The following are just a few of the services provided by Dr. Katie:
Kids’ First Visit exams
Cleanings and checkups
Fillings (tooth color-matched)
Sealants to prevent decay (see details below)
Periodontal scaling and root-planing
Crowns
Root Canals
Dentures
Bridges Implant Dentistry
Holistic Dentistry
and more… for specific questions Contact Dr. Katie
Porcelain Veneers
Unlike a crown which covers the entire tooth, a veneer is a thin covering that is placed over the front(visible) part of the tooth.
Veneers are a popular treatment option for several reasons. Veneers generally are placed on upper front teeth that are discolored, poorly shaped or slightly crooked. Veneers may be used to lighten front teeth that are naturally yellow and can not be corrected by techniques such as bleaching.
Veneers are sometimes used to correct teeth that are chipped or worn. They may also be used to correct mild, uneven spacing.
Zoom Professional One Hour Teeth Whitening
The Zoom! Chairside Whitening System is a scientifically advanced, patent pending tooth whitening procedure. It’s safe and fast, very fast. In less than an hour your teeth will become dramatically whiter. The convenience of Zoom! in comparison to days of wearing trays or strips, makes it the best choice for the busy individual. Dr. Katie now has Zoom! Advanced, the most updated version of the Zoom! system.
Fillings
Fillings are done to remove decay, and replace the affected tooth structure. It is called a filling because new a material fills hole that decay left. Now days most teeth are treated with bonded tooth colored composite resin fillings. Caught early enough, cavities can be treated easily and painlessly. If not treated decay can lead to tooth pain and/or infection, and the tooth would need root canal treatment or extraction.
Sealants
This is used to fill in narrow grooves in a tooth that cannot be adequately cleaned by brushing. In some cases, the tooth structure has fine grooves or pits which accumulate plaque, not because the person doesn’t brush, but because they’re too narrow to allow even one bristle into them. These will develop cavities over time, and you don’t want that. So the dentist will brush on a coating that seals the grooves and pits, making it possible to brush off all the plaque and keep your teeth healthy.
Sealants are a protective covering placed on the biting surfaces preventing decay in healthly, unfilled teeth. Dr. Katie gives a lifetime warranty on sealants she places. We also offer a sealant special: Buy three seals and get one sealant free.
Non-Surgical Gum Treatments
The gums, ligaments, and bone around the teeth form the foundation for teeth. When the gum tissue is not healthy, it jeopardizes the teeth just as a bad foundation would threaten the stability of a house. Signs of gum disease may be as follows: gums that are red and bleed easily, persistent bad breath, gums that are pulled away from the teeth, and changes in the position or bite of the teeth. Any of these signs may mean something is wrong. With the proper care, however, it may be possible to return them to a healthy state.
If you’re having a problem, come in and see us so we can take care of it right away. The treatment usually involves a deep cleaning done under a local anesthetic, along with the possibility of local antibiotic agents (Arestin). If the gum disease gets too severe it may need to be treated through surgery. This is why it is important to get it treated at the first sign of a problem.
X-rays
This is a focused beam of x-ray particles through bone which produces an image on special film, showing the structure through which it passed. This gives the familiar black and white images that dentists use to diagnose problems. X-rays are a necessary part of the diagnostic process. In our office we use digital radiography which allows us to take x-rays using much less radiation versus conventional film x-rays. Coupled with computer monitoring, digital technology allows us to enhance the images for better diagnosis of any dental concerns.
Advanced Services We Provide
Bridges
This is an option for filling the space created by a missing tooth. It is formed to look like the missing tooth. The sides of a bridge use the two surrounding teeth for support, hence the name. A bridge replaces the missing tooth, both functionally and cosmetically. 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. 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, and gum disease.
Crowns
Crowns are full coverage restorations. They are most commonly done after root canal treatment, or when a large filling wears out. Even after a filling replaces a large cavity, a tooth is more likely to break. Crowns provide strength and protect the tooth against breakage.
It takes two appointments to restore a tooth with a crown. In the first apppointment any decay is removed from the tooth and it is shaped to accept the crown. An impression is taken of the tooth for use in fabricating a crown. Between the two visits the crown is made, usually 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 is removed then the permanent crown is adjusted as needed and cemented in place.
Dentures
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. But once accustomed to the dentures, most normal functionality and appearance return.
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 onto the top of the shaft. This permanent solution has the advantages over bridge work that it does not stress the surrounding teeth for support, and, should the tooth wear out, another can simply be replaced on the shaft.
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 very little adjustment period for the patient who, once the work is done, only feels teeth, not metal supports intruding into the mouth. Second, this slows the bone loss that can occur 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.
Please call or contact us for details on implants.
Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment (endodontic therapy) is made necessary when a cavity is reaches all the way to this pulp (nerve) of the tooth. (Regular cleanings and checkups 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, also. Once this occurs the nerve can become infected, and can even extend through the root tip and begin to deteriorate 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 checkup.
Periodontal Disease
Keeping Periodontal Disease under control is like being a type one diabetic. Once you have it you will always have the disease.
We need to maintain the disease so we don’t develop an active infection in the gum tissue again. When we have active infection, that is when we lose bone around our teeth.
By seeing you every three months we can maintain the health of the gum tissue. The three month cleaning is comparable to a diabetic that takes medications. If a diabetic stops taking their medication then problems can arise in their health. We want to maintain the bone in your mouth as long as we can.