Dental Cleaning
For patients with healthy gums, we offer dental prophylaxis.
Our highly trained hygienists will help you to keep your
teeth and gums in great shape. For patients that have signs
of gum infection, such as bleeding gums, we suggest a
program of periodontal (gum) therapy.
Non-Surgical Gum Treatment
For patients that have active gum disease, a simple cleaning
will not remove infection. Treatment including thorough
cleaning of the tooth surface below the gumline is called
scaling and root planning. This is a process of smoothing
the root of the tooth so that any remaining tartar is
removed. This also serves two other purposes: it clears away
any rough areas where bacteria below the gum line thrive,
and it makes it much easier for the gingival (gum) tissue to
re-attach to the tooth, effectively reducing the size of the
pockets that the plaque and bacteria hide in. This re-growth
of tissue is key in stopping a recurrence of gum disease and
happens very quickly once the calculus has been removed.
Cosmetic Smile Makeover
Whether you are looking to replace lost teeth or simply
whiten your smile, we can offer you several options to give
you the great smile you desire. Over time, age, beverages,
and food can discolor your teeth, leaving you with a dull,
yellow smile. Today, there are options that can help you
achieve a brighter smile in almost no time. Using porcelain
veneers and porcelain crowns, we can transform your smile
into the one you’ve always wanted, making it beautiful for
years to come.
Over the counter bleaching products have some of the same
ingredients as the products a dentist offers. However, these
products are not allowed by the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) to contain the same levels of active ingredient as
those administered by licensed professionals. Also, the
methods of applying these solutions to your teeth (strips,
make-at-home molds, trays) usually don’t fit or adhere
properly to the teeth, causing uneven or insignificant
bleaching to occur.
The process we recommend offers amazing results and is easy
to use. It requires you to have impressions made of your
teeth at the office, after which you receive custom-fitted
mouth trays. At home or work they are filled with a peroxide
gel and are nearly invisible when they are in place. Optimal
results are usually achieved in 1-2 weeks. The benefit from
this system is the higher concentration of active
ingredients, guaranteeing a brighter smile.
Veneers & Bonding
Both veneers and bonding are used to address minor cosmetic
problems like discolored teeth (when bleaching is not an
option), slightly crooked teeth and gaps between teeth.
Veneers are wafer thin pieces of porcelain or composite
resin that act like a jacket to your tooth. To place the
veneers, the doctor removes a small amount of the surface of
the tooth to allow space for the veneer to be placed. The
thickness of the veneer is about that of an average
fingernail—this is about the amount of surface of the
original tooth that will be subtracted.
Veneers are very durable and slightly transparent, so they
look and last just like real teeth. Unlike your real teeth,
they will never become discolored.
Bonding is used to correct color, gaps or chips in your
teeth. Using a malleable “paste”, the doctor will color
match, sculpt, harden and polish the bonding material to
look just like your other teeth. Done without the need for
anesthetic, bonding application can usually be completed in
a very short amount of time.
Crowns & Bridges
Crowns and bridges are porcelain caps used to protect an
entire tooth. They are placed when your dentist feels that
your tooth or teeth are damaged beyond the capabilities of a
filling.
Crowns are used in circumstances where just one tooth needs
to be repaired. First the doctor removes decay and then
shapes the tooth so that the crown can be placed over
the
top of the old tooth. The doctor will take an impression of
the newly shaped tooth
and place a temporary covering (like
a crown) over the tooth.
That impression will be sent to a lab, where the permanent
crown will be shaped and polished to look nearly
indistinguishable from the rest of your real teeth. At your
second visit, you will have your temporary crown removed and
your permanent crown inserted. Now you are on your way to a
new and beautiful smile.
Bridges are used when more than one tooth is missing or
needs extensive work. Much like a crown, bridges require the
surrounding teeth to be prepared by removal of decay
and
shaping. After the tooth/teeth surrounding the space is
prepared to receive the anchoring crowns, an impression is
made of the whole area.
The impression is sent to the lab to have the bridge
sculpted to the new shape of the
teeth. A temporary bridge
will be fitted in anticipation of the new permanent bridge
to
be placed at you next follow up visit.
Dental
Implants
Do you wish that you could replace one or more of
your teeth but don’t want to wear dentures?
Dental implants are a natural looking, long lasting,
comfortable, and safe alternative to bridgework or
dentures. For people with good oral health,
replacing a lost tooth with an implant is an ideal
option.
Implants look like your natural teeth, and because
of their “root” being secured to your jaw like a
real tooth, neither you nor anyone else will know
the difference. You don’t have to worry about
implants
coming loose and embarrassing you; you won’t have to
take them out to soak; and you don’t worry
about losing them, either.
Crown Lengthening
Teeth that appear to be short or have uneven gum lines can
be beautifully enhanced with this process. There is an ideal
height versus width ratio for teeth. Ideally, your teeth
should be longer than they are wide. As a result of heredity
or improper wear, this is not always the case. By
lengthening the exposed tooth, the doctor can create a more
aesthetic and balanced appearance and smile. Crown
lengthening is also performed in circumstances in which the
tooth has significant infection or decay below the gumline.
This allows the doctor to access the affected area in order
to clean and repair it. Often, this approach is coupled with
cosmetic restorations.
The dental laser removes the excess gum and/or the bone that
surrounds you teeth in such a way that more of the crown of
your tooth is exposed. Usually performed under local
anesthesia, you will probably be able to return to your
normal activities the same day. Whether for aesthetic or
medical reasons, crown lengthening is just one of the ways
we can help you obtain a smile you can be proud of.
Mercury-Free Esthetic Fillings
Although silver or amalgam fillings have been the norm for
many decades, our office proudly offers composite fillings
that look more natural. Amalgam fillings can eventually
reduce the strength of the tooth and lead to cracking or
breakage. Composite fillings are tooth-colored restorations
that are bonded to your teeth and can strengthen the tooth
by restoring most of the original shape.
Fillings
BEFORE
AFTER
Root Canals
A cavity is the result of superficial decay of the enamel of
the tooth. Left long enough, this decay can burrow into the
deeper reaches of the tooth, causing extensive damage to
tooth structure. When the damage goes beyond what
can be
treated with a filling, root canal therapy is performed,
preserving the tooth and retaining its original integrity. A
root canal is a procedure that removes pulp from the central
part of the tooth, reshapes the canal and replaces it with
filler.
