Invisalign
We are a certified Invisalign providers! Consider Invisalign treatment to get the beautiful straight teeth you’ve always wanted—without braces. A complimentary consultation with Dr. Schtakleff or Dr. Verga can determine if Invisalign clear aligners are right for you!
What is it?
Invisalign treatment uses a series of virtually invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners that allow you to smile more during treatment as well as after. Invisalign clear aligners are made with 3D computer imaging technology and have been proven effective and safe, as you are supervised by licensed dentists during the entire process.
Why should I choose Invisalign instead of Direct-to-Consumer trays or Do-It-Yourself teeth straightening?
Great question! We are licensed professionals who are concerned about irreversible harm to patients. When undergoing Invisalign treatment, Dr. Schtakleff and Dr. Verga monitor every step of the process to ensure your teeth are moving correctly and safely.
Orthodontic treatment, if not done correctly, could lead to potential bone loss, receding gums, changed bites, and other irreversible problems.
Here at Prime Family Dental we agree with the American Dental Association that for the health and well-being of our patients, patient supervision by licensed dentists is necessary for all phases of treatment. Would you try to fix something else in your body on your own instead of going to a physician with years of experience and education? Here at Prime Family Dental we take your oral health seriously.
Why would I want it?
Not only are the aligners virtually invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment. Plus, brushing and flossing are no problem. They are also more comfortable than traditional braces, with no metal or wires, which also usually means you spend less time in your doctor's office getting adjustments. Invisalign treatment also allows you to view your own virtual treatment plan when you start so you can see how your straight teeth will look when your treatment is complete.
How does it work?
You wear each set of aligners for about two weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move — little by little, week by week — until they have straightened to their final positions. You'll visit us about once every six weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned. Total treatment time averages nine to 15 months and the average number of aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30, but both will vary from case to case.
For more information on Invisalign, you can visit the Invisalign website or come in for a consultation with us!
Opalescence Whitening
Many factors, including dietary habits (drinking coffee, tea, soda, and red wine) and certain medications, affect the whiteness of your smile. Tooth whitening is an affordable and effective way to combat common causes of tooth discoloration while boosting your self-confidence and improving your appearance.
Opalescence offers a wide range of tooth whitening products designed to brighten your smile. With custom designed take home, on-the-go, and in-office options, Opalescence Tooth Whitening Systems accommodate all lifestyles and budgets.
Prescription-strength Opalescence Tooth Whitening Systems are stronger and more effective than over-the-counter teeth whitening products, and are only available through your dentist. They can give you whiter teeth in less time!
Safe and Effective
Safe
Opalescence Take Home Whitening Gels are only available through your dentist. While using the Opalescence Tooth Whitening System, your dentist will supervise your treatment from initial consultation through completion. The special whitening gel will not affect your gums, and in many cases can help improve your oral health by strengthening tooth enamel, decreasing sensitivity, and offering increased cavity prevention.
Effective
Powerful, prescription-strength Opalescence Take Home Whitening Gels are available in varying strengths depending on your dental needs. Opalescence Take Home Whitening Gels can provide results after just one night, although results may vary and can take up to a week before you experience noticeable changes.
Customized
Opalescence Take Home Whitening Gels are delivered through customized bleaching trays designed to fit your unique smile. Your dentist will create your personal trays from an alginate impression of your mouth; this customization is part of what makes Opalescence Take Home Whitening Gels so effective.
Further customize your Opalescence Take Home Whitening Gel experience by choosing from the five different treatment options: Opalescence, Opalescence® Treswhite Supreme™, Opalescence® BOOST, and Opalescence after-care toothpastes, toothbrushes, and OpalPix®. Talk with your dentist about what options are available to you.
Please contact our practice to schedule a consultation, or visit www.opalescence.com to learn more about the Opalescence Tooth Whitening System.
Dental Implants
People are living longer than ever, and while regular brushing, flossing, and checkups allow many of us to maintain our natural smiles for a lifetime, sometimes our teeth just can’t keep up. If you’ve lost a tooth (or a few teeth) due to injury or disease, dental implants can rejuvenate both your smile and your oral health.
An implant is a synthetic tooth root in the shape of a post that is surgically placed into the jawbone. The “root” is usually made of titanium: the same material used in many replacement hips and knees, and a metal that is well-suited to pairing with human bone. A replacement tooth is then fixed to the post. The tooth can be either permanently attached or removable. Permanent teeth are more stable and feel more like natural teeth.
The ideal candidate for implants is a non-smoker who has good oral health, including a sufficient amount of bone in the jaw, and healthy gums with no sign of gum disease. Although we do not place implants, we are happy to refer you to a specialist who will guide you through the process, then return to see us for placing the crown or restoring the implant for esthetics and function.
Single or Multiple Implants
Implants are versatile. If you are only missing one tooth, one implant plus one replacement tooth will do the trick. If you are missing several teeth in a row, a few strategically placed implants can support a permanent bridge (a set of replacement teeth). Similarly, if you have lost all of your teeth, a full bridge or full denture can be permanently fixed in your mouth with a strategic number of implants.
