Services

We have several services that are at the forefront of today's dentistry.

Smile Design

Giving your self a new smile involves artistic design by your dentist. Changing the teeth's appearance is usually accomplished with veneers. Veneers are ceramic facings, bonded with resin cement on a tooth to repair defects, or to cosmetically enhance your teeth shape and/ or color. This type of restoration is placed after some minor preparation of the tooth structure is made by your dentist. The procedure involves teamwork between the dentist, patient, and ceramic laboratory in order to select the shape and tooth color desired for a new smile. New smiles with veneers are are amazing!

Implant Dentistry

Implant dentistry is used in several areas of tooth replacement. A dental implant is used to replace a tooth root. Sometimes this involves placing one implant when a single tooth is lost. Other circumstances involve replacing more than one tooth. Multiple implants can be placed and either restored with crowns, bridges, or implants can be used to retain dentures and give them great stability. Implant placement involves careful evaluation by your dentist and a specialist, usually an oral surgeon or periodontist. These specialist are the doctors that place the implants while your family dentist does the restorative work( i.e. placing the crown(s),bridge(s), or denture(s).

All Ceramic Crowns

All ceramic crowns are restorations that are placed most often when a tooth is broken and can not be repaired with a bonded filling or veneer. Traditionally, all ceramic crowns were only placed on anterior teeth; however, modern dental science has invented materials that are strong enough to withstand the forces generated on the back teeth. The advantage that these crowns have over traditional porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns is that they are much more aesthetic. The material in these crowns allows light to pass through them giving a natural appearance. Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns do not allow light to pass through because of the metal substructure underneath the porcelain ;additionally, as we age, the gums often will recede a little around PFM crowns and a tiny bit of metal may be noticable at the gum line. Your dentist will help you determine which type of crown is most suitable to restore your tooth.

Zoom

Zoom is an in office whitening system that can make your teeth up to ten shades whiter in one office visit. Please see our links page for additional information.

Bonded Restorations

Bonded restorations are " tooth colored" resin restorations that are used in a variety of situations. A shade is selected to match your tooth color and then this material can be used to fill a cavity, to fix a chipped tooth, or to close spaces in between teeth. See before and after photos below.

Periodontal Maintenance

Periodontal maintenance is the foundation of dentistry. The periodontium consists of the bone and gums which are the foundation for the teeth. Everyone knows that a weak foundation does not hold in the long run; furthermore, without regular cleanings and dental exams people are at risk of devloping periodontal disease. Periodontal disease occurs because the plaque and tartar which develops on your teeth in those hard to reach areas contains bacteria. Bacteria secrets toxins and as the body's immune system tries to fight these bacterial byproducts, inflammation results, and gum tissue and bone is destroyed. Thus, recall appointments with our hygiene department are very important to monitor your periodontal health. Some people are genetically predisposed to develop calculus(tartar) more easily than others; moreover, some of these people need more frequent cleaning visits than every six months. Additionally, some patients are referred to the periodontist, a specialist, for periodontal maintenance. We will work with you to achieve optimum oral health and instruct you how to care for your mouth the best you can!

Porcelain fused to Gold and All Gold Crowns

There are circumstances when a tooth needs to be restored with a crown and your doctor may recommend a porcelain-fused-to-gold crown or an all gold crown. Sometimes people have such a strong bite that the metal reenforcement under the porcelain is necessary to endure chewing forces. When performed by a quality ceramist these restorations can still be highly aesthetic and more cost efficient than all ceramic or all gold crowns. Your dentist may also recommend all gold in some circumstances. Teeth can be very short in the back of the mouth and occasionally there is not enough tooth structure, after reduction by the dentist, to have room for a porcelain-fused-to-gold crown. Porcelain has to have a certain thickness or the crown may fracture. When there is limited room in these places your dentist may recommend an all gold crown. Gold is a great material because it is gentle on opposing teeth when you are chewing, and the gums typically have little irritation from gold crowns.

Fixed Bridges

A fixed bridge is a restoration that is used to replace one or more teeth that may have been lost. A fixed bridge may be used to replace a tooth in a space where implant placement is not possible. Additionally, fixed bridges may be used to replace multipe missing teeth while at the same time strengthening the teeth it uses for attachment. The teeth that the bridge is cemented onto are called abutments. The pontic is the unit in between the abutments, replacing the missing tooth or teeth. Your dentist will guide you in determining if a fixed bridge is the right restoration for tooth replacement.

Ceramic/ Gold Onlays and Inlays

Inlays and onlays are restorations that are used to restore decayed and broken teeth. The difference between these restorations and fillings are that they are much stronger than fillings, and generally will provide you with many more years of longevity. Your dentist, at the first visit, removes decay or an old filling, prepares your tooth ,and takes a mold of the tooth. A temporary restoration is placed and this impression is sent to a lab where a ceramic or gold restoration is made. At the next visit this lab fabracated inlay/onlay is placed with a permanant cement . The main difference between this restoration and a crown is the conservation of tooth structure. A tooth must be prepared more aggressively for a crown to make room for dental restorative material.

TMJ Treatment/ Headaches:

TMJ treatment involves treating the temporomandibular joint. This is the joint that connects the lower jaw to your skull. People often have pain in this joint or experience popping or clicking noises from this area. These symptoms of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) arise from trauma to the jaw joint. Trauma can result from an improper jaw alignment, a non ideal occulsion( how the top and bottom teeth come together), a parafunctional habit( clinching or grinding your teeth) or a physical accident to the joint. Regardless of the cause of the joint disorder it is treatable with proper diagnosis from your dentist. TMD often results in over-activity of your jaw muscles and the strain on these muscles can result in headaches. Please ask your dentist about TMD and treatments available if you have frequent headaches or any problem with your jaw joints.