Additional Services

Temporary Anchor Device (TAD)

What is a
temporary anchor device?

A temporary anchor device is a titanium bone anchor that is placed in the mouth to help the orthodontic movement of teeth. They are about the length of a thumbnail and no wider than the head of a pin.

Why is a TAD used?

A TAD provides the anchor that is needed for teeth to be moved more quickly to the desired location. They are often requested by orthodontists because of their ability to reduce treatment time.

Temporary Crowns

What is a temporary crown?

A temporary crown is placed over a dental implant to replace a missing tooth while the implant is healing. A temporary crown can stay in place for up to six months, and in some instances even longer.

Why is a temporary crown used?

Temporary crowns are placed over the implant to provide optimum aesthetics with the final/permanent restoration.

Frenectomy

What is a frenectomy?

A frenectomy is the removal of the frenum, a piece of tissue that runs from the underside of the lip to the gum tissue.

Why is a frenectomy performed?

When the frenum attachment is very thick and attached too close to the gum line, it can cause spaces between the teeth, and even gum inflammation. The abnormal frenum needs to be removed and/or replaced on the gum. Orthodontists often request this service because an abnormal frenum attachment can prevent spaces between the teeth from closing.

Functional Crown Lengthening

What is functional crown lengthening?

The anatomy of the tooth consists of two basic parts. The crown is the part of the tooth visible in our mouth. The root is in the bone and covered by gum tissue. A crown lengthening procedure involves extending the length of the crown portion of the tooth.

Why is functional crown lengthening performed?

There are several reasons why a crown lengthening procedure may be recommended by your family dentist. The most common are to increase the dimensions of the crown of the tooth so that the new cap that will go on the tooth will be more retentive. A second reason is when a filling or cavity in the tooth extends under the existing gum line. In that case the bone and gum line are rearranged to expose healthy tooth structure which was previously under the gum line. Your dentist would then fit the new cap on the exposed healthy tooth structure. This makes for a more biologically acceptable restoration.

Other Conditions of the Mouth, Head and Neck:

Oral Soft Tissue Diseases

What are oral soft tissue diseases?

Oral soft tissue diseases are generally the manifestation of systemic diseases in the soft tissues of the mouth. Many times, a systemic disease manifests in the mouth. While some diseases exhibit distinctive clinical features that can be easily diagnosed, others share common features that make them more difficult to diagnose. Dr. Chinwalla is a highly trained and experienced clinician that can accurately diagnose and treat various diseases that manifest in the mouth. Some of the most common symptoms of oral soft tissue diseases include:

  • Burning sensation and inability to tolerate hot/spicy food
  • Dry mouth
  • Bad taste in the mouth
  • Difficulty in opening the mouth
  • Pain
  • Change in normal color of the affected part of the mouth: tissues show an increase in pigment and could appear white, red or blue/black
  • Drastic change in surface texture of the tissue
  • Enlargement or thickening of the soft tissue

How are oral soft tissue diseases diagnosed and treated?

The diagnosis of oral diseases is based on a thorough medical and dental history. Initially Dr. Chinwalla conducts an examination. In most cases, additional diagnostic procedures are warranted. These procedures most often require removal of a part of, or the entire area of, the lesion for microscopic examination.

The treatment of oral soft tissue diseases consists of palliative mouth rinses, medication to alleviate pain, and in some cases prescription medicine.

Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD)

What are temporomandibular disorders?

Temporomandibular disorders are a group of diseases affecting the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and its surrounding apparatus. A major component of TMD is disturbance of the muscles that surround the temporomandibular joint, which help open and close the lower jaw. In many cases TMD is a manifestation of stress, where patients grind their teeth at night or during the day. However, TMD can also be the result of a defective joint apparatus. The constant trauma from grinding or clenching can cause muscle spasm and joint pain. Some common symptoms of TMD are:

  • Facial or jaw pain
  • Headaches
  • Jaw stiffness, joint noises (popping/clicking) or pain while opening wide
  • Ringing in the ear
  • Locking of the joint

How are temporomandibular disorders treated?

A thorough understanding of these disorders is necessary to evaluate and prepare an effective treatment plan. Non-surgical treatments are sufficient to manage most TMD cases, and palliative treatments such as moist heat applications or over the counter anti-inflammatory medications can also relieve symptoms. Muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory medication, exercises and appliances to reduce muscle spasms may be prescribed.