Procedures
Cleaning and Prevention
By far the most beneficial dental procedures are regular cleanings, exams, and prevention. Helping to educate our patients on the basics of good oral hygiene combined with regular professional dental maintenance is a recipe for a long-lasting smile.
Pediatric Dentistry
We love seeing the youngest members of the family and while we don’t specialize children’s dentistry, we certainly have our fair share of children as patients. Kids love watching cartoons on our ceiling mounted televisions! Our primary focus for children is in ensuring that we’re following the basic preventative measures, sealing teeth when necessary, regular cleanings to get kids used to going to the dentist and looking for trouble areas as they come up.
Most issues involving children and their teeth can be dealt with right here in our office. On those occasions where we identify areas of need that require the attention of a specialist in pedodontics or orthodontics we have close relationships with those specialists and can make the appropriate referrals with confidence.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Everything from basic tooth whitening to complete smile makeovers, we offer a wide range of options to help make your smile the best it can be. We will work with you to determine your desires and expectations and build a dental plan that makes sense both financially and esthetically to improve your quality of life.
Endodontics (Root Canals)
Endodontics primarily relates to the tissues, pulp, and nerves inside the tooth. Endodontic procedures involve removing the tissue from inside the tooth and the root system and filling the space so that the tooth is no longer hollow. A root canal may be necessary if the nerve tissue becomes inflamed causing a tooth ache. A tooth with a non-vital (dead) nerve may cause an infection (abscess) in the jaw and a root canal procedure removes the offending tissue and the source of the infection.
Signs that this may be an issue affecting your teeth include inflammation, gum tenderness, swelling, extreme tooth sensitivity, biting and chewing tenderness, tooth discoloration, and lymph node pain.
Fillings and Restorations
The most common dental restorative procedure you will likely undergo in your lifetime is a basic filling. A tooth needs a filling when decay moves through the outer layer of the tooth (the enamel) and begins to infect the softer inner part of the tooth (the dentin). At this point we remove the decay and use bonded tooth colored filling material to restore the shape and function of the tooth.
If a tooth is broken or if a filling would be large enough to sufficiently weaken the tooth, it becomes necessary to restore the tooth with a crown. A crown fits over the tooth and restores the shape and function of the tooth while adding additional strength to the tooth.
It is in your best interest as the patient to catch issues while they are minor. Tooth decay, cracks ,and other issues can worsen rapidly. This is why we encourage regular visits for cleanings and x-rays.
X-Rays and Imaging
Ina Dentistry uses the latest technology for X-Rays and Imaging. This includes completely digital equipment that uses much less radiation than older film units. Digital radiographs also provide a much sharper and more accurate image of your teeth.
We can even show you problem areas directly on our high definition screens in our treatment rooms. Together with our intra oral camera we can share with you issues that we are seeing thereby enhancing your education and involving you in the treatment planning process.
Second Opinions
If you are unsure about a dental diagnosis or if you have received a recommendation from another dentist and wish to have another party assess your condition we would be happy to give you our opinion on the matter.