Services

Offering a Wide Variety of Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures

Cosmetic Dentistry

Why Wait?

For cosmetic dental procedures, we learn and understand your expectations before presenting you with a treatment plan, so you can make informed choices. We identify with your goals for your appearance, the time you have to spend creating and caring for your smile, and the financial investment you wish to make. We offer a wide range of cosmetic dental services, from tooth whitening to complete smile makeovers. For a free no-obligation consultation, call our office to arrange an appointment.

– Brighten your smile with the safety of dentist-supervised tooth whitening. Fairfield Dental Associates offers an in-office procedure, which takes about an hour. Or, try our take-home kit that includes a customized retainer worn while you sleep or for a limited time during the day. “Store-bought” bleaching products are not as effective due to the weaker product concentration and lack of custom-fit retainers. With an improper fit, the bleaching solution can contact your gums, causing inflammation.

– More esthetic than traditional “silver” fillings, these “composite” fillings match your natural tooth color. Composite fillings can usually be completed in one visit, and are one way to fix chipped, broken, worn, or decayed teeth, giving you a long-lasting beautiful smile.

– Take your smile from average to dazzling. Many people desire a brighter, cleaner, more attractive smile, but have chipped, stained, discolored, unevenly spaced, or even crooked front teeth. A thin “facing” placed on the smile side of a natural tooth, all-porcelain veneers, also known as laminates, alter tooth contour, spacing, and color, providing a conservative approach to perfecting your smile. We will be glad to evaluate your specific situation, listen to the changes you have in mind, and show you examples of the end result before any treatment is performed. A completely improved and dazzling smile can be yours in just a few appointments.

– When more advanced tooth restoration or recontouring is called for, all-porcelain crowns restore both esthetics and function. Tooth-colored porcelain crowns, also known as caps, encase the entire tooth surface, strengthening tooth structure that cannot be restored with fillings or other restorative techniques. Porcelain crowns are extremely durable and provide a natural-looking, long-lasting smile.

– A dental bridge is a false tooth or teeth (pontics) fused between two porcelain crowns (the anchoring, or abutment teeth) to fill in the area left by a missing tooth or teeth. A natural-looking, permanent (nonremovable) prosthetic, it’s usually made of porcelain fused to metal.

Preventative Care

Make It a Habit!

Ignore your teeth, and they’ll go away! Preventive care is a priority at Fairfield Dental Associates. Regular exams and hygiene visits, and consistent at-home care help keep a healthy smile for years to come.

– Routine dental exams every six months are the best way to safeguard your oral health and save time, money, and discomfort in the future. Every check-up includes an evaluation of your teeth and gums and soft-tissue screening for signs of oral cancer or other abnormalities. If you’re not sure when your next check-up should be, call us today.

– We take the time to educate our patients on appropriate oral care—through this website, our patient-education pamphlets, and personal interaction with our staff—and to involve them in the decision-making process.

– In addition to providing direct care to our patients, our registered dental hygienist offers invaluable advice for maintaining your teeth and gums at home. She works closely with the dentist to ensure that any potential problems she encounters are identified and managed before they can become a threat to your oral health and/or general health. Left untreated, bacteria found in dental plaque and tartar can cause tooth decay, gum disease, tooth loss, and can play a role in heart disease and your overall health.

– Decay-free teeth are only one piece of total oral health; healthy gums are just as important. If the disease has progressed, a special periodontal cleaning called scaling and root planing (deep cleaning) will be recommended. In addition, we will recommend an antibiotic systemically or locally (under the gum). This procedure helps gum tissue to heal and pockets to shrink. Medications, special medicated mouth rinses, and an electric toothbrush may be recommended to help control infection and healing.

– Even with meticulous hygiene, bad breath (“halitosis”) may still persist among some patients. To help, Fairfield Dental Associates can perform in-office procedures like tongue scraping to clean away bacteria build-up. We also offer Oxyfresh at-home alcohol-free rinses and breath treatment systems that freshen breath while enhancing soft tissue health.

– A true breakthrough in the fight against tooth decay, dental sealants are applied to chewing surfaces (on the back teeth) to shut out food particles and protect against future decay. Sealants are applied in a quick, comfortable procedure that takes just one office visit but provides protection for many years.

– Our staff’s trained eyes are not just focused on your teeth, but also your lips, cheeks, tongue, and palate. Regular screenings—part of every regular patient check-up—help us to identify soft-tissue abnormalities that may be cancerous. Early detection means early treatment and better, more predictable results.

