New Patients We strive to make you feel comfortable and relaxed in our office as we realize the apprehension most patients feel when coming to the dentist. Your new patient visit with us will consisit of: • Full mouth series of xrays - a complete set of films for a close up view of every one of your teeth. • Comprehensive exam - the Dr will check your teeth with the aid of xrays, for decay and other issues that relate to the functioning of your teeth. • Periodontal exam - your gum tissue will be evaluated for signs of periodontal disease and we will recommend the proper treatment for you. • Oral cancer screening - the Hygienist and Dr will look at every surface in your mouth watching for signs of oral cancer. Endodontics Root Canal Treatment:  “Root Canal” treatment is simply the removal of dead/dying or painful  tissue in the root canal system of the tooth.  It is the treatment of choice for abscessed, chronically painful, or severely damaged teeth to allow the tooth and bone to heal. Preventative Care Oral health is key to maintaining your overall health.  It needs regular care, maintenance, and professional monitoring to keep you feeling and functioning optimally. Brushing and flossing regularly at home is the best way for you to maintain your smile at home. • Hygiene visits: Its very important to remove the sticky plaque and hard build up (calculus or tarter) from the teeth in order to remove the films that allow decay causing bacteria to damage the enamel.  Biannual care appointments are for most people, some however will require a more frequent interval, 3 or 4 months to keep their mouths as healthy as possible. • • Periodontal Therapy: signs of periodontal disease are painful, swollen gums; increasing tooth mobility, chronic bad breath.  The process of treatment for periodontal disease is focused on the removal of build up below the gum line to facilitate a decrease in the problematic bacteria.  If left untreated the process will continue and lead to bone destruction and eventually tooth loss.  Periodontal disease is the leading cause of adult tooth loss. Restorative Dentistry Restorative dental work consists of treatments that restore, or replace parts of teeth that were damaged or missing. • Fillings: when tooth decay develops, if left untreated, it will only spread and go deeper into the inside of the tooth structure.  Composite resin or tooth colored filling material is our material of choice to most naturally and conservatively replace the diseased tooth structure. • • Crowns: if a tooth has a large filling or is fractured or cracked, the Dr may recommend a crown as the treatment of choice for the long term stability and health of a tooth.  A crown covers the remaining tooth structure and filling material to return the tooth to optimal function and form. • • Bridge: missing teeth cause a variety of problems in the adult mouth.  A fixed bridge is an aesthetic way to replace those missing teeth or single tooth.  A bridge is a way of replacing a tooth by using the teeth on either side of the space as supports and suspending the missing tooth/teeth in between with one prosthesis. • • Dental Implant: a dental implant is a way of replacing a missing tooth or teeth without the support of the adjacent teeth. • • Veneers:  Porcelain veneers are a cosmetic way to reconstruct a smile.  They are a thin layer of porcelain fabricated to cover the front of a tooth to conceal chips, stains, and misaligned teeth. Pediatric Dentistry Pediatric dentists promote the dental health of children as well as serve as educational resources for parents. It is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) that a dental visit should occur within six months after the presence of the first tooth or by a child's first birthday. The AAPD has said that it is important to establish a comprehensive and accessible ongoing relationship between the dentist and patient – referring to this as the patient's "dental home".  This is because early oral examination aids in the detection of the early stages of tooth decay. Early detection is essential to maintain oral health, modify aberrant habits, and treat as needed and as simply as possible. Additionally, parents are given a program of preventative home care (brushing/flossing/fluorides), a caries risk assessment, information on finger, thumb, and pacifier habits, advice on preventing injuries to the mouth and teeth of children, diet counseling, and information on growth and development. Dental Sealants Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings that are applied to the grooves on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to protect them from tooth decay. Most tooth decay in children and teens occurs on these surfaces. Sealants protect the chewing surfaces from tooth decay by keeping germs and food particles out of these grooves. Orthodontics Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics is the first specialty of dentistry that is concerned with the study and treatment of malocclusions (improper bites), which may be a result of tooth irregularity, disproportionate jaw relationships, or both. Orthodontic treatment can focus on dental displacement only, or can deal with the control and modification of facial growth. In the latter case it is better defined as "dentofacial orthopaedics". Invisalign Invisalign is a proprietary method of orthodontic treatment which uses a series of clear, removable teeth aligners used as an alternative to traditional metal dental braces. Bruxism Orthotics Common symptoms of bruxism include a sore jaw, headaches, or earaches. Causes vary, but may include stress, anxiety, tension, misaligned teeth, posture, diet, sleeping habits, and other factors. Bruxism is most prevalent in women and generally found in about one-third of the population. Individuals who react to stress with anger, pain, frustration, aggression, or competition are most commonly affected. People with bruxism may have other biting habits, such as biting fingernails, pencils, lips, or the insides of their cheeks. Constant clenching and grinding of the teeth cannot only cause the aforementioned symptoms, but it may also contribute to TMJ (temporomandibular joint) dysfunction, which has a long list of side effects associated with pain in the head and neck. Teeth rubbing together consistently will result in surface wear over time, which will cause dental problems. Insomnia, eating disorders, and depression can result from bruxism left untreated.