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Glossary of Dental Terms
Mark Griffths, DDS
Dr. Mark Griffiths and his knowledgeable, caring team will give you a beautiful smile you will be proud to show off! Dr. Griffiths has been living and practicing in the San Diego area for almost twenty years. His personal concern and care for his patients built the lasting relationships that his general practice was founded on. His commitment to the offering the newest and best in cosmetic dental technology is what sets Dr. Griffiths apart and makes his work truly exceptional. His staff brings the support, expertise, and care that round out the singular Griffiths Smiles experience.
About Us
Your smile is the first thing people notice about you-- let us help you present your healthy, confident, first impression. For some people, the quick and painless process of teeth whitening gives them a fresh, brilliant smile that lets them be at their best. For others, a personally designed smile make-over using porcelain veneers or dental implants may grant them the satisfaction of better health, the ability to look and feel younger and rejuvenated. Whether your recommended dental care may entail porcelain veneers, crowns, bonding, or dental implants, Mark Griffiths DDS and Renee Joseph, RDH will carefully consider and recommend what is right for you and create your extraordinary smile.
Our Mission
Our mission is to ensure top quality cosmetic and restorative dentistry and unparalleled service in a healthy, compassionate, supportive environment. We offer the newest techniques in cosmetic and restorative dentistry so that you have the best dental options available for your needs. Our staff wants your experience with us to be as pain free and as comfortable as possible. We offer sedation dentistry so that people with high dental anxiety can ease through procedures pleasantly and numbness reversal for people who need to return to the activities in their day without worrying about residual numbness or tingling from sensation medication. We want all our patients to have the best experience possible so we offer them the best practices possible.
Mark Griffiths DDS combines extraordinary dentistry with exceptional service. Contact our San Diego cosmetic dental office to schedule an appointment.
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Mark B. Griffiths, DDS - 619.298.6257
Mark Griffths, DDS
Dr. Mark Griffiths and his knowledgeable, caring team will give you a beautiful smile you will be proud to show off! Dr. Griffiths has been living and practicing in the San Diego area for almost twenty years. His personal concern and care for his patients built the lasting relationships that his general practice was founded on. His commitment to the offering the newest and best in cosmetic dental technology is what sets Dr. Griffiths apart and makes his work truly exceptional. His staff brings the support, expertise, and care that round out the singular Griffiths Smiles experience.
About Us
Your smile is the first thing people notice about you-- let us help you present your healthy, confident, first impression. For some people, the quick and painless process of teeth whitening gives them a fresh, brilliant smile that lets them be at their best. For others, a personally designed smile make-over using porcelain veneers or dental implants may grant them the satisfaction of better health, the ability to look and feel younger and rejuvenated. Whether your recommended dental care may entail porcelain veneers, crowns, bonding, or dental implants, Mark Griffiths DDS and Renee Joseph, RDH will carefully consider and recommend what is right for you and create your extraordinary smile.
Our Mission
Our mission is to ensure top quality cosmetic and restorative dentistry and unparalleled service in a healthy, compassionate, supportive environment. We offer the newest techniques in cosmetic and restorative dentistry so that you have the best dental options available for your needs. Our staff wants your experience with us to be as pain free and as comfortable as possible. We offer sedation dentistry so that people with high dental anxiety can ease through procedures pleasantly and numbness reversal for people who need to return to the activities in their day without worrying about residual numbness or tingling from sensation medication. We want all our patients to have the best experience possible so we offer them the best practices possible.
Mark Griffiths DDS combines extraordinary dentistry with exceptional service. Contact our San Diego cosmetic dental office to schedule an appointment.
