General Dentistry

Fillings placed into a prepared cavity in a single visit. They include silver amalgam, glass ionomers, resin ionomers, and composite (resin) fillings. With good oral hygiene habits and maintaining routine visits, most of the fillings will last for several years.

A dental crown or "cap" is useful to protect vulnerable teeth that are broken, worn, partially destroyed by decay, or weakened after a root canal. Crowns strengthen teeth and improve its shape.

A bridge may be used to replace missing teeth while using surrounding teeth for support.

Complete and Partial Dentures are removable options to replace missing teeth. They help individuals bite, eat, chew, and speak like normal. Most dentures are made from a combination of metal and acrylic resin. 

They require daily maintenance to stay clean and prevent bacteria from growing inside your mouth. Use a gentle cleanser like soap and water and avoid highly abrasive products. Soak your dentures overnight in any commercially available product, such as Polident, and rinse before placing them back in your mouth.

An implant is a synthetic tooth root in the shape of a post that is surgically placed into the jawbone. The “root” is usually made of titanium: the same material used in many replacement hips and knees, and a metal that is well-suited to pairing with human bone. A replacement tooth is then attached to the implant.   

The ideal candidate for implants is a non-smoker who has good oral health, including a sufficient amount of bone in the jaw, and healthy gums with no sign of gum disease.

Implants are a fixed tooth replacement option that do not require neighboring natural teeth for support.

Teeth grinding, or bruxism, can transform your bite relationship and worse, it can severely damage your teeth and jaws over long periods of time.

Bruxism is somewhat treatable. A common therapy involves use of a night guard or as some patients say “mouth guard” to sleep at night. This helps protect their jaw joint from long term irreparable damage and fillings, crowns and enamel from wear and tear. A night guard also helps to keep the jaw and TMJ in a more favorable position.