are two types of dentures available, including removable partial dentures and complete dentures. Partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain, while complete dentures are used to completely replace all teeth. Dentures are made to resemble your natural teeth so there should be no noticeable change to your appearance. In fact, dentures may even improve your smile!
Complete Dentures- This restoration method is used to restore your smile and mouth function if all your teeth have been lost. The dentures are custom created to resemble natural teeth and are positioned into a patient’s mouth to take the place of where the natural teeth used to be. Particular Dentures - A removable partial dentures is a device used when two or more natural teeth still remain in the upper or lower jaw. They usually consist of replacement teeth attached to a gum-colored plastic base which is held in place in the mouth. A partial denture acts the same as a removable denture, but it is held in place using the adjacent teeth for support. This fills the space created by missing teeth, as well as creates a support for remaining teeth to prevent shifting. You can also have a metal framework partial denture which is longer lasting.
Fillings
A filling is a way to restore a tooth damaged by decay back to its normal function and shape. If you have a tooth that requires a filling, the dentist will first remove the decayed tooth material, clean the affected area, and then fill the cleaned out cavity with a tooth-colored filling material. Composite resin filling materials are custom made to the color of your natural teeth, creating a more natural appearance.
Nightguards and Athletic Biteguards
Custom designed mouthguards and nightguards are made of flexible plastic and molded to fit the shape of your teeth. Mouthguards are recommended to protect your jaw and teeth during physical activity and sports such as boxing, football, basketball, or other activities where your mouth may get hit. Nightguards are also recommended for patients who clench or grind their teeth at night as a way to protect their teeth and bite.
If you have decided a guard is right for you, the dentist will take an impression of your teeth which will then be sent to a lab to make a custom fit guard for you. In most cases you can choose from a variety of colors and styles for your guard. Nightguards are now made on a 3D printer and the fit is excellent.
Periodontal (Gum) Treatment
The gums, ligaments, and bone around the teeth form the foundation for one's teeth. All structures are also referred to as the periodontium. When the periodontium is not healthy, it jeopardizes the teeth just as a bad foundation would threaten the stability of a house. Signs of unhealthy periodontium include: gums that are red and bleed easily, persistent bad breath, gums that are pulled away from the tooth, loose teeth, and changes in the position or bite of the teeth. Any of these may be a sign of a problem. With proper gum treatments, however, it may be possible to return gum tissue to a healthy state. If you're having a problem, come in and see us so we may treat it right away. The treatment usually involves a deep cleaning or root planning done under a local anesthetic, along with local antibiotic agents. If the gum disease gets too severe it may need to be treated through surgery or extraction. This is why it is important to have it treated at the first sign of a problem.
Root Canal Therapy
Root canal treatment (also referred to as root canal therapy or endodontic therapy) is necessary when a cavity is allowed, through neglect, to reach all the way to the pulp. (Problems to decay once this occurs, cleanings and checkups prevent and detect problems early). Sometimes deep restorations or trauma to a tooth may cause the nerve to be damaged to the point it needs root canal therapy. Once this occurs the pulp is infected, and can even extend through the root tip and begin to eat away at the surrounding bone (this is called an abscess). When the pulp is infected it must be treated because it cannot heal on its own. Symptoms that the pulp has become infected may include sensitivity to hot/cold or sweets, pain, swelling, pain to biting or pressure, and a bad taste in the mouth.
Sometimes, however, no symptoms are apparent and the person is unaware of any problem until a checkup. A root canal is then performed to clean out the infected tooth pulp, in the center of the tooth and disinfect the canals of the tooth. The only other treatment would be to extract the tooth. Once the infection is resolved, the canal(s) are filled in to prevent any further infection.
Sealants
Sealants are used to fill in narrow grooves in a tooth that cannot be adequately cleaned by brushing. These narrow grooves will develop cavities over time. The dentist will bond on a coating that seals the grooves and pits, making the tooth more resistant to decay. Sealants are only needed on teeth that have been in your mouth for less than five years and so they are only done for children.
Tooth Extractions
Good oral hygiene should always be practiced since the loss of a single tooth can have major impact upon your oral health and appearance. Although dentists will use every measure to prevent tooth loss, there are still occasions when a tooth may need to be extracted. A tooth needs to be extracted due to severe decay, periodontal disease, to allow room before orthodontic treatment, or if the tooth is fractured.
Veneers
Veneers are a dental procedure in which a covering is placed over the outside (visible area) of the tooth. Veneers are usually only done to the part of the teeth that are visible when talking or smiling. The procedure can be direct or indirect.
The direct technique involves placing composite resin on the outside of the tooth using bonding. This method is usually referred to as bonding.
The indirect technique involves two appointments because the veneers will be fabricated at a dental laboratory. At the first appointment the teeth are prepared, impressions taken, and the teeth are given a temporary covering. In two weeks the veneers are back from the laboratory, the temporaries are removed and the veneers are bonded to the teeth. The laboratory fabricated veneers are usually made using zirconia which do not darken in time and are beautiful.
The advantage of veneers versus crowns is that much less tooth material is removed. Veneers are not recommended for teeth that have large fillings or little tooth structure.
Whitening
Our office offers tray whitening.
We have preloaded trays that you can use to whiten your teeth. Occasional re-whitening can be used at your convenience to maintain your new smile.
Technology
Digital X-Rays
Digital X-rays are a focused beam of x-ray particles passed through bone which produce an image on special film, showing the structure through which it passed. This provides the familiar black and white images doctors and dentists use to diagnose problems and disease. Without an x-ray of the whole tooth and supporting bone and gum tissues, there would be no way to detect infection or decay that requires attention.
In our office we use digital radiography which allows us to take x-rays using up to 90% less radiation than conventional film x-rays. Using this technology, we are able to take an x-ray of your teeth by using a small sensor which records the image of your teeth and sends it to a computer. The result is a highly detailed image of your teeth that can easily be enhanced to better diagnose dental concerns and determine the very best treatment for each case.
Intraoral Camera
We use small cameras about the size of a pen, called intraoral cameras, to help clearly see the condition of your teeth and gums.
With this advanced technology we can zoom in on small diseased areas, cracks, and chip with extreme precision. These images taken with the intraoral camera are sent to a computer screen so we can clearly see and diagnose dental problems much earlier than with traditional dental technology. Because images are displayed on our screens, patients will also be able to see areas being worked on and are able to gain a better understanding of dental procedures being performed.
Telescopic Loupes
The dentist performs most of his dental procedures while wearing a pair of funny looking glasses called surgical telescopes. These powerful glasses have magnifiers on them, and a light allowing the dentist to see fine details that would go unnoticed to the naked eye.