Family Dentistry: Creating Healthy, Beautiful Smiles

Dental Cleaning
Even if your teeth are in great condition and you are not experiencing any pain or discomfort, we still recommended to get a dental cleaning every 6 to 12 months. Getting cleanings on a regular basis offers a variety of benefits, including but not limited to:

- Gum Disease Prevention
- Early Dental Problem Detection
- Whiter, Brighter Teeth
- Oral Cancer Prevention

Dr. Bishop examines your gums and provides necessary cleanings as well as “deep cleanings”. He uses local anesthetic for non-surgical “deep cleaning” or Scaling and Root Planning.

Dental X-Rays
Dental X-rays are important for many reasons. They can expose hidden dental decay; reveal a dental abscess, cyst or tumor; show impacted or extra teeth; and also help determine the condition of fillings, crowns, bridges and root canals. Dental X-rays can also reveal bone loss from periodontal (gum) disease, locate tartar buildup, find foreign bodies within the gum or bone, and see if there is enough bone for the placement of dental implants.

Some people worry about their exposure to radiation during dental X-ray procedures. This is very understandable in light of the relatively high radiation of some medical X-rays.  We take great care of minimizing the amount of radiation a patient receives at our dental office.

Sealants
The term 'Dental Sealant' refers to a plastic resin. We bond the material into the grooves of the chewing surface of a tooth as a means of helping to prevent tooth decay ("cavities").

Tooth decay is caused by the bacteria found in dental plaque. In general, the longer dental plaque remains on a tooth's surface the more likely it will be able to form a cavity. The idea behind brushing teeth is that dental plaque that has accumulated on a tooth's surface is scrubbed off. Some teeth however, related to aspects associated with their anatomy, are harder to clean than others.

By bonding plastic resin into the grooves of a tooth we can create a tooth surface that is smoother. There are no longer any locations on the chewing surface of the tooth that the bristles of a toothbrush can't access and clean. Since dental plaque can be removed more easily and effectively, there is much less of a chance that tooth decay will form.

Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride is a natural mineral that makes teeth strong and helps prevent cavities. The Fluoride Treatment will take about 1 to 4 minutes. You should not eat or drink anything (including water) for 30 minutes after the Fluoride Treatment.

Gum Treatment
Gum Treatment is the treatment of active gum and jaw bone disease. Gum Treatment can slow or stop the progression of gum disease. Since there are different stages of gum disease (from gingivitis to advanced periodontitis), there are different levels of treatment. We offer Scaling and Root Planing. In some cases, we refer our patients to a specialist.

Scaling and Root Planing is a common non-surgical treatment for periodontal disease. By using special instruments, Dr. Bishop or our Hygienist will remove bacteria and infection from the unhealthy deep pockets around the teeth below the gum line. This is often referred to as a "deep cleaning."

A smooth clean root provides a healthy environment to allow the gums to heal naturally and reattach to the tooth. This will create a reduced pocket, therefore eliminating areas for bacteria to hide and cause further disease.

Sometimes, in order to treat advanced gum disease, surgical procedures are necessary, such as:

- Crown Lengthening
- Pocket Depth Reduction
- Soft Tissue Grafts
- Advanced Medications

Recent advances in periodontal treatment allow us to now place medications directly at the site of infection.