Procedures

Dental cleanings are routine maintenance, but must be customized to each individual. Some people need merely a check-up and polish. Others require deep cleanings to provide optimal health. We will continue to monitor and adjust your therapy based on your needs.

A thorough examination is a critical first step when visiting our office. In order to properly diagnose your condition and create a treatment plan, we must spend some time making sure that we understand your oral health and any problems that you have. If you have more complex problems, our team will review the findings of the examination and develop treatment options for your review at a separate visit. Proper diagnosis and treatment planning comes first!

A dental sealant is a thin layer of clear plastic that is usually applied to the back teeth (molars) that creates a protective layer for the teeth.

This procedure is typically performed as a preventative technique as the sealant protective layer can stop future decay (cavities) from forming. Although sealants can be applied to adult teeth, this procedure can be very beneficial for teenagers whose adult molars have just erupted. The natural gaps in the tooth are a natural place for food and plaque to collect, and protecting this area can prevent future decay (cavities), pain, loss of a tooth, and expensive procedures to repair the damage.

Applying dental sealant is fast and doesn't cause pain. It involves cleaning the tooth, roughing up the surface of the tooth, drying the tooth, and "painting" on the sealant material using a light to harden the sealant, bonding it to the tooth.

Dental sealants typically can last up to 10 years, but need to be checked for chipping and cracking through regular dental checkups.

Fluoride treatment is a great way to protect young teeth from harm and can remineralize some areas of enamel loss in any patient. We may recommend this treatment for maintenance of your teeth.

If you're battling with periodontal disease (gum disease), there are excellent therapies available that can be utilized to halt the progression of the disease. Following your examination, we may prescribe this treatment to treat active infection or chronic bone loss.

The periodontal examination is part of the comprehensive examination process and will help in the treatment planning for your individual situation. It's a critical decision point for retaining or replacing teeth.

During your comprehensive and routine examinations, periodontal probings and possible radiographs will be taken to asses the health of the bone and gum tissue that supports your teeth. These items will be a part of your ongoing treatment planning.

Dental Bridges are placed to replace a missing tooth or teeth by preparing the adjacent teeth. The adjacent teeth then support the bridge and chewing function can be restored.

Dental bridges are a substitute for a missing tooth. In most instances, a missing tooth should be replaced by a dental implant. If this is not possible, a bridge may be recommended.

The teeth adjacent to a missing tooth are prepared as a crown. A temporary is made for several weeks while your bridge is created. A second appointment is made to remove the temporary and place the bridge. Special cleaning instructions are given to prevent decay of the supporting teeth. It is critical to use extreme care of dental bridges as decay can cause loss of the supporting tooth and your bridge.

Dental Crowns are coverings for a tooth to restore a heavily compromised tooth or to repair bite issues. Modern materials and techniques have made crowns extremely successful!

Dental implants are tooth replacements! If you have an unrepairable or unsavable tooth, we will likely be discussing dental implants with you. As a first line treatment for tooth loss, we no longer recommend substituting for teeth, we recommend replacing them to maintain the health of your mouth. Dental implant treatment is one of the most successful treatments in medicine or dentistry today!

Step 1: Your surgeon removes the tooth and places a Dental Implant.

Step 2: The implant heals for 3 months.

Step 3: Your dentist fabricates a custom implant abutment and restoration.

We love to save teeth... but if one or more must be removed, replacing them is the best way! Dental implants restore the natural look and feel of your teeth and preserve the underlying bone and gum tissue. All other treatments can contribute to further tooth loss and will not preserve the jaw bone. There is no comparison to dental implant treatment!

After a treatment plan is created, we'll appoint you with a qualified surgeon to discuss the placement of your dental implant(s). When healing is completed, we'll place your new teeth on the implants. It's really one of the simplest treatments we provide and as a dentist and surgeon team, we want to make sure you have an excellent experience!

When multiple teeth must be removed, a denture can substitute for them. Most times we will recommend supporting your dentures with dental implants to improve the comfort and function of your dentures. If you've struggled with traditional dentures, please contact us to find out how we can help!

Conventional dentures can be very problematic. However, if you've struggled with conventional dentures or require your teeth to be removed, we can offer solutions that allow your dentures to be secured with dental implants. This treatment improves your chewing function and can restore your confidence!

After a treatment plan is created, we'll appoint you with a qualified surgeon to discuss the placement of your dental implant(s). When healing is completed, we'll place your new teeth on the implants. It's really one of the simplest treatments we provide and as a dentist and surgeon team, we want to make sure you have an excellent experience!

When tooth decay, or cavities, must be removed dental fillings replaced the lost tooth structure. Depending on the area, there are various materials to restore your beautiful smile.

