Diagnostic

• Dental Examination
  After a full dental exam and x-rays, your dentist will make molds of your jaw where dentures are needed. This may include full casts of both the upper and lower jaw, depending on where the denture is being designed to go. Colors will then be selected. If the denture will be used in conjunction with natural teeth, the hue of the denture will be matched to the hue of the teeth. The color of the gum will also reflect the color of the natural gum.
• X-rays

Preventive

• Teeth Cleaning

Restorative

• Fillings
  White fillings are made of a composite resin that looks a lot like natural tooth material. They don’t have the same conspicuous tell as amalgam metal fillings. Best of all, composite resin does not contain any mercury like traditional amalgam fillings, making them a safer alternative. White fillings can be used to repair large cavities or broken teeth without the negative aesthetic impact. No one will ever know you have fillings.
• Resin Composite
• Veneers
  Veneers will give you an entirely new smile. These thin pieces of porcelain or resin are used to create the appearance of entirely new teeth and can be made brighter and whiter than your natural teeth ever were. A small portion of the enamel is removed from the outside of the natural tooth, and veneers are permanently cemented on top of the natural tooth. The teeth remain protected and safe from damage behind this special dental cement.
• Crowns
  Crowns, or caps, can be designed to look exactly like your natural teeth. Crowns can be made to replace any tooth broken or eroded down to the gumline. They can also be used to hold weak or chipped teeth together, preventing the damage from extending any further. The best time to get a dental crown is at the first sign of damage.
• Bridges
  Dental bridges can be used to restore teeth that are missing from damage, decay, or extraction. Bridges can be installed in a multitude of ways. Typically, the false teeth or tooth of the bridge is held in place by crowns placed on the teeth at either side of the gap the bridge is meant to fill. Sometimes, a bridge can be supported by dental implants placed within the bone.
• Dental Bonding
  Tooth bonding uses a resin that’s designed to mimic the shape and texture of your natural tooth. Resin is applied to teeth that are chipped, cracked, or even broken. It can also be applied to decayed teeth once the decay has been fully removed and any infection is treated.

Endodontics

• Root Canal Treatment
  The prevention of a root canal can save your natural tooth, avoiding the need for an extraction or a dental implant. A root canal removes infected tooth pulp and the surrounding decay, leaving the tooth completely disinfected and ready for reparative work. A filling can then be placed in the hollow of the tooth, allowing it to function as normal.

Prosthodontics

• Dentures
  For patients with extensively damaged natural teeth or numerous missing teeth, dentures are a popular and effective solution. Modern dentures are virtually undetectable. They function exactly the same way natural teeth function and can even provide patients with the flawless smile they’ve always wanted. If you’re in the Green Valley/ Sahuarita area and beginning the process of finding a provider and a dental solution, there are a few things you’ll want to understand before you proceed.

Implants

• Dental Implants
  Dr. Chao’s history with science and dental care began as a specially trained pharmacy technician during his high school days in Los Angeles. Following graduation from high school he went on to study Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of California at Berkeley. A desire to help others and further his education led him to the University of Southern California School of Dentistry. In addition to his doctrine in Dental Science he furthered his credentials by specializing in implant placement and restoration at the University of California in Los Angeles.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

• Oral Surgery
• Tooth Extractions
  There are two types of dentures – immediate dentures and conventional dentures. Immediate dentures are made before the teeth are extracted. As their name implies, they’re ready to be worn as soon as the extractions are fitted. While immediate dentures may seem ideal on the surface, there are many issues that they fail to address. Following recovery of dental extractions, the gums and the bones in the mouth will heal and shrink. Immediate dentures cannot account for how much the gums will shrink and will often need a series of adjustments before an optimal fit can truly be achieved.
• Bone Grafting
  Dental implants are placed directly into the jawbone. This usually requires some prep work to assure that the jaw is healthy and healed. Bone grafting may be necessary to thicken or fortify the jawbone at the implant site. The jaw must fully recover from a grafting procedure before the implant can be inserted.

General

• Teeth Whitening
  Teeth whitening is the most popular cosmetic dental treatment in North America. Even if you take excellent care of your teeth, your enamel will inevitably wear over time. The surfaces of your teeth are susceptible to stains and discoloration.
• Cosmetic Dentistry
  Cosmetic dental procedures can safely be performed on healthy teeth in healthy mouths with healthy gums. You may or may not require dental work or treatments to resolve infections or remove broken, decayed, or damaged teeth before a cosmetic dentistry procedure can safely be performed.