Monday-Thursday
8:00-5:00
Bridge
AKA FIXED PARTIAL DENTURE, ("#")-UNIT BRIDGE, MARYLAND OR BONDED BRIDGE, BRIDGEWORK
A bridge is a series of crowns forged together that replaces a missing tooth or teeth. The neighboring teeth of that space commonly must be reduced in size to accommodate proper fit. A bridge is a great option when an implant is contraindicated.
Reactive Dental Treatments
RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY
This category is what you have always envisioned dentistry as. Our goal is to give you the best experience that makes you feel comfortable. We strive to administer anesthetic as gentle as possible. We have great success eliminating many patients' anxiety from visiting the dentist.
Services
Crowns
AKA CAPS, FIXED PROSTH, SINGLE UNIT
A crown is a covering over the entire tooth for protection, esthetics, or function. It can also be referred as the final restoration to cover an implant screw. Materials range from gold to tooth colored porcelains. Crowns are used when substantial tooth structure is missing or as sequela from large fillings.
The tooth is shaved down enough so the crown being placed is very similar in size and function to the tooth's ideal position.
Extraction
AKA PULLING A TOOTH, ORAL SURGERY, SIMPLE OR SURGICAL EXTRACTION
An extraction is when a tooth must be taken out and is often a last resort if all other means of saving the tooth cannot be met. Normally a tooth needing an extraction stems from disease, pathology, dysfunction, or convenience for orthodontic treatment.
Wisdom teeth are taken out for reasons due to discomfort, prevention, lack of space, inability to adequately clean, etc.
Dr. Nelson has extracted thousands of teeth and has vast experience with all forms of extractions from a single tooth to full-mouth extractions, be it simple or complex cases, and wisdom teeth as well. This treatment can seem like a horrifying experience and at times we can recommend sedation methods if needed.
Jaw Issues (Temporomandibular Joint Disorders)
AKA TMD, TMJ
Do you get frequent headaches? Does your jaw pop, grind, make noises, get stuck, lock up, get sore quickly, or deviate to one side? Do you refuse to chew gum because it will hurt?
Many of these issues can be addressed and treated in our office. If your case requires more in-depth treatment than what we can provide we can refer you to the appropriate specialist that most fits your needs.
Oral Sedation
MILD SEDATION
Sedation allows you to feel more relaxed in the dental chair and is typically used for any patient that feels quite apprehensive to dental treatment. We highly encourage you to discuss these options with Dr. Nelson especially to help make your dental experience more relaxed. Besides the anesthetic that may be used to numb your mouth, there are no IVs or other needles used to administer these forms of sedation. Two forms of mild sedation we offer are nitrous oxide and oral sedation.
Nitrous Oxide (AKA Laughing gas, N2O)
Nitrous oxide is one of the most safe drugs on the market. When breathed in this gas raises your pain tolerance and relaxes you without making you unaware of what's going on. The effects wear off as quickly as the air is breathed out of your system and adults do not need a designated driver when leaving our office. N2O is often recommended for children or those with mild to moderate levels of dental apprehension
Oral Sedation
Unlike nitrous oxide, oral sedative medication does put you in a relaxed mental state. You would need someone to accompany and drive you home from your appointment. The medication(s) in pill form may be taken the night before or an hour before your appointment. Depending on the level of sedation it can cause you to not remember what happened during the procedure. This is an ideal choice for those with heightened anxiety to dental treatment.
Periodontal Maintenance
PROPHY, SCALING & ROOT PLANING, DEBRIDEMENT, PERIO MAINTENANCE
A diagnosis of gingivitis or periodontitis means a disease is festering in your mouth. Professional cleanings by a dental hygienist are always needed for everyone at least one to four times a year regardless of how well or poor your oral hygiene at home is.
When the gum (gingival) tissues become too infected it can excentuate further issues with your overall health, tooth decay, tooth mobility and even loss, bad breath, and lead to any existing dental work to fail. A simple or several deep cleaning followed by a regularly scheduled cleaning maintenace is highly recommended to keep this disease at bay.
Removable Prosthesis
COMPLETE OR FULL DENTURE, PARTIAL DENTURE, NESBIT, FLIPPER OR STAYPLATE, FALSE TEETH
There are several adjustments from your perspective that are needed to get used to removable prosthesis. Dr. Nelson has found that these products can provide one of the greatest boosts to a person's confidence who has been going without a tooth or teeth. Our goal with any denture is to restore your smile, and make the teeth appear as natural and form fitting as possible. There are several types of removable prostheses:
Flipper/Stayplate/Interim
Partial Denture or Nesbit
Complete/Full Denture
Replaces 1-2 missing teeth. Essentially it is a retainer with teeth on it.
Fills in the spaces of missing teeth in an arch and latches on to your existing teeth. A partial usually covers both sides of the arch whereas a nesbit covers one side of the arch, which acts like a removable bridge.
Replaces all missing teeth in one arch. In the case of a complete denture, you have the option of placing overdentures, which are several implants embedded in your bone that allow the denture to snap into place. This approach is extremely effective greatly enhances the overall satisfaction with your dentures.
Restoration
AKA FILLINGS
Teeth can have fillings placed after removing decay or the damaged portion of the tooth. We use composite restorations that are tooth colored with the goal that the fillings are never noticeable. We do have at our disposal amalgam silver fillings, which still have their place and benefits in dentistry even today. Ask Dr. Nelson what would be right for you.
Root Canal
AKA ENDO, ENDODONTICS
Root canals are needed when a tooth is dying or dead. This is usually confirmed by heightened, lingering pain from hot or cold temperatures. Contrary to popular misunderstandings, root canals are not painful.
Treatment is to hollow out the inside of the tooth and place cleansing and filler material to plug the tooth. This eventually leads to relief and a loss of sensation to that tooth. If a tooth is more weakened than normal we may suggest adding a post and/or extra filling material ("build up") as well to support the tooth. We highly encourage a root canal tooth to have a crown placed it since root canal teeth naturally become brittle and susceptible to fracturing over time.
Sensitive Teeth Treatment
Sensitive teeth can alter how we enjoy ice cream or a cold beverage, whether we bleach our teeth, or if we travel to cold climates.
When we find the source of your teeth's sensitivity then we have the means of mitigating this issue. Treatments can vary from changing habits or toothpastes to particular desensitizing methods used in our practice
Surgical Procedures
BIOPSIES, BONE OR GINGIVAL CONDITIONING, FRENULECTOMIES, ETC.
Many surgical cases should be referred to an oral surgeon. However, there are times when your condition may not be as complex as you may believe. Dr. Nelson offers services like biopsies, bone or gingival conditioning, frenulectomies (relieving a tied tongue or lip), etc. Wisdom teeth removal and potential surgical extractions are also performed regularly in our office. Any of these needs can be addressed during an examination to best determine how you can be treated.
