Oral conscious sedation—sometimes referred to as “relaxation dentistry”—is an option we offer to help patients become as comfortable as possible through a simple pill. Some people mistakenly call it “sleep dentistry,” but though you will feel very calm and relaxed during treatment, you will still be awake and able to respond. If you have felt fearful about dental treatment in the past, you are not alone. We want you to know that such feelings are not uncommon and people of any age can experience them. We also want you to know that we can help with oral conscious sedation! Thanks to conscious sedation, more patients can have all necessary treatment completed in one day and they regain alertness feeling refreshed. If these benefits sound like what you have been looking for, please contact us to learn more!
X-rays, also known as radiographs, are commonly used in dental exams of patients of all ages. Many problems with teeth and the surrounding tissues cannot be seen by the naked eye. An x-ray is needed to reveal:
Digital x-rays are comfortable for you and faster than traditional x-rays, with the images available to be viewed on a computer screen within seconds. Digital x-rays are also safe. They can be used during pregnancy, and some studies cite that they emit up to 90% less radiation! With no chemical processing, digital x-rays are easy on you and the environment.
Since identifying and filling cavities are two of the most basic, important services we provide patients, we use Diagnodent® laser technology. This technology precisely detects tooth decay in its early stages, many times before it can be recognized by other means. Fillings for cavities that are caught sooner can often be smaller, which allows us to use minimally invasive filling techniques and preserve more natural tooth. Additionally, the low intensity Diagnodent laser enables us to monitor areas of concern without repeated x-rays.
Proper oral hygiene is essential for preventing cavities, but toothbrushes can’t always reach down into the deepest crevices of teeth. Dental sealants can compensate for this. The resin sealant material bonds into the grooves of teeth, creating a barrier against food particles, plaque, and acidic food and drink. Sealants can last up to 10 years before needing to be replaced, and children and adults alike can benefit from their protection.
Plaque wears away at tooth enamel in a process called demineralization. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that can promote remineralization of enamel, which works to strengthen teeth and protect them from decay. Children with newly-erupted permanent teeth can benefit greatly from fluoride exposure, but adults should make sure their teeth come in contact with it too. The safe and easy way is to use fluoride toothpaste. If we recommend more intense fluoride treatment, there are a number of gels, rinses, and in-office procedures that can do the trick!
Traditional theories have linked tension-type headaches (TTH) to muscle contraction and tightness in the jaw, scalp, neck, and shoulders. NTI (Nociceptive Trigeminal Inhibition) is an innovation in headache treatment that prevents intense clenching and teeth grinding, also called bruxism, so your jaw and head muscles can relax. The NTI device is a small, FDA-approved mouthpiece that fits securely on either your upper or lower front teeth while you sleep. It creates exclusive contact between your incisors (the 8 teeth in the front of your mouth with straight edges) and prevents your molars from touching or grinding, which stops your pain at its source without drugs. We want to help you find relief!
Composite dental fillings can be bonded, which means adhesively held in place. Compared to the preparation needed for amalgam (silver) fillings, this bonding process makes more conservative preparation possible where more healthy tooth structure can be saved. Composite fillings are tooth-colored, as well, making them the natural looking way to restore your teeth. The composite filling material is cured with a special light and the surface is shaped and polished to match the natural part of the tooth, rendering the final restoration virtually undetectable to the eye and very natural feeling in the mouth!
With the E4D CAD/CAM System, we are able to design, make, and place a crown in only one visit! Using a special laser scanner, we take several images of the tooth to be repaired. Then, working from those images, we digitally design a restoration that we are equipped to mill right in our office. The computer-aided milling process is extremely precise, ensuring a comfortable fit when we bond the newly made restoration to the tooth. The metal-free ceramic and composite materials used for E4D crowns are tooth-colored and natural looking. The software allows us to add grooves and other details to make E4D crowns very natural feeling, too. Your E4D crown will feel as good as your natural tooth, if not better. One-visit crowns not only save your valuable time, but they eliminate the need for impression trays of messy goo in your mouth!
A dental implant is a small titanium post that serves as a replacement for the root portion of a missing natural tooth. A dental implant restoration is the replacement tooth that goes on top of the post. Dental implants can be placed in both the upper and lower jaws and, thanks to the biocompatible properties of titanium, they fuse with the jaw bone to become a solid anchor for replacement teeth. Implants can be used as solutions for replacing single or multiple missing teeth, and there are a number of reasons to consider them. Without the root structure of a natural tooth present, the jawbone can shrink and cause bone loss. Not only is bone loss unhealthy, but jawbone shrinkage can make you look older than you are. Best of all, dental implants function like natural teeth, so you can chew, talk, smile, and laugh with ease and confidence again! Ask us for more information about dental implants.
Unsightly gaps can make you want to cover your mouth and hide your smile. Same with chipped, badly shaped, or very discolored teeth. Porcelain veneers, which are thin, custom-made casings applied to the front side of teeth, can correct chips and discoloration (from an injury, for example) to restore your smile to its original appearance. For those who have never felt satisfied or confident about their smiles, veneers offer the chance to get a smile that before was only a dream. During the preparation for veneers, a small amount of tooth enamel typically needs to be removed to fit them onto the teeth. For this reason, veneers are often an irreversible treatment and it is important to be prepared for a permanent improvement in the look and feel of your smile!
Lumineers® system veneers are an alternative to traditional veneers. With Lumineers, less shaping preparation is needed to apply the veneers to teeth, so there is usually no need for shots! Lumineers are also reversible, so if you’re ready for a smile makeover but perhaps not one quite as permanent as traditional veneers, then Lumineers could be just right for you.
We offer both in-office and take-home teeth whitening. Our take-home whitening system is most popular with our patients. We take molds of your teeth to make custom trays, and then we give you two weeks worth of professional-strength whitening gel for use in the convenience and privacy of your home. Our in-office whitening options are great for busy patients who don’t have two weeks for take-home whitening. Power Whitening, which combines in-office and take-home whitening, can give you a whiter and brighter smile than you probably thought possible! In addition, we know a teeth whitening method for those with sensitive teeth. Inquire about it at your next visit!
