Common Dental Procedures
Bridges - Crowns - Dentures - Fillings - Hard and Soft Tissue Laser Dentistry - Hygeine - Implants Periodontics - Root Canal - Veneers - Whitening - Wisdom Teeth - Traumatic and sports injuries
X-Rays

Bridges

We will prescribe a bridge when one or more teeth are missing and there are healthy teeth on both sides of the open space. Bridges can be made from a number of types of material: solid gold for reliable long wear, porcelain fused to a metal base for strength and beauty, and high-strength metal-free porcelain for optimum cosmetic results along with hybrid composite materials which are another cosmetically superior option.

Bridges are prescribed for damaged, decayed or broken teeth. The damaged teeth are prepared by eliminating tooth structure. After fabrication the bridge is cemented to the prepared teeth. Bridges restore the natural beauty and health of teeth. With proper care, your new bridge will increase your overall health and instill confidence for years to come.

Crowns

Crowns are prescribed when a tooth or teeth are too badly decayed, broken or cracked to be easily restored with a filling. Crowns are normally needed for teeth that have had root canals, but can also be placed on dental implants to replace missing teeth. Crowns can be made entirely of gold or porcelain fused to a gold substrate for strength and beauty. However, with new technology, crowns can be made entirely from high-strength ceramic and porcelain for beautiful cosmetic results.

With proper care, your new crown will increase your overall health and instill confidence for years to come.

Dentures

If you have lost some or all of your natural teeth, dentures can be used to replace your missing teeth – improving your health as well as your appearance. Dentures prevent the sagging of facial muscles, which can make a person with missing teeth look much older. Dentures also enable you to eat and speak normally, little things often taken for granted until natural teeth are lost.

Every morning before you insert your dentures, brush your gums, tongue, and palate with a soft-bristled brush to stimulate circulation in your tissues and to help remove plaque. Regular dental checkups are needed so we can examine your mouth and dentures to ensure a healthy and comfortable fit.

Fillings

For hundreds of years, dental fillings have been used to restore teeth. Dental fillings are placed in teeth where a dentist has had to remove tooth structure due to decay or fracture. In recent years filling materials have been substantially improved by many technological advancements. Although silver amalgam was the dominant choice years ago, today we have several other options for tooth restoration as well, including tooth colored composite filling materials and cementable resins and porcelains.

Hard and Soft Tissue Laser Dentistry

Laser Dentistry is cutting edge technology allowing many treatment options including both hard and soft tissue applications. The ability to remove decay ,in many cases without injections, is a major step forward for Dentistry. Fillings can be accomplished with no injection in 75% of cases according to the statistics provided by those using this technology. Post operative discomfort is also greatly reduced. Lasers seal off lymphatics, blood vessels, and nerve endings which allows for less swelling, reduced pain, and faster healing. Lasers also greatly reduce the number of bacteria at the treatment site which in turn , cuts down on the healing time. . Dental Laser technology eliminates the sound and vibration of the dental drill.

Dr. Powers is pleased and excited to be the first Dentist in the area to offer this technology to his patients.

Hygiene

The basis of sound dental care is routine cleaning and maintenance. We customize cleanings on the basis of your periodontal (gums and bone) health. We utilize medicated gels along with prescription mouth rinses in problem areas if necessary. Ultrasonic scalers are sometimes used to make the procedure more comfortable and effective as well.

Sealants should be used as part of a child's total preventive dental care. Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings which are applied to the chewing surfaces of the molars (back teeth) to prevent decay. Most tooth decay in children and teens occurs in these surfaces. Applying sealants does not require drilling or removing tooth structure. It is an easy three-step process: first, we clean the tooth with a special toothpaste; second, a special cleansing liquid, on a tiny piece of cotton, is rubbed gently on the tooth and then washed off; and third, the sealant is painted on the tooth. Then, a light is applied to cause the sealant to get hard. One sealant application can last for as long as 5 to 10 years. Sealants should be checked regularly, and reapplied if they are no longer in place.

