Dental sealants are one of the most significant dental materials in preventive dentistry, alongside topical fluorides. They are also called pit and fissure sealants.

Pits and fissures are similar to the grooves on the biting surfaces of the back teeth, but are deeper and inaccessible to brushes while cleaning, making them highly susceptible to dental caries (decay) formation. Dental sealants are a plastic material (resin) applied to the surfaces of these teeth to block the deep pits and fissures from trapping food. If food is not trapped within the fissures, no caries are likely to form. Sealants are a safe and effective method for preventing caries and can be applied by your local dentist.

The advantages of sealants are primarily seen in children when they are applied to the pits and fissures of back teeth immediately upon eruption of the crowns. A sealant prevents decay from forming in the first place, and are highly recommended in children with high caries activity. Sealing the teeth helps prevent the agony of going to the dentist for frequent fillings. Adults can also benefit from dental sealants if they experience a change in their diet or medical condition that renders them highly susceptible to caries, such as patients who have undergone recent radiotherapy to face and neck.

The dental sealant material is a low-viscosity fluid resin that flows easily to the depths of the narrow fissures. It is applied after cleaning the tooth thoroughly with polishing material. The tooth surface is washed, dried and etched using a mild acid (35-50% phosphoric acid) to allow the resin to stay in place. The resin is cured after application using a visible light source. It is a completely painless procedure and no shots need be taken. Sometimes your local dentist may widen the fissures with a dental bur to allow proper sealing and to remove small caries lesions.

Clinical studies have also shown that sealants can be applied over small decay with no further progression deeper into the tooth. This causes the decay to stop immediately, effectively trapping it. However, this procedure is not highly recommended at present. If used along with topical fluoride application, dental sealants have shown to reduce caries incidence up to 75%.

Dental sealants can get dislodged under heavy pressure, so frequent examination and repair (if needed) every 6 months is advised for proper protection. Dental sealants are highly recommended for those individuals who love their teeth, but can't spend enough time on their proper maintenance.

When most people think of root canals, they cringe because they think that the procedure is extremely painful. The truth is that a root canal procedure is really no more painful than having a cavity filled. The techniques used during root canal, along with the pain reduction options offered by most dentists, make a root canal a fairly pain-free and routine procedure.

What exactly is a root canal? The procedure removes the nerve and internal pulp of an infected or badly decayed tooth. Root canals are typically performed if the decay within a tooth becomes severe enough to cause damage to the pulp of the tooth or the nerve or there is an infection deep within the tooth, or abscess. The infection or abscess is the result of decay within the tooth that breaks down and forms bacteria. Once the nerve and pulp is removed, the inside of the tooth is cleaned up and then sealed.

When a root canal procedure is recommended, the first thing that needs to be done is to take an x-ray so that the nerve, pulp and surrounding area can be clearly seen by the dentist. Once that is completed and the dentist knows the extent of the damage and what needs to be removed, the patient can undergo the root canal procedure. A local anesthetic is typically administered to avoid any pain during the procedure. A rubber dam is then placed around the tooth to keep it dry while the procedure is performed.

During the procedure, the root and pulp of the tooth is removed and then the interior of the tooth is cleaned out using root canal files. None of this hurts because an anesthetic has been administered. The tooth is then sealed. If the area of decay was extensive, it may be recommended that further restorative treatments be performed at a later time to keep the tooth strong and to avoid any future problems.

One of the reasons that root canals have gotten such a reputation for being so painful is due to the fact that there is typically a great deal of pain experienced in a tooth prior to the procedure, which is the reason the root canal is needed in the first place. The procedure itself should be relatively pain-free and patients should experience little or no discomfort following a root canal treatment.

When you visit the dentist, the friendliness of the dental staff goes a long way towards molding the impression you have of your visit. The importance of a friendly dental staff should not be underestimated, because they are the people that you deal with from the time you make your appointment phone call through your visit and beyond. The dental staff are the ones that greet you when you arrive, provide information and answer any questions you may have, and work to put you at ease and alleviate your fears when you walk in the door.

Some people are still nervous when they need to go to the dentist. Although modern dental procedures now offer the opportunity for pain-free or virtually pain-free dentistry, a visit to the dentist makes many people uneasy. Of course, having trust in your dentist and feeling comfortable with his or her professional manner and techniques goes a long way towards putting you at ease. But the dental staff at the office can really be the difference between feeling relaxed and comfortable when you visit the dentist, or dreading your time spent there.

What are the characteristics of a friendly dental staff? For one, they are courteous and pleasant when they answer the phone. They work with you to accommodate your schedule and any other needs when scheduling your appointment. They provide information about your procedure, answer any questions you may have, alleviate your fears about any pain or discomfort, and help you determine payment options and insurance coverage. When you get off the phone after calling a dentist's office, you should feel satisfied with the encounter.

When you walk in the door for your appointment, you should be greeted and should feel welcome. The office surroundings, as well as the staff, should make you feel comfortable and should allay any fears or concerns that you may have about an impending procedure. You should be taken in a timely manner and have any questions you may have answered.

During any procedures, the dental assistants are on hand not only to assist the dentist, but to make sure that you are comfortable. Your comfort should be of primary importance to the dentist and his or her staff. When you are done, the staff should also provide you with any instructions or procedures that you need to follow up on, offer information and advice on how to handle any post-procedure pain and can schedule any follow up appointments you may need.

From the initial phone call through to the end of your procedure and any follow up, a friendly dental staff will help you to feel comfortable, confident and relaxed when you visit the dentist.

With the advancement of dental techniques and materials over recent years, the technologies used in cosmetic dental procedures have made great strides. Cosmetic dentistry has become a more common occurrence among dental patients because newer technologies have made the procedures easier and more affordable than ever before. Here is a sample of some types of cosmetic dentistry that are commonly performed at StoneBridge Ranch Smiles:

Tooth Whitening - Tooth whitening is probably one of the most common of all cosmetic dental procedures because it is so easy to accomplish and most patients can benefit from the procedure. The simple teeth whitening procedure involves a bleaching process that can be done in the office, or there are custom fitted tooth whitening kits that can be used at home.

Veneers - Dental veneers can offer patients with chipped or cracked teeth a beautiful smile in just a few short visits. The veneers consist of a thin layer of porcelain composite material that is permanently bonded to the front of tooth.

Composite Bonding - Composite bonding works in a similar fashion to dental veneers by covering up unsightly chips, cracks or discolored teeth. The difference is in the application. While veneers are molded over teeth, formed in a dental lab and then bonded to the tooth, composite bonding works by filling in the areas of the tooth that need to be repaired and then sculpting the composite material into shape to blend with the surrounding tooth.

Inlays and Onlays - Inlays and onlays are similar to composite resin fillings, except that rather than the composite material being placed into the tooth and then molded into place, a mold of the tooth is taken and the inlay or onlay is then created in a dental lab. This provides an opportunity for larger areas to be filled and the resulting filling is durable and permanently bonded into place.

Tooth Contouring and Reshaping - This procedure repairs small areas on a tooth by removing tooth enamel with a dental instrument to even out the teeth, smooth them out and polish them up. This is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to enhance a patient's smile.

Cosmetic dentistry can give you a smile that you will love to share with others. Whether you need a minor repair or some major dental work in order to create that perfect smile, the advances in cosmetic dental procedures can provide just what you need to look your best.