Whitening is a procedure that brightens teeth that are discolored, stained, or have been darkened because of injury. It can be performed on any tooth, even one that has had root canal treatment. There are two types of whitening procedures. Whitening may be done completely in the dental office (chairside bleaching). We currently offer the BriteSmile system of chairside bleaching. This procedure has been well documented on television, radio, and in print. Britesmile provides a whitening effect of UP to 4 shades in only 1 hour! The second type of tooth whitening is nightguard whitening. Our lab fabricates CUSTOM soft trays which hold the whitening material and are worn overnight for a time of approximately two weeks.

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Teeth may need to be shifted to provide more ideal esthetics, function, or comfort. We offer full treatment orthodontics for all age groups-from the young to adult.

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Veneers are thin custom made shells made of tooth-colored materials (typically porcelain or a derivative) that are designed to cover the front side of teeth. They are fabricated by a dental technician, usually in a commercial dental laboratory, from a model provided by the dental office. Veneers are used to close gaps or cover teeth that are dark and stained, poorly shaped, or crooked.

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Bonding is a procedure in which tooth-colored materials are applied to the surface of a tooth. Bonding covers discolorations, repairs chips, breaks and cracks and fills in gaps. It is a virtually painless procedure that is usually completed in one visit. Periodically, it may have to be recoated or replaced, since it usually lasts only three to five years.

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With time, if even one tooth is missing, the space may cause your teeth to shift. This shift can cause unwanted movements of the teeth that result in pathology. Ideally these spaces should be removed as soon as possible. Bridges can fill in the spaces where teeth are missing. A bridge is cemented in place over the teeth just like a single crown, and are not removable. Bridges can be made of white porcelain, gold, silver colored metal, or a combination of these. A fixed bridge is the most realistic method of replacing teeth, both in appearance and chewing comfort. In fact a properly cemented bridge is invisible and blends in naturally to surrounding teeth and gums.

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When teeth are missing or lost, one option to replacing them is through the use of a denture. There are two types of dentures. The placement of one or the other depends on how many teeth remain.

Removable Partial: This appliance is designed to be inserted and removed by the patient. It is held in place by metal clasps surrounding your natural teeth. It can be used in place of a fixed bridge or in cases where a fixed bridge cannot be used.

Complete Dentures: This complete denture is needed when all of a patient's teeth have been lost. It replaces all the natural teeth and is retained through suction from the underlying gum tissues. With today's modern technology complete dentures can be greatly enhanced with the use of implants to retain the denture in place under all conditions.

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The purpose of a crown is to protect and strengthen a brittle, weakened or badly broken tooth, (like a root canal tooth or a tooth with a very large filling). A crown may be made out of gold, a silver colored metal or white porcelain. Crowns are similar to a thimble fitting over a finger. It fits the tooth precisely and is cemented to the prepared tooth. Porcelain crowns are often used for cosmetic reasons.

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Unlike conventional removable dentures, which are designed to fit against the gums, dental implants actually replace tooth roots. As the name implies, implants are permanently positioned below the surface of the gums and utilize the bones to give stability to the new teeth. With dental implants there is no slipping, no pain or discomfort, no tedious removal for overnight soaking, and no areas for food to lodge into. Implants stay in your mouth just as natural teeth do. Because implants remain in the mouth at all times, there is often a dramatic improvement in the person's appearance, in the way they talk, and most important, in the foods they eat. Because implants are placed below the gum surface, the procedure is properly called surgery, but it is performed under local anesthetic and IV sedation if desired. Implants may be used as a "root" for a crown or as framework for a removable denture.

Composites are fillings that are designed to match the color of your teeth. They may be used to restore a decayed tooth or repair a defect. Although they are often used on the front teeth where a natural appearance is important, they may be used on a back tooth or in cases where esthetic concerns are an issue. Composites are completely mercury free for those patient who are worried about metal allergies.

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Typically if you have a broken denture or bridge your dentist would send it to a local, or potentially an out-of state lab that would require at least one week to repair. Since we have an in house laboratory we can offer denture, crown, and bridge repairs that day. Many times we can repair them in mere minutes. Fortunately the technician that will repair the case will guide the selection of colors as well as the case direction. This advantage really allows us to stand out within our community. Our entire staff is here to please you and make your dental experience a positive one.

We carefully sterilize all instruments in our state of the art autoclaves and ultrasonic cleaners immediately after their use. You can be rest assured our instruments are clean and completely sterile. A lot of instruments and supplies are totally disposable. We comply completely with all OSHA guidelines by testing our equipment weekly to ensure patient safety. Barrier controls are placed on all areas of cross-contamination;strict universal precautions are practiced by all staff on all patients.