• There are several options when it comes to restoring damaged or decayed teeth. Our office provides both composite resin (white) fillings and amalgam (silver) fillings.
• If you’re like most patients, you may choose white composite fillings that match your natural teeth because of their improved esthetics.

• A dental crown is a tooth shaped “cap” that is placed over your tooth to help restore its shape, size, and strength and improve its appearance. Crowns can be made of many different types of materials such as gold, porcelain fused to metal, or all “ceramic” (tooth colored). Crowns may be required to protect a weak tooth from breaking down or to hold together parts of a cracked tooth. They can also be used to restore an already broken tooth, a tooth that has been severely worn down or that has a filling that is too large to support the tooth anymore.
• If you’ve lost a tooth but aren’t able to get a dental implant, a bridge may be the treatment for you! A bridge is two crowns that fit onto the teeth on either of the space. These crowns are fused together by an artificial tooth in the middle. A bridge is permanently cemented and remains fixed in place. It is a great option for patients missing a single or multiple teeth with adjacent teeth that have fillings on them as it offers protection to those teeth as well as replacing the missing tooth for a more functional and esthetic appearance.

WHAT TO EXPECT

• First appointment – Tooth or teeth will be numbed appropriately and will be prepared for crowns. This usually involves reducing the size of the tooth to account for the crown or bridge that will provide a shell over the top. An impression will then be taken and a temporary crown or bridge will be fabricated, cemented on temporarily and polished. Your next appointment is usually in two weeks.
• Second appointment – The final crown or bridge will be tried in and assessed for function, comfort, and aesthetic approval. If all is approved, the crown or bridge will be cemented permanently.

Veneers are thin shells of ceramic porcelain that are bonded to the surface of teeth. Veneers are often used in patient’s who desire to improve the shape, size, discoloration and even position of the natural tooth.If you have teeth that appear too small, uneven, chipped, or have dark stains, veneers may be a great choice for you!

WHAT TO EXPECT 

• First appointment – A comprehensive evaluation is completed by taking impressions and photographs, and discussing aesthetic goals. A mold is then made and a customized wax up of the final veneer design is fabricated to be presented to the patient for approval at the following appointment.
• Second appointment – Once the smile design is approved, we minimally prepare the teeth (sometimes even without the use of anesthetics) and transfer the wax up to the patient’s mouth. These temporary teeth are made of a plastic resin material and act as a trial run for us to see how they fit, feel and look.
• Third appointment – If the test run was a success and we are happy with the new smile, final impressions are taken and the patient is sent home with temporaries that will mimic the final veneers. The laboratory will then begin to fabricate your customized veneers. A custom shade appointment with the laboratory may also be recommended.
• Fourth appointment – Your next appointment is usually in two weeks. At this appointment the veneers are tried in, evaluated for fit and aesthetics and, once approved, cemented in permanently. Final photos are taken.

When a cavity is left undetected or untreated the bacteria causing the decay can advance deeper into the tooth and into the nerve space. This results in pain and infection and will eventually cause the tooth to die and lead to an abscess if not addressed.

Signs and symptoms you may need a root canal:

• Spontaneous pain even when you’re not eating or drinking
• Pain that wakes you up at night
• Darkening or discoloration of a tooth
• Recurring swelling of the gums
• Extreme sensitivity to cold or heat that lingers

WHAT TO EXPECT

For most patients, a root canal can be performed in a single visit. Think of the procedure as a filling that extends to the very tip of the tooth root. For this reason, the appointment takes slightly longer because the length of the tooth needs to be confirmed. Once the root canal is completed and the tooth is repaired you now have a filling from the top to the bottom of the tooth. In most cases we then recommend protecting the tooth with a crown to help prevent fracture.

During your root canal:

• After the tooth is fully anesthetized, the infected or dead nerve tissue will be cleaned out to disinfect the nerve space. This space is then filled with a restorative material. Expect an x-ray during this appointment to confirm all the roots have been properly filled.
• If your tooth was severely infected, we may opt to place a medication inside the tooth for some time before completing the root canal in order to effectively decontaminate the area. If this is the case, a temporary filling will be placed between appointments.

After your root canal:

• After treatment you may experience aching pain similar to before treatment but this usually only lasts for two to three days and is generally managed by over the counter pain medication if required.

Sometimes a tooth must be removed due to various issues. Some teeth are extracted because they are severely decayed; others may have advanced bone loss or have broken in a way that cannot be repaired. Other teeth may need to be extracted because they are poorly positioned in the mouth (such as wisdom teeth).

The removal of a single tooth can lead to issues related to your chewing ability, jaw joints and adjacent/opposing teeth. To avoid these complications Dr Brenton and Dr Kearns will discuss replacement options for the extracted tooth.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The doctor will numb the area with local anesthetic. During the extraction it is normal to feel a lot of pressure. Sometimes if the tooth is badly broken a small cut is placed in the gums and minor bone removal may be required and/or the tooth may be sectioned into pieces.If this is required you may feel vibration similar to having a filling.

• For more information, check out our Instructions after Oral Surgery.

