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 ADVANCED PROCEDURES

Intraoral Camera: 

 

An Intraoral camera is about the size of a pen, so it fits easily into your mouth. Once positioned, it sends pictures to a television monitor, where your teeth and gums appear in a full-color image. This not only allows visual communication regarding your treatment, but also shows you why certain recommendation is necessary.







Digital Radiographs:

We use digital radiographs on all our patients when taking x-rays. Digital radiographs use 80% less radiation than the traditional x-ray films, and is environmentally friendly because there are no chemicals needed to develop the images.

The images automatically appear on the computer screen and can be enlarged and enhanced to show where dental lesions are. These are only a few benefits that digital imaging has to offer.

 

                                                                                                                  

 Invisalign

Our office is Invisalign certified, and we have been providing our patients with a straighter and more beautiful smile without having to wear the traditional metal braces. Having a confident smile can change everything. 

Invisalign consists of multiple clear aligner trays that will move the teeth to where they will close up gaps and correct crowding, so that the finish result will be straighter and more dazzling smile.

And the best thing about invisalign is that most people will not even know you are going through treatment.  We also offer complimentary take home whitening at the end of your invisalign treatment as a bonus.

 

 

 

 

 

 


                                                                    Children and Infant Care:                                                                       


Choosing the right dentist for your children is an important decision. We are ready to give you and your family the quality dental care you deserve. We love caring for children as patients, and you can be assured that your child will have a wonderful dental experience under our gentle care.

Early dental hygiene is recommended once teeth are erupted. At about age 3, a first time visit to the dentist is advised to help start educating your child about the importance of oral hygiene. Early intervention will enable your child to keep a healthier, brighter smile for the growing years and help eliminate potential dental problems, such as dental decay and early teeth loss.

We welcome any concerns and questions you may have about your child's dental health. Please feel free to call us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





VELscope: The Oral Cancer Examination System


Appearance under Incandescent light vs. VELscope:

            

Our practice continually looks for advances to ensure that we are providing the optimum level of oral health care. We have recently incorporated the use of VELscope as a part of our annual oral cancer screening. We find that using VELscope along with standard oral cancer examinations improves the ability to identify suspicious areas at their earliest stages.

VELscope is a simple and painless examination that gives the best chance to find any oral abnormalities at the earliest possible stage. Early detection of precancerous tissue can minimize or eliminate the potentially disfiguring effects of oral cancer, and could possibly save your life. Late detection of oral cancer is the primary cause that both the incidents and mortality rates of oral cancer continues to increase. Therefore, when you are at your next dental visit, ask for a VELscope examination!


 Crowns

Crowns are full coverage restorations that are used to cover a tooth that is likely to break, or is too broken down to be restored with a filling. They are most commonly done after root canal treatment, or when a large filling wears out. The larger the hole made by a cavity that has to be treated, the more likely a crown will be needed. Even after a filling is put in a large cavity, a tooth is more likely to break. Keep in mind that the jaw muscles are the strongest in the human body. Teeth are subjected to tremendous pressures. Crowns ride over the weakened tooth, providing strength and protecting the tooth against breakage. A broken or cracked tooth is a far more serious matter and much more difficult to treat. Crowns prevent this, as well as making for a nice smile.

It takes two appointments to restore a tooth with a crown. At the first appointment, any decay is removed from the tooth and is shaped to accept the crown. Then, an impression is made of the tooth for use in fabricating a crown. Between the two visits, the crown is made by a lab technician. Most crowns are usually composed of high-strength porcelain over gold alloy, all ceramic material, or gold. During this time, a temporary crown is worn. In the second visit, this temporary crown is removed. Then the permanent crown is adjusted as needed and then cemented in place.


 Cerec Restorations:

              

                                                        

CEREC CAD-CAM is a state-of-the-art computer system that designs and generates ceramic dental restorations, including: Crowns, Veneers, Bonding, Onlays and Inlays. CEREC® restorations give your restored teeth a more natural match to the rest of your smile, and can help preserve the healthy part of that tooth structure.

A blu-ray camera takes images of the tooth after shaping and a CAD-CAM computer program immediately downloads the images, creating three-dimensional virtual models that can be viewed and manipulated on the computer monitor. The operator in the dental office then uses the program to design the crown or onlay that will replace the missing tooth structure. Next a porcelain block is selected and inserted into a milling machine and the software program sends a signal to the milling machine to create the design in porcelain.

Once completed, the crown is polished, tried in the mouth, adjusted and bonded into place. The entire process takes about 2 hours and there is a period of about ½ hour for design and milling. Once the design process begins, you are free to move about the office, make phone calls, run a short errand or even have additional dentistry such as a couple of fillings done.

 With CEREC'S CAD-CAM technology, the crown is made by a computer while you wait, thus eliminating the second appointment and the temporary crown.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


                                                                              Dentures:                                                                                         

 

There are different types of dentures, but they share a common function. They replace teeth that have become loose or been lost due to bone loss. When bone loss around the roots of teeth is significant, it is time for dentures. Relax. No one enjoys losing their natural teeth, but you can still eat and talk regularly.

