• composite or tooth colored materials that are used to fill a cavity formed by decay
• replace missing tooth structure
• recontour a tooth for better aesthetics
• different types of restorative or filling material depending on your giving situation and we will always include you in the discussion as to why we think one is better than another

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• dental restorations that are placed over a tooth when conservative restorations such as bonding aren't enough to restore form and function
• the tooth is reshaped to allow the crown to fit over the remaining tooth structure
• sometimes a full coverage crown is needed when there is insufficient tooth structure remaining or a crack has started to progress

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• when the nerve of a tooth dies or becomes infected because of decay, trauma, or unknown factors, a root canal is recommended
• a root canal procedure removes the infected tissue and seals up the canal(s) so that bacteria can not leak back in to the tooth
• a tooth treated with a root canal usually will need a crown for strength and aesthetics
• it is a way to alleviate pain and save a tooth that would have otherwise have needed to be extracted

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• this procedure is performed due to severe periodontal disease (gum infection) or large caries (decay)
• local anesthesia is used to "numb" the area around the tooth
• sometimes in the case of wisdom teeth they need to come out because of potential problems that may arise in the future

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• dental implants replace lost or missing teeth
• implants are precision -crafted pieces of bio-compatible metal surgically placed beneath the gums to fuse to the jawbone
• they are in affect artificial tooth roots
• implants are used to replace one or more missing teeth
• to support a nonremovable permanent bridge for multiple teeth or to better support a full or partial denture

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• are the least expensive way to replace a mouthful of missing teeth
• are removable piece of plastic that have teeth placed on a gum colored base
• can correct a smile and get rid of oral disease in the quickest manner possible

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• is another way of saying removable bridge
• they are used to replace as few as one tooth usually for a transition to something more permanent like a bridge or an implant
• partials can be a good alternative to replace missing teeth where there is not enough bone for implants
• partials can be used when there are not enough teeth for a fixed bridge

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Gingivitis

• the mildest form of periodontal disease. It causes the gums to become red, swollen, and bleed easily
• there is usually little or no discomfort at this stage
• often caused by inadequate oral hygiene
• reversible with professional treatment and good oral home care
• untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis

Periodontitis

• severe, more invasive form of gum disease
• plaque can spread and grow below the gum line
• toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums
• the toxins stimulate a chronic inflammatory response in which the body in essence turns on itself, and the tissues and bone that support the teeth are broken down and destroyed
• gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums) that become infected
• as the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed
• often, this destructive process has very mild symptoms
• eventually, teeth can become loose and may have to be removed
• most of the time nonsurgical therapy along with good homecare and more frequent recare is enough to control the progression of periodontal disease

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• like a partial crown
• usually made of porcelain but sometimes made of gold if the need for strength outweighs aesthetics
• an inlay usually just replaces a filling - while an onlay covers more tooth surface
• onlays typically replaces the filling and the cusp(s) of a tooth
• onlays replace less tooth structure than a crown but sometimes are not the best treatment choice if too much tooth structure is missing

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• a custom-made artificial tooth that fills in the gap where a tooth or teeth are missing
• attaches to the two teeth on either side of the missing tooth
• the replacement tooth or teeth are attached to crowns on either side of the missing teeth, attached to the back of the adjacent teeth with wing-like projections or to dental implants

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• also known as "laughing gas"
• commonly used during dental procedures to make a patient less anxious
• relatively few side affects and wears off within a matter of minutes
• there are other medications that can be used to reduce anxiety during dental procedures
• the most important thing before we begin is to understand the level of anxiety you have before a procedure so that we can tailor the stress reduction protocol to your needs

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Smiles for Centreville
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry
Drs. Hutchison, Gorman and Jarrell
14245-P Centreville Square, Centreville, VA 20121
Phone: (703) 830-9110
Fax: (703) 830-1632