Site Navigation
Areas of Expertise
Mark B. Griffiths, DDS - 619.298.6257
Aesthetic Dentist, Aesthetic Dentistry, Air Abrasion, amalgam fillings, Biolase, BriteSmile, CAD/CAM technology, Cerec Crowns, children’s dentistry,cosmetic dentist, composite fillings, dental bonding, dental crown, dental hygiene, dental implants, dental sealants, dentures, Diagnodent, digital imaging, digital x-rays,
endodontics, extreme makeover dentist, full mouth Rehabilitaion, gum contouring, inlays and onlays, intra-oral camera, Invisalign, IsoLite, Laser Teeth Whitening, Lumineers, Neuromuscular Dentistry,Non-metal Fillings, Ora Verse, orthodontic braces, Orthodontic , periodontal laser therapyPeriodontal Plastic Surgery, periodontics, porcelain veneers, sedation dentistry, smile design, smile makeover, teeth whitening, tooth shaping, TMJ Dentistry, Velscope, Vizilite, Zoom! In Office Whitening,
Aesthetic Dentist
An aesthetic dentist, sometimes called a cosmetic dentist or an extreme make-over dentist, is a dentist who extends beyond general practice dentistry and specializes in improving the quality and appearance of patients' teeth and oral structure. For some people, smile design and enhancement is the catalyst needed to change their entire lives. The self-confidence that results from becoming the owner of a winning smile allows them put their best face forward everyday and let their potential shine through. An aesthetic dentist can achieve this through a variety of procedures such as teeth whitening and bleaching, dental bonding, porcelain veneers, onlays and inlays, implants and dentures. The dentist will work with the patient to design a smile that will suit the patient's face, personality and expectations so that their new look will give them a fresh zest for life.
Aesthetic Dentistry
Aesthetic dentistry, often used synonymously for cosmetic dentistry, is the use of dental work to enhance and refine the appearance and function of existing teeth, replace missing teeth and improve or restore the contours of the mouth and face. Treatments include teeth whitening, filling in gaps, repairing chips and cracks, straightening, lengthening, and reshaping or a combination of these procedures achieved through dental bonding, veneers, crowns, inlays and onlays, implants, and dentures. Aesthetic dentistry not only lets people improve their physical appearance, it also often improves their physical health and comfort. Aesthetic dentistry can improve a person's self-confidence and personal satisfaction because looking good makes a person feel good.
Air Abrasion
Essentially a mini sandblaster that generates no heat, sound, pressure or vibration, air abrasion can be used to abrade away shallow pockets of decay or to prepare the surface of teeth for other dental applications quickly and quietly. This procedure works best on minimal or shallow decay, tooth surface preparation for bonding or sealants, removing old composite restorations, eliminating tooth surface stains, children's dentistry, and for work on people with high dental-anxiety.
Amalgam fillings
Amalgam fillings are the silver-colored fillings most commonly used to repair dental decay. Amalgam fillings are usually made of a mixture of mercury and other metals which can cause sensitivity in some patients. Although amalgam fillings are long lasting, there is concern about the long term health affects as well as environmental pollution due to the content of the metal. Composite fillings are becoming a safer, more comfortable and attractive alternative to the silver-colored metal amalgam.
Biolase
Biolase is a medical device company at the forefront of medical and dental technology specializing in advanced medical and dental laser products. The WaterLase, the only FDA approved dental laser on the market, uses atomized water to remove tooth structure and decay without causing microfractures or collateral thermal damages to tooth material the way that traditional bit-drills do. WaterLase procedures may not require anesthesia and can eradicate several cavities in one session.
BriteSmile
BriteSmile is a patented teeth whitening system that uses hydrogen peroxide gel and light to make your teeth whiter and brighter painlessly and in about an hour. Although BriteSmile can lighten your teeth about nine shades lighter, exactly what shade they lighten to depends on how white they are to start. Also, BriteSmile works only on natural tooth material and not on artificial substances like porcelain veneers.
The BriteSmile procedure is simple and safe. The 15% peroxide whitening gel is applied to your teeth and then blue light from a specially designed lamp is shined upon your “smile line” teeth, top and bottom, for twenty minutes while you sit back and relax. This process is repeated two more times for a total of one hour of light exposure.
