- Dental ExaminationGum disease has been an important topic of discussion for several years now. Routine dental exams involve a thorough evaluation of the color, texture, and feel of gum tissue. These examinations are vital to the early detection of inflammation and infection, which can go unnoticed to the naked eye. Common symptoms of gum disease include chronic bad breath, bleeding of the gums, and recession, or gums pulling away from teeth. These indicators are early warning signs that treatment is needed in order to prevent irreparable damage. Taylor Street Dental near Ludlow offers deep cleanings and periodontal therapies including Perio Protect and soft tissue laser treatment.
- X-raysBefore undergoing sinus surgery, the dentist will conduct a thorough diagnostic screening of the patient’s sinuses and upper jaw area using panoramic x-rays to map out the indicated area. In other cases, a CT-Scan may be taken to measure the height and width of the sinus to verify that there is no active disease process. Once the dentist has established that the patient is clear, the surgery will begin and will be performed inside the patient’s mouth. An incision will be made on the gum tissue to expose the lateral wall of the sinus. The dental surgeon will lift away a portion of the membrane lining the sinus and the bone graft will be placed in the newly created space.
- Teeth CleaningThe lifespan of your bridge is dependent upon the health of the abutment teeth and your jawbone. If you are diligent about your hygiene and your twice-yearly professional exams and cleanings with our team at Taylor Street Dental, your bridge should last from 10-15 years. This can vary, however.
- FillingsDental bonding can be a great treatment option for minor concerns such as small cavities, gaps, chips, cracks, or spots. The application of the tooth-colored composite can camouflage some discoloration but is not intended to be a form of teeth whitening. In some instances, bonding has been used to make teeth appear longer or to modify the shape of a tooth. Restoratively, composite resin can be used to replace old amalgam fillings or to cover tooth roots that have been uncovered by gum recession.
- Resin Composite
- VeneersThis treatment is rewarding in several ways. It is minimally invasive and may not require us to remove any tooth enamel. It is also cost-effective compared to other cosmetic treatments, like porcelain veneers. Bonding is versatile, as well, disguising a variety of imperfections using the same convenient technique. Finally, your bonding treatment can be done in a single appointment!
- CrownsDental Crowns also called caps, fit snugly over teeth to mask chips, broken teeth, misalignment, stains, and other imperfections. Crowns can immediately enhance your smile by brightening your teeth and making them much stronger.
- BridgesEmpty spaces in the smile can look unattractive and make you feel self-conscious. Surrounding teeth may tip or shift into the space, and it is even possible that opposing teeth could move when there is nothing to stop them. To minimize the consequences of tooth loss, your dentist may suggest dental bridges.
- Dental BondingComposite bonding at Taylor Street Dental in Springfield, MA is an excellent method for correcting broken, misshapen, stained, or otherwise unsightly teeth. Dental bonding composites are materials made of acrylic resins with inorganic fillers, and containing photoinitiators. They are made to a paste-like consistency so that they can be sculpted to the proper shape. They contain various pigments which are matched to your tooth color, and they come in varying degrees of translucency, with careful attention paid to their polishability.
- Restorative Dentistry
- Root Canal TreatmentThere are many things in life to stress about, but getting a root canal done doesn’t need to be one of them.
- DenturesWhen patients lose some of their teeth, the most ideal thing to do is to replace the missing teeth in order to maintain the functionality and structure of the mouth. In Springfield, Massachusetts, Dr. David Peck recommends the use of partial dentures to his patients when they have several teeth missing, either on the upper maxillary or lower mandibular arches of the oral cavity. Partial dentures effectively fill in the gaps that are created by missing teeth and prevent adjacent teeth from drifting out of place. This helps, not only in supplementing the oral framework, but, more importantly, to boost the patient’s self-confidence by not having to go through the ordeal of having missing teeth.
- Dental ImplantsSinus surgery, or specifically, a sinus lift or sinus augmentation, is one of the procedures being conducted by Dr. David Peck and his associates in his facility in Springfield, Massachusetts. It is specifically done on the oral cavity with the objective of adding more bone onto the maxilla, or the upper jaw, to be able to support a dental implant. Grafting more bone onto the existing maxillary bone area will give the dental surgeon more space to replace the patient’s missing teeth. Bone grafts may be taken from other sources or from the patient himself. Although synthetic materials have also been used in such procedures. A sinus surgery like this will take up to six months to heal and successfully support a dental implant, so most dentists prefer to perform the sinus surgery simultaneously with the implant surgery to avoid the necessity of having the patient go through two separate procedures.
