Whether your dental
needs are a complete exam and hygiene appointment, a full-mouth
restoration, or anything in between, we promise to provide
you with exceptional care as we enhance the natural beauty
of your smile. Below are just some of the many procedures
and services we regularly provide to our patients - with
a gentle touch, and stunning results. Your smile is our
first priority, and we'll give you something to smile about.
If you have any questions, concerns, or would like to schedule
an appointment, please contact us today. We look forward
to providing you with the personal care you deserve.
Patient Safety
To
protect our patients and ourselves, our staff wear masks,
gloves, glasses, as well as hospital scrub uniforms. We
strictly observe all Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) guidelines. All instruments are cleaned, disinfected
and routinely sterilized as recommended by the American
Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control.
Whenever possible, disposable single use items are used
to ensure your safety.
Handpieces (drills) are sterilized with a state-of-the-art
sterilization unit specifically designed for this purpose.
All surfaces in the treatment rooms are cleaned and disinfected
after each patient.
Patient Comfort
You
are not alone if you feel anxious about a visit to the dentist.
We understand and share your concerns and strive to make
every dental visit comfortable. If there is anything else
we can do, let us know. In addition to topical and local
anesthetic, nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is available for
those patients who may need a little more. We offer stereo
headsets so you can sit back, relax and listen to your favorite
tunes.
Emergencies can occur at any time. If you have an emergency
problem, contact our office so we can relieve your discomfort
as quickly as possible - almost always the same day!
Hygiene
An
integral part of maintaining your teeth for life is the
removal of plaque and tarter on a regular basis. The frequency
of your visits is based upon your individual needs and oral
health. During your visit we will update your medical history,
perform an oral cancer screening exam, check your teeth
for cavities, review oral hygiene instructions, and monitor
your periodontal (gum) condition. Fluoride treatments are
provided for children under the age of thirteen and for
those adults when appropriate.
Sealants
Highly effective in preventing decay on the biting surfaces
of your chewing teeth, sealants are a simple procedure in
which a tooth-colored acrylic "coating" is painted onto
the surface of the tooth. This effectively "seals" the deep
grooves where decay is most likely to start.
Orthodontics
For
patients, adults and children, who have crowded or crooked
teeth, spaces between their teeth or misaligned teeth and
jaws, orthodontic therapy can help reduce the risk of tooth
decay, gum disease, and trauma due to protruding teeth.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that
children have an evaluation by 7 years of age. More than
25% of all orthodontic patients are adults. We now offer
invisalign, the latest treatment that uses clear, nearly
invisable aligners to straighten teeth.
Implants
A remarkable procedure, implants can replace any or all
of your teeth. The implant becomes integrated with the bone
and acts like a "bolt" which will ultimately support
a new tooth. The advantages of implants for patients with
dentures are: denture stability, increased patient comfort
and confidence.
Crowns
A "cap", "jacket" or "crown"
will restore a broken, heavily filled or cracked tooth to
its original size and shape. This may also be recommended
after root canal therapy has been completed as the tooth
tends to become brittle and is more apt to fracture. Crowns
can strengthen and protect the remaining tooth structure
and improve the appearance of your teeth.
Crown lengthening
Crown lengthening is done when a tooth needs to be fixed.
Sometimes, not enough of the tooth sticks out above the
gum to support a filling or crown. This can happen when
a tooth breaks off at the gum line. It also can happen when
a crown or filling falls out of a tooth and there is decay
underneath. To place a filling or crown, your dentist needs
to expose more of the tooth. This is done by removing some
gum tissue or bone. Some people have a lot of gum tissue
around their upper teeth. Dentists call this "gummy smile."
This also can be treated with crown lengthening.
Cosmetic Dentistry
For the smile you have always wanted, our intra-oral camera
allows you to see your teeth on a computer monitor and "preview"
what your smile could look like. Cosmetic dentistry encompasses
reshaping your teeth, veneers or bonding, natural-looking
tooth-colored fillings and bleaching.
ZOOM! 2® Teeth Whitening
ZOOM!
2® teeth whitening at our office begins with the Dr.
applying a gel that contains hydrogen peroxide onto a patient's
teeth. Then a special light is positioned over the patient's
mouth and waits for one hour. The light activates the hydrogen
peroxide, causing it to penetrate the enamel of the teeth
to ensure a deep, thorough cleaning. Most patients experience
no pain or discomfort during this portion of the ZOOM! 2®
process. We then remove the light and perform a fluoride
treatment to complete the teeth whitening procedure. To
find out if ZOOM! 2® might be right for you, contact
our office for a free consultation.