BriteSmile is one of the most effective ways to whiten and brighten your teeth but it also provides other dental health benefits in that it kills the harmful bacteria that cause gingivitis and periodontal disease, thus contributing to your overall oral health along with the aesthetics improvements.
CAD/CAM Technology
CAD stands for computer-aided design and CAM stands for computer-aided manufacturing. CAD/CAM technology is used to design and fabricate precise fits for dental restorations like inlays, onlays, crowns and bridges. Computer-aided design and manufacturing enables dentists to create perfectly-sized dental devices quickly, accurately and often on-site.
Cerec Crowns
Cerec dental products are permanent, ceramic dental restoration devices, like crowns, onlays and veneers that can be fit, fabricated and applied within a single dental office visit without the intermediary delay of a temporary restoration. Cerec materials closely match the composition of natural tooth structure which means that they expand and contract in response to temperature changes at nearly the same rate that your natural teeth do, providing greater comfort than many other materials. They can be matched to any tooth color and do not contain metal. Cerec products are chemically bonded to your teeth so that you maintain as much healthy tooth tissue as possible, while at the same time reinforcing your tooth structure.
Children’s Dentistry
It is important to start good dental hygiene habits early in life so it is recommended that children starting regular dental check-ups at ages two and-a-half to three years-old. Starting professional teeth-cleanings, fluoride treatments and dental sealants at a young age will put your children on the road to healthy teeth and gums and instill lifelong habits of good dental hygiene.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic dentistry is the application of dental work to improve the look and function of existing teeth or to replace missing teeth to fill in spaces and restore the contours of the mouth and face. Treatments include teeth whitening, filling in gaps, repairing chips and cracks, straightening, lengthening, and reshaping or a combination of several of these procedures achieved through dental bonding, veneers, crowns, inlays and onlays, implants, and dentures. Cosmetic dentistry allows people to enhance their smile and improve their appearance for greater self-confidence and personal comfort and satisfaction. Cosmetic dentistry can provide a veritable face-lift that can make someone look and feel years younger and give them the confidence to live life to the fullest.
Composite fillings
Composite fillings are composed of a tooth-colored resin or porcelain-like material that bonds to the tooth with a tight seal for long wear and a natural looking appearance. Composite materials usually cause less sensitivity than silver amalgam filings and can restore the tooth back to its original integrity. Composite fillings allow patients to repair dental decay without sacrificing the whiteness of their teeth and brightness of their smiles.
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is the process of using tooth-colored composite to restore or enhance teeth by whitening, closing gaps, repairing chips and cracks, and making teeth appear straighter. Bonding composite is place on the tooth, molded into the desired shape, then hardened and polished to achieve the desired look.
Dental bonding is a cosmetic alternative to amalgam fillings used to repair decayed teeth and to protect a tooth’s root that has been exposed by receding gums. It is also used to make teeth look longer, disguise discolorations, change tooth shape, and repair damaged teeth.
Dental Crown
A dental crown is a tooth restoration that completely caps or surrounds a decayed or damaged tooth. Crowns can be used to strengthen, restore, or improve the appearance of a tooth. Currently the most common dental crowns are constructed of a metal lining covered with porcelain which can often leave a dark line next to the gum line and whose opaque appearance can be less than natural; however, other dental material options are available that provide a more appealing, natural look.
Dental Hygiene
Good dental hygiene is the practice of keeping the teeth and mouth clean to sustain optimum oral health and by extension the health of your entire body. On a daily basis you should brush your teeth and floss to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. On a scheduled, periodic basis you should have professional dental exams and teeth cleanings to identify and correct any current dental issues and to take any professional preventative measures needed in order keep your teeth and gums healthy and your smile at its best.
Dental Implants
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root made of titanium and placed directly into the jawbone where teeth are missing to support tooth restorations. Titanium will bond with the bone and create a strong foundation for artificial teeth that look, feel, and function like natural teeth and preserve the facial structure and integrity of the overall bite. Implants provide a solid foundation for restoration devices as well as prevent bone deterioration. Dental implants can be an important step in dental makeovers and smile enhancement.
