Our Services
From routine cleanings and complete exams to tooth whitening and full-mouth restoration, Personal Care Dentistry offers the best in professional care while giving you the million dollar smile you deserve.
Following are descriptions of the services and procedures provided by our experienced Minneapolis, St. Paul Dentist. Our priority is crafting your smile into something you want the world to see. Contact us today to schedule an appointment or for additional information. We appreciate the opportunity to provide the personal care you deserve based on your dental needs.
UNDER ARMOUR'S JAW-DROPPING TECHNOLOGY NOW AVAILABLE TO ST. PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS ATHLETES
Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN (January 4, 2009) – Visiting the dentist's office has long been proven to
improve a person's overall health and prevent future dental issues. With the introduction of Under Armour
Performance Mouthwear™, visiting Personal Care Dentistry can improve an athlete's strength,
endurance and reaction time and reduce athletic stress.
As an authorized provider of Under Armour Performance Mouthwear™, Personal Care Dentistry has begun fitting Minneapolis/St. Paul athletes with Under Armour's innovative new line of custom mouthpieces and mouthguards designed to improve athletic performance.
Powered by ArmourBite™, patented mouthwear technology developed by Bite Tech, Inc., Under Armour Performance Mouthwear™ relieves pressure on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and prevents the excessive production of performance-sapping hormones.
As an authorized dental provider, Personal Care Dentistry is able to equip Minneapolis/St. Paul athletes with the same technology used by hundreds of professional, Olympic and collegiate athletes. The easy and completely painless custom-fitting process typically takes less than 20 minutes.
Personal Care Dentistry will offer both the UA Performance Mouthpiece for non-contact sports, such as baseball, golf, tennis, cycling and running and the UA Performance Mouthguard, which provides superior protection and comfort for contact sports, such as football, hockey, lacrosse, martial arts and wrestling. A premium alloy version of the mouthpiece will be added to the UA Performance Mouthwear product line-up in Fall 2009.
For more information about Under Armour Performance Mouthwear™, please visit www.bitetech.com.
Personal Care Dentistry is located at 2233 North Hamline Ave , Suite 320 in Roseville. For more information or to schedule a custom fitting, call (651) 636-0655.
Cleaning and Protection
Your initial office visit involves a comprehensive dental exam, which includes the following services:
- Diagnostic X-rays. X-rays assist in detecting tumors, cysts, decay and bone loss. They also aid in determining root and tooth positions.
- Gum disease evaluation: A check-up involving the gums and bone surrounding the teeth for periodontal disease.
- Oral cancer screening: Evaluation of the throat, tongue, tissues, gums, lips, face and neck for any signs of oral cancer.
- Examination for tooth decay: Special instruments are used to check all tooth surfaces for decay.
- Examination of existing restorations: existing crowns, fillings, etc. are evaluated to ensure they remain functional and in good condition.
Dental cleanings include removal of plaque and tartar, followed by teeth polishing.
Home Care
Cleaning and protection doesn't end at the dentist's office. Your home care regimen plays a vital role in keeping your teeth healthy for a lifetime.
It is recommended that you brush your teeth at least twice daily and floss each day. Doing so helps keep the areas beneath the gum line and between the teeth from harboring plaque buildup and prevents damage to the bone, gums and teeth.
If you can't brush your teeth between meals, at least rinse your mouth with water.
Composite Fillings
Composite, or tooth-colored, fillings are used to repair worn, cracked, chipped or decayed teeth in a manner that leaves the repair unnoticeable, unlike unsightly metal fillings. We remove the damaged portion of the tooth before filling the area with the composite filling. Composite fillings also can be used to fill in gaps between teeth.
A variety of materials are used to create composite fillings. We will discuss the options available to you and together, we will decide on what will best suit your needs.
Porcelain Crowns (Caps)
A crown is used to repair cracked, broken or decayed teeth, or teeth with large or fractured fillings, to name a few examples. A crown covers the entire tooth surface and restores the tooth's size and shape.
Porcelain crowns are the most popular, due to their resemblance to natural teeth. This type of crown is extremely durable and will last for many years.
Porcelain Fixed Bridges
Like porcelain crowns, fixed bridges made of porcelain are a popular option among patients who are missing multiple teeth and seeking a natural-looking restoration. Bridges also are used to prevent remaining teeth from shifting position, to upgrade from a removable partial denture, to maintain face shape and to restore a person's speaking and chewing abilities.
A bridge typically involves placing crowns over two anchor teeth, with artificial teeth placed in between where the patient's natural teeth are missing.
There are several types of bridges, so we discuss the options and create a solution that is best for each individual patient.
Bridges will last a long time if cared for properly, but could eventually require replacement due to normal wear.
Porcelain Veneers
A porcelain veneer is a thin shell that can be permanently affixed to a tooth's surface. It is used to improve smiles by covering stained, misshaped, worn, broken and chipped teeth. Veneers also can be used to correct spaces between teeth. Although thought of as a delicate material, porcelain is extremely durable when bonded to a tooth.
Veneers often are good alternatives to crowns.
Tooth Whitening
Tooth whitening has become a popular treatment used to brighten and whiten the natural tooth enamel to restore the brilliance in a person's smile.
Patients' primary concern when they visit a dentist frequently is the shade of their teeth. There are teeth whitening systems that can be used effectively at home to dramatically whiten teeth.
Tooth whitening works only on natural tooth enamel- not porcelain or composite dental repairs.
Maintenance is required to maintain white teeth. Some regimens require routine treatment, while others need a touch-up every few years.
