Dental Procedures
Cosmetic dentistry
With today's advances in dentistry, no one should have to live with crooked, crowded, or chipped teeth. Even dull, stained teeth can be transformed. We can give you the healthy smile you've always wanted. Here's how:
Tooth Whitening
Many of us feel that our smiles are most striking when our teeth look especially white, but unfortunately, soft drinks, coffee, tea, and tobacco can leave behind ugly stains. Bleaching uses a solution that is applied to teeth that have discolored. The solution may be activated by light. When the procedure is finished, it results in whiter teeth! In another bleaching system, you can use the solution for one hour a day and achieve the desired results within several weeks. Please contact us today to find out more about these options and which one is best for you.
Veneers
An excellent alternative to crowns, veneers can perfect your smile by masking stains, hiding chips, correcting misalignment, and creating uniformity. Porcelain veneers are hard porcelain shells that adhere to teeth. Veneers correct the same flaws as bonding, but they are often used on more complicated problems or where ideal esthetics is the maximum concern. Veneers tend to last longer than bonding and look incredibly natural, are long-lasting, and are relatively easy to apply.
Porcelain crowns and inlays
Porcelain inlays, onlays, and crowns are an excellent, conservative solution to cavities, reduced chewing strength, and general degeneration of the teeth. Virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth, inlays and onlays discreetly restore teeth to an optimal state of health. They resemble natural teeth so closely that only you will know the truth. To find out if inlays, onlays, or porcelain crowns are right for you, please contact us today.
Bonding and white fillings
Bonding restores damaged teeth by coating the area with a tooth-like resin. This procedure repairs teeth that have been chipped, cracked, misaligned, or discolored. But bonding can quickly and painlessly restore your smile’s natural beauty. During the procedure, resin is applied on the damaged area and it can be virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth. To find out if bonding is the right option for you, please contact us today.
Reconstructive Dentistry
Missing teeth not only detract from your appearance, but the open spaces can cause teeth to shift, chewing or speaking to become difficult, or plaque to build up more readily. It's a problem that cannot be ignored. There are three basic ways to replace missing teeth. The procedure for each of these methods is best explained in our office where we can determine which procedure is right for you. However, to answer some of your initial questions on these procedures, let us introduce you to these replacements by briefly defining them.
Implants are man-made roots placed in the jaw. They can be used to replace one tooth or combined with bridges or dentures to replace multiple teeth.
Natural Crowns
Also called caps, crowns are natural-looking covers that fit snuggly over teeth to conceal cracked, badly discolored, injured, or chipped teeth. Crowns minimize physical discomfort in and provide support to damaged teeth. Ultimately, crowns can improve the overall appearance of your smile while making your teeth more resistant to injury. For more information about crowns, please contact us today.
Bridges
Bridges are also used as tooth replacements in situations where they can be anchored to natural teeth. Bridges are generally used if you have only a few missing teeth.
Sometimes a bit more work is needed to give you the smile you want. If you are missing teeth and having trouble speaking or chewing, or are noticing strain when biting because of the spaces, bridges may be the ideal procedure to help make your mouth healthy and beautiful again. Bridges, sometimes referred to as fixed partial dentures, literally bridge gaps between teeth by filling them with strong, natural-looking artificial teeth. Bridges are permanent – and cannot be removed – they are comfortable and proven to strengthen teeth. To find out if bridges are the right option for you, please contact us today.
Dentures
Partial and full Dentures are artificial teeth set into a plastic framework that rests directly on the gums. Dentures are held securely to increase speaking and chewing ability. A customized denture can be attached to individual implants or a row of implants, securing the denture in place. They look completely natural, are long-lasting, and are quite durable. To find out more about implant-supported dentures, please contact us today.
Traditional Dentistry
Tooth-Colored Fillings
Gone are the days when tooth ailments and cavities could only be treated with unsightly metal fillings. Today, modern, tooth-colored fillings made of durable resin or porcelain can be bonded to your teeth for a stronger, more natural-looking effect. These revolutionary fillings are virtually undetectable and are easy to apply. To find out if tooth-colored fillings are a good option for you, please contact us today.
