Annually, you should schedule a routine dental cleaning. During this visit, one of our dental hygienists will remove plaque from your teeth, especially from places where your brush can’t reach, such as underneath the gum line and in-between teeth. We will then clean your teeth and apply fluoride to help protect your teeth once you leave the office. Fluoride is a relatively recent but important advancement in dental and oral health. Studies consistently show that a moderate but consistent exposure of teeth to fluoride helps strengthen and rebuild tooth structure, and helps prevent future decay. If you are due for your annual dental cleaning, please call our office to schedule an appointment. <

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 that contain traces of mercury 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 embarrassment of unsightly and unhealthy silver/mercury fillings or metal margins of the past. Eliminate the dark, black appearance in your teeth with new-age, state-of-the-art, tooth-colored resin or porcelain materials. <

Teeth 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 whitening 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. One of the methods used by our practice is a gentle hydrogen-peroxide gel-activated solution. Our process will whiten your entire smile in one visit. Call us today for a whitening evaluation. Nothing improves your appearance more than a bright, white smile! Fillings_B Fillings_A BEFORE AFTER Veneers Veneers are thin, semi-translucent “shells” typically attached to your front teeth. Veneers are customized from porcelain material that is bonded to your teeth. Veneers are a great alternative to otherwise painful dental procedures to improve the appearance of your smile. Common problems that veneers are used for: Spaces between the teeth Broken or chipped teeth Unsightly, stained or discolored teeth Permanently stained or discolored teeth Crooked or misshapen teeth Veneers are a great aesthetic solution to your smile that may even help you avoid orthodontic treatment. Subtle changes to your smile can be achieved with veneers, and in most cases, veneer application is completed in only two office visits. Please contact our office if you have any further questions on veneers. <

A crown is a custom-made covering that fits over an original tooth that is either decayed, damaged or cracked. Crowns are made of a variety of different materials such as porcelain, gold, acrylic resin or a mix of these materials. Porcelain generally has the most natural appearance, although it is often less durable. The treatment plan for a patient receiving a crown involves: Numbing the tooth to remove the decay in or around it. Re-sculpturing the tooth to provide an ideal fit for the crown. Making an impression of your teeth in order to create a custom-made crown (usually takes one to two weeks). Making a temporary crown out of acrylic resin and fitting it onto the tooth during the interim period when the custom-made crown is being created. Applying the custom-made crown (when received from the lab) by removing the temporary crown and fitting the custom-made one onto the tooth. After ensuring that the crown has the proper look and fit, the dentist cements it into place. This process generally consists of a minimum of two to three visits over a three to four week period. Once the procedure is completed, proper dental hygiene, including daily brushing and flossing, is required to maintain healthy, bacteria-free teeth, gums and crowns. This helps in the prevention of gum disease. Given proper care, your crowns can last a lifetime. <

Dental implants are artificial tooth replacements that were first developed half a century ago by a Swedish scientist named Per-Ingvar Branemark. Implants arose from the patient’s need to secure loose-fitting dentures. Since the advent of the implant, engineering and enhancements to the implant have enabled dentists to expand the implant’s usefulness, including the replacement of missing or lost teeth. Today, implant techniques provide a wide range of tooth replacement solutions including: Single Tooth Replacement Anterior Replacement Posterior Replacement Full Upper Replacement Types of Implants There are three main types of implants: The root implant The plate form implant The subperiosteal implant The root implant—by far, the most popular—is the most effective because it mirrors the size and shape of a patient’s natural tooth. This implant is often as strong as the patient’s original tooth. The implant or artificial root is placed into the jawbone under local anesthesia, then allowed to heal and integrate with the bone. Once the healing process is completed and the jawbone is attached to the implant, the patient returns to the dental office where the implant is fitted with the new tooth. This process generally takes anywhere from three to eight months. The plate form implant is ideal in situations where the jawbone is not wide enough to properly support a root implant. The plate form implant is long and thin, unlike the root implant, and anchors into thin jawbones. It is inserted the same way as a root implant. In certain cases, the plate form implant is immediately fitted with the restoration without waiting for the healing process to run its course. The subperiosteal implant is used when the jawbone has receded to the point where it can no longer support an implant. Post Implant Care Although proper oral hygiene is always recommended for maintaining good dental health, it is especially important when a patient has received a dental implant. Bacteria can attack sensitive areas in the mouth when teeth and gums are not properly cleaned, thus causing gums to swell and jaw bones to gradually recede. Recession of the jawbone will weaken implants and eventually make it necessary for the implant to be removed. Patients are advised to visit their dentists at least twice a year to ensure the health of their teeth and implants. Dental implants can last for decades when given proper care. <

