Preventive Care:

A healthy mouth is important to good health in general. Your personal home care and diet play an important role in reaching that goal. We typically recommend a dental prophylaxis or cleaning twice a year though that can vary from patient to patient. These cleanings are done by our Registered Dental Hygienist. The hygienist will remove accumulated plaque above and below the gumline, and remove hardened calculus. Cavity detection using x-rays are recommended annually as well. Advances in digital x-rays have reduced the exposure to very safe levels, even less than a day at the beach. Other dental devices can be helpful and are available in the office. Dr. Meadows recommends the use of an electric toothbrush and makes Sonicare toothbrushes available at cost.

Some patients may require more extensive care from the hygienist due to periodontal disease. These treatments will involve several additional visits, and may require that you follow up with more visits than are allowed by your insurance plan.

Restorative Care:

Even with the best care sometimes decay is present in the teeth which require the intervention of restorative care. Typically, the decay is removed and the tooth restored with either amalgam or composite material. Amalgam is a common and very familiar material used in restorations. It is made of a mixture of silver, mercury, and other metals. It is safe, long lasting, and of the least expensive of the restorative options. Composite is a tooth colored plastic material, and it may not be covered in the posterior teeth by insurance carriers. Each of the materials has advantages and disadvantages, and Dr. Meadows will discuss the options available in your situation, and help you choose the best option for you.

Endodontic Care:

Endodontics, or root canals, are required when the pulp chamber of the tooth has become infected. The procedure entails the removal of the nerve inside the tooth, the cleaning of the chamber, along with disinfection and sealing of the tooth. Sometimes the procedure can be performed in one visit, but occasionally it may require a temporary restoration and another visit to complete the treatment. All root canal teeth should have a crown placed to protect the tooth from fracturing.

Patients sometimes believe that extraction of the tooth is preferable to a root canal, but extraction should be a treatment of last resort. Problems with the adjacent teeth as well as other complications make it ultimately a more costly treatment. Root canals are very successful, and usually last a lifetime of use. Regular dental visits and good home care are instrumental in insuring the long term success of the treatment.

Crowns and Fixed Bridges:

A crown is placed over a tooth to both protect and strengthen it. The crown is made in a lab, and covers the entire surface of the tooth. Typically these are made from a gold alloy or porcelain fused to gold. However we also offer ceramic crowns, which may or may not be covered by your insurance carrier. Typically 50% of the charge is paid by insurance, with you responsible for the balance. In posterior teeth, the carrier may reduce the fee if porcelain of ceramic is used.

A bridge is a non-removable appliance that usually consists of a support crown, a pontic or false tooth to replace a missing tooth, and another support crown. The support crowns are anchors that help support the false tooth and give stability to the appliance.

An alternative to the fixed bridge is the dental implant. Dental implants are artificial roots implanted surgically in the jawbone. Dr. Meadows works in concert with a periodontist who implants an artificial root into the bone. After that root has healed sufficiently, Dr. Meadows will attach and complete the crown. The implant and final crown process can take up to 6-8 weeks, due to the healing time required for the implant to integrate into the bone.

Dentures and Partial Dentures:

A denture is a removable appliance that replaces missing teeth. A complete denture replaces all of the teeth in an arch, while a partial replaces several. Dr. Meadows can advise you of options for treatment.

Extractions:

The complete removal of a tooth can be done in the office, or Dr. Meadows may choose to refer you to a local Oral Surgeon for removal.

Cosmetic Dentistry:

We are proud to offer Lumineers, porcelain veneers that are as thin as a contact lens and are translucent to more close match your natural teeth. They usually are prepared and can be applied painlessly without anesthetic. Lumineers can both brighten and straighten teeth. They are considered elective by most insurance carriers, and consequently aren’t covered by your insurance. In addition in office and  at-home whitening treatments are available.