Oral Hygiene Care Dental Cleaning Sealants Bonding Fillings Sedation Dentistry Gum Treatments Crowns & Bridges Root Canal Treatment Dental Implants

Dentures Nightguards & Mouthguards Tooth Whitening Veneers X-Rays Automated Appt  Reminders           (coming soon!) Digital Imaging Electronic Claim Processing Intraoral Imaging

ORAL HYGIENE CARE
Maintaining good oral hygiene is one of the most important things you can do for your teeth and gums.  Healthy teeth not only enable you to look and feel good, they make it possible to eat and speak properly.  Good oral health is important to your overall well-being. Daily preventive care, including proper brushing and flossing, will help stop problems before they develop.

In between regular visits to the dentist, there are simple steps that each of us can take to greatly decrease the risk of developing tooth decay, gum disease and other dental problems. These include:

• Brush thoroughly twice a day and floss daily
• Eat a balanced diet and limit snacks between meals
• Use dental products which contain fluoride, including toothpaste
• Rinse with a flouride mouth rinse if advised to do so
• Make sure children under 12 drink fluoridated water or take a fluoride supplement if they live in a non-fluoridated area
• Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral exams
• Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months

The following are indications of good oral hygiene:

• Your teeth are clean and free of debris
• Gums are pink and do not hurt or bleed when you brush or floss
• Bad breath is not a constant problem

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SEALANTS
Sealants are used to fill narrow grooves in a tooth that cannot be adequately cleaned by brushing.  In some cases, the tooth structure has fine grooves or pits which accumulate plaque, not because the person doesn't brush, but because they're too narrow to allow even one bristle into them.  To avoid cavities developing over time, the dental professional will brush on a coating that seals the grooves and pits, making it possible to brush off all the plaque and keep your teeth healthy.  Back to top

BONDING
Bonding involves adhering composite resin material that is matched to the color of the tooth, to the front of the tooth. This is performed to repair damage caused by decay, to alter the alignment of the tooth, close gaps between the teeth, or for other cosmetic purposes. 

First the surface of the tooth is roughened in order to accept the bonding.  A gel is applied so the resin will adhere to the surface of the tooth.  The composite is then placed on the tooth and the bonding agent hardens with intense light. The last step is shaping and polishing to give a lustrous finish.  Back to top

FILLINGS
A filling is a way to restore a tooth damaged by decay back to its normal function and shape.  If you have a tooth that requires a filling, the dentist will first remove the decayed tooth material, clean the affected area, and then fill the cleaned out cavity with a filling material.  A filling helps prevent further decay by closing off any cracks or spaces where bacteria can enter.

There are a variety of filling materials available including gold, silver, plastic and porcelain. The dentist will work with you to determine which material is best, depending on the extent of repair, where in the filling is needed, and cost.  Each filling material is briefly explained below:

· Gold fillings are custom made in a laboratory and then cemented into place.  While gold fillings are often the most expensive choice, many consider it the best filling material.  Gold inlays are well-tolerated by gum tissues and may last more than 20 years.  

· Composite (plastic) resins are custom made to the exact color of your natural teeth, creating a more natural appearance. While white fillings may be less noticeable than other materials, they usually only last between 3 and 10 years and may not be ideal for large fillings as they may chip or wear over time.  They can also become stained from coffee, tea or tobacco.

· Porcelain fillings are called inlays or onlays and are custom created in a lab and then bonded to the tooth.  They can be matched to the color of the tooth, resist staining, and are about the same cost as gold fillings.  A porcelain restoration generally covers most of the tooth, making the filling nearly undetectable.

If decay or a fracture has damaged a large portion of the tooth, a crown (or "cap") may be recommended.  Decay that has reached the nerve may be treated through root canal therapy or through a procedure called pulp capping.  Back to top

SEDATION DENTISTRY 

NON-SURGICAL GUM TREATMENT
The gums, ligaments, and bone around the teeth form the foundation for  teeth. All structures are also referred to as the periodontium. When the periodontium is not healthy, it jeopardizes the teeth just as a bad foundation would threaten the stability of a house.  Signs of unhealthy periodontium include: gums that are red and bleed easily, persistent bad breath, gums that are pulled away from the tooth, loose teeth, and changes in the position or bite of the teeth.  With proper gum treatments,  it may be possible to return gum tissue to a healthy state.  If you're having a problem, come in and see us so we may treat it right away. The treatment usually involves a deep cleaning or root planing done under a local anesthetic, along with local antibiotic agents.  It is important to have gum problems checked promptly, as gum disease left alone may eventually need treatment through surgery or extraction.  Back to top

Tooth whitening is a popular procedure to make teeth whiter and brighter, and therefore more attractive. Bleaching can be used to whitening stained and discolored teeth, or simply to enhance a dull smile.  Either way, tooth whitening is a safe and relatively painless procedure ideal for most patients.  Our office offers two methods of whitening: in-office whitening and tray whitening.

