Our Services

ROUTINE RESTORATIONS

  • Fillings

Usually bonded composite resin, tooth colored. Occasionally, we place silver fillings when appropriate and requested by the patient.

  • Crowns and onlays

Usually all porcelain or porcelain fused to metal; occasionally gold is recommended in areas where there is high stress or likelihood of porcelain breakage.

 

COSMETIC PROCEDURES

  • Bleaching

Home bleaching.

  • Cosmetic bonding

Composite resin bonded to teeth to close spaces, repair chipped or worn teeth, especially for teens or at the request of the patient. Less expensive than porcelain veneers but not as durable.

  • PORCELAIN VENEERS

All porcelain, custom laboratory processed restorations bonded to teeth to correct spaces, restore worn teeth or correct discolorations that cannot be remedied by bleaching.

 

TOOTH REPLACEMENT

  • IMPLANT AND CROWN

After an implant has been placed by a surgeon and fully integrated in the bone we will restore the tooth with an abutment and crown. While this is the most costly and time consuming tooth replacement procedure, it impacts only the tooth it is replacing.

  • FIXED BRIDGE

This may be placed in areas where an implant is not appropriate because of lack of bone or at the request of the patient. A bridge may replace one or more teeth and is anchored on the teeth on either side of the missing tooth/teeth.

  • REMOVABLE PARTIAL

This may be used to replace multiple teeth, when a bridge or implant/crown is not appropriate or affordable. Note that it is removable and attaches with clasps to remaining teeth.

 

TMJ/TMD Assessment and Treatment

The TMJ is the “temperomandibular joint” or jaw joint – the hinge in front the ear that moves when we open, close and chew. The TMJ is like the knee or the elbow. TMD is “temperomandibular dysfunction,” means pain, clicking, locking when we open, close or chew. Most of the time this pain is actually coming from muscles in the cheek area, in front of the TMJ or at the temples, like a headache. The pain may even be referred to areas around the teeth and feel like a toothache. There are many reasons for this pain – injury, posture problems, bite problems or clenching during stressful periods. Dr. Owen is trained to evaluate these problems and recommend treatment, which often involves wearing an orthotic splint, much like a nightguard, which is custom made and adjusted periodically to idealize the bite and relieve the muscles.

 

Nightguards

Provide protection of the teeth from clenching and grinding habits. These may be worn during the day as well as while sleeping if a patient is going through a particularly stressful period. Custom made and adjusted for maximum benefit. Similar to an orthotic but require fewer visits.

 

HYGIENISTS CARE

  • Prophy (cleaning)

For healthy gums or gums with healthy pocket depths and slight inflammation.

  • Therapeutic scale (Moderate cleaning)

Is recommended by our hygienists when there is an abundance of tartar (calculus) on the teeth or it has been a long time since the last cleaning.

  • Root debridement therapy RDT (deep cleaning)

Recommended when the pocket depths are 4-5 mm.  (Healthy is 1-3 mm).  There is generally tartar below the gumline seen in x-rays and/or felt when probing. RDT may or may not require anesthetic for comfort. It involves the hygienist using ultrasonics or hand instruments to clean the root surfaces and the soft tissues at the bottom of these deep pockets.

 

IMAGING

  • Digital X-RAYS

May be accomplished with small sensors to take x-rays similar to old fashioned film for individual teeth and also panoramic x-rays to show bone of the upper and lower jaw, sinuses, jaw joints, etc.  We have recently incorporated CariVu which utilizes infrared rather than radiation to aid in detecting decay and cracks.  All of these images, along with photographs, are stored on computer and may be emailed to specialists or to insurance companies. 

  • Intra-oral and digital photography

Have become as important as x-rays in documenting conditions of teeth.  This allows us to show you what we see and to submit information for insurance claims as well.

 

Occlusal (bite) evaluation and adjustment

Did you know that all the teeth should touch at the same time on closing, slightly heavier in the back than in the front? If not, there will be damage – cracking, breakage, loosening, wear. Combining digital technology and old fashioned carbon paper, this involves minor polishing of the teeth to reshape them and insure that all the teeth are sharing the load when clenching.  This is a very specific technique that Dr. Owen has training in and also teaches.