Common Treatment & Special Services

Tooth Decay/Anticaries Therapy Trays

Caries, or tooth decay, is a preventable disease. While caries might not endanger your life, it may negatively impact your quality of life.

When your teeth and gums are frequently exposed to starches and sugars, acids form that begin to eat away at tooth enamel. Carbohydrate-rich foods such as candy, cookies, soft drinks and even fruit juices leave deposits on your teeth. Those deposits combine with the bacteria that normally occur in your mouth to form plaque. Bacterial plaque forms acids that can damage the mineral structure of teeth, with tooth decay resulting. Dental research continues to find ways to treat dental caries as a communicable bacterial infection. Dr. LoPrete is using custom-made trays that fit over your teeth to deliver topical medications to strengthen, remineralize and alter the acid environment of your teeth.

Sensitive Teeth

Your teeth expand and contract in reaction to changes in temperature. Hot and cold food and beverages can cause pain or irritation to people with sensitive teeth. Over time, tooth enamel can be worn down, gums may recede or teeth may develop microscopic cracks, exposing the interior of the tooth and irritating nerve endings. Just breathing cold air can be painful for those with extremely sensitive teeth. We offer a variety of therapies for sensitive teeth depending on the cause.

Gum Disease

Gum, or periodontal, disease can cause inflammation, tooth loss and bone damage. Gum disease begins with a sticky film of bacteria called plaque. Gums in the early stage of disease, or gingivitis, can bleed easily and become red and swollen. As the disease progresses to periodontitis, teeth may fall out or need to be removed by a dentist. Gum disease is highly preventable and can usually be avoided by daily brushing and flossing. One indicator of gum disease is consistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth.

Bad Breath (Halitosis)

Daily brushing and flossing helps to prevent the buildup of food particles, plaque and bacteria in your mouth. Food particles left in the mouth deteriorate and cause bad breath. While certain foods, such as garlic or anchovies, may create temporary bad breath, consistent bad breath may be a sign of gum disease or another dental problem. Many malodors originate from compounds accumulating on the back surface of the tongue. We give patients troubled by halitosis a tongue scraper and instructions on its use. We also have Smart Mouth and rinse available for purchase.

Canker Sores

Canker sores (aphthous ulcers) are small sores inside the mouth that often recur. Generally lasting one or two weeks, the duration of canker sores can be reduced by the use of antimicrobial mouthwashes or topical agents. The canker sore has a white or gray base surrounded by a red border. Research continues to develop new individualized therapies to minimize these painful ulcerations.

Orthodontic Problems

A bite that does not meet properly (a malocclusion) can be inherited, or some types may be acquired. Some causes of malocclusion include missing or extra teeth, crowded teeth or misaligned jaws. Accidents or developmental issues, such as finger or thumb sucking over an extended period of time, may cause malocclusions. Although Dr. LoPrete has taken extensive orthodontic continuing education, he depends on the expertise of local orthodontic specialists for all but select adult Invisalign treatment.

TMJ

The TMJ is the complex “hinge” that anchors your lower jaw to the base of your cranium (skull). Dysfunction of this joint from various dental causes, trauma, or night time habits such as clenching and grinding can be debilitating. We treat joint problems with several modalities sometimes in conjunction with other professionals.

Oral Cancer

Oral cancer represents 3% of all new cancer diagnoses and 1% of cancer deaths. It is a debilitating disease which is extremely difficult to detect at an early stage. Risk factors include increased age, smoking, alcohol and chewing tobacco use. However, 24% of oral cancers occur in people with NO risk factors. Occurrence has increased in younger patients and may be associated with HPV (human papilloma virus). We offer several methods of oral cancer screening.