Treatment We Offer

Crowns & Implant Crowns

If you want a smile that's your crowning glory, you may need a crown to cover a tooth and restore it to its normal shape and size. A crown can make your tooth stronger and improve its appearance. It can cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there isn't enough tooth structure left to support chewing. It can be used to attach a bridge, protect a weak tooth from breaking or restore one that's already broken. A crown is a good way to cover teeth that are discolored or badly shaped. If you’re missing any teeth you can have implant supports put in your mouth and have a crown placed in the missing space. It’s a relatively easy process that requires some healing before completion but the end result is just the same. You will have a beautiful crown in place of your missing tooth and complete you natural smile again. If your dentist recommends a crown, it's probably to correct one of these conditions. Your dentist's primary concern, like yours, is helping you keep your teeth healthy and your smile bright -- literally, your crowning glory.

Cosmetic Dentistry

A smile can be the most eye-catching feature of a face. With dentistry's many advances, you no longer have to settle for stained, chipped, or misshapen teeth. You now have choices that can help you smile with confidence. Even the most subtle change in your smile can make a dramatic difference in the way you look and feel about yourself. Talk to Dr. Phelan about the options most suitable for you, what your expectations are and the dental fees involved. Here are some of your options: • Tooth whitening (bleaching) brightens teeth that are discolored or stained. Bleaching may be done completely in the dental office or the dentist may dispense a system for you to use at home. • Bonding can improve the appearance of teeth that are chipped, broken, cracked, stained, or have spaces between them. With bonding, tooth-colored materials are applied, or bonded, to the tooth surface. • Enamel shaping involves modifying teeth to improve their appearance by removing or contouring enamel. The process, which often is combined with bonding, usually is quick and comfortable and the results can be seen immediately. • Veneers are thin, custom-made shells designed to cover the front side of teeth. Made of tooth-colored materials, veneers are used to treat spaces between teeth and teeth that are chipped or worn, permanently stained, poorly shaped or slightly crooked. • Braces are not just for kids. Orthodontics may be needed if teeth are crooked, crowded or do not meet properly. If your dentist thinks you should see a specialist for treatment, he or she will refer you to an orthodontist.

Dental Fillings

Sometimes your discomfort is not as serious as it seems. When we identify the decay in your mouth early enough, we can restore your mouth back to complete health with composite fillings. This is a fairly simple procedure that is normally performed in one visit depending on how many fillings you need. We do not offer mercury amalgam fillings in our office. In fact, Dr. Phelan may need to replace large amalgam fillings you received in the past to prevent your teeth from fracturing in the future incurring much unneeded expense for you. Ask Dr. Phelan if any of the amalgam fillings in your mouth should be replaced. Prevention is one of our most used words when talking about your oral health and the most important word when trying to save you money in the long run.

Periodontal Disease & Treatment

Periodontal disease is an infection of the tissues that support your teeth. Your gum tissue is not attached to the teeth as high as it may seem. There is a very shallow v-shaped crevice called a sulcus between the tooth and gums. Periodontal diseases attack just below the gum line in the sulcus, where they cause the attachment of the tooth and its supporting tissues to break down. As the tissues are damaged, the sulcus develops into a pocket: generally, the more severe the disease, the greater the depth of the pocket. Periodontal diseases are classified according to the severity of the disease. The two major stages are gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is a milder and reversible form of periodontal disease that only affects the gums. Gingivitis may lead to more serious, destructive forms of periodontal disease called periodontitis. Some factors increase the risk of developing periodontal disease: • Tobacco smoking or chewing • Systemic diseases such as diabetes • Some types of medication such as steroids, some types of anti-epilepsy drugs, cancer therapy drugs, some calcium channel blockers and oral contraceptives • Bridges that no longer fit properly • Crooked teeth • Fillings that have become defective • Pregnancy or use of oral contraceptives Several warning signs that can signal a problem: • Gums that bleed easily • Red, swollen, tender gums • Gums that have pulled away from the teeth • Persistent bad breath or bad taste • Permanent teeth are loose or separating (Drifting apart) • Any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite • Any change in the fit of partial dentures It is possible to have periodontal disease and have no warning signs. That is one reason why regular dental checkups and periodontal examinations are very important. Treatment methods depend upon the type of disease and how far the condition has progressed. Good oral hygiene at home is essential to help keep periodontal disease from becoming more serious or recurring. You don’t have to lose teeth to periodontal disease. Brush, clean between your teeth, eat a balanced diet, and schedule regular dental visits for a lifetime of healthy smiles.

Root Canal Therapy

Not too long ago, if you had a tooth with a diseased nerve, you'd probably lose that tooth. Today, with a special dental procedure called a root canal therapy you may save that tooth. Inside each tooth is the pulp which provides nutrients and nerves to the tooth, it runs like a thread down through the root. When the pulp is diseased or injured, the pulp tissue dies. If you don't remove it, your tooth gets infected and you could lose it. After the dentist removes the pulp, the root canal is cleaned and sealed off to protect it. Then your dentist places a crown over the tooth to help make it stronger. Most of the time, a root canal is a relatively simple procedure with little or no discomfort involving one to three visits. Best of all, it can save your tooth and your smile!

