Services

Crowns & Bridges

Crowns: Over time, teeth can begin to weaken which makes them more susceptible to problems like decay, cracks and/ or discoloration. In this circumstance, your dentist may recommend a crown. Crowns can be made from ceramic, porcelain fused to metal, or full cast gold. At your visit, the dentist will match your natural tooth color to the crown to help maintain a natural beautiful smile. Crowns take two appointments: one to prepare the tooth and one to seat the permanent crown. A temporary crown will be placed to allow time (one week) for the lab to fabricate the permanent crown. Once the permanent crown is finished, you will return for your crown seat appointment. Crowns should be cared for like your natural teeth. Brushing and flossing your crown regularly will help ensure it to last for many years to come.

Crowns can also be used as a final restoration to a dental implant.

Bridges: If you are missing a tooth, your dentist may recommend a bridge to restore the space. Missing teeth can cause more than just aesthetic issues, they can also cause structural changes to your mouth and jaw, as well as account for loss of chewing function. A bridge is used to connect the existing adjacent teeth and is similar to a crown. They can be made from ceramic, porcelain fused to metal or full cast gold. At your visit, the dentist will match your natural tooth color to the bridge to help maintain a natural beautiful smile. Bridges take two appointments; one to prepare the two adjacent teeth and one to seat the permanent bridge. A temporary bridge will be placed to allow time (one week) for the lab to fabricate the permanent bridge. Once the permanent bridge is finished, you will return for your bridge seat appointment.   Bridges should be cared for like your natural teeth. One of our staff members will go over daily care instructions to help ensure your bridge to last for many years to come.

Extractions and Implants

Extractions: Teeth that can potentially cause problems, like infection, need to be removed. Based on patient specific needs, your doctor will decide if the extractions can be performed in office with a local anesthetic or if you will need to be referred to an oral surgeon’s office. If extractions are completed in our office, a staff member will go over any risks or possible complications that can occur with any type of surgery and you will be asked to sign a consent form. Post-operative instructions will be given by one of our staff members and your normal dental routine should continue after 24 hours.

Implant: If you are missing a tooth, your dentist may recommend an implant to restore the space. Missing teeth can cause more than just aesthetic issues, they can also cause structural changes to your mouth and jaw, as well as account for loss of chewing function. An implant is a specially designed alternative to a bridge as it does not involve the adjacent teeth. The implant itself is inserted into the jaw bone by an oral surgeon. Once healing is complete (3-6 months), your dentist will work with you through a series of appointments to construct the final restoration. A crown is placed as a final restoration to an implant. Implants should be cared for like your natural teeth. One of our staff members will go over daily care instructions to help ensure your implant to last for many years to come.

White and Silver Fillings

Restores tooth structure that is lost due to decay. There are two types of fillings: Composite Resin (white) and Amalgam (silver).

Composite Resin: Filling material that is adhered to the tooth with adhesive and then hardened by a blue light. At your visit, the dentist will match your natural tooth color to the composite to help maintain a natural beautiful smile.

Amalgam: Filling material made of alloy that is used to fill the void of lost tooth structure.

Dentures & Partial Dentures

It is important to understand that a denture is an artificial replacement for missing teeth. Dentures are removal and can be taken in and out when you choose.

Conventional Full Dentures: All teeth are extracted. After extractions, time is allowed for tissues to heal (6-8 weeks) and then full denture is placed. During the healing period, you will be without teeth.

Dentures are made out of acrylic resin. At your visit, the dentist will match your natural tooth color to the denture to help maintain a natural beautiful smile. Dentures will often need adjusted to ensure a good and proper fit. Adhesives can and should be used as necessary. Dentures should be cared for like your natural teeth and should not be worn over night. One of our staff members will go over daily care instructions to help ensure your denture to last for many years to come.

Partial Dentures: When not all the teeth are missing, but spaces need restored, your dentist may recommend a partial. A partial is similar to a denture in the way that they are removable. Partials are made of acrylic resin and should be cared for like your natural teeth. One of our staff members will go over daily care instructions to help ensure your partial to last for many years to come.

Cleanings

Cleanings: Your teeth are not the only important part of your mouth. Your gums are essential to oral hygiene as well! At our office, you will receive the highest level of service to ensure that you maintain great oral health. We recommend coming in to see us for routine cleanings twice a year or every six months. At your cleaning visit, your hygienist will provide an oral cancer screening, record data pertaining to the health of your gum tissues and clean away any plaque and/or tartar that may be left behind. We recommend X-rays to look in between your teeth to be taken once a year.

Root Canal Therapy (Endodontics)

When a tooth becomes spontaneously painful it can be related to the nerve of that tooth. Sometimes infection may be present and can cause swelling, but not every time. Your dentist may recommend Root Canal Therapy to treat the pain or infection. During Root Canal Therapy, the nerves of the tooth are removed and replaced with filling material called gutta percha. A filling or crown will be placed as a final restoration to the root canal. Soreness that occurs after a root canal is common and is controllable with over the counter pain medications.

Cosmetic

Whitening: Daily habits like smoking and/or drinking dark liquids such as; coffee, wine or pop can leave our teeth looking dingy or stained. Whitening is a good way to restore the natural whiteness of our teeth. Sometimes teeth can even come out looking whiter! At our office, we offer at home whitening. At your first appointment, impressions of your teeth are made and custom trays are built to ensure a proper fit. At your next appointment, your bleach trays and tubes of bleaching gel will be delivered to you and one of our staff members will go over instructions on how to use the bleaching gel.

*It is always important to remember that whitening only affects natural tooth surface and any dental work that has been done on front teeth will not lighten in color.

Bonding: Gaps, cracks and chips can all affect your smile. Bonding is an easy way to correct these minor defects and enhance the aesthetics of your smile! Tooth colored composite resin is used and applied similarly to a white filling. Bonding is a safe, affordable and attractive solution for many dental problems.