Implants are usually made of titanium and are placed in the area normally occupied by the root, which acts as a foundation for an crown or permanent bridge. Not everyone is a candidate for a dental implant, however. For a successful implant, a candidate must have proper bone density and have a strong immune system. In all cases, dental implants require strict oral hygiene. Implants are so well designed that they mimic the look and feel of natural teeth. Cutting the gums and sutures are not necessary to prepare the area for the implant. The implant can be placed in about thirty minutes. Following the procedure, a period of time is required for the implant to integrate and for the crown to placed over it. Local anesthetic is all that is needed to have a pain free procedure and most people report no postoperative discomfort. Implants have a success rate of about 96%. Our fees are very competitive. Call us at 770-387-9249 for a consultation.
Wisdom Teeth Extractions We use a local anesthetic for the process of extracting wisdom teeth. After the wisdom tooth extraction you may have some of the following symptoms: bleeding, swelling, pain, and skin discoloration. As for complications, they vary widely. A dry socket is what appears when a blood clot has failed to form or has been dislodged, and paresthesia, the inability to feel the tongue, lip, or chin as a result of damaging the nearby nerve. Wisdom tooth extraction recovery includes some simple requests that will make you feel better: to bite gently, to rest with your head slightly raised, to apply an ice pack for a few minutesn on and a few off for the first twenty four hours, not to do physical effort, to try to relax, and to avoid solid foods. In fact you won’t be able to eat solid foods well the first several days, so, enjoy a thin soup or a pudding. Widsom tooth extraction care also involves renouncing to straw because it is harmful as well as is smoking. You may rinse your mouth with warm salt water several times a day to reduce swelling and pain. Wisdom tooth extraction recovery should involve careful tooth brushing to keep the area clean. Back to top >> Teeth Whitening Whitening procedures effectively restore the smiles of people with discolored, dull, or stained teeth. The dentin is the darker tissue of your teeth. It can become exposed as the outer layer of enamel is worn away by the effects of aging or high consumption of things like caffeine and tobacco. Food particles are naturally attracted to a tooth's enamel by a certain protein. Products like coffee and tea, berries and soy sauce are notorious for staining teeth. Over time, teeth actually become more absorbent and vulnerable to staining from food and other substances. One type of stain-caused by traumatic injuries, medications and fluorosis-actually begins inside the tooth; brushing and flossing don't help. Another type of stain-one that can be more easily attacked by brushing, flossing and rinsing-is caused by external factors such as foods. More and more people are choosing tooth-whitening procedures to reverse the effects of aging and damage from food and tobacco stains. You should know, some commercially available "whitening toothpastes" can be effective at removing stains and making teeth a few shades brighter. However, many of these products have abrasive substances that can actually wear away your tooth's enamel.
Call Dr. Slocum for our Professional whitening procedures. Whitening agents actually change the color of your teeth, but only are effective on certain types of stains. For example, bleaching agents have a difficult time removing brownish or grayish stains. These products also are not as effective on pitted or badly discolored teeth, or on restorations such as crowns, bridges, bonding and tooth-colored fillings (porcelain veneers or dental bonding may be more appropriate in this case). Professional whitening performed by our office is considered to be the strongest and safest method; done properly, tooth whitening can last as long as five years. Over-the-counter whitening systems are somewhat effective as long as they are monitored and directions followed closely.
Orthodontics for children is an extremely important aspect in the dental health of your child. But orthodontics with children is quite different than with adults or even teens. With children, if orthodontic treatment is started early enough, the growth of the mouth can be guided to create the best occlusion possible. With adults and teens undergoing treatment it is merely a matter of forcing the teeth into the correct position. Dr. Slocum takes care of infants who’ve received their baby first tooth to up to their teens. Baby dental care is more about preventive work than anything else. We can teach parents about how to care for their child's health through oral hygiene and special attention. Find out more when you come see us!
Back to top >> Emergencies seen same day
Whether it is a toothache, lost filling, or trauma – Dr. Slocum can handle your dental emergencies. We understand these situations can happen at any time and a busy office is not always able to accommodate. Our goal at is to care for all of your dental needs, no matter what time of day. If you do not have a primary care dentist, we are confident that we can provide your general dentistry needs. In addition, after hours availability is a necessity when it comes to getting you, or your child out of pain. Call us today for any of your emergencies needs -(770) 547-4404. Back to top >>
Molar Root Canal Therapy Once the pulp is damaged, if left untreated, infection can build up at the root tip in the jawbone, forming an abscess. An abscess can destroy the bone surrounding the tooth and cause pain. The procedure of performing a root canal is as follows. First, an opening is made through the back of a front tooth or the crown of a molar or pre-molar. After the pulp is removed (a pulpectomy), the pulp chamber and root canals are cleaned, enlarged and shaped in preparation for being filled. A rubbery material called gutta-percha is inserted into each of the canals and is often sealed into cement. Sometimes a metal or plastic post is placed in the canal for structural support. As a final step in the canal for structural support a crown is usually placed over the tooth to restore is natural shape and appearance. . Back to top >> Porcelain Veneers Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain or plastic cemented over the front of your teeth to change their color or shape. Veneers are used on teeth with uneven surfaces or are chipped, discolored, oddly shaped, unevenly spaced or crooked. Little or no anesthesia is needed. Veneers have a longer life expectancy and color stability than bonding, and highly resist permanent staining from coffee, tea, or even cigarette smoking. Typically, veneers entail at least three appointments: Diagnosis and Treatment Planning, Preparation, and Bonding. During the tooth preparation visit, usually lasting one to two hours, the teeth are lightly buffed to allow for the small added thickness of the veneer. Usually, about a half a millimeter of the tooth is removed, which may require a local anesthetic. During the same visit, a mold is taken of the teeth, and sent to the laboratory for the fabrication of the veneers. During the final "bonding" visit, also about one or two hours, the veneers are placed on the tooth surface with water or glycerin on the teeth to check their fit and get a sense of the shade or color. While the veneers are resting on your teeth, they can be adjusted with various shades of cement to match the color of your teeth. To apply the veneer, the tooth is cleansed with specific chemicals to achieve a bond. Once a special cement is sandwiched between the veneer and tooth, a visible light beam, or laser, causes a catalyst to be released, hardening the cement. After a two-week period of adjustment that follows, you may notice the change of size and shape in your teeth. It is important to brush and floss daily. After one or two weeks, you'll return for a follow-up appointment. Porcelain veneers are reasonable facsimiles of natural teeth, not perfect replacements. Its not uncommon to see slight variations in the color of porcelain veneers upon close inspection, as this occurs even in natural teeth. For certain patients no preparation of the teeth may be necessary. Back to top >> |
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