Restorative Services

Crowns and Bridges (All Porcelain)

Basic: Crowns (Caps) go around the tooth and cover it from the top to the gum line. It is really a porcelain shell that is bonded/cemented to your underlying tooth to create a strong beautiful new tooth. A bridge is basically a number of individual crowns linked together to fill in a space where natural teeth are missing. Unlike a removable partial denture, a fixed bridge is cemented to the teeth on either side of the space and does not come out.

How to Prepare: A crown is often needed when a tooth has had multiple large fillings and is weakened or chipped. The tooth is prepared by removing the old filling, placing a protective core filling and shaping the remaining outside of the tooth. An impression is made. A temporary crown is then made to cover the prepared tooth and keep it comfortable and looking good. The permanent crown is made by a West-Coast based dental laboratory to our doctor’s precise orders so that it looks wonderful and fits to very exacting standards.

What to Expect: You will wear your temporary crown and be reappointed in approximately two weeks to have the final porcelain crown cemented permanently. Your new crown will look good, feel good and last a long time. Care for a crown the same way that you would a natural tooth by brushing, flossing, and keeping regularly scheduled appointments with your dental hygienist and dentist.

After the Procedure: The gum may be a little sore and some will take ibuprofen or Tylenol, usually a warm salt water rinse is all that is needed.

Composite (white) Dental Fillings

Basics: Composite fillings are used to restore decayed or chipped areas on teeth. We do not place silver-mercury (black) fillings and have not used mercury-containing materials for over 25 years. White fillings are bonded to the inside and outside of teeth resulting in a stronger tooth and an undetectable, beautiful result.

How to Prepare: The tooth is completely numbed first then isolated. All decay is removed and the restoration is placed and polished.

What to Expect: You will have some soreness around the tooth and some sensitivity to cold for a few days.

After the Procedure: Your face will be numb on that side gradually returning to normal within two to four hours. 

Tooth Extraction

Basics: A tooth needs to be extracted (pulled) when it is so diseased either from extensive decay, advanced gum disease or devastating trauma. There are occasions when perfectly health teeth are extracted to alleviate crowding for orthodontic reasons. Wisdom teeth are routinely extracted for numerous health reasons.

How to Prepare: If you are healthy you should eat lightly before your appointment and bring a driver though many people drive home safely after treatment. If you have a complicated health history especially artificial heart valve, are taking Coumadin or other blood thinners or Bisphosphonate medication (Boneva, Fosmax, Zometa, Antonel, Aredia, Reclast..) for osteoporosis, or if you have had head and neck radiation, we need to know this in advance so we can optimize your safe treatment.

What to Expect: We will make the area numb so that you feel nothing. If we cannot make you completely numb, we will put you on an antibiotic and bring you back later. We also work closely with Oral and Maxillofacial surgeons and can make a referral if that is your preference. 

After the Procedure: We will review post op instructions with you both spoken and written. The site will bleed a little and you will have soreness there for a few days. We will prescribe pain medication as needed but you may usually return to work the following day.

Root Canal Therapy (Endodontics)

Basics: A root canal is needed to save a tooth that otherwise would have to be extracted. It stops the pain and eliminates the infection in a diseased tooth.

How to Prepare: You may be prescribed an antibiotic to reduce the infection. Take it as directed. Know that, generally, molar teeth have three to four canals with nerves while premolars have two and incisors have one.

What to Expect: The tooth will be thoroughly numbed then isolated with a rubber dam. A small opening will be made into the back or top of the tooth to gain access to the nerve inside the tooth. The nerve of a tooth is like a wick inside a candle. The nerve is completely removed and the space is cleaned with strong disinfectants before the space is filled with sterile gutta percha which seals off the space to prevent future reinfection. A temporary or permanent “core filling” is placed to seal off the access point and you are finished.

After the Procedure: You will be numb on that area for a couple hours and you should expect to have soreness around the tooth and some touchiness when biting for a few days. Any discomfort is usually managed with OTC pain medication you probably have at home like 400 to 600 mg (2-4 tablets) of ibuprofen.

Emergency Services

Basics: We put you first in line if you have an emergency issue. Patients of record who have maintained their preventative cleanings and exams will be seen the same day. If we are unavailable, you should call another dentist in the area and explain you are our customary patient and need help. We are all friends and have agreed to cover for each other when the usual dentist is unavailable. The emergency department of the hospital or 24 hour “Quick Care” is a third choice.

How to Prepare: You should call as soon as you begin to have pain to hot or cold or chewing, or feel a sharp area on a tooth. If you have experienced facial trauma and a tooth or a piece of a tooth is knocked out, recover it with as little touching as possible and place it in milk or salt water and come in as soon as feasible.

What to Expect: The chance for a successful reimplantation of a knocked-out tooth goes down dramatically with time so try to get in in the first two hours. If you put off seeing a dentist for a problem it becomes more difficult to treat successfully. Dental infections can lead to a brain abscess or an obstructed airway which can be life threatening. Physicians cannot treat a dental problem, they can only provide medicine that may lower your pain or hospitalize you. But you will still have your dental problem until you see a dentist.

Children’s Dentistry

Basics: Children should be seen by a dentist at one year of age or six months after his or her first tooth erupts. Children are generally seen every six months thereafter for recare.

How to Prepare It is best for one parent to accompany the child and remain in the room for the visit. We will make sure dental visits are a kind positive experience. You do not have to prepare the child other than keeping friends or relatives from saying anything negative. Generally, the child feeds on your reactions so just be nonchalant and have fun.

What to Expect: We will often have little we can outwardly accomplish on that first visit, e.g., no polishing or fluoride application. But it is important to make the parent and child better acquainted and comfortable with the surroundings and our people. So, if a later emergency problem arises, everyone will be better prepared and more relaxed. We will coach you and your child on proper diet, brushing, flossing and home care routines. As the child matures, about age seven, you may no longer need to come into the treatment room with your child.

After the Procedure: If your child has a procedure requiring numbing, you will need to watch and discourage chewing to prevent biting trauma to the numb lip. If nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is used for a restorative procedure, it is completely safe; oxygen levels are maintained above room air and all protective reflexes remain intact. Your child will be fully recovered before leaving. If a case involves longer, more extensive treatment, you may be referred to see a children’s dentistry specialist where sometimes hospital treatment is required to assure a good experience; however, in most situations we can remain your child’s dental home.