Our Quality Services

Dentistry dedicated to excellence.

BRIDGES

Dental bridges are a great way to replace missing teeth. Your existing teeth are used to literally create a bridge to cross the area where your tooth is missing. Bridges are made from gold, metal, alloys, or porcelain to ensure that they are strong and durable. 

The process of creating a bridge begins by creating abutments out of your existing teeth where the bridge will be attached. The existing teeth are recontoured to provide a base for the bridge. After the abutments have been created, a mold is taken of the area which is sent to a dental lab. The lab is able to use the mold to create a bridge that will fit properly and feel as close to your natural teeth as possible. The bridge consists of two crowns on either end to place on the abutments and a pontic, which is the new tooth that replaces your missing tooth.

We will fit you with a temporary bridge while we wait for the lab to craft your permanent bridge. This will protect the abutments and the exposed gum areas and look more appealing than having a missing tooth. When the permanent bridge has been created, you will have a follow up visit to set the bridge. It will be placed on the abutments and the dentist will then use an adhesive to make sure that the bridge is set.

The bridge may take a little while to get used to, but after a few days it should feel like you have your own teeth back again. You should eat soft foods for the first few days after having your bridge placed. After the initial phase, you will be able to eat whatever you want with no issues.

If you are missing a tooth you should strongly consider having it replaced. Besides the aesthetic disadvantage of missing a tooth, it could also cause structural changes to your mouth and jaw, as well as making it difficult to eat or speak properly. Set up an appointment today to restore your smile.

BONDING AND WHITE FILLING

Bonding is a popular method to enhance the aesthetics of your smile. Bonding can be used to correct cracks or gaps in teeth, as a filling after a cavity has been removed, or to cover up stains or discolored teeth.

A composite resin is used on the affected tooth or teeth. It is molded and sculpted over an adhesive gel that is placed on the tooth. After the resin has been applied an ultraviolet light is used to harden the resin, which is then polished to give you a fresh, new smile.

Bonding is an obvious improvement over unsightly silver amalgam fillings. With the advancements in dental technology, bonding usually lasts for over 10 years. It is a safe, affordable, and attractive solution for many dental problems.

CROWNS

Over time our teeth begin to weaken and become more susceptible to problems such as decay, cracks, discoloration and others. If you feel your smile isn’t what it once was, crowns can help you recover your smile. If your dentist notices that a tooth is decayed or seems weakened/cracked a crown may be necessary to make sure that there are no additional problems with the tooth. In cases like this a filling or bonding will not be sufficient.

Crowns can be made from porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or a full gold crown. To maintain a natural look and feel a porcelain finished crown is best, as it can be matched to the shade of your other teeth. This will allow it to blend in and appear just like one of your natural teeth.

The process of installing a crown takes 2-3 visits to the dentist. On the first visit the tooth will be reshaped by filing down the enamel so that the crown can be placed over it. You will be given a local anesthetic before this part of the procedure so that you do not experience any discomfort. Once the tooth has been reshaped, a mold will be taken of that tooth and the surrounding teeth. This mold will be sent to a dental lab so that your new crown can be made so that it fits in the spot created for it and looks the same relative to the surrounding teeth. Before leaving, your dentist will fit you with a temporary crown until your permanent crown is ready.

The crown takes about 2-3 weeks to be returned to your dentist. At this time you will have another appointment to place and fit the permanent crown. You will again have a local anesthetic to numb the area and the tooth will be placed using a cement to ensure the tooth sets in place. When you look in the mirror, you will see your old smile back. Crowns are durable and will usually last about 10-15 years. You should care for it as you would any of your other teeth with regular brushing and flossing. Call us today if you would like to learn more about how crowns can help restore your smile.

DENTURES

Dentures are a replacement for missing teeth that can be removed and put back into your mouth as you please. Depending on each individual patient case, they may receive full or partial dentures. Full dentures are used when all of the natural teeth are removed from the mouth and replaced with a full set of dentures.

There are two types of full dentures:

Conventional Full Dentures – this is when all the teeth are removed and the tissue is given time to heal before the dentures are placed. it could take a few months for the gum tissue to heal completely, and during this time you will be without teeth.

Immediate Full Dentures – prior to having your teeth removed, your dentist takes measurements and has dentures fitted for your mouth. after removing the teeth, the dentures are immediately placed in your mouth. the benefit is that you do not have to spend any time without teeth. you will, however, need to have a follow up visit to refit your dentures because the jaw bone will slightly change shape as your mouth heels. the dentures will need to be tightened after the jaw bone has healed.