Dental Sealants
Dental sealants are an application of plastic material to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. Because the surfaces of the back teeth are often deeply grooved and hard to reach with a toothbrush, more bacteria collects in the crevices which leads to decay.
Dental sealants fill in these crevices and prevent the bacteria from growing and causing plaque and decay. It takes only a few minutes to apply sealant to each tooth and they last several years before they need to be reapplied. Children and teenagers are the patients who most often receive dental sealant treatment but many adults find them beneficial as well.
Dentures
Dentures are prosthetic devices that take the place of missing, natural teeth. Traditionally dentures are removable, but there are now many permanent to semi-permanent options that affix to live teeth or dental implants. Dentures can be an important part of health and well-being by filling the role of missing teeth so that you chew and speak comfortably and correctly. They also fill out the lips and cheeks and provide correct support for facial structure which will normalize your appearance so that you feel confident. Your dentist will be able to determine the best denture design for your needs and ensure that you have an attractive, natural-looking smile as well.
Diagnodent
The Diagnodent is a small, portable, laser detection system that finds decay hidden under tooth structure by scanning the area with a harmless laser light and grading it on a numeric scale for diagnosis by the dental team. From this reading, the dental team will be able to recommend the appropriate treatment to mitigate and prevent further decay. The Diagnodent is very accurate and very safe.
Digital Imaging
Digital Imaging is when a digital photo is taken of the teeth as a dental record, as opposed to hand-drawing teeth for a dental chart. In the same way that digital pictures are faster, more convenient, less expensive, and easier to store than conventional photographs, digital images in dentistry are faster, more accurate, and more transferable than the traditional method for documenting the topography of a patient’s mouth. Digital imaging is also used to show virtual outcomes from cosmetic dental procedures. For example, your cosmetic dentist can show you what your smile will look like if you were to get veneers or have your teeth whitened so that you can see the results of a process before you commit to it.
Digital X-rays
Digital x-rays use digital x-ray sensors instead of x-ray film. Digital x-rays have the benefits of digital imaging in that they can be uploaded to a computer and viewed minutes after they are taken, easily transferred, and enhanced for size and clarity. They are also safer than traditional x-rays because they do not require a chemical development process and they produce only 10% of the radiation.
Endodontics
Endodontics deals with the repair and maintainance of tooth pulp and the tissues surrounding the root of a tooth by means of a root canal, or endodontic therapy. Typically a root canal is where the pulp of a tooth is removed, the space left behind is cleaned out and disinfected and then filled. This procedure is performed when a tooth has been compromised by extensive decay, injury, or gum disease.
Extreme Makeover Dentist
An Extreme Makeover Dentist is a cosmetic dentist who assists people with improving the quality and look of their appearance through profound enhancement and change. For some people, altering or restoring their smile will be a dramatic difference in their look, but certainly a welcome one. Extreme Makeover Dentistry offers several procedures that accomplish this outcome, including teeth whitening and bleaching, dental bonding, porcelain veneers, onlays and inlays, implants and dentures.
Digital imaging technology allows you to explore the many options of an extreme dental makeover by imposing the outcomes of a potential dental processes onto your current picture. In other words, your and your cosmetic dentist can create “before” and a variety of “after” photos so that you can see the results of an extreme dental makeover and decide what look is best for you. Consult your cosmetic dentist for information on how to start this vitalizing process.
Full Mouth Rehabilitation
Full Mouth Rehabilitation combines the improvement of aesthetic appearance with the adjustment of bite position resulting in both a better smile and greater physical comfort. If you experience frequent headaches, jaw, neck, and shoulder pain, numbness in your fingers, ringing in your ears, vertigo, and popping in your jaw when you chew or talk, you may benefit from full mouth restoration. The proper alignment of your jaw through the correction of your bite can alleviate these symptoms as well as enhance your smile.
