Online Dental Education Library
Our team of dental specialists and staff strive to improve the overall health of our patients by focusing on preventing, diagnosing and treating conditions associated with your teeth and gums. Please use our dental library to learn more about dental problems and treatments available. If you have questions or need to schedule an appointment, contact us.
Bridge
Bridge vs Implant
Bruxism
Caring for Dental Implant
Caring for Implant Supported Bridge
Caring for Traditional Bridge
Causes of Tooth Pain
Composite Filling (Posterior)
Composite vs Amalgam Filling
Consequence of Bone Loss
Cracked Tooth
Debridement
Dental Erosion
Endodontic Abscess
Filling vs Crown
Gingivitis
Gingival Probing & Pocket Depth
Gingival Recession
Healthy Gums
Impacted 3rd Molars
Implant Supported Bridge
Manual vs Electric Toothbrush
Missing Teeth
Non-Carious Cervical Lesions
Occlusal Appliance for Tooth Wear
Oral Hygiene
Progression of Decay
Plaque and Calculus
Progression of Decay
Proper Brushing Techniques
Proper Flossing Techniques
Root Canal
Root Canal with Post-Core Buildup
Root Canal with Post Core Impression
Recurrent Decay Around Restoration
Scaling and Root Planing
Single Crown
Single Implant
Single Tooth Loss
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder
Tooth Wear
Trauma-Chipped Tooth
Understanding Tooth Wear
Veneers
Whitening with Bleaching Trays
What Does it Mean to Have Healthy Gums?
Why Do Teeth Crack?
What is Occlusion?
What is TMD?
Standards and Best Practice
With all of the increased media attention on infection outbreaks such as AIDS and multi-drug resistant strains of viruses, it's no wonder people have heightened concerns about infection control during a medical procedure.
Gloves, gowns and masks are required to be worn in all dentist offices today—a far cry from just a few decades ago—when fewer than one-third of all dentists even wore such personal protective equipment, or PPE. After each patient visit, disposable PPE-such as gloves, drapes, needles, and scalpel blades-are thrown away, hands are washed, and a new pair of gloves used for the next patient.
All hand instruments used on patients are washed, disinfected and/or sterilized with chemicals or steam after each use.
One of the most effective methods for preventing disease transmission—washing one’s hands—is practiced in our office. It is routine procedure to wash hands at the beginning of the day, before and after glove use, and after touching any surfaces that may have become contaminated.
Water Quality and Biofilms
Concerns about the quality of water used in a dentist's office are unfounded, provided the dentist follows the infection control guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and the American Dental Association.
Some health "experts" in recent years have called into question the risks associated with so-called "biofilms," which are thin layers of microscopic germs that collect on virtually any surface. Essentially, these bacteria and fungi occur everywhere, including faucets in your home; your body is no less accustomed to being exposed to them than in any other situations.
In fact, no scientific evidence has linked biofilms with disease. If you have a compromised or weakened immune system, you are susceptible to germs everywhere. Consequently, let our office know if you have such a condition so additional precautions, if any, can be taken.