Dental Services

The Dental Center is a family practice offering all patients a wide variety of dental care options, including routine dental exams and cleaning, bondings/fillings, cosmetic treatments, such as bleaching or whitening, as well as care for periodontal conditions.

Please contact us if you have any questions about our services or procedures and we would be happy to go over any information with you. We look forward to seeing you in our office!

General Dentistry

General dentistry involves the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a wide variety of conditions, disorders and diseases affecting the teeth, gums and maxillofacial (associated with the jaw and face) region of the body. Ideally, dentistry is preventative. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that you visit your dentist regularly for routine dental exams and cleanings – at least once every six months – to ensure proper oral hygiene and functionality. Regular checkups and oral health maintenance prevent the development of serious dental problems that can require costly treatment. If you remain vigilant and visit your dentist regularly, you can enjoy exceptional dental health.

Bondings/Fillings

A bonding is a composite resin that is used as an alternative to traditional fillings and is an excellent cosmetic option for those patients who do not want the look of silver in their mouths and do not want the expense of veneers. Bondings can be used on teeth that are decayed, cracked, or stained.

Bridges

A bridge is one of the few dental options available when deciding how to deal with a missing tooth or teeth. The replacement of these missing teeth is necessary in order to maintain the proper mouth functions. Tooth loss can affect the way you eat, speak, and the alignment of other teeth in your mouth.

Crowns

There are many possible reasons you would require a crown including teeth grinding, general decay, cracked fillings, root canals, and other dental conditions. If your tooth is beyond repair with a filling material, we may recommend that the best option to save the tooth is a crown to ensure tooth durability, cosmetic appearance, and overall support of the chewing function. Crowns can be made of full porcelain, a porcelain fused to metal or gold, or a full gold crown and your dentist can work with you to decide the best type of crown for your situation.

At The Dental Center we are proud to be able to offer crowns in one day with E4D in-office laboratory technology. This is state of the art technology that allows us to offer our patients the ability to have their permanent crown, in some cases, in as little as two hours. Not all cases apply, so please be sure to speak to your Dental Center dentist for details.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are becoming more popular as they offer patients a foundation for new restorative teeth where natural teeth are missing or have been extracted. The implant offers the patient the opportunity to regain normal function of the tooth without being forced to resort to a bridge or a denture.

Dentures/Partial Dentures

Dentures are replacements for missing teeth that can be taken out and put back into your mouth. While dentures take some getting used to, and will never feel exactly the same as natural teeth, dentures today are natural looking and more comfortable than ever. There are two main types of dentures: full and partial. Your dentist will help you choose the type of denture that’s best for you based on whether some or all of your teeth are going to be replaced and the cost involved.

Tooth Whitening and Bleaching

This is a great service for those who are concerned that their teeth are not as white as they could be. Before teeth can be whitened, however, you will need to be free of periodontal disease, unfilled cavities, and any other issues that will cause the teeth or tissue to react to the chemicals used in this process.

Periodontal Health

Periodontal, or gum disease, is an infection of the tissues that support the teeth. Bacteria, organized as “plaque”, attacks the gums and bone that surround and support the teeth. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that clings to the teeth and gums. Plaque that is not removed for 24 to 48 hours hardens, becoming “calculus” or “tartar” under the gums and around the teeth. Once calculus or tartar develops, it can only be removed by having your teeth professionally cleaned by a dentist or dental hygienist. If not removed, the bacteria in the plaque and calculus creates toxins that, over time, can destroy gum and bone tissue around the teeth.

Periodontal disease is described by it’s level of severity. There are two main types of peridontal disease: “Gingivitis” and “Periodontitis.”

• Gingivitis is a milder form of the disease affecting only the gums. The toxins in plaque irritate the gums, making them red and swollen and more likely to bleed easily. It can usually be healed by daily brushing, flossing between your teeth, and professional cleaning at a dental office. If left untreated, gingivitis develops into a more serious condition called “Periodontitis.”
• Periodontitis results when the toxins in plaque begin to destroy the tissues that anchor the tooth to the bone. The gum will often recede, exposing the roots of the tooth. These exposed roots become very sensitive to hot, cold, and touch and will get cavities easier than the crown of the tooth. As the gums begin to let go of the teeth, “pockets” form in the narrow collar of tissue around the tooth, making it impossible to adequately clean at the base of the pocket. Additionally, the bone holding the tooth begins to dissolve, and the tooth becomes loose and eventually very painful.

Prevention is the least expensive and easiest treatment: daily brushing and flossing are the most important things to do. If the “pocket measurements” are greater than 4 mm, it means the tissue cannot be cleaned by ordinary means, and more aggressive therapy is in order.

The next most important step in treating this disease is a thorough cleaning that includes scaling to remove plaque and calculus deposits. Smoothing the root surfaces (called “root planning”) is often done at the same time to permit the gum tissue to reattach and heal properly. Curettage removes the soft tissue lining the periodontal pocket, further allowing the tissue to heal. Sometimes, surgery is necessary to gain access to the bottom of the periodontal pocket or to graft in bone and tissue.

Please contact us at any time with questions about our practice, our doctors or our philosophy of care. We look forward to caring for your smile!