Your dentist will use neuromuscular dental techniques to measure the position of your jaw to configure its ideal position and then determine what procedures will be needed to achieve this. Treatments may include using a low-level electrical impulse machine to exercise the jaw muscles and retrain them to the proper position, wearing an orthotic to move and hold the jaw into proper alignment, and building up short, chipped, or worn-down teeth through the application of crowns or veneers so that teeth hold the mouth in the correct formation.
Time to complete a full mouth restoration can vary according to the complexity of the treatment plan, but the outcome-- increased physical comfort and the restoration of your beautiful smile-- will be well worth the time put into it.
Gum Contouring
Gums frame and compliment the teeth so it is important that gums are healthy and symmetrical so that your teeth are set off to their best advantage. The gum contouring process uses a laser to vaporize unwanted gum overgrowth and reveal more tooth material for a more proportionate smile. The procedure takes very little time and there is minimal discomfort; however, your smile will be greatly improved when your teeth are complemented by healthy, even gums.
Inlays and Onlays
Inlays and onlays are restorative dental devices that cover and reinforce the tooth structure to improve its durability. An inlay is similar to a filling in that it covers the inner surface area of the tooth, while an onlay covers the entire top surface of the tooth. Dental crowns are a type of onlay that covers the entire tooth. Inlays and onlays are made from tooth-colored composite resin that bonds permanently and invisibly to the tooth.
Intra-Oral Camera
Intra-oral cameras are tiny, digital cameras about the size of the head of a pen, that easily fit into your mouth and transmit every dental detail in real time. With an intra-oral camera a dentist can get a clear view of areas of the mouth that may be recessed, shadowy, or otherwise difficult to see. The images can also be enlarged for greater detail, saved for records, or sent to an insurance company for documentation. Intra-oral camera images can also be viewed as a live video feed and watched on a computer screen by the patient and dentist to assess problem areas and review hygiene techniques. When you and your dentist can see all areas of your teeth clearly you will be able to effectively treat current dental issues and prevent future ones.
Invisalign Dentistry
Invisalign uses clear, medical grade, plastic aligners to guide your teeth into proper alignment with the same results achieved through traditional metal orthodontic braces. Invisalign aligners are arranged in a series which are changed out to the next in the sequence as teeth move into place. Because Invisalign molds are clear, they are often preferred by professional adults who want to straighten their teeth for cosmetic or medical reasons, but do not want the distracting look of metal braces.
IsoLite
The IsoLite Dryfield Illuminator combines illumination, aspiration and retraction into one safe, efficient device. IsoLite uses LED technology to brightly and continuously illuminate the treatment area, while at the same time drawing off excess fluids and keeping the patient’s mouth open with a comfortable bite block. The IsoLite is more effective than rubber dental dams in isolating treatment areas and preventing things from going down the throat. It allows the patient’s jaw to be in the relaxed position because they are resting their mouth open on a bite block rather than straining to keep their mouth open. The IsoLite also protects the tongue, cheek and throat during dental procedures.
Laser Dentistry
See:Biolase
Laser Teeth Whitening
Laser teeth whitening uses the power of light to safely and gently lighten the color of your teeth and improve your smile. Ask your cosmetic dentist about laser teeth whitening and other teeth brightening options available to enhance your smile.
Lumineers
Lumineers are a non-reversible, porcelain, dental veneer procedure that are applied painlessly and permanently in a quick and easy process. Lunimeers can be applied after teeth are moderately etched-- and may not require anesthetic, drilling, or permanently removing tooth structure. Lumineers are very thin veneers that are bonded into place and set with a specialized light within two dental office visits. Lumineers may last twenty years and offer permanent, hardy solutions to chipped, crooked, misshapen, and stained teeth.
