Restorative Services (fillings):

Amalgam (silver) Normal silver restorations are a good inexpensive choice.  Amalgam contains mercury, silver, tin, cooper, and zinc.   Some people are allergic to metals. 

Composite (white) New bonded white fillings are a good cosmetic choice made of ceramic particles and resin.  Composite restorations are equal in strength to an amalgam restoration.

Gold and Porcelain Inlays and Onlays Long-term conservative restorations for teeth with larger fillings.  These are considered to be life-time restorations and will support the tooth unlike filings that need support from the tooth.

Crowns and Bridges:

• Gold Traditional quality, poor esthetics, wears the same as tooth structure.
• Porcelain Fused to Metal High strength, good esthetics.
• All Porcelain (if allergic to metals) Moderate strength, excellent esthetics.

Implants:

Implants are a great way to replace missing teeth. Implants have several different uses and advantages in the mouth. These are:

1. Replacement of single or multiple teeth. This can be done by placing either a crown(s) on an implant(s), or by attaching a partial or complete denture to one or more implants.
2. Preservation of Facial Structures. When an implant is placed and properly maintained, the hard and soft tissues around it are stimulated and maintained for the life of the implant. Without an implant these tissues generally melt away over time causing unesthetic bony contours in the front of the mouth, and decreased bone support.
3. Function. When a tooth is missing from someone's mouth one or more things can result:
• Supraeruption – This is when a tooth has no other tooth to bite against and it continues to grow until it meets something (the opposing gums? Another tooth?) to stop its growth. This can cause both an unsightly tooth smile line (crooked teeth) &/or problems with biting patterns leading to excessive tooth wear and potential TMJ problems. An implant will hold the opposing teeth in place so this doesn't happen ;
• Tipping -- The teeth in front of or behind the empty site can tip forward or backward into the empty site. Along with crooked teeth this can cause problems with biting patterns and the gums. An implant will hold adjacent teeth upright and help avoid these problems ;
• Chewing & Digestion – Missing teeth compromise your ability to chew food well, to digest it, and consequently your overall nutritional health. An implant functions just like a natural tooth and restores effective chewing.
4. Tooth Preservation. There are other options to replacing missing teeth, and at times they can be a good option. However, there are disadvantages to each of them:
• Bridge – To do a bridge, each adjacent tooth to the empty tooth site must be ground down to make room for a crown. This weakens the tooth structure and traumatizes the tooth pulp. Also, the average life span of a bridge is about 15 years which means that after that amount of time a new bridge might need to be made further traumatizing the tooth. As you can imagine, this can become very expensive over time. Implants often spare adjacent teeth this unneeded trauma and in the long run can save you a lot of money ;
• Partial – Partials without implants under them rely on existing teeth for support via wire clasps that surround the teeth. This places extra forces on a tooth that can loosen it over time. Partials also tend to trap food underneath them and hold it close to the remaining teeth. If a partial is not removed and cleaned regularly it can contribute to increased tooth decay and further needed dental work. Implants do not rely on adjacent teeth for support thus sparing them this increased risk of loosening and decay.
5. Hygiene. As opposed to other tooth replacement options implant hygiene and maintenance is very simple. Just brush and floss around the implant like you would around a natural tooth.

Implants are an excellent long term solution to missing teeth. They are the closest thing right now to mimicking a natural tooth. They restore function, preserve facial structures, and can help restore esthetics when a tooth is missing.

Veneers:

• Composite Less expensive, shorter term, good esthetics.
• Porcelain More expensive, longer term, excellent esthetics.

Dentures:

• Partial
• Complete These can now be either snapped into place via implants or anchors, or magnets can be placed to hold them in.

Dental X-Ray Safety:  X-Rays are taken every six months on children and once a year on adults. X-rays are used to identify decay that can't be seen with the eye. This decay starts between the teeth. They also show:

• receding bone
• extra teeth
• missing, or impacted teeth
• abscesses
• filling overhangs
• tartar below the gumline
• bone cancers or cysts
• other

Warranties We guarantee our work under normal conditions if you have regular cleanings.  We offer a three year warranty on fillings and a five year warranty on crowns.