Advantages Over Dentures or Bridges
Conventional bridges and dentures are not fixed to the bone, and can therefore be unstable. This can make it difficult to eat or smile with confidence. Implants not only look more natural, but feel and act more like normal teeth, with a stronger biting force. And because they don't directly rely on neighboring teeth for support, implants don't compromise the health of your natural teeth. In fact, bridges are only expected to last seven to ten years, even less with root canals, whereas implants will typically last a lifetime.
Post-Treatment Care
Consider your replacement teeth to be the same as natural teeth. They require the same daily brushing and flossing, and the same amount of regular checkups. Just like your natural teeth, the better you take care of your replacements, the longer they will last.
Implant Services
We will be more than happy to refer you to one of our friendly specialists for implant placement and the following implant services, then you may return to Prime Family Dental for restoring your implant with a prosthesis:
- Sinus Lift Augmentation: Often the sinuses will enlarge following loss of the upper back teeth. This can preclude placement of dental implants in the upper back areas of the mouth, since the sinus is an air-filled space and dental implants need to be surrounded by solid bone. A sinus lift augmentation/graft is a surgical procedure that restores the sinus cavity to its original size, and replaces the bone that has been lost as a result of the enlarged sinus. This new bone graft typically takes nine to 12 months to heal before the dental implants can be placed into the grafted bone.
- Autogenous Bone Grafting: Occasionally, the ideal areas for dental implants do not have sufficient bone quantity to support the implants. In these cases, it is often necessary to "borrow" bone from another area of your mouth and graft it into the deficient area. Often, the area of choice is from the chin or in the back of the jaw where your wisdom teeth used to be.
- Implant Site Development: When a tooth needs to be removed due to infection, it is not uncommon to have lost bone around the infected tooth. In these cases, various types of bone grafting can be done at the same time the tooth is removed to facilitate the placement of a dental implant at a later date.
- Computer-Enhanced Treatment Planning: We have special software on our computer that allows us to evaluate your dental CT scan in three dimensions for bone quality, bone quantity, and bone location, enabling the best possible placement of your dental implants. This also allows us to work closely and smoothly with your restorative dentist to ensure an ideal result where your dental implants are concerned.
- Implant Maintenance: Once your dental implant restoration is completed, it is important to keep the area clean and infection-free. Dental implants can accumulate plaque and tartar just as teeth can. Whether you have just one tooth replaced by an implant or several, a professional cleaning schedule will be necessary to keep your implants healthy. The time interval for these professional cleanings will be determined by your individual needs.
Teeth Whitening
There are many products and techniques available for patients who want to achieve a brighter smile, and with so many options available, it can be difficult to choose the method that is right for you. The best way to begin any teeth-whitening regimen is to schedule an appointment and talk to us about the differences between in-office professional whitening and at-home whitening.
The first professional option is commonly referred to as in-office whitening. This procedure is performed in a dental office. During an appointment, your dental professional will apply a whitening gel to the surface of your teeth. The entire office visit generally takes about 90 minutes and you will be able to see results almost immediately.
At home whitening comes in different forms and we have many options that will work best for you:
Tray Whitening
Tray bleaching is a type of professional whitening that uses custom-made trays and whitening gel only available through your dentist. The whitening gel is placed in custom-fitted trays that fit perfectly over your teeth. As the peroxide in the gel breaks down, hydroxyradicals help whiten stained teeth. Unlike strips, this process whitens all your natural teeth and may contain ingredients intended to provide maximum comfort. At-home professional tray whitening generally takes ten to 14 days, although you may notice results in as little as three to five days.
Paint-On Teeth Whiteners
There are many over-the-counter teeth whitening options, and one type of readily accessible whitening products is commonly referred to as a "paint-on" teeth whitener. Paint-on whiteners can be purchased over-the-counter and generally are less expensive and less effective than whitening strips or professional options. Paint-on teeth whiteners consist of a gel that is applied to the tooth using a small brush. Paint-on whitening gel hardens into a film that coats the teeth, and dissolves in the mouth. As with any teeth-whitening regimen, it is wise to consult with a dental professional before use.
Teeth-Whitening Strips
Teeth-whitening strips are thin, flexible plastic (polyethylene) strips with a thin film of hydrogen peroxide on one side. Whitening strip kits come with two types of strips: strips for the upper teeth and strips for the lower teeth. The whitening agent is applied by placing the strips across your teeth and gently pressing the strips to ensure contact with all your teeth. Teeth-whitening strips are typically worn for 30 minutes a day, twice a day. The duration of treatment will vary.
Whitening Toothpaste and Mouthwash
The least expensive options are whitening toothpastes and mouthwashes. Designed to have "whitening" capabilities, toothpastes and mouthwashes work to remove surface stains using mild abrasives. However, unlike the materials used in professional whitening procedures, these products do not lighten the actual color shade of the tooth. Whitening toothpastes affect surface stains and will mildly lighten your teeth.
If you would like to learn more about any of these topics, please contact our practice to schedule an appointment. We would love to see you!
