Preventative Dentistry
It is important to brush your teeth at least twice daily to help remove plaque and food particles that get stuck to your teeth. It is recommended that you brush your teeth for two minutes (or longer), though most people rush through this time. You need to make sure that you reach every side of each tooth, including the inside and outside. To help keep your breath fresh, you should also brush your tongue. Then, you can begin flossing.
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Cleanings And Exams
Having a dental practice perform a checkup and regular cleaning gives a preventive approach to dental care. These general dentistry treatments help prevent problems with your teeth, gums and jaw bones, or they catch and manage problems before they worsen. During your visit, our doctors will take a picture of the current standing of your dental health and what would be needed to keep your oral hygiene in its best state.
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Teeth Whitening
Whitening procedures have effectively restored the smile of people with stained, dull, or discolored teeth. Food particles are naturally attracted to a tooth’s enamel by a certain protein. Products like coffee and tea, berries, and soy sauce are nororious for staining teeth. Over time, teeth actually become more absorbent and vulnerable to staining from food and other substances. One type of stain–caused by traumatic injuires, medications and fluorosis–actually begins inside the tooth.; brushing and flossing don’t help. Another type of stain–one that can be more easily attacked by brushing, flossing and rinsing, is caused by external factors such as foods. More and more people today are choosing tooth-whitening procdures to reverse the effects of aging and abuse from food and tobacco stains.
Some commerically available “whitening toothpastes” or procedures, can be somewhat effective at removing stains and making teeth a few shades brighter. Over-the-counter whitening systems can also be somewhat effective as long as they are monitored and directions followed closely. However, often patients wish to whiten their teeth beyond a subtle change and seek professional care at our office.
We use a custom tray system for our bleaching treatments. During the first appointment impressions and models are made of the teeth. In approximately one week the patient returns to the office, receiving bleaching trays, bleaching gels, and instructions on how to use the system. One week later a follow-up appointment is scheduled where the patient’s progress is documented and factored into the patient’s final whitening goals.
The whitening products used in our office are effective and safe.
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Fillings
Composite fillings act as a dentistry solution for problems such as tooth decay or cracks. A composite filling is a tooth-colored plastic and glass mixture used to restore decayed teeth. This procedure is also utilized for cosmetic improvements of the smile by fixing any discoloration or reshaping any disfigured teeth.
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Emergency Care
Our highly trained doctors and staff are ready to manage all of your concerns. We have methods to alleviate the pain and help you feel calm during your emergency dental visit.
If you are facing a dental emergency, please don’t hesitate to contact us immediately at (614) 764-9755!
Oral Cancer Screenings
Nobody wants to hear that they may have oral cancer. Although it can be fatal, it is easier to treat the earlier it is caught. For this reason, we are proud to assist our patients with an oral cancer screening. We want to help our patients survive this often fatal disease.
Oral cancer will typically show up as white or red patches or lesions inside of your mouth. You may even notice the lesions on your tongue or on the floor of your mouth. Many people experience a hard time swallowing, bleeding in the mouth, or even swelling in your face or neck.
Sealants
When we apply a dental sealant, we paint a plastic coating on top of your teeth. This makes your teeth smooth getting rid of the rough edges, depressions, and grooves that are commonly found on teeth. It is essentially a protective coating against tooth decay and cavities.
The most common place to paint sealants is on back teeth since they are often irregular. They can also be very hard to reach, even if you brush your teeth regularly. We use it more on children though we do perform sealants on adults too!
Orthodontic Services
We provide Invisalign and other clear aligners to help straighten and make your smile beautiful.
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Oral Surgery Services
We do a variety of oral surgery including extractions, bone grafts, and biopsies if needed.
Root Canals
If you are having pain with a specific tooth, sometimes a treatment called a root canal is indicated. Dr. Bleakmore can alleviate your pain in just one appointment with this procedure.
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TMJ Treatment
TMJ stands for temporal-mandibular joint. Temporal, as in temple area of skull; mandibular as in mandible, or lower jaw. Problems in this joint may be caused by a misalignment of the teeth, trauma, or excess muscle tension. Two bones, cartilage, and five muscles are involved in this small area.
