Services
Treatment Planning & Direct Billing
Sometimes, you come in for one reason, but end up needing unplanned for dental work. This can happen during a routine check up, or when coming in with a simple toothache. Once your dentist has a thorough look inside, they will work with our treatment coordinators to create a treatment plan that can assist you getting back to a state of well-being ASAP.
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We are happy to bill your insurance company directly for your treatment, and accept the assignment of your dental benefits. We collect the portion that your insurance company does not pay from you. We feel this makes it easier for our patients.
Wisdom Teeth Extraction
Wisdom teeth are the molars in the far back of your mouth and usually emerge in late teens or early twenties. This can cause extreme pain in the mouth and head and push the other teeth out of alignment. It is also common for wisdom teeth to begin emerging at an angle so that they cannot emerge fully as the other molars are blocking the way.
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Wisdom teeth are more susceptible to decay and infection as they are right at the back of the mouth and are often difficult to reach for regular daily dental care. Wisdom teeth can also become broken.
In all of these instances your dentist will examine the tooth, and most likely take x-rays, to determine whether an extraction is necessary. X-rays will also show whether a standard or surgical extraction is required.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic dentistry, is comprehensive oral care that combines art and science to optimally improve dental health, aesthetics and function. Although cosmetic dentistry procedures are usually elective, rather than essential, some cases of treatment also provide restorative benefits.
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An example would be veneers, which are manufactured from medical-grade ceramic, they are made individually for each patient to resemble one's natural teeth. They look exceptionally realistic and can resolve numerous cosmetic problems, ranging from crooked teeth, to cracked or damaged enamel to noticeable gaps between two teeth. The dentist applies the veneer to the front of each tooth using a dental adhesive.
Root Canal Surgery
Root canal treatment is a dental procedure that replaces a tooth’s damaged or infected pulp with a filling. X-rays are usually mandatory to check the pulp. These x-rays also help our dentist to plan for the root canal treatment by revealing the number, size and curvature and depth of the roots, and showing how complicated the procedure may be.
Then the active decay and infection – as well as any old or leaky fillings, pus and debris are removed. To prevent bacteria from re-infecting the empty canals in your tooth, they are sealed with a temporary barrier material. The last step to make the tooth functional again and to make sure no bacteria from the oral environment can leak back into the tooth, is to place a large, well-sealed restoration is put on the tooth (generally a crown).
Crowns & Bridges
Both crowns and most bridges are fixed prosthetic devices, which are cemented onto existing teeth or implants, and can only be removed by a dentist.
A crown is used to entirely cover or "cap" a damaged tooth. Besides strengthening a damaged tooth, a crown can be used to improve its appearance, shape or alignment. Porcelain or ceramic crowns can be matched to the color of your natural teeth. Other materials include gold and metal alloys, acrylic and ceramic. These alloys are generally stronger than porcelain and may be recommended for back teeth. Porcelain bonded to a metal shell is often used because it is both strong and attractive.
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A bridge may be recommended if you're missing one or more teeth. Gaps left by missing teeth eventually cause the remaining teeth to rotate or shift into the empty spaces, resulting in a bad bite. The imbalance caused by missing teeth can also lead to gum disease and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.
Bridges are cemented to the natural teeth or implants surrounding the empty space. These teeth, called abutments, serve as anchors for the bridge. A replacement tooth, called a pontic, is attached to the crowns that cover the abutments. As with crowns, you have a choice of materials for bridges.
Periodontal/Hygiene Care
The word periodontal means “around the tooth.” Periodontal disease attacks the gums and the bone that support the teeth. Plaque is a sticky film of food debris, bacteria, and saliva. If plaque is not removed, it turns into calculus (tartar). Did you know that it takes less than 2 days for plaque that is not removed from your teeth to turn into tartar?! Yikes!
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When you come in to see our passionate hygienists, the pocket depths will be carefully checked to ensure that they are healthy. Plaque and calculus that is difficult for you to remove on a daily basis will be removed from above and below the gum line. They will also remove stains that are not otherwise removed during tooth brushing and scaling by polishing your teeth. What else will happen during a hygiene visit:
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Examination of diagnostic x-rays (radiographs): essential for detection of decay, tumors, cysts, and bone loss. X-rays also help determine tooth and root positions.