Partial, Complete, Implant-retained and Implant-supported Dentures

• Both full and partial dentures help return function and appearance to a patient’s smile by providing support to the facial muscles, along with the ability to enjoy eating and speaking in comfort.
• Implant-retained partials and implant-retained complete dentures involve surgically placed implants that have specialized attachments that help secure the denture in position. This type of denture is removable but provides significant improvement in quality of life for our patients.
• Implant-supported dentures are teeth attached directly to multiple implants in order to create a small bridge or to reconstruct an entire arch of teeth. These types of dentures provide the most natural and effective bite for patients and do not move around in the mouth. Your dentist can remove them but they are otherwise permanently attached.
• There are many incredible options related to implants and DrBrenton and Dr Kearns will happily explain multiple options that may be of interest to you!

• In some situations it is impossible to save a tooth or perhaps it was never there to begin with! If so, a dental implant may be the right treatment for you. Dental implants are made using surgical grade titanium that is compatible with bone, actually fusing with your existing jaw– bone to form a solid anchor similar to the root of a tooth.
• The fusion of bone to implant is referred to as osseo integration. This process usually takes 4-6 months then a custom tooth is made to match your surrounding teeth that secures directly onto the implant. Or, you may be using your new implant(s) to add an attachment that clips into your denture, or perhaps you will use multiple implants as a foundation to permanently attach a bridge or a full arch of teeth. The best part of implant dentistry is the ability to protect neighboring teeth from unnecessary crown preparations.
• You are a good candidate for dental implants if you are in good health, have healthy gums and enough bone to anchor the implants in the jaw, and you are committed to taking care of the implanted teeth with regular brushing and flossing.
• Some people who have limited jaw bone may still be a candidate for implants, but first the bone must be improved using a bone graft.
• For more information, check out our Implant Treatment Instructions

Invisalign, or clear orthodontic therapy, is a proven way to achieve healthy tooth movement with ease of brushing and flossing, and without the unsightly appearance of metal brackets.

Most people are great candidates for this treatment:

• Closes gaps between teeth
• Rotates teeth for proper alignment
• Pushes teeth in for smile harmony

WHAT TO EXPECT

• Consultation for the dentist to assess if you are a candidate (15 mins)
• If you are a candidate, the next step will involve photographs and taking impressions of your teeth as well as your bite (30-45 mins). These records are then sent to our partners at Invisalign. Two weeks later your ClinCheck will be available for review at our office. This is a 3D video produced by the Invisalign team that shows the step-by-step movement of the teeth at every aligner change. It will also show us the estimated treatment time. Once approved, your aligners will be fabricated and usually shipped to us within 4-6 weeks for patient delivery.
• Your next visit will involve us adding small attachments (or tooth colored buttons) to your teeth to act as anchors during movement. Because they are tooth colored, they are hardly noticeable. Any contouring will also be completed in between the teeth to create space for movement. Your first trays will be inserted and you will be instructed on how to put in and remove the trays, as well as how to care for them.
• Your next appointment will be in two weeks to assess the treatment and give you the next set of trays.
• Generally after that we will see you once every 4-6 weeks until treatment is complete. As long as you wear the trays 22 hours a day, your treatment will be successful.
• Included in every full Invisalign treatment are three refinements. This will help tweak the final results to ensure every tooth is in the desired position. Once alignment is complete clear retainers will be fabricated and final photos will be taken.

Your lifestyle appears on your teeth; years of drinking coffee, tea, soda or red wine as well as smoking can darken your teeth. Our teeth also darken as we age. Whitening can be done to remove years of stain and discoloration and help put the sparkle back in your smile!

After an exam and cleaning have already been completed, we will prepare you for a whitening procedure by having you brush with Sensodyne for one week prior to the whitening. This will help to relieve any sensitivity, which may be a short-term result of professional whitening.

At TUSK Dental we offer two whitening options based on your needs and preference.

Boost in-office whitening

Are you getting married? Going on vacation? Most people choose this quick, effortless option if you prefer to leave the office with a bright white smile in as little as 2 hours!

WHAT TO EXPECT

1-1.5 hour treatment

A hydrogen peroxide solution gel will be carefully and evenly applied to your teeth, taking careful precautions to avoid the gums. The solution will be left on the teeth for 15-20 minute intervals and then washed away. Usually after three intervals your teeth will have lifted three to four levels on the shade guide!

A vitamin E relief gel will be applied to your teeth and the dentist will review some post-op care with you.

Sensitivity is normal even if your teeth are normally not sensitive, but this is only temporary. Continuing with Sensodyne toothpaste will help.

At home trays with whitening kit

If in office whitening is not your preference, the team at TUSK Dental can make thin, clear plastic trays, which can be filled with whitening solution for you to wear at home (usually during the night).

WHAT TO EXPECT

15-30 min

• First appointment – Models will be taken of your teeth and thin, clear trays are fabricated
• Second appointment – Trays are delivered and you will be provided with instructions along with your whitening kit

For more information, check out our Whitening Instructions