Comprehensive Dental Services

Crowns are typically used to strengthen or reinforce a decayed, damaged, or cracked tooth and/or to improve its appearance or to act as an anchor for an implant, bridge or other. We here at FDSM have our own state of the art ceramic milling machine that produces custom crowns in one visit. No more temporary crowns to worry about. No more multiple appointments. Using an intra-oral camera and technology, we design a 3D image of your damaged tooth. Then we create a crown from that. Our process allows you to save your precious time and keep appointments to a minimum with great results.

Bonding involves adhering composite resin material that is matched to the color of the tooth, to the front of the tooth. This is done to repair damage done to the tooth, to alter the alignment of the tooth, close gaps between teeth, or for cosmetic purposes. First the surface of the tooth is roughened to improve adhesion. A gel is applied to micro etch the tooth surface, and a primer/bond agent is applied so the material adheres to the surface. Then the material itself is placed on the tooth and hardened with intense light. The composite resin material is shaped and polished to get a lustrous finish as a last step.

This is a focused beam of X-Ray particles through bone which produces an image on special film, showing the structure through which it passed.This gives the familiar black and white images that doctors and dentists use to diagnose problems. X-rays are a necessary part of the diagnostic process, and not to use them could lead to undiagnosed disease. Without an X-ray of the whole tooth, and supporting bone and gum tissues, there is no real way to detect infection or pathology that requires attention.

Root canal treatment (also referred to as root canal therapy or endodontic therapy) is made necessary when a cavity is allowed, through neglect, to reach all the way to this pulp. (Regular cleanings and checkups prevent and detect problems early) Sometimes deep restorations or trauma to a tooth may cause the nerve to be damaged to the point it needs root canal therapy, also. Once this occurs the pulp becomes infected, and can even extend through the root tip and begin to eat away at the surrounding bone (this is an abscess). By the time the pulp is infected it must be treated, and cannot heal on its own. It can even weaken the entire immune system. This is dangerous, not to mention very painful. Symptoms that the pulp has become infected may include sensitivity to hot/cold or sweets, pain, swelling, pain to biting or pressure, and a bad taste in the mouth. Sometimes, however, no symptoms are apparent and the person is unaware of any problem until a checkup.
A root canal is then performed to clean out the infected tooth pulp, and disinfect the canals of the tooth. The only other treatment would be to extract the tooth. Once the infection is resolved, the canal(s) are filled in to prevent any further infection. Usually a core build-up and crown is recommended for restoring a tooth that has had root canal therapy.

This is an option for filling the space created by a missing tooth. It is formed to look like the missing tooth, and it takes its place in the mouth. The sides of a bridge use the two surrounding teeth for support, hence the name. A bridge replaces the missing tooth, both functionally and cosmetically. Bridge work is as much an art as it is an exact science. The materials used may be gold alloys, porcelain bonded to metal alloy, or all ceramic material. The choice of material depends on requirements for strength, wear, and/or esthetics.It is important that a missing tooth be replaced as soon as possible for several reasons. If not treated the teeth surrounding the gap begin to shift inward, creating a whole chain reaction of bad things. Teeth use their neighbors for support, and, with one missing, they start to “fall.” As this worsens the bite changes in response to the pressure. This can eventually result in problems with the entire jaw, e.g. TMJ. The surrounding teeth deteriorate and it is just a matter of time before they, too, are lost. Gum disease becomes a serious problem, with the difficulty of treatment increasing as the neglect continues.

We are a Certified Invisalign Provider and we are thrilled to provide this option for our patients. This is a nearly invisible way to straighten your teeth and have the smile you’ve always dreamed of. We use a series of aligners that can then adjust your teeth from its initial position to the final desired position. The metal-free aligners are removable to allow you to remove them to eat, brush your teeth, or floss. 
The Invisalign process is more comfortable than traditional braces. Invisalign braces are clear and therefore difficult to see on your teeth. Results are excellent and you have minimal discomfort and inconvenience to worry about. Allow us to evaluate your situation and help you decide if Invisalign will work for you.