- Dental Examination
- X-rays
- Teeth Cleaning
- Fluoride Treatment
- Dental SealantsA plastic coating that is applied to the biting surface of posterior teeth (back teeth) as a protective coating to prevent tooth decay. They are applied to patients up to the age of 18 on permanent teeth only. Usually the dental hygienist performs this procedure.
- Fillings
- Resin CompositeA process that attaches a tooth-colored composite resin material to a tooth to repair it, to improve its color, or to reshape it. Dental bonding, also called dental composite bonding, has many specific uses. It can be used to restore cavities, replace old silver fillings, repair exposed roots, and to close spaces between teeth. After preparing the tooth to be treated, the dentist positions the composite material on the tooth in layers. A special light is used to harden, or cure, each layer. The composite is polished to prevent staining and increase durability. The process can usually be completed in one office visit. Dentists can blend shades to create a color very close if not identical to the shade of the tooth to be repaired. The result is a natural and improved appearance.
- VeneersThin shells of porcelain that are bonded to the front of teeth to correct surface irregularities or discoloration. Veneers may be used to repair chipped teeth or to close spaces between teeth. Porcelain veneers cover the front and upper third of the back of the tooth. They require a lot less tooth reduction than a full crown.
- CrownsThe application or injection of medicine to prevent discomfort. Topical anesthesia is used by dentists to numb tissues in an area of the mouth in preparation for injecting a local anesthetic. It comes in gel form or in a spray. Local anesthesia, usually Lidocaine, is generally injected in a specific area of the mouth. This form of dental anesthesia lasts for an hour and is used for preparing cavities and crowns, as well as for surgical procedures.
- BridgesA dental appliance that replaces missing teeth by attaching to adjacent teeth. These adjacent teeth are smoothed down to allow space for the bridge to be placed. Fixed dental bridges are more commonly used than removable, partial denture bridges, except in cases in which there are several adjacent teeth missing or the empty space is relatively wide. Unlike partial dentures, the person wearing them cannot take out fixed dental bridges. The fixed bridge is usually made up of two crowns permanently cemented to the abutment teeth with a pontic (false tooth) attached to the two crowns to fill in the space where a tooth has been removed. Dental bridges fill the cosmetic function of replacing missing teeth so that the surrounding facial features are supported and the appearance of the mouth is improved.
- Dental BondingA break or crack in the crown or root of a tooth, usually caused by physical trauma to the tooth. A dental fracture may involve only the enamel on the surface of the tooth, or it may involve the inner structures. Premolars and molars with restorations are vulnerable to vertical fractures, which extend through the crown to the root. Teeth that have received root canal treatment without a crown may also be especially vulnerable to vertical fractures. These fractures can be caused by trauma due to excessive pressure of the bite. Fractures in the teeth may be clearly visible, or they may not be detectable even with the use of X rays. Often, locating the problem tooth can be extremely challenging. The only symptom in this case may be pain experienced when chewing. These fractures can be treated with composite bonding or veneers. When part or all of a tooth are lost due to fracture, the teeth may be restored by dental procedures such as fillings, crowns, or implants.
- Root Canal TreatmentAn accumulation of infection enclosed in a sac in the bone tissue at the tip of a tooth’s root. The cause of a tooth abscess is usually a bacterial infection in the pulp, which produces pus that drains out of the opening at the root’s tip. This infection may originate from untreated tooth decay, or in dead pulp tissue inside the tooth. If there is bacteria in gum tissue that has severely receded or if bacteria remains in the gum surrounding a tooth’s root following a root canal treatment, the bacteria may produce an abscess. An abscess causes persistent toothache or throbbing pain at the site. The side of the face may swell. Treatment includes a full dosage of antibiotics, followed by either an extraction or root canal treatment.
- Periodontal Surgery
- Deep CleaningAn abnormally deep opening between a tooth and the gum tissue surrounding it. Gingival pockets are caused by the toxin-producing bacteria in plaque. If plaque remains on the surface of a tooth too long, the toxins released by the bacteria in the plaque destroy the fibers anchoring the tooth to the gum. When the attached fibers are destroyed, an opening, or a pocket, is created in the area where the tooth is normally attached to the gum. As the pockets extend deeper, they can erode the underlying bone that surrounds and supports the tooth. The tooth may be loosened and eventually fall out. Gingival pockets are an indication of periodontal disease (gum disease). Gingival pocket depth is measured by a demarcated instrument called a periodontal probe. When pocket depth is over 3mm, a tooth brush cannot properly get in there and clean it. Root planning or periodontal surgery may be necessary to reduce the pocket so that it can be maintained by the patient.