- Oral SurgeryHigh resolution CAT scans are very useful in detecting and monitoring the presence of oral diseases that are not easily uncovered by ordinary diagnostic procedures. CAT scans deliver detailed 3-dimensional images of the patient’s mouth and its underlying structures so that dentists can examine all the different angles, including the location of nerves and sinuses and incorporate their findings into an efficient treatment plan. Optimal viewing of the bone that results from a CAT scan is often used to facilitate the insertion of implants and have also been a very useful tool prior to performing oral surgery because it helps the dental surgeons avoid serious complications. CAT scans have also helped dentists identify cysts and tumors in the oral cavity. Before the CAT scan advancement in dentistry, the patient’s jaws were originally evaluated using ordinary radiographs. This procedure, however, did not give the dentists the full range of imagery that they needed to properly evaluate the condition of the patient’s mouth. It is safe to say that the CAT scan has revolutionized the way that dentists prepare for implant surgery, assess periodontal diseases, and formulate diagnoses based on the actual condition of the patient’s oral structures.
- Tooth ExtractionsPreserving the alveolar ridges after tooth extraction is important if the patient plans on getting dental implants to replace the missing tooth. But, at times during tooth loss, significant defects in the alveolar bone make ridge regeneration necessary to expand the area where the implants can be embedded. In Springfield, Massachusetts, Dr. David Peck has been performing ridge regeneration for his patients in order to help them get the implants that are necessary to preserve the functionality and structure of their mouths.
- Bone GraftingBecause of the lost bone mass, ridge regeneration calls for bone grafts that can be obtained from autologous sources, meaning bone from the patient himself, or from other external sources. Autologous sources of bone grafting material include the iliac crest from the patient’s hip, bone grafts from the chin area, or from the coronoid process in the patient’s jaw area.
- OrthodonticsPorcelain veneers have the advantage of covering various cosmetic flaws with a patient’s teeth without having to resort to the more involved procedures, such as orthodontics, that would otherwise be needed to correct the problem. Porcelain veneers can be used for decades to cover the flaws and present a perfect smile.
- Invisalign OrthodonticsDr. Tyra is devoted to patient education and providing comprehensive dental care with the help of the latest technologies. She strives to teach and guide her patients through the dental process in a gentle way in order to help them achieve their perfect smile. She is certified in Invisalign and is always seeking new ways to further her training. Dr. Tyra enjoys traveling and spending time with her family. She currently resides in Chicopee, Massachusetts.
- BracesThe Invisalign® system uses virtually invisible aligners, rather than metal bands, brackets or wires, to straighten teeth comfortably. The aligners are custom-made to fit the teeth, and are easily removable so patients can eat, drink, brush and floss. The advantage that Invisalign teeth aligners have over regular braces is that they are virtually undetectable.
- Teeth WhiteningThere are a variety of uses for lasers in the field of dentistry. Lasers can be used for cavity removal, teeth whitening and to harden bonding materials used in fillings. Surgical lasers are more accurate than a scalpel or drill, and allow the dentist to conserve as much bone and tooth as possible. Lasers can eliminate painful drilling and reduce patients’ fears about cavities. The laser vaporizes decay and is usually painless, eliminating the need for anesthesia. A low-powered laser can be used to detect tiny pits within tooth enamel that can become cavities.
- Cosmetic DentistryIn our office, we offer only the most modern, comfortable care. We do not use painful, intimidating needles or drills. Instead, we perform all of our cosmetic dentistry procedures in the least invasive ways possible. For optimal results, we rely on lasers or other technologically advanced equipment, including digital X-rays and computer imaging. To learn more about our advanced equipment used for cosmetic dentistry and you live in or around the Connecticut, or Springfield and Boston, Massachusetts area, please contact cosmetic/general dentist Dr. Peck today !
- General DentistryTo learn more about our Periodontal Disease treatment options, please call us at (413) 781-7645 to schedule a consultation. Dr. David I. Peck performs cosmetic/general dentistry for patients from Springfield, Longmeadow, Boston, Chicopee, and Northampton MA, as well as patients from the Connecticut area.