- Dental ExaminationIn addition to performing diligent oral care at home, you should see your dentist every six months for an oral exam to ensure continued health of your teeth and gums. If you skip just one routine checkup with your dentist, any new oral health issues can rapidly advance and require expensive and invasive treatments. Regular checkups ensure that problems can be caught early and treated conservatively, and some oral health issues can even be reversed if spotted in the earliest stages. If allowed to advance, however, these problems with your teeth or gums can actually spread beyond your mouth and affect your general health.
- X-raysIf you have not undergone dental X-rays for some time, your dentist will obtain images of your teeth and jaws at your first appointment. The frequency with which you receive X-rays after that depends upon your dental history and risk of developing tooth decay. Dental X-rays can help detect cavities, tooth eruption issues or bone loss in the jaws.
- Teeth CleaningFamily dentistry is a great way to help streamline your life, especially if you can make appointments for all family members to be seen on the same day. Services like regular checkups, fillings, or tooth cleanings are all important for the dental health of both adults and children, and if you can get through all those appointments on the same day you can make your life that much easier.
- Fluoride TreatmentOur dentists also deal with issues unique to children’s teeth. Baby bottle tooth decay is fairly common and should be addressed early. Thumb-sucking and pacifiers can affect a child’s bite. Your child’s dentist can monitor growing teeth and ensure that permanent teeth are growing in well. If necessary, the dentist can also recommend an orthodontist who can correct crooked or gapped teeth soon after the permanent teeth appear. Brushing and flossing instructions, fluoride treatments and baby tooth removal are other tasks they may be carried out.
- FillingsGold and silver amalgam fillings have the greatest longevity, often lasting 10 years or longer with normal maintenance. Although gold is the more expensive option for precious metal fillings, it offers extraordinarily long wear; gold fillings can last decades or even a life time. Silver amalgam fillings contain silver, tin, copper and mercury. They are an inexpensive option and are most often used to fill small cavities.
- Resin CompositeComposite resin fillings resemble a specialized epoxy and contain particles of silica or ceramics in a polymer matrix. They can be blended to match the color of the surrounding tooth material, making restoration less noticeable than it is with metal fillings. They also spare more of the original tooth during the filling process. However, resin fillings do not have the longevity of metals and may need to be replaced in under 10 years.
- VeneersPorcelain veneers are custom-designed for each patient. Your dentist will examine the affected teeth to ensure that the correct veneers are designed. Impressions and X-rays may also be used to facilitate the design process. The goal is to create wafer-thin veneers that fit as naturally as possible over the teeth. When they are correctly designed, it’s virtually impossible to tell that they have been placed. Stains and other imperfections will be gone, but the teeth themselves will look completely natural.
- CrownsChildren’s teeth are markedly different from the set of teeth they will have as adults. The smaller, softer deciduous teeth, also called milk teeth or baby teeth, that erupt in the first few years of a child’s life have thread-like roots. These delicate roots facilitate their eventual loss when permanent teeth grow to replace them. However, shallow roots also make early tooth loss a concern. While a tooth that will soon be lost may not need replacement, a tooth lost to a sports injury or fall may need a crown or bridgework to maintain proper tooth spacing and bite health.
- BridgesAnyone who has missing or damaged teeth may be a candidate for dental bridges. Without something to occupy gaps, remaining teeth can shift position and alter your bite. These changes can lead to jaw pain, headaches and an increased risk of periodontal disease. Bridgework is more than a cosmetic procedure; it is essential to dental health. Bridges serve a number of purposes...
- Dental BondingCosmetic bonding is a procedure that uses composite resin, the same tooth-colored material used for fillings, to alter the shape or color of a tooth. It is placed on the tooth in its soft, liquid form and then hardened.
- Root Canal TreatmentI LOVE MY DENTIST! I never thought I’d ever say that! After years of getting treated badly and always being in pain after seeing the dentist, I finally found someone who truly cared. Dr. Shiva Izaddous did an awesome job! I got an appointment easily, the front office staff knew exactly what to do and got me back fast. The staff even entertained my kids while I was being seen. Marsha did my cleaning and was super gentle. She talked to me throughout the whole thing to let me know what to expect. I needed a root canal and didn’t need anything stronger than Advil afterwards! I took my kids back for cavities and it was taken care of with ease! WOULD RECOMMEND TO ANYONE!
- Deep Cleaning
- DenturesRemovable bridges require gentle handling. Porcelain is a brittle substance and can chip if treated roughly. Set your bridge down carefully instead of dropping it onto hard surfaces. Removable bridgework should be cleaned as often as you clean your other teeth and can be brushed with the same toothpaste or with cleansers designed for dentures.
- Dental ImplantsMost people need dental implants. Statistics tell us that almost 7 in 10 adults between the ages of 34 and 44 have lost at least one permanent tooth due to injury, disease or some other cause. Losing a single tooth may not seem like a big deal, but it can set off a cascade of events that could lead to a drastic decline in oral health in a very short time.
- Oral SurgeryOral surgery is typically performed when the patient is young because the roots have not yet set in the jaw. Once the teeth are anchored, extraction becomes more difficult and requires a longer recovery time.
- Gum Surgery
- Tooth ExtractionsDuring a simple extraction, the dentist or surgeon will apply a local anesthetic. This will numb the area but will not render the patient unconscious. The tooth will then be lifted using an elevator and removed from the mouth with forceps. The attending dentist will do this process slowly so as not to break the tooth during extraction. This kind of extraction is performed for those whose teeth have already erupted.
- Bone Grafting
- OrthodonticsWhile many people will have no trouble with their wisdom teeth, these teeth are often removed to prevent more serious issues like an abscess. These teeth generally begin to surface in the late teens to early 20s, and many times, they become impacted as they develop, growing sideways into the other teeth or angled forward. Wisdom teeth may erupt from the gum line or may still be set in the jaw. Teeth that are only partially erupted may present other issues as these teeth are difficult to clean and care for. Extractions are typically handled by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon on an outpatient basis. Most extractions are done as a preventative measure to safeguard against changes in the alignment of the teeth during orthodontics or more serious complications.
- Invisalign OrthodonticsThe results achieved by Invisalign treatment can be dramatic. Invisalign before and after photos show a marked improvement in the appearance of crooked teeth and demonstrate the effectiveness of Invisalign in creating healthier, more beautiful smiles.
- BracesTemporarily reattach loose braces with a small piece of orthodontic wax. Alternatively, place the wax over the braces to provide a cushion. See your orthodontist as soon as possible. If the problem is a loose band, save it and call your orthodontist for an appointment to have it recemented or replaced (and to have missing spacers replaced).
- Teeth WhiteningThere are two types of professional teeth whitening, both of which penetrate the enamel and dentin layers of the teeth to remove deep discolorations...
- Cosmetic DentistryCrowns serve many purposes in restorative and cosmetic dentistry. They are an integral part of providing support to weakened or broken teeth. Untreated dental problems can lead to jaw pain, headaches and bite anomalies that could do further damage to otherwise healthy teeth.
- General DentistryWestover Hills Family Dental is proud to offer anxious patients an alternative to fearful dental experiences. Sedation dentistry is a method of using FDA-approved medication to induce a calm, relaxed state. You can use sedation dentistry during any type of treatment, including routine general dentistry checkups as well as smile-enhancing cosmetic dentistry procedures.