Good oral hygiene is important, not only for looks, but for general health as well. Poor oral hygiene can lead to a variety of dental and medical problems such as gum disease, infection, bone loss, heart disease and strokes. Regular cleanings can help prevent these problems and provide you with good oral hygiene. According to The Oral Cancer Foundation, someone dies from oral cancer, every hour of every day in the United States alone. When you have your dental cleaning, we are also screening you for oral cancer, which is highly curable if diagnosed early.
Dental x-rays are images of the teeth, bones, and soft tissues around them to help find problems with the teeth, mouth, and jaw. X-ray pictures can show cavities, dental structures (such as wisdom teeth), and bone loss that cannot be seen during your dental examination.
Exams begin by reviewing the x-rays, models, and photos of your mouth with one of our doctors. Any conditions are noted and explained in detail. The clinical exam includes examination of the teeth and gums, evaluation of the bite and TMJ, an oral cancer screening, and an esthetic evaluation where indicated.
A crown is a type of dental restoration which completely caps or encircles a tooth or dental implant. Crowns are often needed when a large cavity threatens the ongoing health of a tooth. After removing the old restoration and decay if there is not enough of your own natural tooth structure, a build up will be used. Crowns are typically bonded to the tooth using a dental cement. Crowns are often used to improve the strength or appearance of teeth.
Dental implants can help you smile more confidently. A dental implant is permanent and is an effective, attractive, secure way to fill gaps in your smileall while preserving your existing teeth. They are an effective way to replace missing teeth. When teeth are lost because of disease or an accident, dental implants may be a good option. You may want to choose dental implants if you:
Many people choose implants to replace a single tooth or several teeth, or to support a full set of dentures. Implants are posts surgically placed into the upper or lower jawbone. They replace the root of one or more missing teeth.
Dental implants are made of titanium (a strong, lightweight metal) and other materials that are well accepted by the body. More than 5 million implants are placed each year by dentists in the United States.
Dr. Woodson was born and raised in the courthouse area of Gloucester, Virginia. College eventually led him to Richmond, Virginia, and the School of Dentistry at the Medical College of Virginia. With dental degree in hand, it was off to Greenville, NC for residency. Residency is not required for dentists. These programs provide additional experience in an area of study. For instance, oral surgery or orthodontics.
Back in 2002, there was no East Carolina University School of Dentistry. Instead, The ECU Brody School of Medicine offered dentists a one-year General Practice residency. At Pitt County Memorial Hospital Dr. Woodson practiced hospital based dental care and benefited from teaching rotations with the medical doctors.
The replacement of a missing tooth with a dental implant, abutment and crown is the closest modern dentistry can come to a restoring the root-tooth-gum-bone complex when a tooth or teeth are lost. Several implants can be used to replace a series of missing teeth. Five or more implants can be used to replace all of the teeth in the upper or lower dental arches.
I also subscribe to the American Academy of Pediatricians and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry's recommendation that states your child should see a pediatric dentist when the first tooth appears or no later than his/her first birthday.
Orthodontic is the branch of dentistry that corrects teeth and jaws that are positioned improperly. Crooked teeth and teeth that do not fit together correctly are harder to keep clean, are at risk of being lost early due to tooth decay, and periodontal disease, and cause extra stress on the chewing muscles that can lead to headaches, TMJ syndrome and neck, shoulder and back pain. Teeth that are crooked or not in the right place can also detract from one's appearance. (American Association of Orthodontics.)