Services

Your First Visit

Comprehensive Exam

Customized, comprehensive dental care is a cornerstone of our practice philosophy. The first step in achieving this goal is a complete examination of the entire chewing system via a co-discovery process. Along with reviewing past medical and dental history, we also will take time to understand what is most important to you regarding your oral health. This is a separate appointment before any preventive or cleaning visits. At this time we will gather the information needed to create your individualized plan. This comprehensive exam is the first step necessary to become an established patient in our practice.

Cosmetic consultation patients who are interested in improving their smiles can meet with the doctor for a brief consultation. This visit will give you an opportunity to discuss your individual concerns and will allow us to determine possible treatment options.

Individualized Planning

Over sixty years of combined experience has convinced us that everyone can "afford" excellent oral health. What is necessary is a logical sequencing of care... an individualized plan to reach your objectives. You can then proceed at your own pace. This sequencing is the same regardless of how much treatment is needed or how quickly you want it completed.

Everyone has different expectations from dental care. The key is your plan. Some people never move to optimal care and face various uncertainties throughout their lifetime. Some people want the finest care possible immediately. And there are those who do a little at a time until, perhaps years later, they can be considered optimally healthy.

STEP 1: INFECTION CONTROL Elimination of active disease, pain and infection. This includes all initial therapy for gum disease and filling of cavities.

STEP 2: BASIC CARE (Preparing the foundation) Control of questionable situations (such as replacement of deteriorating fillings) that will eventually lead to problems, and laying a solid foundation for stable, predictable and comfortable future care.

Once this portion is completed, a "holding program" can be in effect. You can be in a "maintenance" program, but may still require significant dental care in the future. We do have solid foundation that allows us to move effectively to the next step if followed through in a timely sequence. If delayed, it may be necessary to "back track" somewhat. The key to being cost effective is to keep "chipping away" until ideal health is achieved.

STEP 3: PREVENTIVE DENTAL CARE (Restoration) I define Preventive Dental Care as that quality that, once completed, has the least chance of ever needing to be done again. It encompasses the finest restorative dental care possible to place the strongest, longest lasting materials, in the best possible bite relationship while maximizing gum health and cosmetics.

Once competed, one has the peace of mind in knowing little, if any, major dental care is needed for the foreseeable future. CONTINUING CARE (Supportive Maintenance) Professional "check-ups" are necessary throughout your lifetime, but this obviously easier when you are in optimal health. The "cheapest" insurance for anyone is consistent professional care and a customized home care program. Once we have a goal in mind, together we can work our plan to achieve it.

Customized Care

What is Restorative Dentistry?

Have you ever thought about how your teeth should fit together comfortably or how your jaw should function? Few people do... until unconscious habits or missing teeth compromises their chewing or have TMJ pain or are experiencing sensitive, worn or broken teeth.

Then they call on the skills of a specially trained dentist to restore the chewing surfaces, bite and jaw function to as harmonious a pattern as possible. To just fill spaces where teeth have been lost or to place a crown on a broken tooth is not necessarily Restorative Dental Care.

During restorative care, the entire architectural blueprint of a normal, healthy tooth form, chewing pattern and stable joint for that individual patient must be well thought out and planned ahead of time.

What does this have to do with you?

Understanding these destructive conditions which necessitate restorative dentistry is the essence of advanced preventive dental care.

When these factors are examined before there are problems, it becomes the most advanced preventive care possible. . . and we can indeed prevent the major problems founds today.

Our goal for our patients is the peace of mind in knowing your teeth are in the strongest possible condition.

Preventive dental care is that quality and durability that, once any treatment is completed, it has the least chance possible of ever needing to be done again.

Customized Care: Kids

Miracles of Modern Dentistry

Remarkable things are possible today and your child should grow up with the best of possibilities! The most valuable service we offer is informing you about how the many "miracles" of modern dental care can benefit you and your child.

Prevention

You can stop cavities. Prevention deals with identifying potential problems before they become painful or expensive. Our goal is to teach you and your child the best approach for them.

From my observations of adults, virtually all dental anxiety comes from an actual or perceived loss of control in a dental office. Somewhere, sometime a dentist yelled at them, made them feel insecure or insignificant, actually hurt them, forced them to do something when they weren't ready, etc.

For kids, a dental office must be a safe place. Not just physically, but also psychologically. Most dental fear for kids is fear of the unknown. It is a new experience for them. We feel they must have some control over their environment. Obviously within limits and, yes, kids do test those limits, but first they must have confidence they have some control over the situation. Then they can have self-control. We want to do things with kids, not to them (a very big difference).

Some days they may come into the office tired. Maybe they were teased at school (Kids can have bad days too!). They simply cannot cope that day. We may choose to delay treatment to another day. It is amazing how often a child who is totally uncooperative at first opens up and is very cooperative another time after they recognize the trust and love. In some cases it may be best to refer to one of our trusted Pediatric Dental specialists take care of difficult situations in order for your child to have the best possible experience.

The experiences in our office are the most valuable part of our care for your children. Positive experience fosters a positive attitude towards preventive health care. The attitude that they are worth taking care of, so they are better able to grow up taking good care of themselves.

Cosmetic Dentistry

Our focus for cosmetic or esthetic dentistry is Natural Beauty.

Natural Beauty is a "one of a kind" emphasis. In nature, beauty is in the barely perceptible imperfections. The Greeks understood the longevity of Natural Beauty that takes into account form and function.

Natural beauty takes into account function and strength. Natural beauty often starts with the simplest of procedures rather than blanket makeovers for every situation. The artistry is in the understanding of which of many options are best to create the sensational smile you want.

We are proud of our skills and successes in esthetics and Natural Beauty. We are honored to be able to use some of the most respected labs in the country.

Hygiene Services

Betsy, Nancy, and Nikki have been with our practice for at least 13 years each, adding excellent continuity to your care. Their expertise and interest in the latest developments in prevention of and supportive therapy for advanced gum disease assure you the best oral health possible.

Gum and Bone (Periondontal) Care

It has been estimated that as many as 85% of the American population has periodontal disease. The American Association of Public Health Dentists has called periodontal disease a national tragedy.

Our experience has us convinced that dental problems are completely preventable if diagnosed at the earliest stages and treated accordingly. We now recognize that the problems we see in the elderly had their beginning at a much earlier age...we sadly see the end stages of years of "little problems" that were "no big deal" at the time. Historically, dental problems have been ignored unless there was pain.

Most of the challenge is to change people's attitude towards prevention. The definition of prevention is to recognize a problem before it occurs and institute measures to prevent logical consequences.

We have taken advanced training and have instituted detailed steps to detect any signs of periodontal disease enabling us to begin treating it at its earliest stage.

The more bacteria present, the more the gums pull away from the tooth. In a healthy situation the gum "measurements" are 1-3mm with little or no bleeding or sensitivity during measuring. Our comprehensive periodontal evaluation includes all of the variables that may compromise treatment; etiology, general systemic health, heredity, patient commitment and motivation, behavior modification, and nutritional.

All of these factors are taken into account to design an individual treatment program for you. The most advanced techniques involve Sequential, Repetitive Therapy to achieve a gradual healing process until you achieve either the goal of absence of disease or the disease process is controlled for corrective procedures. This involves ongoing re-evaluation at each visit as the hygienist collects new data. We cannot be sure how you will heal...everyone is different. The sequence of therapies is crucial to the success of the healing. Our goal is to treat you to health, whatever it takes.