The entire mouth is examined and a determination is made as to which teeth will have to be removed, and which will remain. The loose teeth are then extracted. Dentures are fitted to go over or around whatever teeth remain in the mouth, depending on the type. There is an adjustment period after dentures are placed in the mouth, and it can take some getting used to. But once accustomed to the dentures, all the normal functionality and appearance return and one just carries on as usual. Often implants can used to further stabilize the dentures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


                                                                                Implants:                                                                                       

 

A dental implant is an option to replace a missing tooth. In this procedure, a small titanium shaft is surgically implanted into the bone and allowed to set. The bone grows around it forming a tight connection, which additionally slows or stops the bone loss that occurs when the root of a natural tooth is missing. Once the implant is firmly set in the mouth, the dentist then works to attach the replacement tooth, which is called the implant crown, onto the top of the implant. This permanent solution has the advantages over bridge work in that it does not stress the surrounding teeth for support.  In addition, should the implant crown wear out, another implant crown can easily be placed onto the implant.

     Implants can also be used as support as part of an implant bridge. This is an alternative to partial dentures, and has several advantages. First, there is no adjustment period to acclimatize the patient who, once the work is done, only feels teeth, not metal bars intruding into the mouth. Second, this slows the bone loss occasioned by missing teeth. Third, there is no discomfort or difficulty in eating. And, best of all, of course, they don't have to be taken out all the time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


                                                                     Root Canal Treatment:                                                                          

 

Root canal treatment (also referred to as root canal therapy or endodontic therapy) is made necessary when a cavity is allowed, through neglect, to reach all the way to this pulp (regular cleanings and check-ups prevent and detect problems early). Sometimes deep restorations or trauma to a tooth may cause the nerve to be damaged to the point it needs root canal therapy. Once this occurs, the pulp becomes infected, and can even extend through the root tip and begin to eat away at the surrounding bone (this is an abscess). By the time the pulp is infected it must be treated, and cannot heal on its own. It can even weaken the entire immune system. This is dangerous, not to mention very painful. Symptoms that the pulp has become infected may include sensitivity to hot/cold or sweets, pain, swelling, pain to biting or pressure, and a bad taste in the mouth. Sometimes, however, no symptoms are apparent and the person is unaware of any problem until a check-up.

A root canal is then performed to clean out the infected tooth pulp, and disinfect the canals of the tooth. The only other treatment would be to extract the tooth. Once the infection is resolved, the canal(s) are filled in to prevent any further infection. Usually a core build-up and crown is recommended for restoring a tooth that has had root canal therapy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                           

 

                                      

 


                                                                                Bridges:                                                                                         

 

This is an option for filling the space created by a missing tooth. It is formed to look like the missing tooth, and it takes its place in the mouth. The sides of a bridge uses the two surrounding teeth for support, hence the name. A bridge replaces the missing tooth, both functionally and cosmetically. Bridge work is as much an art as it is an exact science. The materials used may be gold alloys, porcelain bonded to metal alloy, or all ceramic material. The choice of material depends on requirements for strength, wear, and/or esthetics.

It is important that a missing tooth be replaced as soon as possible for several reasons. If not treated the teeth surrounding the gap begin to shift inward, creating a whole chain reaction of bad things. Teeth use their neighbors for support, and, with one missing, they start to "fall." As this worsens, the bite changes in response to the pressure. This can eventually result in problems with the entire jaw, e.g. TMJ. The surrounding teeth deteriorate and it is just a matter of time before they, too, are lost. Gum disease becomes a serious problem, with the difficulty of treatment increasing as the neglect continues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


                                                                            TMJ Treatments:                                                                              


 

TMJ stands for temporal-mandibular joint. Temporal, as in temple area of skull; mandibular as in mandible, or lower jaw; joint as in it is where the head and jaw meet. Problems in this joint may be caused by a misalignment of the teeth, trauma, or excess muscle tension. Aside from the two bones that meet there, cartilage buffers them and five muscles are involved in the area. If something goes wrong a good deal of trouble can result.

Problems in this area can cause:

  • Headaches
  • Earaches
  • Trouble/soreness in opening and closing the mouth
  • Clicking or popping of the jaw
  • Pain in the jaw muscles
  • Soreness in the area, sometimes extending to the face

Dental treatments for the condition can include replacing missing teeth, moving teeth, adjusting the bite, filling gaps between teeth, etc. There is no one solution that is right for all cases. Sometimes a plastic mouthpiece is used to prevent clenching or grinding that is contributing to the problem. If untreated and taken to extremes, surgery may be required to repair a badly damaged joint.

 

 

 

 

 


 


1416 Professional Drive, Ste 201        Petaluma, CA  94954         Phone: (707)763-2682