It is our mission to provide personalized and convenient comprehensive dental care by partnering with our patients to ensure they achieve and maintain their health potential.

Q) How do I know when it is time to come in for a checkup?

A) The best time for an evaluation is *before* you have a problem, of course, and although kids may get away with seeing the dentist just twice a year, most adults find that they keep gum disease under control best when they have their teeth cleaned every four, or even three, months. The goal is to keep the inflammation from causing disease damage. Generally, if you are lucky and very thorough with home care, you will be able to see us just a couple times a year.

Q) I do not like drills. Are there any other options?

A) In some cases, yes. Dr. Kiley uses air abrasion technology or a laser as alternatives for removing new decay. Air abrasion removes decay using a strong stream of air and microscopic abrasive particles, and the laser actually vaporizes the decay infection. Neither of these methods make the handpiece noise or vibration.

Q) My gums bleed after I brush. Is this something to be concerned about?

A) If your body bleeds, it is usually a warning sign of some problem. Possibly you're brushing too hard, but frequently, it can a sign of early-stage gum disease. Gum disease can be a very serious condition and is the primary cause of tooth loss in American adults. Current research strongly suggests that gum disease and inflammation are associated with other more serious health problems, including stroke, heart attack, and respiratory problems.

Q) Why is oral cancer so serious?

A) Oral cancer leads to more deaths annually than either cervical or skin (melanoma) cancer. In fact, only 50 percent of patients with oral cancer survive more than five years after they are diagnosed. Not only is oral cancer deadly, but it is usually painless and therefore tends to go undetected until it has spread to a patient's neck and lymph nodes, and by that time, treatment becomes more difficult and less effective. With routine checkups, oral cancer can be detected early when it is more likely to be treatable. If the disease is detected, we can treat the cancer at an early stage and increase the patient's odds of survival.