General Dentistry
We are dedicated to helping our patients maintain a healthy mouth and smile through routine checkups, personalized care, and patient education. Oral health contributes to the health of your entire body. At Kingston Dental Arts, we are here to help you achieve a healthy mouth and pave the way for a healthier life.
Cleanings & Preventative Care
Routine and preventive care is important to help you maintain healthy gums and teeth, and to prevent the onset and recurrence of dental disease. Routine care includes dental cleanings, exams, and x-rays. Fluoride varnish and sealants are also preventive treatments to help strengthen and protect your teeth.
Periodontal Therapy
Periodontal disease affects the gums and the bone that supports the teeth. It is often characterized by red, bleeding, swollen gums. When plaque (food debris and bacteria) is not adequately removed from the teeth, it becomes calcified by the proteins in your saliva and turns into calculus or tartar. Calculus adheres strongly to your teeth and cannot be removed with a toothbrush or floss, it must be removed with special dental instruments. When calculus is not removed, it may cause periodontal disease – inflamed, bleeding gums which eventually leads to bone loss. Severe gum disease can result in infection, mobile teeth, and tooth loss.
According to the CDC, periodontal disease affects half of adults over age 30 and affects 70% of adults over age 65. Patients with periodontal disease may be recommended to have scaling and root planing (also known as a deep cleaning) in addition to more frequent cleanings to help maintain better oral health and prevent the progression of gum disease.
Restorative Dentistry
Restorative dentistry includes fillings and crowns to repair decayed and fractured teeth, and dental bridges to replace missing teeth and fill spaces between the teeth. Restorative dentistry can prevent tooth loss, improve esthetics and enhance your smile, restore function and comfort, and replace missing teeth.
Composite Fillings
Composite fillings are cosmetic, mercury-free restorations that can repair decayed and fractured teeth. Composite is made of plastic and glass, and mimics the color and appearance of natural teeth. They may be used for cosmetic improvements such as to correct the shape and discoloration of teeth and to close spaces between teeth.
Root Canal Therapy
The nerve of a tooth can become infected due to the spread of decay and bacteria or due to trauma. In order to get rid of a tooth infection, the tooth must either be extracted or undergo root canal therapy. If an infected tooth can be saved with a root canal, the nerve of the tooth is removed and filled with a permanent filling material. After having a root canal, most teeth will require a filling or buildup followed by a permanent crown to restore function and prevent the tooth from breaking.
Signs and symptoms that may indicate the need for a root canal include:
- Constant or spontaneous toothache
- Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold
- An abscess or pimple on the gum that may be accompanied by a bad taste
- Swelling
- Pain when biting
- Sometimes a dead tooth will have no pain or symptoms
Dentures & Partials
Dentures and partial dentures are removable appliances used to replace missing teeth. For patients who have difficulty wearing dentures, dental implants offer improved stability of dentures by anchoring them to the jaw bone, preventing the denture from moving around when you talk or chew.
TMJ Disorder & Grinding
Temporomandibular joint disorder or TMD is often characterized by clenching and grinding your teeth, headaches, and jaw joint and muscle pain. Treatment options may include occlusal guards, bite adjustment & equilibration, and/or Botox Therapy. Occlusal guards are often worn at bedtime to protect the teeth from grinding during sleep. Custom occlusal guards can be made to take the load off the muscles to reduce muscle pain and headaches from clenching.