Zoom! whitening is ideal for anyone wanting immediate results.  The entire process takes place in our office in about an hour, making it the perfect choice for busy individuals.  In this process, a protective gel is applied to your gums to protect the soft tissue.  A special light-activated gel is then applied to your teeth and a special light or laser is used to enhance the action of the agent - making your teeth whiter and brighter.  As a final step, we take impressions of your teeth to create custom trays for at home touch-ups, and give you instructions for keeping your smile bright. The result is dramatically whiter teeth that will last for years.

Tray whitening is a less expensive whitening treatment you can use while in the comfort of your own home.  We will first take an impression of your mouth to create a customized clear whitening trays for you to wear.  Within a few days your trays will be ready to be picked up and we will show you how to apply the special bleaching material to the trays.  The whitening gel trays should be worn 30-60 minutes up to twice a day.  At the end of this period, you will see maximum whitening results that are nothing short of dazzling.  Occasional treatment can be used at your convenience to maintain your new smile.  Back to top

VENEERS
Veneers are a dental procedure in which a covering is placed over the outside (visible area) of the tooth. Veneers are usually only applied to the part of the tooth that is visible when talking or smiling. The procedure can be direct or indirect.

The direct technique usually involves placing composite resin on the outside of the tooth using bonding. This method is usually referred to as bonding.

The indirect technique usually involves two appointments because the veneers will be fabricated at a dental laboratory.  At the first appointment the teeth are prepared, impressions taken, and the teeth are given a temporary covering. In two to three weeks the veneers are back from the laboratory, the temporaries are removed and the veneers are bonded to the teeth. The laboratory fabricated veneers are usually made using porcelain or pressed ceramic and are very aesthetic.

The advantage of veneers versus crowns is that much less tooth material is removed, and the procedure is generally less uncomfortable. Veneers are recommended for teeth that have large fillings or little tooth structure. 

LUMINEERS
Lumineers are porcelain veneers that offer the painless way to a permanently whiter and perfectly aligned smile. Your LUMINEERS dentist can apply these contact lens-thin "smile shapers" to teeth without any grinding or shaving, transforming teeth into a naturally beautiful smile that looks perfect for every individual. LUMINEERS can even be placed over existing crown or bridgework without having to replace them.

LUMINEERS are contact lens-thin and are placed over existing teeth without having to remove painful tooth structure (unlike traditional veneers.) LUMINEERS is the painless, permanent cosmetic solution for stained, chipped, discolored or misaligned teeth.
 

LUMINEERS can only be made from patented Cerinate porcelain unavailable anywhere other than the Cerinate Smile Design Studio. In just 2-3 visits to your LUMINEERS dentist, you can have a custom-made smile that is clinically proven to last over 20 years - and it is completely reversible since your natural tooth structure is still intact! Get your perfect smile today! Back to top

X-RAYS
X-rays are a focused beam of x-ray particles passed through bone which produce an image on special film, showing the structure through which it passed.  This provides the familiar black and white images doctors and dentists use to diagnose problems and disease.  Without an x-ray of the whole tooth and supporting bone and gum tissues, there would be no way to detect infection or pathology that requires attention. Back to top

AUTOMATED APPOINTMENT REMINDER
We use an automated appointment reminder system that will call your home two days prior to your scheduled appointment time to remind you of your appointment. Please listen to the message carefully and follow the prompts to confirm your appointment. If you do not respond to the message, our office staff will contact you to confirm your scheduled visit.  If you are not home, a message will be left on your voicemail.  Failure to notify our office of a cancellation may result in a charge. See our missed appointment policy for more information. Back to top

ELECTRONIC CLAIM PROCESSING
Our office utilizes electronic claims processing. This means that rather than sending your dental claim through the mail, it is sent electronically to your insurance company with the click of the button. By filing your claim electronically, information is submitted more efficiently and with fewer errors.This benefits our patients because the turn around time on claims is faster and fewer claims are returned or denied. We are happy to submit your dental claims to your insurance company on your behalf.  Back to top

INTRAORAL IMAGING
We use small cameras about the size of a pen, called intraoral cameras, to help clearly see the condition of your teeth and gums.  With this advanced technology we can zoom in on small diseased areas, cracks, chips and worn metal fillings with extreme precision. The full-color images taken with the intraoral camera are sent to a computer screen so we can clearly see and diagnose dental problems much earlier than with traditional dental technology. Because images are displayed on our screens, patients will also be able to see areas being worked on and are able to gain a better understanding of dental procedures being performed.  Back to top

TELESCOPIC LOUPES
The dentist performs most of his dental procedures while wearing a pair of funny looking glasses called surgical telescopes. These powerful glasses have magnifiers on them, allowing the dentist to see fine details that would go unnoticed to the naked eye.  Back to top