Dental Exams and Consultations
Regular exams are an important part of maintaining your oral health. Most insurances have 6 months recall program. During your regular exam, dentist will:
Check for any problems that you may not see or feel
Look for cavities or any other signs of tooth decay
Inspect your teeth and gums for gingivitis and signs of periodontal disease
Check any abnormal things in your mouth such as TMJ problem or tumors.
Provide a thorough teeth cleaning and root planning.
Give you personal hygiene instruction and so on.
Visiting our office every six months gives you the chance to talk with Dentist and receive answers for any questions you may have about your oral health. Regular exams are offered by appointment only, so please contact our practice today to schedule your next dental exam and teeth cleaning.
Digital X – Rays
Intraoral Camera
Teeth Cleaning
Composite Fillings
Newer dental fillings include ceramic and plastic compounds that mimic the appearance of natural teeth. These compounds, often called composite resins, are usually used on the front teeth where a natural appearance is important. They can be used on the back teeth as well depending on the location and extent of the tooth decay. Composite resins are usually more costly than the older silver amalgam fillings.
The ultimate decision about what to use is best determined in consultation with our dentist. Before your treatment begins, our dentist will discuss the options with you. To help you prepare for this discussion it is helpful to understand the two basic types of dental fillings: direct and indirect.
Direct fillings are fillings placed immediately into a prepared cavity in a single visit. They include dental amalgam, glass ionomers, resin ionomers, and composite (resin) fillings. It can be done during one appointment.
Indirect fillings generally require two or more visits. They include inlays, onlays, veneers, crowns, and bridges fabricated with gold, base metal alloys, ceramics, or composites. During the first visit, our dentist prepares the tooth and makes an impression of the area to be restored. The impression is sent to a dental laboratory which creates the dental restoration. At the next appointment, it will be cemented onto the prepared cavity and be adjusted it as needed.
Inlay and Onlay Restorations
Inlays and onlays restore your teeth beautifully with custom-created porcelain or resin material or gold alloy. They are an aesthetic alternative to fillings and look exactly like the rest of your natural tooth. Inlays and onlays protect and restore large portions of the decayed tooth, much like a large filling. Inlays fill the tooth in between cusps, while onlays lay over the chewing surface of your tooth. We often recommend inlays and onlays because they are one of the highest quality options available. They preserve tooth structure, and are more durable than some of our other choices.
Restoring your teeth with inlays or onlays take two appointments. On your first visit, we carefully prepare your teeth, then take an impression and send it to a dental laboratory. There, a model of your teeth is made and used to create your inlay or onlay from porcelain, gold or resins.
On your next visit, the inlay or onlay is placed in your teeth, and are adjusted for a precise fit. Once that is achieved, we cement it, polish and check it one more time for the accuracy of your bite. Then the appearance and function of your teeth will be restored!
Night Guards
Bruxism (teeth grinding) is an involuntary grinding or clenching of your teeth, and usually occurs while you sleep. Grinding your teeth can create a great deal of force on your jaw, which can cause damage to your teeth and jaw joints. Most often the cause of grinding is stress related but can also be caused by the misalignment of your teeth. Some symptoms of grinding include sore jaw muscles, headaches and neck or ear pain. Although for most people it is the dentist that will see the wear on your teeth and warn you of grinding. If you have restless, interrupted sleep, a professionally made nightguard may be the answer to a full nights rest!
A night guard can help protect your teeth from the harmful effects of grinding and clenching and prevent further damage. A night guard is custom made to fit over your upper or lower teeth, preventing the teeth from grinding together and allowing your jaw joints to be positioned in the most relaxed state. Different types of Night Guards can be made based on your needs, whether you require TMJ therapy, grinding/clenching, or even have sleep apnea. Ask our experienced dentist which type is best for you.