General Dentist

Teeth cleanings and dental exams are recommended every six months. No matter how well you brush and floss, a hygienist’s tools are the only thing that can truly remove built up plaque and tartar. These appointments also give your dentist an opportunity to look carefully at your teeth and gums for signs of developing problems or areas of concern. You won’t notice hairline cracks or see the decay in your tooth that x-rays reveal. Cleanings and exams keep your oral health intact so you can have healthy teeth for a long time.

Fillings are one of the simple ways for the dentist to repair decayed or damaged teeth. We use various restorative options that includes White (composite) or Amalgam (silver) fillings. A composite resin filling is made from a mixture of plastic and fine glass particles and matches the color of the tooth. Thus, composite fillings are used most often on front teeth or the visible parts of the tooth. Composite fillings bond directly to the tooth, reducing the drilling needed compared to Amalgam fillings that need more drilling and are less esthetic in appearance(Silver fillings are silver and black in color).

Crowns serve many purposes including strengthening and improving the appearance of discolored or fractured teeth, supporting a tooth with a large filling, protecting a weak tooth from breaking or restoring one that’s already broken and also is used to cover a dental implant. Crowns are made out primarily porcelain to match the tooth color although sometimes they can all metal or porcelain with metal inside.

An oral cancer screening is an essential part of every dental exam. Your West Roxbury general dentist examines your entire mouth – gums, lips, cheeks, palate, tongue, and neck – for any signs of oral cancer. This aggressive cancer is highly treatable when caught early, and your dentist is trained to notice any small signs of trouble that you would not see yourself.

Dental sealants are often recommended for children and their newly erupted permanent teeth. Kids are still developing good brushing skills and it’s good to have help maintaining strong oral health. This clear coating is brushed on the chewing surface of a tooth to help prevent tooth decay.

Many people hold stress in their jaw and find themselves grinding and clenching their teeth, particularly while they sleep. A customized night guard protects you from the damage that can result from gnashing your teeth together, including worn enamel, damaged dental work, gum recession, and broken teeth.

Wearing a protective mouth guard while playing sports helps minimize the likelihood of dental damage and trauma should you collide with another player, fall, or take a hit to the mouth. Sports mouth guards are for children and adults, whether playing contact or no-contact sports.

The temporomandibular joint, also known as the TMJ, is the root of painful oral health problems for many people. When the TMJ is out of alignment, it can lead to teeth grinding and clenching, which results in tooth damage, headaches, and tooth and mouth pain. Many people choose the quickest method to address this problem – a night guard. Other patients want the permanent solution for TMJ problems and that comes through aligning the teeth using orthodontics like Invisalign.