We take great care to make a trip to the dentist something that kids can look forward to. We introduce them to dental care with a "Happy Visit", where they meet the dental hygienist and dentist, get familiar with the dental office, get their teeth counted and get a toothbrush and a sticker. Then when they need actual dental procedures done, we do them gently, with as little discomfort as possible.

For at-home bleaching, the dental assistant makes bleaching trays by taking an impression of your teeth and using the impression as a mold to create thin, clear plastic trays to hold a peroxide gel in contact with your teeth. The trays are made at the dental office. You take them home along with the peroxide solution and complete instructions, and whiten your teeth at your convenience. You may come in and have the dentist check your progress at regular intervals until the bleaching procedure is complete.

A dental crown is a gold or porceline covering (cap) that strengthens and protects the tooth that is weakened because of a large filling or has broken. Crowns are generally recommended on any back teeth that have had a root canal treatment done.

Removable or fixed bridges are so named because they "bridge" the gap with artificial teeth where teeth are missing. The restorations look natural and alleviate the stress in your bite caused by missing teeth and maintain the shape of your face. Bridges are important to keep your remaining teeth healthy and strong.

Dentures can be complete or partial. Removable partial dentures consist of replacement teeth attached to pink or gum-colored plastic bases, which are connected by a metal framework. An overdenture is a removable denture that fits over a small number of remaining natural teeth or implants.

There is minimal discomfort during an extraction. And in some cases, modern dental procedures can make an extraction unnecessary.

Scaling and root planing is a special type of cleaning performed when you have gum disease. A local anesthetic is administered and a small ultrasonic cleaner is then used to clean beneath the gumline and remove plaque and tartar. This lets the gum tissue heal and reattach itself to the tooth.

Dental sealants protect the teeth against decay-causing bacteria. Dental sealants are applied to children's permanant molars soon after they erupt into the mouth. As long as the sealant is intact, the tooth cannot get a cavity below the sealant.

Root Canals

When diseased or injured, the pulp tissue — which provides nutrients and nerves to the tooth — dies and becomes infected. Endodontic treatment (root canals) can often save a tooth with a diseased nerve. During a root canal the pulp is removed, the root canal cleaned and sealed off to protect it. Usually, a root canal is a relatively simple procedure with little discomfort.

Cosmetic dentistry includes tooth whitening (see above), veneers, crowns, recontouring and bonding. Porcelain veneers are thin, custom-made shells crafted of tooth-colored materials designed to cover the front side of teeth. They are about the thickness of an artificial fingernail.Crowns cover a tooth and restore it to its normal shape and size. A crown can also strengthen make your tooth. Both crowns and veneers can be used to change the color or shape of a tooth.

Bonding is an alternative to porcelain veneers and is less expensive. Cosmetic Recountouring is reshaping a tooth that is prominent or chipped in order to match the adjacent teeth.

Implants

Dental implants are an alternative to single tooth bridges, and can be used in combination with larger bridges to provide a stable abutment or base for the bridge to attach to. The implant consists of a titanium post which is surgically placed in the jaw bone by an oral surgeon. After the bone and gum heal, attaching an artificial tooth to the post is a simple and painless procedure. Implants can be used to stabelize loose and ill-fitting dentures.

This is general information, please contact Dr. McCarty or your dentist to see if these procedures are appropriate for you.