Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are the last teeth to develop and appear in the mouth. They are called "wisdom teeth" because they usually appear during a person's late teens or early twenties, which has been called the "age of wisdom". The normal position of wisdom teeth is behind the upper and lower second molars. Many times the jaws are not large enough to accommodate the four wisdom teeth. This is why wisdom teeth cause more problems than any other teeth in the mouth. In fact, for nine out of ten people at least one wisdom tooth remains underneath the gum due to lack of space in the mouth.

Oral Prophylaxis is commonly known as ‘professional cleaning’ and is designed to preserve health and prevent the spread of gum disease. These professional cleanings are performed by your general dentist or a certified dental hygienist to prevent gum disease and tooth decay and to preserve the health of the teeth in general. The purpose of cleaning tooth surfaces is to make these surfaces smooth which make it more difficult for plaque and debris to accumulate on your teeth to initiate dental decay or gum disease. During a cleaning, the hygienist will remove plaque from the teeth, get rid of the tarter buildup above the gum line, and polish and remove stains from teeth. The procedure involves the use of hand instruments and ultrasonic scalers to detect and remove deposits of plaque on the teeth.

In the broadest sense, periodontal disease can be considered any form of disease affecting the periodontium - the tissues that surround and support the teeth. Inflammation of the bone is called periodontitis.

                                    

Everyone deserves to have a dazzling white smile and a clean, healthy mouth. No matter what the current appearance of your teeth, cosmetic dentistry solutions such as dental implants, mercury-free white fillings, porcelain veneers, porcelain crowns and bridges, and teeth whitening can help.