Dental Care

PREVENTATIVE DENTISTRY

Treatment Planning

As a foundation for excellent dental care, comprehensive treatment plans incorporate a patient's immediate and long term dental needs. During this process, we review your overall oral health to uncover any underlying conditions. Personalized treatment plans help patients understand the work needed, phases of treatment and costs involved. Our goal is for you to feel confident before receiving any treatment and gain a better understanding of your oral health.

Cleaning

Cleaning of teeth is a vital part of oral hygiene and involves the removal of dental plaque from teeth with the intention to prevent cavities, gingivitis, and periodontal disease. Even with good oral hygiene, plaque can accumulate and mineralize forming hard deposits on the teeth called calculus (also referred to as tarter). Removal of these plaques helps decrease the inflammatory response by the tissue and is essential to overall dental health.

Sealants

Dental sealant is a thin, plastic coating painted on the chewing surfaces of teeth usually the back teeth to prevent tooth decay. The sealant quickly bonds into the depressions and grooves of the teeth, forming a protective shield over the enamel of each tooth.

Oral Cancer Screening

With oral cancer, early detection is your best protection. Oral cancer claims over 8000 American lives each year, killing roughly 1 person per hour, 24 hours per day. This form of cancer often goes undetected until it metastasizes (spreads) to other body systems or regions. Our office routinely screens patients for oral cancer during checkups. Our doctor and staff will look for white patches, mouth sores, tenderness, tissue color changes, and any changes that look problematic. We also offer ViziLite® Plus with TBlue®, a leading oral cancer screening system that was developed to help oral healthcare professionals identify, evaluate, monitor and mark abnormal oral lesions suspicious for pathology including precancerous cells and cancer that may be difficult to see during a regular visual exam.

Periodontics

Gingivitis is the mildest form of periodontal disease caused by inadequate oral hygiene. It causes the gums to become red, swollen, and bleed easily. Typically, there is little or no discomfort with gingivitis, and it is reversible with professional treatment and good oral home care.

SRPS, including severe gingivitis and periodontitis, are serious infections that can lead to tooth loss when left untreated. These forms of periodontal disease involve bacterial infection that can affect the gums and bone supporting one tooth or many teeth. Typically, this begins when bacteria in plaque cause the gums to become inflamed. When left untreated, loss of tissue attachments and bone loss will follow.

COSMETIC AND RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY

Crowns and Fixed Bridges

Crowns are restoration that are permanently cemented into place and fully cover the portion of a tooth that lies at and above the gum line. Since dental crowns encase the entire visible aspect of a tooth, a dental crown in effect becomes the tooth's new outer surface. Crowns are often used to restore a tooth to its original shape, to strengthen a tooth or to improve the cosmetic appearance of a tooth. They are highly durable and will last many years, but like most dental restorations, they may eventually need to be replaced. Porcelain crowns are made to match the shape, size, and color or your teeth giving you a natural, long-lasting beautiful smile.

A dental bridge is a fixed (non-removable) appliance and is one way to replace missing teeth. There are several types of bridges. We will discuss the best options for your particular case. The “traditional bridge” is the most popular type and is usually made of porcelain or porcelain fused to metal. This type of bridge consists to two crowns that go over two anchoring teeth attached to the pontics (artificial teeth), filling the gap created by one or more missing teeth. Dental bridges are highly durable and will last many years; however, they may need replacement due to normal wear.

Veneers

A veneer is a thin piece of porcelain used to re-create the natural look of teeth, while also providing strength and resilience comparable to natural tooth enamel. They are custom made to the contour of your teeth and are bonded to the tooth's original enamel during a series of in-office procedures. Veneers are a quick way to a beautiful smile, and this treatment is perfect for people with teeth that are stained, chipped or have gaps.

DENTAL SURGERY

Endodontics | Root Canal Therapy

Extractions

Endodontics, or root canal therapy, is the removal of the pulp tissue from the tooth. In this instance, the pulp tissue refers to the nerve and blood vessels of the tooth. The procedure is necessary to save natural teeth when bacteria irreversibly damage the pulp tissue. Typically, this is associated with decay, very deep fillings, fractures, traumas, or periodontal disease.

If an infected tooth is left untreated for too long, an abscess can form. An abscess will show up on an X-ray as a dark spot below the apex of the root. This is actually bone loss in the jaw, and it is very important to catch this problem before it deteriorates too far. Fortunately, by employing the latest technology, we will be able to complete endodontic treatment comfortably and in much less time than previously possible.

The most common reason for an extraction is tooth damage due to breakage or decay. Additional reasons for tooth extractions include severe tooth decay or infection, extra teeth that are blocking other teeth from coming in, severe gum disease that threatens supporting tissues and bone structures, as well as in preparation for orthodontic treatment. Fractured teeth, insufficient spacing for wisdom teeth, and some radiation treatments may also result in the need for extraction.

ZOOM! TEETH WHITENING

To achieve the teeth you want, Zoom Teeth Whitening offers you a full range of options based on your needs and your lifestyle. Professional teeth whitening with Philips Zoom is safe, pain-free, sustainable and used by over 10 million people. Philips Zoom professional whitening is a fast, effective and safe way to whiten your teeth. Results from professional treatments can be immediate (up to 8 shades whiter in 45 minutes), and because a dental professional is involved, the process is safe, reliable and hassle free.

ORTHODONTICS

Six Month Smiles has taken the best aspects of braces and modified the treatment and the materials to give adults a common-sense, cosmetic solution that fits your lifestyle. What makes Six Month Smiles so innovative is its Six-Month Treatment Time on Average, Lucid-Lok™ Clear Brackets, Tooth-Colored Wires, Conservative and Predictable Final Results, Patient Tray Kits™ to Ensure Appointments are Fast and Comfortable, Low-Force and Overall Short Orthodontic Treatment Times, Increased Hygiene, Safety, and Comfort, and it’s Less Expensive Than Traditional Braces, Aligner Therapy, or Veneers.