This information is provided as a brief introduction to some of the services that our office provides. This information does not in any way supercede any information given to you by our dentist or any other dental professional. Diagnosis and treatment of your condition require thorough examination by a dentist.

Bridges: Bridges are an excellent choice for replacing missing teeth. A bridge consists of 3 or 4 crown-like dental units bonded together into one unit. Unlike partials, bridges are cemented into place and do not have to be removed. In order to place a bridge, there needs to be a tooth on either side of the missing tooth space.

Children's Dentistry: Most children start visiting the dentist for regular check-ups at age 4. However, because the ability to cooperate for the exam, x-rays and cleaning mostly depends upon the child's emotional maturity, some children may have a more productive visit at an older age. By the same token, some children who display dental problems need to be seen at an earlier age. Children of any age who have cavities, pain, missing, broken or discolored teeth need to have their teeth examined by a dentist immediately. Children who are unable to cooperate for examination and/or treatment by a General Dentist may need to be referred to a specialist (Pedodontist).

Crowns: A crown is often recommended when a large portion of a tooth is damaged and additional strength is needed to prevent the tooth from breaking. Most crowns consist of metal and tooth-colored porcelain, but in cosmetic areas, we often place crowns that are made completely of tooth-colored materials. Crowns are done in 2 visits, because impressions have to be sent to a dental laboratory for the crown to be fabricated.

Deep Cleaning: A deep cleaning is often the recommended treatment for gum disease or periodontal disease. Gum disease may be detected by bone loss seen on x-rays, visible calculus build-up at or below the gum-line, or deep gum pockets measured by a special dental instrument. Some patients with gum disease may notice bleeding when brushing, foul breath odor, and/or receding gum line. However, quite a few patients don't notice anything at all, which is why dental visits are so important. Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums, which causes rapid loss of the bone supporting the teeth. Deep cleaning or periodontal scaling involves removing the calculus deposits from below the gum. This gets the gums back healthy and stops or slows down the bone loss. Most patients respond well, and while the bone that is lost during the active phase of the disease never grows back, many patients who stabilize the disease and follow routine maintenance guidelines are able to keep their remaining teeth.

Dentures: Dentures are removable appliances that are placed when all of the teeth are missing. Dentures restore chewing power, which is critical to good nutrition and digestion. Dentures can also give support to the face to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and stretch collapsing facial tissue back out giving a more youthful appearance.

Extractions: Extracting or removing a tooth is a procedure often recommended when a tooth cannot be saved or is causing a detrimental condition for other teeth. Antibiotics are often prescribed before or after extraction, and some complicated extractions may require referral to a specialist (Oral Surgeon).

Fillings: The most commonly used material for repairing cavities used to be metal (silver-mercury amalgam). However, since the development of stronger tooth-colored filling material, resin or composite has become the best material to use for most cavities. Unlike metal, the resin is actually bonded to the tooth to reduce leakage and provides a very esthetic result. Because large fillings carry a high risk of breakage, a crown is still the best way to restore a very large cavity.

Implants: An implant consists of a metal component surgically placed below the bone and a metal and porcelain crown that is cemented to the part of the implant that extends above the gum. Implants cost more than partials and bridges, but offer several advantages. Implant crowns are free-standing, which means that adjacent teeth do not have to be altered for placement. Also, implants are cemented into to place and do not have to be removed nightly.

Missing Tooth Replacement: A missing tooth is a very serious dental problem. Teeth are very dependent on each other for support to have something to bite against. So, when a tooth is removed, the other teeth start to drift and shift. This drifting and shifting throws the bite off, and the remaining teeth have to bear the entire force of the bite. Upper teeth start to drop down, and lower teeth start to rise up or lean over. This type of movement brings the teeth out of the bone and causes gum disease and cavities on the part of the tooth that would normally have been below the bone. Replacing missing teeth is critical to the health of the remaining teeth, and there are many prosthetic options available such as partials, dentures, bridges and implants.

Partials: Partials are removable appliances that can replace several missing teeth at the same time. In general, partials are better than dentures, because they rest partly on the gum and partly on the remaining teeth. Getting support from other teeth makes partials more retentive than dentures and reduces the wear on the gums and bone that makes dentures eventually get loose. Most partials are made from metal and acrylic, but they are available in many comfortable designs which feature greater flexibility and hidden metal clasps.

Root Canals: Root canal therapy is a procedure often recommended when a person has an infected tooth or toothache. During the procedure, the infected or dead nerve is removed from the nerve canal in the root. Root canals are often done in 2 visits, and sometimes require treatment with antibiotics before or between visits. Complicated root canals may be referred to a specialist (Endodontist). When a tooth has had a large filling or cavity which had to be cleaned out in order to complete the root canal, a permanent foundation (build-up) and crown is often necessary to repair the large defect and prevent the tooth from breaking.

Veneers: A veneer is a thin slip of porcelain cemented over the front surface of a tooth to change the color, shape or size of a tooth. Veneers are most commonly placed on top front teeth, and, since there is a great need for all of the front teeth to match, veneers are often done in sets of 2, 4 or 6. Veneers can also close spaces and make crowded teeth appear straighter. In some cases, severely misaligned teeth may be better treated with braces.


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