For patients who avoid going to the dentist because of fear, dental sedation can be used to help ease their anxiety. Sedation can be used for any dental procedure—even for a simple tooth cleaning. To help make your visit as comfortable as possible, we offer the following dental sedation solutions:

Nitrous Oxide Sedation

Nitrous Oxide Sedation, also known as “laughing gas,” is the most common form of dental sedation. A combination of nitrous oxide and oxygen is inhaled through a mask. The combination creates a state of relaxation. Local anesthetic is administered in conjunction with the nitrous oxide to eliminate pain.

IV Sedation

IV sedation creates a deeper sedation and is used for longer procedures and/or surgical procedures. When IV sedation is needed, a nurse anesthetist administers the anesthetics to the patient in our office.

Maintaining healthy teeth and gums is dependent on your oral hygiene. Good oral hygiene is not only important to your smile, but it affects your overall health as well. Besides looking and feeling good, healthy teeth and gums make it possible to eat and speak properly.

Preventative care can help stop dental issues from developing. Daily care can greatly decrease the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and other dental problems. In between regular visits to the dentist, you can:

• Brush thoroughly twice a day and floss daily
• Eat a balanced diet and limit snacks between meals
• Use dental products that contain fluoride, including toothpaste
• Rinse with a fluoride mouth rinse if advised to do so by the dentist
• Ensure that children 12 years and under drink fluoridated water or take a fluoride supplement if they live in a non-fluoridated area

It is important to have a routine dental cleaning every six months. During a dental cleaning, a dental hygienist or dentist cleans your teeth by removing excessive plaque and tarter buildup. When plaque is left untreated, it can lead to tooth decay and unhealthy gums. Dental cleaning appointments typically take about an hour and include scaling and polishing teeth.

Gum disease or periodontitis is a serious infection of the gums that damages the soft tissue and destroys the bone that supports the teeth. The most effective way to prevent and treat gum disease is scaling and root planing. This is a deep cleaning where plaque and tartar are removed from all tooth surfaces in a variety of methods. Because this is a deeper cleaning, patients are usually more comfortable when numb.

Traditionally, dental hygienists performed scaling by hand; however, advanced technology has led to more modern methods. An electric scaler is a sophisticated tool that is allows dental cleanings to be performed more efficiently and in less time. For best results, we use a combination of electric and manual scaling.

Comprehensive treatment plans address all aspects of dental care including immediate dental needs, preventative care, cosmetic dentistry, wear of teeth and fillings, pain, and jaw function. Because the entire structure of the mouth is taken into consideration, multiple dental problems can be resolved in one comprehensive plan.

Comprehensive treatment plans can also reduce the number of required appointments and save money.

• Invisalgn
• Gum treatment
• Veneers

If you suffer tooth loss due to tooth decay, periodontal disease, injury, or for any other reason, you can benefit from dental implants. Dental implants are the preferred method for tooth replacement.

A dental implant acts as a replacement for tooth roots. It is a metal post that is surgically positioned into the jaw. Once healed, a replacement tooth (crown), bridge, partial denture, or full denture is attached to the post.

Health Requirements

Most anyone healthy enough to undergo a routine tooth extraction or oral surgery can be considered for a dental implant. Patients also need healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant. Patients should also be committed to excellent oral hygiene and regular dental visits, as these are critical to the long-term success of dental implants.

Tooth whitening is an easy way to enhance your smile. Over time, teeth can become stained, discolored, or dull. This popular procedure will whiten and brighten your smile. It’s safe, relatively painless, and lasts for years. We offer in-office whitening or tray whitening that can be done in the comfort of your home.

In-office Whitening

In-office power whitening provides brighter, whiter teeth and takes less than an hour. Our office uses the Opalescence® Boost Whitening System, which is chemically activated and does not require a light. The gel is applied to the surface of teeth in two 20-minute applications.

At Home Whitening

We also make custom trays for at home use. This allows you to maintain and keep your smile bright.

Veneers are designed to cover the front surface (visible area) of teeth to improve the appearance of the natural tooth. The natural tooth is roughed up, and then covered with a thin, custom-made shell. Veneers are used to cover teeth that are:

• Discolored
• Worn down
• Chipped or broken
• Misaligned, uneven or irregularly shaped
• Widely-spaced (veneers can close the gap between teeth)

Advantages over Crowns

Unlike a crown, veneers only cover the surface of a tooth that is visible while speaking or smiling. This means that it is a much less invasive procedure and is often done solely for cosmetic reasons. Veneers work best on healthy teeth that do not have large fillings.

A crown is tooth-shaped cap that fully encases the visible portion of a tooth. Besides improving appearance, crowns restore the tooth’s size, shape, and strength.

