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Our dental team is well versed in all areas of dentistry. We
offer you preventive, restorative and cosmetic dental care; State-of-the-art dental techniques that involve the replacements
or restoration of natural teeth for your general health and quality of life.
If you need or want to look better and feel
better, we will share our knowledge about the advances in implant and cosmetic dentistry with you to help select the form
of treatment that will restore your oral health, and discuss the responsibilities you have for the daily care of your teeth.
Patient
Safety
To protect our patients and ourselves, our staff wear masks, gloves and glasses. We strictly observe all Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines. All instruments are cleaned, disinfected and routinely sterilized as recommended
by the American Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control. Whenever possible, disposable single use items are
used to ensure your safety. Handpieces (drills) are sterilized with a state-of-the-art sterilization unit specifically designed
for this purpose. All surfaces in the treatment rooms are cleaned and disinfected after each patient.
Patient Comfort
You are not alone if you feel anxious about a visit to the dentist. We understand and share your concerns and strive to
make every dental visit comfortable. If there is anything else we can do, let us know. We offer stereo headsets, so you can
sit back, relax and listen to your favorite CD.
Hygiene
An integral part of maintaining your teeth for life
is the removal of plaque and tarter on a regular basis. The frequency of your visits is based upon your individual needs and
oral health. During your visit we will update your medical history, perform an oral cancer screening exam, thoroughly check
your teeth, gums, existing restorations and prosthesis using our intraoral camera. Our camera allows you to see inside your
mouth like we do. This allows us to educate our patients about their dental health. We can print images from our camera allowing
you to see before and after prints of your oral cavity. Prevention is the #1 goal for our hygiene department. We review oral
hygiene instructions and monitor your periodontal (gum) condition with each cleaning and exam appointment. Fluoride treatments
are provided for children under the age of thirteen and for those adults when appropriate.
Sealants
Highly effective
in preventing decay on the biting surfaces of your chewing teeth, sealants are a simple procedure in which a tooth-colored
acrylic "coating" is painted onto the surface of the tooth. This effectively "seals" the deep grooves where decay is most
likely to start.
Orthodontics
For patients, adults and children, who have crowded or crooked teeth, spaces between
their teeth or misaligned teeth and jaws, orthodontic therapy can help reduce the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and trauma
due to protruding teeth. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children have an evaluation by 7 years
of age. More than 25% of all orthodontic patients are adults.
Implants
A remarkable procedure, implants can replace
any or all of your teeth. The implant becomes integrated with the bone and acts like a "bolt" which will ultimately support
a new tooth. The advantages of implants for patients with dentures are: denture stability, increased patient comfort and confidence.
Crowns
A "cap", "jacket" or "crown" will restore a broken, heavily filled or cracked tooth to its original size
and shape. This may also be recommended after root canal therapy has been completed as the tooth tends to become brittle and
is more apt to fracture. Crowns can strengthen and protect the remaining tooth structure and improve the appearance of your
teeth.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic dentistry allows you to have the smile you have always wanted. Cosmetic dentistry
encompasses reshaping your teeth, veneers or bonding on mal-formed, discolored and mis-shaped teeth, natural-looking tooth-colored
fillings instead of silver (amalgams) and bleaching(whitening) your teeth for a brighter, whiter smile.
Tooth Decay
and Repair
Utilizing an intra-oral camera gives both you and us the opportunity to see potential problems occurring in
your mouth, such as decay or fractured teeth. Often a tooth will not start bothering you until there is significant loss of
tooth structure. With the help of the intra-oral camera, problems can be detected earlier, before you experience a toothache.
Periodontal
Disease
While seldom painful and frequently free of any obvious signs or symptoms, periodontal disease can progress, undetected,
to the point where supporting bone is destroyed. With 80 to 90% of all teenagers having some form of gingivitis (inflamed
gums) and 75% of adult tooth loss for people over the age of 35 due to periodontal disease, early treatment and prevention
is essential. While periodontal disease is caused by plaque, a number of other factors including poorly fitting bridges, badly
aligned teeth and defective fillings contribute to the development of this condition.
Oral Surgery
The goal of
modern dentistry is to prevent tooth loss. When a tooth cannot be saved, extraction (removal) of the tooth may be the only
course of treatment. A panorex x-ray allows us to see a complete picture of the alignment of your jaw, the positioning of
your teeth and if there is sufficient space for your third molars (wisdom teeth) to fully erupt. In addition, it is an excellent
diagnostic tool for evaluating the supporting bone for possible cysts or tumors. Most minor surgeries are performed at our
facility, however the doctor may choose to refer to a maxillofacial surgeon for more complicated cases.
Bridges
A
non-removable bridge can restore your teeth to normal function by replacing missing teeth. It will improve the entire health
of your mouth by keeping the surrounding teeth in position and can also help maintain the structure of your face and jaw.
Root
Canal Therapy
If a tooth's pulp (nerve and blood supply) becomes infected or inflamed, root canal treatment may be the
only way to save the tooth, short of removing it. Root canal treatment consists of removing the nerve that lies within the
root of the tooth.
Dentures
Many people believe that once they have dentures, they no longer need regular dental
care. Denture wearers require annual exams to ensure their health, comfort and appearance. Gum tissues are in a constant state
of change. Periodic relining of the dentures may be necessary to ensure a tight and comfortable fit.
Athletic Mouthguards
We provide state of the art custom made athletic mouthguards for all patients requiring protection during athletic competition
in "at risk" sports. Store bought over the counter mouthguards do not fit as well nor do they provide the anticipated and
necessary protection to help prevent dental/facial injuries. The only mouthguard that should be worn is that made from a model
of the mouth. Patients have individual requirements for fit, comfort, level of competition, and compliance. The professionally
designed custom made mouthguard satisfies these requirements.
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