General Treatment

When you arrive for your first visit, please be prepared to complete all insurance and health information forms that will allow us to begin your dental treatment. We will ask you to fill out several forms to get acquainted with our office.

Your initial exam will last approximately one hour. Your dentist will thoroughly examine your teeth and gums, specifically for potential problems. Depending on the patient, X-rays may be taken. If there are any signs of decay or other issues, your dentist will recommend treatment options and make notes of any conditions that may need future observation. Oral hygiene instructions will also be provided, along with suggestions to help you care for your teeth. In most cases, we will also clean your teeth on this visit.

You should schedule your routine dental cleaning twice a year or every six months. During this visit, one of our exceptional dental hygienists will remove all the plaque from your teeth, especially from places your brush can't reach, such as underneath the gum line and in-between teeth. We will then clean your teeth and apply fluoride to help protect your teeth once you leave the office.

Studies show that fluoride, a significant advancement in dental and oral health, with moderate but consistent exposure of teeth, helps strengthen and rebuild tooth structure and helps prevent future decay.

If you are due for your routine dental cleaning, please call our office to schedule an appointment.

A "filling" is the replacing and restoring your tooth structure, which was previously damaged due to decay or fracture, with a material. We offer amalgam (metal) and composite (tooth-colored) fillings to restore your tooth. 

• Silver Amalgam Fillings – Metal fillings (also known as mercury fillings) are made from solid and durable materials that can withstand the forces applied to the teeth while chewing. They are not made for aesthetics and can make the surrounding tooth structure appear discolored. Generally, silver amalgam fillings are used for the back teeth as they are more durable for the chewing surfaces of your teeth.
• Composite White Fillings – Tooth-colored fillings are ideal for patients wishing to maintain the natural beauty of their smile. Composite fillings are closely matched to the natural color of your teeth and bond well to the tooth. While not as strong as metal fillings, tooth-colored fillings are durable and should last 6-12 years. Composite fillings are usually used on the front teeth, offering optimal aesthetics.

The location, type of cavity, and patient expectations will help determine the most suitable filling type. We will work with each patient individually to determine which type of filling would be best for you.

General Extractions

An extraction is the complete removal of a tooth. Extractions are sometimes necessary if a primary tooth prevents the normal eruption of a permanent tooth if the tooth has suffered extensive tooth decay, if the trauma to the tooth cannot be repaired, if the patient has gum disease, or if the tooth is impacted (usually the wisdom teeth). Depending on the case's complexity, an extraction can be performed surgically or non-surgically. Mild anesthesia ensures you or your child is as comfortable as possible throughout the procedure.

Wisdom Teeth 

Your third molars are more commonly called "wisdom teeth." Usually appearing in the late teens or early twenties, third molars often lack the proper space in the jaw to erupt fully or even at all. This common condition is called impaction. When any tooth lacks the area to come through or develops in the wrong place of your jaw and becomes impacted, problems can arise. Primarily, the damage is to adjacent teeth, and crowding occurs.

Sometimes, the wisdom tooth that cannot come through becomes inflamed under the gums and in the jawbone, causing a sac to develop around the tooth's root that then fills with liquid. This can cause a cyst or an abscess if it becomes infected. If either of these situations goes untreated, severe damage to the underlying bone and surrounding teeth and tissues can result.

To prevent this, an extraction of one, several, or all of the wisdom teeth may be advised. If that is the case, we have the equipment and training to perform such extractions with an absolute minimum of discomfort. Ask our staff for more information regarding tooth extractions if you feel you may need one.