Partial dentures are another option when not all of your teeth need to be removed. This is similar to a bridge, but it is not a permanent fixture in your mouth. Your dentures may take some time to get used to. The flesh colored base of the dentures is placed over your gums. Some people say that it feels bulky or that they don’t have enough room for their tongue. Other times the dentures might feel loose.  These feelings will affect the way you eat and talk for a little while. Over time, your mouth becomes trained to eat and speak with your dentures and they begin to feel more and more like your natural teeth. They may never feel perfectly comfortable, but it is much better than the alternative of not having teeth. Even though dentures are not real teeth, you should care for them like they are. You should brush them to remove plaque and food particles before removing your dentures. After they have been removed you should place them directly into room temperature water or a denture cleaning solution. Never use hot water because it could warp the dentures. Your dentures are delicate, so make sure you are careful when handling them so you don’t drop them. also, never try to adjust your dentures yourself. You could ruin them, so you should always seek assistance from your dentist if they feel uncomfortable or loose.

HYGIENE AND PERIODONTAL

While at our office, we make sure that you receive the highest level of service and ensure that our dental work is of the highest quality. To ensure that you maintain great oral health, this level of quality needs to extend into your personal oral hygiene routine. We can help you establish a dental hygiene routine that will keep your teeth healthy and white. If you have any questions about your current hygiene plan please ask us.

Your teeth are not the only important part of your mouth. Your gums are essential to oral hygiene as well. We can provide periodontal cleanings and treatment, or refer you to one of our recommended specialists. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Oral cancer screenings

Oral cancer screenings are a very important part of the dental visit for the patient. With the advances in modern technology, we are now able to pinpoint the start of a potential problem much earlier in its evolution. The ability to do so is extremely important in being able to treat any issues prior to them becoming a major irreversible problem.

The oral cancer screening is often completed with an ultraviolet light or similar device that allows us to view issues that can’t always be detected by the human eye under normal conditions.

Certain lifestyle choices can have a great impact on the health of tissues and your overall health in the mouth. If you are a smoker or heavy drinker, make sure to get regular screenings when you visit the dentist.

Root Planing

Often there is plaque and tartar that accumulates below the gum line. In this scenario, we will clean and smooth this area with special instruments to ensure that the area is completely spotless. If this area is not kept clean the entire area can become irritated with the bacteria that resides in the tartar and plaque. It’s very important to have your dentist check this area if you have bleeding during brushing.

TEETH WHITENING

Keeping our teeth their whitest is a lot harder than it sounds. With all the coffee, wine, smoking and other foods that have the ability to stain our teeth on a daily basis, even proper maintenance sometimes leaves them a little lackluster. Teeth whitening is an excellent way to restore the natural color of your teeth or even make them whiter than your natural color if you would like.

To accomplish the whitening of your teeth, we utilize a tray whitening system. This tray whitening system is completed in 2 steps. The first step is to make an impression of your teeth. With this impression, we’ll craft you custom whitening trays that you can use over and over. Finally, you will take the whitening gel and put it in the gel for a short period of time over a period of a few days. This often results in a whiter smile of 4 – 8 shades!

Please contact us today to see if you are a candidate for this type of whitening

VENEERS

Veneers are an excellent way to redesign and reshape your entire mouth. Veneers are a very thin ceramic shell that covers your existing tooth structure. When placed, issues such as staining, cracked teeth, spaces, misaligned teeth, chipped teeth and many other issues are gone.

In terms of the process to place veneers, it is a process that takes approximately two to three visits. In the first visit, we will discuss the new shape and look of what we are going to accomplish by placing the veneers. Once we have put a plan in place, we will carefully prepare the teeth for the placement of the new veneers. As we complete this piece of the process, the next step is to take an impression of the newly prepared teeth. This impression will be sent to our laboratory for the final product to be fabricated. We only utilize the highest standard laboratory for fabrication of all of our work. This process at the laboratory takes between 10-14 days. While the new veneers are being fabricated at the lab, we will provide you with a beautiful temporary solution to wear for this time.

As the veneers are finalized, we will make every effort to make sure that your new veneers will feel just like your natural teeth. We will bond them into place ensuring that you can enjoy your new smile for a very long time!

Post Operative Care

*It is best to refrain from eating for at least 2 hours and until the anesthesia has worn off to prevent possibly injury to your soft tissue. this will also allow the temporary restorative material to harden*

You will most likely feel soreness in the area as well as pressure when you bite down. for this reason, you should avoid hard and chewy foods. do not eat on the treated side of your mouth for at least 24 hours. the sensitivity should decrease within a week.

