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Lumineers

Lumineers

Lumineers are similar to traditional veneers. They are made from porcelain and permanently cover teeth to conceal flaws. The difference is the fact that Lumineers require a little less tooth preparation because they are thinner than traditional veneers.

General Dentistry Procedures

General Dentistry Procedures

Modern dentistry offers a wide range of services to make sure your teeth stay healthy, function well and look great. These procedures include:

Cleanings and Oral Exams to keep your teeth and gums healthy, and catch early signs of dental disease
Crowns and Bridgework to replace lost tooth structure and/or missing teeth
Dental Implants for replacement teeth that last forever
Teeth Extractions to remove unhealthy teeth that cannot be saved
Dental Fillings to restore decayed teeth
Oral Cancer Screenings to detect a dangerous disease that can be cured if caught early
Orthodontics to give you the straight teeth you've always wanted
Removable Dentures to help you smile again
Root Canal Treatment to rescue diseased teeth
Sealants to help prevent cavities
TMD Treatment for pain in the jaw area that can interfere with biting and chewing
Tooth Decay Prevention so you keep your natural teeth as long as possible

Wisdom Teeth Surgical Process

Wisdom Teeth Surgical Process

The surgery is performed in an office-based setting, and patients are usually sedated (asleep) for the procedure.

Once asleep, the oral surgeon numbs the gums and jawbone around the wisdom teeth, and they are removed.

It is very common to have all wisdom teeth removed at one time.

This allows for one surgery, one sedation, and one recovery period.

After surgery, patients are given ice packs and prescriptions to aid in a rapid recovery.

Dr. Kirk routinely prescribes pain medication, antibiotics, medicated mouthwash, and a steroid pack for his patients.

Patients are asked to maintain a soft diet and rest at home for 2-3 days.

A return to routine activity can be expected in 4-5 days.

Dental Sealants

Dental Sealants are thin plastic coatings that are applied to the grooves on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to protect them from tooth decay. Most tooth decay in children and teens occurs on these surfaces. Sealants protect the chewing surfaces from tooth decay by keeping germs and food particles out of these grooves.

Sealants are designed to actively protect teeth from plaque and decay in order to keep teeth perfectly healthy for years. Placing sealants is a very quick and pain free process.

It only takes a short time for the Sealant to create the protective shield around the tooth or teeth, and the sealant can last for as long as 10 years.

Are You a Candidate for Dental Crown

Are You a Candidate for Dental Crown:

  • is broken or fractured
  • needs cosmetic enhancement
  • is decayed
  • contains a fractured filling
  • has a large filling
  • has had a root canal


Root Canal Procedure

Root Canal Procedure

A root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed and/or becomes infected. Root canal procedures are performed when the nerve of the tooth becomes infected or the pulp becomes damaged. During a root canal procedure, the nerve and pulp is removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed.

A root canal can range anywhere from one to three visits. Your first visit will include being anesthetized (numbed) for the procedure. Then a hole is drilled into the top of your tooth to gain access to the canals in the tooth. Sonar technology is used to determine the length of the canals. Once the length has been verified, the nerve of the tooth is removed and infection is debrided. The canals will be irrigated thoroughly. If all the unhealthy tissue has been removed, we will permanently seal the canals with a rubber like material called Gutta Percha. A temporary filling material will be placed in the hole and you will be given a complete round of antibiotics. You will be brought back into our office approximately two weeks after the Root Canal and will ensure that the tooth is asymptomatic (no longer in any pain or discomfort).

Root canal therapy is a remarkable treatment with a very high rate of success, and involves removing the diseased tissue, halting the spread of infection and restoring the healthy portion of the tooth. In fact, root canal therapy is designed to save a problem tooth.

Once we know that you are no longer in any pain or discomfort with that tooth we will schedule you for a crown. Root Canal teeth become dry and brittle after the blood supply has been removed and the tooth is no longer vital. A crown must be placed in a reasonable time frame so not to risk the tooth breaking or fracturing. 

Dentures for Missing Teeth

Dentures for Missing Teeth

Using dentures to replace missing teeth is not only great for your oral health; it's a great way to look and feel younger! Today, there are a variety of natural-looking and comfortable dentures for patients who need to replace missing teeth. Made of a gum-colored plastic resin or acrylic base and either resin or porcelain replacement teeth, dentures are custom designed to fit your mouth. If you have several teeth or all teeth missing on the upper or lower jaw, full dentures may be your best option. Partial dentures, which can be either fixed or removable, are great for patients who have several missing teeth scattered along the upper or lower jaw.

The process of getting dentures may take a few months and several dental visits. In some cases, same-day dentures are also possible. With same-day dentures, the dentures are created right in the dentist's office instead of at an offsite laboratory. Same-day dentures aren't for everyone, though. If your dentures require a lot of customization, same-day dentures may not be right for you.

Just as with your natural teeth, dentures require daily maintenance. With regular wear and tear, your dentures can last 5-7 years. During that time, you may need periodic denture relines to accommodate changes in the contours of your mouth. Regular denture relines involve resurfacing the base to ensure that your dentures fit and function perfectly. If you break your dentures, it's critical to bring them to your dentist for professional denture repair. Home denture repair kits can cause more damage and be even more costly to fix.