Informed Consent Forms
Here is a library of forms to help you understand the treatments recommended by Dr. Eric and Dr. Jason. Each form has easy to understand descriptions and photos for the type of procedure. If you have other questions, we are here for you!
Common Teeth Conditions and Concerns:
-
Abrasion is the progressive mechanical wear of teeth caused by foreign external objects. It can cause tooth wear, ranging from V shaped notches at the gum line to the destruction of the biting surfaces of the teeth.
-
A cracked filling is a dental restoration in your tooth that has failed because it has broken into pieces.
-
A cracked tooth is a complete or partial fracture of the tooth structure. In many cases, patients who have cracked teeth, do no exhibit any signs of pain or discomfort and may not know that there is a crack at all. Early intervention of these cracks is important in preventing pain or even loss of tooth.
-
A discolored filling is a tooth filling that gets dark as it ages. The dark appearance may be around the edge of the tooth, underneath the filling or within the filling itself.
-
A discolored tooth is a tooth that appears darker than the teeth beside it. Teeth naturally darken as you age, but the overall color of your teeth should be about the same.
-
Erosion is the progressive chemical wear of the teeth caused by excessive dietary or stomach acids. It is an important and potentially destructive cause of tooth wear, ranging from the thinning of the inside surfaces of the upper front teeth to total loss of the biting surfaces of the back teeth.
-
A loose tooth is one which moves or wiggles in the mouth. As a natural stage of dental development, children have loose baby teeth when their adult teeth are growing in. A loose tooth in an adult is not normal and indicates an existing problem.
-
A structurally compromised tooth is a term used to describe a tooth that has been weakened by the loss of a significant amount of tooth structure.
-
Tooth aches typically show up as sensitivity to temperatures, sweets or chewing, but may also present as throbbing, aching or sharp stabbing pains. Some tooth aches are quite mild and can go on for years while others are debilitating and must be addressed immediately.
-
Tooth Decay is caused by an infectious disease called dental caries. Caries is the formation of holes, or “cavities,” in your teeth by acid-producing bacteria. It is the world’s most common infectious disease of children today.
-
Tooth wear is the loss of healthy structure for reasons other than decay. Although no cavities are present, teeth become shorter and often thinner over time. Tooth wear may decrease proper chewing ability and may also noticeably change the appearance of your smile.
Treatment for Teeth:
-
A tooth supported crown is a restoration that replaces lost, weak, damaged or unsightly tooth structure.
-
A tooth supported bridge is a dental restoration that replaces missing teeth. It is made of a false tooth attached to crowns which fit over teeth on both sides of a space. A tooth supported bridge is cemented in place and cannot be taken out.
-
Dental Implants are special posts which are surgically placed into the jawbone to replace missing teeth or to support a denture. The implant functions as the root of a tooth and, depending on the number of implants placed, it can be used to replace everything from a single tooth to a full arch of teeth. It takes an average of 3-6 months for the jawbone to integrate with the implant before it can be used to support a dental restoration.
-
A veneer is a very conservative dental restoration that covers the outside or visible surface of a tooth in order to improve its appearance.
-
A build-up is the addition of a restorative material to a broken down or decayed tooth before a crown, bridge, inlay, onlay or veneer is placed.
-
Inlays and onlays are dental restorations that cover back teeth. The difference between an inlay and an onlay is that an inlay covers a fairly small part of the biting surface of a back tooth while an onlay extends over the biting surface and on to other parts of the tooth. Both of these restorations are cemented into place and cannot be taken off.
-
A post and core is a restoration that is cemented into the root canal chamber of a tooth and builds up the top of the tooth in order to hold a crown in place. It is cemented into place and cannot be removed.
-
Root canal treatment is performed when the nerve inside a tooth has died or become irreversibly inflamed or infected. The treatment includes removing the tooth’s nerve tissue, cleaning and disinfecting inside the nerve canal, and then sealing the nerve canal.
-
Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) is an antibiotic liquid that is used on cavities to help slow the progression of tooth decay. It is also used to treat sensitive teeth your bite in this new, more comfortable position.
-
A silver filling is an “amalgam” or metal filling that builds back missing tooth structure to its original form.
-
When considering the removal of silver (amalgam) fillings for esthetic or health reasons, there are advantages and disadvantages to consider.
-
A Tooth Colored Filling, or “composite,” builds back missing tooth structure to its original form.
-
A tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth from the surrounding bone and gum. Extracting, or “pulling,” a tooth in adults is done for a variety of reasons. Often, extractions are necessary because a tooth is so severely damaged from decay or trauma that it cannot be saved. Sometimes the nerve in a tooth dies and the tooth, as well as the gum and bone around it, become severely infected. Other times people’s mouths are not large enough to fit all their teeth, as is often the case with wisdom teeth.
-
Teeth whitening is the process of lightening the color of the teeth using a material that penetrates the outer layer of the teeth. Professional teeth bleaching systems are administered and overseen by dentists and their dental teams.
Bite, Jaw Joint and Orthodontics:
-
Bite problems occur when your teeth, jaw joints and muscles are not working together in harmony.
-
A jaw joint problem arises when the temporomandibular joint, or “TMJ” connecting your lower jaw to the base of your skull becomes painful and is unable to function normally. People with jaw joint problems may not be able to open or close their mouths fully or chew hard, sticky foods. They may also experience painful clicking or popping when they attempt to open and close their mouth.
-
Night time tooth grinding is a sleep disorder also known as “sleep bruxism” that effects up to 8% of adults. It occurs much more frequently in children, but most will grow out of it by age twelve. Adults that grind their teeth at night may awake with headaches, sore jaw joints, sore jaw muscles or chipped and worn teeth. Occasionally there are no symptoms, but the noise of your teeth grinding may disrupt your sleep, as well as the sleep of family members.
-
A nightguard is an acrylic dental appliance worn over the teeth while you sleep. It protects the biting surfaces of your teeth from abnormal wear and helps balance your jaw joints and the forces of your bite.
-
The Kois Deprogrammer is a removable retainer-like appliance which allows Dr. Eric and Dr. Jason to evaluate the stability of your bite. Every time you chew or swallow, you must adapt your jaw to the best fit for your teeth. If this fit is not ideal for your jaw joint and muscles, you will be at higher risk for experiencing facial pain as well as worn, broken or loose teeth. The Kois Deprogrammer removes the influence of your teeth from your chewing system by preventing them from interlocking and reinforcing the position of your existing bite. This allows your lower jaw to relax into a more comfortable position. Once your lower jaw has fully relaxed, Dr. Eric and Dr. Jason will be able to provide you with treatment options for maintaining your bite in this new, more comfortable position.
-
An equilibration is the very slight recontouring of the teeth to create a bite that is in balance with the chewing muscles and jaw joint, (Temporomandibular Joint, or “TMJ”). This exacting process is carried out by your dentist using a retainer-like appliance called a Kois Deprogrammer.
-
Orthodontic treatment manages growth and correction of dental and facial structures. Orthodontics is commonly used in the treatment of bite problems, including abnormal tooth wear, TMJ problems and smile esthetics. Treatment is aimed at changing the position of the teeth.
-
Maxillary palatal expansion or widening of the palate is a procedure that increases the width of bone in the upper jaw. This can be part of a definitive correction in both straightening teeth, and helping to improve patients with airway problems and sleep-disordered breathing.