Procedures

Anesthesia

The majority of anesthesia offered at our office is local anesthetic. This means the anesthesia is given as an injection in the area of the mouth where work is being done. Prior to administering local anesthetic, we apply a topical anesthetic to the gum to numb the area where the injection will be given. This is standard procedure at our office. We also offer Nitrous Oxide anesthesia, also known as "laughing gas." This anesthesia is very useful in relaxing the patient. The patient can elect to choose Nitrous Oxide, but there is an additional fee.

Useful links:

ADA - anesthesia

Nitrous Oxide in the Dentist's Office - ADA Dental Minute Movie
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Bonding

Bonding is adding tooth-colored material to a tooth in order to fill in spaces between front teeth or fix chipped teeth. It is a popular cosmetic dentistry procedure which takes little time. It is a less expensive alternative to veneers or crowns in some cases.

Useful links:

About Cosmetic Dentistry -bonding

Before/After Photos- About Cosmetic Dentistry

Bonding - ADA Dental Minute Movie
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Braces

Braces are bonded brackets, arch wires and elastic bands that move teeth into a normal position. We offer metal or clear brackets and colored or clear rubber bands. We also do "invisible braces" - Invisalign. Please visit our special "Orthodontics" page.

Useful links:

CBD Dental Orthodontics Information

ADA - braces/orthodontics

Johns Dental - Ortho Appliances

Great Lakes Orthodontics

Adult Braces - ADA Dental Minute Movie
Broadband/746MB
Dial up/259k

Bridges

A bridge is a permanent dental restoration. This means it is cemented into place and cannot be removed. It is used to replace a missing tooth/teeth. A bridge involves preparing healthy teeth on either side of the area of the missing tooth/teeth. These prepared teeth serve as anchors for the permanent bridge. Most bridges are made of a base metal covered by a tooth colored porcelain made to look like natural teeth. In order to properly maintain a bridge, a special type of flossing apparatus is required known as a floss-threader. It is very easy to use and the dentist or hygienist will go over it with you.

Useful links:

ADA - bridges

About Cosmetic Dentistry - bridges

Before/After Photos- About Cosmetic Dentistry

Bridges - ADA Dental Minute Movie
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Cleaning/Prophylaxis

A dental cleaning is often referred to as a prophylaxis. This procedure is usually performed by the dental hygienist or in many cases, by the dentist himself. A cleaning at our office generally consists of a gentle scaling of the teeth above the gum line, flossing between all teeth and polishing the surfaces of the teeth in order to remove stains. For younger patients, at or below the age of 17, we also administer fluoride.

Useful links:

Can You Over-brush and Over-Floss? - ADA Dental Minute Movie
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How Much Toothpaste is Enough? - ADA Dental Minute Movie
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Remedies for Bad Breath - ADA Dental Minute Movie
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Dial up/350k

Contouring Enamel

Useful links:

About Cosmetic Dentistry - contouring

Before/After Photos- About Cosmetic Dentistry

Crowns

Crowns are sometimes referred to as "caps". Crowns are placed on teeth for a number of reasons. On our back teeth or molars, crowns are indicated for teeth that are brittle or broken down, teeth that have very large fillings, and teeth that have previously been treated with root canal therapy. Crowns are used for the same reasons on our front teeth and in addition may be used for cosmetic reasons like covering intrinsic staining (i.e. tetracycline), closing large gaps and covering teeth that may be misaligned. On our back teeth the crowns are almost always made of a metal substructure covered by tooth colored porcelain and made to look like a natural tooth. In some cases, on our front teeth all- porcelain crowns may be indicated. These all -porcelain crowns are more translucent and therefore give a more natural looking appearance.

Useful links:

ADA - crowns

About Cosmetic Dentistry - crowns

Before/After Photos- About Cosmetic Dentistry

Crown Lengthening

Crown lengthening is a surgical procedure which adjusts the position of the gum around the affected tooth. It provides a more solid tooth on which to anchor the restoration of choice, usually a crown.

Useful links:

Crown Lengthening - ADA Dental Minute Movie
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Dial up/335k

Dentures

A Complete Denture takes the place of all the patient's natural teeth.

An Overdenture attaches to the roots. The roots serve as an anchor for it.

An Implant-Retained Denture uses implants as anchors.

A Partial Denture replaces only a few missing teeth and remaining teeth anchor it.

