What procedures and services do you offer?

What about infection control?

I'm nervous about dental appointments.  Is there anything you can do to help?

What do I do if I need to change an appointment?

Why do I need my wisdom teeth removed?

I hear a lot about cosmetic dentistry.  What can you tell me about it?

Can you give me some information about tooth whitening?

I'm anxious to have my teeth whitened. What about an in-office whitening? 

I'm having periodontal therapy - is there anything else I can be doing to help my dental health?

Do you take children as patients?  When should they have their first appointment?

How do I handle my child's dental emergencies?

How do I convince my child to give up her pacifier?

What are dental sealants and should my child have them?

When will my child start to lose their baby teeth?

What do I do if I have a tooth removed?

How do I take care of my new temporary crown?

How do I care for my root treatment therapy?

1. Wear gloves, masks, protective eyewear, and clothing.
2. Wash our hands with special soaps before and after treating each patient.
3. Change our gloves after each patient.
4. Sterilize dental instruments and handpieces after each patient, using heat and chemical sterilization.
5. Clean and disinfect the surfaces and equipment in the treatment room.
6. Use disposable products whenever possible.
7. Handle all disposable materials according to federal, state, and local guidelines and regulations.

When you visit our office, you can feel confident that your health, and ours, is protected.

We provide the following to help you feel at ease:

Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas)
Local anesthesia (Novocain)
General anesthesia (In hospital)
Stereo headphones
Videos playing in each treatment room.
Comfortable neck pillows and blankets

The shape of the modern human mouth is often too small to accommodate wisdom teeth, which make their first appearance in young adults between the ages of 15 to 25. Over the course of time, the preparing and cooking of food and other changes in diet have reduced the need for strong jaws to chew food.

When wisdom teeth don't have room to grow or they haven't reached their final position by age 25, they are considered impacted - no place to go and no place to grow. Third molar impaction is the most prevalent medical development disorder. A full set of healthy teeth sometimes doesn't leave much room for wisdom teeth to erupt.

Partially erupted wisdom teeth are breeding grounds for bacteria and germs that may cause infection, and cysts and tumors may grow on a trapped wisdom tooth. Jaw pain and gum disease may occur. However, not all wisdom teeth cause problems.

Antibiotics only soothe infected wisdom teeth for a short time. Since people frequently use a wide variety of antibiotics, the infection may be resistant to such medication and doesn't solve the real problem: the tooth can't fit in your mouth.

It isn't wise to wait until wisdom teeth bother you. Early removal, as advised by your dentist, is generally recommenced to avoid problems, such as an impacted tooth that destroys the second molar. People younger than 16 heal easier, too. At an early age, people should be evaluated by their dentist who can track third molar development with the help of X-rays. Second molars should be visible to lessen the chance of damaging them during surgery. This occurs at age 11 or 12, so wisdom teeth should be removed when the decision has been made that they cannot erupt into an acceptable position.

People with symptoms of impaction, such as pain, swelling and infection should have their wisdom teeth removed immediately. However, those with no symptoms can avoid the chance of ever suffering form the pain of impacted wisdom teeth or achieve better orthodontic treatment result by having them removed.

Procedures

Placing tooth-colored-fillings is a very sensible treatment for small chips and cracks. They replace noticeable, dark silver fillings that can be unsightly when laughing.

We may suggest whitening to lighten or brighten teeth that are noticeably stained from consuming certain foods or liquids or from taking some medications.

Direct bonding - molds special dental restorative materials onto your tooth and it is effective to conceal chips, cracks, and imperfections. It can also be used to close spaces between teeth.

Porcelain laminated veneers mask flawed tooth surfaces.

We will perform tooth recontouring to round the rough or jagged edges of teeth or reshape teeth that aren't the same length.

For smiles that require more extensive restorative treatment, we may recommend crowns to fit over and protect existing teeth. Should there be missing teeth to restore, we may suggest bridges. Bridges can be removable, permanent or partial. In some cases, we can even make them without metal.

Of course, we will recommend a treatment plan only after a thorough examination and a complete consultation on your cosmetic needs and wants.

Cosmetic dentistry patients enjoy improved dental appearance and health. What could be better than an all-around improved, healthy smile?

Why do teeth discolor?

• Some teeth are naturally too pigmented or stained as they develop.
• Exposure to coffee, tea, juices, soda, or tobacco accounts for much of the darkening as we age.
• Tooth discoloration sometimes happens from minerals antibiotic (tetracycline) or an excess of fluoride taken internally during tooth development.
• Old fillings, tooth nerve damage or trauma to teeth can also account for darkening.

How does Opalescence® remove stains?

