Services

From preventive to restorative dental care, we offer a wide range of services.

Fillings can be done in either amalgam (silver) or composite (tooth colored). When decay is evident on either the biting service or the sides of the teeth and there is enough tooth structure left, we can repair the damage done by decay with a filling. Silver fillings done on the posterior (back) teeth serve a purpose to fix the decay problem and will last anywhere from 10-20 years if done properly.

They are stable and provide a satisfactory cure to dental decay, but over time will sometimes turn the remaining tooth structure dark due to inherent materials within the amalgam. This usually is not a problem, but sometimes creates unsightly smiles. Composite fillings are done to either repair new decay or replace old silver fillings that are unsightly, are leaking, or have worn badly. Composite fillings are technically demanding and do take longer to do than silver fillings, but as can be seen the results are very dramatic.

A bridge  is a custom device anchored to adjoining teeth that replaces one or more missing teeth. When a tooth is lost and is replaced with a bridge, the teeth on either side must be prepared as crowns to serve as abutments to hold the replacement teeth in place. Losing a permanent tooth- whether it is due to periodontal (gum) disease, trauma or injury can lead to many serious problems for your neighboring teeth.

Since the chewing forces and support are changed, the remaining teeth may begin to shift. The opposing tooth above or below the lost tooth will move out of its socket and accelerate periodontal disease and further break down bone structure. A bridge will restore the natural bite, keep incorrect forces on the remaining teeth from occurring and enhance your smile, speech and function. Different types of fixed bridges are available, and these can be discussed with Dr. Annie.

A crown, sometimes called a "cap", is a tooth-like covering placed over a carefully prepared existing tooth. These crowns are usually fabricated from a substructure of metal or zirconia and covered with porcelain for strength and esthetics. Sometimes we will make crowns from a high gold alloy if esthetics is not a concern and there is a need for extreme strength.

Crowns are usually used when a tooth is fractured or broken, there is no longer sufficient tooth structure to support a filling or when a large portion of the tooth has been damaged by decay. Cracked teeth can occur from many reasons also and can be extremely sensitive to hot or cold and/or chewing. It is important to treat these teeth early so as not to allow nerve death and further necessary treatment. Doing an esthetic crown is an art that combines creativity (artform) with procedural skill to create a beautiful yet totally functional restoration.

The word periodontal means "around the tooth". This area of dentistry specializes in treating gum disease. Many people have been diagnosed with some level of gum problems. It's possible to even have periodontal disease without apparent symptoms. Treatment is the first step in curing gum disease and preventing further breakdown. Healthy gum tissue fits tightly around a tooth like a turtleneck sweater.

Periodontal diseases are infections that affect the tissues and bone that support the teeth. As the disease progresses, this "collar" loosens and bacteria and tartar (calculus) hide deep in defects around the teeth. Tooth brushing nor flossing alone cannot remove the deposits. Left untreated, periodontal diseases will eventually lead to gum pain and bleeding, bad breath, painful chewing, teeth shifting and finally tooth loss.

Regular dental checkups and periodic exams are very important. Our highly trained and specialized dental hygienists can effectively remove damaging plaque and calculus and clean the area around affected teeth. This will help healthy gums stay healthy and treat infected gums to begin the healing process. They will also give our patients thorough hygiene instructions to keep further periodontal disease under control.

They are wonderful at motivating our patients to maintain healthy gums that lead to a healthy overall physical condition as there is a proven link between gum disease and other health concerns such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease among others.

Professional Tooth Whitening also know as "bleaching" is a technique where the patient's own teeth are lightened using a compound that is very safe, but has been proven to actually make yellow teeth whiter. There are materials that are sold over the counter to also whiten teeth, but the material we use is more powerful and the technique specialized to quickly and safely whiten teeth within one week.

Special fitting clear trays are fabricated by the dentist and gels are given to the patient that also has soothing fluoride to reduce sensitivity. The gels are applied by the patient in the comfort of their home into the trays and worn either for an hour during the day or overnight. Different formulations exist for day use or night use that develops the best strength of bleach particular to each patient's condition. The gels work by breaking down allowing oxygen to enter the enamel and dentin and the stains are "dissolved". More information is available from our staff here at the office.

Dental Implants are a wonderful option for replacing a lost tooth or multiple teeth. They are titanium cylinders that are surgically placed in the upper or lower jaw to function as a sturdy anchor for replacement teeth. The missing tooth's roots are replaced by the implant. A single tooth implant is a freestanding unit and does not involve treatment on the adjoining teeth. Multiple teeth can be replaced with 2 or more implants. A connector is placed on the implant and a crown is built onto this "post" to form a solid natural looking tooth. Implants can successfully replace teeth in the back or the front of the mouth. A type of dental implant can also be placed to help support complete dentures if they are too loose. Many options of dental implants exist and Dr. Annie can discuss all types with you and together determine the best treatment for tooth loss.

