General Dental Services

During an oral examination, a visual inspection is performed to detect normal and abnormal structures of the entire mouth, head and neck.  Along with radiographs, an examination detects cavities, abnormalities in existing dental restorations, gum and bone recession and any other abnormal findings within the mouth, head and neck.

A dental cleaning, also known as an oral prophylaxis, is the removal of dental plaque and tartar (calculus) from the teeth.  Specialized instruments are used to gently remove these deposits without harming the teeth.  First, an ultrasonic device that emits vibrations and is cooled by water is used to loosen larger pieces of tartar.  Next, hand tools are used to manually remove smaller deposits and smooth the tooth surfaces.  Once all the tooth surfaces have been cleaned of tartar and plaque, the teeth are polished.

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 laser 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 carbamide peroxide, against the teeth.  Once the mouth guard is made, it is worn for a period of time, generally from a couple of hours a day to every day during the night for up to four weeks or longer, if desired.

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 prepped (shaved down) 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 fitted comfortably 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 a crown(s) is made for the teeth on either side of the space and a false tooth is placed in between the crowns, as a support.

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 veneer is then hardened with a curing light.

Dental implants are the replacement of tooth roots in the mouth.  Implants provide a strong foundation for fixed or removable replacement teeth.  Dental implants are small anchors made of a biocompatible metal called titanium, which are placed in the jawbone.  The anchors begin to fuse with the bone over 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 mouth 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.

Partial Dentures are made only when a few teeth need to be replaced.  The 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.

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.  This technology provides patients with durable, esthetic, well-fitted single and multiple tooth restorations in a more efficient manner.  The first step in using CAD/CAM technology is tooth preparation.  Next, a digital impression is taken that sends the prepared tooth’s exact dimensions into a computer.  Afterwards, the computer software creates a virtual restoration replacement part for the missing areas of the tooth.  The software then sends the virtual restoration data to the milling machine, where the replacement part is carved out of a solid block of ceramic or composite resin.  The restoration is adjusted in the patient’s mouth and cemented or bonded in place.

Lasers in dentistry allow for many dental procedures to be performed with no noise, very little pain and 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 or a vaporizer of tissue that it comes in contact with.  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.

Other benefits of laser dentistry over traditional methods can include:

• Reduced heat and vibration
• Little or no need for anesthetic
• Faster treatment time
• Increased rate of retention
• Less post-operative complications

Some of the dental treatment provided by lasers are as followed:

• “Cure” or harden fillings
• Whiten teeth
• Reshape gum tissue
• Biopsy or remove soft tissue lesions and ulcers
• Remove areas of tooth decay
• Eliminate pockets of infected gum tissue
• Root canal therapy Correct ankyloglossia (tongue-tied)
• Oral surgery and extractions

Biomimetic Dentistry is defined as the reconstruction of teeth to emulate their natural biomechanical and esthetic form and function.  Simply put, biomimetic dentistry means to copy what is life-like.  With biomimetic dentistry, only the damage and decayed part of the tooth is removed and the final restoration is bonded to the remaining healthy natural tooth structure.  Biomimetic restorations include stress-reduced direct composite restorations and porcelain/composite inlays and onlays that restore the biomechanics of broken and damaged teeth.  Traditional dental treatments do not follow the biomimetic approach.

When restoring damaged, broken, and decayed teeth, the goal is to return the tooth to its original strength, function, and esthetics.  Biomimetic dentistry accomplishes all of this in a conservative, strong, and attractive approach.