Digital Radiographs

• Our practice uses digital x-ray technology because it has many benefits over traditional film x-rays.
• Digital x-ray images are sent directly to a computer and can be viewed right away, saving you time.
• The images can be enlarged on the computer screen.
• This makes it much easier for you and the dentist to see the pictures.
• Our office can print or copy your digital x-ray images for your own personal records. They can also be sent electronically to insurance companies, which may help claims get processed faster. Digital x-rays are environmentally friendly. They eliminate the need for film and film processing chemicals.

Most importantly, digital x-rays decrease the amount of radiation that is released on exposure.

Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry refers to any type of dental work that improves the appearance of your teeth and smile. Cosmetic dentistry can include adding material to the teeth to improve both color and shape. This can be done through bonding with composite, veneers, and/or crowns. There are also dental procedures that involve the removal of tooth or gum structure to achieve more esthetic appearances.

Tooth whitening procedures are also used frequently by dentists to improve a person’s smile. This procedure is often the least expensive cosmetic procedure and can drastically transform your smile.

Dentists can also move the teeth to achieve a straighter smile. This is a specialty known as orthodontics. Family Dental Practice works with several of the areas best orthodontists to achieve a more functional and esthetic smile for our patients both young and old!

Whitening

Tooth whitening is a process that lightens discolorations of enamel and dentin. These discolorations can be caused by the aging process, coffee and soda consumption, tobacco use, trauma, or older restorations.

The majority of people will benefit from tooth whitening. However there are some cases where treatment may not be effective. Your dentist can determine who will benefit from this procedure through a thorough oral evaluation.

Our office has found that our patients benefit the most from at-home whitening with custom trays. This type of procedure allows our patients to control the extent of the whitening until the desired color is reached.

Crowns and Bridge

A crown is a “cap” that your dentist places over a weakened tooth. The crown restores the tooth to its normal shape, size and function. The purpose of a crown is to make the tooth stronger or improve the way it looks.

• You may require a crown if you have a cavity that is too large for a filling. Other reasons for needing a crown include restoring a dental implant, or if you have a tooth that is cracked, worn down or otherwise weakened. You may also need a crown if you have undergone root canal treatment. Crowns are also used to cover badly discolored teeth and can improve the esthetics of your smile.

A bridge incorporates the use of crowns to help close a space that has resulted from one or more missing teeth. A bridge is made up of two crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap. These two anchoring teeth are called the abutment teeth. A false tooth, known as a pontic, is connected to the two crowns, and replaces the missing tooth, improving both the function and the esthetics of your smile. A bridge can be supported by either natural teeth or implants.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are a popular option for replacing missing or badly diseased teeth. Placing a dental implant is the closest procedure that a dentist can do to replace a natural tooth, as it offers both comfort and stability.

Implants can be used in both the upper and lower jaws and can replace either front or back teeth. They are made of titanium, which is compatible with the human body. They attach to the jawbone to become a stable base for one or more replacement teeth.

Many patients choose implants to replace a single tooth, several teeth, or to support a full set of dentures.

Implants are not an option for everyone. Because implants require surgery, patients should be in good health overall. Patients either must have adequate bone to support the implant, or be able to have surgery to build up the area needing the implant. Patients also should be ready to commit to a daily oral care routine and to regular dental visits.

Ask us about this procedure and find out if you are a candidate to receive an implant.

Veneers

A veneer is a thin covering that is placed over the front visible part of the tooth. Veneers are a cosmetic procedure that are used to improve the esthetics of your smile. They can correct a wide range of dental issues, which include lightening teeth that cannot be whitened by bleaching, correcting some cases of chipped or worn teeth, or even to fill in uneven spaces or gaps in the teeth.

Veneers are made of ceramic, porcelain or composite resin material. Your dentist will help you decided if you are a good candidate for veneeres.

Simple Extractions

Every extraction is different: the location of the tooth, the reason for the extraction, and the quality of the tooth must be considered. These factors impact the degree of difficulty when extracting a tooth. If an extraction is needed, you and your dentist will decide if the assistance of an oral surgeon is required.

Simple Endodontics

Endodontics is the dental specialty that is more commonly known as root canals. This is a procedure that is often required to save a tooth that has been injured or infected by dental disease.

When a tooth is pulled and not replaced, the teeth around it may shift from their normal position. Shifted teeth may make biting and chewing more difficult. They may also make it harder to clean your teeth. Root canal treatment can prevent these problems by saving your natural tooth. A natural tooth is almost always better than a replacement tooth. Nothing looks, feels or functions quite as well as a natural tooth.

Depending on the size and location of the tooth that requires a root canal, your dentist may enlist the help of a specialist known as an endodontist. This ensures that you receive the best quality care depending on your own personal needs.

Preventative Care

Dental and gingival diseases are preventable, however in today’s society are still highly prevalent. At Family Dental we highly recommend the combination of several preventative procedures, as they have all proven to drastically reduce the risk of dental disease.

Such procedures include, but are not limited too:

• Oral Hygiene Instruction
• Fluoride Treatments
• Regular Adult and Child Cleanings
• Annual Radiographs
• Sealants
• Bruxism Therapy
• Tobacco Cessation

Scaling and Root Planing

Have you ever been told you have periodontal disease? Periodontal disease is more commonly referred to as gum disease. It occurs in patients that have had untreated gingivitis for so long that the plaque on our teeth has spread below the gumline. Over time, the gums will separate from the teeth, creating a deep pocket for food and plaque to collect in. As the disease progresses, these pockets will deepen further, resulting in premature tooth loss.

While there is no cure for periodontal disease, it can be maintained through the procedure known as Scaling and Root

planing. This procedure is one of the most effective treatments for periodontal disease, as it removes the debris that builds up in the pockets around the tooth. In conjunction with good at-home oral care, the progression of gum disease should stop.

Depending on the severity of the periodontal disease, your dentist may advise up to 3-4 hygiene recall visits a year to maintain periodontal health.

Dentures

It does not matter if you are missing one or all of your teeth, Family Dental can help restore the function of your bite so that you can still enjoy the foods you love. We specialize in both partial dentures and complete dentures. We also offer implant supported dentures, which are revolutionizing the comfort and fit of dentures for our patients.

TMD

Temporomandibular disorders can have many different signs and symptoms that range in severity. Some patients may experience symptoms without any apparent loss of function. Symptoms may include pain in or around the ear, tender jaw muscles, clicking or popping of the jaw, difficulty opening or closing the mouth, pain when yawning or chewing, or even headaches.

There are several conditions that are associated with TMD. They include injuries to the jaw or head, diseases of the muscles or joints such as arthritis, bite problems, and stress.

Talk to your dentist if you have experienced any of these conditions and symptoms.

Treatment for TMD is patient specific and often varies from one person to the next. At Family Dental Practice, we may recommend a simple treatment plan to treat TMD. However, depending on the severity of the symptoms, our office may refer you to a physician or dental specialist.

Nitrous Oxide

Do you have a dental phobia? At Family Dental we strive to make your visit with us as comfortable as possible. At our office we offer a variety of solutions to help you relax so that we can help you maintain a healthy mouth. We have several staff members who are licensed to practice with Nitrous Oxide.

Nitrous Oxide, commonly referred to as laughing gas, is a natural gas that you breath prior to having a dental procedure. It is continually administered during the procedure to produce a euphoric-like feeling throughout your body, resulting in a more relaxed state of mind. Talk to us today to find out if this would be a good option for you.