To treat a cavity, our dentist will remove the decayed portion of the tooth and then “fill” the area on the tooth where the decayed material was removed.

At Grove Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we provide resin composite tooth colored fillings, which can be completed in just one visit to Grove Family & Cosmetic Dentistry. When in place, the tooth-colored filling can actually strengthen your tooth and help to prevent future decay.

Advantages of Tooth-Colored Fillings

• The tooth remains intact and stronger.
• The resin wears like natural teeth. Resin Restorations or Tooth-Colored fillings restore the natural beauty to the tooth.

The result is a beautiful smile! 

Replacing Fillings with a Tooth-Colored Filling

You can have your fillings replaced with tooth-colored restorations (onlays). This process requires two appointments.

Dental Fillings or Restorations:

When a cavity is removed that area of the tooth that has been removed must be filled to protect the tooth from food impaction, cavities, and sensitivity. That material we use to fill the tooth is called a filling or restoration. Amalgam or silver filling are rarely used anymore. Today we use a composite or tooth colored material that is a resin filled with glass particles. Once the resin is placed and cured, it can be adjusted and smoothed. You’ll leave our office with a health beautiful tooth.

Resins have been available for over 20 years now and the research shows that a bonded restoration like a composite resin creates a seal with the tooth where the silver fillings did not. Resin restorations provide a wonderful replacement for natural tooth structure. Although no restoration is as strong as a natural tooth, we use resin materials that are the most advanced on the market.

Dental sealants are very thin coatings used to fill in deep grooves and pits in teeth that can harbor bacteria. They are highly effective at preventing decay on the biting surfaces of your chewing teeth.
Sealants require a simple procedure in which a tooth-colored acrylic “coating” is painted onto the surface of the tooth. This effectively “seals” the deep grooves acting as a barrier, and protecting enamel from plaque and acids.

Benefits of Dental Sealants:

• Sealants protect the depressions and grooves of your teeth from food particles and plaque that brushing and flossing can’t reach.
• Easy to apply, sealants take only a few minutes to seal each tooth.
• Sealants hold up well under the force of normal chewing and can last several years before a reapplication is needed.
• Sealants are more affordable and less invasive to prevent cavities than it is to treat irreversible dental decay.
• Sealants are white or clear in color, making them virtually invisible when talking, smiling or eating.
• Children and adults can benefit from sealants in the fight against tooth decay

There are times when it is necessary to remove a tooth. Some teeth are extracted because they are severely decayed; others may have advanced periodontal disease, or have broken in a way that cannot be repaired. Other teeth may need removal because they are poorly positioned in the mouth (such as impacted teeth), or in preparation for orthodontic treatment.

What are inlays and onlays?

Inlays and onlays are dental restorations that are more extensive than dental fillings but less so than caps and crowns. They are typically formed in a dental lab and are made of gold, porcelain or resin depending on the patient’s needs and aesthetic goals.

An inlay refers to a restoration that is formed to fit the center of a tooth, whereas an onlay refers to a restoration that encompasses at least one cusp of the tooth. Both inlays and onlays are bonded to the surface of damaged teeth and matched to the color of the surrounding teeth.

How are they applied?

Inlays and onlays require two appointments to complete the procedure. During the first visit, the filling being replaced or the damaged or decaying area of the tooth is removed, and the tooth is prepared for the inlay or onlay. To ensure proper fit and bite, an impression of the tooth taken, and sent to a lab for fabrication. Our doctors will then apply a temporary sealant on the tooth and schedule the next appointment.

At the second appointment, the temporary sealant is removed. Our doctors will then make sure that the inlay or onlay fits correctly. If the fit is satisfactory, the inlay or onlay will be bonded to the tooth with a strong resin and polished to a smooth finish.

Considerations

Traditional fillings can reduce the strength of a natural tooth by up to 50%. As an alternative, inlays and onlays, being bonded directly onto the tooth using special high-strength resins, can actually increase the strength of a tooth by up to 75%. As a result, they can last from 10 to 30 years. In some cases, where the damage to the tooth is not extensive enough to merit an entire crown, onlays can provide a very good alternative.

Nitrous Oxide is a sweet smelling, non-irritating, colorless gas that you can breathe.

Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) has been the the primary means of sedation in dentistry for many years. Nitrous oxide is safe–the patient receives 50-70% oxygen with no less than 30% nitrous oxide.

The patient is able to breathe on their own and remain in control of all bodily functions.

The patient may experience mild amnesia and may fall asleep not remembering all of what happened during their appointment.

Benefits of Using Nitrous Oxide: 

• The depth of sedation can be altered at any time to increase or decrease sedation.
• There is no after effect such as a “hangover”.
• Inhalation sedation is safe with no side effects on you heart, lungs, etc.
• Inhalation sedation is very effective in minimizing gagging.
• It works rapidly as it reaches the brain within 20 seconds. In as few as 2-3 minutes its relaxation and pain-killing properties develop.

Reasons to not use Nitrous Oxide

Though there are no major contraindications to using nitrous oxide, you may not want to use it if you have emphysema, exotic chest problems, M.S., a cold or other difficulties with breathing.

You may want to ask your dentist for a “5 minute trial” to see how you feel with this type of sedation method before proceeding.

One reason people avoid or postpone needed dental treatment is, simply put, fear. While contemporary techniques allow the delivery of local anesthetic virtually pain free, memories of painful experiences from the past still haunt the dental public. IV sedation and oral sedative techniques are an excellent alternative for treatment of such patients as well as for lengthy restorative or surgical appointments in the non phobic patient.

IV sedation involves the use of sedative agents administered by way of an IV line directly into the patient’s circulation. This allows the gradual dosing of appropriate medications until the patient is safely and comfortably sedated. Patients who have experienced procedures performed while undergoing IV sedation report that they feel as though they had been “put to sleep” and have no memory of any of the dental treatment. IV sedation which is extremely safe should not be confused with general anesthetic which embodies certain inherent hazards.

Oral sedation is a level of moderate sedation where a patient takes a oral medication 1 hour prior to dental treatment and that helps to relax the patient and make them less aware of the dental procedure and treatment. The dentist would still use anesthetic to get you numb prior to the procedure, but patients are much less aware of treatment taking place.

Dr. Adams is highly trained and experienced in the safe and effect use of modern IV sedation techniques.

• You may not have anything to eat or drink (including water) for six (6) hours prior to the appointment.
• No smoking at least 12 hours before surgery. Ideally, cut down or stop smoking as soon as possible prior to the day of surgery.
• A responsible adult must accompany you to the office, remain in the office during the procedure, and drive the you home.
• You should not drive a vehicle or operate any machinery for 24 hours following the anesthesia experience.
• Please wear loose fitting clothing with sleeves which can be rolled up past the elbow, and low-heeled shoes.
• Contact lenses, jewelry, and dentures must be removed at the time of surgery.
• Do not wear lipstick, excessive makeup, or nail polish on the day of surgery.
• If you have an illness such as a cold, sore throat, stomach or bowel upset, please notify the office.
• If you take routine oral medications, please check with the doctor or staff prior to your surgical date for instructions.

Your child’s first visit

The first “regular” dental visit should be by your child’s first birthday. The first dental visit is usually short and involves very little treatment. We may ask the parent to sit in the dental chair and hold their child during the examination. The parent may also be asked to wait in the reception area during part of the visit so that a relationship can be built between your child and your dentist.

We will gently examine your child’s teeth and gums. X-rays may be taken (to reveal decay and check on the progress of your child’s permanent teeth under the gums). We may clean your child’s teeth and apply topical fluoride to help protect the teeth against decay. We will make sure your child is receiving adequate fluoride at home. Most important of all, we will review with you how to clean and care for your child’s teeth.

What should I tell my child about the first dental visit?

We are asked this question many times. We suggest you prepare your child the same way that you would before their first haircut or trip to the shoe store. Your child’s reaction to his first visit to the dentist may surprise you.

Here are some “First Visit” tips:

• Take your child for a “preview” or online tour of the office.
• Read books with them about going to the dentist.
• Review with them what the dentist will be doing at the time of the first visit.
• Speak positively about your own dental experiences.

During your child’s first visit the dentist will:

• Examine your child’s mouth, teeth and gums
• Evaluate adverse habits like thumb sucking
• Check to see if your child need Fluoride
• Teach your child about cleaning their teeth and gums
• Suggest a schedule for regular dental visits.