Comprehensive Examination

The comprehensive examination is a process in which our doctors take necessary records to provide a thorough diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment plan.  This examination will include:

Oral Cancer Screening: If you are a tobacco or smokeless tobacco user, you are in primary danger of developing oral cancer. More than 8,000 deaths were attributed to oral cancer in the past year.  We are committed to the prevention of oral cancer through the early identification of pre-cancerous conditions, and provide oral cancer screenings at each preventive care appointment.

Periodontal Examination: Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in the United States.  Our doctors will examine your gum tissues to insure that gum disease is detected in its early stages. Because bone loss is a significant consideration in determining the outcome of cosmetic treatment, we take the health of your gum and bone tissues very seriously.

Occlusal Examination: The forces of your bite can sometimes affect the positioning of your jaw and teeth.  Through minor polishing of the enamel surfaces or smoothing fillings of the teeth, our doctors can help redistribute and redirect the biting forces.  Adjustments to chewing surfaces can often eliminate headaches that occur as a result of irregular biting patterns.

Caries Exam: During this visual examination, our doctors locate areas of decay on chewing surfaces and between the teeth.  Our doctors use both a clinical exam and x-ray (radiographic) findings to determine the most conservative treatment plan for your oral needs.

Temporo-Mandibular Joint (TMJ) Dysfunction Examination: TMJ is a condition that afflicts thousands of people.  Frequent indicators of TMJ include popping and clicking of the jaw, limited jaw function, pain in the neck, shoulders, and upper back, and pain and pressure in the face and ears.  We provide conservative therapies that can eliminate this painful and frustrating problem.

Restorative Procedures

White/Composite Fillings: Made of tooth-colored material, composite fillings restore the teeth’s natural beauty.  Composite fillings can be matched very closely to your natural tooth color and are virtually indistinguishable from non-restored teeth.  Composite fillings are excellent options for front teeth, but may be suggested for selected sites on molars as well.  The composites we use have proven to be extremely durable and stain resistant.

Bonded Onlay Restorations:  Made of tooth-colored material, these restorations are bonded to teeth.  They adhere to strengthen the remaining tooth structure, which reduces the possibility of future fractures and other difficulties that can result from the natural chewing process.  Their strength and color make them a popular choice among our patients.

Veneers:  Usually customized from porcelain, veneers are thin, semi-translucent facings bonded to the fronts of teeth.  Veneers are durable, stain-resistant, and natural looking.  They conceal broken, chipped, discolored, crooked, and misshapen teeth, and provide you with the winning smile you have always wanted.

Crown:  A crown is a restoration that covers a tooth in order to strengthen it as well as restore it to its normal shape and size.  A crown may be placed to support a large filling when there is little remaining tooth structure, attach a bridge, protect weak teeth from fracturing, or restore fractured teeth.  A tooth that has been treated with root canal therapy will require a crown following treatment to provide strength and support to the tooth.  We only use materials for crowns that will provide the longest lasting benefits to our patients.

Bridge:  A fixed bridge, usually made of gold (or porcelain-faced gold), is used to replace missing teeth.  A bridge helps to create a normal bite, prevent stress on the dental arch, prevent the drifting and tilt of adjacent teeth, inhibit decay in difficult areas, and slow the onset of periodontal diseases.  Bridges are composed of abutments (the sound teeth on either side acting as supports) and the span (a framework attached to the abutments with artificial teeth attached to that framework).  Our patients appreciate the expertise and training that our doctors have in this field as well as success with his/her patients.

Implants:  One of the great patient advancements in dentistry, a titanium cylinder can be placed into the jawbone, preventing loss of the bone, and drift of adjacent teeth.  A cosmetic crown can then be built to restore normal function and appearance.  This procedure is done in conjunction with an Oral or Periodontal surgeon who does the surgical placement of the implant body.  The procedure is very non-traumatic and most patients are amazed at the ease of the procedure.

Invisalign

Dr. Graves is a certified Invisalign dentist. She invites you to come in for a free consultation to see if you would benefit from Invisalign treatment. Consulations take only 30 minutes and do not obligate you for additional treatment. Dr. Graves used Invisalign to straighten her own teeth so she can advise you on Invisalign from the perspective of both an experienced provider and as a patient.

