Dental problems can cost you a lot of money to treat. If you are experiencing one of the following, you may need treatment from your dentist:

Dental caries, or tooth decay, is a disease that affects the teeth, the area between them (the gums), and even the rest of the body.

A buildup of sticky, food-based substances called plaque on the teeth.

If plaque is not removed regularly by brushing, it hardens to a rough, porous substance that attracts bacteria and leads to tooth decay.

If left untreated, tooth decay can cause cavities and toothaches.

It’s important to note that tooth decay is a common problem, affecting most people at some point in their lives. Most tooth decay happens during childhood and adolescence. However, adults may develop tooth decay as well.

Dental sealants are thin, clear layers of plastic that protect the chewing surfaces of the baby and toddler teeth. These are put in by your dentist to prevent tooth decay in early childhood.

Dental sealants are effective for children ages three to six. They last for about five years and may need to be reapplied after this time.

At some point, most people develop periodontal disease, a gum disease. This disease occurs when plaque builds up on the gumline, making the teeth lose support. When they lose support, the teeth are pulled out of place and need to be realigned. This is the first step in treating periodontal disease.

The next step is removing the gum and bone that has been pulled away from the teeth. This procedure is called gum surgery.

The gum surgery takes about 10 minutes. You should be able to return to work within two weeks.

Most people will need more than one visit to complete a full course of gum surgery.

While most of these dental procedures can be performed at a regular dental visit.