GENERAL SERVICES

A comprehensive exam will be done by your dentist at your initial visit. At your regular check up exam your doctor and the hygienist will perform digital x-rays, digital photographs and study a model mounted using instruments to mimic the movements of your jaw.

A crown is a dental restoration that completely covers the outside of a severely decayed tooth. Dental crowns can be completed in two visits. During the first visit, the tooth is prepared for a crown and an impression is taken. A temporary crown is placed while the permanent crown is being made. During the second visit, the permanent crown is carefully fitted and then cemented into place for a permanent restoration.

A bridge replaces missing teeth without the use of a denture or dental implant. A false tooth is held in place by being attached to a neighboring tooth. In order to fabricate a bridge, crowns are made for the teeth on either side of the space and a false tooth is placed in between the crowns, which act as supports.

Dental implants are the replacement of tooth roots in the mouth. Implants provide a strong foundation for fixed or removable replacement teeth. Dental implants, which are placed in the jawbone, are small anchors made of a biocompatible metal called titanium. The implants begin to fuse with the bone over the course of a few months. After the fusing process, known as osseointegration, abutment posts are inserted into the anchors to allow for the permanent attachment of the replacement teeth.

A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth. There are two types of dentures, complete (full) and partial dentures.

Complete (Full) Dentures are made after all the teeth in the upper and/or lower jaw have been removed and the gum tissue has healed. The denture includes an acrylic base that is custom made in the dental laboratory and are made to look like natural gums, which sits over the gums or can be anchored to dental implants.

Removable Partial Dentures are made only when a few teeth need to be replaced. The removable partial denture either attaches to crowns on either side of the denture or to a metal framework that is attached to the teeth on both sides of the partial denture. Partial dentures can be removable or they can be anchored in place by attaching them to dental implants.

Removable partial dentures can be supported in place by attaching them to dental implants when wearing them during the day.

An inlay or onlay is a partial crown restoration that can be placed when there is not sufficient tooth structure to support a filling but enough tooth structure left that a full crown is not needed. Inlays/onlays are made of porcelain or gold, and they aesthetically and functionally replace the missing tooth structure.

Tooth-colored fillings are the most lifelike material used to fill cavities. Composite fillings can be done in one visit. Once the decay is removed from the tooth, it is filled with this composite material and left to harden immediately afterwards.

Whitening, also known as bleaching, is the procedure used to brighten teeth. There are two different ways to achieve a desired whiter smile, In-Office Bleaching and At-Home Bleaching.

In-Office Bleaching usually requires only one office visit. A protective gel or a rubber shield is placed over the gums to protect the soft tissue. A bleaching agent containing carbamide peroxide is applied to the teeth, and a high frequency wave length light is then used to enhance the action of the whitening agent .

At-Home bleaching requires an impression of the teeth to be taken to make a customized mouth guard to hold the whitening gel, containing carbide peroxide, against the teeth. Once the mouth guard is made, it is worn for a period of time, as instructed by our office. The amount of time may vary from a couple hours a day, or all night, for up to four weeks or longer, if desired.

Porcelain veneers are thin pieces of porcelain used to recreate the natural look of teeth. To place a veneer, a very small amount of the original tooth enamel must be removed. Afterwards, an adhesive layer is placed between the slightly prepped tooth and the veneer. The adhesive layer is then hardened with a curing light.

Oral cancer affects thousands of Americans yearly. We use the latest technology to detect changes in oral tissue consistencies and/or lesions. A specialized light is shined into the mouth to detect unhealthy tissue. Healthy tissue looks lighter under the light while spots of bad tissue appear dark. With early detection, cancer may be caught before it has time to spread, potentially saving lives.

Located within our office, our state-of-the-art dental laboratory is what truly sets us apart. Our world-class technicians are true craftsmen, dedicated to creating the most comfortable and beautiful porcelain restorations for our patients. Armed with the latest technology, the best materials and years of training, each piece is custom fabricated, enabling unprecedented levels of quality control.

• Porcelain Veneers by Marco
• Porcelain Crowns (Metal Free) by Marco
• Complete and partial dentures
• Night guards / Sports Appliances
• Custom temporaries
• Custom shading for any product

CAD/CAM is an acronym that stands for computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing. CAD/CAM technology is used to help the dental team fabricate precise shapes and sizes for dental restorations including inlays, onlays, crowns and bridges.

We work as a team with our handpicked Oral Surgeons, Periodontist and Orthodontist’s allowing us to achieve lasting results.

We are able to fully restore our patients’ mouths back to their normal function, health and appearance caused by years of wear, faulty restorations and periodontal disease.

Our non-surgical periodontal treatment is a closely supervised three, four or six-month program that uses our customized system of oral hygiene to improve patients’ periodontal health.

Lasers in dentistry allow for many dental procedures to be performed with no noise, minimal pain, faster recovery times and often fewer appointments. All lasers work by delivering energy in the form of light.

When used for surgical and dental procedures, the laser acts as a cutting instrument. When used for “curing” a filling, the laser helps to strengthen the bond between the filling and the tooth. When used in teeth-whitening procedures, the laser acts as a heat source and enhances the effect of tooth-bleaching agents. The procedures performed with dental lasers are minimally invasive and preferable to conventional surgery.

Lasers can be used to:

• Reshape gums
• Biopsy
• Eliminate pockets in gums
• Correct ankyloglossia (tongue-tied)

During office hours, immediate attention will be given to your situation, and you will be seen as soon as possible.  After office hours, please give the office a call and follow the instructions provided.  Your call will be returned as soon as possible. 

If you are experiencing a serious or life threatening emergency, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room.