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Comprehensive Dental Care |
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Adults Don't wait until you are in pain to call the dentist. Come twice a year for cleanings and to prevent more complex situations. Most people brush their teeth, but they are not meticulous. You can't do a thorough job in 5 seconds! in 5 seconds. We teach proper brushing techniques, instructing our patients about cleaning their gums, tongue, and all surfaces of their teeth. |
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Crowns & Bridges A crown provides strength and improves the appearance of the tooth it "covers". It is a stationary, custom made cover for any tooth that has sustained significant loss of structure. A crown is needed to protect a tooth that just had a root canal because these teeth tend to become brittle and are more likely to fracture. Crowns are also used to hold a cracked tooth together, cover discolored teeth, and to support the replacement tooth/teeth in a bridge. A bridge is a dental appliance that replaces one or more natural missing teeth, thereby "bridging" the space between two teeth. Fixed bridges are cemented into place using the surrounding teeth on either side of the space. Unlike removable partial dentures, fixed bridges cannot be taken out of the mouth. A bridge is one of the best options to fill any space in your mouth left by missing teeth. |
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Cleaning The purpose of polishing the teeth is to make the surfaces smooth -- making it more difficult for plaque and debris to accumulate on the teeth to cause decay or gum disease. Dental polishing or prophy, is rarely done at the first appointment, and is only done after completing the clinical exam if there is no sign of gum disease. Professional cleaning removes plaque, tartar, and stains from the teeth. Surface stains on the crown part of the tooth or above the gumline are removed so the teeth will look and feel cleaner. The combination of a prophy and a routine exam is the first line of defense against future dental problems. |
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Dentures and Partials A denture can improve chewing ability, speech, provide support for facial muscles, and give support to the cheeks and lips to greatly enhance your facial appearance and smile. A complete or full denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and adjacent tissue. They are made when all of your natural teeth are missing. You can have one for your upper or lower jaw, or both. We also offer Mini Dental Implants. More information >> |
 
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A root canal treatment involves the removal and replacement of a tooth's pulp. The pulp is the soft tissue containing blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue found in a canal that runs through the center of the inside of the tooth. Root canal therapy or pulpectomy consists of making a small hole in the tooth and then removing the tiny dead nerves, blood vessels and debris from each canal in the tooth. The roots are then shaped, disinfected and filled with an inert material. Although an extraction costs less, the space left behind will require an implant or a bridge, which can be more expensive than a root canal. |
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Gum Treatment Periodontal (Gum) disease is the main cause of tooth loss. Bleeding is an indicator of gum tissue inflammation and swelling causing tissue breakdown. The bacteria in gum disease can enter your bloodstream through damaged blood vessels that run through the gums, increasing toxin levels in your bloodstream. More on Periodontal Disease >> |
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Fillings If you do not practice good oral hygiene and visit us for routine periodic exams, cavities will develop causing you to need a filling, a root canal or an extraction. At the exam we check for new cavities and inspect old fillings for leakage around their edges. Fillings don't last forever! Aging may change teeth or the surrounding structures enough to require replacement of a filling to improve your bite or to save your teeth. The old filling may have aged past its usefulness and the underlying tooth structure may be in danger if a new restoration is not done. |
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Extractions and Pre-Prosthetic Surgery Extraction involves the complete removal of a tooth from the mouth. Some extractions may require cutting into the gums and removing supporting bone and/or cutting the tooth into sections prior to removal. We encourage root canal therapy over extraction. Extractions can cause a great deal of trauma -- pulling teeth may affect memory -- if you extract a tooth you will loose 10% of your chewing ability. You may also loose other teeth due to drifting. |
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Bleaching During bleaching a super charged bleaching agent gel is placed on the teeth. It may take more than one visit for teeth to meet your expectations or to get "Hollywood White". This could mean scheduling additional appointments to get the maximum whiteness. Teeth will continue to whiten for 48 to 72 hours after the treatment. |
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Veneers and Porcelain Crowns Veneers are a thin, semi-transparent tooth shaped "shell" that are custom made of porcelain. They are permanently bonded to your natural teeth to enhance their shape, color, length or size. They fit your teeth precisely to look completely natural. They are used to conceal damaged, stained or misshaped teeth. Veneers are a great way to improve the appearance of your front teeth, or your "smile zone". |
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Children (Ages 3 and Up) Begin instructing children on how to brush correctly while they are young. Avoid abrasive toothpastes, which can damage the teeth, use a soft toothbrush, and teach them to floss regularly. Chew sugar-free gum and avoid sugar between meals. It is not the quantity of sugar, but the frequency that leads to tooth decay. |
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Cleaning The purpose of polishing the teeth is to make the surfaces smooth -- making it more difficult for plaque and debris to accumulate on the teeth to cause decay or gum disease. Dental polishing or prophy, is rarely done at the first appointment, and is only done after completing the clinical exam if there is no sign of gum disease. Professional cleaning removes plaque, tartar, and stains from the teeth. Surface stains on the crown part of the tooth or above the gumline are removed so the teeth will look and feel cleaner. The combination of a prophy and a routine exam is the first line of defense against future dental problems. |
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Topical Fluoride Fluoride blocks cavities by forming a more acid-resistant surface layer and can help prevent bleeding gums. Gum recession and natural wear can cause sensitivity. Fluoride gels can help strengthen these areas to insulate them from hot and cold. |
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Sealants Sealants can shield your children's teeth from decay! A dental sealant is a safe, plastic like material that is painted on to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (molars and premolars) and acts as a barrier to help seal out germs and food that cause tooth decay and destroy tooth structure. Fluoride is not as effective in this area as it is on smooth tooth surfaces. Tooth susceptibility to cavities remains the highest in molars. Children and teens ages 5 to 15 benefit the most from dental sealants because molars come in during this period. |
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Fillings If your children do not practice good oral hygiene and visit us for routine periodic exams, cavities will develop causing them to need a filling. At the exam we check for new cavities and inspect old fillings for leakage around their edges. Fillings don't last forever! Aging may change teeth or the surrounding structures enough to require replacement of a filling to improve your bite or to save your teeth. The old filling may have aged past its usefulness and the underlying tooth structure may be in danger if a new restoration is not done. |
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Crowns for Primary Teeth A crown provides strength and improves the appearance of the tooth it "covers". It is a stationary, custom made cover for any tooth that has sustained significant loss of structure. Crowns are used to hold a cracked tooth together, or to cover discolored teeth. Crowns may also be needed when problems are caused by biting pressure on filled teeth. |
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Space Maintainers A space maintainer is a removable or fixed appliance designed to maintain an existing space. Space maintainers are usually fitted for children who have lost baby teeth early. The gap left from losing this tooth needs to be held open for the permanent tooth to erupt in the correct position. If a space maintainer is not used, the nearby teeth can shift or drift into the space created by the missing tooth creating a lack of space in the jaw for the permanent teeth. Other teeth may also move up or down to fill in the gap. If this crowding happens there may not be enough room for the new tooth to come in correctly, so it emerges lopsided or is not able to erupt at all. |
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