Clarkston Teeth Whitening, Dental Implants, Veneers

Clarkston Dental Group offers a full array of dental services to help you maintain healthy teeth. You can read more on this page about specific services.

• Bonding
• Cosmetic Contouring
• Crowns and Bridges
• Specialty Dentures
• Cosmetic Fillings
• Implants
• Veneers
• Whitening
• Non-Surgical Gum Treatment
• Nightguards & Mouthguards

• Sealants
• Root Canal Therapy
• Extractions
• Scaling and Root Planing
• Dentures
• Cosmetic Dentistry
• Invisalign
• Telescopic Loupes
• ViziLite 

Initial Oral Examination 

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

ELECTRONIC CLAIM PROCESSING 

Our office utilizes electronic claims processing. This means that rather than sending your dental claim through the mail, it is sent electronically to your insurance company with the click of a button. By filing your claim electronically, information is submitted more efficiently and with fewer errors. Turnaround time on claims is faster and fewer claims are returned or denied.

INTRAORAL IMAGING

We use small cameras about the size of a pen, called intraoral cameras, to help clearly see the condition of your teeth and gums.  With this advanced technology, we can zoom in on small diseased areas, cracks, chips, and worn metal fillings with extreme precision. The full-color images taken with the intraoral camera are sent to a computer screen so we can clearly see and diagnose dental problems much earlier than with the naked eye. Because images are displayed on our screens, patients will also be able to see areas being worked on and are able to gain a better understanding of dental procedures being performed.

Telescopic Loupe 

Our clinical staff performs dental procedures using surgical telescopes. These powerful glasses have magnifiers on them, allowing us to see and finish fine details that would otherwise go unnoticed by the naked eye. Our office uses loupes from Designs For Vision. ViziLite In our continuing efforts to provide the most advanced technology and highest quality care available to you, we are proud to announce the inclusion of the ViziLite®Plus exam as an integral part of our annual comprehensive oral cancer screening program.

• One person dies every hour from oral cancer in the United States
• 30,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer annually
• Early detection is essential to decrease the morbidity and mortality rate of oral cancer
• Unfortunately, 70% of oral cancer lesions are detected late

Until recently, dental professionals lacked the screening test technology to detect abnormalities that lead to oral cancer. Now, there is ViziLite®Plus. Similar to a PAP Smear test for women or the PSA test for men, the ViziLite®Plus test is an oral cancer screening test that helps professionals identify suspicious lesions in their early stages and accelerate the steps to diagnosis and treatment.

Non-Surgical Gum Treatment 

The gums, root ligaments, and bones around the teeth form the foundation for teeth. All of these structures are also referred to as the periodontium. When the periodontium is not healthy, it jeopardizes the teeth just as a bad foundation would threaten the stability of a house. Signs of unhealthy periodontium include gums that are red and bleed easily, persistent bad breath, gums that are pulled away from the tooth, loose teeth, and changes in the position or bite of the teeth. With proper gum treatments, it may be possible to return gum tissue to a healthy state.  If you're having a problem, come in and see us so we may treat it right away. The treatment usually involves a deep cleaning or root planing done under a local anesthetic, along with special medications. It is important to have gum problems checked promptly, as gum disease left alone may eventually need treatment through surgery or extraction.

Orthodontics (Braces) 

Orthodontics is the art of using appliances to straighten and align teeth. Most commonly it involves the use of metal brackets and wires to move teeth into their proper position. In this method, brackets are bonded to the teeth and arch wires are threaded through the brackets. The arch wires act as a track, guiding each tooth to its proper position.

Orthodontic Retainers 

Orthodontic Retainers are appliances made from clear plastic to custom-fit your mouth. They act as a guide to comfortably hold your teeth into place after braces are removed. The retainer holds your teeth in place so your surrounding gums and bone can adjust around them – allowing you to maintain your realigned smile.

Nightguards & Mouthguards 

Custom-designed mouthguards and nightguards are made of semi-ridged plastic and are custom molded to fit the shape of your teeth. Mouthguards are recommended to protect the jaw and teeth during physical activity and sports such as boxing, football, basketball, or other activities where your mouth may be hit. These sports mouthguards also protect the soft tissues of your tongue, lips, and cheek lining and help prevent concussions.  Nightguards are recommended for patients who clench or grind their teeth at night as a way to protect their teeth and bites. If a guard is right for you, we will take an impression of your teeth which will then be sent to a lab to make a custom fit guard.  On average, guards last between 3 and 10 years.

