SEALANTS
Sealants are used to fill in narrow grooves in a tooth that cannot be adequately cleaned by brushing. In some cases, the tooth structure has fine grooves or pits which accumulate plaque, not because the person doesn't brush, but because they're too narrow to allow even one tiny toothbristle into them. These can develop cavities over time, and you don't want that. So if appropriate, Dr. Hinson will brush on a coating that seals the grooves and pits, making it possible to brush off all the plaque and keep your teeth healthier.  It is important not to seal decay under a sealant.  Dr. Hinson has laser technology to help confirm whether a tooth can be sealed or whether it needs a small restoration or filling.

NON-SURGICAL GUM TREATMENTS
The gums, ligaments, and bone around the teeth form the foundation for ones teeth. All of these structures are also referred to as the periodontium. When the periodontium is not healthy, it jeopardizes the teeth just as a bad foundation would threaten the stability of a house. Signs of unhealthy periodontium (gum disease) may be:  gums that are red, swollen, and bleed easily, persistent bad breath, gums that are pulled away from the tooth, loose teeth, and changes in the position or bite of the teeth. Any of these signs may mean something is wrong periodontally. With the proper care, however, it may be possible to return them to a healthy state. This is where appropriate gum treatments come into play. If you're having a problem, come in and see us so we can begin to take care of it right away. The non-surgical treatment usually involves a deep cleaning, known as root planing and scaling, done under a local anesthetic, along with local antibiotic agents. If the gum disease gets too severe it may need to be treated through laser peridontal surgery, routine periodontal surgery or extraction. In some cases, it may be necessary to refer you to a periodontal specialist.  Dr. Hinson will suggest this referral if he feels it in your best interest.

X-RAYS
This is a focused beam of X-Ray particles which passes through bone and tissue, producing an image on special film or a digital image sensor. The result is an image showing the structures through which the X-ray passed. This gives the familiar black and white images that health care professionals use to help diagnose dental or periodontal problems.  X-rays are not the only part of  the diagnostic process, however not to utilize them could lead to undiagnosed disease. Without an X-ray image of the whole tooth and supporting bone and gum tissues adacent to the tooth, the ability to accurately diagnose a dental condition is limited.  Dr. Hinson will advise you if and when you will benefit from radiographs made by x-rays and make recommendations specific to your oral health needs.  

In our office we use extremely low radiation equipment and digital radiology which allows us to take X-rays using  much less radiation.  Our investment in the Shick digital radiology system is state of the art and allows for the highest quality images of your oral tissues.  You may visit the Shick technology website to read about our digital x-ray system:

http://www.schicktech.com/items.php?catid=3