At Brannon Dental Associates PLLC, we offer a variety of services to care for your oral health at all ages. If you have any questions or would like more information on how we can care for your teeth and mouth, please contact us today.
Evaluations
No matter what your dental needs may be, everything starts with an exam. At Brannon Dental, we offer evaluations of your entire mouth, or if you need, we can simply start with an individual problem. Once we see what happening with your oral health, we will discuss what can be done to improve your health & fix any problems. After your initial evaluation, we recommend periodic checkups to help catch early issues before they turn into big and painful, problems. In addition to your dental needs, we also screen for signs of Oral Cancer during every exam.
Fillings
Dental fillings are used to fill cavities and repair cracked or broken teeth. Fillings can be done with gold, porcelain, or silver amalgam, but is most commonly done with materials called composite resin fillings that are designed to blend in with the color of your teeth. Several steps are used when placing tooth colored fillings which are completed by shining a special light that hardens the filling to full strength as soon as it shines – no need to wait for the restoration to further set before eating!
Waterlase
Our patients love laser dentistry! When this option is available, patients often do not have to be numb to have a cavity filled! This often means NO SHOT and NO DRILL! The laser essentially acts like a tiny pressure washer to clean out the cavity without the traditional “dental drill.” Our patients typically describe the sensation of Waterlase dentistry as ranging from feeling like a light tapping on the tooth to a gentle tingle or tickle.
Pediatric Dentistry
We are proud to offer pediatric dentistry. Our entire team is very good with children. We know and understand how children think so that we can start them off right. We want them to associate the dentist’s office as a good place, instead of being scared. We take our time with each patient so that they have an enjoyable visit.
Sedation
For fearful patients, we offer calming Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas), as well as Conscious Sedation to offer a calming “twilight” feeling to help alleviate the stress of dental treatment. While we can’t “put you to sleep” for treatment, conscious sedation offers a safe alternative to general anesthesia to alleviate the fear of dental treatment and allow us to complete more extensive or stressful treatment needs in a more comfortable manner.
Crowns
A tooth can lose its normal shape and size for a variety of reasons. A crown covers your tooth to help restore its original shape and size. Crowns can also be used to make teeth stronger and look better. Crowns have a variety of uses. In some cases that require a large filling, there isn’t enough tooth remaining to keep the filling in place. A crown can strengthen the tooth and hold the filling. Crowns can also protect teeth that are weak, or help fix ones that are broken. Discolored or misshaped teeth can be covered by a crown, as can dental implants.
Implants
Dental implants are root replacements placed in your mouth to hold either tooth shaped crowns & bridges, or as posts to help hold a removable denture. Dental implants are placed to improve patients’ smiles & usually their self esteem. Having missing or bad teeth can be quite embarrassing. Additionally, dental implants can help preserve your existing jaw bone where teeth are missing, & can improve oral health. Many people find it easier to eat with dental implants & their speech can also be improved.
Bridges
Bridges can solve the issue of missing teeth. Similar to dentures, bridges replace gaps in your smile with artificial teeth. Bridges can be made from a variety of materials including porcelain, gold, and alloys. Bridges can range from completely metal to tooth colored materials. With so many options, it is important to consult with your dentist about which type of bridge is best for you.
Dentures
Removable dental replacements, or dentures, are a common service that we provide for our patients. We provide both complete dentures (for when all teeth are missing) and partial dentures (for when some teeth are missing). There are both conventional and immediate dentures. Conventional dentures are made after the teeth have been removed and are placed 8 to 12 weeks after removal. Immediate dentures are made in advance and can be positioned as soon as the teeth are removed and must be reshaped or replaced after your mouth fully heals where teeth were removed. Implants can be added to both partial and complete dentures to help hold them in when eating or talking for greater comfort & confidence.