A bridge is a dental device that fills a space that a tooth previously occupied. A bridge may be necessary to prevent: Shifting of the teeth that can lead to bite problems (occlusion) and/or jaw problems and resultant periodontal disease. Bridges safeguard the integrity of existing teeth and help maintain a healthy, vibrant smile. There are three main types of bridges, namely: A fixed bridge is the most popular and consists of a filler tooth that is attached to two crowns, which fit over the existing teeth and hold the bridge in place. The “Maryland” bridge is commonly used to replace missing front teeth and consists of a filler that is attached to metal bands that are bonded to the abutment teeth. The metal bands consist of a white-colored composite resin that matches existing tooth color. The cantilever bridge is often used when there are teeth on only one side of the span. A typical three-unit cantilever bridge consists of two crowned teeth positioned next to each other on the same side of the missing tooth space. The filler tooth is then connected to the two crowned teeth, which extend into the missing tooth space or end. <

A root canal is a procedure that extracts decayed pulp from the central part of the tooth, reshapes the canal and replaces it with strengthening filler. A cavity is the result of superficial decay of the enamel of the tooth. Left long enough, this decay can burrow into the deeper reaches of the tooth, causing extensive damage to tooth structure. When the damage goes beyond what can be treated with a filling, dentists can perform a root canal (or endodontics), preserving the tooth and retaining its original integrity; thereby, saving a tooth that in the past would have to have been pulled. Procedure: The patient undergoes anesthesia. A dental dam is used to isolate the tooth. The tooth is opened to allow for removal of infected or dead dental pulp. The tooth is comprehensively cleaned, including any cracks and canals. With special tools, the doctor reshapes the canals. The tooth is filled again with cutting edge biocompatible filling material. A temporary covering is used to cover the access opening. Patients MUST see their regular dentist quickly for a permanent restoration of the tooth. <

General Extractions An extraction is the complete removal of a tooth. Extractions are sometimes necessary if a primary tooth is preventing the normal eruption of a permanent tooth, if the tooth has suffered extensive tooth decay or trauma that cannot be repaired, if the patient has gum disease, or if the tooth is impacted (usually the wisdom teeth). Depending on the complexity of the case, an extraction can be performed surgically or non-surgically. A mild anesthesia is used to ensure your child is as comfortable as possible throughout the procedure. Wisdom Teeth Your third molars are more commonly called “wisdom teeth.” Usually appearing in the late teens or early twenties, third molars often lack the proper space in the jaw to erupt fully or even at all. This common condition is called impaction. When any tooth lacks the space to come through or simply develops in the wrong place of your jaw and becomes impacted, problems can arise. Primarily, damage to adjacent teeth and crowding occur. In certain cases, the wisdom tooth that cannot come through becomes inflamed under the gums and in the jawbone, causing a sac to develop around the root of the tooth that then fills with liquid. This can cause a cyst or an abscess if it becomes infected. If either of these situations goes untreated, serious damage to the underlying bone and surrounding teeth and tissues can result. To potentially stave off this result, an extraction of one, several or all of the wisdom teeth may be advised. If that is the case, we have the equipment and training needed to perform such extractions, with an absolute minimum of discomfort. Ask our staff for more information regarding tooth extractions if you feel you may need one. <

