Quick guides to many of the treatments and terms you may hear during your visit.
Porcelain veneers are thin layers of porcelain—sometimes as thin as contact lenses—bonded to the front surfaces of your teeth. They can improve the color, shape, size, and position of uneven, crooked, chipped, or dark-stained teeth.
Veneers can often correct these concerns without orthodontic treatment or braces. In most cases, a natural-looking, beautiful smile can be completed in two to three visits.
Whitening is a simple way to lighten stains and discoloration and brighten your smile. It can improve color affected by coffee, tea, red wine, soda, smoking, or aging.
We offer in-office whitening, which usually takes about one to two hours, and take-home whitening, which typically takes one to two weeks.
Results vary from person to person, but whitening provides an overall brighter smile. Periodic touch-ups can help maintain your results for years.
Tooth-colored fillings are an aesthetic alternative to traditional silver metal (amalgam) fillings. They are made from a composite resin, glass, silica, and quartz mixture.
They offer a strong, natural-looking restoration and avoid the mercury used in traditional metal fillings. Bonding a tooth can generally be completed in a single visit.
A crown may be recommended when a tooth lacks enough structure, has large decay or cracks, or has had root canal treatment. It covers and protects the entire tooth.
Crowns can be made from gold, precious metals, porcelain, or ceramic. They restore a tooth's normal size and shape and can improve its shade, size, shape, and position.
Crowns are generally completed in two to three visits. A crown can also cover a dental implant.
A bridge fills the gap left by one or more missing teeth by anchoring artificial teeth to the surrounding teeth.
Like crowns, bridges can be made from gold, precious metals, porcelain, or ceramic and are bonded around the supporting teeth.
A bridge procedure can generally be completed in two to three visits.
When a crown, bridge, or partial denture is not the right option for replacing missing teeth, implants can offer a natural-looking, long-lasting solution.
Implants are biocompatible titanium screws surgically placed in the jawbone, where they fuse with the bone. Crowns are then attached to the top portions.
In many cases, implants look and feel much like your own natural teeth.
Periodontal disease is an infection of the tissues surrounding the teeth. It has two major stages: gingivitis and periodontitis.
Signs include red, swollen, or bleeding gums, bad breath, gum recession, and loose teeth. Risk factors include poor oral hygiene, smoking, tobacco chewing, diabetes, certain medications, and genetics.
Beyond tooth loss, bleeding gums, and bad breath, research suggests links between periodontal disease and diabetes, stroke, heart disease, bacterial pneumonia, and increased risk during pregnancy.
Regular dental checkups and periodontal exams are important. Treatment may include surgical or non-surgical approaches, depending on the type and severity of the disease.
When the nerve or pulp inside a tooth becomes infected, it can cause pain, discomfort, or swelling for days or even weeks. Root canal therapy removes the infection, relieves the pain, and saves the tooth.
The procedure usually takes one to two visits, depending on the severity of the infection and the anatomy of the root.
With the advance of modern dentistry, fewer people now need to wear dentures. If you need dentures or want to replace worn-out ones, today's dentures can offer more sophisticated tooth color, arrangement, surface texture, and fit.
Most denture repairs or relines can be completed the same day. Partial dentures can be aesthetically pleasing without metal hooks and bars.
We're happy to explain your options and help you decide what's right for your smile.