Comprehensive Oral Exam

At the initial dental visit, each patient will undergo a comprehensive oral exam with necessary radiographs. We will evaluate your teeth, gums and perform an oral cancer screening. Most importantly, we will go over all of your concerns and create a plan for resolution.

Dental Cleanings

During the course of every day and night, teeth begin to form a film called plaque. While normal brushing removes most of the build-up, dental cleanings are needed to remove the hardened plaque called tartar. Routine dental cleanings are necessary to help prevent cavities and periodontal disease.

Scaling and Root Planing (Deep Cleaning)

Once tarter begins to build up on the root surfaces of teeth and below the gum, a routine dental cleaning may not be enough. At this point, a scaling and root planning may be necessary to remove the extensive build-up and prevent bone loss.

Nightguards

Over 50 percent of the population was found to grind or clench their teeth. This can cause tooth wear, sensitivity, fractures of teeth or crowns, headaches and TMJ pain. When signs or symptoms of grinding or clenching arise, a nightguard may be fabricated to prevent future damage or discomfort.

Fillings

Once teeth get decayed, the process by which the bacteria eats away at the tooth does not cease on its own. Once the tooth gets penetrated with bacteria, it must be removed mechanically and a filling must be placed to restore the tooth for proper function.

Crowns

When a tooth is fractured or if the decay causes a loss of too much tooth structure, the tooth may be too weak to be restored with a filling. If this occurs, the tooth may require a crown. The process requires shaping the tooth to allow a crown to fit over it. An impression is then taken and sent to the lab for crown fabrication. While the crown is being made in the lab, a provisional crown is worn to keep the tooth in function. The final crown will help maintain the tooth’s integrity.

Bridges

When a tooth is missing, it may be harder to function or chew effectively. Other teeth in the area may also begin to move out of position. One solution to missing teeth is fabrication of a fixed bridge. Similarly to fabrication of a crown, a bridge is the fabrication of two crowns immediately adjacent to the area of the missing tooth. Attached to those two crowns is a pontic, or false tooth. Once cemented in place, the bridge restores function to the area of the missing tooth.

Partial and Full Arch Dentures

When multiple or all teeth in an arch are missing, an option for replacement is a full or removable partial denture. These prosthesis may be made of nylon, acrylic, metal or a combination. They are removed nightly and may use teeth in the mouth as their support.

Veneers

Veneers are covers for the front part of the teeth. They are usually used to correct tooth imperfections, such as chipping, staining, decay, or crooked teeth. Veneers come in two types – the porcelain veneer and the direct composite veneer. Porcelain veneers are made of a super-strong, tooth-colored porcelain laminate that is shaped into thin shells and custom-fitted for each patient’s unique set of teeth. Direct composite veneers are composite resin which are molded directly on the surface of the tooth.

Implant Restorations

After an implant is placed in the jaw bone by a specialist and has become osseointegrated (locked within the bone) it is ready to be restored by one of our restorative dentists. This is done by placing an abutment on top of the implant. It is held in place by a screw. Over the top of the abutment will sit the crown.

Invisalign

Invisalign® straightens your teeth using a custom-made series of aligners created for you and only you. These aligner trays are made of smooth, comfortable and virtually invisible plastic that you wear over your teeth. They gradually and gently shift your teeth into place in the sequence determined by your doctor.