Dental Services
This is just a portion of the services that we provide at Inaba Dental Office. If you would like more information about a procedure, contact us to schedule a consultation. Our dentists will guide you through the process of treatment and answer any of your questions.
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Restorative Dentistry
Preventive Dental Care
Dental exam
No two people have the same dental needs due to varying diets, health conditions, and lifestyles. We understand that dental care must also be tailored specific to the needs of the patient. Regular dental checkup exams and cleanings are recommended to monitor changes of the teeth, and the supporting gums and bone. During these checkups and dental cleanings, our dentists will perform the exam with the latest techniques and equipment. Our goal is to educate our patients and improve the oral health while keeping the patient’s unique needs in mind.
What to expect during your dental check up
Our dental checkup appointments begin with a full examination to provide us a basic overview of your current dental health. We will check each tooth for any signs of cavities, and gum disease. As part of our dental exam, we will also perform oral cancer screenings to check for any abnormalities such as lesions, lumps, and discolorations.
During your visits, we will use digital radiographs (X-rays) along with other diagnostic aids to obtain a detailed view of your oral structure and detect any conditions that may be hidden beneath the surface, such as tooth decay (cavities), periodontitis (gum disease), TMJ issues, jawbone deterioration, cysts, oral cancer, and other oral diseases. Radiographs will be taken depending on the needs of each individual patient.
Regular exams will allow our doctors to catch disease processes earlier on, when they are more easily manageable. On the day of your exam, it is recommended that a dental cleaning is completed to remove plaque, bacteria, calculus, and other buildups on your teeth.
Dental cleaning
Instruments will be used to clean accumulations on the teeth and along the gum line. Ultrasonic instruments used during the cleaning send a stream of water, air, and vibrations between teeth which will kill bacteria, and remove staining, plaque, calculus (tartar), and food particles. Dental cleanings are usually recommended every 6 months, but some may benefit from shorter intervals of every 3-4 months.
What is gum disease?
Gingivitis is an early stage of gum disease, and is often marked by signs of minor redness, swelling, or light bleeding of the gums. Untreated, gingivitis progresses into a more serious infection known as periodontal disease, which can cause permanent damage to the gums and bone supporting the affected teeth.
Periodontal disease
Periodontal disease, periodontitis, and gum disease describes an infection in the gums and bone supporting your teeth. The roots of our teeth are dependent on healthy bone and gums to support them. When food and plaque become trapped between the gums and teeth, this can cause inflammation and infection. As gum disease advances, the bone supporting teeth will break down, teeth may start to move, and if left untreated the teeth may not be savable.
Treating periodontal disease
Active gum disease can be treated with deep cleanings (scaling and root planing). Deep cleanings are different from regular dental cleanings. Deep cleanings usually require the area to be numbed with local anesthetic, allowing us to clean deep into the gums with minimal discomfort. The root surface is then made smooth, making it more difficult for food and bacteria to stick to the surface of the tooth.
How to prevent gum disease?
Preventing gum disease starts with early detection and regular maintenance. Dental cleanings will remove the plaque, calculus (tartar), and bacteria that can cause gum disease. Good home oral hygiene including brushing, flossing, and rinses are an essential part of preventing gum disease. Early diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease will increase the probability of saving your teeth. Regular exams will allow your dentist to identify and treat periodontal disease.
Occlusal (night) guard
Occlusal guards are worn while sleeping to prevent damage to your teeth and temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The damage may be caused by clenching and grinding of your teeth while you are asleep, which may cause you to wake up with a sore jaw or a headache. This disorder is called bruxism and if untreated it can cause teeth fractures, chipping of teeth, tooth wear, headaches, and jaw pain. An occlusal guard can also be recommended if the surfaces of teeth appear flatter than normal.
Night guards do not treat the issue of bruxism or clenching but functions as a preventative measure by acting as a barrier or cushion between the upper and lower teeth. This protects the jaw joints from potential issues and keeps teeth and restorations healthy and in good shape.
Pediatric dentistry
Children who start having regular visits at the dentist during their younger years are more likely to maintain strong and healthy teeth throughout their life. We strive to make each child feel relaxed and excited for their next visit.
