Posted August 30, 2010: Cerec One Visit Crowns and Onlays have arrived!

We wanted to let you know that we are committed to providing you with the latest technology in order to bring you the absolute best in care. We now have a CEREC machine that allows you to be in and out in a single visit with a permanent all ceramic crown, onlay or veneer. For you, the patient,this means less time out of your hectic schedule for dental care.

With our new CEREC technology the procedure is done in a single appointment start to finish. No more "goopy" impressions taken, but a digital picture taken by the CEREC acquisition unit. Within 15 minutes, a new ceramic crown, onlay or veneer is milled right here in our laboratory and then delivered directly to you. No more temporaries needed and 3 week wait time for a new crown.

Call or e-mail today to learn about this advanced technology.

Posted July 22, 2010: Stella Manning has announced her retirement.

Our long time front desk staffer,Stella Manning has announced her retirement as of July 21, 2010. Stella has been an integral part of our practice for 25 years! She was a kind,loyal and sincere person who has helped thousands of our patients through the process of obtaining quality dental care. She has made every one around her a better person and she will be sorely missed. All the best to Stella on her retirement !

Posted July 20, 2010: Zoom!

We wanted to let you know that we have a new, very fast way to whiten your teeth. It's called Zoom!

Zoom! got it's name from it's speed. It's considered one of the fastest teeth whitening systems, and can fit easily into the most hectic of schedules. Zoom! can whiten your teeth at the office or at home. If you choose the in-office teeth whitening option, your teeth can look up to eight shades lighter in just one hour. If you choose the take-home option, your teeth can look up to six shades lighter in just three days, and with additional applications, you can go even lighter.

Please give us a call today to shcedule an appointment and you will be going home an hour later with a beautiful, bright smile!

Posted July 20, 2010: What is in-office teeth whitening?

Many people just don't have time or patience to do at-home whitening treatments and now there is an alternative solution. In-office (or chair-side) whitening treatments can provide results fast.

"I was running around like crazy getting things ready for my daughters wedding and I just kept putting off whitening my teeth. I needed to get it done fast and I couldn't have been happier with the results."

During chair-side bleaching, a protective gel or rubber shield is applied to your gums to protect the oral soft tissues. A bleaching agent is then applied to the teeth, and a special light may be used to enhance the action of the agent. Lasers have been used during tooth whitening procedures to enhance the action of the whitening agent. Treatments often require more than one office visit that may take from 15 minutes to one hour.

If you are a candidate, chair-side bleaching may be the perfect solution.

Posted June 22, 2010: Dental Implants: Are they for you?

Your teeth were designed to last a lifetime, but sometimes they don't! Replacing missing teeth is important to your general health and to the health of your teeth. Not only do you lose chewing ability when a tooth is lost, but unreplaced teeth can cause other teeth to be lost, tipped or crowded and create subsequent problems. Also, there are the obvious problems of poor appearance and loss of self-esteem caused by one or more missing teeth.

Dental implants should always be considered as an option to replace a failing or missing tooth. Replacement of lost teeth with dental implants has been used for treating missing teeth for more than 50 years and is recognized as an effective treatment of choice. Treatment is considered more predictable than bridgework, resin bonded bridges and endodontic treatment.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are substitutes for the roots of missing teeth. They act as an anchor for replacement tooth or "crown" or a set of replacement teeth

Am I a candidate for a dental implant?

Implant patients are of all ages and implants may be the right choice for anyone missing one or more or even all of their teeth due to injury, disease or decay. They are especially practical for patients who can no longer wear removable dentures. Your dentist can determine if you are a candidate for dental implants after a careful evaluation of your dental and medical history.

Are there different kinds of implants?

There are many shapes, sizes and brands of implants available. Your AACD credentialed implant dentist will know which implant is the right one for you.

Do I have enough bone?

It is important for a patient to have enough bone to support the implant. If you do not have enough bone, there are many safe and effective ways to correct bone deficiency. Your dentist will assess this and advise you if additional bone material is needed.

Will this take a long time?

Treatment time can vary greatly depending on your needs. Each situation needs a separate evaluation : your dentist will be able to give you an approximate timetable.

Posted June 10, 2010: Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Veneers

Dental Veneers are another fantastic tool used in cosmetic dentistry to help create that perfect smile. Unlike crowns which cover the whole tooth, dental veneers are wafer-thin shells of porcelain which are just bonded to the front of your teeth.

Porcelain itself is a fairly brittle material but the bonding process adds additional strength to a veneer leaving you with a beautiful, durable and completely natural looking tooth. Dental veneers take on the appearance of enamel and provide the means for a truly remarkable cosmetic restoration.

Although porcelain has amazing crushing strength it doesnt react well to twisting so once you have had a tooth or your teeth veneered you need to avoid foods that require any kind of gnawing or twisting action.

Dental veneers have a variety of uses with being used as an alternative to tooth whitening, braces, crowns and other cosmetic dentistry techniques. Porcelain veneers can be used to disguise discolored or chipped teeth, close gaps, straighten teeth, assist with realignment and reshape you smile.

Given the nature of a veneer, in that it is bonded to the front of your tooth, they are only of any use for cosmetic restoration of front teeth.

Getting a veneer is so easy and a great alternative for some patients who have reservations about the dental chair. An initial visit will involve your cosmetic dentist taking an impression of your teeth and you may require some minor contouring work. The second visit will be purely for the veneer to be bonded into place providing you with an instant and fantastic looking result.

With teeth that are too damaged for a veneer you can use a veneer in conjunction with a crown to obtain a perfect finish.

Dental veneers are basically used for aesthetic purposes so are unlikely to be covered by your dental insurance although you might get some level of discount if you have a dental care plan.