Patients can prolong the effects of their tooth whitening procedure by avoiding tobacco products and reducing the amount of wines, teas and coffees they consume.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease attacks the bone and gums that support the teeth. It begins when plaque is left to build up in the mouth and becomes tartar. When plaque and tartar are not removed, they can cause gums to become swollen, red and they even can bleed.
Periodontal disease is the primary reason for tooth loss, and some research suggests that there may be a connection between periodontal disease and more serious diseases, including bacterial pneumonia, stroke, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and increased risk during pregnancy.
The chances of periodontal disease developing can be lessened by maintaining routine dental visits, practicing good oral hygiene and eating a balanced diet.
Some symptoms and signs of periodontal disease include:
- Chronic bad breath - caused by bacteria in the mouth.
- Spacing that develops between teeth - caused by bone loss.
- Bleeding gums - Gums should never bleed, even when brushing vigorously or using dental floss.
- Puffy, red gums.
- Receding gums.
- Loose teeth - caused by bone loss or weakened periodontal fibers.
- Pus around the gums and teeth- symbolizes that an infection is present.
- Tenderness or discomfort - Plaque, tartar and bacteria irritate the teeth and gums.
Periodontal disease can be diagnosed by your dental hygienist or dentist during a periodontal examination. If periodontal disease is detected, your dental professional will make a diagnosis of one of the following:
Gingivitis
This is the first stage of periodontal disease and it characterized by bleeding, tenderness and inflammation of the gums.
Periodontitis
This occurs when plaque becomes tartar and causes the gums to recede. Bone loss also may occur at this stage.
Advanced Periodontitis
The gums, bone and periodontal ligament continue to be destroyed and teeth can become loose and fall out. Bone loss can be moderate to severe at this stage.
Treatment methods vary according to the severity and type of periodontal disease.
Treatment when the disease is caught in the early stages of gingivitis is relatively simple- it involves a couple of regular cleanings and possibly slight changes your daily oral hygiene habits.
Once the disease reaches advanced stages, a special periodontal cleaning may be recommended. The procedure helps heal gum tissue. Medicated mouth rinses, an electric tooth brush and other medications could be recommended to help control the disease and assist in the healing process.
Brushing and flossing daily goes a long way toward controlling plaque and tartar buildup. Once periodontal treatment is complete, your dentist will recommend that you maintain regular periodontal cleanings. These typically are done four times a year.
Restorations - What are they?
Although the use of fluorides has helped make great strides in reducing tooth decay over the years, teeth remain vulnerable to decay, infection and breakage and sometimes require restoration. Today's technological advancements in this area have created attractive options for restoring a tooth back to its normal function, shape and appearance.
If you ever need a restorative treatment, you can feel confident knowing that we will discuss the options available to you and make recommendations as to the least invasive and most comfortable treatment.
Restorative dentistry can do the following:
- Enhance your smile.
- Replace missing teeth.
- Correct or improve an improper bite.
- Prevent tooth loss.
- Relieve dental pain.
- Repair decayed and damaged teeth.
- Fill in wide gaps between teeth.
- Replace old, unsightly dental treatments.
- Restore normal eating and chewing.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are a good option when missing teeth need to be replaced. They also provide stability and support for complete dentures or removable partials.
Dental implants are surgically placed into the jaw bone by a dentist or periodontist and serve as an anchor to the artificial tooth, which has a natural appearance. Implants provide a durable, stable replacement option when a patient has lost a tooth.
Inlay Restorations
Dental inlays are used to treat teeth that are damaged or decaying within their indented top surfaces. They can also be used to replace damaged or old metal fillings. Inlays are made of gold, composite material or tooth-colored porcelain. They are a more conservative treatment than crowns, because less tooth structure must be removed in the process.
Inlays usually are placed during the course of two dental appointments. The first appointment involves taking an impression of the tooth that will receive the inlay. A temporary inlay is constructed in the office while the impression is sent off and a permanent inlay is produced in a dental lab. On the second visit, the permanent inlay is placed.
The customized nature of inlays enables dentists to bond them securely to the tooth surface, which adds structural integrity and prevents bacteria from entering and forming cavities.
Onlay Restorations
While dental inlays are used to treat decay within the top projections of a tooth, onlays are used to treat decay that extends to one or more of the cusps. Onlays are placed similarly to inlays. The dentist takes an impression of the decayed tooth, and a temporary onlay is placed while the permanent onlay is created in a dental lab. During the second appointment, the permanent restoration is secured into place using high-strength dental resins.
Root Canal Therapy
A root canal is needed when the pulp inside a tooth has been injured or become diseased and is unable to repair itself. Deep cavities and cracked teeth often are the culprits of pulp death because they allow bacteria to enter the pulp. These germs usually cause infection inside the tooth, which leads to pus building up at the root tip. This pus-pocket is called an abscess, which can cause damage to the surrounding bone.
If the infected pulp isn't removed, swelling can occur. The infection also can spread to the jaw bone. Not treating this condition can lead to the entire tooth needing to be extracted.
Root canal therapy can require up to three visits during which a dentist or an endodontist removes the diseased pulp; measures the area that will need a dental crown; cleans the root canal and pulp chamber; and fills the cavity with a flexible plastic material. The dental professional then places a temporary filling on top of the plastic material and tops it with a temporary cap.
A permanent filling cannot be placed until the infected area is completely cleared up. This can take less than one month.
Signs and symptoms that root canal therapy may be needed include:
- A severe toothache.
- An abscess on the gums.
- Sensitivity to cold and hot foods or liquids.
- Tenderness.
- Swelling.
