Our dental office uses minimally invasive dental therapy. This is the ability to preserve tooth structure with the use of high powered magnification that allows a more conservative therapy. There’s less chance that a crown would be necessary, better chance of avoiding root canal therapy… in short: a superior dental therapy!
Dr. David Vine specializes in the following treatment options:
Periodontal treatment
When gingivitis is not treated, it can advance to “periodontitis” (which means “inflammation around the tooth”). In periodontitis, gums pull away from the teeth and form spaces (called “pockets”) that become infected. Periodontal health should be achieved in the least invasive and most cost-effective manner. This is often accomplished through non-surgical periodontal treatment, including scaling and root planing (a careful cleaning of the root surfaces to remove plaque and calculus [tartar] from deep periodontal pockets and to smooth the tooth root to remove bacterial toxins), followed by adjunctive therapy such as local delivery antimicrobials and host modulation, as needed on a case-by-case basis.
Root canal therapy
In my practice, I perform most endodontic (root canal) procedures — but after years of experience and a policy of accompanying my patients to specialists and observing procedures first hand — my background is solid. When I occasionally run into a problem, I again accompany the patient to a specialist.
Root canal therapy is often not as bad as its general reputation. Many times it can be completed in one appointment and in a painless manner. Patients can relax with headphones or watch virtual reality or movies.
Cosmetic therapy
Cosmetic therapy is generally used to refer to any dental work that improves the appearance (though not necessarily the function) of a person’s teeth, gums and/or bite.
Depending on the necessity (and prognosis) we offer options such as tooth reshaping, bonding, whitening, veneers and dental bridges.
Major reconstruction of damaged dentition
If there is bone loss to the extent that grafts are needed to create a solid foundation for dental implants and tooth replacement, the full-mouth restoration process can stretch out to a year or more. Complete full-mouth restoration usually includes both full arches (top and bottom) and replacement of all teeth with porcelain.
This process may include extra procedures such as reshaping the gums and adjusting the bite with an orthotic. If bone loss has occurred, grafted bone can be used to stimulate bone growth in the jaw, and once the new bone is ready, implants can be placed.
Implant therapy
When a missing tooth needs to be replaced, the patient generally has a choice of a fixed bridge, a removable partial denture, possibly an implant-supported tooth, or a bonded-type of bridge (the Maryland Bridge). The obvious advantage of a fixed bridge over a removable denture is that it is both non-removable and more stable. In its simplest form, with one tooth missing and a natural tooth on either side, a bridge is cemented over prepared abutments(abutments: the natural teeth on either side of the empty space, which have been reduced in size to accommodate the bridge). Assuming all procedures are properly performed and the bridge is correctly designed, this prosthesis can and should function for many years.
Routine treatment of cavities
Treatment of cavities usually involves removal of all decay and placement of a filling. If the decay is small, anesthesia is often unnecessary. There are many types of filling materials. In the past, the filling most often used for the back teeth was a material called amalgam—a combination of silver, mercury, and other elements. I have had these types of fillings in my mouth for over 35 years with few problems.