Services:

Cosmetic Dentistry

This has become the fastest growing area of dentistry and has become a large portion of our practice.  Patients want to look and feel their best.  With the advent of whitening, Lumineers®, veneers, implants and Invisalign® patients can have that healthy attractive and youthful smile they deserve.

Lumineers® and Laminates

A covering which changes the look, shape, size, color or orientation of ones teeth.  Made of porcelain and shaped some what like a “fake fingernail,” these small and intricate veneers can drastically change a person’s entire smile.  Lumineers® are a more conservative type of veneer which requires little or no preparation of the teeth.  Traditional laminates or veneers do require some preparation and may be indicated in certain situations where there are larger discrepancies in the tooth alignment.  Both provide a beautiful cosmetic result and are stain resistant. 

Click here to visit the official Lumineers™ site

 
Lumineer™ photos

Crowns, Bridges, Inlays & Onlays:

Crowns

Whether they are gold, porcelain or gold and porcelain, they support and restore strength to a tooth which does not have much healthy tooth structure left due to large fillings, cracks or large decayed areas.

Onlays

Onlays are a more conservative type of crown. They can be used if there is a large portion of the tooth missing, but a significant amount of healthy tooth structure remaining.

Inlays

Inlays are used in place of fillings when a patient may want a cast and longer lasting type of filling.

Crowns, inlays, and onlays are all procedures which require a laboratory for fabrication.  Therefore these procedures require two visits.

Bridges

Bridges are done when a tooth/teeth are missing and adjacent teeth are present.  The adjacent teeth are prepared for crowns and used as abutments for the missing center tooth/teeth (pontic).  The teeth are attached together as one piece and permanently cemented to the abutments.  This restores chewing capacity and prevents the migration of the adjacent teeth.

Implants

Nothing has changed the face of dentistry more than dental implants.  After losing teeth the bone surrounding that tooth begins to deteriorate.  Dental implants act like healthy tooth roots not only to preserve the bone, but to provide a stable foundation to attach a permanent prosthesis.  It feels like your natural tooth and is a great alternative to bridges because it requires no preparation of the adjacent teeth.  This procedure surprisingly has little if any discomfort.

Bonding

This is a technique for attaching composite tooth-like material to the teeth.  It is used for fillings, covering discolored or misshaped teeth and closing gaps.

Invisalign™

This is an alternative to wearing traditional braces to straighten teeth.  This system uses a series of clear, removable aligners to move your teeth over time.  A patient can go about their daily routine with almost no one knowing they’re correcting their smile.

Click here to visit the official Invisalign™ web site

Zoom® and Opalesence One Hour Whitening

Along with traditional take home whitening, we offer in office one hour whitening.  This is an option for those who simply don’t have the time or discipline to use trays for weeks or for those who want more instant gratification.  This requires placing a liquid dam on the gums for protection while using several rounds of whitening solution on the teeth.

Click here to visit the official Zoom® web site

Routine Dental Practices

Mercury Free Dentistry

Our office is dedicated to restoring teeth with natural white mercury free fillings.  We do not use amalgam (silver) material which contains mercury, nor do we store any mercury containing items in our office.

Routine and Periodontal Maintenance

This is probably the most important area of dentistry because it is the foundation which supports your teeth.  Without this strong foundation the teeth become vulnerable to disease and eventual tooth loss.  During your routine recall visit, which is generally every 6 months, you will receive a prophylaxis (cleaning), an exam, digital x-rays when needed and an oral cancer screening.  The importance of having periodontal (gum) health is not only important for your teeth, but for your overall systemic health.  There has been evidence to support links between poor periodontal health and respiratory problems, cardiac problems, pancreatic cancer and low birth weight in babies of women with poor periodontal health.

Oral Cancer Screening

This is done on every patient every time you are here for your check-up visit.  All tissues of the mouth, especially those most vulnerable to oral cancer, are visualized and palpated to assure that there are no abnormalities.  In some situations where abnormalities are observed, further observation by an oral surgeon may be suggested.

Sealants

Sealants are protective resin coatings placed on the pits and grooves of teeth to prevent tooth decay in these vulnerable areas.  They work best when placed on the teeth within the first year of eruption.  This is the time when teeth are most susceptible to decay.  However, it is never too late to be placed as long as the tooth has not yet decayed.  Sealants eventually wear down and may need replacement to provide continued protection.

Root Canals (Endodontics)

A root canal is a procedure which removes the contents of the canals in the roots in an effort to save the tooth.  The roots are cleaned, shaped and filled.  If there is healthy bone around the roots, but a deteriorating crown, an abscess or deep decay, one might opt to save the root and build upon that to restore the crown.  Newer techniques using rotary instruments during endodontic therapy make the procedure comfortable and much faster, often requiring only one visit.  Preserving a healthy root through endodontics provides a natural implant to build upon.