Services

Your first visit to our office is very critical in determining your oral health baseline. We will perform an in depth oral examination which includes: an oral cancer screening, a periodontal evaluation, an analysis of your occlusion (bite), and a thorough examination of your teeth, their supporting structures, and of your oral anatomy.

Both natural teeth and teeth with restorations last longest in an oral environment that is clean and where oral hygiene is maintained. Our dental hygiene program is designed to help prevent new cavities, preserve natural teeth and teeth that have been restored, and manage periodontal disease. During your initial visit with our hygienist, oral hygiene instructions are reviewed and reinforced at subsequent visits.

Traditional dental restoratives, and fillings, include gold, amalgam, porcelain, and composite. With the advent of the newest technologies in dental science, current state-of-the-art restorative materials include ceramic and the latest composite materials. These materials are very strong and durable, restore the look of natural teeth, and are very aesthetically pleasing.

Methods used to treat periodontal disease depend upon the type and severity of the disease. Periodontal disease progresses as the sulcus (pocket or space) between the tooth and gums becomes filled with bacteria, plaque, and tartar, causing irritation to the surrounding tissues. When these irritants remain in the sulcus, they cause damage to your gums and eventually, to the bone supporting your teeth. If we catch the disease in the early stages of gingivitis, and no permanent damage has been done, we will recommend one or two regular cleanings. We will also give you instructions on how to improve your daily oral hygiene habits and the importance of having regular dental cleanings. If the disease has progressed to more advanced stages, we will recommend a special periodontal cleaning called scaling and root planing (deep cleaning). If the pockets do not heal after scaling and root planing, you may require periodontal surgery to reduce pocket depths.

The terms dental crowns and caps are synonymous. Crowns are typically used to restore a tooth's function and appearance following a restorative procedure, such as a root canal. When decay in a tooth has become so advanced that a large portion of the tooth must be removed, crowns are often used to restore that tooth. Additionally, crowns are also used to attach bridges, cover dental implants, and to prevent a cracked tooth from becoming worse. Crowns also serve a purely aesthetic function as well, and are applied if you would like your discolored or stained tooth to be restored to its natural appearance. Crowns are made in a laboratory with either porcelain baked onto a metal substrate, all-porcelain, or many of the new ceramic materials that have been developed.

Whether from disease, malnutrition, genetic disorders or an accident, it is occasionally necessary for patients to have some or all their upper and lower teeth extracted. While this can be upsetting news, partial or full dentures can be fabricated to restore an attractive smile, provide needed support for normal facial contours, and reestablish a highly functional occlusion.

A denture consists of natural looking artificial teeth set in a supportive base. It may be fabricated to replace either a small group of teeth, an entire upper arch, an entire lower arch, or used to restore both dental arches.

A complete denture refers to the replacement of all the teeth in a dental arch. It can be inserted either of two ways. It can be inserted some weeks after the extraction sites and other surgical procedures have had a chance to heal, or as an “immediate” denture placed the same day the last remaining teeth are extracted. Although an immediate denture offers the advantage of not having to go without teeth for any length of time, it can require multiple adjustments as the tissues remodel and heal following dental extractions or other surgical procedures.

In situations where some sturdy teeth remain, partial dentures can be fabricated. Partial dentures can achieve adequate retention and stability by having clasps on the teeth surrounding the edentulous areas.

In some cases, added stability for the dentures can be provided by strategically placed implants.

If a tooth is extracted or missing for some reason, it is now possible to replace it using dental implants. An implant functions just like a new tooth made of metal and porcelain that looks just like your natural tooth. It is composed of three main parts; one part is the titanium implant body that takes the place of the missing root, the second is an anchor or abutment that holds the crown that is cemented on top of the implant, and the third is the crown. In addition to replacing teeth, implants may be used as an anchor for dentures, especially lower dentures that tend to shift when you talk or chew. For patients with removable partial dentures, implants can replace your missing teeth so that you have a more natural-looking smile.

Gaps, chips, stains, or misshapen teeth can now be treated very conservatively, and with wonderful results, using porcelain veneers. Veneers are natural in appearance, and are a perfect alternative for patients wanting to make minor adjustments to the look and feel of their smile. Veneers are thin, custom-made shells made from tooth-colored materials (such as porcelain) designed to cover the front side of your teeth. Patients can choose from a wide array of shades so that your veneers will be built to match the color of your existing teeth.

Root canal therapy is advised when the nerve of a tooth is affected by decay or infection. This simple treatment can save your natural teeth and prevent the need for dental implants or bridges. Symptoms of the infection are typically acute dental pain or sensitivity to hot, cold or percussion. If you experience any of these symptoms, Dr. Edmunds may recommend root canal therapy to eliminate the diseased pulp. The injured pulp is removed and the root canal system is thoroughly cleaned and then sealed. This therapy usually involves local anesthesia and may be completed in one or more visits depending on the extent of the treatment required. This treatment is successful in about 90% of cases.

Consider Invisalign to help you achieve the beautiful straight teeth and smile you've always wanted - without braces. If the prospect of a straighter smile interests you, we will be happy to discuss whether Invisalign would be an appropriate treatment for you. Invisalign uses a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable retainers to straighten and align your teeth. A great perk of this technology is that no one can tell you're wearing anything to align your teeth. These retainers are worn 23 hours a day and changed every two weeks. Invisalign is made with innovative 3-D computer imaging technology. Invisalign has been proven effective in the treatment of many orthodontic cases that would have, prior to this technology, required braces.