During your dental exam, your dentist will thoroughly examine each tooth and your entire gum line for any signs of decay, disease, or other health problems. Your dentist may also suggest taking X-rays to see what’s going on beneath the surface of your teeth and gums. The images provided by the X-rays help your dentist discover dental issues not visible to the naked eye.

By routinely seeing your dentist for exams and cleanings, you can:

• Prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath
• Save money by avoiding costly dental procedures
• Keep your teeth white by reducing staining from food and drinks
• Shorten the time spent in your dentist’s office
• Have a beautiful smile that will last a lifetime

Inlays and onlays are indirect restorations used to repair molars and premolars damaged by decay or trauma. Inlays and onlays fit more securely and last longer than fillings, strengthen compromised teeth, and preserve more natural tooth structure than crowns.

When a tooth is too damaged for a filling, but doesn’t need the complete coverage a crown provides, an inlay or an onlay can be the ideal restoration. Talk to your dentist to discover the best option to restore both the appearance and the function of your injured tooth.

Both crowns and most bridges are fixed prosthetic devices. Unlike removable devices such as dentures, which you can take out and clean daily, crowns and bridges are cemented onto existing teeth or implants and can only be removed by a dentist.

Decayed, broken, and missing teeth affect your oral health and your self-confidence. When a tooth has suffered structural or cosmetic damage, a dental crown can restore a tooth’s function and appearance. A crown is a custom-made “cap” that covers the entire visible surface of a tooth. Your dentist

The bacteria in plaque produce acids that erode tooth enamel, eventually creating a hole, or cavity, in the tooth surface. Left untreated, this decay can spread to the interior of the tooth, and might lead to the need for a crown, a root canal, or even extraction. When caught early, your dentist can.

What kind of filling do you need? Your choice of restoration will depend on the location of the cavity and how much of the tooth structure is affected.

What is a root canal? The roots of your teeth have small openings, called root canals, which allow blood vessels and nerve fibers to bring nutrients and sensation to your teeth. If infection occurs in or around these small openings, it can damage the pulp inside of the tooth. A root canal treatment is

Every tooth has two sections: a crown, the visible part of the tooth above the gum line, and one or more roots, which anchor the teeth within the jaw. Each tooth has three basic layers: an outer layer of hard enamel (which protects the crown) or cementum (which covers the root), a middle layer of softer

Tooth extractions are most commonly discussed in reference to removing wisdom teeth.