Diagnostic

• Dental Examination
  On your first visit we will complete a comprehensive exam. This includes an oral cancer screening, any necessary x-rays, checking the health of your gums, as well as detecting any cavities or any other treatment needs. We will discuss all of our findings with you and together we can determine the best treatment options specific to you.
• X-rays
  » Exposure to all sources of radiation – including the sun, minerals in the soil, appliances in your home, and dental X-rays – can damage the body’s tissues and cells and can lead to the development of cancer in some instances. Fortunately, the dose of radiation you are exposed to during the taking of X-rays is extremely small.
• Oral Cancer Screening
  We recommend an annual cancer screening for all our patients, so we use the ViziLite system. When oral cancer is detected in its earliest stages, the 5 year servival rate is nearly 82%.

Preventive

• Fluoride Treatment
• Dental Sealants
  » Sealants are a thin, plastic coating that is painted on the chewing surfaces of teeth – usually the back teeth (premolars, and molars) – to prevent tooth decay. The painted on liquid sealant quickly bonds into the depressions and grooves of the teeth forming a protective shield over the enamel of each tooth.

Restorative

• Fillings
• Veneers
  €¢ Veneers (also sometimes called porcelain veneers or dental porcelain laminates) are wafer-thin, custom-made shells of tooth-colored materials that are designed to cover the front surface of teeth. These shells are bonded to the front of the teeth.
• Crowns
  €¢ Dental crowns are tooth-shaped “caps†that are placed over teeth. The crowns, when cemented into place, fully encase the entire visible portion of a tooth that lies at and above the gum line.
• Bridges
  A dental implant is a procedure that allows a single tooth to be replaces without affecting the teeth on either side. A dental implant consists of several parts. A titanium screw is placed into bone in the area of the missing tooth. Once your bone has attached to it (it generally takes 3-6 months), the implant can be restored. The restoration consists of a crown and an abutment (the pieces that attaches the titanium screw to the crown). In some cases implants can be used as the supporting structures for fixed bridges, or even dentures.
• Dental Bonding
  €¢ Dental bonding is a procedure in which a tooth-colored resin material (a durable plastic material) is applied to the tooth surface and hardened with a special light, which ultimately “bonds†the material to the tooth.

Periodontics

• Deep Cleaning
  Scaling and root planning involves the removal of plaque, tarter and stain, as well as smoothing the root surface. This procedure is used for the treatment of gum disease. In addition to scaling and root planning, we also use a soft tissue laser to reduce the bacteria and remove infected tissues. Laser therapy has proven to be more effective in treating gum disease than scaling and root planning alone. It also ensures less discomfort following treatment and has a biostimulation effect on the body which promotes faster healing.

Prosthodontics

• Dentures
  Dentures are a prosthetic device constructed to replace missing teeth. Conventional dentures are removable, however there are many different denture designs, some which can clasp onto teeth or attach to dental implants.

Implants

• Dental Implants
  A bridge, also known as a fixed partial denture, is a dental restoration used to replace a missing tooth by joining permanently to adjacent teeth or dental implants. A bridge is made by preparing the teeth on either side of the missing tooth or teeth. In other words, the teeth on either side are reduced in size to accommodate the material used to restore the size and shape of the original teeth. In some instances, implants can be the supporting structures for a fixed bridge. Bridges are made by a lab technician and can be made with various materials depending on what is best for your mouth.

Orthodontics

• Orthodontics
  Jennie Macumber, R.D.H., B.S.: Jennie graduated Magna Cum Laude from Northern Arizona University in 1984 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Dental Hygiene. She has practiced dental hygiene for over 38 years and has experience in orthodontics, periodontics and general dentistry. Jennie is diode laser certified and is a member of the Academy of Laser Dentistry and the American Dental Hygienist’s Association.  She has been married for 38 years and has three adult children, Brian, Kevin and Ashley.  She has a passion for taking care of others and feels that the people she works on are not only her patient’s, but her friends.

General

• Teeth Whitening
  Next, when considering other properties of toothpaste – such as whitening toothpastes, tartar-control, gum care, desensitizing, etc. – the best advice for selecting among these products may be to simply ask your dental hygienist or dentist what the greatest concerns are for your mouth at this time. After consulting with your dentist or hygienist about your oral health’s greatest needs, look for products within that category (for example, within the tartar control brands or within the desensitizing toothpaste brands) that have received the ADA Seal of Acceptance.
• General Dentistry