Regular exams are an important part of maintaining your oral health. During your regular exam, we will:
Check for any problems that you may not see or feel
Look for cavities or any other signs of tooth decay
Inspect your teeth and gums for gingivitis and signs of periodontal disease
Perform a thorough teeth cleaning
Your first visit to our dental office office usually takes a little longer (approximately 1-2 hours). Your dental exam includes an oral cancer screening, X-rays, gum exam, intra-oral photos and a thorough teeth cleaning. There are different types of dental cleanings based on the health of your gums. Your dental hygienist will determine what type of cleaning is appropriate for you.
Visiting our office on a regular basis for your hygiene visits gives you the chance to talk to the doctor about any questions you may have about your oral health. We Regular exams are offered by appointment only, so please contact our practice today to schedule your next dental exam and teeth cleaning.
Bonding, is a conservative way to repair slightly chipped, discolored, or crooked teeth. During dental bonding, a tooth colored filling is bonded to your tooth to improve its appearance. It closely matches the appearance of your natural teeth.
Tooth colored fillings can also be used to replace silver amalgam. Silver fillings can cause fractures in the teeth and should be replaced with bonded fillings. Bonded fillings can be used on front or back teeth, depending on the location and extent of tooth decay.
Bonding is less expensive than other cosmetic treatments and can usually be completed in one visit to our office. However, bonding can stain and is easier to break than other cosmetic treatments, such as porcelain veneers. If it does break or chip, tell your doctor. The bonding can generally be easily patched or repaired in one visit.
A bridge may be used to replace missing teeth, help maintain the shape of your face, and alleviate stress on your bite.
A bridge replaces missing teeth with ceramic teeth, looks great, and literally bridges the gap where one or more teeth may have been. Your bridge is made to match your teeth and is bonded onto surrounding teeth for support.
The success of any bridge depends on its foundation: the other teeth, gums, or bone to which it is attached. Therefore, it’s very important to keep your existing teeth, gums, and jaw healthy and strong.
Crowns are a restorative procedure used to improve your tooth’s shape or to strengthen a tooth. Crowns are most often used for teeth that are broken, worn, cracked or have portions destroyed by tooth decay. Crowns or onlays (partial crowns) are needed when there is insufficient tooth strength remaining to hold a filling.
A crown is cemented onto an existing tooth that usually covers the portion of your tooth above the gum line. In effect, the crown becomes your tooth’s new outer surface. Your ceramic crown is made with a CAD CAM machine (similar to a 3d printer) on the same day as your appointment. Ceramic crowns look like your natural tooth and are very strong.
Dentures are natural-looking replacement teeth that are removable. There are two types of dentures: full and partial. Full dentures are given to patients when all of the natural teeth have been removed. Partial dentures are attached to a plastic or metal frame that is connected to your natural teeth and are used to fill in where permanent teeth have been removed. Just like natural teeth, dentures need to be properly cared for. Use a gentle cleanser to brush your dentures, always keep them moist when they’re not in use, and be sure to keep your tongue and gums clean as well.
There are times when it is necessary to remove a tooth. Sometimes a baby tooth has misshapen or long roots that prevent it from falling out as it should, and the tooth must be removed to make way for the permanent tooth to erupt. At other times, a tooth may have so much decay that it causes pain and puts you at risk for infection.
Once a tooth has been removed, neighboring teeth may shift, causing problems with chewing or with your jaw joint function. To avoid these complications, we may recommend that you replace the extracted tooth with an implant or a bridge.
Composite fillings include ceramic and plastic compounds that mimic the appearance of natural teeth. These compounds, often called composite resins, are usually used on the front teeth where a natural appearance is important, but they can also be used on the back teeth depending on the location and extent of the tooth decay.
Fillings are bonded into a prepared cavity in a single visit. Sometimes the tooth has too much damage to support a filling and the tooth may require something stronger such as an onlay or a crown.
Fluoride is effective in preventing cavities and tooth decay. We recommend fluoride treatments on kids as well as anyone who is prone to cavities. We also may recommend a prescription fluoride toothpaste.