Children and adults at high risk of dental decay may benefit from using additional fluoride products, including dietary supplements (for children who do not have adequate levels of fluoride in their drinking water), mouth rinses, and professionally applied gels and varnishes.

Implants

When it comes to replacing one or more teeth in your mouth, a dental implant is often the treatment of choice and is also one of the most conservative treatments for tooth replacement. Implants are biocompatible posts that replace the roots of your missing teeth. They are physically and biologically designed to attach to your jaw bone and become the foundation for a natural looking restoration.

Your new tooth or teeth will have excellent stability and strength, and will look and feel like your natural teeth.

Implants are prescribed to replace a missing tooth or teeth. An implant post is placed where the tooth is missing. A customized crown or bridge is permanently cemented to the implant. Implants restore the natural beauty, function, and health of teeth.

Periodontics

Gum disease is usually caused by plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on teeth. If plaque is not removed with thorough daily brushing and cleaning between teeth, gums become irritated and inflamed. The irritated gum tissue can separate from the teeth and form spaces called pockets. Bacteria move into the pockets where they continue to promote irritation. Left untreated, the process can continue until the bone and other tooth-supporting tissues are destroyed. The early stage of periodontal disease is called gingivitis. It often results in gums that are red and swollen and may bleed easily.

Root Canal

Endodontic treatment, more commonly known as root canal therapy, is necessary when the pulp of your tooth becomes inflamed or infected. The inflammation or infection can have a variety of causes such as deep decay, repeated dental procedures on your tooth, or a crack or chip in the tooth. With proper care, an endodontically treated tooth will function normally for years to come.

Decay can result in an infection to the pulp of the tooth. After creating a small opening, very small instruments are used to clean and shape the root canal spaces. The cleaned spaces are filled with a biocompatible material and specialized cement to ensure complete sealing of the root canals.

Veneers

Unlike a crown, which covers the entire tooth, a veneer is a thin shell that is placed over the front or visible parts of the tooth. There are two types of veneers: ceramic veneers that are produced by a dental laboratory and resin-based composite veneers. With proper care, your new veneers will greatly improve your appearance and increase your confidence for years to come.

Veneers are prescribed for damaged, discolored, or broken teeth. The tooth is prepared by eliminating surface structure. After fabrication the veneer is cemented to the prepared tooth. Veneers restore natural beauty and health of teeth.

Whitening

Everyone loves a bright, white smile. Today there are a variety of products and procedures available to help you improve the color of your teeth. Some whitening procedures are done through our office. Other whitening agents can be purchased over-the-counter, however this type of whitening does not whiten your teeth as quickly or as effectively as those delivered by your dentist.

Teeth whitening is ideal for people who have healthy, unrestored teeth (no fillings) and gums. Individuals with yellow tones to their teeth respond best. But this cosmetic procedure is not recommended for everyone.

Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are the last teeth to erupt in your mouth and are the teeth least needed for good oral health. Most people have four wisdom teeth that usually erupt through the gums in their late teens or early twenties. Sometimes wisdom teeth remain trapped in the jawbone under the gums because there is insufficient room for them to erupt.

Wisdom teeth can cause gum disease, crowding or other damage to adjacent teeth, decay (due to the inability of your toothbrush to keep the area clean), and bone destroying cysts. Pain and swelling are the most common symptoms of problem wisdom teeth. Whether you have obvious symptoms or not, it is important to diagnose existing or potential problems caused by your wisdom teeth. Removal is often the wisest decision for your health and well-being if they are symptomatic.

Traumatic and Sports Injuries

Dr. Powers is involved with treating traumatic injuries and sports injuries including those of the local youth sports teams, high school and collegiate teams from the area. He is a staunch advocate of all athletes wearing protective mouthguards during practice and competition. Dr. Powers can fabricate custom mouthguards in his office.

X-Rays

Dr. Powers is pleased to offer digital radiography to his patients; including x-rays and panoramic views. Digital x-ray images are unique in that our office can send and receive these to and from other dental offices by email. This speeds up the process of referring patients to specialists or those changing to our office from another practice or vice versa.

The time required to view a digital x-ray image is merely seconds compared to the previous process of developing films.