Plaque and its Effects Plaque and Tartar Plaque is a soft, sticky film with bacteria that constantly forms on teeth. It can cause tooth decay and gum disease. Plaque that…

Surgical Correction In some cases, surgery is needed to improve the function and appearance of a patient’s bite. This may be the case if skeletal problems with the upper or…

Cavities When decay gets through the enamel of your tooth, a cavity can form. Once a cavity forms, it can continue to spread deeper and deeper into the layers of…

Bone Grafting Building Up Bone to Support Implants If there is not enough bone to support the implant, bone can be added by a process called bone grafting. Bone substitutes…

Sugar and its Effects Prevention and Diagnosis Sugary food and drinks harm your teeth! • Plaque bacteria found on your tooth surfaces feed on the sugars in your food and…

Dental X-Rays (Radiographs) X-rays help your dentist see the jaw bone, the roots of the teeth, or teeth that have not yet erupted, as well as the contact areas between…

How To Floss 1. Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around a finger on…

Cracked Tooth If you think you may have a cracked tooth, look for these signs: • sharp pain that quickly disappears when biting down • pain that comes and goes…

Removable Partial Dentures Placement of a Removable Partial Denture Partial denture above gum Partial denture in place Partial denture in mouth (metal clasps on two teeth are visible)

Resin-Bonded Bridge Placement of a Resin-Bonded Bridge Smile is missing a tooth Resin-bonded bridge is being inserted Smile restored by resin-bonded bridge

Tobacco Using tobacco in any form is risky to your oral and overall health. Whether you smoke, chew, dip, or vape, there is no such thing as a safe form…

Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) Two temporomandibular (tem-PORO-man-DIB-u-lar) joints work together in a delicate balance with muscles, ligaments, cartilage and your jaw bones. When problems prevent these parts from working together properly,…

Stages of Gum Disease Normal, Healthy Gums Your teeth are held in place by gums, bone and connective tissues. Your gums tightly hug your teeth and there is little or…

Periodontal Surgery Flap and Osseous (Bone) Surgery Probe shows pockets due to periodontal disease. Gums are inflamed and bone loss has occurred. The bone is contoured and any remaining tartar…

Bone Graft Surgery Bone Graft and Guided Tissue Regeneration Diseased tissue is removed from the pocket. In some cases, the bone may be reshaped. Bone has been reshaped. Grafting material…

Gum (Periodontal) Disease Gum Disease What is Periodontal Disease? Periodontal (PERRY-o-DON-tal) disease — also called gum disease — is an infection and inflammation that affects the tissues and bone that…

How To Brush Your Teeth 1. Place your toothbrush against your gums at a 45-degree angle. Move the brush back and forth gently in short strokes, about as wide as…

Tooth Grinding and Clenching (Bruxism) What is Bruxism? Bruxism (BRUCKS-is-im) is a habit of grinding or clenching your teeth. It can happen in children or adults of any age. People…

Sealants A sealant is a coating that protects a tooth from decay. It can also be used to help stop the progression of early signs of decay on the chewing…

Gum Recession If your gum tissue begins to pull away from your teeth, you may have gum recession. This can leave your tooth’s roots exposed and they may become sensitive…