The patented Opalescence® Tooth Whitening System will remove most stains with a gentle sustained release action that will oxidize (bleach) stains within your teeth. Your tooth structure remains unchanged. History and research show that 90-95% of patients treated experienced some level of tooth whitening. Porcelain restorations and white fillings do not whiten with Opalescence®.

What is the treatment procedure?

Most patients use Opalescence® while they sleep. Your dentist will decide how many nights your treatment will take for maximum results. Most patients will need to whiten for only one to two weeks. In some cases, your dentist may recommend whitening during waking hours and possibly for shorter time periods.

Your dentist will examine your teeth and gums to assure good oral health. Old fillings may need to be replaced and/or decayed areas treated and filled. An impression of your teeth will be taken to guarantee proper fir or custom fabricated bleaching trays. The thin, soft plastic trays provide sufficient comfort to allow bleaching while you sleep. Once the tray is made, your dentist will explain how to use Opalescence® whitening gel.

Other Information:

Research and experience show that the whitening effect from Opalescence® treatment usually lasts for years. Teeth may darken faster if exposed again to staining products such as tobacco, coffee, or juices. However, the teeth will probably remain significantly lighter than if no treatment had been done. . Touch-up whitening is available if you and your dentist feel it is appropriate. Two to four nights of whitening, performed at six months to four year intervals may be all that is necessary.

Some difficult, darker stains may naturally require longer treatment than some milder stains. Depending on your teeth and the type of staining, results will vary. Your dentist can explain the type of results you can expect from the treatment.

Some patients experience increased tooth sensitivity to cold while using bleaching products. This will disappear in one to three days after interruption or completion of the treatment. To help sensitivity your dentist may prescribe a fluoride gel.

First, a layer of Apollo™ Secret Whitening Gel is placed over your teeth with a small brush.  Then, each tooth is exposed to the light for two 3-second intervals.  The gel is then suctioned off, your teeth are rinsed with water, dried, and the process is repeated two more times.

We determine the color of your teeth using a shade guide before and after whitening so you know exactly how much lighter your teeth have become.

For maintenance, we recommend a take home whitening system, such as Opalescence®.

Children

We love children!  The ADA and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry both recommend that a dentist sees a child when teeth first erupt, or at least by their first birthday. We have found that it isn't necessary to have a child have their own appointment, but that they accompany a parent or sibling for one of theirs. This is a great opportunity to allow the child to get accustomed to the office and the equipment that we use. It is also a time to demonstrate to the child that a dental visit is a positive experience.

Here are 7 suggestion to make your child's first dental visit easier:

• Bring them to your hygiene visit to show them how easy an appointment is.
• Explain what a dentist does in simple, positive terms.
• "Play" dentist at home, giving the child a sense of what the dentist will do.
• Describe dental instruments and how they help the dentist.
• Explain the X-rays "take pictures" of the teeth.
• Never bribe a child to visit the dentist or use the threat of a visit as punishment.
• Above all, parents should be careful to not pass on any fears of the dentist to their children.

You can expect the first baby teeth, the central incisors (the "A's") to be lost at ages 6-7. Next, usually, go the lateral incisors ("B's") at ages 7-8. The cuspids ("C's") are lost between ages 10 and 12 while the first molars ("D's") are shed between 9 and 11. The second molars ("E's") also go between ages 10-12.

The first large, adult teeth erupt at about age 6. These come in behind all of the baby teeth. These "six year molars" are actually the adult first molars. These teeth usually have very deep grooves and are very prone to decay. When these teeth first come into the mouth, they need to be protected immediately with protective plastic coatings called "sealants." Sealants are absolutely necessary to protect the integrity of your child's teeth.

Permanent teeth often come behind baby teeth. It is a normal occurrence for the permanent lower central incisors to erupt behind the primary lower central incisors ("A's"), especially in the lower arch. Usually, these baby teeth will be lost without a problem because the permanent teeth resorb the roots of the primary teeth enough to loosen them.

The back teeth are less likely to have this type of eruption pattern. Normally, the roots of the primary (baby) molars (typically, 3 roots on an upper molar and 2 roots on a lower molar) straddle the developing permanent premolar. As the permanent premolar erupts, the roots of the primary molars are resorbed, resulting in the shedding of the tooth.

If the baby teeth seem to have no desire to leave, or if the adult tooth does not follow the loss of a bay tooth within a "reasonable" period, give us a call or mention it at their next hygiene visit. We may need to take an X-ray to determine what's going on.

By the age of 11-13, twenty eight permanent teeth are usually in place. "Wisdom teeth," the third molars, appear around age 17, or they may not appear at all. When appropriate, we take a special X-ray to determine if these teeth are present and their position.

