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Invisalign Braces
Digital Radiography (X-rays)
Laser Dentistry
Pain Free Anesthetic Delivery
Computer Controlled Novocaine Delivery System
Meth Mouth
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Finding Decay
One of the most important things we do for our patients is to identify and fill cavities. Since any spot of decay can threaten the integrity of an entire tooth, this is key to preventing a host of future problems. Historically, that's why lengthy poking and prodding sessions have been an acceptable, if not very comfortable, part of dental exams. However, such methods of decay detection are only 50% to 75% successful: cavities can hide along fissure lines, or inside biting or occlusal surfaces. |
Further, mechanical exploratory methods are limited to finding only those cavities that are equal to or larger than the probe head.
Enter D-Carie: We have invested in a new FDA approved probe, the D-Carie. The probe uses fiber optic and LED technologies to detect caries with more than 90% accuracy when compared to conventional methods of visual examination, dental explorers and even digital X-rays. So we can now detect caries even before they can be seen or cause you pain.
When you come in for a cleaning, we will examine all surfaces of your teeth (even between th e teeth) with the D-Carie. It emits a red light and a beeping sound when it locates a cavity even below the surface of the tooth. The sound increases rapidly if the cavity is large, so you too will know when one is located.
When we can so quickly and precisely detect the location and size of the caries, we can more effectively minimize damage and tooth loss. The use of X-rays can also be avoided particularly in children, pregnant women and others. |
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Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain laminate veneers are probably the most aesthetic means of creating a more pleasing and beautiful smile. They require a minimal amount of tooth reduction (approximately .5 mm) and are, therefore, a more conservative restoration than a crown. Porcelain veneers allow us to alter tooth position, shape, size and color. They are not the only alternative for all aesthetic abnormalities but are truly a remarkable restoration when they are the treatment of choice.
Veneers are a fantastic way to fix front teeth. You can whiten your teeth, close spaces, and create a great smile. We can even do virtually instant orthodontics to straighten crooked teeth.
• Spaces between the teeth (diastemas)
• Broken or chipped teeth
• Unsightly, stained or washed out fillings
• Permanently stained or discolored teeth
• Misshapen or crooked teeth
• Whiten dark yellow or stained teeth
Have you ever wished you had better-looking teeth without all the hassle of braces (orthodontics) or crowns (caps)? NOW YOU CAN!
Porcelain veneers are the answer for instant orthodontics to straighten smiles, close spaces, reshape, and accomplish minor realignment of your teeth. You can even have that “Hollywood” smile you've always wanted.
Veneers are very thin and are bonded on the front of your anterior teeth. These veneers are about 0.3mm to 0.5mm in thickness but are very strong once bonded to your teeth.
They have a “life like” appearance with the strength, beauty, and durability only porcelain restorations can afford.
Veneers have several advantages over crowns (caps). There is no “dark line” that is sometimes seen with older front caps. They transmit light better and, therefore, have a more translucent appearance giving a natural, aesthetic look. Veneers do not require the massive grinding of tooth structure that caps do, yet, they accomplish a lifelike aesthetic result.
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Crowns and Bridges
Sometimes, people lose teeth. It can't be helped. Face meets baseball bat, sidewalk, steering wheel, or, any other immovable object. Sometimes people are missing teeth they never had, for genetic reasons. But over the years, most lose their teeth by default, due to neglect, severe decay, and gum disease. The usual culprit is plaque.
Plaque can cause both tooth decay and periodontal disease, and if left untreated, these conditions can lead to tooth loss. While the number of people with no teeth was much higher twenty-five years ago than it is today,and while fewer people are in fact losing fewer teeth, many people are still losing them for the same old reasons: poor oral hygiene habits, lack of access to professional oral health care among certain groups in our native-born population, and the influx of immigrants from countries where oral health care and prevention information are not readily available.
A bridge is preferable to dentures, which over time can irritate and even damage gum tissues and the underlying bone.
The rule of thumb is, use a fixed bridge whenever possible before deciding on a removable denture. It is more comfortable, will provide greater function for chewing, and is likely to survive over th e long haul, if the supporting teeth remain healthy.
