Diagnostic

• X-rays

Preventive

• Teeth Cleaning
  For adults and children who have been going to the dentist regularly, I will clean your teeth at your first visit. If you have not been to the dentist for a long while and/or have some concerns regarding the health of your teeth or gums, we may decide to do your cleaning at a separate visit. Lara will first polish your teeth to remove any plaque and food debris. After she is finished, I will come in the operatory and remove any remaining stains and tartar (calculus) from your teeth, leaving them feeling smooth and clean.
• Fluoride Treatment
• Dental Sealants
  Instead of sealants, I usually perform “preventive resins” on kids with newly erupted molars that have deep grooves. Preventive resins are more involved than a sealant and require more of my time to perform them. Also, a preventive resin will last a lot longer than a superficial “sealant”, and will protect the tooth better.

Restorative

• Fillings
  Sorry folks, but we don’t do any silver fillings here at our dental office. I stopped doing them in 1993 when I learned that they may not be safe. If King County considers amalgam (silver/mercury) fillings as hazardous waste, and forces dentists to install an elaborate machine to remove it from our waste water, then I don’t think they should be placed in human beings! Instead of amalgam fillings, I have been placing tooth colored fillings (composite fillings) for almost 20 years. I only use composite filling material that has been proven to be the best at restoring the tooth to health and long lasting function. For most small cavities, and the replacement of small fillings, composites work great. If the decay is too extensive, or if the tooth already has a large silver filling, the tooth may need a more extensive procedure called a crown or “cap”.
• Veneers
  For me, cosmetic dentistry really encompasses everything that I do, whether it is a small filling, a crown or a full mouth reconstruction. I want all my dental work to look like it is not there. It needs to have the ideal form and function and also look great. If a patient is requesting six veneers on their front teeth, I will build them to restore lost tooth funtionality from decay or wear and tear, but also harmonize with the appeance. I like my porcelain crowns and veneers to look and feel as natural as possible, but also not distract from a patient’s other facial features. I would rather call the dentistry I do “Comprehensive Dentistry ” than “Cosmetic Dentistry”, because cosmetics in just one small part of providing excellent oral healthcare.
• Crowns
  My dental assistant, Lara, will escort you to your private room, and go over your health and dental history. She will then take the necessary digital X-rays that I need to get good pictures of your teeth. The X-rays give me valuable information as to the condition of your existing fillings, crowns, bone health, and any cavities you may have. Depending on my findings, I will discuss options and treatment recommendations for your consideration.

Endodontics

• Root Canal Treatment
  There are times when a cavity gets into the nerve of the tooth and causes the nerve to die or get infected. Also, when the crack in a tooth becomes too deep, or the filling in a tooth causes the nerve to become inflamed, the nerve in the tooth may need to be removed. This is called a “root canal” or endodontic therapy. I perform almost all my patients’ root canals in my office under local anesthetic. If the tooth is infected, and there is some swelling of the surrounding gums or cheeks, I will prescribe antibiotics until the infection is under control, and then perform the root canal. I realize that the term “root canal” sends shivers down the sides of most people, but in my office this procedure can be performed simply and painlessly. And it is far better than the alternative.......losing the tooth. I will always recommend saving a tooth with a root canal, versus extracting it and having a space between the other teeth, or having one less tooth to chew with. If I determine that the root canal is beyond my abilities, or would be better handled by a root canal specialist, “endodontist”, then I will refer you to the exceptional professionals whom I know and trust. After the root canal is completed, the endodontist will send you back to our office to have a crown made for the tooth involved. This will prevent the tooth from splitting, and the resultant extraction.

Periodontics

• Deep Cleaning
  If it has been several years since you last had your teeth cleaned, or if you have been told that you have periodontal disease, then it is often necessary to do a more extensive cleaning. For this we normally schedule two separate appointments after your initial visit. Each of these appointments involves a thorough cleaning of half the mouth under local anesthetic. We provide complimentary nitrous oxide for those patients who would like a little something extra to help them relax during the procedure. After I complete the root planning and scaling, I will want to see you every three months for “perio-maintenance” cleanings. Studies have found that it takes about three months for the bacteria that cause periodontal disease to re-establish themselves in the crevices around the teeth. Therefore, if I clean your teeth more frequently, I can prevent the gum disease from doing further damage to your gums and the bone surrounding your teeth. When the patient commits to this new regimen, they are on a path to not only a healthier mouth, but a healthier body, because oral health is tied to overall health. Studies have shown that people with untreated gum disease, “periodontitis”, have a higher chance of having a heart attack and stroke.

Prosthodontics

• Dentures
  Implants can also be used to help support a denture or partial. There are many people who have loose dentures, (especially the lower one), and have a very hard time chewing and speaking without the denture or partial moving around. In most of these cases, one or two implants can have a dramatic effect on stabilizing the denture, making it much more comfortable for the patient to eat and speak.

Implants

• Dental Implants
  After one or more teeth are extracted, I will definitely recommend that those teeth be replaced, not only to restore your lost chewing capacity, but also to help support the remaining teeth and oral tissues. One of the ways we can replace a tooth is by the use of a dental implant. An implant is simply a titanium screw that is carefully placed in the bone where you lost your tooth, or teeth. Over the last 25 years I have had to refer my patients to a specialist to have this done, but now, after several hours of continuing education, I am placing them myself in the lower jaw. If the implant is needed in the upper back part of the jaw, or if a bone graft (more bone is needed) before the implant is placed, I will refer you to a specialist to have the implant placed.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

• Oral Surgery
• Tooth Extractions

General

• Teeth Whitening
  I have helped my patients bleach their teeth for 20 years. I have used many products over the years, but they mostly consist of a gel that the patient places in custom fabricated trays that fit close to your teeth. The gel contains 15-20% Carbamide Peroxide and doesn’t seem to cause any reactions in my patients. This chemical is non-toxic and does sometimes cause tooth sensitivity to cold. It might also cause a temporary whitening of the gums near the edge of the bleach tray. This is temporary and does no permanent damage to the gums.
• Cosmetic Dentistry
  Cosmetic dentistry is another catch all term that when most people hear it they think of someone who has had dental work done to improve their smile. This can incorporate many dental procedures and even things people can do at home, like Crest White Strips.