Our ServicesHygiene VisitsYour first visit to our office includes digital x-rays, charting, periodontal probing, a cleaning, a comprehensive exam and treatment recommendations.When scheduling your appointment, please inform our receptionist when your most recent dental x-rays were taken. We request that your records be transferred to our office for your first appointment.Fillings FillingsAfter removal of decayed (carious) tooth structure the cavity is then filled one of two ways. A resin, or tooth colored, filling is light-cured and also bonded to the tooth. Amalgam or silver colored fillings are also available.Crown and BridgeCrowns are typically used to restore function on a tooth susceptible to fracture. Such as root canal treated molars and pre molars, or teeth which have large fillings and require further treatment.Bridges are used to replace a missing tooth or teeth. The teeth adjacent to the missing tooth are prepared for crowns and a false tooth , or pontic, is suspended between the two crowns forming a single unit. DenturesA denture is a prosthetic device used to replace teeth. Complete dentures replace all teeth. A partial denture incorporates the patients remaining teeth while filling in the spaces vacated by the missing teeth.Dental ImplantsDental Implants are used to replace a missing tooth or teeth. They can also be used to stabilize an ill fitting denture. We work with local oral surgeons who will place the implant(s) and then we will restore the implant with a custom fit crown.VeneersVeneers are tooth colored restorations typically placed on the patients front teeth to correct esthetic concerns brought by the patient. The restoration is confined primarily to the front of the teeth preserving as much of the original tooth structure as possible while effectively addressing the patients concerns. Whether the complaint is discoloration, loss of tooth structure, or spaces between teeth, after consultation with your dentist veneers may be a treatment option for restoring the patient's smile. Veneers can be placed one of two ways. Direct veneer is completed in one appointment using tooth colored composite material applied directly to the prepared tooth. Indirect veneers are fabricated out of porcelain by an offsite laboratory. Thus the tooth is prepared, the dentist takes an impression of the prepared teeth, and the impression is sent to a dental laboratory where the veneers are fabricated. Temporary veneers are placed, and the patient returns in a few weeks for cementation of the porcelain veneers. Both restorations have the pros and cons which will be discussed with the dentist before treatment is rendered.WhiteningTeeth Whitening or Bleaching is available as an in-office treatment or a take home treatment. A series of impressions will be taken and we will make custom fit trays for you. The bleaching material is placed in the tray and worn for a period of time until desired whitening is achieved.SealantsSealants are a plastic-like coatings that fill in the pits and grooves of the chewing surfaces on permanent back teeth to help prevent decay . Sealants are placed on the back teeth because they contain hard-to-reach pits and grooves which tend to hold more food debris making them prone to decay.Root CanalsAll teeth have one to three roots. Within those roots lies a canal that converge inside the crown of the tooth to form the pulp chamber. Inside the pulp chamber and the pulp canals lies the blood vessels and nerves that supply the tooth with nourishment and sensation. Occasionally that pulp chamber is violated by a large cavity, i.e. bacteria that cause cavities, or via trauma that causes the tooth to break exposing the pulp and the subsequent canals to oral environment. Once exposure occurs as previously described the tooth typically becomes very sore and requires root canal therapy. This procedure entails the careful removal of the pulpal tissue inside the pulp chamber and all the canals. The inside of the tooth is disinfected and the canals are filled with a rubber-like material. At that point a final restoration is place whether it be a crown or a filling to seal the pulp chamber. The tooth now has the potential to serve the remainder of the patients life.ExtractionsMost common extractions involve the third molars or "wisdom teeth" that are unable to erupt do to lack of space. Other teeth may require extraction if the teeth can no longer be restored, or for orthodontic reasons. In either case the tooth is gently removed under profound anesthesia keeping the patient comfortable during the procedure. We do extract teeth on a case by case basis but work closely with local oral surgeons for third molar extractions.Scaling and Root PlaningThe oral environment has within it a complex often symbiotic colonization of bacteria, ionized minerals, proteins, enzymes and cellular components of various origins intermixed in our saliva. The mechanical and chemical breakdown of the food stuffs we eat in association with the aforementioned bacteria create an adherent substance known as plaque. Plaque builds up on the teeth and if not removed from the tooth surface regularly via brushing and flossing will begin to mineralize and harden as the ionized minerals within the saliva are incorporated into the plaque matrix. The calculus adheres to the tooth above the gum line but also can extend below the gum line and attach itself to the surface of the root. When the calculus extends below the gum line the process of periodontitis has begun. If left untreated the gums and bone supporting the tooth will slowly, sometimes quickly, recede away. The process of root planing and scaling involves the careful removal of calculus from the tooth using specialized instruments. Removing calculus from the roots below the gum line is referred to as root planing and removing calculus above the gum line is referred to as scaling. If good hygiene practices are exercised regularly at home most patients can avoid aggregation of large calculus deposits. However, even the most vigilant brushers and flossers can still accumulate calculus due to variations in salivary components and simply because some areas in the mouth are tough to reach. Thus it is important to maintain a regularly scheduled cleaning visit with our hygienist along with good home hygiene to keep the calculus and plaque at bay.Clear CorrectWe are certified Clear Correct providers. Clear Correct is the invisible way to straighten teeth using a series of custom-made, nearly invisible aligners. Upon an initial examination, your doctor decides if Clear Correct is right for you. Impressions will be taken of your teeth, which are then submitted to Clear Correct along with your personal treatment plan. Using the latest technology, Clear Correct carefully translates your doctor's instructions into a series of precisely customized aligners. You then wear each set of aligners for about three weeks, moving your teeth, gradually- week by week, millimeter by millimeter- until you've achieved the intended result: straighter teeth.www.clearcorrect.com TAP®The only oral appliance proven effective for the treatment of severe obstructive sleep apnea.TAP® is FDA approved for treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Sleep Apnea is the temporary cessation of breathing during sleep. Typically indicated by snoring, often times sufferers will awake gasping for breath. Apnea-related disturbances occur repeatedly, resulting in a restless sleep and daytime drowsiness. The disease can cause serious health issues including increased blood pressure and the restriction of oxygen to the brain and blood stream. How it Works: TAP® is made of two custom inter-occlusal parts that fit over the mandible and the maxilla. The upper portion of the device hooks into the lower portion, enabling the mandible to be pulled forward. Using a dial mechanism, the appliance is titratable allowing adjustment to determine the degree to which the jaw is held forward. By holding the mandible forward, the TAP maintains a clear airway to reduce snoring and improve breathing. NTI-tss Plus™The superior alternative to bite guards.The NTI-tss Plus™ does the job of a bite guard but covers only the front teeth. The NTI-tss Plus is a small, clear, "taco shell" shaped appliance. Attached on the incisal edge of the shell is an anterior-posterior discluding element (DE) that provides for a point stop on the mesial-incisal edges. The NTI-tss therapeutic protocol was developed by James P. Boyd, DDS. The NTI-tss Plus is the only lab-produced, customizable alternative to the chairside NTI-tss. Originally developed to prevent migraine pain, the NTI-tss Plus is proven to be a superior alternative to full-coverage bite guards. FDA Approved The NTI-tss protocol is approved for the Prevention of Medically Diagnosed Migraine Pain, Jaw Disorders and Bruxism through the reduction of trigeminally innervated muscular activity. More Effective Full coverage bite guards increase clenching activity for some patients by providing an ideal clenching surface for canines and molars. The NTI-tss Plus discludes all posteriors and reduces clenching intensity by nearly 70%.
|
|
