General Services
At Fifty-Seven 57 Dental, we understand that no one likes to be at the dentist’s office, so we try to make your time with us as comfortable as possible. We offer mouth props to rest your jaw during treatment, ear plugs, and sunglasses to protect your eyes.
Preventive and Diagnostic
An oral examination is a visual inspection of the mouth, head, and neck, performed to detect abnormalities. Radiographs allow for a more complete examination, helping the doctor to detect cavities, problems in existing dental restorations, gum and bone recession or other abnormal conditions within the mouth, head and neck area.
A dental cleaning is the removal of dental plaque and tartar (calculus) from the teeth. Specialized instruments are used to gently remove these deposits without harming the teeth. At Fifty-Seven 57 Dental, we use an ultrasonic device that emits vibrations and is cooled by water to clean away buildup of plaque and calculus. Hand tools may also be used to manually remove smaller deposits and smooth the tooth surfaces. Once all the tooth surfaces are clean, the teeth are polished. We are pleased to offer a wide variety of flavors for you to enjoy after your cleaning.
Scaling and root planing is a non-surgical procedure used to treat gum disease. During the scaling process, specialized dental instruments are used to remove dental plaque and calculus from beneath the gums. Planing is the procedure used to smooth the tooth’s root after the scaling process. Root planing helps the gums heal and reattach themselves to a cleaner and smoother root surface.
Custom mouth guards are a great way to protect your teeth and restorations. Many sports require athletes to use a mouth guard to protect their teeth while practicing and playing. Frequently used in contact sports, the mouth guard covers the gums and teeth to provide protection for lips, gums, teeth and arches. A properly fitted mouth guard can reduce the severity of dental injuries.
If you grind or clench your teeth while sleeping, a custom night guard can help protect your teeth and relieve pain. Not only can a custom mouth guard reduce wearing and breaking of teeth, but it can relieve pressure from the jaw joint as well.
We can make a custom mouth guard by taking an impression of your teeth and then creating a device fitted to your mouth for the highest level of both comfort and protection. Be sure to bring your mouthguard to your dental appointments so your doctor can be sure it still fits you well.
Restorative
Tooth-colored fillings are the most natural-looking material used to fill small cavities. Composite fillings can be done in one visit. Once the decay is removed from the tooth, it is filled with this composite material and cured, or hardened, with a special light and, then smoothed and polished for your comfort.
A crown is a dental restoration that completely covers the outside of a severely decayed tooth. Dental crowns can typically be completed in two visits. During the first visit, the tooth is prepped (shaved down) and an impression is taken. A temporary crown is placed while the permanent crown is being made. During the second visit, the permanent crown is carefully fitted and then cemented into place for a permanent restoration.
A bridge replaces missing teeth without the use of a denture or dental implant. A false tooth is held in place by being attached to a neighboring tooth. In order to fabricate a bridge, crowns are made for the teeth on either side of the space and a false tooth is placed in between the crowns, which act as supports.
Dental implants are the replacement of tooth roots in the mouth. Implants provide a strong foundation for the teeth they will replace. Dental implants, which are placed in the jawbone, are small anchors made of a biocompatible metal called titanium. The anchors begin to fuse with the bone over the course of a few months. After the fusing process, abutment posts are inserted into the anchors to allow for the permanent attachment of the replacement teeth.
Cosmetic
Whitening, also known as bleaching, is the procedure used to brighten teeth. There are two different ways to achieve a desired whiter smile: in-office and at-home bleaching. In-Office Bleaching usually requires only one office visit. A protective gel or a rubber shield is placed over the gums to protect the soft tissue. A bleaching agent is applied to the teeth, and a laser light is then used to enhance the action of the whitening agent. At-Home bleaching requires an impression of the teeth to be taken to make a customized mouth guard to hold the whitening gel against the teeth. Once the bleaching tray is made, it is worn as instructed by our office.