If you are missing teeth, it is crucial to replace them. Without all your teeth, chewing and eating can destabilize your bite and cause you discomfort. When teeth are missing, your mouth can shift and even cause your face to look older. Implants are a great way to replace your missing teeth, and if properly maintained, can last a lifetime!
An implant is composed of two main parts: one part is the titanium implant body that takes the place of the missing root, and the second part is the tooth-colored crown that is cemented on top of the implant. With implant treatment, you can smile confidently knowing no one will ever suspect you have a replacement tooth.
In addition to tooth replacement, implants may be used to anchor dentures, especially lower dentures that tend to shift when you talk or chew. For patients with removable partial dentures, implants can replace missing teeth so you have a more natural-looking smile.
With our 3D imaging and guided technology your implants is placed in perfect alignment!
Whether you wear braces or not, protecting your smile while playing sports is essential. Mouthguards help protect your teeth and gums from injury. If you participate in any kind of full-contact sport, the American Dental Association recommends that you wear a mouthguard.
If you often wake up with jaw pain, earaches, or headaches, or if you find yourself clenching or grinding your teeth, you may have a common condition called “bruxism.” Many people do not even know that they grind their teeth, as it often occurs when one is sleeping. If not corrected, bruxism can lead to broken teeth, cracked teeth, or even tooth loss. Another sign of clenching and grinding is tooth recession or abfraction. You may have sensitivity in these areas of recession. Your hygienist may notice this wear on your teeth and recommend a night guard.
Nightguards are an easy way to prevent the wear and damage that teeth-grinding causes over time. Custom-made from hard/soft material to fit your teeth, a nightguard is inserted over your top or bottom arch and prevents contact with the opposing teeth. Most patients find their night guard very comfortable. This is a great way to protect your teeth from future wear or damage.
When a tooth is cracked or has a deep cavity, bacteria can enter the pulp tissue and bacteria can cause an infection inside the tooth. If left untreated, an abscess may form. If the infected tissue is not removed, pain and swelling can result. This can not only injure your jawbones, but it is also detrimental to your overall health.
Root canal treatment is one to 2 visits. The infected nerve is iremoved and the pulp chamber is cleaned and sealed. Root canal teeth will often require a crown. Placing a crown over a root canal tooth strengthens and protects the tooth from breaking.
Sometimes brushing is not enough, especially when it comes to those hard-to-reach spots in your mouth. It is difficult for your toothbrush to get in-between the small cracks and grooves on your teeth. If left alone, those tiny areas can develop tooth decay. Sealants give your teeth extra protection against decay and help prevent cavities.
Dental sealants are plastic resins that bond and harden in the deep grooves on your tooth’s surface. When a tooth is sealed, the tiny grooves become smooth and are less likely to harbor plaque. With sealants, brushing your teeth becomes easier and more effective against tooth decay.
You no longer need to hide your smile because of gaps, chips, stains, or misshapen teeth. With veneers, you can easily correct your teeth’s imperfections to help you have a more confident, beautiful smile. Veneers are natural in appearance, and they are a perfect option for patients wanting to make minor adjustments to the look and feel of their smile.
Veneers are thin, custom-made shells made from ceramic tooth-colored material and are designed to cover the front side of your teeth. We make them in our office using our CAD-CAM technology. You will walk out with a beautiful new smile!
Wisdom teeth are molars found in the very back of your mouth. They usually appear in the late teens. They may become impacted due to lack of room in the jaw or angle of entry. When a wisdom tooth is impacted, it may need to be removed. If it is not removed, you may develop gum tenderness, swelling, or even severe pain. Impacted wisdom teeth that are partially or fully erupted tend to be quite difficult to clean and are susceptible to tooth decay, recurring infections, and even gum disease.
Wisdom teeth are typically removed in your late teens. The longer the tooth sits inside the bone, the more difficult it becomes to remove. It is best to have your wisdome teeth extracted in your late teens or early 20's. This can make extractions easier as well as shorten the recovery time.