It is important to bring children to the dentist early for regular cleanings and check ups to monitor the development of their teeth, find any problems, and educate! The first dental visit is recommended by 12 months of age, or within 6 months of the first tooth coming in to discuss about baby bottle tooth decay, mouth cleaning, teething, and habits such as pacifier and finger-sucking. Early detection of abnormalities can prevent future dental issues.
Pediatric dental services offered at Inaba Dental Office include: sealants and fluoride treatment, fillings and crowns, interceptive orthodontics, baby root canals (pulpotomies), silver diamine fluoride, and space maintainers.
Interceptive Orthodontics
Interceptive orthodontics is a way of addressing orthodontic problems on growing children before they become more challenging to correct. These appliances take advantage of the growing jaw to correct issues such as overbite, crowding, overjet, crossbite, spacing, and even correction of oral habits (tongue thrusting, thumb sucking).
Interceptive orthodontics is not a substitute for comprehensive orthodontic treatment (traditional braces and clear aligners). It is a way that creates a better arch for future teeth, prepares the jaw for ideal growth, and reduces the need for extracting teeth in the future. Your child may still need to wear braces/clear aligners but interceptive orthodontics will reduce the time your child will need to wear the braces or clear aligners.
For more information, please ask about what type of appliance is right for your child.
Sealants
Sealants are a thin coating applied to the surface of the teeth that have deep-sharp grooves. Once applied to the tooth surface, sealants act as a barrier to prevent food and bacteria from accumulating in the deep groves. Without the sealants, the grooves may have a greater risk for developing tooth decay.
Sealants are typically used in children, but adults may benefit from them as well. Sealants are a quick and affordable option to preventing cavities.
Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF)
SDF application is a great way of saving children’s teeth with severe tooth decay. It is an antimicrobial liquid that can treat large cavities by stopping their progression in a non- invasive manner. This is an alternative way to treat children who do not yet have the coping skills to tolerate dental treatment under local anesthesia. Once the cavity has stopped growing with SDF application, it can later be cleaned out and restored with a filling when the child is old enough to accept treatment.
Restorative Dentistry
Restorative dentistry allows us to correct dental issues such as chipped, cracked, broken, decayed, and missing teeth in order to rehabilitate the smile. We use procedures such as fillings, crowns and bridges, dental implants, extractions, and root canal treatment to correct any issues you may have.
Direct Fillings
Dental caries (“cavity”) occur when the outer surface of the tooth becomes weak, and eventually a hole forms. Smaller cavities can be treated by cleaning out the diseased parts of the tooth and filling the area with a tooth-colored filling material called composite. These fillings are sometimes called “bonding”.
Resin Infiltration (ICON)
ICON is a minimally invasive treatment for white spot lesions and early-stage (incipient) decay. Resin infiltration does not require local anesthesia or drilling of the tooth. A white spot lesion can occur from post-orthodontic treatment or hypo-calcification from poor oral hygiene. Resin infiltration works by opening up the pores in the enamel and filling in the deeper demineralized areas with a low-viscosity (watery) resin. This will cause the white spot to blend in with neighboring teeth.
Indirect Fillings
Larger cavities may compromise the structure of the tooth. In these cases, the cavity is too large for a direct filling and the tooth will benefit with a material that is made either by a lab or be milled same day using CEREC CAD/CAM (Computer Assisted Design – Computer Assisted Manufacture) technology. This allows you to get a crown without having to deal with a temporary crown and coming back in to have the crown cemented.
Crowns and Bridges
Dental crowns and bridges are effective restorations when teeth are severely damaged, worn, or lost. Our crowns and bridges look natural and offer much-needed assistance with chewing and speaking. We use high-quality materials in our crowns and bridges to ensure the restorations last as long as possible and provide exceptional performance.
At Inaba Dental we offer ceramic dental crowns. Not only are these ceramic crowns durable and natural-looking, you can receive your permanent crown in one visit using CEREC CAD/CAM technology, which eliminates the need for a temporary and a second visit. CEREC can also be used for indirect fillings (inlay/onlay and veneers).
