Services
Regular dental exams make it possible to identify and treat most dental problems in their earliest stages. Your teeth will be visually examined for signs of plaque, tartar and tooth decay. Your gums will also be examined for puffiness or discoloration, which are signs of gum disease. Dental exams typically follow a dental cleaning with one of our hygienists and includes an oral cancer screening. The keys to surviving oral cancer are early detection and early treatment. An oral cancer screening takes just minutes, is pain-free, and can be performed during regular dental exams.
Digital X-Rays
Their benefits include instant viewing, easier image manipulation, minimal radiation. Digital, rather than film x-rays, also eliminates the use of hazardous developing chemicals in our practice that are harmful to the environment.
Prophylaxis: Teeth Cleaning And Polishing
Our hygienists provide a thorough cleaning and gentle polishing of all tooth surfaces. Depending on how fast you accumulate plaque and calculus, your dentist and hygienist will help you decide how often this service should be performed for your maximum dental health.
No matter how often you brush and floss, plaque and tartar deposits can still build up on your teeth. A professional teeth cleaning is the single most effective way to remove these deposits and prevent them from causing more serious problems in the future.
Ultrasonic cleaning is a popular supplement to traditional teeth cleanings. An ultrasonic scaler (rather than a manual one) is used to remove deposits, kill harmful microbes and eliminate bacteria around the teeth and gums through high-frequency sound waves. Many patients find ultrasonic teeth cleanings more comfortable than traditional teeth cleanings because they are quicker and less manual scaling is required.
Scaling and Root Planing (SRP)
A deep cleaning may be recommended if excessive plaque and tartar deposits have caused bone loss around the roots. Deep cleanings, also known as scaling and root planing, involve a two-part process: first, after local anesthesia, the stubborn deposits are removed, and then the root surfaces are smoothed. A deep cleaning helps prevent periodontal disease and restores gum tissues to a healthy state. The patient is then put on three month cleanings to prevent that buildup from coming back and ensuring the patient's bone and gums return to a healthy state.
Sealants
Sealants are a preventative measure to deter cavities in the deep grooves of the back teeth that have been determined to be at a higher risk for developing decay. A sealant is a flowable material that is painted into the grooves and hardened with a curing light Sealants are an inexpensive defense to preventing decay. Ask your hygienist or dentist today if a sealant could be helpful for your back teeth.
Preventive Dentistry
Dental Fillings: Amalgam/Composites or Bonding
The most common dental service is a dental filling. Dental fillings are the tried-and-true treatment for removing decay and treating cavities. Today, composite fillings, which are made of a tooth-colored material, are the preferred dental filling material. A regular part of our practice is providing our patients with fillings which match their natural tooth color otherwise known as composites or bonding. Results are often indistinguishable from natural tooth structure. Very rarely are silver, or amalgam, fillings used today. After years of being the gold standard, we are now seeing teeth fracture due to the stress that these materials put on the teeth. In rare cases, amalgam will be used when keeping the teeth dry is impossible.
Dental Crowns
One of the premiere treatments for teeth with extensive decay or damage is a dental crown. Dental crowns can also be used to hold a dental bridge in place, cover misshapen or severely discolored teeth, or cover a tooth after a root canal procedure. Most of the crowns we place in our office are made of either porcelain or zirconia. The first step is to prepare the tooth for a digital scan. A temporary crown is then placed to protect the tooth while the scan is sent to an offsite laboratory to create the final restoration. These are tooth colored sculptures of teeth designed to help you chew your food and match the color, shape and fine detail that match like a puzzle piece to adjacent teeth. The crown serves, essentially, as a little helmet for the tooth. They match the natural color of your teeth and are virtually undetectable by the naked eye. Crowns involve a multi-step process usually requiring only two visits but sometimes more when we are matching colors. Dental Crowns truly are an artistic sculpture in which our dentists take great pride with a perfectionist eye. When you have crown restorations, it is essential to maintain proper oral hygiene routines and keeping up with six month hygiene visits. When you walk out with your new dental crown at Dr Taylor's office, we want you to feel like royalty, a king or queen for the day.
Dental Implants:
Today, implants serve as the gold standard for replacing missing teeth. They are titanium posts with a connecting abutment and crown on top. They are sturdy, esthetic, and last for years and years. Their longevity and the fact that the surrounding teeth don't have to be touched are why they are they preferred choice. If you are a candidate for a dental implant, that is the best way to go. As with any dental treatment, an honest conversation with the dentist will help you decide which option is best for you.
Dental Bridges
Dental bridges have been used for centuries to replace missing teeth. Dental bridges are a cost-effective option for bridging the gap between a missing tooth and surrounding teeth. Comprised of two anchoring teeth and a replacement tooth, dental bridges help prevent surrounding teeth from drifting out of position, improve chewing and speaking, and help keep your natural face shape intact. Traditional bridges have either dental crowns or dental implants on either side of the missing tooth, plus a replacement tooth, which is held in place by a post-like structure called a dental abutment.
Dentures
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 (held in place by implants) 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. 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.
Advancements in digital dentistry have allowed us to streamline the fixed denture process. Usually anchored by 4 or more implants, a fixed denture is an excellent choice if you want natural esthetics without the hassle of taking them out every night. This is the future of dentistry at our fingertips now.
Digital Dentistry:
Digital dentistry is the future of dentistry. A tiny camera is used to scan your teeth (no radiation involved) and will immediately project a 3D image of your mouth on the the computer screen. This scan allows the dentist to create crowns, dentures, implants with the click of a button. It is much more comfortable than impressions and gets your case back from the lab in much less time. Today, Dr. Taylor prefers taking a digital scan to provide more accurate dental restorations for your oral health care needs.
Oral Surgery
Single and multiple extractions of primary and permanent teeth are a regular service of our practice. A referral will be made to an oral surgeon when patients prefer heavy sedation, have complex medical conditions, or for certain complex cases including impacted wisdom teeth. When coordination is required between an oral surgeon’s office and the delivery of a prosthesis such as a denture to replace those missing teeth, we will make sure the process is seamless so the patient never has to go without teeth.
Pediatric Dentistry
We are a family practice here at Dr. Taylor's office. We aim to serve your whole family including children from 2 or 3 on up for basic dental needs such as cleanings, exams, fillings, sealants and extractions. However, we want your child to think of coming to our family dentist office as a positive experience. If your child is usually triggered by the presence of a medical provider, we recommend a referral to a Pediatric Dentist since they are trained in techniques to manage such aversions. Many times those children return to our office with their families in their teens. We partner with several phenomenal pediatric dentists in the area who we trust totake care of your children's needs with attention to their concerns.
General Dentistry
Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic Dental Bonding
Cosmetic dental bonding is a versatile and affordable way to improve the appearance of chipped teeth, stained teeth and gapped teeth. As one of the most conservative cosmetic dentistry treatments around, cosmetic dental bonding requires little to no prepping and preserves most of the natural tooth structure. And it's fast, too! Dental bonding usually takes just one visit to complete.
Smile Makeover
Tired of masking your smile because you don't like the way your teeth look? A smile makeover can be a big boost to your confidence and self-esteem. With a total smile makeover, chipped teeth, cracked teeth, gapped teeth, crooked teeth, stained teeth and gapped teeth can be completely transformed into the smile of your dreams. This is done through a combination of restorative and cosmetic dental treatments, including white fillings, cosmetic dental bonding, porcelain veneers, cosmetic dental crowns, dental braces, dental bridges or dental implants.