Oral Surgery Services:

Wisdom Tooth Removal We remove wisdom teeth but may refer you to an oral surgeon for multiple full bony impactions.  If the patient has room for them, we normally do not remove them.

Gum Grafts We graft areas of the mouth that lack sufficient attached gum tissue.

Hygiene Services:

Periodontal Surgery We perform periodontal maintenance with scaling and root planing.

Acticite, Periostat, Periochip or Atridox These are systemic or local antibiotics to fight periodontal disease. Periostat is fairly new. It is a systemic medication that destroys the enzyme the causes the break down of gum tissues in periodontal disease.

Sealants: We recommend sealants which are designed to help prevent decay in certain areas of the mouth. Sealants are made of a clear, acrylic-like material that is bonded to the chewing surface of the teeth. They are most recommended for children, and are usually applied to the permanent teeth as they come in.

No Cavity Club Kids love to have their picture taken and put on our No Cavity Club picture board.

Dental X-Ray Safety:  X-Rays are taken every six months on children and once a year on adults. X-rays are used to identify decay that can't be seen with the eye. This decay starts between the teeth. They also show:

• receding bone
• extra teeth
• missing, or impacted teeth
• abscesses
• filling overhangs
• tartar below the gumline
• bone cancers or cysts
• other

Cosmetic Services:

Bleaching We do home bleach systems with custom fitting trays and in office bleaching for individual teeth.  See the “specials” portion of the website for a great deal on bleaching trays.

Gum Re-contouring We re-contour gum tissue around teeth so they look even and/or are easier to clean.

Diagnostic Wax-Ups If you have concerns about how major cosmetic work will look, we will be happy to wax up a preliminary model.  It makes for a great sneak preview!

Veneers:

• Composite Less expensive, shorter term, good esthetics.
• Porcelain More expensive, longer term, excellent esthetics.

Orthodontic Services:

Orthodontics (braces) We do Braces with white or silver brackets and removable appliances.  We offer the new Invisalign – invisible braces!  Ask us about the latest advancements in orthodontics.

Other Services:

Emergency Care We'll see you today for pain or cosmetic embarrassment. 

Blood Pressure Monitoring We can take your blood pressure at your request.  We keep a history of each one and can print out a trend of where your blood pressure is going.  If there are problems, we will make a referral to your physician.

Comforts:

• Headphones We have portable CD players with a variety of CD’s to listen to.
• Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) We do this at no cost to you.
• Blanket and Pillow If you want them.
• Warm Towel
• Intra-Oral Camera We can show you via television what you need done and why.

Snore Guards Spouses love this for their snoring partners. They really work.

Night Guards If you grind your teeth at night, (I'm not talking midnight snacks here!) you may be prematurely wearing down your teeth. We can make you a splint that you can grind on so you can save your teeth for better projects.

Infection Control:  You may be concerned about infectious diseases and how we keep our offices clean and a healthy place for you to have treatment done. We take many steps to help ensure a sterile environment.

Root Canals/Root Canal Therapy

Veneers are a cosmetic procedure and can change the look of the front teeth for various reasons. These are:

• spaces between teeth
• chipped and broken teeth
• stained fillings or teeth
• crooked teeth.

Veneers are fairly simple and only a little tooth structure is removed. The outcome is a very beautiful smile and natural looking teeth. Composite is usually used when only a small amount of the tooth needs replaced. Porcelain is used when the front surface needs replaced. Porcelain veneers are made of a layer of porcelain or composite, and are bonded to the tooth permanently. Both types of veneers are bonded right to the surface of the tooth. In your first appointment, an impression is taken and sent to the lab where they make your veneers. Your tooth will also be etched. This makes the tooth rough so that the veneer will bond properly. When you have the veneers seated, a tooth-colored bond is applied and the veneers bond to the tooth.

