General Dental Services |
Implants – Porcelain Veneers – Bonding – Crowns – Bridges- Sealants – Periodontal Disease Treatment
Extractions – Root Canal – Low Anxiety Dentistry – Restorative – Preventative Care – Miscellaneous
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are ultra-thin layers that are artistically fashioned in a lab, and then applied to the surface of the teeth in our office. The veneers look and function the same as the teeth; any differences are virtually invisible to the naked eye. Veneers can change the size, shape, or color of a single tooth, or they can be used to recreate the entire smile.
Bonding
Bonding is the process of changing the shape and/or color of a tooth using a plastic coating that is applied to the tooth, then sculpted and smoothed. The coating is hardened with a high-intensity light, and the process can often be completed in a single office visit.
Crowns
It may have been recommended that you have a crown placed. A crown is the treatment of choice in the following situations:
- To support the tooth and protect it from fracture when the existing restoration is sufficiently large so as to jeopardize the strength and function of the tooth.
- To replace tooth structure lost when an unprotected tooth suffers a fracture.
- To replace lost tooth structure when insufficient structure remains to support a filling.
- To restore optimal contour of the tooth to improve periodontal (gum and bone) health and improve access for home care.
- To restore proper vertical dimension (distance between nose and chin).
- To correct congenital malformations and staining of the teeth.
- To support a bridge.
- To strengthen and shape the tooth to support a partial denture.
- To improve esthetics.
A crown can be fabricated of either a gold alloy, a veneer of porcelain over a gold framework, or fully of porcelain.
We will recommend the type of crown which will best meet your needs based on the material and its properties. In the case where any type of crown is acceptable, click here for information which will help you to decide which is best for you.
Bridges
A bridge is one option you have to restore form and function when a tooth is lost. It is important to replace a lost tooth, not only for esthetics, but for optimal chewing efficiency. Over time, if left untreated, the teeth on either side will drift or tip into the space. This will result in insufficient bone support for their roots and eventual tooth loss. The tooth which used to bite against the missing tooth will continue to erupt, and may eventually also be lost.
A bridge is a fixed prosthesis (cemented as opposed to removable). It looks like, and functions like, natural teeth. It is supported by the teeth on either side of the lost tooth.
There are several different configurations for a bridge. They may be made of porcelain over a gold framework, all porcelain, or all gold. The abutments (anchors) can be different depending on the particular location of the lost tooth and the condition of the abutment teeth. The abutment may be a full crown, a partial crown, or simply a small wing. The bridge can be cemented or bonded to the adjacent teeth.
We will be happy to discuss each option with you and help you decide which is best for your situation. Alternatives to a bridge might be an implant or a removable partial denture.
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Sealants
What are Dental Sealants?
Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings which are applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to prevent decay. Most tooth decay in children and adolescents occurs on the chewing surfaces of these back teeth or molars. This is because molars have irregular surfaces with pits and grooves which tend to trap food and bacterial debris. Sealants flow into and coat these pits and grooves so that bacteria cannot multiply and cause decay.
Which Teeth are Suitable for Sealants?
The teeth most likely to benefit from sealant application are the first and second molars and the first and second bicuspids just after they have erupted and before they have had a chance to decay. First molars generally appear at about six years of age and second molars and bicuspids at about twelve years of age. After an examination, our doctors will determine which teeth can be sealed.
How Are Sealants Applied?
Applying sealants is quite simple and may be done by a dentist or a licensed dental auxiliary. First, the teeth are cleaned. Then the teeth to be sealed are dabbed with a cleansing solution which prepares the tooth surface so that the sealant will bond to it properly. After the tooth is prepared, the sealant is painted onto the tooth. It flows into the pits and grooves and hardens in about 60 seconds. After sealing, bacteria cannot reach the pits and grooves and cause decay. The application of sealants requires no drilling or removal of the tooth surface.
Are Sealants Visible?
Yes. Sealants can be clear, white or slightly tinted. Remember, sealants are used only on the back teeth and cannot be seen when a child talks or smiles. Parents can check children’s teeth periodically to see if the sealants are still in place.
Have Sealants Been Thoroughly Tested?
Yes, thousands of children across the United States and in other countries have had their teeth sealed in controlled clinical studies. These studies have shown sealants to be effective, easy to apply, inexpensive and nontoxic. They have been used routinely in private practice since the mid-1970′s. Sealants are approved and have been recommended by the American Dental Association, the National Institute of Dental Research and the American Public Health Association. A sealant application can last for many years. Sealants should be checked regularly. Because teeth are most susceptible to decay when they are young, preventing decay during the first five to fifteen years after a tooth erupts is critical.
Will Sealants Replace Fluoride?