Veneers are thin custom made porcelain shells that we bond to anterior (front) teeth when there is a need to brighten a smile because of dark or stained teeth that cannot be whitened with other techniques. They are also used to correct gaps between front teeth, or to fix teeth that are poorly shaped, crooked or chipped. Veneers are usually done in two appointments and sometimes can be done with little or no anesthesia.

The veneers are fabricated in a specialized lab and are cemented into place using a special high intensity lamp to harden the cement. When done correctly they are incredibly beautiful and will last for many years.

Dr. Annie has received extra training in Oral Surgery. She has been doing teeth extractions including 3rd molar removal (wisdom teeth) for many years. If the extractions are not routine, she may decide to refer you to a certified Oral Surgeon for the treatment.

After the treatment is done, you will have both a set of written and oral post-op instructions to facilitate healing. Different modes of anesthesia can also be discussed with Dr. Annie at your appointment.

Maintaining a full compliment of teeth is one of our greatest desires, but sometimes multiple extractions have to be accomplished for one reason or another. This is usually due to periodontal (gum) disease where the supporting structures of the teeth have been lost. If all the teeth on either your upper or lower jaw or both have been or need to be extracted, a full set of dentures will need to be fabricated.

There is a combination of science and artform in making a great set of dentures. If multiple teeth are missing, but a few are left there are many different types of partial dentures that can be made to replace the lost teeth using the teeth remaining as anchors.

One third of the population snores. Spouses and sometimes even children are often repeatedly interrupted during their sleep cycles by a snoring family member, which can lead to tension and overwhelming tiredness during the day. Snoring can often times be a precursor or symptom of sleep apnea which is potentially a life threatening condition. Snoring leads to poor sleep quality for the snorer and those in the same house.

The struggle for breath also leads to soaring blood pressure that can cause heart damage and possible stroke. It is important to learn all you can about snoring if this is a problem for you. Many treatments are available and under the right conditions we can fabricate an anti-snoring device that has exhibited initial snoring prevention success rates of between 70 to 100%. Further information is available at our office.

Our office has many preventative options to decrease the potential rate of decay from powerful fluoride gels to dental sealants. A dental sealant is an acrylic-like material that helps protect grooves in the biting surfaces of permanent teeth from decay-causing bacteria. Sealant material forms a protective barrier by bonding to tooth surfaces and filling in the natural depressions of tooth surfaces called pits and fissures.

Combined with proper brushing, flossing and regular dental visits, sealants are an extremely effective way to prevent tooth decay. We will determine the best time to place sealants on adolescents to create the best benefits long term.

We see many children in our practice and welcome our adult patients to bring their children with them to their own dental cleanings for a one time visit. This puts the children at ease when they see their parents being treated in a warm and comfortable environment. When the children come in for their own first visit they are much more willing to accept someone else in their mouth and we have great success with the very young ones. Usually, our highly trained assistants are very successful at making sure each child has a fun time at the dentist. Due to our prevention program children many times will never even need treatment other than cleanings and exams. That is what we strive for.

There are many different types of Mouthguards to protect teeth during contact sports. It might seem like the only sports needing teeth guards are ones like football and boxing. There are other sports like basketball, lacrosse, wrestling and soccer to name a few that the potential for severe mouth injuries due to the possible blunt trauma involved. There are "boil and bite" type sports guards that can be bought over the counter that sometimes will do a satisfactory job in all these instances.

For those families wanting extra protection for their child we offer a custom lab made sports guard of which there are 6 different levels of protection. The more intense the sport, the more lamination the guard needs to have to really protect the child's valuable teeth. Brochures at our office can explain these different levels of protection and how having a custom fabricated Mouth-guard can prevent very expensive and debilitating dental damage in all age groups from children to college and beyond.

These come in a variety of colors and designs from clear to "designer" looks.

The tooth you see in your mouth is anchored to the bone with its own root. Every tooth has a different shaped root system. There are nerves and blood vessels traveling through these roots to provide vitality and nourishment to the teeth. If a tooth is either traumatized excessively or exposed to deep decay, the nerve inside the root may "die".

This is sometimes a very painful and debilitating occurrence that requires immediate treatment. If the nerve dies and is not treated the infection in the root will spread to the bone and create swelling, more pain and an inability to chew due to the tooth being actually moved by the pressure from the abscess( infection). Root canal treatment is highly successful and when completed the symptoms will almost always subside. As the tooth does not have blood flowing through it any more, it has a tendency to "dry out". This results in the need for a crown to protect it from cracking in the future.

We are always available to treat emergencies either during or after office hours. Please call our office at (425) 821-9600↗.