Implants Implants are metal posts made of specially coated titanium that are placed in the area of the tooth normally occupied by the natural root. Implants are anchored to the jawbone and act as a foundation for an artificial tooth or permanent bridge. In some cases, implants can be used to attach removable dentures. Read More...

Veneers Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain or plastic cemented over the front of your teeth to change their color or shape. Veneers are used on teeth with uneven surfaces or are chipped, discolored, oddly shaped, unevenly spaced, or crooked. Read More...

Crowns and Bridges Crowns and bridges are used to restore and enhance teeth that are damaged or to take the place of missing teeth. A crown (also referred to as a cap) is used to entirely cover a damaged tooth.  A crown not only strengthens a tooth, but it can dramatically improve a tooth’s appearance, shape and alignment. Crowns may be used to:

• Replace a large filling when there is little tooth structure remaining
• Protect a weak tooth from fracturing
• Restore a fractured tooth
• Attach a bridge
• Cover a dental implant
• Cover a discolored or poorly shaped tooth
• Cover a tooth that has had root canal treatment

A bridge is one method used to fill the space created by missing teeth. A bridge is one or more artificial teeth cemented into place using the teeth on either side for support. This is an option for filling the space created by a missing tooth.  Bridge work is as much an art as it is an exact science since it replaces a missing tooth both functionally and cosmetically. The materials used may be high-noble gold alloys, porcelain bonded to high-nobel metal alloy, or all ceramic material made to match your natural tooth color.  The choice of material depends on requirements for strength, wear, and aesthetics.

It is important that a missing tooth be replaced as soon as possible.  If not treated, the teeth surrounding the gap begin to shift inward. Since teeth use their neighbors for support, if one is missing they begin to "fall” and shift into the open spaces. This may worsen the bite because of the changes in pressure and can eventually result in problems with the jaw such as TMJ.

Bridges and crowns are made by first taking an impression of your mouth.  The impression is sent to a dental lab where your crown or bridge will be custom made to fit your mouth and match your natural tooth color.  A temporary crown or bridge will be placed into your mouth until your permanent crown or bridge is ready and cemented into place.

Bridges and crowns are very durable and may last a lifetime with extra care and good oral hygiene. Read More...

Teeth Whitening Tooth whitening is a popular procedure to make teeth whiter and brighter, and therefore more attractive. Whitening can be used to whiten stained and discolored teeth, or simply to enhance yellowed teeth due to aging.  Either way, teeth whitening is a safe and  painless procedure ideal for most patients.  Our office offers Sapphire Professional Whitening.

Sapphire Professional Whitening is an ideal option for anyone wanting imme- diate and long lasting results.  The "kick-start" process takes place in our office in about an hour, making it the perfect choice for busy individuals.  In this initial process, a protective gel is applied to your gums to protect the soft tissue.  A special light-activated gel is then applied to your teeth and a special light is used to enhance the action of the agent - making your teeth whiter and brighter.  As a final step, we take impressions of your teeth to create custom fitted trays for at-home gel use  and for annual touch-ups. The result is dramatically whiter teeth that will last for years.  Read More...

Invisalign® Invisalign's® invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners will give you the beautiful straight teeth you've always wanted. And best of all, no one can tell you're wearing them. Invisalign is great for adults and teenagers. Read More...

Root Canal Therapy Root canals are tiny passageways that branch off from beneath the top of the tooth, coursing their way vertically downward, until they reach the tip of the root. Read More...

Toothaches Simple toothaches can often be relieved by rinsing the mouth to clear it of debris and other matter. Sometimes, a toothache can be caused or aggravated by a piece of debris lodged between the tooth and another tooth. Avoid placing an aspirin between your tooth and gum to relieve pain, because the dissolving aspirin can actually harm your gum tissue. Read More...

Dental Emergencies Our goal is to help you to minimize the risk of emergency treatment. This is why we commit a generous amont of time designing a Lifetime Treatment Plan that will help you to offset the possibility of unforseen pain or tooth breakage. Read More...