Advanced Dental

A crown is a covering that encases the entire tooth surface restoring it to its original shape and size. A crown protects and strengthens tooth structure that cannot be restored with fillings or other types of restorations.

Although there are several types of crowns, porcelain crowns (tooth colored) are the most popular, because they resemble your natural teeth. They are highly durable and will last many years, but like most dental restorations, they will eventually need to be replaced. Porcelain crowns are made to match the shape, size and color of your teeth giving you a natural, long-lasting beautiful smile.

Reasons for Crowns

* Broken or fractured teeth
* Cosmetic enhancement
* Decayed teeth
* Fractured fillings
* Large fillings
* Tooth has a root canal

What does getting a crown involve?

A crown procedure usually requires two appointments. Your first appointment will include taking several highly accurate molds (or impressions) that will be used to create your custom crown. We’ll prepare the tooth by removing any decay and shaping the surface to properly fit the crown. Once these details are accomplished, your temporary crown will be placed with temporary cement. Your temporary crown will stay on your tooth for approximately four weeks until the dental laboratory fabricates your new crown.

At your second appointment your temporary crown will be removed, the tooth will be cleaned, and your new crown will be carefully placed to ensure the shape, shade and bite are accurate. You will be given home care instructions and encouraged to have regular dental visits to check your new crown.

A denture is a removable dental appliance to replace missing teeth and surrounding tissue. They are made to closely match your natural teeth. There are two types of dentures, complete and partial. Complete dentures are used when all of the teeth are gone, while partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain. A partial denture not only fills in the spaces created by missing teeth but also prevents other teeth from shifting.

A complete denture may be either “conventional” or “immediate”. A conventional type is made after the teeth have been removed and the gum tissue has healed, usually taking approximately 4 weeks. During this time the patient will go without teeth. Immediate dentures are made in advance and immediately placed after the teeth are removed, thus preventing the patient from having to be without teeth during the healing process. Once the tissues shrink and heal, adjustments will have to be made.

The process of getting dentures requires several appointments, usually over several weeks. Highly accurate molds and measurements are taken and used to create your custom denture. Several “try in” appointments may be necessary to ensure proper fit.

*Remember, you are always more than welcome to contact on of our dentists and/or staff members to answer any other questions you may have.

For patients with disabilities or phobias allowing full or partial mouth rehabilitation while pleasantly and safely sedated to allow complex treatments in a dreamlike state of consciousness.

Some patients have avoided good dental care for ten to fifteen years because of apprehension and embarrassment. Sedation can help patients that have sensitive teeth, hate needles, have a gag reflex or are embarrassed by their smile or simply fear the dentist. This safe alternative to needles or “gas” places you in a cozy state of total relaxation, leaving you with little or no memory of the experience.

What may normally take several office visits to correct can often be accomplished in just one, peaceful visit through sedation. Once we have a signed consent form and authorization from your physician, we give you a small pill to take prior to your appointment, which will initiate the relaxation process before you arrive at the office. You must have someone drop you off and pick you up after your sedation appointment.

Once you have reached the appropriate level of sedation, your treatment will begin. We utilize the latest in medical technology to ensure your comfort and safety throughout the visit. Our trained and experienced staff remains with you from start to finish.

Tooth whitening (or bleaching) is a simple, non-invasive dental procedure used to change the color of natural tooth enamel and is an ideal way to enhance the beauty of your smile. Because having whiter teeth has now become the number one aesthetic concern of most patients, there are a number of ways to whiten teeth. The most popular method is using a home tooth whitening system that will whiten teeth dramatically. Since tooth whitening only works on natural tooth enamel, it is important to evaluate replacement of any old fillings, crowns, etc. Replacement of any restorations will be done after bleaching so they will match the newly bleached teeth. Island Dental also does chairside whitening which takes approximately 2 hours and instantly whitens your teeth.

Tooth whitening is not permanent. A touch-up may be needed every several years, and more often if you smoke or drink coffee, tea or wine.

What does tooth whitening involve?