Lasers have been used in dentistry since the 1960’s. Treatment involves generating a beam of light into the mouth. The light allows your dentist to precisely eliminate infected areas. Sterilizing the affected area, the beam of light closes off blood vessels. Most patients rarely need anesthesia for laser treatment; making the dental visit relatively short. Lasers are most commonly used to remove old composite fillings and to sterilize infected root canals. Lasers can also be utilized for oral surgery, bone shaping and crown lengthening. Advantages of Laser Dental Treatment Faster healing Less noise, compared to drilling Reduces the risk of infection Less need for anesthesia Lessens the need for multiple appointments Decreases sensitivity <

Single-Visit Dentistry is Clinically Proven, Modern Dentistry Today’s dentistry is a far cry from years past. Patients today need not settle for obvious silver fillings because there are treatment options available that look just as beautiful as—if not better than—their own natural teeth. What’s more, many patients can be treated today without metal, and more and more tooth structure can be conserved, thanks to minimally-invasive techniques designed to help preserve natural dentin—an important part of healthy, strong teeth. What many people might not know is that the same innovations that are revolutionizing business and technology are being clinically proven to enhance the precision and longevity of modern dental treatment options. Also, such technologies are making today’s modern dentistry more convenient, less time consuming, and more patient-friendly. Introducing the E4D Dentist™ system—Modern Dentistry that Fits Your Lifestyle For example, with the E4D Dentist system, instead of using traditionally inconvenient and messy impression materials, dentists can obtain clean, fast digital impressions in a few minutes using a laser scanner in the mouth. This laser scanning technology is not only extremely precise when “capturing” all of the details of a patient’s smile, but is also as safe as the check-out scanner at a grocery store. But, best of all, there is no need for a patient to hold unpleasant, possibly distasteful material in his or her mouth. Then, while the patient watches, a dental professional custom-designs a crown, veneer, or filling perfectly suited for the patient based on his or her condition using the chairside, computer-based design center. From there, the information about the restoration is transferred to the in-office milling unit, where the patient’s crown, veneer, or filling is made. Shortly thereafter, it’s permanently seated in his or her mouth. Benefits of Same Day Dentistry With modern, state-of-the-art E4D Dentistry, patients don’t need to suffer through traditional impressions. They don’t need temporaries. And they don’t need to wait days—or more likely weeks—for their permanent restorations. That also means that they won’t have to be inconvenienced with the back-and-forth typically associated with crowns, veneers, and some types of fillings. Rather, when E4D Dentistry is right for them, patients can be in and out of the dental office with their permanent, natural-looking and metal-free restorations in a single visit. E4D restorations are perfect for situations like chipped, worn or cracked teeth; teeth that are discolored or have gaps and spaces between them; teeth that have decay and/or old, worn fillings. E4D—Right Around the Corner You don’t have to travel far to experience the convenience and precision of E4D Dentistry. We’ve already invested in this innovative technology because we believe our patients deserve modern dentistry that fits their lifestyles. Simply call us at (908) 686-2080, and we’ll be happy to answer your questions about E4D Dentistry. To learn more, visit www.d4dtech.com/patients <

ClearCorrect™ is the clear, simple way to straighten your teeth without using traditional metal braces. The ClearCorrect invisible braces allow you to show off your outstanding smile all throughout your treatment! The ClearCorrect aligners are custom-made, removable and clear, which means you can straighten your teeth without anyone knowing. You can still eat and drink whatever you want, and you can brush and floss normally to maintain healthy gums and teeth. How ClearCorrect™ Aligners are Made Your dentist will take impressions, photos and X-rays of your teeth and send these records and a prescription for your treatment plan to ClearCorrect. ClearCorrect uses the records to create 3-D models of your teeth. We follow the instructions on your prescription, and customize your ClearCorrect aligner treatment plan. You and your dentist can preview your projected treatment and results in a computerized “treatment set-up”. After you and your dentist approve your treatment plan, ClearCorrect will fabricate your custom aligners by digitally mapping and molding the aligners using computer precision. The aligners are sent to your dentist who will give them to you with instructions on how long to wear each aligner. If you are interested in ClearCorrect, please contact us for a consultation appointment. For more information, please visit the ClearCorrect™ website. <