Cheboygan Family Dentistry offers a full array of dental services to help maintain your oral health.

Your Initial Oral Examination-what to expect

Your initial examination includes a visual examination, charting, periodontal probing, a thorough diagnosis and treatment recommendations. We will also take x-rays, which includes a panoramic x-ray for proper diagnosis of the anterior (front) and posterior (back) teeth as well as the Full-mouth and/or bite-wing x-ray series for proper diagnosis of proximal decay of posterior teeth.

Implants

A metal rod (usually made of titanium) that is surgically placed into the upper or lower jawbone where a tooth is missing; it serves as the tooth root and anchor for the crown, bridge, or denture that is placed over it.

Veneers

A thin, custom-made shell of tooth-colored plastic or porcelain that is bonded directly to the front side of natural teeth to improve their appearance — for example, to replace lost tooth structure, close spaces, straighten teeth, or change color and/or shape.

Bridges

A stationary dental prosthesis (appliance) fixed to teeth adjacent to a space; replaces one or more missing teeth, cemented or bonded to supporting teeth or implants adjacent to the space. A bridge also may be called a fixed partial denture.

Crowns

Dental restoration covering all or most of the natural tooth; the artificial cap can be made of porcelain, composite, or metal and is cemented on top of the damaged tooth.

Crown Procedures

A tooth must usually be reduced in size to accommodate a crown. An impression is then made from the existing tooth to create a custom fit crown. The impression is sent to a lab which fabricates the custom fit crown. A temporary crown is placed at the initial impression appointment until the permanent crown is completed. A short follow up appointment will be required in 2-3 weeks for the permanent crown cementation.

Teeth Whitening

Tray-based tooth whitening systems involve taking full mouth impressions and fabricating custom fit trays. The patient can then proceed by filling the mouth guard-like tray with a gel whitening solution — which contains a peroxide-bleaching agent. The tray is worn for a period of time, generally from a couple of hours a day to every day during the night for up to four weeks and even longer (depending on the degree of discoloration and desired level of whitening).

Root Canal Therapy

A procedure used to save an abscessed tooth in which the pulp chamber is cleaned out, disinfected, and filled with a permanent filling.

Bonding

Covering of a tooth surface with a tooth-colored composite to repair and/or change the color or shape of a tooth, for instance, due to stain or damage.

Composite Resin Fillings

Tooth-colored restorative material composed of plastic with small glass or ceramic particles; usually “cured” or hardened with filtered light or chemical catalyst. They are occasionally an alternative to silver amalgam fillings.

Amalgam Fillings

A common filling used to repair cavities. The material, also known as “silver fillings,” contains mercury in combination with silver, tin, copper, and sometimes zinc.

Sealants

Sealants are a thin clear or white resin substance that is applied to the biting surfaces of teeth to prevent decay.

Extractions

Many extractions can be performed in office. Occasionally patients may need to be referred to an oral surgeon.

Bite Splint Therapy

Custom-fitted mouth protectors are individually designed and made in a dental office or a professional laboratory based on your dentist’s instructions. First, your dentist will make an impression of your teeth and a custom-made mouth guard is then molded over the model using a special material at a dental laboratory. This custom-made mouth guard provides the most comfort and protection.

Scaling and Root Planing

This is a deep-cleaning, nonsurgical procedure whereby plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line are scraped away (scaling) and rough spots on the tooth root are made smooth (planing).

Dentures

A removable replacement of artificial teeth for missing natural teeth and surrounding tissues. Two types of dentures are available — complete and partial. Complete dentures are used when all the teeth are missing, while partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain.