General Dentistry in Newark
Our goal at Chapel Street Dentistry is to help our patients achieve and maintain optimal dental health. Our General Dentistry options will ensure that you and your family have healthy, lasting smiles. It’s recommended that all patients visit the dentist every six months for oral exams and cleanings. With regular dental visits, we can identify minor issues while they are easy to treat and prevent future dental problems from starting.
Oral examinations
During your oral examination, the doctor will inspect not only your mouth but also the head and neck for abnormalities (oral cancers and non cancerous abnormalities). We use photography, radiographs and sometimes additional imaging to provide us with a comprehensive evaluation of your mouth allowing us to detect cavities, defective dental restorations, gum and bone disease, and other issues within the head and neck area.
Cleanings
Regular professional cleanings also known as dental prophylaxis, are essential to your oral health and overall health. Dental prophylaxis is a cleaning that is performed when a patient’s mouth is free of gum disease. At your cleaning appointment we remove the plaque and calculus that has formed on teeth and gums. We also evaluate the gums and the bone which supports the teeth for the more advanced form of gum disease, periodontitis. Teeth are also polished because a smooth tooth surface makes it harder for new plaque to form. Dental cleaning is important because plaque and tartar harbor bacteria; this bacteria releases acid into the mouth that weakens tooth enamel, which is responsible for cavities.
Periodontal Treatment
When a patient presents with periodontal disease a routine preventative cleaning is not sufficient to bring the gums back to optimal health. Periodontal disease is identified by red, swollen, bleeding gums, but in its earliest stages the patient may not notice any signs and symptoms. What differentiates periodontal disease from the reversible inflammation of the gums known as gingivitis is loss of bone
Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment is also known as endodontics. Root canal treatment is required when a tooth has decay or a fracture that has reached the pulp at the center of the tooth. The pulp contains the nerve of the tooth, once the pulp is disturbed there is pain and potential for infection. Root canal treatment removes the pulp which eliminates the pain and the infection from the tooth. Once a root canal is completed a crown is usually recommended to protect the tooth and the root canal.
Extraction
If a tooth cannot be saved due to extensive decay, fracture or periodontal disease, it may need to be removed. We use copious anesthesia to numb the area, then the tooth is loosened and atraumatically extracted.