Gum Disease

Caring for your teeth is an essential part of maintaining good oral health, but your gums also play an important role in your health, and proper care is crucial. Gum disease can be a serious detriment to your oral health and overall wellness, and Dr. David R. Bishop and Dr. Dorienne Taylor-Bishop provide the type of regular periodontal care and checkups you need to maintain peak health and prevent gum disease.

 

With periodontal disease responsible for 75 percent of all adult tooth loss cases in the United States, it is critical to check for and treat periodontal issues when they first arise. Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums that starts when a build-up of plaque on your teeth hardens, providing the ideal enviornment for bacteria to collect and attactk surrounding gums. In its early stages, this gum disease is gingivitis, but if it is left untreated, it becomes periodontis. Periodontis can destroy your gum tissue and lead to tooth loss. Periodontis can even result in a loss of bone mass in your jawbone, and heart disease, diabetes and stroke have also been linked to poor periodontal health.

 

The state of your gums affects the health of your entire body, so come to our office in Silver Spring, MD to receive periodontal cleanings and treatment. It is easier to prevent gum disease or treat it early on than to reverse the effects of periodontis. Call (301) 608-9270 to schedule an appointment with Bishop & Bishop Dental. For more information, visit www.bishopdental.com. 

Wisdom Teeth Extractions

Your wisdom teeth are your last set of molars to emerge, and they usually come in when you are between 17 and 21 years old. Because these teeth can become impacted, which means they come in at an angle rather than straight through the gums, it is often necessary for them to be removed before they cause pain or crowd your other teeth. At our office in Silver Spring, MD, Dr. David R. Bishop and Dr. Dorienne Taylor-Bishop can determine if your wisdom teeth need to be removed and extract them if they do.

 

If a wisdom tooth is impacted and can only emerge partially, it is possible for an operculum to form over the tooth. This flap of skin makes the molar extremely hard to clean, which means you are susceptible to an infection called periocoronitis.

 

When a wisdom tooth is in danger of causing such problems, either Dr. Bishop will extract the tooth. Many times all four are removed at once. This is done either by using a local anesthetic to numb the area or a general anesthetic to sedate the patient. It depends on the preference of the doctor and patient, as well as how far the wisdom tooth has emerged. After an anesthetic is applied, the gum tissue over the wisdom tooth is cut and the tooth is loosened and pulled out. If necessary, the gums will be sutured.

 

After surgery, rest is required. You will also need to change the gauze applied to the incision every couple hours.

 

To see if your wisdom teeth may need to be removed, schedule an appointment with Bishop & Bishop Dental by calling (301) 608-9270. For more information, visit www.bishopdental.com. 

Crowns

In cases when a filling or bonding will not be sufficient, we use dental crowns. Crowns are a great restorative treatment used when teeth become weak due to decay, cracks, discoloration and other issues. We treat many of our patients suffering from weakened teeth with dental crowns.

 

A crown is essentially a “cap” that covers the damaged tooth. Unlike removable devices such as dentures or bridges, a crown is used to improve appearance, shape or alignment. Crowns are cemented onto existing teeth or implant and can be removed by the dentist if necessary. Dental crowns are used in many applications. Mostly, they are used to protect a weak tooth from a fracture and to restore a fractured tooth. Crowns are also used during the dental implant process to cover the abutment while the jaw bone grows around the implant. Temporary crowns help maintain proper chewing and speaking efficiency during the implant process.

 

Crowns are typically made from porcelain fused to metal or a full gold crown. A porcelain crown can be matched to the shade of your other teeth, allowing it to blend in and appear just as your natural teeth do. The process of installing a crown usually takes 2-3 visits. Dr. Bishop will start by reshaping the enamel of the broken tooth so the crown can be placed properly. Once the tooth has been reshaped, a mold will be created of that tooth and the surrounding teeth. A temporary crown will be set in place so the teeth do not shift while the permanent crown is being created. Once the crown is completed, it will be put in place and bonded with cement to assure it stays in place.

Root Canal

When someone you know says they need a root canal procedure, there is often a negative connotation associated with it, leaving you to feel badly for your friend. The misconception that root canals are painful, cause illness or will further cause damage to your teeth is decades old and holds no truth. Science has come a long way since the first root canal procedure occurred in the 1700’s.

 

The whole point of a root canal procedure is to alleviate pain, not cause more. Root canals are performed by removing the pulp of the tooth that has become inflamed, infected or dead. The pulp is a soft substance that is in the center of the tooth, it consists of nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue. The most common causes of pulp damage are cracked tooth, deep cavity and an injury to a tooth. We use this procedure to save a tooth that is badly decayed and would otherwise be extracted. After the pulp is removed, it is thoroughly cleaned and then functions properly.