Valpast Photo

Useful links:

ADA - dentures

Denture Information

About Cosmetic Dentistry - dentures

Extractions

An extraction is the term used for the removal of a tooth from the mouth. Extractions are only indicated as a "last resort" for teeth that have no other remedy. In our office patients are given detailed instructions after the actual extraction is performed. These instructions are listed below.

Rinsing & Gargling:

No! Do not rinse or gargle. This will damage the blood clot that has formed in the tooth socket. The clot is nature's bandage and protects everything below itself. But, for the first three days the blood clot is like a very weak piece of jelly. It can be easily lost by rinsing or gargling. The danger with this, is when the clot is lost, another will not form. Therefore, there is no protection from food, germs, and saliva getting down into the socket and causing a jaw infection. If the blood clot is protected this will not happen.

Smoking:

No! Do not smoke for three days. The smoke is not the problem. But taking the "drag" causes suction on the clot and the clot can be lost as a result. Again, this means no protection for the socket and jaw.

Activity:

Rest and relax today. No running up and down stairs, no bowling, dancing, etc. or other physical activity. Tomorrow you can start to get gradually back into your normal activities.

Eating:

Your regular diet is okay. But eat smaller bites and eat on the opposite side. Only one caution — No hot liquids for three days. No coffee, tea, soup or cocoa. Hot liquids can dissolve the clot. You should go on a soft food diet only if you find that your regular food is difficult to handle.

Cleaning:

Gently clean the tongue, lips, cheeks and other teeth to keep the mouth fresh. Use a toothbrush and a mouthwash. No Toothpaste! Toothpaste thickens the saliva. Your natural reaction is to rinse, but remember—rinsing can damage the blood clot. So use Mouthwash, and not toothpaste.

Sensitivity:

Mild pain may be experienced after the anesthetic wears off. Tylenol handles this sensitivity well. Do not use Aspirin. Aspirin promotes bleeding. If you need any stronger medication, we will give you a prescription.

Bleeding:

Bite on the gauze for one and a half hours. A small amount of post-op bleeding can be expected. This is seepage. An extraction creates an open wound and seepage from it is common. Seepage is very different than hemorrhage. A hemorrhage is gross uncontrolled blood flow and it is extremely rare.

Swelling:

Swelling is not uncommon and need not cause alarm. To limit any swelling apply an ice bag or zip-lock baggie filled with cracked ice over the affected area on and off every ten minutes for five hours only.

NOTE:

Often, patients do not want to disturb us at home for their needs. Please do not feel this way. Call for any need. This office does not give medals to heroes.

If you have any questions or concerns outside office hours, please call us at home. A one or two minute phone conversation can save hours of unnecessary worry.

Useful links:

ADA - extractions

Tooth Extraction - ADA Dental Minute Movie
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Dial up/348k

Fillings

Fillings are one of the most common procedures done at a dental office. A filling is necessary once decay (a cavity) is present in a tooth. The procedure consists of the dentist gently removing the decay or an old filling with decay around it, then placing a new filling. This is usually done with the help of a dental assistant. The majority of fillings done today are composed of tooth colored resin composite. In addition to looking natural, these resin fillings are bonded to the tooth which provides better retention.

Useful links:

ADA - fillings

About Cosmetic Dentistry - fillings

Before/After Photos- About Cosmetic Dentistry

Composite "White" Fillings - ADA Dental Minute Movie
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What Are Cavities? - ADA Dental Minute Movie
Broadband/1.6MB
Dial up/352k

Fluoride

Fluoride treatment is necessary and essential for children and adolescents with developing adult dentition. This treatment is usually administered by the dental hygienist or dentist and consists of gently biting into a soft foam tray, lined with a flavored fluoride solution, for just one minute. The patient is instructed not to eat or drink for thirty minutes following the treatment. It is recommended that everyone at or below the age of seventeen have a fluoride treatment every six months. Fluoride is the only element known to man that actually prevents tooth decay.

Useful links:

ADA - fluoride

ADA Article - fluoride

Gum Treatment

Useful links:

ADA - gum disease

Gum Grafting - ADA Dental Minute Movie
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Implants

See our detailed page on implants. Click here>> CBD Dental Implant Information

Useful links:

ADA - implants

Single Tooth Implant - ADA Dental Minute Movie
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Dial up/252k

Infection Control

Our office is equipped with state of the art sterilization equipment. We thoroughly disinfect each operatory before and after each patient is seated. All of our staff wear the proper infection control attire when dealing first hand with the patients.

