Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic dentistry can brighten dull teeth, whiten stained teeth, close gaps between teeth, repair chipped teeth, mask metal fillings, and straighten crooked teeth. The results are immediate and dramatic. There are many ways we can give you a youthful, attractive, natural looking smile!
Teeth Whitening - Teeth tend to discolor over time. Many things can hasten this process; tobacco, coffee, and a range of other factors can cause your teeth to lose their lustrous white shine. Our powerful cosmetic bleaching procedures can revive dull, yellowed, discolored teeth by restoring the bright white color that is their natural state.
Veneers - Porcelain veneers are a beautiful way to correct stained, chipped, or crooked teeth; ultimately transforming your smile in as few as two dental visits. Veneers are semi-translucent shells that are bonded to the front of your teeth, changing the appearance of your smile by altering the color, shape, and size. A whiter, straighter, more aesthetic smile can make you look years younger and boost self-confidence.
Inlays and onlays - Inlays are used to treat the teeth that have decay or damage lying within their indented top surfaces. Onlays are used to treat decay that extend out over the cusps of the tooth. Inlays and Onlays are tooth colored and made from durable porcelain, most often used to replace old or damaged metal fillings. Both can be completed over two appointments.
Crowns
A crown can return structure, strength and function to a tooth with extensive decay or damage. Designed to fit snugly and function as a healthy tooth, a crown will protect your tooth from further damage and preserve the jaw’s correct natural alignment. We are able to use precious metal, porcelain fused to metal, or all porcelain crowns; however to maintain a fully white smile, we recommend all porcelain crowns. Porcelain crowns are extremely durable and long lasting; these benefits make them popular with our patients.
Bridges
If you have lost a tooth either genetically or due to injury, we can create a permanent bridge to restore your smile. A bridge not only fills the gap, but it also prevents repositioning of remaining teeth. A fixed bridge is a replacement tooth (or teeth) that attaches to adjacent teeth with prepared crowns. If the teeth on either side of the space are weak a fixed bridge may be your best option. With proper care, a fixed bridge may last at least 8 to 10 years.
Natural Color Tooth Fillings
Composites are white fillings that are designed to match the color of your teeth. Composite resins represent several advantages over traditional silver fillings. Because they are not made of metal, we can blend and mix shades to find the perfect color. Another pro is that the composite resin actually bonds to the tooth. This bond actually supports the remaining tooth structure deterring breakage creating a better seal and insulating against temperature changes. The tooth is stronger and less cold/hot sensitive than if a silver filling was done. We believe that the more natural tooth structure you keep the better teeth you’ll likely have in the future.
Dentures & Partials
Do missing teeth plague your smile? An aesthetic denture or partial could help you regain your confidence, and smile. Dr. Thompson offers dentures that closely imitate the look of your natural teeth. Rest assured that you don’t have to be without your front teeth! Dentures can be placed the same day that extractions are done. Be secure in the fact that if you are transitioning to dentures or needing new dentures you will be treated with respect and dignity.
Periodontal Treatment
If your gums are swollen, tender, red, or if they bleed when you brush your teeth, you may have gingivitis, first-stage periodontal disease. Periodontal disease (gum disease) is the leading cause of tooth loss in US adults. At your first appointment, a hygienist will assess your gums for signs of disease. If we detect problems, therapy may include preventive care, scaling, root planning, and/or Arestin antibiotics. Severe cases may require surgery. Rest assured, gum disease can be arrested, reversed, and damaged tissue repaired with periodontal therapy. However, early treatment is best because gum disease has been linked to increased risk of stroke, heart disease, and pregnancy complications.
Endodontic Therapy (Root canals)
Root canal treatment involves relieving tooth pain by removing the nerve tissue located in the center of the tooth and root. This is not a surgical procedure and no gum tissue is affected. Access to the tooth is obtained by drilling through the biting surface of the tooth or dental restoration to expose the nerve. The final root canal is filled with a rubber-like material and medicated cement. The opening of the tooth is closed with a temporary filling and an additional 1 or 2 visits is required so that a crown or filling can be completed to protect the structural integrity of the tooth.