 

One of the main misconceptions regarding root canals focuses on the idea that the procedure “kills” the tooth rather than repairing it. Once the pulp is cleaned and disinfected, the area filled and sealed with a rubber-like material called “gutta-percha.” Afterwards, the tooth is restored with a crown or filling for protection. After restoration, the tooth continues to function like any other tooth. People also think that a root canal procedure is an invasive procedure that takes hours to complete. Modern root canal procedures are often compared to having a routine filling and can be completed in just one visit.

 

We are proud to offer pain-free root canal procedures at Bishop & Bishop Dental in Silver Spring, MD. Call 301-608-9270 to schedule your appointment today!

Sleep Apnea

While most dental practices offer a very narrow scope of procedures, we have established a full-service dental practice that specializes in preventative, restorative and cosmetic dental procedures. For patients hoping to restore their smile after an accident should be aware of the many options we have available to fix their smile.

 

With restorative dentistry, we are able to replace or restore missing teeth or missing parts of the tooth structure. Tooth structure can be damaged due to decay, deterioration of a previously placed restoration or the tooth could fracture. We offer the following restorative dental procedures at our Silver Spring, MD office:

• Bridges
• Crowns
• Dentures
• Bonding

The goal of restorative dentistry is to preserve your natural teeth as much as possible. In cases where we cannot save the natural teeth, full dentures might be necessary. Most people do not know that a missing tooth can cause serious damage to your mouth. When a tooth a missing, the rest of your teeth will begin to shift, causing your teeth to become misaligned. When teeth become misaligned, they are more difficult to clean, and decayed teeth are susceptible to periodontal disease which can lead to tooth loss. Missing teeth also put extra stress on your remaining natural teeth because you don't have as much surface area to chew with.

 

If you are missing any teeth, consider restorative treatments at Bishop & Bishop Dental in Silver Spring, MD. Our staff has years of experience and specialize in these restorative treatments. 

Dentures

Dentures are a great option for those looking to replace missing teeth with a non-permanent solution. There are two type of denture and they are used depending on each individual case. At Bishop & Bishop Dental, we offer both full and partial dentures to help our patients retain their original smile quickly and effectively.

 

Dentures are replacement teeth that can be removed and worn at your convenience. In many cases, patients have very different needs when it comes to having their dentures created. Dentures are made of acrylic resin, sometimes in combination with various metals depending on the situation.

 

At Bishop & Bishop Dental, we offer conventional-full, immediate-full and partial dentures to patients hoping to restore their smile. Conventional-full dentures are used when all of the teeth are removed. The tissue is given time to heal before the dentures can be placed; this usually takes a couple months to heal completely. Immediate-full dentures are made before the original teeth are removed. The doctors will take measurements and have the dentures fitted for each specific patient mouth. Once the teeth are removed, the dentures are able to be immediately placed. Partial dentures are used to replace multiple teeth at one time, not all teeth. This removable option is similar to a bridge, but it is not permanent.

 

If you have lost one or more tooth and are interested in dentures, visitwww.bishopdental.com or call 301-608-9270 to set up an appointment at Bishop & Bishop Dental in Silver Spring, MD.

Brushing While Having Orthodontic Treatment

Brushing While Having Orthodontic Treatment

Patients who visit our dental practice in Silver Spring, MD for orthodontic treatment are encouraged to not ignore the importance of brushing and oral health. Not only is brushing important for preventing tooth decay and keeping breath fresh, but food particles can get stuck in between the brackets and wires, which puts our orthodontics patients at an even higher risk for plaque and gum disease. Brushing while having ortho treatment, such as braces, is easy to do once patients learn the proper technique.

 

We ask any patient getting orthodontics treatment to continue brushing their teeth multiple times a day, using a toothbrush that has soft bristles. Their regular fluoride toothpaste is acceptable for brushing over and around braces, though they need to hold it at an angle in order to get around the brackets and remove all of the food particles. During orthodontic treatment, our dentist, Dr. David Bishop, asks his patients to brush up to four times a day, including in the morning after breakfast, after lunch, after dinner, and just before bed.

 

Keep in mind that you may need to replace your toothbrush more often when you are wearing dental appliances, such as braces. For this reason, be sure to examine your toothbrush regularly for wear and frayed bristles, which are indications that it’s time for a new toothbrush.

 

Call us at 301-608-9270 to learn more about brushing while having orthodontic treatments.