BASIC HEALTH

FILLINGS
Fillings are done to remove decay, and replace the affected tooth structure. It is called a filling because new a material fills hole that decay left. Now days most teeth are treated with bonded tooth colored composite resin fillings. Caught early enough, cavities can be treated easily and painlessly. If not treated decay can lead to tooth pain and/or infection, and the tooth could need root canal treatment or extraction.

LASER DENTISTRY

We are proud to now offer laser dentistry in our practice. Laser dentistry offers you the ability to have certian types of fillings or cavities done using a small, hand held device that uses a tiny laser beam to "drill" the tooth instead of a traditional drill. It also allows us to do those fillings in less than one-half the time and most of the time without dental anesthesia !

BONDING
Bonding involves adhering composite resin material that is matched to the color of the tooth, to the front of the tooth. This is done to repair damage done to the tooth by decay, to alter the alignment of the tooth, close gaps between the teeth, or for cosmetic purposes. The composite resin material is shaped and polished to get a lustrous finish.

SEALANTS
This is used to fill in narrow grooves in a tooth that cannot be adequately cleaned by brushing.  These may develop into cavities over time, and you don't want that. So the dentist will brush on a coating that seals the grooves and pits, making it possible to brush off all the plaque and keep your teeth healthy.

NON-SURGICAL GUM TREATMENTS
The gums, ligaments, and bone around the teeth form the foundation for ones teeth. All structures are also referred to as the periodontium. When the periodontium is not healthy, it jeopardizes the teeth just as a bad foundation would threaten the stability of a house. Signs of unhealthy periodontium (gum disease) may be as follows: gums that are red and bleed easily, persistent bad breath, gums that are pulled away from the tooth, loose teeth, and changes in the position or bite of the teeth. Any of these signs may mean something is wrong. With the proper care, however, it may be possible to return them to a healthy state. This is where appropriate gum treatments come in. If you're having a problem, come in and see us so we can take care of it right away. The treatment usually involves a deep cleaning or root planing done under a local anesthetic, along with local antibiotic agents. If the gum disease gets too severe it may need to be treated through surgery or extraction. This is why it is important to get it treated at the first sign of a problem.

DIGITAL X-RAYS
We offer digital radiographs in our office. X-rays are a necessary part of the diagnostic process, and not to use them could lead to undiagnosed disease. Without an X-ray of the whole tooth, and supporting bone and gum tissues, there is no real way to detect infection or pathology that requires attention. 

SINGLE TOOTH ANESTHESIA (STA)

A new technology that allows anesthesia on one tooth at a time. No more lip,cheeck or tongue numbness !