Mouth guards and retainers are plastic or metal pieces that are custom-made to match the alignment of the teeth and the shape of the mouth.

Mouth guards are used to protect the teeth, tongue, cheeks, and gums from the damage from teeth grinding at night or sports injuries. Night guards could be called mouth guards, bite splints, dental guards, occlusal guards, or nocturnal bite plates.

Retainers can be permanent, fixed or removable. The removable types can be inserted and removed daily. Fixed retainers use a thin wire that is bonded to the inside surfaces of the front teeth. You can’t forget to wear them, and you can’t lose them.

A common need for retainers is to maintain the new positions of the teeth after the orthodontic treatment is completed.

Periodontal disease attacks the areas around the teeth, including the gums and the bone, and it forms a sticky film called plaque. If not removed, plaque becomes tartar or calculus and begins to destroy the gums and bone. Gums become red, swollen, and bleeding. If left untreated periodontal disease can lead to infections in other parts of the body.

Gum disease (gingivitis) treatment will depend on the stage of the disease. Regular cleaning and improved daily oral hygiene may cure some. Scaling and deep cleaning (root planing) may be recommended for advanced stages. A treatment for receding gums may be suggested if bacterial gum infections have destroyed gum tissue and the supporting bone.

Painful tooth infections can be repaired with endodontic procedures involving the treatment of the sensitive soft tissues inside of teeth. These “soft pulp” tissues contain blood vessels, connective tissues, and high numbers of nerve cells, making them critical to a tooth’s health and function.

Root canals are one of the more common endodontic procedures, treating painful infections and inflammation that can develop in a tooth’s soft pulp. In most cases, we can relieve the intense pain caused by tooth infections while repairing the tooth root base structure of infected teeth to prevent dangerous abscesses and future infections.

There are a variety of reasons why a tooth may need to be removed. If we believe that tooth removal is in your best interest, we’ll start with x-rays to examine its position and see if there might be any complications. We’ll assess your medical and drug history and discuss your options for anesthesia with you. During the removal process, we’ll make sure the surrounding tissues aren’t damaged. In some cases, we’ll add bone-grafting material to the socket to preserve proper bone volume.

After your tooth extraction procedure you may experience mild to moderate discomfort or swelling which is normal. Typical over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs should be sufficient to manage these symptoms. In some cases, we may also recommend antibiotics to prevent infection. You may need to ice the jaw and eat softer foods, but you should feel totally normal within a few days.