Take any antibiotic medication prescribed to you by the doctor as this will eliminate any remaining infection in the tooth.

If you notice any of the following symptoms please contact our office.

• Increasing tenderness or swelling in the area surrounding the tooth
• A reaction to the medication
• Loss of the temporary filling material
• Tooth fracture

It is best to refrain from eating for at least 2 hours and until the anesthesia has worn off to prevent possibly injury to your soft tissue
temporary crown

Please be careful when cleaning around the temporary restoration. do not pull up on the temporary when flossing this area. make sure to brush this area gently and not to chew any hard foods on the restoration.

If your temporary comes off between appointments, please call our office so that we can reapply it for you

For the first few days, try to avoid extremely hot or cold food and beverages. It is normal to have discomfort in the gums around the tooth after the anesthesia wears off. if you feel discomfort in the gum tissue, rinse the area with warm salt water. you can also take an advil or tylenol if the discomfort persists.

permanent crown / bridge:

When the final restoration is placed, your bite may feel a little different. this is just your mouth adjusting to the new addition. if it still feels off in a few days, please call the office for a slight adjustment.

Home care: a consistent daily home care routine will increase the longevity of the restoration.

*it is best to refrain from eating for at least 2 hours and until the anesthesia has worn off to prevent possibly injury to your soft tissue*

Sensitivity: sensitivity to hot and cold is to be expected following treatment. for the first few days, try to avoid extremely hot or cold foods and beverages. it is normal to have discomfort in the gums around the tooth after the anesthesia wears off. if you feel discomfort in the gum tissue, rinse the area with warm salt water. you can also take an advil or tylenol if the discomfort persists.

Home care: it is important to resume regular brushing and flossing immediately. a consistent daily home care routine will increase the longevity of the restoration.

After your scaling or root planning, it is best to rinse your mouth 2-3 times per day with warm salt water. one teaspoon salt / 8 oz. water. you should start home care immediately, although you should be extremely gentle with the treated areas.

If you feel discomfort in the gum tissue where you had treatment, an advil or tylenol may be taken to relieve this feeling. the treated areas will probably be sensitive to hot and cold.

It is best to refrain from eating any hard or chewy foods for the next 48-72 hours while the treated area begins to heal.

You may also experience some swelling or jaw stiffness. if this does occur, you can place a cold compress on the swelling or a hot towel on the stiffness.

Smoking should be terminated for a period of 48-72 hours following these procedures. please contact the office if pain or swelling persists.

*if your temporary comes off between appointments, please call our office so that we can reapply it for you*

*it is best to refrain from eating for at least 2 hours and until the anesthesia has worn off to prevent possibly injury to your soft tissue*

Temporary Veneers

Please be careful when cleaning around the temporary restorations. do not pull up on the temporary when flossing this area. make sure to brush this area gently and not to chew any hard foods on the restoration

Sensitivity: sensitivity to hot and cold is to be expected following treatment. for the first few days, try to avoid extremely hot or cold foods and beverages it is normal to have discomfort in the gums around the tooth after the anesthesia wears off. if you feel discomfort in the gum tissue, rinse the area with warm salt water. you can also take an advil or tylenol if the discomfort persists.

Permanent Veneers

When the final restoration is placed, your bite may feel a little different. this is just your mouth adjusting to the new addition. if it still feels off in a few days, please call the office for a slight adjustment.

Bleeding: it is normal for minor bleeding to occur during the first 24 hours following surgery. if slightly heavier bleeding occurs:

Place a piece of gauze over the surgery site.

Bite firmly on the gauze for at least 30 minutes.

Do not chew on it. if the bleeding continues, call the office.

Do not suck on area where surgery occurred or drink through a straw during the first 48 hours.

Rinsing: do not spit or rinse the surgical area on the day of the surgery. the day after surgery you may gently rinse with warm salt water. you may brush your teeth and your tongue after the surgery. be careful of the surgical site.

Eating: you should start with liquids and very soft foods for the first 24-48 hours following the surgery. if the area feels a little better, you can then move on to a normal diet. be careful of chewing on hard foods near the surgical area.

Pain & swelling: it is normal to experience some degree of swelling. if you do experience swelling, you can place ice over your face for 20-30 minutes at a time during the first 24 hours. this should help to reduce pain and swelling. do not ice after the first 36 hours. if you feel discomfort, it is recommended that you take an advil or tylenol to ease the pain. if the pain persists, please contact the office.

Don’t hesitate to let us know
if you have any questions!

We are here for you and look forward to seeing you in our office.