Root Canal Therapy
Each of our teeth contains one or more long, thin strand of dental pulp—which provides the tooth with nutrients and nerves—that extends down to the tooth’s root. If the pulp becomes infected or injured, the tooth’s nerve often dies. Without endodontic treatment, the tooth may have to be extracted. Root canals are designed to save such damaged teeth. During the procedure (performed under anesthesia), an access is drilled into the tooth’s crown and pulp chamber, the diseased pulp is removed, and the tooth is permanently sealed with a restoration. To learn more about root canals, please contact us today.
Periodontal (gum) disease
Periodontal (gum) disease can lead to more than just an unsightly smile—it can cause loss of teeth and eventually, if left untreated, serious health problems. Called gingivitis in its early stages, periodontal disease is caused by excessive toxic bacteria (found in plaque) that attack your mouth’s soft tissues. Early warning signs of this disease include red, swollen, bleeding gums. If caught early, we can help you reverse the damage. Let our staff help you keep your teeth and gums strong and disease-free with regular examinations and cleanings. Please contact our office today to schedule an appointment.
TMJ/TMD
TMDs, or temporomandibular disorders, can cause a number of symptoms that can mimic other diseases. If you have TMD any one of a number of problems may be occurring, involving the chewing muscles, the jaw joint (the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ), the teeth or all three.
Symptoms can include the following:
Unusual sounds such as clicking, grinding or popping, may or may not be accompanied by pain. Popping or clicking in the jaw joint is frequently indicative of a problem, which may require treatment. Locking or intermittent movement may sometimes cause the joint to be stuck in an open position, it may be difficult to open your mouth because it feels locked or painful. TMD may also appear to be an ear infection, since TMD pain is usually felt in front of or below the ear. To learn more about TMJ disorders, please contact us today.
Technology
Laser Dentistry
Our practice uses the state-of-the-art Erbium (YAG) Laser for hard tissue (teeth) and a Diode for soft tissue (gums). Tooth decay, discolored teeth, and periodontal problems can be addressed. In the case of laser drilling, Dr. Dyer uses this laser to gently remove decay while leaving healthy tooth structure in place, generally without any need for getting numb! Sometimes laser dentistry is quicker and more comfortable than traditional techniques, soft tissue procedures can result in significantly faster healing time for the patient. To learn more about the possibilities of laser dentistry, please consult our office today.
Implant Dentistry
Dental implants are an excellent solution to missing individual teeth. Not only do they eliminate gaps, but they also provide a comfortable fit and look completely natural. In addition, they don't require the cutting down of neighboring teeth as bridges do. In individual tooth replacement, an aesthetic crown is attached to the implant, mimicking natural teeth. To learn more about dental implants, please contact us today. Would having a flawless smile increase your self-confidence? Are missing teeth preventing you from eating the foods you love? Well, implant bridges might be the perfect solution for you. These comfortable, effective bridges—which can either be removable or fixed—fit discreetly over implants, allowing for maximum support. To find out if implant bridges are right for you, please contact us today.
ViziLite Oral Cancer Screening
New technological advances in dentistry can not only help to prevent tooth decay, they can also save lives. ViziLite is a quick and painless exam that can prevent the spread of deadly cancers by catching precancerous abnormalities, such as those that indicate malignancies such as oral cancers. Oral cancer, or cancer of the mouth, is one of the most curable diseases when caught in the early stages of development. In fact, when oral cancer is found in its earliest stage, treatment is more than 90% successful – and more simple and less invasive as well.
Dr. Dyer and other progressive dental professionals use the ViziLite screening process to help by identifying abnormalities that might develop into oral cancer. The exam is fast and painless and helps to identify these abnormal areas that might not be caught otherwise, until much later. An annual ViziLite exam, in combination with a conventional visual examination, provides a comprehensive oral screening procedure for patients.
If you are in a high-risk group for oral cancer (older than 40, a tobacco user, or a heavy or chronic alcohol consumer), you should get screened at least once a year. Even without these factors, your health could be at risk. According to the American Dental Association, over 25% of oral cancers occur in people who do not smoke and have no other risk factors. Don’t take chances with your life – talk to Dr. Dyer about receiving a quick and painless ViziLite exam.