Chipped, fractured or worn teeth can be beautifully restored using lifelike all-porcelain veneers or crowns.
Also, because we are living longer, we need to hold onto our teeth longer. Or if they're gone, we need to replace them, not only to maintain efficient chewing, but to support the facial muscles. If a span of teeth is missing, it can be bridged. The news about bridges is that, thanks to twenty-first century technology and advanced materials, they are more natural looking, longer lasting, and easier to place than ever before. Bridges are critical for keeping the remaining teeth from drifting. If teeth start shifting, they also start to slant. This may increase the depth of any gingival pockets, which in turn will trigger periodontal problems, and possibly lead to the loss of more teeth.
Orthodontic tooth movement and cosmetic restorations can give your smile a whole new appearance.
Bridges, which have been used for hundreds of years, are the classic option for replacing up to four teeth missing in a row, whether in the front of the mouth or on one side. Unlike removable dentures, a bridge is basically a fixed (cemented) permanent denture designed to float prosthetic teeth (called pontics) between sound natural teeth (called abutments), which serve as their anchors. Bridges are affixed to existing natural teeth or a dental implant with crowns and cement.
Because multiple missing teeth can be replaced with several types of restorations, to select the right one, the dentist and patient must make some decisions together, based on the patient's lifestyle, oral and general health, and finances. For many dentists, the treatment of choice today is an implant. An implant doesn't require other teeth to hold it in place. But the patient needs to be in good health. If he or she has a chronic health condition, or bad habits (such as smoking or neglecting to floss and brush), an implant procedure would be hard-pressed to succeed. And if the teeth on either side of a gap are already decayed and have fillings anyway, the patient is better off if those teeth are crowned to support a bridge.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crowns & Bridges
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Dentures and Partials
Advantages of Dentures
Dentures are a set of artificial teeth used to replace natural ones lost because of disease or decay. There are two primary methods for fitting dentures. The teeth can be extracted and the gums an d jaw allowed to heal before the dentures are fitted, or dentures can be prepared in advance and inserted immediately after the extraction. Immediate dentures are more aesthetically pleasing, but they often require several fittings as the jaw heals and changes shape.
They also allow you the advantage of never needing to appear without teeth. Because dentures are foreign to the mouth, they require a certain period of adjustment. Denture wearers must learn to chew and speak with a new set of teeth. However, they can be advantageous to older wearers by adding fullness to lips and cheeks, and helping to reduce wrinkles around the mouth.
Dentures can even decrease facial lines and wrinkles. They also provide an alternative to patients with dental disease that want to avoid extensive treatments.
Advantages of Partials
A partial denture is a removable appliance used to replace missing teeth. Partials help your remaining teeth stay in position, improve your ability to speak, and equally distribute chewing stress throughout the mouth. Its use is generally recommend for a patient who has too many teeth missing to properly support a fixed bridge, but who doesn't yet need full dentures. A partial denture holds artificial teeth in place with a base that saddles the gums, and retainers that clasp onto adjacent teeth. If partials are properly cared for, they can last as long as a fixed bridge. Their low cost also makes them advantageous to patients needing only one or two replacements of missing teeth. Maintaining a close fit is important in order to keep a partial functioning properly, so it should be checked at least once a year by a dentists.
Dentures, Partials, or Dental Implants
When deciding whether to use a partial, denture, or dental implant, there are three primary factors to consider: the number of teeth missing, the cost, and comfort. Partials are generally used to replace a small number of teeth. They're the least expensive and, if fitted properly, are comfortable. The are removable, however, and if not worn continually they can contribute to the misalignment of adjacent teeth. Dentures are also removable but are used to replace an entire set of teeth. They have enormous aesthetic value but are a significant investment, and special care must be taken to ensure they have a proper and comfortable fit. Dental implants are the most expensive replacement method, but they also tend to be the most comfortable. Implants are actually surgically anchored to the jaw, are permanent, and can be used to replace just one or all the teeth. Care of implants is similar to that of normal teeth. Regular brushing, flossing, and check-ups are required.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dentures
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Teeth Whitening
Many people are satisfied with the sparkle they get from brushing twice daily with a fluoride-containing toothpaste, cleaning between their teeth once a day and the regular cleanings at your dentist's office. If you decide you would like to go beyond this to make your smile look brighter, you should investigate all of your options.
