Diagnostic

• Dental Examination
• X-rays

Preventive

• Teeth Cleaning
  The disease process usually begins with the accumulation of plaque. Plaque is the soft white deposit that accumulates on your teeth - it is made up of left-over food and germs (bacteria). The germs start the infection by attacking the gums, which are the first line of defense. Gums are also known as gingiva. When the gingiva gets infected by the plaque, it is called gingivitis. In many, but not all cases, you might notice bleeding gums at this stage. Gingivitis is treatable with professional care and good tooth cleaning at home.

Restorative

• Fillings
• Crowns
  2. *In other cases, patients may have broken a tooth which is now too short to be fixed. Or, the cavity is so far under the gums that your dentist can't completely clean it out or seal the new restoration. Dr. Leon can do a procedure called crown lengthening, in which the tooth is made longer. Afterward, your dentist will be able to save the tooth with a new restoration. They will be confident that they have removed all of the decay and sealed the filling completely.
• Bridges
  1. *With a fixed bridge, the teeth on both sides of the missing tooth are shaved down, then crowned ("capped"). The laboratory creates a false tooth that is connected to the crowned teeth. The entire bridge is cemented onto the good teeth. One possible problem with a fixed bridge is that we have to take two perfectly good teeth and reshape them. Also, it is more difficult to floss because you have to floss under 3 (or more) teeth which are connected together. In addition, if one of the teeth in the bridge gets a cavity, you may need to replace the entire bridge.

Endodontics

• Root Canal Treatment
  Many studies have proven that getting your teeth cleaned every 3 months is the best defense against new gum problems. We have found that the best method is to alternate the cleanings between our office and your general dentist's office four times a year. Twice a year, your dentist's office cleans your teeth and checks for cavities, makes sure your bridges are still fitting well, checks the caps and root canals, etc. And, twice a year, we check the gums, pockets, tooth mobility, etc., as well as thoroughly clean your teeth and review proper brushing and flossing techniques. Like any medical issue, early detection is the key to simple treatment and long-term results.

Periodontics

• Periodontal Surgery
  * Surgery: In some cases, despite our best efforts to be conservative, periodontal surgery is required. Basically, the gum tissue is gently lifted back so Dr. Leon can see inside the deep pockets more thoroughly. Most of the surgery involves additional scaling and root planing, now with better visibility. We may need to recontour some of the underlying support for a better long-term result. When we ask our patients how they did after the procedure, most of them tell us that they stopped using the pain medication (usually Motrin) after the first few days because they no longer needed it.
• Deep Cleaning
  * Re-evaluation: Next, we just wait for about one month. The body needs time to respond to all of the deep cleaning and your improved brushing and flossing. As the tissue becomes healthier, the pockets may shrink. After the month has passed, we re-measure the pockets and see if any areas still need help. This is mostly a discussion visit, so feel free to bring your spouse or a friend and ask lots of questions. If additional procedures are needed, Dr. Leon will use models of a mouth so you understand completely.

Prosthodontics

• Dentures
  2. *A denture is a removable tooth (or teeth). Many patients find that they are uncomfortable and don't like to wear them.

Implants

• Dental Implants
  The ideal candidate for a dental implant is in good general and oral health. Adequate bone in your jaw is needed to support the implant, and the best candidates have healthy gum tissues that are free of periodontal disease.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

• Oral Surgery

Orthodontics

• Braces
  -For example, during orthodontic treatment (braces), the gums can get swollen and puffy. This makes cleaning the teeth more difficult. Children may become more self-conscious about their appearance. Our treatment will reshape the gum tissue, allowing your child to clean better. Once their mouth looks better, they'll feel better about showing off their smile. Sometimes the children give her a big hug after they see how easy the procedure was with Dr. Leon and her caring staff.