When your gums bleed it means that you have gum disease (or gingivitis). Healthy gums do NOT bleed. The gums appear red and inflamed and you may be aware of a bad taste or bad breath. The gums are not necessarily painful and gingivitis can progress for many years without pain. Gum disease is caused by plaque. This is the sticky film of bacteria that naturally forms on the teeth of everybody every day. If gingivitis progresses, it can spread to the bone supporting the teeth (periodontist). In the long term, if this is left untreated, you could lose your teeth.

Tooth decay is the disease known as caries or cavities. Unlike other diseases, however, caries is not life threatening and is highly preventable, though it affects most people to some degree during their life.

There are many options that we will be happy to discuss with you that will range from simple aesthetic re-shaping and bleaching to veneers, crowns and full mouth rehabilitations, and even orthodontics.

Pregnancy is an important time in your life and an especially important time for your personal health care. During pregnancy, you are assimilating and providing necessary nutrients for the growth and good health of your child.

Some women experience dental problems during pregnancy. These can be brought on by a variety of reasons.

*Expectant mothers have an increasing tendency to snack and, unfortunately, many times the snack consist of sticky sweets. Reducing snacking and staying on a well balanced diet will benefit your dental health, your overall health and the health of your developing baby.

*Hormonal changes can occur during pregnancy that make your gums susceptible to swelling or bleeding. If this becomes a problem, your dentist can help.

*Another problem is that expectant mothers often don't have the time to devote to their personal health care. All the time spent preparing for the baby's arrival and the fatigue often associated with pregnancy often causes an expectant mother to neglect her own health.

*Be sure to continue to brush and floss daily.

Because they are so far back in the mouth, wisdom teeth are not needed, they are difficult to keep clean. Your dentist may recommend the early removal of wisdom teeth to prevent against the potential complications of:

*The wisdom tooth partially erupts through the gum. This creates an opening bacteria may enter and cause infection. Pain, swelling and jaw stiffness may occur.

*The impacted wisdom tooth may continue growing without having enough room may damage adjacent teeth.

A child's first dental examination should take place 6 months after the first tooth comes in or at the first birthday, whichever comes first.

Time to complete the surgery and restoration phases of implant treatment varies.

Again this number can vary depending on the treatment plan. Two-stage root-form (in-the-bone) implants require two surgeries, the first to put the implant in the bone under the gum tissue and a second to expose the implant ('uncover') a few months later. When extensive bone grafting is involved, an additional surgery may be required to remove the Tram plate. There is a one-stage root-form (in-the-bone) implant that can be utilized when conditions are right that requires only one surgery.

Caring for implants is simple and no more difficult than the care that should be given to natural teeth. This includes DAILY hygiene using a prescribed anti-bacterial agent and proper brushing techniques as instructed along with regular check-ups and x-rays as recommended by the doctor. Although, implants are not susceptible to decay like natural teeth, they are susceptible to poor hygiene that will cause bacterial build-up around the gum line which can lead to infection, bone loss, and eventual failure of the implants. Regular hygiene is a must to maintain the health of implants and natural teeth.

Discoloration may be the result of genetics, medication, poor oral hygiene, aging, smoking, certain foods and beverages or a combination of these factors.

People with most types of discoloration can achieve lighter teeth through a whitening program. The type of stain you have will affect how much whitening you will experience. Ask your dentist how much whiter teeth can be.

Absolutely! We use Rembrant Lightning Gel, which is safe and will not harm teeth and gums. Its safety is supported by more than 20 research studies at leading dental universities.

It is always performed by a dental professional, so you can be sure it is safe.

No mouth tray is required. This is a one-visit procedure that your dentist will perform. Rather than having to wear a mouth tray night after night, you will see results immediatly.

Daily brushing is all you need to prevent loss of whitening.