Tooth Decay and Repair
Utilizing an intra-oral camera gives both you and us the
opportunity to see potential problems occurring in your
mouth, such as decay or fractured teeth. Often a tooth will
not start bothering you until there is significant loss
of tooth structure. With the help of the intra-oral camera,
problems can be detected earlier, before you experience
a toothache.
Tooth Extractions
Tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth from its socket
in the bone.
If a tooth has been broken or damaged by decay, your dentist
will try to fix it with a filling, crown or other treatment.
Sometimes, though, there's too much damage for the tooth
to be repaired. This is the most common reason for extracting
a tooth.
Here are other reasons:
* Some people have extra teeth that block other teeth from
coming in.
* People getting braces may need teeth extracted to create
room for the teeth that are being moved into place.
* People receiving radiation to the head and neck may need
to have teeth in the field of radiation extracted.
* People receiving cancer drugs may develop infected teeth.
These drugs weaken the immune system, increasing the risk
of infection. Infected teeth may need to be extracted.
* People receiving an organ transplant may need some teeth
extracted if the teeth could become sources of infection
after the transplant. People with organ transplants have
a high risk of infection because they must take drugs that
decrease or suppress the immune system.
* Wisdom teeth, also called third molars, are often extracted
either before or after they come in. They commonly come
in during the late teens or early 20s. These teeth often
get stuck in the jaw (impacted) and do not come in. They
need to be removed if they are decayed or cause pain. Some
wisdom teeth are blocked by other teeth or may not have
enough room to come in completely. This can irritate the
gum, causing pain and swelling. In this case, the tooth
must be removed.
Periodontal Disease
While
seldom painful and frequently free of any obvious signs
or symptoms, periodontal disease can progress, undetected,
to the point where supporting bone is destroyed. With 80
to 90% of all teenagers having some form of gingivitis (inflamed
gums) and 75% of adult tooth loss for people over the age
of 35 due to periodontal disease, early treatment and prevention
is essential. While periodontal disease is caused by plaque,
a number of other factors including poorly fitting bridges,
badly aligned teeth and defective fillings contribute to
the development of this condition. We feel that with a proper
diagnosis and patient education most people can maintain
their teeth for a lifetime.
Oral Surgery
The
goal of modern dentistry is to prevent tooth loss. When
a tooth cannot be saved, extraction (removal) of the tooth
may be the only course of treatment. A panorex x-ray allows
us to see a complete picture of the alignment of your jaw,
the positioning of your teeth and if there is sufficient
space for your third molars (wisdom teeth) to fully erupt.
In addition, it is an excellent diagnostic tool for evaluating
the supporting bone for possible cysts or tumors. Most minor
surgeries are performed at our facility, however the doctor
may choose to refer to a maxillofacial surgeon for more
complicated cases.
Bridges
A non-removable bridge can restore your teeth to normal
function by replacing missing teeth. It will improve the
entire health of your mouth by keeping the surrounding teeth
in position and can also help maintain the structure of
your face and jaw.
Root Canal Therapy
If a tooth's pulp (nerve and blood supply) becomes infected
or inflamed, root canal treatment may be the only way to
save the tooth, short of removing it. Root canal treatment
consists of removing the nerve that lies within the root
of the tooth.
Athletic Mouthguards
We provide state of the art custom made athletic mouthguards
for all patients requiring protection during athletic competition
in "at risk" sports. Store bought over the counter
mouthguards do not fit as well nor do they provide the anticipated
and necessary protection to help prevent dental/facial injuries.
The only mouthguard that should be worn is that made from
a model of the mouth. Patients have individual requirements
for fit, comfort, level of competition, and compliance.
The professionally designed custom made mouthguard satisfies
these requirements.
Invisalign
Invisalign is a way to straighten your teeth using a series
of aligners that you switch out about every two weeks. Each
aligner is individually manufactured with exact calculations
to gradually shift your teeth into place. And since your
Invisalign system is custom-made for your teeth and your
teeth only, with a plan devised by you and your dentist
or orthodontist, you know you'll end up with a smile that
truly fits.
If you're ready for a smile that transforms your appearance,
Invisalign is your answer. Although there are many choices
out there, no other works as effortlessly as the Invisalign
system.
Invisalign is the best way to transform your smile without
interfering with your day-to-day life. These aligners are
clear plastic trays used to straighten teeth in a more ideal
position to look better and function better. Unlike the
tradition braces with metal brackets and wires, these aligners
are clear and hardly noticable.
Bonding/white fillings
A bonding is a composite resin that is used as an alternative
to amalgams and veneers. This is an excellent cosmetic option
for those patients who do not want the look of silver in
their mouths and do not want the expense of veneers. Bondings
can be used on teeth that are decayed, cracked, or stained.
Procedure
The bonding procedure is usually completed in one visit.
