Bonding↓

Dental bonding is a cosmetic procedure where a tooth-colored composite resin material is applied to your teeth to improve the appearance of teeth that may be chipped, broken, cracked, stained, or have spaces between them.

Composite resin is pliable, allowing it to be molded into any shape or polished to any shade.

Dental Cleanings↓

Dental cleanings are at the cruz of routine dental care. These are normally performed by dental hygienists and are recommended every six months unless otherwise instructed by your dentist. This procedure is largely concerned with removing plaque build-up on teeth in order to prevent cavities, gingivitis, and periodontal disease.

A professional cleaning starts with a physical exam, examining your teeth and gums for signs of gingivitis before proceeding. Then, your hygienist will proceed to remove plaque and tartar with a scaler. After this, your hygienist will brush your teeth with a gritty toothpaste and high-powered electric brush, followed by flossing. After a rinse containing liquid fluoride, you will have to option to do a fluoride treatment. Fluoride gel is used to help your teeth fight against cavities for several months until your next scheduled cleaning.

Gum Treatments↓

There are several treatments available for gum disease depending on a patient's progression, response to earlier treatment, and overall health. Non-surgical treatments can include more frequent professional dental cleanings, or scaling and root planing. Though biannual dental cleanings are the norm, patients with periodontitis (gum disease) may be recommended to receive more frequent dental cleanings as a prophylactic/preventive measure to keep disease from developing further.

For patients with plaque and tartar under the gums, scaling and root planing may be recommended. This is a deep-cleaning procedure performed by dentist and periodontists under a local anesthetic. Scaling involves scraping away plaque and tartar above and below the gum line. Planing is a technique that scrapes away rough spots on the tooth root to make it smooth. Plaque, tartar, and rough spots may harbor bacteria and contribute to the gums.

Implant Restoration↓

Dental implants are the first step to replacing a missing tooth. A dental implant is like an artificial tooth root, similar to the shape of a screw, that bonds with natural bone to serve as a base for crowns (artificial teeth). Your dentist will work to make them indistinguishable from your natural teeth. In addition to improving your smile, dental implants can prevent your jaw bone from receding, which can happen when there is no longer a tooth to support.

Root Canals↓

Root canals are endodontic procedures used to treat a damaged or diseased tooth using local anesthesia. Endodontics is a specialty of dentistry concerning dental pulp and tissues surrounding the roots of a tooth. Dental pulp is a soft tissue found in that contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue, found in the root canals of a tooth. When pulp in the canal becomes infected, root canal treatments can be performed to remove the inflamed pulp, clean and disinfect the canal, and subsequently fill and seal the canal. If you notice sensitivity to hot or cold sensations, pain while chewing or biting, physical damage to a tooth, gum pain, or abnormal gum appearance, contact your dentist to see if you might need a root canal.

Whitening↓

Description coming soon!

If you have questions about this procedure, please contact our office.

Bridges↓

When teeth are missing a series of changes that can impact your overall dental health and jaw function may be initiated. The adjacent teeth may start to drift or tilt into the space, and teeth in the opposing jaw may start to shift toward the area of the missing tooth. It is therefore important to replace the single tooth or multiple teeth that have been lost. One of the best options to prevent the consequences of shifting teeth and to restore full function to a small edentulous section in the mouth is a dental bridge.

A dental bridge replaces the missing teeth with artificial teeth called “pontics,” and is supported on the ends by prepared natural teeth. Once fabricated and fitted a dental bridge will be permanently “fixed,” or cemented into place. Like crowns, bridges can be made of either porcelain baked on to a metal substrate or many of the new ceramic materials that have been developed.

The terms dental crowns and caps are synonymous. If dental decay, cracked fillings, root canals, clenching or grinding the teeth have caused extensive damage to the underlying tooth structure a dental filling may not be a sufficient restoration. The only way to completely restore the cosmetic appearance and function of this tooth is often full coverage with a dental crown. The good news is that a completed dental crown looks and feels like a natural tooth.

In addition to restoring a single natural tooth, crowns can be used in other situations including being the supporting ends of dental bridge, covering dental implants, or as coverage for a cracked tooth to prevent further breakdown. A crown may also be indicated when a discolored or stained tooth needs to be restored to its natural appearance. Crowns can be made of either porcelain baked onto a metal substrate, all-porcelain, or many of the new ceramic materials that have been developed.

Extractions↓

Patients may need tooth extractions for many reasons: decay, periodontal disease, or dental trauma (ex: impacted wisdom teeth). Extractions remove the entire tooth from the dental socket under local anesthetics like lidocaine. Post-operatively, patients must be careful to not dislodge the blood clot in the newly empty socket and take other steps to prevent infection and promote healing. Speak with your dentist to see if you need an extraction and if there are other options to explore.

Halitosis Treatment↓

Patients concerned about halitosis (bad breath) should know that they are among millions across the country that struggle with this due to various reasons. Halitosis may be caused by poor oral hygiene, periodontal conditions, internal infections, diabetes, and other problems that may not be as closely related to oral health as one would think. There are several approaches to treating this: regular professional cleanings, thorough at-home oral hygiene, special toothpastes, and tongue scrapers. Based on the cause of halitosis, you may also need to work with another healthcare professional.

Night Guards↓

Night guards are uniquely designed trays that sit over teeth to protect them from grinding and clenching. Grinding usually occurs when patients are sleeping and refers to moving the jaw back and forth. In contrast, clenching refers to binding down with excessive force over long periods of time. Both of these can cause headaches, sleep disruption, pain, and progressive damage to teeth and enamel. Note that while night guards may not prevent grinding or clenching, they will certainly protect teeth from excessive wear.

Sealants↓

Sealants are thin, protective coatings that can be adhered to the chewing surface of your back teeth, or molars, to prevent cavity formation. When brushing and flossing alone may not be enough to keep molars clean, sealants are an option patients may consult their dentist about. Research shows that sealants can reduce the risk of decay by nearly 80% in molars. Sealants are available for both children and adults as soon as the adult molars start to set in between the ages 6 and 12.