Treatment Options

HEALTHY TEETH AND GUMS

TOOTHACHE

MISSING TEETH

Comprehensive Oral Exam and Diagnosis

When you come to see Dr. Williams at your first appointment and all appointments, we will carefully listen and address your dental concerns.
Dr. Williams will perform a complete oral exam and digital x-rays will be taken in order to detect any abnormalities and to check the state of any existing restorations or possible decay of the teeth. A thorough evaluation of the bone, gums, and other soft tissues inside the mouth will be performed. After careful examination and based on any findings, a comprehensive treatment plan will be created and reviewed with you to address your individual dental health needs.

Preventative Dentistry

As a practice, we are true believers that prevention and education are the utmost importance in maintaining ideal dental health. Therefore we strive to provide quality dental services our patients deserve.

In addition to regular dental exams and hygiene visits, good oral hygiene and personal oral care play a significant role in your oral health.

At a minimum:

Brushing should be done at least twice daily. Always use an ADA-approved fluoride toothpaste and toothbrush.
Flossing should be done at least once daily. Our staff will insure that you know proper technique and are flossing properly.
Sealants are protective coatings that are placed in deep pits and grooves of a tooth to help prevent cavities from forming.
Fluoride has been proven to be highly effective in preventing and possibly reversing dental decay. Professionally administered fluoride can assist in prevention of decay in school-aged children and adults at risk for decay.

Fillings

A Filling is a way to restore a tooth damaged by decay back to its normal function and shape. If you have a tooth that requires a filling, Dr. Williams will remove the decayed tooth material, clean the affected area, and then fill the are with filling material. This filling helps prevent further decay.
Dr. Williams prefers and recommends that tooth-colored filling material be used. This type of filling is called a Composite filling.
Composite Fillings are an excellent way to aesthetically restore a decayed tooth to health. Composite fillings not only strengthen the tooth and provide a greater longevity, they also require less removal of healthy tooth structure. When it comes to preventing breakage and damage to the tooth, Composites securely bonds to the tooth.

ADVANCED TREATMENT OPTIONS

Root Canal Therapy

Root canal treatment (also referred to as root canal therapy or endodontic therapy) is made necessary when a cavity is allowed to reach all the way to the pulp. Sometimes deep restorations or trauma to a tooth may cause the nerve to be damaged to the point it needs root canal therapy, also. Once this occurs the pulp becomes infected, and can even extend through the root tip and begin to eat away at the surrounding bone. By the time the pulp is infected it must be treated, and cannot heal on its own.

Symptoms that the pulp has become infected may include sensitivity to hot/cold or sweets, pain, swelling, pain to biting or pressure, and a bad taste in the mouth. Sometimes, however, no symptoms are apparent and the person is unaware of any problem until a checkup. A root canal is then performed to clean out the infected tooth pulp, and disinfect the canals of the tooth. Once the infection is resolved, the canal(s) are filled in to prevent any further infection. Usually a core build-up and crown is recommended for restoring a tooth that has had root canal therapy.

Crowns

Crowns are full coverage restorations that are used to cover a tooth that is likely to break, or is too broken down to be restored with a filling. They are most commonly done after root canal treatment, or when a large filling wears out. The larger the hole made by a cavity that has to be treated, the more likely a crown will be needed. Even after a filling is put in a large cavity, a tooth is more likely to break. Keep in mind that the jaw muscles are the strongest in the human body. Teeth are subjected to tremendous pressures. Crowns ride over the weakened tooth, providing strength and protecting the tooth against breakage. A broken or cracked tooth is a far more serious matter and much more difficult to treat.

Crowns prevent this, as well as making for a nice smile. It takes two appointments to restore a tooth with a crown. In the first any decay is removed from the tooth and it is shaped to accept the crown. Then an impression is made of the tooth for use in fabricating a crown. Between the two visits the crown is made, usually of high-strength porcelain over gold alloy, all ceramic material, or gold. During this time a temporary crown is worn. In the second visit this temporary is removed. Then the permanent crown is adjusted as needed and then cemented in place.

Implants

A dental implant is an ideal tooth restoration for people who are missing one or more teeth. In this procedure, a small titanium shaft is surgically implanted into the bone and allowed to set. The bone grows around it forming a tight connection, which additionally slows or stops the bone loss that occurs when the root of a natural tooth is missing. Once the implant is firmly set in the mouth, the dentist then works to attach the replacement tooth onto the top of the shaft.

This permanent solution has the advantages over bridge work because it does not stress the surrounding teeth for support, and, should the tooth wear out, another can simply be replaced on the shaft. Implants can also be used as support as part of an implant bridge. This is an alternative to partial dentures, and has several advantages. First, there is no adjustment period to acclimatize the patient who, once the work is done, only feels teeth, not metal supports intruding into the mouth. Second, this slows the bone loss occasioned by missing teeth. Third, there is no discomfort or difficulty in eating. And, best of all, of course, they don’t have to be taken out all the time.

FastBraces®

Exciting news! Dr Williams is now offering FastBraces.

Fastbraces® Technology was developed to straighten teeth in a different way from traditional braces, to allow for a fast, safe, and affordable solution for people who seek a more beautiful smile. With the patented triangular design of the braces, cutting-edge techniques, and a special heat-activated wire, Fastbraces® is revolutionizing the field of orthodontics.

For more information on FASTBRACES or to schedule your consultation, call 706-210-1519 today. A straight, healthy smile is within your reach!”