The first step is to remove the decayed or unsightly portion
of the tooth. The tooth is then etched with a liquid or
gel and a bonding agent is then applied. This will allow
the composite resin to be placed in the prepared tooth.
The resin is then trimmed and polished, leaving you with
a beautifully sculpted, natural-looking restoration.
Bonding Durability
Although composite resins are cosmetically pleasing and
easily placed, their durability is not as strong as other
types of restorations. These resins typically last from
4-7 years before they begin to chip and wear away. When
this happens, the restoration will need to be replaced.
Denture and Partial Denture
Complete
Dentures
Complete dentures cover your entire jaw, either upper or
lower. Some people call them "plates." Complete dentures
rest directly on the gum that covers the bone.
Complete dentures are custom made for you. The process involves
multiple appointments, usually about five. The dentist first
takes impressions of your mouth. At later visits, you and
the dentist select the size, shape and color of the artificial
teeth.
Learning to chew food with complete dentures takes patience
and practice. You might have to cut your food into smaller
pieces than you did in the past when you had your natural
teeth.
On occasion, one or more natural teeth are kept when a denture
is made. These teeth usually have root canal treatment and
are shortened to fit under the denture. This type of denture
is known as an overdenture.
Dentists like to maintain a few natural teeth and replace
the missing teeth with an overdenture if possible. This
has several advantages: * Your natural teeth help preserve
bone.
* Your natural teeth bear some of the chewing pressure.
This reduces pressure on other areas of the jaw.
* Your remaining teeth make the denture more stable and
less likely to shift in your mouth.
* You feel a better sense of where your jaw is in space
and the pressure you are placing on the denture if you have
not lost all of your teeth.
* You may find it easier to accept wearing dentures if you
have kept some teeth.
Lower
dentures tend to be more difficult to keep in your mouth
than upper dentures. Therefore, an overdenture can be particularly
helpful for the lower jaw. However, it is an option for
almost anyone who has a few teeth remaining.
Teeth that will be preserved with an overdenture must meet
certain standards of health. Canines and premolars are the
most common teeth selected because of their root length
and position in the jaw.
The teeth will have to be shaped to fit the denture. Shaping
may expose the tooth's living pulp. For this reason, the
teeth usually need root canal treatment. This removes the
pulp (the nerve of the tooth) and replaces it with filling
material. The teeth that will remain are covered with thin
metal castings called copings. They fit into openings in
the denture. Attachments also can be put on the copings
to help retain the denture in the mouth. On occasion, a
natural tooth can be kept in the mouth without a metal coping.
If this is done, the dentist will prescribe fluoride drops.
These should be used in the overdenture to prevent decay
of the tooth.
Overdentures also can fit over implants instead of natural
teeth. In fact, implants originally were developed to give
people "artificial roots" for bridges or dentures in the
lower jaw. The denture can fit onto the implants directly,
or onto a metal bar between implants.
Partial Dentures
Removable
partial dentures consist of a metal framework with plastic
teeth and gum areas. The framework includes metal clasps
or other attachments that hold the denture in place. However,
partial dentures are removed easily for cleaning.
Fixed partial dentures,
which most people call bridges, are cemented in place. They
look more like natural teeth. Bridges are more expensive
than removable partial dentures, however. They also have
to be supported by nearby healthy teeth.
Bridges are made in several ways. Some are made entirely
of porcelain. Some are made with porcelain covering a gold
framework. Two types of attachments are used in partial
dentures - metal clasps and precision attachments.
Metal clasps are C-shaped, I-shaped and Y-shaped parts of the denture framework. They fit around neighboring natural teeth. These teeth may require shaping to help hold the clasps and keep the denture securely in place.
A precision attachment is like a key fitting into a keyhole.
A crown that is placed over your tooth contains the "keyhole."
The denture contains the"key" When you put in
your denture, the "key" fits into the "keyhole"
in the crown. This type of denture looks better because
no clasps are visible. It also fits tighter. However, it
does take more skill to place in the mouth because the "key"
must fit exactly into the "keyhole."
Immediate Dentures
If you have teeth extracted, your mouth will need to heal for at least four weeks before a complete denture can be made. Your dentist may suggest that you use an interim or temporary denture called an immediate denture. This will be made and inserted at the time of extraction. The immediate denture will allow you to eat and speak without problems while the complete denture is made. As your mouth heals, the gums and bones will shrink. The immediate denture will need to be relined to adjust the fit.
USEFUL LINKS
* American Dental Association: www.ada.org
* Invisalign: www.invisalign.com
* Lumineers: www.lumineers.com
* Arestin: www.arestin.com
* Zoom: www.zoomnow.com
* Care Credit: www.carecredit.com