In our office we offer two types of whitening: In-office (chair-side) and take-home whitening. The take-home whitening usually requires two visits. First the impressions will be made of your teeth to fabricate custom, clear plastic trays. At the second appointment, you will try on the trays for proper fit and adjustments will be made if necessary. The trays are worn with special whitening solution either twice a day for 30 minutes or overnight for a couple of weeks depending on the degree of staining and desired level of whitening. It is normal to experience tooth sensitivity during the time you are whitening your teeth, but it will subside shortly after you have stopped bleaching.

The in-office whitening usually requires one visit where we use stronger agents. The result is equivalent to two or three weeks of take-home whitening in one or two hours.

You will receive home-care instructions for your teeth and trays, and will be encouraged to visit our office regularly to help maintain a beautiful, healthy and white smile.

Invisalign is recommended for invisible orthodontic treatment. Brochures are available upon request.

Invisalign Orthodontics

The clear alternative to metal braces! Invisalign uses a series of clear aligners that are custom-molded to fit you. The virtually invisible aligners gradually reposition your teeth into a smile you’ll be proud of.

Remove your aligners to eat, brush and floss

Change aligners every two weeks

Your teeth move little by little

Regular progress checks with your dentist or orthodontist

Results often in 6 months to 1 year

We do all types of extractions including surgical wisdom teeth with a variety of anesthetic choices for the latest, painless techniques. See our ad under sedation assisted procedures.

Veneers

Porcelain veneers are thin pieces of durable, tooth shaped porcelain that are custom made (for shape and color) by a professional dental laboratory. They are bonded onto the front of teeth to create a beautiful and attractive smile. Veneers can completely reshape your teeth and smile and can often be alternatives to crowns and the ideal solution in treating many dental conditions.

As with most dental restorations, veneers are not permanent and will someday have to be replaced. They are very durable and will last many years, giving you a beautiful and long lasting smile.

Reasons for porcelain veneers

* Cosmetically to create a uniform, white and beautiful smile. Many Hollywood stars have veneers to enhance their smiles.
* Crooked or misshapen teeth
* Severely discolored or stained teeth
* Teeth that are too small or large
* Unwanted or uneven spaces
* Worn or chipped teeth

We have years of experience and training in most Dental Implant Systems, Nobel Biocare being one of our favorites.

Today there are many options in tooth replacement. With state of the art comfort and painless technology, teeth can be replaced with bio-compatible, comfortable implants that look and feel like natural teeth. Implants provide support and stability for removable partials and are strong and durable, lasting many years.

Reasons for Dental Implants:

* Replace one or more missing teeth without affecting adjacent teeth
* Restore or enhance facial form
* Restore a patient’s confident smile
* Restore chewing, speech, and digestion
* Correct joint pain or bite problems caused by teeth shifting into missing tooth space
* Support a bridge or denture, making them more secure and comfortable

What does getting dental implants involve?

The process of getting implants requires a number of visits over several months. X-rays and impressions (molds) are taken of the jaw and teeth to determine bone, gum tissue and spacing available for an implant. While the area is numb, the implant will be surgically placed into the bone and allowed to heal and integrate itself into the bone for up to six months. Depending on the type of implant, a second surgery may be required in order to place the “post” that will hold the artificial tooth in place. With other implants the post and anchor are already attached and placed at the same time.

After several weeks of healing the artificial teeth are made and fitted to the post portion of the anchor. Because several fittings may be required, this step may take one to two months to complete. After a healing period, the artificial teeth are securely attached to the implant, providing excellent stability and comfort to the patient.

You will receive home-care instructions when your treatment is completed. Good oral hygiene, eating habits and regular dental visits will aid in the life of your new implant.

Our hygienist will instruct you on how to keep your teeth and gums healthy and your smile bright. Screening for oral cancer is included in every exam.

We can help to regrow bone around teeth that have lost their bone support with the latest and gentlest technologies.

If your teeth have developed gum problems with signs of bleeding, soreness or shrinkage or if your breath has become less attractive to your friends and family, often unhealthy gum tissues can be returned to health with removal of the bacterial material which has attached to your teeth. We can help you keep your teeth permanently and refresh your smile.

Our certified Oral CDx Doctors prevent oral cancer years before it starts with the latest brush test, a painless method of testing tiny oral spots. A small brush is used to quickly collect a sample for computer-assisted laboratory analysis. Most of these common spots do not contain abnormal cells, but only laboratory testing, like the brush test can tell.