patient education

+ Clear Correct Braces

Straightening your smile doesn’t have to dramatically affect your life or appearance. With Clear Correct aligners, we can gradually reposition your teeth both discreetly and efficiently. We’ll digitize your smile by taking impressions and/or scanning your teeth to then send it off to our off-site lab, where custom aligners will be made. Once the clear aligners are received in our office, we’ll bring you in for a fitting and in some cases add discreet tooth colored buttons to help move teeth and you’ll be on your way to a straighter smile. You’ll wear each set of aligners for approximately two weeks before changing to new aligners. Typically you’ll visit our office every four to six weeks to examine your progress. You will wear your aligners for 22 hours of the day but they are removable for easier cleaning and you’ll still be able to enjoy your favorite foods and beverages while straightening your smile.

+ Composite Fillings

Composite resin fillings are mostly known as “tooth colored fillings” because they are the most aesthetic choice since they blend right in with the enamel of your teeth. After the dentist numbs the area, your dentist will thoroughly clean the area to make sure no decay or bacteria gets trapped under your new filling. Then, composite resin filling is applied to the tooth in soft layers, which is hardened by a special curing light. Once your composite filling is installed and polished, your tooth can resume its normal function with all the aesthetics of a natural human tooth.

+ Root Canal

What is a root canal? Inside of your tooth is live tissue mass called pulp, which surrounds the nerves that live in the middle of your tooth. If the pulp becomes infected by decay going into the nerve or close to the nerve it may cause pain, infection or swelling. Trauma to a tooth can also cause your nerve to naturally die and in result needing a root canal. A root canal is a non-surgical procedure that removes the infected nerve/pulp from the tooth and then sealed and filled with a nice, cleaning filling material called gutta-percha.

+ Full Denture with Implants

Full denture replacement involves using multiple implants to support a full set of teeth that are often called “all on four”. Typically four to six implants are placed on each arch of your mouth. This is used to stabilize the denture from rocking and moving, and helping stimulate the jaw bone to prevent future bone loss. Once implants are placed a traditional denture may be worn while the implant heals and integrates with your bone. Typical healing time for implants at 4-6 months. If you already have a current denture some can be modified or a new denture may need to be made. A full denture with implants can be removed for daily cleaning.

+ KoR In-Office Whitening

A free consultation with our doctors to see if you are a good candidate for KoR Whitening will be your first step. Once our doctors select that KoR in-office whitening is a great fit for you we will fabricate custom whitening trays that will properly fit you by taking molds of your teeth. Patients will start by conditioning their teeth for two weeks while they sleep. During the KoR process, nearly all patients experience only low to typically no tooth sensitivity. The KoR procedure is comfortable and 100% safe for your teeth and gums. Once you return to your office 2 weeks after conditioning at home you will notice your teeth are already looking a few shades lighter. We will insulate your gums and perform 3 sessions of 20 minutes, so expect to be in our office for approximately an hour and a half. The KoR Whitening system works by restoring your teeth’s youthful ability to absorb oxygen. The oxygen from its whitening gel is absorbed deeply into the tooth, dissolving and removing the stain molecules. KoR Whitening is an award winning whitening system that is known to whiten teeth 5 shades.

+ Bleach For Life/Bleach Trays

A free consultation with our doctors to see if you are a good candidate for our Bleach for Life bleach trays. Your assistant will take impressions to design a custom whitening tray that will fit your unique dental structure comfortably. Once your custom whitening trays are made you will be given our take home whitening gel, bleach trays, a case for your bleach trays, instructions on at home bleaching wear and care and models of your teeth. What makes Bleach for Life so unique. Run out of whitening gel, no problem stop by and we are happy to give you more.

Bleach Instructions

+ Manual or Electric Toothbrush

To clean your teeth properly, you should brush up/down and in a circular motion to remove the plaque at the base and chewing service of your teeth. You should pay special attention to your molars and make sure to spend a total of two minutes brushing your teeth daily. You should avoid hurting yourself by brushing gently with a soft or extra soft toothbrush only. A manual toothbrush only cleans as well as the person that is using it. If you brush your teeth too aggressively, then your toothbrush may cause damage to your enamel and gums. If you miss a spot, then your toothbrush will miss a spot as well.

