Extreme Prevention
Tooth decay is a contagious, progressive disease resulting in the interaction of bacteria that naturally occur on the teeth and sugars in the everyday diet. Sugar causes a reaction in the bacteria, causing it to produce acids that break down the mineral in teeth, forming a cavity. Tradionally, treamtment was limited to filling the decayed areas, using fluoride and working to improve oral hygiene. Today, we can address the bacteria that cause the decay before it starts. We are able to determine the levels of bacteria to see if you are at risk. If levels are high, in spite of good oral hygiene, there are methods of reducing the amount of bacteria. These include xylitol products of gum, mints, mouthwash and toothpaste. There are also calcium products and new fluoride products. It is an exciting area to be able to address decay before it even starts, extreme prevention!
Back to Top
Restorative
Teeth Whitening
Your teeth will darken over time. Changes in the color of your teeth can be caused by such factors as the food and beverages consumed (like coffee, tea and soda). Other known factors for discoloration may include childhood medications or illnesses, tobacco use or improper oral hygiene. Restoring your natural white smile is a priority for our dental whitening team. We can provide a variety of options for whitening your smile.
Tooth whitening services are growing in popularity, and it’s one of the most requested services offered by our practice. Everyone sees the growing consumer market focused on whiter teeth.
Our goal is to meet the needs of every patient, and every patient’s needs are different. One of the methods used by our practice is Sapphire Whitening, a gentle hydrogen-peroxide gel-activated solution. We can whiten your entire smile in one visit ore provide trays for at home use. Call us today for a free smile evaluation.
Crowns
A crown is a permanent covering that fits over an original tooth that is either decayed, damaged or cracked. Crowns are made of a variety of different materials such as zirconia, porcelain, gold, acrylic resin or a mix of these materials. The treatment for a patient receiving a crown involves:
- Numbing the tooth to remove the decay and filling in or around it.
- Re-sculpturing the tooth to provide an ideal fit for the crown.
- Making an impression of your teeth in order to create a custom-made crown .
- Making a temporary crown out of acrylic resin and fitting it onto the tooth during the interim period when the permanent custom-made crown is being created.
- Applying the permanent crown (when received from the lab) by removing the temporary crown and fitting the permanent one onto the tooth.
- After ensuring that the crown has the proper look and fit, the dentist cements it into place.
This process generally consists of a minimum of 2 visits over a three to four week period. Once the procedure is completed, proper dental hygiene, including daily brushing and flossing, is required to maintain healthy, bacteria-free teeth, gums and crowns. This helps in the prevention of gum disease. Given proper care, your crowns can last a lifetime.
Bridges
A bridge is a dental device that replaces a missing tooth. A bridge may be necessary to prevent:
- Shifting of the teeth that can lead to bite problems (occlusion) and/or jaw problems and resultant periodontal disease.
- Bridges safeguard the integrity of existing teeth and help maintain a healthy, vibrant smile.
There are three main types of bridges, namely:
- Fixed bridge- this is the most popular and consists of a filler tooth that is attached to two crowns, which fit over the existing teeth and hold the bridge in place.
- The “Maryland” bridge is commonly used to replace missing front teeth and consists of a filler that is attached to metal bands that are bonded to the abutment teeth. The metal bands consist of a white-colored composite resin that matches existing tooth color.
- The Cantilever bridge is often used when there are teeth on only one side of the span. A typical three-unit cantilever bridge consists of two crowned teeth positioned next to each other on the same side of the missing tooth space. The filler tooth is then connected to the two crowned teeth, which extend into the missing tooth space or end.
Back to Top
Endodontic
Root canal therapy is one area of dentistry that has progressed over the years. New technology allows most treatment to be completed in one visit. Most of the pain associated with a root canal is the toothache leading up to the procedure. Treatmentis accomplished in a comfortable manner.
A root canal consists of going through the chewing surface of the tooth. The nerve and blood supply of the tooth is accessed and is removed. This is the tissue that causes the pain of a toothache. Rotary files are used to enlarge the canal and the canal is sealed with a rubber material. A special filling called a build up is needed. Root canal teeth need a crown for protection from fracturing.
Common causes for the need of endodontic treatment:
- Inflamed/infected tooth pulp
- Severe sensitivity to hot and cold elements
- Tooth decay
- Chipped or broken tooth
- Blow to the tooth
- Swelling or tenderness near the infected tooth
- Repeated dental procedures on a tooth
Please contact our office for an evaluation if you experience any of the symptoms above.
We provide root canal treatment in our office.
Back to Top
TMJ/TMD
The “Temporomandibular Joint,” more commonly referred to as the “jaw joint,” assists in the basic opening and closing movements of the jaw. Unfortunately, this joint is a common area for recurring pain. Although conventional wisdom suggests that “popping” sounds in the jaw indicates a TMJ dysfunction, this is not always true. Many times, your jaw is functioning properly even if a “popping” sound is present when chewing or talking.
We offer a TMJ exam that evaluates the joint tissue in the “hinge” of the jaw. Possible problems include swelling, deterioration of the joint tissue or damaged joint tissue (which cushions the jaw bones during the opening and closing movement of the mouth). Common pain relievers and cold compresses can provide temporary relief for most cases of TMJ.
For more serious cases of TMJ, we will recommend alternate treatments. Often, we will suggest using a mouth guard to relieve teeth grinding. In some cases, we will instruct you to use orthodontic appliances or retainers to alleviate discomfort or redirect positioning of the TMJ joint. For the most severe cases of TMJ, we may recommend certain invasive procedures.
Back to Top
Special Care Dentistry
Dr. Prince has a calling for providing dental treatment for physically and mentally affected people. She recieved training for this specail care at the University of Washington. She currently provides treamtne to people with all types of specail treatment needs. She is on the staff at St. Luke's Regional Medical Center so that the use of the operating room is an option for treatme
We are currently gathering information for this section. Please check back soon.
Back to Top
Implant Restoration
Dental implants are artificial tooth replacements that were first developed half a century ago by a Swedish scientist named Per-Ingvar Branemark. Implants arose from the patient’s need to secure loose-fitting dentures. Since the advent of the implant, engineering and enhancements to the implant have enabled dentists to expand the implant’s usefulness, including the replacement of missing or lost teeth. Today, implant techniques provide a wide range of tooth replacement solutions including:
- Single Tooth Replacement
- Anterior Replacement
- Posterior Replacement
- Full Upper Replacement
If the missing tooth space has no surrounding teeth, the dentist may decide an implant is the most appropriate treatment choice or option.
Dr. Prince provides implant planning and restoration services. Implant placement is completed by an oral surgeon.
Post Implant Care
Although proper oral hygiene is always recommended for maintaining good dental health, it is especially important when a patient has received a dental implant. Bacteria can attack sensitive areas in the mouth when teeth and gums are not properly cleaned, thus causing gums to swell and jaw bones to gradually recede. Recession of the jawbone will weaken implants and eventually make it necessary for the implant to be removed. Patients are advised to visit their dentists at least twice a year to ensure the health of their teeth and implants. Dental implants can last for decades when given proper care.
Back to Top