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Examination of existing restorations: check current fillings, crowns, etc.
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Examination of tooth decay: check all tooth surfaces for decay.
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Oral cancer screening: check the face, neck, lips, tongue, throat, cheek tissues, and gums for any signs of oral cancer.
Fillings
If you have a cavity, your dentist may keep an eye on it (if it's small) or fill it right away. If a large cavity is not filled, it can get bigger and cause pain. The tooth may even have to be removed and replaced with a false (or artificial) tooth.
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Here at Dr. Davidoffs office, we only use composite material for our fillings. Composite fillings are also called plastic or white fillings. To place this filling, your dentist will clean all decay from the tooth and put a glue (or bonding material) on the inside of the hole. Composite resin is put into the hole in thin layers. Each layer gets hard with the help of a special light that your dentist holds over the tooth. When the last layer of the filling is hard, the filling is shaped so it looks and feels natural.
Whitening
We know that stained teeth can hinder a smile and that sparkling white teeth can give that much needed boost of confidence! We want to offer the very best in teeth whitening technology, which is why we offer Zoom!® in our office, which can whiten your teeth an average of eight shades (individual results may vary).
First, our dentist checks your teeth and gums. This is to ensure that your gums are healthy enough to handle teeth bleaching. If you are able to proceed with the procedure, a short preparation to isolate the your lips and gums is required. From there, the whitening gel, which contains specifically formulated, pH balanced hydrogen peroxide, is applied on the the teeth. To activate the whitening gel, a specially designed, low-heat light that penetrates the teeth is applied. The effect of this process is that the hydrogen peroxide contained in the gel attaches itself to stained molecules on the teeth, weakening them. This allows oxygen to enter your tooth enamel and whitens them. The gel application is repeated a few more times for the system to reach its full effect. To end the procedure, a five-minute fluoride treatment is given.
Calming the Nerves
We know that some people avoid the dentist due to fear, and we totally get it. Maybe you had a bad experience a long time ago, maybe you hate the thought of other peoples hands in your mouth, maybe your pain threshold is very low and you are nervous about the freezing/scared of needles. Whatever your reason, we respect your experience but we also do not want you to avoid getting the care you need. So we offer a couple of different sedation options here.
Nitrous oxide (N2O), more commonly referred to as laughing gas, is one sedation method we use. It is colorless and odorless. Nitrous oxide is effective as a sedative because it relaxes patients with the pleasurable feelings it emits. Nitrous oxide's usefulness also stems from how quickly it works and that its effects are reversible. It is a good option for children who are drastically nervous or anxious about a pending procedure. We also offer oral sedation (adults only), where you take a pill about an hour before the procedure. The pill will make you drowsy, although you'll still be awake. A larger dose may be given to produce moderate sedation. We must be ensured that you have someone picking you up from our office if oral sedation is given.
Childrens Dentistry
We recommend that a dental visit should occur within six months after the presence of the first tooth or by a child's first birthday. It is important to our dentists that we establish a friendly and accessible ongoing relationship with your child.This is because early oral examination aids in the detection of the early stages of tooth decay. Early detection is essential to maintain oral health, shift bad habits, and treat as simply as possible. This creates a safe starting point for the child to refer to when hearing that its time to go to the dentist. We also do a caries risk assessment, and provide information on finger, thumb, and pacifier habits. Our dentists are happy to give advice on preventing injuries to the mouth and teeth of your children.
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Our Dental Assistants do the cleaning portion at their visit and we kind of have a GREAT track record with kids and how they respond to the attention and gentle care. We love seeing your children happy and healthy - but we also want them to look forward to coming to see us. We have a toy box and a prize box, as well as refreshments available in our reception area. Sugar-free but very tasty candy anyone? We have that too. We know the way to your childrens heart.
Get in touch today and discover our warm and caring environment. Schedule a visit and let us know how we can help.