Extractions
Teeth that are severely broken down due to caries, impacted teeth, orthodontic correction, or trauma may require extraction. If left in the mouth, these teeth will become infected causing abscess, swelling, pain, and systemic infection. Untreated teeth can also affect neighboring teeth as well.
After removal, replacement is recommended with either an implant, bridge, or removable prosthesis to avoid neighboring teeth to shift which may cause complications with chewing and jaw function. Bone grafts may also be recommended after extraction to help replace missing bone, stimulate bone formation, and support a dental implant.
Root Canal Treatment
A tooth’s inner structure consists of a soft, delicate tissue called the pulp. The pulp contains the nerve and blood vessels for the tooth, and is normally protected by the tough enamel material that surrounds it. However, a potentially serious infection can occur if harmful bacteria get inside the pulp. This happens occasionally due to deep cavities or unexpected injuries. Root canal treatment is a great solution to overcome a serious tooth infection while saving your teeth. During root canal treatment, the infection is removed and replaced with a filling material. Oftentimes patients will need a crown depending on how much tooth structure had to be removed to protect the treated tooth.
Dental Implants
A dental implant is an artificial root upon which a manufactured tooth can be placed. Implants are used to support the replacement of a single tooth, multiple teeth, or larger prostheses such as dentures. Placement of the implant stabilizes bone levels and may prevent bone loss, resulting in greater long-term support, function, and esthetics. Implants are a superior way to replace missing teeth, as they do not require alteration of adjacent teeth. They also serve as an excellent way to stabilize a denture.
Removable Dentures
Missing teeth cause many problems with eating, speaking, and esthetics. Missing teeth can also cause the neighboring teeth to tip, drift, and extend into the space created which can make these teeth more prone to caries, fracture, and other issues.
Removable dentures are also a way to replace missing teeth to restore your smile and function. Dentures can replace a few missing teeth (partial dentures) or replace an entire set of teeth (full dentures).
This process takes several appointments to gather information, and measurements to ensure a good fit of the denture.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Flaws on teeth can be issues we are born with, caused by trauma, or by disease. Whatever the reason, there are solutions that we can offer to help you achieve the smile you deserve. If you are unhappy with a gap between your teeth, discoloration of a tooth, or want to straighten your teeth, come in for an exam and evaluation so we can customize a treatment plan to your needs.
Veneers
The tooth is minimally prepared to bond a thin layer of ceramic, or porcelain to the front side of your teeth. This cosmetic treatment can cover uneven teeth, severe staining, or misshapen teeth.
Clear Aligners (Invisalign)
There is a misconception that orthodontic treatment is only for cosmetic purposes. While this treatment does provide patients with a beautiful straight smile, the benefits are much deeper than that.
Misaligned bites or crowded teeth can negatively impact your oral health. It can disrupt the way a person chews, can lead to cracking, chipping, or breaking of ones teeth, and even affect a person’s speech.
Straight teeth are easier to keep clean which can help minimize tooth decay and periodontal (gum and bone) disease. Orthodontic treatment can also help patients who suffer from TMD (Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction) such as chronic headaches, neck pain, ear pain, and earaches.
Crooked or poorly positioned teeth can be moved slowly over the course of a few months to years using sequential clear plastic trays. These plastic trays are programmed with micro-movements that shift, rotate, and tip teeth until they are moved into the desired position.
Black Triangle Closure
Black triangles are spaces between the teeth at the gumline. It can occur from bone loss, gingival recession, or from orthodontic movement. Not only do teeth with black triangles make your smile appear older, it can also cause staining, food traps, calculus build up, and sensitivity.
Black triangles can be fixed with periodontal surgery or with crowns/veneers, but they can also be fixed conservatively with injection molding of bonded composite resin (tooth colored filling). At our office, we use the Bioclear Method which allows us to close black triangles by removing little to no tooth structure.
Teeth Whitening
At our office we have several different methods for whitening. We offer take- home whitening using custom whitening trays or in office whitening to help brighten your smile.
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