– Do you grind or clench in your sleep? Such unconscious nighttime activity can result in headaches, premature wear on your teeth, and tooth pain. A custom nightguard can help you break the habit.

– Do you have frequent headaches just under the opening to your ear? Does your jaw pop or click, or do you have sharp pain when you open your mouth? Do you experience muscle spasms in the neck, back, or shoulders? You may have temporomandibular joint disorder. Your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the hinge mechanism that connects the lower jaw to the base of the skull. Grinding,

Snoring can be a real problem, not just for the noisy sleeper but for others in the house as well. Snoring happens when the muscles and soft tissues in the throat and mouth relax during sleep, blocking the opening of the airway, causing soft tissues in the mouth and throat to vibrate. We prescribe a Snoreguard, a custom-fit appliance found to be 95% effective in the treatment of snoring.

– Experts recommend mouthguards for children and adults who participate in a recreational activity that may cause an injury to the mouth. Mouthguards cushion blows that could result in broken teeth or injury to the lips, tongue, face, or jaw. Call Fairfield Dental Associates to get fitted for a custom mouthguard today.

Periodontal Disease

Serious but Treatable

Healthy gums and supporting bone structure are the building blocks for a healthy mouth. Gum (periodontal) disease is an infection of the bone and soft tissue that support the teeth. A major cause of tooth loss in adults, it is usually painless in its early stages, so many people don’t know they have it until it’s too late.

Two of your worst enemies could be lurking around in your mouth as you read this. They are serious, vicious, sly, and oftentimes successful. So, what makes up this evil pair? Tooth decay and periodontal disease. These two nasty conditions are created by naturally occurring oral bacteria, and the acids they produce.

Unchecked, tooth decay leads inevitably to periodontal disease, which even conservative estimates say is present in at least 80% of the population, and most don’t know it. Periodontal disease, in turn, is responsible for up to 70% of adult tooth loss, and it does not give clear warning signs that an untrained eye would notice.

Periodontal disease has been identified as a potential link to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, premature births, and low birth weight. It is an infection of the gums and the bone supporting your teeth. The bacteria, and chemical by-products of your body’s attempt to fight the bacteria, can enter the bloodstream and cause serious problems in distant parts of the body.

The good news is that Periodontal disease can be treated and prevented. Special toothbrushes, toothpastes, rinses, and even prescription medications can help. Our dental team can help you prevent and manage both gingivitis—the milder and reversible form of periodontal disease—and periodontitis, the more serious, destructive form of periodontal disease.

Beat Periodontal Disease With Careful Flossing

Your mouth’s constant supply of normal bacteria produces a sticky “plaque” that is deposited on your teeth. Foods containing carbohydrates (sugars and starches) combined with plaque form a strong acid, which erodes your enamel and breaks down gum-tooth connecting fibers, thus allowing further bacteria and toxins to invade unprotected tissues. This process allows your teeth and supporting bone to become susceptible to damage or destruction.

Bacterial build-up in the mouth causes tooth decay and periodontal disease. Proper brushing cleans visible tooth surfaces, but cannot clean between the teeth. Various types of brushes and water irrigation devices are often used in an attempt to avoid flossing, but nothing will clean between the teeth as effectively as flossing.

Diagnostic Services

All patients are checked for periodontal disease during each regular hygiene check-up. The “pocket” between the tooth and gums is measured by a periodontal probe to ensure that it measures three millimeters or less. Deepening of pockets from visit to visit is an indication that periodontal disease has progressed.

Soft-Tissue Management Program

If periodontal disease has progressed, a special periodontal cleaning called scaling and root planing (deep cleaning) will be recommended, along with an antibiotic applied systemically or locally (under the gum). This helps gum tissue to heal and pockets to shrink.

Periodontal Surgery

If the pockets do not heal after scaling and root planing, periodontal surgery may be needed to reduce pocket depths, making teeth easier to clean. We may also recommend that you see our on-site periodontist (specialist of the gums and supporting bone) for a free consultation.

Restorative Dentistry

Smiles Made Easy

Our approach to restorative care is conservative. We retain your natural tooth structure whenever possible. When teeth show evidence of decay or structural problems, a range of restorative techniques can rebuild or reinforce your teeth and return function without compromising your appearance.

– When more advanced tooth restoration or recontouring is called for, all-porcelain crowns restore both esthetics and function. Tooth-colored porcelain crowns, also known as caps, encase the entire tooth surface, strengthening tooth structure that cannot be restored with fillings or other restorative techniques. Porcelain crowns are extremely durable and provide a natural-looking, long-lasting smile.