No. Fluorides, such as those in fluoridated water, fluoride toothpaste, and fluoride mouthrinse help prevent decay on the smooth surfaces of teeth. However, fluorides have less effect on the rough, pitted chewing surfaces of the back teeth where food particles and decay-producing bacteria are trapped. Sealants, therefore, are a good complement to fluoride in keeping the tooth healthy.
How Do Sealants Fit into a Preventive Dentistry Program?
For maximum benefit, sealants should be used as part of a child’s total preventive dental care. A dentist should examine the child’s teeth and gums regularly to check bite, tooth eruption, and the condition of both hard and soft tissues. A complete preventive dentistry program also includes: brushing and flossing, use of fluorides, good nutrition, and regular dental check-ups.
Why is Sealing a Tooth Better Than Waiting for Decay and Filling a Cavity?
Sealants help to maintain sound, intact teeth. Decay destroys the structure of the tooth. Each time a tooth is filled or a filling is replaced, additional tooth structure is lost. Amalgam fillings last an average of six to eight years before they need to be replaced. Appropriate use of sealants can save time, money and the discomfort associated with restorative dental procedures.
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Implants
Implant dentistry is one option for replacing one or more missing teeth. They look, feel, and function like your real teeth.
Tooth implants are often the best alternative when the teeth on either side of the lost tooth are in their natural state, or when there are no teeth near the lost tooth. They can also be used to stabilize full or partial dentures.
The implant is placed in the bone, where the root of the tooth used to be. We then use the implant as the anchor to support the porcelain crown, bridge, or denture which we place on top of it.
Not all patients are candidates for implants. Call our office to schedule an appointment for an evaluation. We will discuss the process, analyze your needs, and determine if you are a candidate for implants. Often times the implant and crown can both be placed in our office, by our qualified dentists.
What do dental implants look like?
The dental implant is the strongest and most stable method of tooth replacement. Compare the images below, from a single missing tooth, to a partial denture, to a dental implant.
| Missing Teeth | Partial Denture | Dental Implant |
|---|---|---|
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Sometimes a single dental implant will suffice. In other instances, more than one dental implant is necessary to accomplish a natural looking tooth replacement.
Periodontal Disease Treatment
You may have heard of “gingivitis” or “periodontal disease”. It is so common that three out of four teeth lost after age 35 are lost due to gum disease.
Periodontal disease is caused by a sticky film of bacteria called “plaque”. Plaque forms constantly on the teeth. If left undisturbed, the bacteria give off toxins that destroy the attachment of the gums to the teeth – forming gum pockets. More bacteria form in the pockets where they may be impossible for you to remove. Left untreated, the gum and bone are seriously damaged.
Since gum disease starts under the gum and does not cause discomfort in the early stages, it can be difficult for you to notice. At each examination we check for signs of disease.
Warning Signs of Gum Disease:
- Gums that bleed easily
- Gums that are red or swollen
Pockets - Pus between the teeth and gums
- Permanent teeth that are loose or that have changed position
- Any change in the way your teeth fit together or in the fit of partial dentures
- Persistent bad breath
What can be done?
When diagnosed and treated early, gum disease can be stopped – even sometimes reversed! Early treatment consists of several therapy appointments in our office, or at the specialist, and daily care by you at home.
Each therapy appointment includes:
- Careful cleaning of the pocket and smoothing the adjacent tooth surface.
- Instruction in special use of brush and floss to promote healing and prevent further damage.
- Possible use of special mouthwashes and antibiotics.
- Evaluation throughout treatment of the healing response until optimal results are achieved.
Why Now?
Because gum disease is progressive, persons who delay treatment risk further destruction. Appearance can be affected. There is an increased chance of losing teeth that could be saved. Treatment at later stages of the disease is usually more extensive and costly and control of the disease following treatment is more difficult. Early treatment provides the best opportunity to protect both the appearance and the function of your teeth.
Extractions
If you are having a tooth ache and the tooth is found to be not restorable sometimes a tooth needs to be removed. In the great majority of cases we are able to remove the tooth with no pain, and minimal healing time due to improvements in extraction instruments and techniques.
Root Canal
In past years, if a tooth had a diseased nerve, the patient would have lost that tooth.
Today, with a special dental procedure, called root canal therapy, the tooth can be saved. Inside each tooth is the nerve, also known as the pulp, which provides nutrients and feeling to the tooth. It runs like a thread down through the root of the tooth. When the nerve is diseased or injured the tissue around the nerve dies. If the dead tissue is not removed the tooth will get infected and would need to be pulled. The dentist will remove the nerve, clean out the root canal and seal off the tooth to protect it. The dentist will then put a crown over the tooth to make it stronger. Typically, a root canal is a simple procedure with little or no discomfort.
Anxiolysis (Low anxiety) Dentistry
You can have a healthy and beautiful smile with amazingly comfortable low anxiety (similar to sedation) dentistry. We care for patients with these concerns:
- I’m afraid of needles and shots.
