Our
goal is to make your visit as comfortable as possible while transforming
your smile. Each smile is unique just like yours. After talking
with each patient and a thorough check up we come up with a life-long
plan for dental health that fits your schedule and your budget.
The following
Before and After
pictures are of actual patients of ours.:
 
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The next section describes some common dental procedures:
Bonding:
Used in a variety of applications. Material is available in all tooth
shades and can be used to restore decay, close spaces, correct minor
imperfections in tooth position, color, or shape.
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Porcelain
Veneers:
Porcelain Laminate Veneers, or simply "veneers", are custom-made
porcelain wafers that are placed over the fronts of the teeth to enhance
their appearance and also to repair damage. Veneers can whiten stained
or discolored teeth, close gaps between teeth, "correct" a
crooked smile without the need for braces, repair chips and imperfections,
and create a more attractive or youthful looking smile.
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Whitening:
Before tooth whitening, the patient must get all cavities filled, and
the gums must be healthy. The in-office systems use highly concentrated
hydrogen peroxide gels. The gums need to be protected, and then gels
are placed on the teeth. In about an hour, the teeth become four to
six shades lighter.
At-home systems most often use 10 to 20% carbamine peroxide gels to
oxidize stains. The patient is fitted with the trays, and then is instructed
to place a thin ribbon of the gel into the tray and wear while sleeping.
Most whitening occurs in one to two weeks. In difficult cases, trays
may need to be worn for up to six weeks. White fillings (resin, bonding)
or porcelain crowns (caps) and bridges will not whiten significantly
with either method. Some patients will experience minor tooth sensitivity
during whitening procedures. The dentist can remedy this by alternating
concentrated fluoride with the peroxide in the mouth trays.
ZOOM Whitening:As
seen on the popular "Extreme Makeover" television show. Take
years off your smile in one visit!
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Gum
Disease:
Unfortunately, periodontal (gum) disease can destroy self-esteem. Mouth
odor and unsightly gums can actually cause others to shy away. By age
35, three out of four adults develop some form of gum disease. Gum disease
can occur at any age, but recent studies indicate a greater risk after
age 35. This insidious disease is painless and if untreated will destroy
the gums and bone surrounding your teeth and may eventually lead to
tooth loss.
There are two stages of gum disease, gingivitis and periodontitis. The
first, gingivitis, is an inflammation of the gums caused by bacteria
in plaque. The gums become red, swollen and bleed upon brushing. If
plaque is not removed every day, it eventually hardens into calculus
(tartar). Once calculus forms it can only be removed by your dentist
or hygienist with special instruments. Gingivitis is curable with treatment
from your dentist, followed by proper brushing and flossing at home.
If not corrected, gingivitis can progress into periodontitis. Periodontitis
is a low-grade infection of the gums. At this stage, even a high quality
toothbrush may not control the disease because of the amount of calculus
accumulated around the teeth. The volatile sulfur compounds produced
by the bacteria responsible for periodontitis are the leading cause
of bad breath. If periodontitis is not treated it will slowly and painlessly
destroy the bone that supports the teeth. Untreated, the disease will
eventually cause tooth loss. But it doesn't have to be that way. Early
detection of gum disease, good professional care, and proper oral hygiene
will guarantee a lifetime of healthy teeth and a great smile.
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Gum
Lift:
Used to correct gummy smiles for a more attractive and healthy looking
smile.
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Crowns:
A crown is a restoration that covers, or "caps," a tooth to
restore it to its normal shape and size, strengthening and improving
the appearance of a tooth. Crowns are necessary when a tooth is generally
broken down and fillings won't solve the problem. If a tooth is cracked,
a crown holds the tooth together to seal the cracks so the damage doesn't
get worse. Crowns are also used to support a large filling when there
isn't enough of the tooth remaining, to attach a bridge, protect weak
teeth from fracturing, restore fractured teeth, or cover badly shaped
or discolored teeth.
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Bridge:
A bridge is a dental appliance that replaces one or more of the natural
missing teeth, thereby "bridging" the space between two teeth.
Fixed bridges are cemented into place next to the "abutment"
teeth. Unlike removable partial dentures, fixed bridges cannot be taken
out of the mouth by the patient.
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Root Canal:
In the past injured or diseased teeth often had to be removed. Today,
they often can be saved through endodontic or root canal treatment.
A root canal treatment generally involves the removal and replacement
of a tooth's pulp. If the pulp becomes damaged through injury or disease
and cannot repair itself, bacteria may leak into the pulp causing the
pulp to die. Damaged or dead pulp causes increased pressure that cannot
be relieved from inside the tooth. If a root canal procedure is not
performed an infection can form at the tip of the root and cause considerable
pain. This pain can be felt when biting down, chewing on it and eating
hot or cold food or drinks. Without treatment, the infection will spread;
the bone around the tooth will begin to break down.
Though an extraction is cheaper, the space left behind will require
replacement, which can be more expensive than root canal therapy. More
than 90-95 percent of root canal treatments are successful. A root canal
is more likely to fail if a permanent filling or crown is not placed
to protect the tooth. In cases where there's inadequate tooth structure
left, the tooth must receive a crown to restore it to ideal shape and
function and to protect it from fracture. A fracture can lead to failure
of the root canal and extraction.
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Dentures:
A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and adjacent
tissues. It is made of acrylic resin, sometimes in combination with
various metals. Complete dentures replace all the teeth, while a partial
denture fills in the spaces created by missing teeth and prevents other
teeth from changing position. Complete dentures are either "conventional"
or "immediate." A conventional denture is placed in the mouth
about a month after all the teeth are removed to allow for proper healing,
whereas an immediate denture is placed as soon as the teeth are removed.
The drawback behind an immediate denture is that it may require more
adjustments after the healing has taken place.
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Implants:
Strategically placed support, or implants, can now be used to support
permanently cemented bridges, eliminating the need for a denture. The
cost tends to be greater, but the implants and bridges more closely
resemble the "feel" of real teeth.
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Mouthguards:
Mouthguards are custom laminated so they fit perfectly and do not interfere
with mouth breathing or speaking, a competitive advantage.
In the case a tooth is knocked out, it's best to try to replant the
tooth. Clean the tooth under running water or saline. Avoid touching
the root surface. If a tooth can't be replanted store it in some saline,
milk or water and call us as soon as possible. A tooth should ideally
be replanted within thirty minutes.
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