If the tooth or teeth are completed knocked out, phone your dentist immediately; time is very important!

Find the tooth or teeth and put them in a glass of water or milk. Bring them with you to your emergency appointment. Don't wipe or clean them in any way!

If your office is closed, call the emergency number, and they will page the doctor on call. The tooth (if in time) can be re-implanted, braced, or splinted and be useful for years to come.

If the tooth is fractured down to the gumline:

Hold a tissue or gauze over the area (have the child bite down). Phone the dentist or emergency number immediately. Depending on the way the tooth was hit, the root can be saved.

If the tooth is chipped:

Make sure the piece of tooth is not in the mouth. Phone the dentist immediately and get an appointment as soon as possible but it is not usually a dire emergency.

If the tooth is banged hard and is loose:

Do not wiggle it or eat on it. In many cases the tooth will tighten back up in the socket if it is not continually wiggled. Call the office for an appointment. We may try to take an X-ray of the tooth. This is not always possible with young children. You'll be advised to keep an eye on the tooth for a sign of color change or a bubble on the gumline

Patti felt it was time for Elizabeth to give up her pacifier. A firm believer in giving her children choices, Patti simply snipped a small groove in the pacifier to make it less pleasing to Elizabeth. It was Elizabeth's choice to give it up when she didn't like it anymore.

Continue to apply pressure for approximately 30 to 45 minutes. Change the packing during this time every 10 to 15 minutes.

If there is continued bleeding after this time (other than a slight taste), repeat the above procedure.

Avoid disturbing the blood clot. Eat only soft foods, which are neither too hot or too cold. Do not rinse, spit or drink through a straw for 24 hours.

Apply cold to the area to keep the area from swelling.

After 24 hours, you may rinse with a salt water rinse (one teaspoon salt to 10 oz water) 3 times per day. If you have a sodium problem, do not rinse.

If sutures have been placed, you will be given an appointment 7 - 10 days later for removal.

Take medication as instructed.

If bleeding, swelling or pain persists, please call our office.

Temporary crowns are generally cemented with temporary cement; therefore, they can come loose before the time of final placement of your crowns or onlays. To help prevent this from happening, please:

Brush normally.
Do NOT floss that area.
Avoid anything soft and chewy (caramels and gum) or very hard (raw carrots) which might stick to or crack the temporary material.

If your temporary does become loose, you may replace it with Vaseline temporarily, and then call our office.

We prefer to recement the temporary crown or onlay as soon as possible - either the same day or the next, in order to prevent sensitivity or movement of the tooth.

Information – Following Your Root Treatment Therapy

What to Expect

•  It is not uncommon for a tooth to be uncomfortable or even to have a dull ache immediately after receiving root-treatment therapy. This should subside within one week.

•  Your tooth will be sensitive to biting pressure and may even feel loose. This feeling is a result of the sensitivity of nerve endings in the tissue just outside the end of the root, where we cleaned, shaped, filled and sealed the nerve chamber. The feeling usually subsides in one to two weeks.

•  You may feel a depression or rough area (on top of a back tooth or back of a front tooth) where our access to the tooth was made. There is a soft, temporary material in that area which may wear away to some degree before we can permanently restore your tooth.

•  Occasionally, a small “bubble” or “pimple” may appear on the gum tissue around the newly treated tooth. This is caused by the release of pressure and infection from the tooth and should disappear within a few days of treatment.

What to do

 •  We recommend you take something for pain relief within one hour of leaving the office, so the medication can take effect before the anesthesia we used begins to subside. Generally, only one dose is needed. We recommend ibuprofen (Nuprin, Advil, Motrin) 800mg (four tablets). If you have an allergy, gastrointestinal disorder or any other medical condition which prevents you from using ibuprofen, you can substitute acetaminophen (Tylenol, Excedrin), although it does not contain anti-inflammatory properties. Aspirin and aspirin-containing products can also increase bleeding from the area treated. The doctors will prescribe any other medication they feel is necessary for you.

•  Whenever possible, chew on the opposite side from the tooth just treated, until you have a crown or onlay placed, or until the area is restored with a longer-term restoration. Until that time your tooth is in a weakened state and could fracture.

•  Please avoid chewing gum, caramels, soft sticky food or very hard foods as these could dislodge the temporary filling materials or fracture the tooth.

Please Call Us If…

 •  You are experiencing symptoms more intense or of longer duration than we described above.

•  You encounter significant post-operative swelling.

•  The temporary material is dislodged, feels loose or feels “high” when biting.

•  Your tooth fractures.

•  You have any questions at all!