Introduction:

Complete dental health is critical in the total health of an individual. Staying current with research and techniques helps our doctors to properly advise our patients of the correct options for establishing and maintaining excellent dental health for a lifetime.

Our practice provides a number of procedures and we have excellent working relationships with local and regional specialist who support and compliment our services.

Comprehensive care goes beyond drilling holes and filling them up. Understanding how and why something breaks is as important as how to fix the problem. Please review our common services and feel free to inquire if you have a need for any of these services.

Fillings:

One of the most common and easily recognized fillings is the silver or amalgam filling. These fillings have been used successfully for decades. They are durable, predicable, and cost effective. The drawback is that they are not attractive when they can be seen in a smile. To date, there is no scientific evidence that there is any health risk related to silver fillings.

Composite fillings are tooth-colored fillings that are often as natural as the original tooth. These fillings are generally preferred in areas that are visible in your smile and may be used to replace existing silver fillings that are not pleasing in your smile. The use of these bonded materials is limited to areas that can be isolated from moisture during placement. Moisture contamination will lead to leakage and premature failure. These materials are not intended for areas of high stress.

 For teeth that have too much damage for normal fillings, we can provide porcelain and gold restorations that protect the teeth. There are several terms that are used for these types of restorations. Each restoration is intended to protect and strengthen the weakened or broken tooth.

 Inlays and Onlays:

These restorations are for teeth that are too weak to hold a conventional filling. These are two appointment procedures. The initial appointment is to shape the remaining tooth and remove any decay that may be present. An impression of the tooth is made and forwarded to a Certified Dental Laboratory Technician. A temporary restoration is placed to protect the tooth. The technician will fabricate the restorations to the specifications of our doctors and return them to our office for seating approximately 3-4 weeks following the preparation. A temporary is placed while the inlay or onlay is being fabricated.

 The second office visit will be to seat the inlay or onlay. The temporary is removed and the restoration is adjusted and seated with a specific type of cement.

Crowns (Caps):

Generally, a crown covers most of or all of the tooth similar to a thimble. This reduces the stress on teeth. Crowns may be placed to protect teeth, reshape teeth, or change the appearance of a tooth entirely.

 Crowns may be made of porcelain, porcelain fused to a gold alloy, or full gold. The design of the crown is dependant on the location and the stress that will be applied to the crown. There is no magic material. The design of the crown should be determined based on the patient’s individual circumstance.

 Crowns are often used to rebuild teeth back to their normal shape and/or a brighter color. The quality of the newer porcelain materials and the skills of our Dental Technicians allow the placement of crowns that are virtually undetectable.

 Dentures and Partial Dentures

We take great pride in the techniques used in developing and fitting complete dentures and partial dentures in our practice. We do not offer “same day dentures” as this is not adequate time to evaluate and address the unique concerns of each patient.

We are proud to have studied with Dr. Walter “Jack” Turbyfill. Dr. “T” as he is widely known, is recognized as one of the finest clinicians and teachers of removable partial and denture techniques available today. His techniques allow patients as well as the dentist to evaluate numerous steps in the fabrication and fitting process. The goal is to restore as much eating enjoyment as possible to our patients who has few or no teeth.

 Dental Implants

The dental implant offers the ability to replace a single missing tooth or multiple missing teeth. The most common implants used today are termed endoseous implants and resemble a screw. There are several manufacturers that we commonly use. The links to their web sites are listed in our “Links of Interest” section.

 We have develop excellent working relationships with local Periodontists and Oral Surgeons who have the surgical expertise to place the implants in positions that allow us to restore them properly.

 There are some limitations to the use of dental implants and their placement. Each patient presents with unique circumstances that will require individual assessment.

Sealants:

Sealants are a very effective means of preventing cavities from forming in the pits and fissures of the teeth. The sealant is a simple procedure that requires no numbing. The paint-on tooth colored material flows into the grooves and pits and effectively seals the tooth from decay.

The sealants may last for several years under normal chewing before reapplication is necessary.

 Children and adults can benefit from sealants as a deterrent to decay. We normally limit the application of sealants to permanent teeth.

 Veneers:

Veneers are thin porcelain facings that are bonded to the front and top of the teeth. Veneers are and excellent means for modify the shape and color of your teeth. Discoloration, minor rotations, developmental irregularities, and gaps between teeth are just a few of the applications for veneers.

 Veneers are one of the most realistic and lifelike restorations that we provide. They have good strength and resistance to stains.

The veneers, with proper care, will brighten your smile for many years. To help protect the veneers from excessive stress, we recommend wearing a thin protective night guard particularly for patients that are aware of a clenching or grinding pattern.

 Bleaching:

Vital tooth bleaching (whitening) has been an accepted treatment for over 20 years. Bleaching is a safe, inexpensive, predictable way to remarkably brighten your natural teeth. University studies have confirmed the safety and efficacy of low strength dental bleaching agents. (See the “Van Haywood” link for publications and research.)

Facial Muscle and Joint Pain (TMD or TMJ)

The muscles and joints that allow our lower jaw to move and chew must work in harmony. An interference with the harmony or a trauma or series of traumas may result in a number of symptoms. The symptoms may be pain when opening, pain while chewing, discomfort in the morning, noises in the joints, sudden changes in the bite, or changes in hearing.

Each patient has a different pain tolerance and adaptive capacity to different types of interferences. Some symptoms may be directly related to the fit of the teeth. In other instances, the interferences may not cause pain, but instead result in excessive wear of the teeth, sensitivity to bite or temperature, excessive mobility of the teeth, or tooth fracture. These types of symptoms are often referred to as “Occlusal or Bite Disease”.

 A proper diagnosis is critical before beginning any treatment. Common diagnostic aids are screening panoramic x-ray, accurately mounted models of the teeth on an articulator, a complete evaluation of the facial muscles associated with chewing and jaw movement, and the use of a bite splint therapy in an attempt to stabilize a patient in a reversible manner.

 Bite Splint Therapy becomes one of our best diagnostic aids and a reversible way to explore a patient’s bite without altering the shape or position of the teeth.