Dental Services for Total Health
Dental emergencies are quite frightening and often painful. Prompt treatment is almost always required to alleviate pain and to ensure the teeth have the best possible chance of survival.
If there is severe pain, it is essential to make an appointment with your dentist as quickly as possible. The pain caused by dental emergencies almost always gets worse without treatment, and dental issues can seriously jeopardize physical health.
If a tooth has been knocked out of the mouth, it is essential to see a dentist immediately. When a tooth becomes detached from the mouth, the tissues, nerves, and blood vessels become damaged. If the tooth can be placed back into its socket within an hour, there is a chance the tissues will grow to support the tooth once again.
Here are some steps to take:
1. Call the dentist.
2. Pick up the tooth by the crown and rinse it under warm water. DO NOT touch the root.
3. If possible, place it back into its socket – if not, tuck it into the cheek pouch.
4. If the tooth cannot be placed in the mouth, put the tooth into a cup of milk, saliva, or water as a last resort.
It is important to keep the tooth from drying out.
Exams & Cleanings
Regular exams and cleanings are the cornerstone of preventive oral care. Preventative care can save time and money, addressing any developing issues before they become larger problems, not only for your oral health, but for the health of your whole body.
Laser Dentistry
Dental technology is constantly evolving, and we strive to bring the best new methods to our patients. Laser dentistry techniques are a perfect example. Laser technology can be used for a variety of procedures, addressing such issues as:
•Biopsy
•Gum disease
•Pain Relief Treatments
•Gum-line Revision
•And more
Dental X-Rays
Dental x-rays are an essential tool in dentistry. They provide diagnostic data that extends beyond what can be observed with the eye during dental exams.
Dental x-rays can locate and identify:
•Abscesses or cysts
•Bone loss
•Cancerous and non-cancerous tumors
•Decay between the teeth
•Developmental abnormalities
•Poor tooth and root positions
•Problems inside a tooth or below the gum line
3D Imaging
3D imaging is a relatively new technology that creates images of your teeth in 3D format. Having these digitized images provides a highly accurate representation of your teeth, allowing your dentist to get a full picture of what’s happening in your mouth, so they can better tailor your treatment plan.
Family Dentistry
We provide dental care for all members of the family, young or old! We believe that you deserve the best oral health at any age. We love having patients continue to visit us for many years. Our dental needs can change as we age, and we are here to help you with those transitions with grace and excellent care.
Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride is a naturally-occuring mineral and is extremely effective in helping to prevent tooth decay. Fluoride alone will not prevent tooth decay, but it can be a helpful addition to your oral health care.
Most of us receive adequate amounts of fluoride from food and water. But occasionally these amounts are not enough to keep our teeth free of decay. Your dentist or dental hygienist may recommend the use of home and/or professional fluoride treatments.
Oral Cancer Screening
Your dentist’s office is a great place to start when screening for the early signs of oral cancer. When oral cancer is diagnosed in its earliest stages, treatment is generally very effective.
Any concerning symptoms should be evaluated by a health professional as quickly as possible. During an oral cancer screening, the dentist and dental hygienist will examine the maxillofacial and oral regions meticulously for abnormalities
Sealants
A sealant is a thin, plastic coating applied to the surface of molars, premolars, and any teeth with deep grooves. Since the majority of decay starts in these grooves, a sealant can help protect the teeth from this deterioration, as it provides a smoother, easy to clean surface.
Sealants are easily applied by your dentist or dental hygienist and the process takes only a couple of minutes per tooth.
Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is a simple process that uses a whitening agent to restore or lighten the natural color of your teeth, as well as removing discolorations. We offer several options to safely brighten your teeth; at-home strips, custom whitening trays for at-home application and in-office whitening for a faster result. Tooth whitening is not permanent. The lasting effects of this treatment vary depending on lifestyle habits such as smoking, and coffee, tea, or wine drinking.
Veneers
Veneers are very thin pieces of durable porcelain that are customized for your teeth by a professional dental laboratory. They are bonded onto the front of teeth to create a more consistent and appealing result. This process usually requires two visits.
As with most dental restorations, veneers are not permanent and may someday need replacement. They are very durable and with the proper care and maintenance, can last many years.
Invisalign
The ability to move teeth with aligners trays. Invisalign is a great options for patient's who have had orthodontic relapse or want minor corrections for a better smile. We also use invisalign for esthetic movements and as a treatment before veneers or esthetic bonding.
