We offer a full variety of services to help you maintain a healthy smile. For many oral health problems, we can offer multiple treatment options for dental care. These options may vary in complexity, durability and cost. We will work together with you as a team to help you choose the treatment options that best meet your needs.
Your initial and recurring examinations include a visual examination, charting of existing restorations, periodontal probing, TMJ and oral cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment recommendations. We will take necessary x-rays, which may include a panoramic x-ray (one that moves around your head) as well as bitewing x-rays (x-rays that accurately depict cavities between teeth). These are taken for proper diagnosis of decay, and may not be taken at each visit but at proper recommended intervals.
Digital radiographs:
Dental radiographs (x-rays) provide valuable information that we could not collect otherwise. With the help of x-rays, we can look at what is happening beneath the visible oral tissues. Digital radiography offers a 70-80% reduction in radiation compared to conventional radiographs.
Routine Cleanings
Regular teeth cleaning by one of our dental hygienists is recommended to remove tartar (mineralized plaque) that may develop even with careful brushing and flossing- especially in areas that are difficult for you to reach on your own at home. Professional cleaning includes tooth scaling using various instruments to loosen and remove deposits from the teeth, and tooth polishing. We recommend having your teeth cleaned at least once every 6 months. More frequent cleanings and examinations may be necessary during the treatment of dental/oral disorders.
Periodontal Treatment:
Periodontal disease is an infection of the tissues that support your teeth. It is caused by the bacteria found in plaque, which is a sticky, colorless film that forms on your teeth. The bacteria in plaque have toxins that inflame the gums.
There are three stages of gum disease:
To find out if you have gum disease, our dentist or hygienist needs to check your teeth and gums. Since early gum disease can be reversed, it is important to see us if you have any of the following:
Gums that bleed or are red, puffy or swollen, or sore.
Gums that have pulled away from your teeth
Changes in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
Pus that appears between your teeth and gums
Constant bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
Periodontal treatment methods depend on the type and severity of the disease.
In some cases, we may refer you to a periodontist- a specialist in periodontal disease.
The first step usually involves a special cleaning, called scaling and root planing. This is sometimes referred to as a “periodontal” or a “deep cleaning” and may take more than one visit. Once your periodontal treatment is completed, we will want to see you at regular 3 to 4 month intervals. We may also recommend more frequent checkups.
Cosmetic and restorative fillings are fillings placed immediately into a prepared cavity in a single visit. They include dental amalgam and resin composite fillings. The dentist prepares the tooth, places the filling and adjusts it during one appointment.
If you have had an older, large filling fall out, or a part of your tooth cracks or breaks off, you may need a crown to cover the tooth and restore it to its normal shape and size. A crown can make your tooth stronger and improve its appearance. A crown is also a good way to cover a tooth that is discolored or badly shaped, or has had a root canal. If we recommend a crown, it is probably to correct one of these conditions.
A sealant is a plastic material that is usually applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth- premolars and molars. This plastic resin bonds into the depressions and grooves of the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. The sealant acts as a barrier, protecting the enamel from plaque and acidic by-products from oral bacteria.
Sealants are easy for us to apply, and take only a few minutes to seal each tooth. As long as the sealant remains intact, the tooth surface will be protected from decay. Sealants hold up well under the force of normal chewing and can last several years before reapplication is needed. During your regular dental visits, we will check the condition of the sealants and recommend to re-apply them as necessary.
Emergency Care
We reserve time in our daily schedule for emergency patients. Call us and provide as much detail as possible about your condition. Remember, pain is a signal that something is wrong- a problem that will not disappear even if the pain subsides.
If you’re concerned about visiting us because you have limited or no dental insurance, ask us about our convenient outside financing options. We can submit an application online for you and get an immediate decision- and the emergency care you need.
Examples of an emergency situation:
Bitten lip or tongue
Broken or cracked tooth
Possible broken jaw
Knocked out tooth
Objects caught between teeth
Toothache
Crown or bridge has come off
Lost filling
Swelling
Pain when chewing
Extractions
There are times when it is necessary to remove atooth. When something is difficult, we say it’s like pulling teeth. In reality, tooth extractions are routine dental treatments that help prevent more serious problems. While it’s our goal to do everything to save your natural tooth, in the end, removing a potentially harmful tooth can spare you time, money, and discomfort.
Most extractions take just a few minutes. If you are worried about having a tooth pulled, don’t avoid getting the care you need. Talk with us about your concerns. We have the tools, techniques and caring manner to help make this procedure more comfortable and relaxing for you.
If you’re missing one or more teeth, you may be particularly aware of their importance to your appearance and dental health. All of your teeth work together to help you chew, speak and smile. When teeth are missing, it is difficult to do these things.
Fortunately, missing teeth can be replaced, and they should be.
How best to replace missing teeth is an important decision. We can answer your questions and help you decide which option will work best for you.
Click on the video to view our Lumineers commercial
Root Canals
Most of the time, a root canal is a very simple procedure with little or no discomfort involving one to three visits. Certain complicated situations may require us to refer you to an endodontist, or root canal specialist. In either situation, you can be assured that today’s modern procedures will provide you with great care and comfort during your root canal treatment.
Teeth Whitening
Everybody loves a bright white smile, and there are a variety of products and procedures available to help you improve the look of yours.
If you are a candidate for whitening, we may suggest an in office whitening procedure- which is usually completed in about one hour. During this period of time, you will achieve maximum whitening results, plus a kit to take home with you for future touch-up applications.
Intra-Oral Photographs
People seldom have a clear idea of the actual status of their dental health. Even with lights and mirrors, it’s tough to see anything other than the front of your own teeth, or segments of the shadowed backs and side areas. But intraoral cameras have changed all that. Now you can sit comfortably back in the chair while the dentist or hygienist inserts a handy pen-sized camera-tipped wand into your mouth. Covered with a disposable plastic sheath for contamination prevention, the wand simply takes a picture of the inside of your mouth and transmits the images via cable to the computer- which enlarges the full color images for you to view on our patient monitors at your chair. Now you and the doctor are able to view together the details of your teeth and oral health.
Oral Cancer Screening with Velscope
According to The Oral Cancer Foundation, someone dies from oral cancer every hour of every day in the United States alone. This cancer, found in the mouth, lips or throat, is often highly curable if diagnosed and treated early. Unfortunately, in its early stages, oral cancer can go unnoticed.
Early detection of oral cancer could save your life. The FDA-approved VELscope can detect oral cancer that the naked eye can't see. The VELscope is non-invasive and uses a bright blue light to emphasize any changes in the mouth that a dentist or hygienist could not normally see.
