Initial Oral Exam ▼
Your initial oral examination includes a visual examination, an oral cancer screening, information gathering, a diagnosis, and treatment recommendations. This involves taking various types of x-rays, which allows us to properly make a diagnosis in order to recommend treatment that individually fits each patient.
The following is a detailed list of your initial oral exam:
- Complete visual exam of teeth for decay
- When necessary, x-rays and their interpretation
- Exam for looseness of teeth
- Exam to determine any tooth nerve damage
- Complete exam for abnormalities of the roof of the mouth, floor of the mouth, tongue, lips, and cheeks
- Early detection of bite problems
- Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) exam for pain or abnormal sounds
- Examine facial tissue and lymph nodes for abnormalities
- Examine gums for diseased tissue and plaque
- Medical update that may affect your dental work
- Pan x-ray every 5 years to check any head and neck abnormalities
Emergency Examination ▼
Whether you are a new or existing patient, our office quickly addresses our patients’ emergency dental needs.
Professional Cleanings ▼
Many people are familiar with routine cleanings. Whether you are on a 6-month cleaning cycle or sooner, our friendly and experienced hygiene staff is ready to provide the individual cleaning service to meet your specific needs. Our gentle professional cleanings will help preserve your teeth and gums. Routine professional cleanings can help minimize the risk of tooth decay. Early detection and restoration will minimize the need for more expensive and extensive procedures. If you have not scheduled your next professional cleaning, contact us today.
Fillings ▼
Thanks to advanced technology, several dental filling materials are available. Teeth can be filled with gold, porcelain, silver amalgam fillings or tooth-colored composite fillings. Today, most of our restorative solutions are tooth colored due to the improved appearance and the increased strength of the filling material. However, the location, extent of decay, cost , your insurance coverage, and personal preference are all factors to consider in choosing filling materials. Our dental assessment will assist in determining best type of filling to address your needs.
Sealants ▼
A sealant is a thin, plastic coating applied to the chewing surface of molars, premolars and any deep grooves of teeth. Teeth with these conditions are hard to clean and are very susceptible to decay. A sealant protects the tooth by sealing deep grooves, creating a smooth, easy to clean surface. Sealants can protect teeth from decay for many years, but need to be checked for wear and chipping at regular dental visits. Sealants are not for everyone, but a proper exam and assessment allows us to assess if sealants are right for you.
Sealants are easily applied and the process for each tooth is quick. The teeth to be sealed are thoroughly cleaned and then surrounded with cotton to keep the area dry. A special solution is applied to the enamel surface to help the sealant bond to the teeth. The teeth are then rinsed and dried. Sealant material is carefully painted onto the enamel surface to cover the deep grooves or depressions.
Proper home care, a balanced diet, and regular dental visits will aid in the life of new sealants.
Teeth Whitening ▼
Advances in Modern Cosmetic Dentistry have created many simple, non-invasive teeth whitening solutions. Teeth-whitening is a simple, non-invasive procedure, helping to brighten your teeth and rid your smile of any stains or discolorations. Teeth-whitening is a simple way to help people feel better about their teeth, smiles, and overall appearance. It’s important to note that teeth-whitening is effective only when applied to natural tooth enamel. Existing crowns, implants, bridges, and fillings do not change with whitening. Consequently, some people with older restorations replace them with newer and whiter ones and then whiten their natural teeth to the new, whiter shades. Many whitening systems exist. Ask us about which system is right for you.
Dental Implants ▼
Dental implants are the standard of care for replacing one or more missing. When a patient loses a tooth or several teeth, titanium implants are placed to replace the roots of the original teeth. Once placed, our office places the replacement tooth on the implant. This is a quick and comfortable process and, once in place, patients report complete satisfaction and the natural feel of the implant
Implants can also be used to anchor complete dentures or partial dentures when retention cannot be achieved by the patients’ natural teeth.
Crowns and Bridges ▼
Dental bridges fill the gap created by one or more missing teeth and consist of crowns on either side of the gap. The two anchoring teeth are called abutments and secure the false tooth or teeth in between, which can be made from gold, alloys, composite resins, or a combination of these materials. Dental bridges can be supported by both natural teeth and implants.
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped "cap" that is placed over a tooth, covering the tooth to restore its shape, size, strength, or simply to improve its appearance. Crowns are typically used to restore a tooth's function and appearance following a restorative procedure such as a root canal. When decay in a tooth has become so advanced that large portions of the tooth must be removed, crowns are often used to restore the tooth.
If you are considering a dental implant, our office is your resource for implant crowns. An implant crown is a reproduction of the lost tooth that is placed over a dental implant. The implant crown replicates the original tooth in shape, size, strength, and appearance. When the crown is adhered into place, it will fully encase the entire visible portion of the dental implant.
Inlays and Onlays ▼
An onlay restoration is a custom made filling made of composite material, gold, or tooth-colored porcelain. An onlay is sometimes also referred to as a partial crown. Porcelain onlays are made by a professional dental laboratory similar to crowns and are permanently cemented onto the tooth at our office. Reasons for onlay restorations include broken or fractured teeth, cosmetic enhancement, decayed teeth, fractured fillings, and large fillings.
Onlays can be utilized to conservatively repair teeth that have large defective fillings or have been damaged by decay or trauma. If applicable, onlays are an ideal alternative to crowns (caps) because less tooth structure is removed in their preparation. They 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. As with most dental restorations, onlays are not always permanent and may someday require replacement. They are highly durable and will last many years, giving you a beautiful long lasting smile.
An inlay restoration is a custom made filling made of composite material, gold, or tooth-colored porcelain. It is made by a professional dental laboratory and is permanently cemented into the tooth.
Inlays can be utilized to conservatively repair teeth that have large defective fillings or have been damaged by decay or trauma and are an ideal alternative to conventional silver and composite fillings.
Similar to crowns, both onlay and inlay procedures usually requires two appointments. Your first appointment will include taking several highly accurate impressions (molds) that will be used to create your custom and a temporary restoration.
Regarding all tooth restorations, you will receive care instruction at the conclusion of your treatment. Good oral hygiene practices, a proper diet, and regular dental visits will aid in the life of your new filling, crown, bridge, implant restoration, or filling.
Complete and Partial Dentures ▼
If you have lost some or all of your teeth due to gum disease, decay, or trauma, then dentures can dramatically improve your smile. A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissues. We may suggest complete dentures or partial dentures, depending on how many natural teeth you have lost and the condition of your existing teeth.
Veneers ▼
Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain or composite cemented over the front of your teeth to change their color or shape. Veneers are used on teeth with uneven surfaces or those that are chipped, discolored, oddly shaped, unevenly spaced or crooked.
Children’s Dentistry ▼
Our practice loves to treat children of all ages, including infants. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that an infant’s first dental visit occur after his or her first baby teeth erupt. Performing an infant’s very first oral exam is one of the most enjoyable events in our office. From that point forward, your child should receive a regular dental cleaning and checkup every 6 months. Fluoride treatment is recommended twice a year along with the cleanings to keep teeth their strongest.
To protect the deep grooves of adult teeth and prevent cavities from forming, tooth sealants are also sometimes recommended in hard-to-reach areas like the molars. Sealants last for several years, but will be monitored at your regular checkups. We treat cavities and additional services include stainless steel crowns and simple extractions for baby teeth that are ready to come out. An evaluation will also be made for orthodontic treatment if there are signs of future problems.