Crowns are used to:

• Protect a weak or cracked tooth from breaking
• Restore a worn or broken tooth
• Support a tooth with large fillings and little tooth structure
• Hold a dental bridge in place
• Cover a dental implant
• Cover a tooth after root canal treatment
• Improve appearance for cosmetic reason

When tooth decay damages a tooth (known as a cavity), a filling can restore the tooth to its normal function and shape. To restore the tooth, the decay must first be removed. The affected area is then cleaned, and then the area is filled with either a composite material or porcelain. Fillings help prevent further decay by closing off cracks and space where bacteria can enter.

The type of filling material used depends on how much of the tooth was damaged. If the cavity is small, a composite resin can be used. If the cavity is large and a large portion of the tooth is lost, a porcelain filling will be used to add strength to the tooth. These fillings are known as inlays or onlays and are created in our office using our CEREC machine.

An inlay may be used to restore a tooth when only the grooves of the tooth are affected by decay. After the decayed portion of the tooth has been removed, our doctors design the inlay to fit perfectly into the grooves. The inlay is then milled using our CEREC machine. Once it has been stained and glazed to match the existing tooth, it is cemented on to the tooth. An inlay can cover one, two, or three surfaces.

An onlay may be used to restore a tooth when the affected area includes the cusp of the tooth. After the decayed portion of the tooth has been removed, our doctors design the onlay to match the tooth’s anatomy. The onlay is then milled using our CEREC machine. Once it has been stained and glazed to match the existing tooth, it is cemented on to the tooth. An onlay can cover one, two, or three surfaces.

A bridge is used to fill the space left by a missing tooth or multiple teeth. It’s important to fill this space because the surrounding teeth will move to compensate for the loss. A bridge is cemented into place using the teeth on either side for support. A dental implant can also be used to support a bridge.

The bridge is milled from a single piece of porcelain using our CEREC machine. Our doctors design the bridge to fit perfectly over the prepared teeth using digital impressions. The bridge is then stained, glazed, and baked to match the existing teeth. Our doctors will then seat the bridge and make any necessary bite adjustments. Because we use CEREC, bridges are completed in just one appointment.

A bridge is used to fill the space left by a missing tooth or multiple teeth. It’s important to fill this space because the surrounding teeth will move to compensate for the loss. A bridge is cemented into place using the teeth on either side for support. A dental implant can also be used to support a bridge.

The bridge is milled from a single piece of porcelain using our CEREC machine. Our doctors design the bridge to fit perfectly over the prepared teeth using digital impressions. The bridge is then stained, glazed, and baked to match the existing teeth. Our doctors will then seat the bridge and make any necessary bite adjustments. Because we use CEREC, bridges are completed in just one appointment.

Bonding is used to rebuild damaged or broken teeth, close gaps between teeth, cover a tooth defect, or for cosmetic reasons. At Bridge Street Dental, we use a composite resin material that is color matched to the natural tooth for a seamless look.

Bonding may not be the best option for teeth that show evidence of heavy wear. If this is the case, our dentists may recommend a stronger material used for CEREC inlays, onlays, and crowns. Click here for more information.

Sealants is a dental treatment intended to prevent tooth decay. The biting surfaces of teeth have recesses; back teeth have fissures (grooves) and some front teeth have cingulum pits. These pits and grooves are susceptible to tooth decay because food can become trapped in them and they difficult to clean. Some grooves are so narrow that a toothbrush bristle is too wide to enter. Sealants fill these hard-to-clean areas creating a smooth surface that is easier to clean.

The temporalmandibular joint (TMJ) connects the jawbone to the skull while acting like a sliding hinge. TMJ disorders are often difficult to determine, but can cause extreme pain in the jaw joint and surrounding muscles.

Symptoms

• Headaches
• Earaches
• Trouble/soreness in opening and closing the mouth
• Clicking or popping of the jaw
• Pain in the jaw muscles
• Soreness that can sometimes extend to the face

TMJ Treatment

Treatment can include replacing missing teeth, moving teeth, adjusting the bite, filling gaps between teeth, etc. Because each case is unique, there is no one solution. If clenching or grinding is occurring, a plastic mouthpiece can be worn to protect the teeth. If left untreated, surgery may be required.

Mouth Guards

Night mouth guards are worn at night to protect the teeth from unintentional grinding and clenching. Athletic mouth guards are used to protect the jaw and teeth during certain activities and sports (football, basketball, etc.) where the mouth may be hit or injured.

For optimal protection, mouth guards are custom made to fit your teeth and bite. If you need a mouth guard, we will first take an impression of your teeth. The impression is then sent to a dental lab where the mouth guard tray is made.