Neuromuscular Dentistry
See: TMJ
Non-Metal Fillings
Non-metal filings are made of tooth-colored composite resin and are used to restore teeth that have small cavities. These hard plastic fillings require less drilling and removal of healthy tooth structure than traditional silver amalgam fillings and are more attractive in the mouth because they can be matched to the natural tooth color. Since composite resin fillings have a density closer to natural tooth material, they expand and contract with hot and cold closer to the rate of real teeth and are therefore more comfortable, safer, and far less prone to cracking than metal fillings.
Ora Verse
Ora Verse reverses the effects of local anesthesia used in dental procedures twice as fast as allowing sensation to return without it. This allows patients to smile, speak, eat and drink sooner and drool less. Ora Verse is administered in the same way that local anesthetic is given and works on the return of sensation in soft tissue such as the lip and tongue and associated muscles so that you can return to normal functioning faster and move on with your day. It is not recommended for children under the age of 6 years or weighing less than 33 pounds.
Orthodontic Braces
Orthodontic braces are used to align teeth and straighten out a person's bite for either structural or cosmetic purposes. Although orthodontic braces are best applied to people under the age of 18 due to the malleability of bone and ease of teeth movement, many adults also wear them. However, adults must wear braces for a longer amount of time and then use a retainer to keep teeth in their newly aligned position. Many adults could benefit from other cosmetic dental treatments and achieve the same results in less time along with improving the shape and shade of the teeth, which is not achieved through braces. Your cosmetic dentist can help you chose an option that will take less time and give you the results you desire.
Orthodonitics
Orthodontics is the specialty branch of dentistry that focuses on diagnosis and treatment of tooth irregularities, improper bites, and jaw misalignments using dental devices such as braces and retainers. Orthodontic treatment can be corrective to realign teeth, jaws and lips to ensure and promote physical health, and also aesthetic to line up teeth into a beautiful smile to ensure confidence and promote a positive self image.
Periodontal Laser Therapy
Periodontal laser therapy uses laser technology to detect and treat gum disease. Periodontal lasers can remove scar tissue, kill the bacteria that caused gum disease and promote the reattachment of gum tissue to the teeth. Lasers are also used for cosmetic procedures to reshape gums that have grown over the teeth or are not symmetrically shaped. Periodontal lasers are quick, gentle, and rarely require anesthesia.
Periodontal Plastic Surgery
Periodontal plastic surgery restores oral structure, form and function as well as enhances aesthetics. Focusing mainly on the shape and health of the gums, periodontal plastic surgery can restore what disease, age, genetics, or bad habits (like smoking and tongue piercing) have taken away. Procedures vary in time and intensity- ranging from gingival grafts to laser therapy treatments. Your dentist will be able to educate you on the best choices available if periodontal plastic surgery becomes an option for the health of your gums or the appearance of your smile.
Periodontics
Periodontics is the area of dentistry that focuses on maintaining the health of the support structures of the teeth; mainly the gums. Maintaining the health of the gums through good hygiene habits and regular cleanings is the best way to avoid periodontal disease. The main cause of gum disease is plaque, a layer of bacteria that constantly forms on your teeth. Scaling, root planning, and the application of antibiotics are methods often used to treat and prevent gum disease, but in some extreme cases surgery or laser therapy are needed to correct the problem medically and cosmetically.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are thin pieces of porcelain that are fitted over the existing teeth then blended and shaped so that they are virtually indistinguishable from the look and feel of the original tooth material. Veneers are used in the same capacity as dental bonding-- to restore or enhance teeth by whitening, closing gaps, repairing chips and cracks, and making teeth appear straighter-- however, veneers are more durable and long-wearing than bonding. Because veneers require that a small amount of tooth enamel be removed to accommodate their thickness, they are permanent and non-reversible. Veneers can improve or restore a smile-- giving you the look and confidence you have always wanted.
Sedation Dentistry
Sedation dentistry, sometimes called “sleep dentistry,” is when a patient is given a prescribed sedative drug prior to the dental appointment so that they are very relaxed during the dental procedures. During dental work a patient’s vital signs are monitored for safety. Sedation dentistry is appropriate for patients who have extreme dental anxiety or who want to have a lot of dental procedures done all in one visit. In order to ensure patient safety before and after the appointment it is advised that the patient have a companion accompany them to the dental appointment and then bring them home so that they are safe and cared for until they waking up fully.
