Procedures:

Whitening | Veneers | Crowns | Implants, Bridges & Partial Dentures | Bonding | Tooth Colored Fillings | Root Canals | Extractions

Whitening

Whitening is a safe and effective procedure our office provides.  We use Opalescence® and Zoom® products and offer a one hour bleaching process in addition to the more traditional method of wearing custom fit bleaching trays.  We recommend that an exam and complete diagnosis be performed prior to tooth whitening.

Dr. Shook and Dr. Phillips James would be happy to discuss the different methods for whitening and the pros and cons associated with the procedures.

Invisalign

Invisalign® uses a series of clear aligners that are custom-molded to fit you. The virtually invisible aligners gradually reposition your teeth.  You remove them to eat, brush, and floss.  Unlike braces, Invisalign aligners have no metal bands or wires to irritate your mouth.

Veneers

Not all people can obtain a Hollywood smile with a simple whitening process.  A procedure known as porcelain veneers can be performed to close spaces between teeth, straighten slightly misaligned teeth and create an attractive smile.  Patients unsure if the process would be right for them can have a model of their teeth made to demonstrate the final product before beginning treatment.

Lumineers by Cerinate® is a terrific cosmetic solution for permanently stained, chipped, discolored, misaligned teeth, or even to revitalize old crowns and bridgework. Lumineers by Cerinate is a porcelain veneer that can be made as thin as a contact lens and is placed over existing teeth without requiring painful removal of sensitive tooth structure.

Crowns

There are instances when a tooth may fracture or have too much existing filling material to be able to support another filling.  In this situation a porcelain or gold crown may be necessary to restore the tooth to proper form and function.

Implants, Bridges and Partial Dentures

Several options are available for patients who are missing one or more teeth.  Dr. Shook offers implants, bridges and partial dentures to patients who wish to correct spaces between their teeth.

Implants are the latest improvement for patients who have lost one or more teeth.  An implant is a titanium screw placed in the jaw bone and after healing, a porcelain or gold crown is made to fit the space.  The crown is supported by the implant.

Bridges are another procedure offered to replace missing teeth.

Partial dentures are also offered when an implant or bridge is not a viable option.

Bonding

Bonding is the process in which tooth colored materials (composite resin) are adhered (bonded) to the tooth. This is a procedure that can be used to repair or improve the appearance of a tooth that has been badly stained, broken or chipped.

Tooth colored fillings

Fillings made of composite resin or porcelain can be made to match the color of a patient's natural teeth, and are thus indicated in aesthetic areas (the front of the mouth).

Root Canals (Endodontics)

Root canal treatment, also known as endodontic treatment, is performed when the pulp (core) of a tooth is diseased or damaged.  This procedure requires the removal of the pulp followed by filling and sealing the inside areas (the pulp chamber and root canals).

Extractions

Tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth from its socket in the bone.  Teeth are often removed because they are impacted.  Teeth may also be extracted to make more room in the mouth prior to straightening the remaining teeth (orthodontic treatment).  Extraction may be used to remove teeth that are so badly decayed or broken that they cannot be restored.