- DenturesAn artificial replacement for missing natural teeth and adjacent tissues in the upper jaw, the lower jaw, or both. Dentures are made of a strong acrylic resin, sometimes in combination with various metals. Partial dentures, either fixed or removable, are used to replace one or several missing permanent teeth. A full denture, or false teeth, becomes necessary when a dentist determines that all the teeth, top, bottom, or both, must be removed. This decision may be based on conditions that prevent saving the permanent teeth due to serious periodontal disease or severe tooth decay. Dentures may also be a solution if all or many teeth are lost by physical trauma, and cannot be replaced by other methods. Full dentures must be carefully fitted by a dentist so that they will rest comfortably on the respective ridges. After the teeth are extracted, the gums and jaw are generally allowed to heal before the dentures are fitted. In preparation for the initial fitting of dentures, impressions are taken of the gums, and the natural bite is measured and recorded. Decisions are made regarding the size and color of the teeth. Usually the dentist will set the teeth in wax and try them in. They can be adjusted for fit and comfort before being finished in acrylic.
- Dental ImplantsThe visible part of the tooth that normally protrudes above the gum line; also, a restoration that replaces that part of the tooth which may have been lost due to fracture, or removed in the process of treating tooth decay. A crown may be placed over a dental implant as well as over the remaining structure of a natural tooth. Dental crowns are sometimes called caps, and serve the function of restoring the structure, size, shape, function, and appearance of a tooth. They are required when there is not enough tooth structure remaining to hold onto a filling, or when a weak tooth needs additional support. If there is insufficient tooth structure to hold a crown, typically after root canal treatment, a post may be cemented into the root to provide sufficient structure to hold the crown. Placing a dental crown is usually accomplished in two visits to a dental office. On the first visit, the dentist prepares a tooth for a crown by using a dental drill to reduce the structure of the tooth so the crown can fit over it. A dental impression of the reduced and re-shaped tooth, as well as the surrounding teeth, is then made. The impression is sent to a dental laboratory where the crown will be created, with specifications regarding the color as well as the bite, shape, and length of the tooth or teeth being made. Crowns are generally made of porcelain, gold, or a combination of the two materials. The crown is designed to look like a person’s natural teeth. The dentist uses a temporary crown, usually plastic, to cover the prepared tooth while the permanent crown is being made. This usually takes one to two weeks. During the second visit, the temporary crown is removed, the permanent crown is cemented onto the tooth, and the bite is adjusted as needed.
- Oral Surgery
- Tooth Extractions
- Teeth WhiteningA process used to whiten teeth by cleansing surface discolorations through an oxidation process in the enamel. Dental whitening or bleaching is considered safe for the teeth and gums when supervised by a dentist, who can determine whether or not a person’s teeth can be lightened and what type of whitening system is most appropriate. The most immediate results can be obtained by an in-office whitening system involving the application of a concentrated bleaching solution to individual teeth followed by exposure to a high intensity heat lamp for several minutes; fluoride gel can be applied after the treatment to reduce sensitivity. A bleaching system that can be used at home is the least expensive and most commonly chosen form of dental whitening. It is effective for people who have healthy, unrestored teeth that have become darkened due to age, and/or from drinking tea or coffee. Yellowish shades of teeth tend to respond best to dental whitening. A dentist takes an impression of the teeth, which is used to custom-make a thin, lightweight, mouth-guard tray. The tray is designed to be comfortably worn during waking hours (it does not interfere with speaking), or while a person sleeps. Dental whitening is accomplished by placing a whitening gel in the tray before it is positioned over the teeth. Some whitening systems have the trays worn all night for up to two weeks. Other whitening systems have the trays worn 1-2 hours every day for two weeks. Results will vary from patient to patient depending on the particular color of stains.
- Cosmetic DentistryCosmetic dentistry is the group of treatments designed to improve the appearance of the teeth. There are several dental techniques that change the shape and color of teeth. Our office offers the following cosmetic dental services...