An electric toothbrush does most of the work for you so you are less likely to cause unknown damage to your enamel and gums. Bad breath is a symptom of food and plaque which have become lodged in the nooks and crannies between your teeth and along your gums. An electric toothbrush is better at removing plaque, stains and helps get rid of bad breath. Electric toothbrushes have apps, brushing timers, and pressure indicators to help promote healthy brushing habits while making your teeth feel great and the cleanest they have felt after brushing.

Children, who most of the time are not fond of brushing their teeth find electric toothbrushes to be more fun.

+ Water Flossers

Water flossers are a handheld device that sprays high powered streams of water or mouthwash in steady pulses. The water floss, like traditional floss, can help remove food and debri from between your teeth which can help reduce gingivitis, the early form of gum disease. The convenience these devices provide over traditional flossing for patients that are in traditional braces or other orthodontic devices are extremely helpful to maintain good oral hygiene. For example, patients may find it much harder to effectively maneuver thread floss around their hardware. Water flossing may be an effective alternative. Most water flossers are affordable and easy to find at your local grocery store or pharmacy.

+ TMJ

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder also known as TMJ is a problem related to your complex jaw joint. If you have had symptoms like pain in the morning with your jaw or white eating or talking or a “clicking” sound you may have TMJ. These symptoms occur when the joints of the jaw and the chewing muscles (muscles of mastication) do not work together correctly. TMJ disorders can develop for many different reasons. You might clench or grind your teeth, tightening your jaw muscles and stressing your TM joint. You may have a damaged jaw joint due to injury or disease. Injuries and arthritis can damage the joint directly or stretch or tear the muscle ligaments. As a result, the disk, which is made of cartilage and functions as the “cushion” of the jaw joint, can slip out of position. Whatever the cause, the results may include a misaligned bite, pain, clicking, or grating noise when you open your mouth or trouble opening your mouth wide. We have many exercises and treatments that may help with your TMJ.

More Info

+ Nightguard

Many people are afflicted with bruxism, or teeth grinding. Some people may do this consciously during the day, but it is a larger problem at night while you are asleep. Grinding your teeth can damage enamel, wear down teeth, cause jaw pain, or irritate your gums. The noise from teeth grinding can also disturb your spouse's sleep if loud enough. If you grind your teeth you should consider a night guard. The night guard, which is very similar to a mouth guard worn by athletes, provides a barrier between your top and bottom teeth while you sleep. All night guards are custom fitted for comfort and to allow for proper breathing. At your dental appointment you will have impressions of your teeth taken and have the night guard created in our office or by a lab. Night guards are very durable and can be used for years.

+ Bridge

Dental bridges are a great way to replace missing teeth. Your existing teeth are used to literally create a bridge to cross the area where your tooth is missing. A bridge is permanent, it is not something that you take in and out of your mouth. The process of creating a bridge begins by creating abutments out of your existing teeth where the bridge will be attached. The existing teeth are recontoured to provide a base for a bridge. After the abutments have been created, a PVS impression or digital scan is taken of the area which is sent to the dental lab. The lab is able to use the impression or scan to create a custom bridge that will fit properly and feel as close to your natural teeth as possible. We will fit you with a temporary bridge while we wait for the lab to craft you a permanent bridge. If you are missing a tooth you should strongly consider having it replaced. Besides the aesthetic disadvantage of missing a tooth, it could also cause structural changes to your mouth and jaw, as well as making it difficult to eat or speak properly. Set up an appointment today to restore your smile.

+ Implant

A missing tooth can be a huge burden. Not only can it change the way you eat, it can also make a big difference in how you smile. Some people become embarrassed or even self-conscious to smile. Dental implants have a number of advantages over other tooth replacements. Bridges can be a great replacement for missing teeth but that involves treatment on the teeth next to the missing tooth. A dental implant only involves the missing tooth area. Dental implants are prosthetic tooth roots used to fill the gap left by one or more missing teeth. A complete implant consists of 3 parts. A titanium post, which replaces the root of your missing tooth. An abutment that is screwed into the titanium post. A dental crown or bridge that is either connected to the abutment or the crown or bridge is cemented to the abutment at your final restoration. Once the implant is placed in the bone it will need to heal for 4-6 months before it can be restored. This healing period we are wanting to bone to integrate with the threads of the implant. After your implant is completely healed a natural-looking restoration will complete your implant procedure. Advantages of implant is the longest-lasting tooth replacement option, optimal stability means you can eat, smile, brush and floss with confidence.