First Visit / Cleanings
When you arrive for your first visit, you must complete several information forms. This will allow us to begin your dental treatment and get you acquainted with our office. During your comprehensive exam, appropriate X-rays will be taken along with intra-oral photographs. An oral, head and neck exam is performed as well as an oral cancer screening. On this visit, we will provide an evaluation that will outline your existing dental problems and proposed treatment. Our hygienist will gather as much dental information possible, remove plaque / tartar from your teeth and finish with a polishing. This visit is called a prophylaxis (prophy for short) which can take 40 - 60 minutes. If the dentist determines you need a more in-depth cleaning, multiple hygiene visits will be scheduled.
Emergency
We hope that you never will experience a dental emergency, but if you do, we want you to know that we are always available.
During office hours, if you are having pain or experience an emergency such as bleeding, swelling or trauma, please call us immediately so that we may schedule the best available time for you. We will do everything possible to treat your
problem immediately and attend to your needs.
If an emergency occurs after office hours, Dr. O’Brien can usually be reached through his cell phone. If you should reach the voicemail, please leave your name, telephone number and a brief message as to the nature of the problem, and
Dr. O’Brien will respond to your call.
Whitening
Your teeth will darken over time. Changes in the color of your teeth can be caused by such factors as the food and beverages consumed (like coffee, tea and soda). Other known factors for discoloration may include childhood medications
or illnesses, tobacco use or improper oral hygiene. Restoring your natural white smile is a priority for our dental team. We can provide a variety of options for whitening your smile.
Tooth whitening services are growing in popularity, and it's one of the most requested services offered by our practice. Everyone sees the growing consumer market focused on whiter teeth, The reality is that over-the-counter, “too good
to be true” solutions typically don't work.
We are trained professionals using industry-approved methods. Our goal is to meet the needs of every patient, and every patient's needs are different. We offer an at-home custom tray whitening system utilizing a hydrogen peroxide gel.
Call us today for a whitening evaluation. Nothing improves your appearance more than a bright, white smile!
Fillings
The concept of a filling is replacing and restoring your tooth structure that is damaged due to decay or fracture with a material. We will replace old, broken-down amalgam/metal fillings with white fillings (composites) to restore your smile
and teeth to a more natural look and feel.
With today’s advancements, no longer will you have to suffer the embarassment of unsightly silver fillings or metal margins of the past. Eliminate the dark, black appearance in your teeth with state-of-the-art, tooth-colored resin or porcelain
materials.
Crowns and Bridges
Crowns and bridges are used to structurally reinforce weakened or fractured teeth or to replace missing teeth. A crown (cap) covers the entire tooth, providing structural integrity as well as improved aesthetics. Crowns may be recommended
to reinforce a heavily filled (weakened) tooth, to rebuild a broken tooth, attach a bridge, protect a root canaled tooth, or improved aesthetics.
A bridge consists of at least two crowns (one on each side of a space created by an extracted/missing tooth) and one or more pontics (prosthetic teeth that fill in the afore mentioned space). Bridges are fixed (non-removable) restorations
that replace missing teeth. Most crowns and bridges are constructed of porcelain or a porcelain/metal combination that provides both strength and a natural look.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are often the most ideal replacements for missing teeth. Like bridges, implants are fixed (non-removable) replacements. In contrast to bridges and partial dentures, implants are supported exclusively by the jaw bone (like natural
teeth are), and not by the adjacent teeth (which prevents stress over load on the supporting teeth and facilitates good oral hygiene).
Today, dental implants are placed routinely by oral surgeons and periodontists (in office procedure), often under local anesthetic. The implants are allowed to “heal in” the jaw bone for a period of several months and then covered (restored
to look like a tooth using a crown) by the general dentist in one or two non-invasive procedures which often don't even require being numb!
Extractions
Unfortunately, teeth can become diseased, damaged or injured over time, and in some cases, may need to be removed (extracted). If this should happen to you, we will make the tooth extraction experience as painless as possible and help you explore all the options for tooth replacement, including dentures, implants, crowns, and bridges.
