Hygiene Cleanings

Keeping your gums and teeth healthy begins with regular dental cleanings. Cleanings every 6 months removes the tartar that has developed from plaque buildup and prevents bacterial infection. Your teeth sit in your jaw bones underneath your gums. If infection arises due to bacterial invasion and tartar buildup, you risk losing bone levels and gum tissue, which ultimately is why teeth fall out in the first place. Hygiene cleanings are an important part of preventive dental care.

Periodontal Cleanings

Sometimes a regular cleaning is not enough. Some people have the tendency to build up higher than normal levels of tartar or may be more susceptible to periodontal disease. In this case, a deeper cleaning will be necessary. A periodontal cleaning removes necrotic tissues and heavy buildup to maintain the health of your roots and gums. Usually after receiving a deep cleaning, you will only need regular cleanings afterwards to maintain your oral hygiene.

Teeth Whitening

Professional whitening rejuvenates and brightens up your smile. Our office will construct custom bleaching trays and provide you with a dentist-prescribed whitening kit to help you obtain that white smile you have always desired. Teeth whitening works by oxidizing enamel which removes extrinsic stains and discoloring that your smile has acquired over time. Results are often seen within one week of whitening. You will notice a dramatic shade change that will boost your self esteem and surely give you something to smile about.

Silver Fillings

Silver (or amalgam) fillings have been used in dentistry for over 100 years and have undergone dramatic improvements in its materials and techniques, especially in the last 25 years. Silver fillings can withstand considerable chewing pressure and, therefore, are great for molar teeth that need restoring. Silver fillings are generally less expensive than tooth-colored fillings and are fairly quick to place. Though there is hype about whether or not silver fillings are harmful, research proves that they are safe to use in dentistry. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, “mercury in dental amalgam is not poisonous. When mercury is combined with other materials in dental amalgam, its chemical nature changes, so it is essentially harmless. The amount released in the mouth under the pressure of chewing and grinding is extremely small and no cause for alarm. In fact, it is less than what patients are exposed to in food, air, and water.”

Tooth-Colored Fillings

For a more aesthetic appearance, tooth-colored (or composite) fillings are a great choice. Tooth-colored fillings are used when front teeth need restoring to keep your smile looking natural. These fillings can also be used on back teeth for those who don’t want “silver” in their mouths. This resin-based, bonded filling material is a popular choice amongst patients because of its pleasing appearance. Tooth-colored fillings are bonded into place with a high-powered light source and are, therefore, hardened instantly. With these fillings, there is no waiting time afterwards for setting. You may experience some degree of sensitivity afterwards, which will usually disappear after a few days.

Crowns

Teeth that cannot be restored with traditional filling material may require a crown. Crowns fit snuggly over teeth to conceal cracked, discolored, injured, or chipped teeth. Crowns look and feel like natural teeth and restore them back to their functional use, leaving the teeth more resistant to injury. Crowns come in gold or porcelain depending on your preference. Crowns are often used to support a tooth that already has a large filling to prevent breakage and can also be used to align a tooth that is out of position. After an impression is made, your crown will be delivered at a second appointment and permanently bonded. Crowns are a great option to maintain your own functional teeth without prosthetics.

Bridges

A bridge may be necessary if you are missing one or more teeth. When teeth are missing, you may notice a difference when chewing and speaking. A bridge is used to replace missing teeth, help maintain the shape of your face, and alleviate the stress in your bite. A fixed bridge replaces missing teeth with artificial teeth, looks great, and literally bridges the gap where one or more teeth may have been. Once the bridge has been constructed, it will be permanently bonded onto surrounding teeth for support, filling the spots where missing teeth used to be. A bridge, when necessary, offers a great solution for a strong, natural-looking smile.

Extractions

A tooth extraction may be necessary when a tooth cannot be saved by conventional means. An extraction is usually recommended to remove teeth that are causing more harm than good, whether due to crowding, infection, decay, or malposition. Wisdom teeth often times need to be removed because there simply isn’t enough room in the jaw to fit them. For certain circumstances such as when teeth are partially erupted, or if a specialist’s intervention is required, we will refer you to an oral surgeon for your extraction needs. Tooth extractions are usually the last resort and are only recommend for teeth and roots that are damaged beyond repair.

Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy is needed when a tooth becomes damaged, infected, or injured. A tooth’s nerves can die if it has undergone trauma. In which case, your tooth will need a root canal to prevent the entire tooth from dying. During a root canal, deadened nerves are removed and antibacterial solution is used to clean and disinfect the inside of the tooth. A special material is then used to fill where the nerves once were to save the tooth. The tooth is then sealed with a filling, or in most cases, a crown to prevent breakage. Teeth with nerve damage become brittle due to the lack of blood supply and usually will require the placement of a crown afterwards. Root canal therapy helps maintain traumatized teeth so that you can continue to have full functional use of them.

Night Guards

Many of us, whether due to stress or habit, grind our teeth either consciously or unconsciously. Over time, as teeth are continuously rubbed and grinded against, jaw muscles tire and teeth enamel begins to wear down. This leads to a plethora of problems down the road such as headaches, jaw pain, tooth sensitivity, chewing problems, bite misalignment, and short-looking teeth. As enamel is worn down, tooth dentin becomes exposed. The exposure of dentin then becomes highly susceptible to decay and sensitivity. To prevent the wearing away of precious tooth enamel and to help relax jaw muscles, a dental night guard is usually recommended. A night guard is worn while sleeping to disperse the grinding pressures evenly to relax jaw muscles and also provides a protective barrier over enamel. Night guards are light weight and are constructed specifically to fit your teeth.

Fluoride Treatments

Fluoride treatments are quick and easy. A special fluoride solution, used only in dental offices, is placed into a tray that is then placed over all teeth. This solution is absorbed into enamel for one minute. Fluoride treatments strengthen teeth by re-mineralizing enamel to prevent cavities, reduce sensitivity, and can often reverse decalcification at the beginning stages of a cavity formation. To prevent decay and sensitivity on root exposures, a fluoride varnish is painted on and left until brushed off in the evening.

Intraoral Camera

Our office utilizes a state-of-the-art intraoral camera so that you can see what we are seeing. This camera allows us to take pictures of concerning areas and gives a magnified view of areas that need work. Keeping you informed and involved with your treatment is important to us. We believe in open communication which allows you, the patient, to fully understand and ask about your treatment options.

 Movie Headphones and TV

To help ease those dental visit jitters, our office provides patient room movie headphones. Our waiting room flat screen television will also help ease your mind at your dental visits.