Dental Bridges

If you're missing one or more teeth, you may notice a difference or difficulty in chewing and speaking. There are options to help restore your smile. Bridges help maintain the shape of your face, as well as alleviating the stress in your bite by replacing missing teeth. Sometimes called a fixed partial denture, a bridge replaces missing teeth with artificial teeth, looks great, and literally bridges the gap where one or more teeth may have been. The restoration can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain or a combination of these materials and is bonded onto surrounding teeth for support. Unlike a removable bridge, which you can take out and clean, a fixed bridge can only be removed by a dentist. An implant bridge attaches artificial teeth directly to the jaw or under the gum tissue. Depending on which type of bridge your dentist recommends, its success depends on its foundation. So it's very important to keep your remaining teeth healthy and strong.

Dentures

If you’ve lost all of your natural teeth, whether from periodontal disease, tooth decay or injury, complete dentures can replace your missing teeth and your smile. Replacing missing teeth will benefit your appearance and your health. Without support from the denture, facial muscles sag, making a person look older. You’ll be able to chew, eat, and speak—things that people often take for granted until their natural teeth are lost. There are various types of complete dentures. A conventional full denture is made and placed in the patient’s mouth after the remaining teeth are removed and tissues have healed which may take several months. An immediate complete denture is inserted as soon as the remaining teeth are removed. The dentist takes measurements and makes models of the patient’s jaws during a preliminary visit. With immediate dentures, the denture wearer does not have to be without teeth during the healing period. Removable partial dentures usually consist of replacement teeth attached to pink or gum-colored support bases, which are connected by metal framework. Even if you wear full dentures, you still must take good care of your mouth. Brush your gums, tongue and palate every morning with a soft-bristled brush before you insert your dentures to stimulate circulation in your tissues and help remove plaque. You also need to have annual cancer screenings and let us professionally clean your dentures for you to keep them looking good as new. We can also inspect the denture to prevent losing teeth from it and adjusting its fit if needed.

Tooth Extractions

What should you expect when you are scheduled for a tooth extraction? Your dentist will numb the area to lessen any discomfort. After the extraction, your dentist will advise you of what post extraction regimen to follow, in most cases a small amount of bleeding is normal. Avoid anything that might prevent normal healing. It is usually best not to smoke or rinse your mouth vigorously, or drink through a straw for 24 hours. These activities could dislodge the clot and delay healing or possibly cause dry socket, which can be quite uncomfortable. For the first few days, if you must rinse, rinse your mouth gently afterward, for pain or swelling, apply a cold cloth or an ice bag. Ask your dentist about pain medication. You can brush and floss the other teeth as usual. But don't clean the teeth next to the tooth socket.

Sealants

Dental sealants act as a barrier, protecting your child’s teeth against decay-causing bacteria. The sealants are usually applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (premolars and molars) where decay occurs most often. Adults may have sealants done too if needed. The cost of sealants is much less than the cost of fillings. Many parents opt to have sealants done on their children as a preventive measure to save money on fillings in the future.

Night guards & Mouth guards

Night guards are durable lightweight mouth guards made for our patients who grind their teeth. We also make snoring devices, or NTI devices, to help our patients stop snoring. We also make them to help the spouse of the snorer sleep at night as well. We manufacture custom fitted, light weight mouth guards for adolescents and adults. They really fit nicely and they seem to be used more because they allow better breathing and don’t affect your speech as much as larger, bulkier mouth guards purchased from a sporting goods store. Mouth guards should be worn during any activity that could result in a blow to the face or mouth. A properly fitted mouth guard can help prevent broken teeth and injuries to the lips, tongue, face or jaw. Ask us about having a custom mouth guard made specifically for you. This will fit comfortably and offer the best protection for your smile.

Family Dentistry

Adults and children have different needs when it comes to dental care. Adults want the best technology, the most informed doctors and the highest quality care and kids want to be comfortable, entertained and respected. Here, we understand these differences, and we address them all. We have extensive experience working with both adults and children and we will make your dental experience more enjoyable for everyone.

Digital X-Rays

We offer in-office digital x-rays for your convenience. Digital x-rays are computer-generated images. These images require up to 90% less radiation than with conventional film type x-rays. Instead of using the traditional silver-oxide x-ray film that must be developed and then fixed in caustic and environmentally damaging solutions, the new system takes pictures via a small phosphorus plate that gets read by a digital developer and almost immediately we have your images in the treatment room. Feel free to contact us for more details, or to make an appointment!

Anxiety Free Dentistry

Do you ever get nervous just thinking about going to the dentist? You might be worrying unnecessarily. With dentistry's many advances, diagnosis and treatment gets more sophisticated and comfortable all the time. It's often best to share your anxiety. If you're tense or anxious, tell your dentist and the dental staff. Getting your concerns out in the open will let your dentist adapt the treatment to your needs. Try to choose a time for your dental visit when you're less likely to be rushed or under pressure. For some people, that means an early-morning appointment or an after work appointment. If the sound of the drill bothers you, bring a portable audio player and headset so you can listen to your favorite music. During the dental visit you might try visualizing yourself relaxing on a warm beach. These positive techniques work wonders for many. Try them on your next dental visit.