General Dentistry
Professional Teeth Cleaning
As we all know, one crucial habit needed to maintain good oral hygiene is keeping your teeth clean and healthy. You can do some essential things at home to promote a healthy mouth. Like brushing your teeth and flossing daily, we recommend our patients get a cleaning twice yearly.
We closely monitor our oral health during every tooth cleaning at Dentistry By Design, PC in South Huntington. Dr. Ayoub and his team will check for certain cancers and diseases. Cavities or other minor problems can become larger and more painful if ignored. Our general dentist, Dr. Joe, will identify and fix minor issues to avoid more complex and involved dental work.
Dental Exam
If this is your first time at Dentistry By Design, our dentist, Dr. Joseph Ayoub, will begin the appointment by asking a few questions about your dental history. He will then conduct a thorough
dental exam of your teeth, gums, and jaw. Next, we may perform dental X-rays depending on your dental health and the date of your last oral X-ray. Finally, your appointment will conclude with a detailed review of your exam findings and recommendations for a treatment plan (if any are needed).
Dental Filling
A dental filling is a standard procedure that helps restore the decayed tooth from a cavity. A filling consists of permanently placing a material like silver or resin into that decayed portion, “filling” the tooth and preventing further damage. At Dentistry By Design, Dr. Ayoub also uses
dental fillings to repair broken or cracked teeth or reinforce teeth worn down from nail-biting, clenching, or grinding.
Porcelain Inlays / Onlays
Dr. Joseph Ayoub “Dr. Joe” will use porcelain inlays/onlays as alternative restorations to amalgam or tooth-colored fillings. Porcelain inlays/onlays are individually fabricated pieces designed to precisely fit the excavated and prepared area of a tooth damaged by decay or another injury. For example, Dr. Ayoub used an inlay to restore the center portion of a back tooth; an onlay is a more significant restoration that extends over one or more cusps of your tooth. Sometimes, an onlay can cover and support enough of the tooth’s structure to avert the need for a full-coverage dental crown.
Once Dr. Ayoub checks the customized porcelain inlay/onlay fit, he bonds it to the underlying prepared tooth structure with a strong resin. Porcelain inlays/onlays can increase the strength and durability of the tooth by up to 75% and offer excellent stain resistance and a natural appearance.
Bad Breath Treatment
You may suffer from halitosis if you frequently breathe into your palm and sniff to see if you have bad breath. Halitosis, or bad breath, affects 25 percent of Americans.
While bad breath can be caused by consuming pasta loaded with garlic or a hamburger stacked with onions, it’s more likely related to what’s happening with the germs in your mouth. For example, when bacteria cause dental decay, the damaged cells can release an odor. Fortunately, professional teeth cleanings and gum treatment can address these issues.
Following up with the proper at-home dental care, including brushing your teeth, flossing after meals, and rinsing with a mouthwash, will also help keep bad breath under control.
Teeth Grinding & Night Guards
Grinding your teeth in your sleep is not only annoying to your spouse, but it may also damage the enamel on your teeth. Also called bruxism, teeth grinding affects up to 40 million Americans. Dr. Ayoub will look for signs of teeth grinding (bruxism) and may ask you if you have any of these symptoms:
- Morning headaches
- A sore jaw upon waking
- Chipped or cracked teeth
- Tooth Sensitivity
Teeth grinding is often caused by stress. However, it can also result from crooked teeth or a bad bite. Dr. Joe Ayoub can fit you with a nighttime mouth guard to protect your teeth from grinding while you sleep.