Esthetic Bonding
Sometimes tooth-colored composite filling material can be added to the front teeth to improve the size, shape or color of the teeth. This is a conservative approach that may need to be touched up or replaced over time depending upon your habits or lifestyle.
Smile Makeover
Careful evalutation and treatment planning to re-vamp your overall smile and function to provide a long-lasting esthetic result. Usually involves a careful combination of crowns, bridges, implants, veneers or esthetic bonding to change your oral condition to match your desires. It can also be as minimally invasive as reshaping your teeth to better suit your overall appearance.
Inlay Restorations
An inlay restoration is a filling custom-made by a professional dental laboratory. The material used can be composite, gold, or porcelain and is permanently cemented into the tooth by your dentist.
Opting for an inlay restoration allows us to conservatively repair teeth that have large defective fillings or extensive decay or trauma. They are an ideal alternative to conventional silver and composite fillings and are more conservative than crowns since less tooth structure is removed in the preparation.
As with most dental restorations, inlays are not always permanent and may someday require replacement. They are very durable, and with proper care and maintenance, can last many years.
Onlay Restorations
Occasionally referred to as partial crowns, onlays are essentially identical to inlays with the exception that one or more of the chewing cusps have also been affected and need to be included in the restoration.
Fillings
Fillings are used to repair teeth that are affected by decay or other injuries to the integrity of the teeth.
During the filling process the affected portion of the tooth is removed and replaced with a filling. This process can usually be achieved in one visit. There are several types of material used for fillings, each with their own unique qualities. We will discuss the pros and cons of each, and select the best option for your teeth.
The most common choices of material for fillings are silver amalgam and composite. As with most dental restorations, fillings are not permanent and may eventually need replacement. They are very durable, and with proper care and maintenance, can last many years.
Crowns
A crown (or cap) is a covering that encases the entire tooth surface, restoring it to its original shape and size. A crown protects and strengthens tooth structure that cannot be restored with fillings or other types of restorations. Porcelain, gold and zirconia are the most common materials used in crowns. You and the dentist will choose the best material for your tooth.
Fixed Bridges
A dental bridge is a fixed (non-removable) appliance and is an excellent way to replace missing teeth. There are several types of bridges, and we will discuss the best options for your particular case.
A traditional bridge generally consists of one or two teeth covered by crowns on either side of the space where a tooth (or teeth) is missing. These crowns are connected to a prosthetic tooth (or teeth) in the middle which replaces the missing teeth.
Dental bridges are highly durable and with proper care and maintenance, will last many years. However, they may need replacement or need to be re-cemented due to normal wear. The dental bridge process usually requires two or more visits.
Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy is performed in order to save a natural tooth when the nerve of that tooth is affected by decay or infection. During the process, the pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth), nerves, bacteria, and any decay are removed and the resulting space is filled with special, medicated, dental materials, restoring the tooth to its full function.
“Why not just extract the tooth?”
Extracting a tooth may be more costly and cause significant problems for adjacent teeth. Preserving natural teeth is always the first option to explore.
Root canal treatment is highly successful and with proper oral care and maintenance, can usually last a lifetime. But occasionally, a tooth will have to be retreated due to new infections. A root canal procedure requires one or more appointments and can be performed by a dentist or endodontist.
Dental Emergencies
Botox
Treatment of TMD typically depends on the underlying cause(s), symptom severity, and patient history. Some TMD symptoms can be relieved with non-surgical treatments, like botox.
Botox may provide short-term relief of some TMD symptoms previously mentioned, including:
Jaw clicking or popping (or jaw pressure)
Pain when chewing
Locking of the jaw (jaw lock)
Headaches and migraines
Earaches (pain under the ears)
Toothaches
Tenderness of the jaw
Facial pain and pain around the eyes
After the treatment, you may begin to feel benefits within days or weeks, with peak results occurring between four and six weeks later. Just like other types of Botox treatments, injections for TMD don’t last forever.
Mouth Guards
A common and convenient treatment for TMD is a mouth guard. Wearing a dental mouthguard during sleep can help protect your teeth and soothe your jaw pain. With our mouth guards, you'll have a great, customized fit. Our team of professionals determines your exact issues, then we design a mouth guard specifically suited to your needs.