Veneers can last a lifetime if taken care of properly. You should have your 6-month check-ups and continue regular hygiene at home. Avoid staining foods such as coffee, tea, cherries, berries, and red wine. Make sure not to bite nails, or open things with your teeth. This could cause chipping or other damage. Porcelain veneers make a beautiful change and make you feel much better about how you look.

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Root canal therapy treats the nerve of the tooth that is unhealthy. There are many reasons root canal therapy is needed. Here are the two most common:

1.       Trauma. An actual blow to the tooth that causes inflammation and death to the tooth.

2.       Physical Irritation. Caused by deep decay or a big filling

In any case the nerve becomes irritated beyond it's ablility to heal. Bacteria causes pressure and pain and in some cases, swelling. The tooth will eventually die. After it has been noted that a root canal is needed (by X-ray), you will be scheduled for one or more appointments. Usually in the first appointment a pulpotomy is done by opening the tooth and using graduated files (each one bigger than the last) to remove the nerve. A medicated cotton pellet is placed inside the tooth with a temporary filling over it. In the next one or two appointments the tooth is cleaned out using files. Once the tooth is clean and you are out of pain the tooth is filled with a plastic filling material called gutta percha. Once the root canal therapy is completed, the tooth then needs a post build-up followed by a crown to fully restore it.

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Sealants are designed to help prevent decay in certain areas of the mouth. Sealants are made of a clear, acrylic-like material that is bonded to the chewing surface of the teeth. They are most recommended for children, and are usually applied to the permanent teeth as they come in. Sealants form a protective barrier covering the pits and fissures (depressions and grooves of the teeth. Sealants are not needed on all of the teeth, only the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. Teeth that already have fillings or decay are not sealed. It only takes a few minutes to get sealants. First an etching material is placed on a clean tooth to roughen the surface. This helps the tooth bond better to the sealant. Then the tooth is washed and dried. Last the sealant material is placed on the tooth. It is hardened with a curing light. That's all!

Sealants are very durable, but it is a good idea not to chew on ice, hard or sticky food and candy. Good alternatives are popcorn, fruits and veggies, cheese, and peanut butter. Sealants are used in combination with fluoride to help keep your teeth healthy and strong. Sealants are visible signs that your teeth are being protected, and along with regular brushing and flossing are great to help prevent decay.

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X-Rays are taken every six months on children and once a year on adults. X-rays are used to identify decay that can't be seen with the eye. This decay starts between the teeth. They also show:

• receding bone
• extra teeth
• missing, or impacted teeth
• abscesses
• filling overhangs
• tartar below the gumline
• bone cancers or cysts
• other

The amount of radiation used to expose x-rays is very small. You actually receive more radiation from sitting in front of the TV in one year's time than what you get from dental x-rays.

The x-rays we take are usually intra-oral (in the mouth). Others are external where a film is placed next to your face. We protect the patient with a lead apron that covers your torso to protect your reproductive organs. We use the lowest amount of radiation needed to get acceptable diagnostic x-rays. You will generally see the assistant or doctor leave the room when x-rays are taken. This is because they take many x-rays over time and are protecting against cumulative radiation and because they do not put on protective aprons.

*Remember if you are pregnant, or think you could be, please tell us! X-rays are generally avoided during the pregnancy (especially the first trimester.) If x-rays are needed, we will take every step to protect you and your unborn baby.

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You may be concerned about infectious diseases and how we keep our offices clean and a healthy place for you to have treatment done. We take many steps to help ensure a sterile environment. These include:

1.       Scrubbing our hands before and after every patient.

2.       Wearing disposable gloves and changing them after each patient.

3.       Wearing masks and protective eyewear.

4.       Using up to date sterilization methods on all of our instruments.

5.       Cleaning down each operatory before you are seen.

6.       Use of disposable products and careful handling and disposal of those products.

We practice these methods to help decrease the risk of infection from dentist to patient, patient to dentist, or patient to patient. We WANT you to be protected from all forms of infection-viral and bacterial.

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