– These procedures bring a natural look to teeth that have been partially restored or damaged by decay or trauma. They are the same, except that onlays are used when one or more of the chewing cusps have been affected. Onlays (also called partial crowns), and inlays (alternative to fillings) are conservative alternatives to crowns since less tooth structure is removed in preparing them. They are created by a professional dental laboratory, and are permanently cemented onto, or into, the tooth by your dentist.

– More esthetic than traditional “silver” fillings, these “composite” fillings match your natural tooth color. Composite fillings can usually be completed in one visit, and are the ideal fix for chipped, broken, worn, or decayed teeth, giving you a long-lasting beautiful smile.

– A denture replaces missing teeth with a removable appliance. They are made to closely resemble your natural teeth and may even enhance your smile. Complete dentures are recommended when all of the teeth are missing while partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain.

– A dental bridge is a false tooth or teeth (pontic) fused between two porcelain crowns (the anchoring, or abutment teeth) to fill in the area left by a missing tooth or teeth. A natural looking, permanent (nonremovable) prosthetic, it’s usually made of porcelain fused to metal.

– Missing teeth can be replaced with dental implants, which are then restored with crowns or bridges. Dental implants are also used to secure dentures or provide a permanent solution vs. removable dentures. Usually made of titanium, dental implants are artificial roots and teeth that are surgically placed into the jaw bone by a dentist, periodontist, or oral surgeon. Teeth attached to implants are very natural looking and often enhance or restore a patient’s smile.

– Used to treat an uncomfortable injury or infection affecting the pulp (nerve) of the tooth, with the goal of saving a tooth that would otherwise die and have to be removed. Root canal therapy restores the tooth to its full function, with results usually lasting a lifetime. This approach is preferred to removing the tooth, which will ultimately lead to far larger problems for adjacent teeth.

Pediatric Dentistry

Our best patient is an informed patient. “Healthy mouths for life” requires educating our children at an early age about proper dental hygiene. We encourage parents to bring their young children to our office for a consultation. Ask questions. Learn tips. Develop good habits. Your children, and their teeth, will thank you!

Teeth are made primarily of minerals and continuously cycle between de-mineralization and re-mineralization. Bacteria from foods and fluids left on the teeth after eating create acid, which de-mineralizes (weakens) the tooth enamel. With proper time between meals, the enamel is remineralized by saliva, reversing the damage caused by the acid.

If your child consumes significant amounts of juice and snacks, the abundance of bacteria doesn’t allow the teeth to re-mineralize, and decay develops. Known as dental caries, it is an infectious disease that, left untreated, can lead to infection, tooth loss, significant pain, and serious systemic infection. Proper at-home care, fluoride, and downtime between food and drink consumption will allow for an effective re-mineralization process, resulting in strong, healthy, caries-free teeth.

It’s recommended that your child first sees a dentist six months after the first tooth comes in, or at the latest by their first birthday. Teeth should be cleaned as soon as they erupt to avoid dental caries (tooth decay), the number one bacterial infection in children. The first consultation with your dentist is an important milestone in your child’s oral health, during which you’ll gain answers to many questions regarding your child’s future care.

Studies indicate that it takes an average of 6 months for plaque and tartar to form on the teeth and for tooth decay to be evident by an X-ray. A typical dental exam includes checking teeth for cavities and proper dental development, teeth cleaning, application of fluoride, and patient education regarding diet, oral hygiene, and proper home care.

Primary teeth are just as important as permanent teeth and require professional care and consistent daily hygiene. These “baby teeth” maintain space on the dental arch, and provide a proper path for the eruption of permanent teeth. They influence the normal development of the face and are critical as your child learns to eat and speak. During each hygiene visit, your dentist will evaluate your child’s arch development, dental alignment, and teeth eruption.

Parents should brush their child’s teeth until they can brush them on their own, typically by age 8. The best times to brush are after breakfast and before bedtime. Use a toothbrush with soft, round-ended bristles after breakfast and at bedtime. Using an ADA-accepted toothpaste, apply a small, pea-sized amount, and be sure your child spits out the excess amount vs. ingesting it. After brushing, parents should floss children’s teeth to remove plaque between teeth where toothbrushes cannot reach.

Fluoride helps create stronger tooth enamel, so it’s important that your child doesn’t get too much or too little. Other than toothpaste, the most prevalent source of fluoride is in drinking water. We encourage parents to discuss their child’s fluoride sources to make sure they are getting the proper amount.

