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Tooth Whitening

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Tooth Whitening

Everybody loves a bright white smile, and there are a variety of products and procedures available to help improve the look of yours.

At Desert Dentistry we provide several approaches to getting that bright white smile:

  • In-office bleaching where a strong bleaching agent is placed over the isolated teeth and a special light is used to assist the bleaching material in lightening your teeth. This method is generally the strongest of the bleaching options.
  • At-home bleaching techniques involve making trays which fit into the mouth and these are then filled with bleaching materials. When worn for a few hours a day, noticeable results are seen generally within a few days to a couple weeks.
  • Whitening toothpastes which contain smaller levels of bleaching agents will gradually impact the whiteness of your smile over time.

Results vary from individual to individual and our dentists will be happy to assist you in deciding which method would work best for you, your teeth and the results that you desire.

TMD Splint

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TMD or occlusal splints are used to treat Temporomandibular Disorders and Bruxism or Clenching. Splint therapy reduces muscle pain by allowing your lower and upper jaw to come together without tooth contact. The TMD splint also prevents the wear caused by bruxing or grinding of teeth. When the splint has been worn for a few days it allows the jaw to function freely.

The Wand

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Our new dental anesthesia system combines state-of-the-art computer controlled injection technology with the dentist’s training to achieve more precise injections, improved drug delivery and greatly enhanced patient comfort levels. Patients who receive anesthesia via The Wand state it is virtually painless!

Tooth Colored Fillings

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Tooth Colored Fillings

When you need a small filling but don’t want ugly silver in your teeth, direct resin or white fillings are the way to go. Their most obvious advantage is beauty – a well-done white filling can be indistinguishable from the natural tooth. They have many advantages. White fillings can change the appearance of teeth, strengthen teeth, and more conservatively treat teeth – all things that silver fillings cannot do.

White fillings are bonded to tooth structure – this means that they actually integrate with the tooth, thereby sealing the gap between tooth and filling and adding their strength to the tooth. This allows for the more varied uses of resin beyond just regular fillings – like placing thin layers over front teeth to change their color, shape or general appearance; or repairing small chips or fractures in teeth; or even being placed in the grooves of teeth to prevent decay from ever occurring. Bonded white fillings are an extremely beautiful advance in the creation of fantastic and healthy smiles.

Specter Caries Detector

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Specter Caries DetectorEarly caries detection has been cited as key to optimal prevention and treatment of dental disease. Providing the best possible service to our patients, Desert Dentistry obtained a brand new, high tech tool that allows us to find cavities in their very early stages. Using the Air Techniques’ Specter Caries Detector we can detect early-stage enamel caries and hard-to-detect fissure caries so that they can be treated in their infancy saving you the patient both time and money in future dental treatment would be more invasive and costly.

Sensitive Teeth

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Sensitive Teeth

For millions of people, sensitive teeth can make life miserable. The pain and discomfort make even favorite hot or cold foods impossible to enjoy. In many cases, sensitive teeth can be successfully treated bringing long sought after relief.

Cavities, fractures, worn enamel or an exposed root can cause teeth to be sensitive. Enamel, the strongest substance in the body, covers and protects the crown or exposed portion of the tooth. The enamel covering stops at the gumline where there is only cementum to cover the tooth dentin. If the protective blanket of the gums recedes, the underlying dentin can easily become exposed causing sensitivity to hot and cold.

Sedation Dentistry

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Sedation Dentistry

For many in Arizona, going to the dentist is a needlessly frightening event, even though dentistry has changed dramatically in the past years. With modern technology, a visit to the dentist can now be relaxing and life changing. Unfortunately, this is not enough for those who avoid the dentist due to fear. Sedation dentistry techniques can make treatment pain free for these individuals and reduce what would take multiple sessions to a single visit.

With the use of oral medications, patients can now have their dental care accomplished while they are totally relaxed and absolutely comfortable. Sedation at Desert Dentistry can give you back that confident smile you may have thought impossible. Sedation is available at select offices, please call us for additional information.

Sealants

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Sealants

A dental sealant is a thin, plastic film that is painted on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth — the molars and premolars — to prevent tooth decay.

Tooth decay is caused by the bacteria found in dental plaque (the white film that forms on a person’s teeth). In general, the longer dental plaque remains on a tooth’s surface the more likely it will be able to form a cavity. The idea behind brushing teeth is that dental plaque that has accumulated on a tooth’s surface is scrubbed off. Some teeth however, related to aspects associated with their anatomy, are harder to clean than others.

Some back teeth, especially molars, can be difficult for a person to clean because the grooves found on their chewing surface (the tooth’s “pits and fissures”) are deep and narrow. Even though the person brushes their teeth not all of the dental plaque that is present is cleansed off because the individual bristles of their toothbrush are simply too large to gain access into the depths of the tooth’s grooves. Because some plaque has not been cleaned away, the tooth is at risk for the formation of decay.

By bonding plastic resin (the dental sealant) into the grooves of a tooth a dentist can create a tooth surface that is smoother. There are no longer any locations on the chewing surface of the tooth that the bristles of a toothbrush can’t access and clean. Since dental plaque can be removed more easily and effectively, there is much less of a chance that tooth decay will form.

Root Canals

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Root Canals

Root canal treatment (also referred to as endodontic therapy) is a simple dental procedure with little or no discomfort where the nerve to the tooth is removed from the internal aspect of the tooth. The remaining nerve chamber and canals are then sterilized and sealed. Following root canal treatment it is prudent to place a crown on the tooth to restore its strength and protect its longevity. The only alternative treatment when a nerve is irreversibly damaged is to extract the tooth. A dental implant or fixed bridge are excellent alternatives for replacement.

There are many reasons that a root canal may be required. The most common is extensive decay in a tooth which allows the bacteria to infect the nerve. The nerve may be damaged due to trauma from a blow to a tooth, especially front teeth. Back teeth commonly suffer nerve damage from a deep fracture within the tooth. This is especially common in teeth with large silver-mercury fillings. Repeated dental work over the years can lead to a nerve which develops symptoms and requires endodontic therapy. In rare situations, the immune system can malfunction and a tooth will start to have resorption for no apparent reason. Root canal treatment may be required to halt the resorptive process.

How can you tell if a tooth needs a root canal? Occasionally, no symptoms may exist especially if the nerve has died. Dental X-rays and vitality tests can normally detect such abscessed teeth. Usually symptoms of a dead nerve include sensitivity to cold and hot, spontaneous aching or severe pain, tenderness to chewing, or a bump or swelling in the area of the tooth.

The best way to avoid the need for root canal treatment is regular dental examination and X-rays, and prompt restoration of any teeth with decay or weakened structure that could fracture.

Purified Water

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Purified WaterHave you ever wondered how sterile the water is, or where it comes from, during your dental treatment? Well… rest easy because at Desert Dentistry we use a distilled water system. That means that in every treatment room there is a water bottle attached to a water line purification system. The bottle contains distilled water. This is the safest state of the art technology available in density today. In all areas of our practice we strive to provide the finest care available.

© 2012 Desert Dentistry – Phoenix Arizona Dentists