BASIC HEALTH

At David D. Pena, D.M. D, P.A. we strive to make your smile the healthiest it can be! To get healthly mouths, there are several treatments Dr. Pena and our staff perform on patients daily. Some of these procedures include fillings/bondings, sealants, non-surgical gum treatments, but it all starts with an exam and x-rays. You may have heard of these procedures before. These are simple and quick treatments that will bring you to your best smile yet!

Here is some more information on these basic treatments:

EXAMS AND RADIOGRAPHS

Dr. Pena performs his comprehesive exam while studing the radiograph series to develop and a treatment plan with options to acheive the smile you deserve. 

This is a focused beam of X-Ray particles through bone which produces an image on special film, showing the structure through which it passed. This gives the familiar black and white images that doctors and dentists use to diagnose problems. X-rays are a necessary part of the diagnostic process, and not to use them could lead to undiagnosed disease. Without an X-ray of the whole tooth, and supporting bone and gum tissues, there is no real way to detect infection or pathology that requires attention.

In our office we use digital radiography which allows us to take X-rays using 50-70% less radiation versus conventional X-rays. Coupled with computer monitorying, digital x-ray technology allows us to enhance the images for diagnosis.

SEALANTS

This is used to fill in narrow grooves in a tooth that cannot be adequately cleaned by brushing. In some cases, the tooth structure has fine grooves or pits which accumulate plaque,  they're too narrow to allow even one bristle into them. These will develop cavities over time. So the dentist will brush on a coating that seals the grooves and pits, making it possible to brush off all the plaque and keep your teeth healthy.

FILLINGS

Fillings are done to remove decay, and replace the affected tooth structure. It is called a filling because new a material fills what the decay has left. Nowadays most teeth are treated with bonded tooth colored composite resin fillings. Caught early enough, cavities can be treated easily and painlessly. If not treated decay can lead to tooth pain and/or infection, and the tooth would need root canal treatment or extraction.

BONDING

Bonding involves adhering composite resin material that is matched to the color of the tooth, to the front of the tooth. This is done to repair damage done to the tooth by decay, to alter the alignment of the tooth, close gaps between the teeth, or for cosmetic purposes. First the surface of the tooth is roughened in order to accept the bonding and hold it. A gel is applied to micro etch the tooth surface, and a primer/bond agent is applied so the material adheres to the surface. Then the material itself is placed on the tooth and hardened with intense light. The composite resin material is shaped and polished to get a lustrous finish as a last step.

NON-SURGICAL GUM TREATMENTS

The gums, ligaments, and bone around the teeth form the foundation for ones teeth. All structures are also referred to as the periodontium. When the periodontium is not healthy, it jeopardizes the teeth just as a bad foundation would threaten the stability of a house. Signs of unhealthy periodontium (gum disease) may be as follows: gums that are red and bleed easily, persistent bad breath, gums that are pulled away from the tooth, loose teeth, and changes in the position or bite of the teeth. Any of these signs may mean something is wrong. With the proper care, however, it may be possible to return them to a healthy state. This is where appropriate gum treatments come in. If you're having a problem, come in and see us so we can take care of it right away. The treatment usually involves a deep cleaning or root planing done under a local anesthetic. If the gum disease gets too severe it may need to be treated through surgery.