Patients of all ages
Optimal health
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SERVICES

    REGULAR EXAMS

    How we diagnose periodontal disease and decay

    Because we’re committed to preventive dentistry, we recommend that all of our patients see us at least every six months for a routine cleaning and examination. Dental problems start out small but can quickly worsen to become much more serious conditions. These problems are much easier to treat when we catch them early. Radio graphs are part of the regular check and can catch tooth decay early on.

    Serious conditions begin as treatable problems

    The effects of gingivitis, for example, are reversible. But when gingivitis advances to periodontal disease, the bone loss that can result is irreversible. A small cavity on the surface of a tooth can easily be fixed, but if it spreads to the inner layers of the tooth, we’ll usually need to perform root canal therapy and restore the tooth with a crown. If you have a cracked filling, an infection in the tooth’s inner pulp layer can result, requiring root canal therapy. A bad bite can contribute to problems with your temporomandibular joint (TMJ), and can cause a painful cycle of muscle spasms and other jaw-joint problems commonly known as TMD, or temporomandibular disorder. The list of potentially fast-growing problems goes on.

    Regular checkups allows us to treat problems early

    During your regular checkups, we examine the health of your mouth, measure the bone levels around your teeth, check for decay, screen for oral cancer, examine your restorations, evaluate your bite, and remove plaque and tartar from your teeth. The bacteria that cause periodontal disease thrive in plaque and tartar, producing toxins that can cause bone loss and eventually tooth loss. A toothbrush and floss won’t even budge tartar, so we must remove it every six months in our office. Your six-month exam and cleaning is a critical part of a preventive program. It’s the best way for you to prevent advanced dental problems, and that minimizes the time and money you spend in the dental chair.

    COSMETIC DENTISTRY

    The goal of cosmetic dentistry is to transform an average smile into a terrific smile! To accomplish this goal, we analyze every aspect of a smile and then correct the problem.

    What makes a beautiful smile?

    Terrific smiles have several things in common:

    • The teeth are straight, not crooked.

    • The teeth are evenly spaced with no gaps.

    • The teeth are white, not stained.

    • The top teeth show when you smile, but not the gums.

    • The gumline is smooth, not uneven.

    • The edges of the top teeth smoothly follow the curve of the lower lip.

    All of these problems can be solved with cosmetic procedures, so even if you weren’t born with a beautiful smile, you can still have one!

    AT-HOME WHITENING

    Why do teeth become discolored?

    Over time, your teeth darken as minerals penetrate their outer enamel layer. This darkening can be caused by foods and beverages that stain, such as coffee, colas, tea, red wine or berries. Tobacco products, like cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco, can cause teeth to take on a yellowish brown hue. The natural aging process can also cause your teeth to darken.

    We can prescribe a home whitening system that will safely lighten these stains, giving you a whiter, brighter smile! A specially formulated whitening gel, designed to be highly effective yet safe, gently forces oxygen through the enamel of your teeth. The process virtually erases stains and brightens your teeth, without damaging your tooth enamel or your gums.

    Designing your whitening system

    First, we thoroughly examine your teeth and your mouth to make sure at-home whitening is the appropriate option for you. We then take impressions of your teeth, and use the impressions to make models of your teeth. Using these models, we make a personalized whitening tray that fits tightly over your teeth, allowing us to achieve optimum results.

    At home, you’ll fill the tray with the whitening gel and place the tray over your teeth, keeping it in place for several hours each day. You can wear the whitening trays while you sleep, or if you prefer, you can wear them as you go about your day. Typically, you’ll begin to see results in two to three weeks.

    We’ll monitor your progress on a regular basis, ensuring that your gums aren’t becoming irritated and your teeth are whitening as desired. When the process is complete, your smile will be noticeably whiter and brighter!

    Maintaining your new white smile

    • Let us know if you experience some sensitivity during or following the whitening process: this is normal, and should subside shortly. We can suggest toothpaste that will alleviate this sensitivity.

    • Avoid foods and beverages that stain, like coffee, cola, tea, berries and red wine, or brush and rinse with water after consuming them.

    • See us periodically for touch-ups to remove new stains.

    WHITE FILLINGS

    What are white restorations?
    Until recently, silver amalgam was the material most often used to restore decayed portions of your teeth, especially back teeth. Unfortunately, silver fillings can really darken a smile!

    Amalgam fillings absorb moisture and expand and contract with heat and cold. So, as the filling ages, it can fracture your tooth; we’ll then need to place a crown on your tooth to save it. Also, silver fillings often undergo metal fatigue, corroding and leaking over time. This destroys the protective seal of the filling and allows new decap to develop uynderneath it. This leakage can give a gray appearance to the entire tooth.

    New tooth colored options
    Dental research has resulted in the development of new tooth-colored materials that are not only durable and long-lasting, but attractive as well. These materials, porcelain and composite resin, provide an attractive, natural look while at the same time restoring strength and durability to your tooth.

    Both porcelain and composite resin are bonded directly to the tooth, restoring it to near its original strength and function. Both can be custom-colored to precisely match your teeth, so when porcelain or resing fillings are placed, they’re extremely natural looking. This can really make a difference in your appearance, especially if the restoration is visible when you smile.

    More advantages of white restorations
    When we place an amalgam filling, we have to remove extra healthy tooth structure, just so the filling will stay in place. When we restore your tooth with composite resin, we only need to remove the decayed portion, because the bond anchors the material tightly in place. This means you retain more healthy tooth structure.

    Also, because white fillings are bonded to your tooth, they add strength to the tooth.

    So if you’re looking for an attractive and effective option for restoring one or more decayed teeth, be sure to ask about the latest choices in white restorative materials.

    SLEEP APNEA

    When it comes to sleeping disorders sleep apnea can be a pretty serious form. It is when your breathing starts and stops repeatedly. Some people who may have sleep apnea are ones who tend to snore loudly and feel tired after they have slept all night. There are two categories of sleep apnea one is obstructive sleep apnea which is the most common form of sleep apnea which is when throat muscles relax. The next is central sleep apnea which happens when your brain isn’t sending proper signals to the muscles that are what control your breathing.

    Symptoms:

    • Hypersomnia
    • Loud Snoring
    • Quick awakening followed by shortness of breath
    • Waking up with a dry mouth
    • Having morning headaches
    • insomnia
    • attention problem