Invisalign is the invisible way to straighten teeth using a series of custom-made, nearly invisible aligners. It is proven effective in clinical research and in our practice. Each aligner is worn for 2 weeks. Aligners are comfortable enough that Dr. Graves wore hers in a triathlon and while scuba diving! While in treatment, you will return to see Dr. Graves every 6 weeks for monitoring and delivery of new aligners. Most cases can be completed within 12-18 months or less.

Full and Partial Dentures

Partial Dentures: Partial dentures are indicated if some serviceable teeth are present for support in conjunction with the gums and jawbone.  A partial denture, though removable, provides form and function replacement for missing teeth.

Full Dentures: Full dentures are used if there are not any teeth left for support.  The full denture covers more of the jaw than a partial denture and is partly held in place by a natural vacuum in the mouth.

Cosmetic Procedures

Bonding:  Bonding is a process in which tooth-colored material is applied to tooth surfaces, sculpted into shape, hardened, and polished to match surrounding teeth.  With this procedure our doctors can close gaps, repair chipped or fractured teeth, and disguise discolored teeth.  Bonding usually requires one office visit and no anesthesia.  Bonding is the choice of treatment for patients who have minor front tooth imperfections.

Tooth Whitening: Tooth-whitening procedures offer patients with stained, discolored, or dull teeth an opportunity to have a whiter, brighter smile. Whitening significantly reduces external surface stains affected by food and beverage.  We provide an at-home whitening system, which is comfortable and affordable, in conjunction with in-office appointments to monitor progress.  We take impressions of your mouth to prepare your custom-fitted trays, and specifically select a whitening program for you. The process is then completed in the comfort of your own home.

Diagnostic and Preventive Services

Sealants:  Sealants protect the chewing surfaces of the back teeth and should be applied as a child's permanent teeth erupt.  Though typically placed on children's teeth, adult molars can also be sealed, provided a tooth does not show evidence of decay.  The sealants that we have placed have been highly successful in preventing decay.

Fluoride Treatments: Fluoride applications help to strengthen the enamel on your child’s teeth, making it more difficult for cavities to begin.  Children should be receiving fluoride treatments every six months.

Regular Prophylaxis: These important appointments allow our doctors and our hygienist to monitor your oral health and clean under your gum line where the toothbrush cannot reach.  They also help promote healthy gums and teeth by removing the plaque that causes decay and gum infection, and educating you about prevention.

Tooth Desensitization: Fluoride is also helpful to adults to reduce the pain and discomfort caused by exposed root surfaces (receding gums).  Regular fluoride application helps eliminate root sensitivity.  Our patients have found it helpful to have a series of fluoride treatments to reduce their sensitivity, followed by possible at-home applications.

Periodontal Maintenance: Once your mouth is restored to health, it is important that you make a commitment to maintain your dental health.  To achieve this, it is important that you return on a regular basis for a routine examination, scaling, and root planing.  Our doctors and hygienist will inform you of the re-care interval that best fits your needs.

Antibiotic Irrigation: This procedure can be used at home or in our office to control the bacteria that causes periodontal disease.  The gum tissue is bathed and flushed with an antibiotic preparation to promote healing of the gum tissue.  Our hygienist can tell you how.

Night guard Therapy: Night guards are used as a treatment option to prevent damage to the chewing surfaces of the teeth associated with grinding and clenching.  It is a conservative treatment that is very successful and highly recommended for patients with TMJ dysfunction. By creating an acrylic pattern of your teeth, our doctors can help you protect your teeth from unnecessary wear.

Occlusal Treatment

Occlusal Adjustment: Proper functioning of the jaws and teeth is often hindered by malocclusion (a bad bite).  Adjustments to the bite can be made so that your teeth fit together properly for chewing and swallowing.  Minor polishing of the enamel surfaces or fillings of the teeth can help redistribute and redirect the biting forces.

Occlusal Guards: An overbite or an underbite can sometimes be corrected with an occlusal guard, which realigns your teeth and bite.