Hygiene/Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is an infection of the tissues that support your teeth. Your gum tissue is not attached to the teeth as high as it may seem. There is a very shallow v-shaped crevice called a sulcus between the tooth and gums. Periodontal diseases attack just below the gum line in the sulcus, where they cause the attachment of the tooth and its supporting tissues to break down. Periodontal diseases are classified according to the severity of the disease. The two major stages are gingivitis and periodontitis. As there are different stages of gum disease, there are different types of ‘cleanings’.
Tooth Colored Fillings / Bondings
Tooth-colored resin material is bonded or applied on teeth that have had cavities removed. It rebuilds and restores them to a functional, esthetically pleasing, and naturally looking teeth. Your restored tooth could last a lifetime, if you continue to care for your teeth and gums. However, regular check-ups are necessary.
Teeth Whitening
We offer a couple of options for you to achieve a brighter smile, in-office whitening (‘Zoom’) and take home whitening trays. In-office whitening is performed in the dental chair and usually takes about an hour, but in rare occasion it maybe necessary to have a second visit to achieve the desired result. A protective gel will be applied to your gums or a rubber shield to protect the oral soft tissues. A bleaching agent is then applied to the teeth, and a special light will be used to enhance the action of the agent.
Dental Veneers
Veeners are thin, custom-made shells crafted of tooth-colored materials (usually porcelain) designed to cover the front side of teeth. This is an irreversible process, because it’s necessary to remove a small amount of enamel from your teeth to accommodate the shell. Sometimes a veneer might chip or fracture. But for many people the results are more than worth it. It is a great way to correct crooked , permanently stained, or gapped front teeth.
Enamel Shaping
Enamel shaping involves modifying teeth to improve their appearance by removing or contouring the enamel (outer portion of your teeth). The process, which can be combined with bonding, usually is quick and comfortable. The results can be seen immediately.
Crowns (Caps) / Bridge
A crown is placed to restore a tooth to its ideal shape and size improving its appearance. It can be placed atop a natural tooth or a dental implant (in cases of tooth loss). We use several types of materials when fabricating a crown; this is determined based on individual situations. Tooth loss can affect the alignment of your teeth, the way you eat, and the way you speak. Two ways to replace a missing tooth/teeth are dental implants and bridges. A dental implant is a biocompatible metal that is surgically placed within the jaw bone. It is then restored with a dental crown as mentioned before. A bridge replaces missing teeth with artificial teeth (called a pontic), looks great, and literally bridges the gap where one or more teeth may have been.
Complete Partial Dentures(Plates)
If you’ve lost all of your natural teeth, whether from periodontal disease, tooth decay or injury, complete dentures can replace your missing teeth and restore your mouth to function. Replacing missing teeth will benefit your appearance and your health. Without support from the denture, facial tissues sag, making a person look older.
Endodontics (Root Canal)
The most common cause of pulp death is a cracked tooth or a deep cavity. Both of these problems can let germs (bacteria) enter the pulp, or soft inner core of a tooth. These germs can cause an infection inside the tooth and subsequent tooth-ache. During root canal treatment, the diseased pulp is removed and the pulp chamber and root canal(s) of the tooth are cleaned and sealed.
Tooth Extraction
Unfortunately not all teeth can be saved, although our goal is to keep as many healthy teeth as we can. If a tooth extraction is necessary, rest assured that we will make the experience as stress-free as possible. There are several options available to lessen your anxiety before and during the procedure. After the extraction, in most cases a small amount of bleeding is normal. Avoid anything that might prevent normal healing.
It is usually best not to smoke or rinse your mouth vigorously, or drink through a straw for 24 hours. These activities could dislodge the clot and delay healing. For the first few days, if you must rinse, rinse your mouth gently afterward. For pain or swelling, apply a cold cloth or an ice bag. You can brush and floss the other teeth as usual. But don’t clean the teeth next to the tooth socket.
Pain / Anxiety Control
Keeping you comfortable is very important to us. We offer services to help ease your anxiety. One way is by oral sedation through prescription medication. Another is inhalation sedation via Nitrous Oxide or ‘laughing gas’. It is critical that you fully disclosed your medical history to include any and all allergy to certain medications, any medications you are taking, as well as any medical condition you may have.
White Lesion Treatment
White mucosal lesions may result from thickening of one or several layers of the oral epithelium. They vary in size and depth, generally have an irregular outline, and may be solitary or multifocal. Common sites are the buccal mucosa, lateral border of the tongue, floor of the mouth, and hard palate.
Botox
Are you considering using Botox® but are unsure of what it can help treat? You may be surprised to know that in addition to reducing wrinkles, Botox can also help with dental problems.
Botox treatments have been prevalent in medical procedures for decades, but did you know they can alleviate jaw pain? Our revolutionary adjunctive TMJ Botox treatments are a viable option to help relax overactive muscles and even reduce teeth grinding. Night grinding, clenching and frequent headaches become very frustrating. Since overactive muscles and muscle spasms are some of the prevalent causes of TMJ, Botox is a viable treatment option that Dr. Reya Weeks can use to decrease and prevent TMJ associated pain.
