PROCEDURES

• Oral Examination / Dental Screening - The oral examination includes an inspection of the hard and soft tissues of your mouth. The hard and soft tissues include the teeth, gums, top and sides of the tongue, and inner lining of the cheeks. The examination is painless and takes about 5 to 7 minutes. The depth of the pockets is recorded on your dental chart. An oral cancer screening is also administered during your oral examination with Dr. Miller. We recommend that our patients have an oral cancer screening annually along with their checkup.

• X-Rays - A dental hygienist or dental assistant takes x-rays of the mouth to document the condition of your teeth. Children seldom need x-rays before the age of five.

• Prophylaxis - Teeth cleanings are performed by a dental hygienist. During your prophy appointment, harmful plaque and tartar, both above and below the gum line is removed. 

• Dental Sealants - Dental Sealants are plastic materials that coat the biting surfaces of the teeth. Sealants can be used as a good preventive measure because the plastic coating creates a barrier between the tooth and decay-causing bacteria that can be found in plaque. The dental sealant makes it more difficult for plaque to stick to the tiny grooves on the biting surfaces of the teeth. This will reduce the risk of forming cavities and tooth decay. 

• Restorations - Dental restorations are any procedure that restores a tooth to normal function it may be a filling or a crown.

- Fillings may be recommended on a tooth when decay is detected . If a cavity is detected in a tooth, Dr. Miller  will need to drill into the tooth to remove the decay. Fillings are used to "fill" the hole in the tooth after the removal of tooth decay. This helps re-strengthen the tooth.

- Crowns may also be recommended on a tooth when deeper, more serious decay or extensive loss of tooth structure is found. A crown is a full coverage restoration used to help protect the exposed portion of a tooth from further decay. 

• Root Canal Therapy - Root canal therapy may need to be performed when the nerve of a tooth becomes irreversibly infected or abscessed (pocket of infection at the base of the root). A tooth can become abscessed as a result of deep decay, cracks, or trauma to the tooth. This is usually caused by the infiltration of bacteria into the center-most part of the tooth (called the pulp). Root canal therapy involves the removal of the nerve of a tooth and is replaced by a medicinal sealant material in preparation for a final restoration. 

• Extractions - Extraction is the complete removal of a tooth. Extraction is the only alternative if root canal therapy is unsuccessful. Extractions may also be recommended prior to orthodontic treatment.

For any questions about other servies or procedures done by Dr. Miller or your dental hygienist please call us at (702)562-2033.