Full Arch dental replacement can be a transformative experience. If you are missing teeth or they must be removed, most times dental implants can be placed the same day. Additionally you may be a candidate to have new teeth the same day as well. Imagine having a completely new smile in one day!

Restoring function and appearance of your smile is important for your health and self-confidence. When teeth must be removed, there is no better way to get you back to eating properly. Dentures and other substitutions restore very little of your ability to eat while replacing your teeth with implants can be a life-changing experience.

After a treatment plan is created, we'll appoint you with a qualified surgeon to discuss the placement of your dental implant(s) and we'll coordinate treatment your surgeon. As an experienced team, we know how to make sure that all of your treatment goes as seemlessly as possible. When healing is completed, we'll replace your temporary teeth with new teeth on the implants. It's really one of the most exciting treatments we provide and as a dentist and surgeon team, we want to make sure you have an excellent experience!

Root canal therapy is treatment of the pulp chamber and the inside of the roots of the tooth. The inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed to help save it from infection.

If your tooth is compromised but appears to still be repairable, root canal therapy is sometimes necessary. When these procedures are complex, we may appoint you with an endodontic specialist for evaluation. Root canal therapy is only indicated in certain situations, but can often save an infected tooth!

Dental bonding? Yes, with modern restorative materials we can do some cosmetic reshaping of the teeth in your smile that can have a dramatic cosmetic result. Let us know your concerns and we'll see if bonding is appropriate for you.

If there are some tooth shape issues that you'd like to resolve, we can often make those changes without preparing your tooth. Dental bonding uses materials used in white fillings to reshape the teeth and in just a few minutes you can have a resolution to a smile problem.

Teeth whitening in the office while you wait! Relax and let us do the work with an ultra-fast laser-activated tooth whitening system.

We'll prepare your teeth with a special solution that's activated with our laser. Relax for a few minutes and you'll be ready to leave the office with dramatically whiter teeth. We'll give you important care instructions so you can have a lasting result!

Teeth discolor with age or staining beverages. Some people naturally have more color in their teeth than others. Teeth whitening can be an easy solution to brighten your smile!

At-home solutions are easy to accomplish. We'll make you thin trays to wear over your teeth and provide you with gel whitening solution. We'll teach you how to use the whitening system and in just a few minutes a day, your teeth can be dramatically whiter! If you are having tooth sensitivity issues after using the the whitening gel, don't worry. This is expected and will go away over time or when whitening is completed. Please remember, whitening requires maintenance. Coffee, tea, sodas, and natural coloration will require you to periodically touch up your smile with your whitening system.

Veenering teeth can be transformative for your smile. Tell us what bothers you about your smile and we'll determine if veneers is a solution for you. Teeth that are discolored or have shape imperfections can be treated with beautiful results. Ask us about veneers!

Mouth guards or sports guards are mandated for many sports to protect against mouth damage as well as concussions. In many other sports, they're just a great idea. We can custom mold your guard to provide a longer-lasting and more comfortable guard.

Studys show that 96% of all people clench or grind their teeth at night. We think it might be more! Tooth grinding or clenching is called bruxism. This can lead to significant tooth wear, fractures, decay, bone and gum tissue loss and tooth loss. Many people also experience jaw pain, muscle pain, joint pain and headaches. You can protect jaw muscles, teeth, bone, gum tissue and joints with a night guard!

In order to make a night guard, impressions or a digital scan of your teeth must be made as well as an evaluation of your current bite. We'll fabricate your guard and adjust it for you when it's delivered to you. After a week or two, we'll have you bring it back in for an additional bite check and to see the wear marks on your guard. If further adjustments are needed, we'll complete them at that time. Your bite will be protected and your jaw muscles, teeth, bone, gum tissue and joints will thank you for it!

Sleep apnea is a complex condition in which people are stop or are unable to breathe properly during sleep. This can have far reaching complications and if you think you have sleep apnea, we may have a solution.

Evaluation for sleep apnea begins with a sleep study. Sleep centers monitor you while you sleep and determine the number of times you stop sleeping and the oxygen level in your body. If severe enough, you'll have many options for treatment. In many instances, a non-invasive treatment can be completed in our office. A simple, but sophisticated mouth piece can be made to hold your jaw in a position that keeps your airway open. We're happy to evaluate you for this treatement.

With intraoral scanning, we can create virtual, 3D models of your mouth. These can be used for tooth restoration, night guards, and long-term comparative evaluation. In most circumstances we can eliminate the impression material and use digital models!

If you need a 3D scan of your teeth, we'll use a special light camera attached to a computer to scan your teeth as well as your bite. You'll see the model come to life in minutes.