- I’ve had bad experiences before.
- I have not been to the dentist in a long time.
- I always gag when having dental work done.
- I just can’t seem to get numb.
- All my teeth are too far gone.
Restorations: Silver and Tooth-Colored Fillings
CERAMIC (tooth colored): These fillings last longer and are stronger than silver fillings. They contain no mercury. Because they bond to the tooth, no removal of sound tooth structure is necessary (the hole in the tooth is smaller than for a silver mercury filling of the same size decay). The preparation can be minimal if the decay is detected early. In fact, many patients find they don’t need anesthetic (“novocaine”)!
The preparation protocol requires no removal of sound tooth structure, since the restoration is retained by chemical bonding. Because of this bond, the tooth actually gains strength or in the worst case scenario, it is as strong as before the decay.
The products have strength that are equal to or greater than enamel. Many patients report less sensitivity than with amalgam fillings.
Superior esthetics lends themselves to patient acceptance and satisfaction. AMALGAM (silver): Amalgam has been the mainstay restorative filling material for 100+ years, combining ease of placement, patient acceptance and cost effectiveness.
To place an amalgam filling, a specific type of preparation in the tooth is required for proper retention and function. A small amount of sound tooth structure must be removed in addition to the area of the tooth with the decay. This is necessary to retain the amalgam and yet it weakens the tooth. Combine that with the wedge effect of the amalgam filling, and teeth are susceptible to fracture. This material can also be esthetically displeasing.
Amalgam is losing the battle in the court of public opinion. Although there is no scientific evidence that amalgam, as it is used, is dangerous to humans or the environment, increasing limitations are being mandated.
Preventive Care
We are proud of our extensive preventive care program. Our successful plan is tailored to each patient’s individual needs. Our goal is for each patient to keep their teeth a lifetime.
We believe in prevention. We recommend regular visits with the hygienists (every three, four, or six months), daily brushing, flossing and tongue scraping, and daily exposure to fluoride.
Our doctors and our team of highly trained hygienists believe that early detection of disease will allow us to realize that goal. If disease is detected early, the treatment is less expensive and less invasive.
At each hygiene visit you will be examined for decay, periodontal (gum) disease, and infections. We also will screen you for oral cancer and evaluate your occlusion (bite) and TMJ (joint between your lower jaw and your skull). We will record your blood pressure.
We feel that thorough and accurate diagnosis requires not only visual examination but radiographs (x-rays) as well. We can see only a small portion of your teeth visually. Radiographs allow us to evaluate the health of the teeth and the supporting bone. We examine each film for decay, height and density of bone (which can be lost to gum disease), cysts, tumors, abscesses, etc.
We are advocates of fluoride. Recent research has shown that fluoride is not just for children anymore!
We now know that fluoride:
- Can strengthen your enamel to prevent cavities
- Can also remineralize small cavities
- Can aid in preventing cavities on the roots (a problem for those with receding gums)
- Reduce the number of bacteria in your mouth, This can aid in preventing gingivitis in those with healthy gum tissue and decrease the likelihood of bone loss in those with periodontal disease.
- There is even recent evidence that it can help prevent osteoporosis
We recommend:
- Drinking fluoridated water daily
- Using a fluoridated toothpaste. For many of our patients, we recommend the use of a prescription strength fluoride gel to be used daily at home
- Receiving a professional fluoride treatment at each hygiene visit
Sealants are an important part of any preventive program. They protect the pits and grooves and the biting surfaces of back teeth from decay. See our sealant web page for more information.
Miscellaneous Services
Presentations for your group:
Drs. Wakefield and Isabella are passionate about educating parents and children. February is “Children’s Dental Health Month” and you will often find them speaking to classes in the area schools.
The Doctors also speaks to parenting groups through community education programs, such as “Early Childhood and Family Education”.
Members of our assisting and hygiene departments are also available for school presentations.
If you would like one of us to speak to your group or class, please contact us!
Education: We demonstrate our dedication to education by speaking to various community programs and to students. Dr.Wakefield speaks to community education classes and parenting groups in many of the school districts in our area. Each February (Children’s Dental Health Month) we speak to the students in the classroom setting to provide information, education and motivation.
Community Outreach: We give back to the community through donations to the schools, community education programs, women’s shelters, the Red Cross, local food shelves and other organizations.
Patient Health Services: We can provide a range of services to help keep you safe and healthy between visits. Ask us about:
- Custom athletic mouth guards
- Dietary counseling
- Blood pressure screening
- Oral cancer screening
Products: We can be a source of information in helping you determine which retail products are safe and effective. We can help you make choices about fluoride supplements, whitening products, toothbrushes, toothpastes, mouth fresheners, breath mints, mouth washes, etc. Many of these products can be purchased at our office with customized instructions for use and the confidence of knowing that you have the product that is best for you.
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