Smile Design
When you decide that you want to give yourself a lift and make over your smile, you will want to consult a cosmetic dentist who can design a smile that will be proportionate, flattering and natural for your mouth and overall looks. Once you and Dr. Griffiths have determined what smile features you desire, your dentist will design and construct a custom new smile.
Smile Makeover
One of the easiest and effective ways to improve your appearance and lift your confidence is to enhance your smile. For people in the spotlight or high profile jobs it is important to have a gleaming, white, flawless smile as part of their public image. For other people, their bright, even smile makes them look (and feel!) younger, happier, and more confident in their day-to-day lives. Whatever your reasons are for enriching your smile, your cosmetic dentist can help you realize your dental dreams through a variety of products and procedures formulated to create the look you have always wanted.
Teeth Whitening
Brightening up your smile by lightening the color of your teeth is a fast and effective way to improve your appearance without invasive or painful procedures. There are several options available in both take-home bleach kit form and in-office whitening systems which can lighten your teeth six to ten shades lighter than they are currently. How long it will take and how much you can lighten your teeth will depend upon the option you choose as well as the color and integrity of your teeth. The results from teeth whitening procedures can last up to five years if you avoid teeth-staining substances like coffee and smoking; however, whitening touch-ups are recommended. Your cosmetic dentist will help you chose the right method for your needs and advise you on how to best maintain your smile.
Tooth Shaping
Tooth shaping is accomplished by removing a small amount of tooth enamel to change the contours of the teeth to a more pleasing shape. Teeth may be shortened if they are too long or rounded off if they are pointed. Since the enamel has no nerve endings this is a painless procedure.
TMJ Dentistry
TMJ dentistry addresses the relationships between the jaw, teeth, facial muscles and nerves and how the alignment of these physiological components impacts overall dental health and comfort. When the balance of the facial muscles, teeth, and the temporomandibular joint is off it causes a condition called TMJ/TMD (Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction). Some of the symptoms are:
- Back/neck/shoulder pain
- Clenching of the teeth
- Clicking/popping in the jaw joints
- Ear congestion
- Facial pain
- Forward head posturing
- Headaches
- Jaw pain
- Limited opening of the mouth
- Loose teeth
- Pain behind the eyes
- Sensitive and sore teeth
- Tingling in the fingertips
- Tinnitus
- Vertigo
- Worn down teeth
VELscope
The VELscope is a hand-held imaging device used for the early detection of oral subcutaneous abnormalities. When the VELscope is used alongside standard visual examination methods it detects problems like pre-cancerous and cancerous cells, inflammatory lesions, oral dysplasia, squamous papillomas, salivary gland tumors, and viral, fungal and bacterial infections at a higher rate than visual examination alone. A VELscope exam is non-invasive and lasts only one to two minutes but it can drastically increase the survival rate from oral cancer and serve to catch other problems before they are
easily detectable through other methods.
ViziLite
ViziLite is a painless and non-invasive instrument that allows your dentist to detect symptoms of oral cancer in its early stages. Oral cancer kills millions of Americans each year, but if it is detected early, oral cancer is very treatable. ViziLite helps your dentist to give you a thorough screening for oral cancer. ViziLite is an important tool to your overall health and longevity.
Zoom! In Office Whitening
This procedure whitens your teeth up to eight shades lighter. The Zoom! whitening gel is applied to your teeth and activated by a specialized light while you sit back and relax while teeth are whitened safely and effectively.
Mark Griffths, DDS - 3565 Fourth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103 - (619) 298-6257 - www.griffithssmiles.com
Creating Extraordinary Smiles with Cosmetic Dentistry, Restorative Dentistry, and Sedation Dentisry through San Diego County (CA)