Problems with TMJ can cause:
- Headaches
- Earaches
- Trouble/soreness in opening and closing the mouth
- Clicking or popping of the jaw
- Pain in the jaw muscles
- Soreness in the area, sometimes extending to the face
Dental treatments for the condition can include replacing missing teeth, moving teeth, adjusting the bite, filling gaps between teeth, Botulinum Toxin injections, etc. There is no one solution that is right for all cases. Sometimes a plastic mouthpiece is used to prevent clenching or grinding. In extreme cases, surgery may be required to repair a badly damaged joint.
Veneers
Teeth that are badly stained, shaped or crooked may be improved by a veneer placed on the surface of the affected teeth.
Veneers are a dental procedure in which a covering is placed over the outside (visible area) of the tooth. Veneers are only applied to teeth that are visible when talking or smiling. The procedure can be direct or indirect.
The direct technique involves placing composite resin on the outside of the tooth/teeth. This method is usually referred to as bonding.
The indirect technique involves two appointments because veneers of this type are fabricated at a dental laboratory. At the first appointment the teeth are prepared, impressions taken, and the teeth are given a temporary covering. In two to three weeks the veneers are back from the laboratory, the temporaries are removed and the veneers are bonded to the teeth. The laboratory fabricated veneers are made using porcelain or pressed ceramic, and are very aesthetically pleasing.
The advantage of veneers over crowns is that much less tooth needs to be removed, and the procedure is generally less involved. Crowns are recommended when teeth have large fillings and/or little tooth structure.
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Dentures
Dentures are made to replace multiple missing teeth with appliances that are taken in and out of the mouth. They offer some of the lowest cost options for tooth replacement. The fabrication of dentures takes two or three appointments with impressions being taken of the mouth, diagnostic records made, and sent to a laboratory. The completed denture is returned and then ready to be fitted.
The use of dentures to replace missing teeth is one of the oldest methods available to dentistry. Dr. Ference discusses the best options with his patients based on age and the number of teeth needing to be replaced. Use of implants or fixed bridges are often better options for long-term dental health.
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Crowns
Crowns are full coverage restorations that are used to cover a tooth that has fractured, is likely to break, or is too broken down to be restored with a filling. They are most commonly done after root canal treatment, or when a large filling wears out. Crowns also serve an aesthetic use, and are applied when a discolored or stained tooth needs to be restored to its natural appearance.
It takes two appointments to restore a tooth with a crown. During the first visit, decay is removed from the tooth and the tooth is shaped to accept the crown. The doctor performs a crown buildup procedure on the tooth if more strength is needed to preserve the integrity of the tooth. An impression is made of the tooth for use in fabricating a crown. At the end of this appointment the patient is fitted with a temporary crown.
Between the two visits the crown is made off-site at a dental laboratory. Most crowns are now made of high-strength zerconia material, a ceramic like material milled to detailed specifications. The length of time between the two visits is usually three weeks.
In the second visit the temporary is removed, and the permanent crown is adjusted and cemented in place.
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Dental Implants
Before development of dental implants, bridges and dentures were the only alternative to replacing a missing tooth or teeth.
Implants are synthetic structures that are placed in the area of the tooth normally occupied by the root. Implants are anchored to the jawbone and act as a foundation for an artificial tooth or permanent bridge. In some cases. implants can be used to attach dentures.
Not everyone is a candidate for a dental implant, however. For an implant to be successful a candidate must have proper bone density and have a strong immune system. In all cases, dental implants require strict oral hygiene.
Implants are designed to mimic the look and feel of natural teeth. Implants are usually made of a synthetic yet biocompatible material like metal or ceramic.
Surgery is necessary to prepare the area for an implant and placement of the implant. Following the procedure, a period of time is required for the implant to integrate and for bone tissue to build around and anchor the device. Later, in many cases, a metal post is anchored to secure the crown.
Like any restoration, implants require diligent oral hygiene and proper care to ensure they last a long time.
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Bridges
A bridge replaces a missing tooth, or teeth, both functionally and cosmetically. The new tooth sits between two supporting crowns and lies over gum tissue. The materials used are now tooth-colored zirconia material but also may be porcelain bonded to metal alloy, or gold alloys. The choice of material depends on requirements for strength, wear, and/or esthetics.
As with crowns, two appointments are necessary and bridge appointments are somewhat longer.
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