GENERAL DENTISTRY & PREVENTIVE SERViCES
Regular care resulting in a Sensational Smile every day…

Nightguard is a simple solution to protect your teeth and jaw from nighttime teeth clenching or grinding and the harmful results that follow. Sensational Smiles provides you with a customized mouth guard to comfortably fit over your upper teeth.  This guard creates a barrier between your upper and lower teeth, cushioning and absorbing the force and pressure of grinding, which protects the joint and teeth.  A Nightguard reduces clenching, grinding and TMJ problems by helping relax the muscles in the jaw.  You finally get back to a good night’s sleep!

Damage to your tooth’s inner nerve tissue sometimes requires a root canal procedure. Despite their negative reputation, most root canals are minimally uncomfortable with the latest advancements in general dentistry, especially compared to the pain and discomfort you may be feeling before the procedure. Drs. Berdahl and Feiock utilize the latest technology and dental techniques making root canal procedures more effective while taking less time.

A root canal involves removing the soft tissue within the tooth – also called the pulp – when it has become infected and inflamed. Your dentist gently removes the infected tissue out of the root canals of the tooth and fills the void with an inert material. The procedure is completed with the placement of a filling or in most cases, a crown. The crown protects the tooth and reduces the chance of future fracture.

Keeping your teeth is always the best and preferred solution.  In the instance that one of your teeth cannot be saved, it may be recommended to extract the tooth.  To ensure you are comfortable throughout your extraction, our team offers anesthesia and nitrous oxide gas.  This extraction can be done at Sensational Smiles’ office instead of referred to a specialist in the area.

When the decay has been taken out of the tooth, it is replaced with “filling” material. In the past, amalgam (silver) fillings were placed into the cleaned out portion of the tooth. With advancements in general dentistry, you can now have tooth-colored fillings that are shaded to match your surrounding teeth or traditional amalgam fillings. Tooth-colored fillings have the advantage of restoring teeth more conservatively, as well as creating an adhesive compared to amalgam fillings. Talk through the best option for you with one of Sensational Smiles’ expert team members.

Orthodontics (using braces or Invisalign) is the term we use for straightening teeth to a more ideal position to look better and function better. Invisalign uses a series of clear plastic trays to accomplish this movement, while traditional braces uses metal wires to achieve the movement.

Traditional Braces

During initial consults, our dentist will examine your teeth and jaw to determine if you are a good candidate for braces. Next, we’ll take necessary radiographs (X-rays) and pictures of your teeth and jaw. A mold of your teeth will be taken and a plan of action will be developed.

In order to move your teeth, metal brackets are affixed to the front of each tooth. A metal archwire is threaded through the brackets. This wire is progressively tightened, resulting in the teeth slowly being moved by force. As your teeth move, new bone is generated in the space formerly occupied by the tooth. Some patients may complain about some mild discomfort from metal brackets rubbing against the gums and lips. Dental wax can be placed over the brackets to alleviate this discomfort.

The amount of time it takes to achieve the desired results can vary greatly. The severity of the problems and the amount of adjustment needed will largely determine how long braces must be worn. You will need to visit the dentist every 2-3 weeks to make these adjustments.

Invisalign

During initial consults, our dentist will examine your teeth and jaw to determine if you are a good candidate for Invisalign. Next, we’ll take necessary radiographs (X-rays) and pictures of your teeth and jaw. A mold of your teeth will be taken and a plan of action will be developed. Using a computer-imaging program, dentists are able to make a series of molds that will be used to progressively move your teeth to new positions.

Invisalign advantages to give you the great smile you have always wanted:

• Invisalign is invisible, so no one can tell you are straightening your teeth.  Now you can smile more DURING treatment as well as after.
• Invisalign is removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment, plus brushing and flossing are no problem.
• Invisalign is comfortable, because it has no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment.  And no metal and wires means you spend less time in your doctor's office getting adjustments.
• Your oral hygiene is improved.
• Invisalign allows you to view your own virtual treatment plan when you start, so you can see how your straight teeth will look when you treatment is complete.
• Invisalign may reduce the risk of cavities and gum disease when compared to wire braces that trap food and plaque.
• You only visit your dentist only once every 6 weeks.
• Invisalign is usually faster than conventional braces.
• In most cases the aligners are doing multiple tooth movements simultaneously.  Commonly, in conventional bracketing, some movements get ignored until another movement is completed by the current mechanics.
• Work is usually completed in 15 months while conventional braces take an average of 2 years.

Invisalign disadvantages:

• They are not designed to treat patients with mixed dentition, changing a bite and/or growing palates and therefore are not appropriate for children.
• All restorative work must be completed before or after the treatment.
• Invisalign is designed to treat patients with less complex orthodontic needs.
•  It is difficult to change this system after treatment has begun because this system is so exacting.
• The system is dependent on the patient wearing the retainers.
• May temporarily affect your speech.
• They are to be worn full time, day or night, except while eating and brushing or flossing. 
• Teeth may be sore with a slight ache from the pressure especially for the first few days with each new aligner.
• After the work is completed you may have to wear a retainer at night.

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