Cosmetic Dentistry
A beautiful smile is one of the most sought after features in cosmetic medicine. People from all backgrounds and professions want a white, straight smile, and we can help make it a reality. Whether through minor adjustments or major changes, cosmetic dentistry aims to help people feel good about the way their teeth look. There are many procedures that can improve your teeth and correct issues such as discoloration, chips, gaps, or irregularities. Common options include bonding, veneers, bleaching, reshaping, and crowns. In addition to cosmetic improvements, these procedures can help solve other oral problems as well.
Veneers
Veneers are thin shells intended to cover the front side of teeth to hide stains, chips, decay, or irregularities. A dental technician uses a model created by a dentist to make a custom shell out of special materials. Because veneers require removing some enamel, they are usually permanent. Your dentist will typically recommend avoiding food and drink that will stain your veneers. Veneers can chip or crack, but overall the results are worthwhile and many people are thrilled with their new smile.
Teeth Whitening
One of the most common desires patients have is whiter teeth. When considering your options it is important to consult your dentist to make sure you have all the facts and understand how they may affect your teeth and mouth. Options for teeth whitening usually include whitening toothpastes, at-home bleaching, and in-office bleaching. Of course effectiveness, safety, and results vary greatly between products, so consult with your dentist if you are considering these choices.
Orthodontics
Orthodontics (or “braces”) is dental treatment that involves correcting problems with tooth position as well as helping improve or maintain healthy growth & development of your face & posture. While orthodontics is often thought of as a cosmetic procedure, it can be an important step toward a healthy mouth. Teeth that are crooked or do not line up are the perfect place for food and bacteria to hide. It is important to know that orthodontics is not a one size fits all procedure; we would be happy to evaluate your individual needs and develop a custom treatment approach for your individual situation. Treatment options may include traditional braces, oral appliances, and/or clear trays worn full or part time to meet your individual needs.
Extractions
An extraction is performed to remove a tooth whether because of infection, fracture, lack of space, or to protect the teeth around them from damage. When extractions are required, the area around the tooth will be numbed, & the tooth removed, & typically medicine placed to help with healing. A small amount of bleeding is normal as your body will replace the missing tooth root by forming a blood clot in its place. Caring for your mouth after an extraction is very important. We will discuss in detail how you should care for the area of an extraction. It is important to allow your mouth time to heal, & very important to avoid activities like smoking, drinking through a straw (no milkshakes please), or eating spicy, acidic, or crunchy foods that may aggravate the area.
Gum Treatment
Gums & jaw bone are the framework that surround and support your teeth. Gum disease starts when this tissue becomes infected and is one of the leading causes of tooth loss. Plaque is the primary cause of gum disease, which is also called periodontal disease. Plaque (the bacteria on the teeth) is constantly forming & mixing with minerals in your spit to grow a hard layer called tartar or calculus which is difficult to remove. This is why it is important to thoroughly clean your teeth at home & have regular professional dental care to help prevent bacterial buildup that affects the gums. If you experience bleeding or swollen gums, gums that are pulling away from your teeth, bad breath or taste, loose or changing teeth, you may have signs of gum disease. At Brannon Dental we will determine appropriate initial treatment, as well as recommend a preventive treatment schedule tailored to meet your individual needs.
Root Canal
A root canal is a procedure used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or becomes infected. Although normal tooth decay can become increasingly worse and eventually lead to a root canal, often times blunt trauma can cause the tooth to die as well. In such cases, to restore these teeth, your dentist will remove the diseased or dead nerve from the tooth and then disinfect & seal off the space to prevent another infection or abscess from forming around the tooth. If the nerve is not removed the infection will continue to climb deeper into your gums, often causing swelling, pain, and discomfort.
TMJ Therapy including Botox
TMJ (Jaw Joint) dysfunction and pain – also called TMD – can be an aching problem. It can vary from occasional clicking or popping noises when yawning, to a constant ache or even migraine. In these painful cases, we will work to find the root cause, & can offer treatments ranging from simple exercises, oral splints & nightguards, to Botox to calm the aching muscles. If you are experiencing these painful symptoms, call us today so we can work with you to end the ache.