Diagnostic

• Dental Examination
  The secret to a bright, healthy smile is actually no secret at all: brush, floss and get a professional dental exam at least once every six months. Professional dental exams are all about prevention – preventing existing problems from getting worse and preventing dental problems from developing in the future. Regular dental exams make it possible to identify and treat a problem in its earliest stage – which is not only good for your oral health but also good for your budget!
• X-rays
  Dental X-rays have come a long way. Todays dental X-rays are safer, faster, more comfortable and more informative than the X-rays of years past. Digital X-rays, one of the latest and most advanced dental technologies, produce high-quality images of your teeth that can be viewed instantly by you and your dentist on a LCD monitor. Digital X-rays reduce radiation by up to 90% and provide exceptional diagnostic information to ensure that potential problems are caught in their earliest stages. Intraoral photography is another adjunctive service offered With intraoral photography, problems such as cavities, fractures and discolorations in the teeth are captured through clear and sharp photographic images that are taken with a digital camera.
• Oral Cancer Screening
  That’s why we do a full oral cancer screening at every checkup. This quick and easy exam can catch oral cancer before it starts. Early detection, as with any cancer, is crucial to a positive outcome.

Preventive

• Teeth Cleaning
  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 gum disease, the leading cause of tooth loss. A professional cleaning involves manually scraping away these deposits with special dental tools. In some cases, the latest advances in ultrasonic instruments are used to help remove tenacious deposits and deliver medications to help kill harmful microbes and eliminate bacteria around the teeth and gums. The ultrasonic instruments use high frequency sound waves and are pain-free.

Restorative

• Fillings
  If your silver fillings make you feel self conscious when you smile, or it's simply time to replace them, consider white fillings. White fillings are just as durable as they are attractive! Made of composite resin, white fillings match the natural color of your teeth and are an excellent option for small to mid-sized cavities. White fillings are strong, stain-resistant and require less removal of your tooth structure than amalgam fillings.
• Resin Composite
  If you've been told you need a dental filling, you're not alone: 92% of Americans have had at least one cavity. Dental fillings are the tried-and-true treatment for treating cavities – and they come in a variety of options to suit every need. Dental fillings can be made of composite resin, porcelain, gold, or silver amalgam. Silver amalgam fillings have been used by dentists for more than a century due to their ease of use and durability. This office does not use silver amalgam. The advances in the science of the composite resin material have made these restorations at least as durable as silver amalgam, require less removal of the tooth, bond to the tooth structure, and put less internal stress on the tooth. They also look much better. The type of dental filling used is determined by a number of factors including the size and location of the cavity, as well as your budget.
• Veneers
  Years ago, smile makeovers involved multiple dental treatments over a period of several months. That's no longer the case, thanks to porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers are ultra thin shells made of translucent porcelain that can be bonded to your teeth for cosmetic purposes. Extremely versatile and durable, porcelain veneers are an excellent option whether you want a total smile makeover or need to cover a chipped tooth, mask a cracked tooth, or close gaps between your teeth.
• Crowns
  If you've been living with persistent jaw pain, ear pain and headaches, you could have TMJ dysfunction - temporomandibular jaw disorder. TMJ dysfunction can often be traced back to an improper bite, misaligned jaw joints, or an injury to the jaw or face. TMJ treatment from a dentist can relieve the discomfort. Although TMJ treatment varies from patient to patient, it typically involves one or several procedures, including the use of an orthotic splint, enamel reshaping, dental crowns, dental braces or night guards. The goal of TMJ treatment is to stabilize your bite so that your teeth, jaw muscles and jaw joints work properly together without strain – and without pain!
• Bridges
  Dental bridges have been used for nearly a century to replace missing teeth. Today, dental bridges are still considered one of the most durable, conservative and cost-effective options 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 in tact.
• 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.

Endodontics

• Root Canal Treatment
  Endodontics is the dental term for root canal treatment. Root canals are needed when either decay, fracture, or injury compromises the innermost part of the tooth (the pulp). If left untreated, the pulp tissues can become very painful or infected which can lead to swelling or an abscess may form. Root canal treatment involves the removal of the irritated or infected pulp tissues and prevents infection from spreading.

Periodontics

• Gingivectomy and Gingivoplasty
  Red, swollen gums are a red flag for one thing: gum disease. If you have the symptoms, you're not alone. More than 80% of adults have some form of gum disease. Fortunately, there are many effective and pain-free gum disease treatments. For gingivitis, the mildest form of gum disease, treatment typically involves a thorough dental cleaning, followed by daily brushing and flossing. Advanced gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, requires scaling and root planing to remove stubborn deposits below the gum line. Laser gum surgery, a new alternative to scaling and root planing, uses beams of high-speed light to remove plaque and tartar buildup. If non-surgical methods of gum disease treatment are ineffective, a gingivectomy, or periodontal surgery, may be necessary. If surgical treatment is needed, we work with the area’s best periodontists and will find the best match for you.
• Periodontal Surgery
• Deep Cleaning
  A deep cleaning may be recommended if excessive plaque and tartar deposits have developed below the gum line. Deep cleanings, also known as scaling and root planing, involve a two-part process: first, the stubborn deposits are removed, and then the root surfaces are smoothened. A deep cleaning helps prevent periodontal disease and restores gum tissues to a healthy state.

Prosthodontics

• 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 or removable, are great for patients who have several missing teeth scattered along the upper or lower jaw.

Implants

• Dental Implants
  Dental bridges typically take 2-3 weeks to complete and are a great non-surgical option to implants. With good oral hygiene and minimal wear and tear, your dental bridges will serve you well for many years.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

• Oral Surgery
  Oral surgery is an umbrella term for surgical treatments such as dental implants, wisdom teeth extractions and bone grafting. Dental implants, an excellent solution for missing teeth, are surgically placed tooth roots that hold dental crowns in place. A wisdom tooth extraction may be recommended if there isn't enough room in your mouth to accommodate wisdom teeth and they become impacted, partially erupted or infected. Bone grafting is the addition of bony material, usually to an extraction site, to accommodate a dental implant. While a general dentist can perform some oral surgery procedures, an oral surgeon is required for others.
• Gum Surgery
• Tooth Extractions
• Bone Grafting

Orthodontics

• Braces
  In addition to cushioning your child’s teeth, using a mouthguard can prevent injury to the tongue, lips, face and jaw. Kids who wear dental braces should be especially careful to protect their mouths during physical activity.

General

• Teeth Whitening
  Today's teeth whitening treatments are so easy, convenient and affordable that they've become a regular part of everyone's beauty routine. If you haven't tried one yet, you'll be happy to know that you have plenty of choices.
• Cosmetic Dentistry
  We offer comprehensive modern dental treatment in a relaxing, friendly environment. Our goal is to improve and maintain your dental health, so that you arrive at our door smiling and depart with an even healthier, more beautiful smile!
• General Dentistry
  Dr. O’Leary opened his practice in its current location in February 1997. He is honored to have earned the trust and friendship of many families in the Palisades neighborhood and the surrounding areas over the past 20 years. He is an active member of the DC Dental Society, the Academy of General Dentistry, the American Dental Association, and many local professional development study clubs. He is a dedicated member of the Metro DC Chapter Board of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.