The health of your teeth is of the utmost importance to us, but did you know that your gums are also greatly impact the overall health of your mouth and entire body? There are many factors that increase your chances of periodontal (gum) disease, from smoking to certain medications, so it is important to see a dentist regularly to assess the state of your gums. In addition to tooth loss, constant infection in your gums can increase your risk for heart attack as well as several other conditions. Dr. Crawford and staff offer several conservative treatments to manage periodontal disease.

When the nerve of the tooth dies or becomes infected, root canal therapy is the most effective treatment to save the tooth.

Symptoms:

• Sensitive to Hot and Cold

• Biting pressure

• Throbbing/severe pain

• Swelling

• Bad Taste in mouth

There are even times you may be unaware of the problem because there are no symptoms at all.

Causes of infection

The nerve of the tooth is soft tissue made of blood vessels and nerves. It becomes infected most commonly due to a deep decay, fracture, or trauma to the tooth. Bacteria enters the inner layers and nerve of the tooth.

Diagnosis and Treatment

We will thoroughly examine your tooth to determine if the nerve is narcrotic. The exam includes a limited number of x-rays and checking the vitality of the tooth with a pulp tester. Also, we may apply cold and heat, tap on the tooth to test for sensitive, or press gently on gums around tooth to check for any pressure or discomfort.

If you have an infected tooth we will discuss with you about root canal therapy and all associated treatment. It is important to properly treat the tooth to keep any infection from spreading into the bone causing a painful abcess.

Fillings are used to replace missing tooth structure due to trauma or dental decay. Dental amalgam has been used for many years to accomplish this but advancements in dental materials have made it possible to use tooth colored filling materials to match the shade of natural teeth. Dr. Crawford and staff can advise you on the best option for restoring your teeth that are in need of maintenance.

When a tooth cannot be corrected by a simple filling alone, Dr. Crawford will use crowns, or tooth caps, to protect your natural tooth and preserve its structure. Crowns can be made to look and function like your real teeth.

A bridge is an artificial tooth bonded on each side of a crown. Dr. Crawford uses dental bridges to fill in gaps in teeth.

Dentures replace missing teeth and restore the appearance and function of a smile. Dr. Crawford offers several types of complete and partial dentures. Immediate dentures, implant-supported dentures and partial dentures, as well as denture repairs are some of the services offered.

Dental implants can be used to replace one or more missing teeth or can be used to secure a partial or complete denture. The process includes placing a titanium implant into the affected area and allowing the implant to integrate into the jaw bone. Implants can be an excellent treatment alternative, Dr. Crawford and staff can advise you on your best treatment options for replacing a missing tooth or teeth.

Dr. Crawford works with a highly qualified Dental Anesthesiologist to manage the dental needs of nervous or phobic patients. Sedation dentistry allows those with special needs to undergo all types of dental procedures comfortably.

A sealant is a tooth-colored acrylic "coating" painted onto the biting surface of the posterior teeth to prevent decay. This is usually done on children as they begin to develop their permanent teeth. This simple and effective procedure "seals" the deep grooves where decay is most likely to start.