You can take several approaches to whiten your smile:
* In-office bleaching;
* At-home bleaching;
* Whitening toothpastes
Why Teeth Discolor
Teeth enamel discoloration can be caused by staining, aging, or chemical damage to teeth. Some of the more common causes of teeth discoloration are medications, coffee, tea or cigarettes. People who drink significant amounts of cola soft drinks can experience similar staining.
Aside from staining, there are other factors that can affect the color of an individual's teeth. Genetics can play a role. Some people have naturally brighter enamel than others. Disease can also be a factor and certain medications can cause a discoloration of the teeth. If you suspect that there is an underlying medical cause for your teeth discoloration, be sure to inform your cosmetic dentist.
Teeth Bleaching
Teeth bleaching is chemical process used to lighten the color of the patient's teeth. The procedure can be performed entirely in the cosmetic dentist's office or it can be performed by the patient in their home, using a materials provided by the dentist. The home method is often used because it saves the patient from having to make an office visit for each treatment.
Before the patient embarks on the home teeth whitening regimen, the cosmetic dentist creates a custom mouth tray for the patient. The custom tray is a critical component of the treatment. It ensures that the correct amount of whitening solution is used and that the patient's teeth are properly exposed to the whitening solution. The custom made mouth tray provides for a better fit than a one-size-fits-all mouth tray to help increase the margin of patient safety.
The steps in the home teeth whitening regimen are fairly straightforward. The cosmetic dentist's office provides the patient with the materials and instructions and also answers questions the patient may have about the routine. Your dentist's office can also provide you with off-site supervision should you have any questions once you've begun.
A home whitening session can last for two to three hours, during which time you will have the tray and solution in your mouth. Depending upon your needs and desired results, your dentist may instruct you to keep the tray in your mouth overnight. Typically, you will follow your home teeth whitening regimen for two to three weeks, after which time you will return to your cosmetic dentist for a follow up visit.
Types of Teeth Whitening Procedures - Custom Fit Tray Bleaching
There are a few teeth whitening procedures available that correct discoloration of the teeth by removing the brown and yellow staining. While each work effectively, there are advantages and disadvantages to each procedure dependent upon your objectives and commitment to the processes. The type of procedures available should be discussed with your cosmetic dentist, and a they will recommend the most appropriate teeth whitening procedure for you.
Custom Fit Tray Bleaching (In-Home)
A custom fitted tray is worn over your teeth. A small amount of the bleaching gel is placed in the tray and worn for a brief amount of time each day. This is the most common technique because it's easy to use and costs less. Impressions are taken of your mouth and a thin custom made plastic tray is made which you take home and wear for about one to two hours per day. While some results may be seen in a couple days, it usually takes one to two weeks to see the full whitening of your teeth. This procedure is sometimes used in conjunction with the in-office laser bleaching if you have severe discoloration (dark grey or purple) or internal teeth staining.
Advantage: A gradual whitening of your teeth over time will be less noticeable to others that you're undergoing this procedure. The cost is relatively low.
Disadvantages: This procedure will require two to four visits to the cosmetic dentists office.
Laser Bleaching (In-Office)
Using a laser with a whitening gel, this is an in-office bleaching system. The translucent bleaching gel is applied to the teeth and a laser light is used to activate the crystals to absorb the energy from the light and penetrate the teeth enamel to increase the lightening effect on the teeth. The length of time in the cosmetic dentist's chair depends on the degree of discoloration you have.
Advantage: One visit is usually all it takes for a bright smile.
Disadvantage: The sudden change of color is likely to be noticed by those around you immediately. This is the more expensive of the procedures available, but also the quickest
Frequently Asked Questions About Teeth Whitening
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