What We Do

An attractive smile is an important part of a person's general appearance, behavior and self-confidence. Dentists are living in a professionally exciting era.  Advances in dental techniques and materials are happening constantly allowing patients to have easier and better treatment than ever before.  

My dental practice provides a fair mix of general and artistic services.  

Many people do not like the appearance of metal in their teeth.  Modern filling materials are attractive and durable enough to allow the opportunity to regain the appearance of a natural smile and those are the materials that I use.  

Often, old metal fillings stay structurally sound for a long time and my perspective on treatment planning is that if it is not broke, do not fix it.  

However, if you want to replace your old fillings, tell me.  Sometimes people are shy and afraid of appearing vain but if you want to get them out of your mouth, let me know.   

A new material called Zirkon (densely sintered zirconium oxide) replaces gold and other metals as the foundation for dental prostheses.  Its strength is 50 percent stronger than conventional dental porcelain, ensuring excellent long-term success.  The system uses a laser-guided optical scanner to create a computer image of the castings for the crowns, bridges and onlays.  The restoration is machined from a solid billet of zirconium oxide.  Since there is no firing or melting, the density of the porcelain is consistent and controlled.  The zirkon base can be milled thin and translucent to provide a natural and vital appearance.  The advantage of this new technology is both accuracy and strength.  The esthetics, strength and biocompatibility of this new material distinguishes itself as the optimum in all-ceramic systems.  

Filling without drilling
I often use an air abrasion unit allows patients to have some of their smaller fillings completed with no freezing or drilling at all.  The way this happens is by directing a tiny sand blaster onto the tooth surface.  Only the decayed and weak enamel comes off and the solid tooth material is left alone.  The treatment is very conservative, quick and comfortable. 

Bleaching
People who are unhappy with the color or stain of their teeth, can choose from the various ways to have their teeth lightened.  The choices are divided into two: take-home and in-office techniques.  To brighten up all of your teeth, a take-home method is most efficient and usually only takes two weeks.  If only a few teeth are darker than the others, they can be individually lightened in less than an hour at the office.  Nevertheless, in office bleaching can also be done for a full smile.  

Orthodontics
Many people want straighter teeth but do not want braces.  Sometimes, people had braces in their youth but now a few teeth are starting to drift back.  The thought of getting braces again and visiting the orthodontist for regular adjustments stops them from asking for other options.  Often, teeth can be straightened by wearing clear trays that are barely visible.  They apply forces to the teeth and achieve the similar effect as traditional orthodontics.  

Periodontal health
On the preventive side, we pride ourselves at being able to provide gentle periodontal maintenace treatment.  Even patients with severe gum disease are able to avoid seeing a gum specialst and rarely need surgery.  The hygienists are equipped with piezo-electric scalers that vibrate gently, flushing the gums with warmed water and antimicrobial solutions if necessary.  This eliminates the horrible cold feeling on our teeth commonly associated with traditional dental cleanings.

Oral Cancer
Cancer can occur anywhere in the body.  Your regular re-evaluation includes cancer screening and I will look at the teeth and gums, but also at all of the oral tissues.  Do not be surprised if I ask you to stretch your tongue out and back, twisting it left and right.  This makes all of your tissues inside your mouth visible.  I encourage everybody to wear sun-screen and lip-balm throughout the year.  The lips are extremely vulnerable to developing skin cancer.  Often cancerous lesions on the lips are mistaken for recurrent cold sores or chapped lips.  Harmless sores should heal in approximately two weeks.  If ever you should get oral cancer, the sooner it is identified, the better.  Get it checked out if you are uncertain.  Early surgical excision can often heal with little scarring.  Even people without teeth should see a dentist for a brief oral exam at least once a year.