Useful links:

ADA - infection control

Invisalign

The official site states: Invisalign® can give you the beautiful straight teeth you've always wanted. It works through a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners that no one can tell you're wearing. So you can smile more during treatment as well as after.

Useful links:

CBD Dental Orthodontics Information

Mouth Guards

Night Guard - worn at night to prevent damage caused to teeth by "bruxism" or grinding and clenching.
Sport Mouth Guard - worn to prevent tooth damage during physical activity.

Useful links:

ADA - mouth guards

Partials

A partial denture is a removable appliance that is indicated when a patient is missing one or more teeth. A partial is able to stay in the mouth by attaching to other anchor teeth in the same arch. These anchor teeth have to be healthy because they provide the majority of the support for the partial. A traditional partial denture is made of a metal substructure covered by acrylic made to look like natural gums with the teeth set in place. In our office, the majority of the partials are made of a light, translucent, flexible material known as Valplast (pictured on the right). Valplast partials have no metal, therefore, they look more natural when seated in the mouth. A partial denture is the least expensive procedure to replace a missing tooth or teeth.

Photo by Valplast.com.

Useful links:

ADA - partial

Post and Core

A post, in some cases, is a necessary support for a tooth that has had root canal treatment and requires a crown. When there is not enough natural tooth structure available above the gum line, a core build up will serve as the central support on which a crown will rest.

Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy is performed on teeth where the nerve has become infected. There are a number of things that may lead to the infection of the nerve of a tooth. Some of them are: a deep cavity, a deep existing filling, a cracked tooth and direct trauma to the tooth.

Root canal treatment consists of removing the nerve tissue from the root(s), cleaning and disinfecting the root(s), and then filling and sealing off the root preventing it from becoming infected again. In most cases, a crown is recommended on a tooth that has had root canal treatment.

Useful links:

ADA - root canals

About Cosmetic Dentistry - root canals

Scaling/Root Planing

Scaling and root planing is also referred to as a "deep cleaning". This procedure is necessary to remove calcified plaque and build up below the gum line, known as calculus. In most cases, local anesthesia is administered before scaling and root planing is preformed. Patients who require this procedure are recommended to return to the dentist every three months for a periodontal maintenance appointment.

Useful links:

Scaling and Root Planing - ADA Dental Minute Movie
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Sealants

Useful links:

ADA - sealants

Adult Sealants - ADA Dental Minute Movie
Broadband/727MB
Dial up/255k

Snore Prevention

This device is worn during sleep. It helps bring the lower jaw forward, which in turn, opens the soft palate. This allows air to flow freely in the pharynx without vibrating the soft palate (snoring).

Useful links:

Silent Nite® - graphic is a "Silent Nite" mouth piece from Glidewell labs.

TMJ/TMD

TMJ is temporomandibular joint - the jaw joint.

TMD is temporomandibular disorder.

In our office we provide a thorough examination to determine if you have TMJ problems. Most of these problems can be treated without having to see a specialist. Many times a simple appliance like a splint or a jaw repositioning appliance can relieve great stress and sometimes pain placed on the tissues surrounding the temporomandibular joint. In more complicated cases, these appliances are used in conjunction with warm compresses, medication and physical therapy.

Useful links:

ADA - TMJ/TMD

Bruxism/Teeth Grinding - ADA Dental Minute Movie
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Facial Pain - ADA Dental Minute Movie
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Dial up/254k

Veneers

Veneers are a very popular and rather conservative cosmetic procedure in dentistry today. A veneer is a thin veil of porcelain which is cemented to the front surface of front teeth. This procedure is conservative because it requires minimal preparation of the teeth by the dentist. Veneers are used to mask teeth that are misaligned, hide gaps between front teeth, and/or cover teeth that have intrinsic stain.

Useful links:

About Cosmetic Dentistry - veneers

Before/After Photos- About Cosmetic Dentistry

Whitening/Bleaching

Whitening is the most popular cosmetic dental procedure available to the public today. In our office we use the tray delivery system. We fabricate custom made trays made to specifically fit one mouth only. Our team is highly trained in fabricating trays and providing thorough instructions to our patients. We offer two whitening gels by Discus Dental. One is an overnight product and the other is a two-hour product. We allow the patient to choose at their convenience.

Useful links:

ADA - whitening

Discus Dental

About Cosmetic Dentistry - whitening

Before/After Photos- About Cosmetic Dentistry

Why do Teeth Darken? - ADA Dental Minute Movie
Broadband/742k
Dial up/257K