Sealants are an effective preventive measure for reducing caries in permanent teeth. Easily applied to decay-prone areas of the back teeth, sealants protect the chewing surfaces from tooth decay by keeping germs and food particles out of these grooves. They are best applied just after the back molars erupt (before they have a chance to decay), usually age 6 for first molars, and age 12 for second molars.

A healthy diet is not only good for your child’s body but good for his mouth as well. Avoid foods that create an acid environment, or stick to the teeth, including soda and sugary drinks that cause decay, and candy, and pretzels/chips that stick to the biting surfaces. Rather, build strong teeth and bones with foods rich in vitamin D and calcium. Allow “downtime” between meals so the teeth can re-mineralize and recover.

Oral Cancer Screening

Health Promotion and Cancer Screening

On average, our patients visit every six months for a check-up, cleaning, and oral cancer screening. Professional exams are the best way to keep informed about your oral health and to take proper measures to keep you looking and feeling your best. See our Preventative Care section to see related information more.

The answer is a definite yes. Good nutrition contributes greatly to healthy teeth, gums, nervous system, and bones. By contrast, poor nutrition leads to poor dental health, lack of energy, poor self-esteem, and that relationship killer, bad breath. Your gums need proper nutrition to remain healthy and be less prone to gum disease. Poor nutrition can lead to decreased saliva flow, and that can cause extensive cavities and bad breath. Loading the mouth with a constant supply of sugars and starches allows the bacteria in the mouth to grow quickly and increase the risk of decay and gum disease. Soda is also very damaging. Not only does the sugar in soda help cause decay, but also the acids in the soda can dissolve your tooth enamel.

So what’s the solution? Eat nutritious foods, and eat mostly at mealtimes, brushing immediately afterward. If you must snack, choose raw, low-sugar fruits, raw veggies, nuts, boiled eggs, herbal teas, and fluoridated water. Drink up to 10 glasses of clean water per day. With consistency, evidence shows that you’ll not only please your teeth, but you’ll revitalize your entire metabolism, improving body weight, physical endurance, mental alertness, and well-being.

If you think about it, it makes perfect sense: poor oral health is linked to poor physical health. How so? Well, consider the big picture: your mouth is the gateway into the rest of the body and its systems. If the mouth has a chronic infection or disease, then your entire body may be indirectly or directly exposed to those bacteria. Not to mention your ability to eat is compromised and also your nutrition. Furthermore, the resources needed for your general health to function will be diverted to handle the chronic infection, weakening the overall natural protection your other systems typically enjoy.

Research documents the connection between gum disease and poor heart health, resulting in an increased risk of stroke, diabetes, problem pregnancies, and pancreatic cancer. Some studies indicate that those who lose all their natural teeth may have a much shorter lifespan.

So what’s the answer? If you want to up your odds of a happy, healthy life, treat your body with respect and put your money (and effort) where your mouth is. Try starting with the basics: learn the latest tips, techniques, and tools for top-notch oral hygiene, when you are here for your next cleaning appointment. Then, branch out: incorporate a healthy diet, exercise, fresh air, and regular rest. Eliminate unhealthy habits that are counterproductive. And remember, taking care of your teeth means better well-being, and it means your body will be better able to take care of itself.

Oral cancer is a dangerous, yet somewhat preventable, type of cancer. It kills more people nationwide than either cervical or skin (melanoma) cancer, and only half of all patients diagnosed will survive more than five years. The most common risk factors for oral cancer are tobacco use, frequent high quantity alcohol consumption, constant sunlight exposure, habitual cheek or lip biting, or poorly fitting dentures. Although the majority of oral cancers are found in people who use tobacco and/or drink alcohol excessively, 25% of oral cancers occur in people who have no risk factors at all.

Your dentist could very well be your #1 soldier in the fight against oral cancer. Our staff’s trained eyes are not just focused on your teeth, but also your lips, cheeks, tongue, and palate. Regular screenings can identify abnormalities that may be cancerous. Early detection means early treatment and better, more predictable results. During a regular dental check-up, your dentist will examine your entire mouth, searching for a flat, painless, white, or red spot or small sore. Other oral cancer signs include:

• A sore that bleeds easily or does not heal
• A color change of the oral tissues
• A lump, thickening, rough spot, crust, or small, eroded area
• Pain, tenderness, or numbness anywhere in the mouth or on the lips