General Dentistry
Helping our patients maintain a healthy mouth and smile is the main goal of general dentistry. We prefer to provide more minor, preventive care than to see patients suffer with more intensive treatments from a problem that was not managed in time. We want to ensure that your oral health is in its optimal state and positively contributing to the health of your entire body. We are here to brighten your smile and pave the way for a brighter life.
Preventative Dentistry
It is important to brush your teeth at least twice daily to help remove plaque and food particles that get stuck to your teeth. It is recommended that you brush your teeth for two minutes (or longer), though most people rush through this time. You need to make sure that you reach every side of each tooth, including the inside and outside. To help keep your breath fresh, you should also brush your tongue. Then, you can begin flossing.
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Cleanings And Exams
Having a dental practice perform a checkup and regular cleaning gives a preventive approach to dental care. These general dentistry treatments help prevent problems with your teeth, gums and jaw bones, or they catch and manage problems before they worsen. During your visit, our doctors will take a picture of the current standing of your dental health and what would be needed to keep your oral hygiene in its best state.
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Teeth Whitening
A common request we receive is how to make a smile whiter and brighter. This is a relatively simple and quick treatment option that can be performed periodically. Certain foods and beverages, such as wine and coffee, stain the teeth and contribute to discoloration. The teeth whitening process provides a solution that lightens the shade of the teeth. Additionally, the process actually rids the teeth of plaque and tartar that tend to lead to dental problems.
8 Shades Whiter in One Visit!
When you arrive for your laser teeth whitening appointment, your dentist in East Cobb will use a tool you’re probably already familiar with to judge the current shade of your existing teeth. This is the long plastic card that has little fake plastic teeth on it in all shades of yellow. He will also use this tool at the end of the procedure to show you how much your teeth have changed.
You can notice a difference with as little as two shades but maximum brightness usually comes in around seven or eight shades lighter. If you don’t want to make a huge difference all at once, or you’re not sure how white you want to go, it’s okay to start small. Make your first appointment be for just two or three shades lighter. You can always schedule an appointment to come back in for more East Cobb dentistry and go another two or three shades brighter if you wish.
Pain Free Dentistry
Many of our patients have dental anxiety and worry about the pain involved with each procedure. We are happy to let you know that laser teeth whitening does not hurt at all! You won’t need numbing medication or dental sedation for your appointment. You may feel some sensitivity in the few days after your laser teeth whitening appointment, but this typically goes away within a week.
No Need to Come Back!
Laser teeth whitening is a fairly quick procedure in our East Cobb dental office. The whitening process itself lasts about 20 minutes, but to include setup and cleanup, you can expect to be at the dentist’s office for one hour. This means you can fit it in during your lunch break from work! And the best part is that you’ll be all set to go as soon as we finish. There’s no need to schedule a follow up appointment!
The effects of laser teeth whitening can last from several months, up to a year. It’s different for each person and depends on how much stain-causing food and drink you consume, as well as your oral hygiene routine.
The Dentist East Cobb Residents Love!
Dr. Patel at Cobb Center for Advanced Dentistry has received many awards and happy testimonials from national publications and East Cobb residents. Give us a call today to discuss your East Cobb dentistry needs and we’ll be happy to help!
Fillings
When treating cavities, Dr. Patel uses quality, resin materials to restore your teeth to optimal health and function. Healthier than amalgam fillings, the resin/composite fillings are not associated with mercury toxin issues and filling shrinkage like metal fillings of the past. Ultra-violet light is used to cure or harden these tooth-colored composite fillings.
Smaller cavities may only require a resin bond. When cavities take up a large area of the tooth, other measures may be necessary. In order to provide more strength to the tooth, Dr. Patel may elect to restore the damaged portions of your teeth with a porcelain inlay/onlay, which is usually made in the office in just one visit. Onlays offer a more conservative treatment over a full coverage crown thereby saving as much of your natural tooth structure as possible. Dr. Patel will always discuss options for treatment with you.
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Root Canals
In some cases where there is pain or infection in your tooth, a Root Canal Treatment may be indicated.
This treatment removes the affected, pulp-filled cavity below the tooth and sterilizes the canal system. Small files are then used to shape the area to be filled. Once this is accomplished, the canal system is filled and sealed. The tooth is covered with a crown that looks like a natural, healthy tooth.
The good news is that modern Root Canal Therapy is nothing like earlier versions of this treatment. In fact, it is very similar to routine filling restorations. Your comfort level is important, and advanced anesthetics of today have made the majority of root canal treatments significantly more comfortable compared to treatments of the past. The procedure is performed in one to two visits based upon the level of infection. Using today’s modern techniques, patients typically only require over-the-counter pain relievers after the procedure. This effective treatment is extremely effective and will have you quickly back to normal eating/chewing habits.
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Extractions
An extraction is performed to remove a tooth, whether because of disease, crowding, or damage. When extractions are required, the area around the tooth will be numbed and your dentist will remove the tooth. A small amount of bleeding is normal, as your mouth will replace the removed tooth root by forming a blood clot in the area.
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Oral Cancer Screenings
Nobody wants to hear that they may have oral cancer. Although it can be fatal, it is easier to treat the earlier it is caught. For this reason, we are proud to assist our patients with an oral cancer screening. We want to help our patients survive this often fatal disease.
Oral cancer will typically show up as white or red patches or lesions inside of your mouth. You may even notice the lesions on your tongue or on the floor of your mouth. Many people experience a hard time swallowing, bleeding in the mouth, or even swelling in your face or neck.
Sealants
When we apply a dental sealant, we paint a plastic coating on top of your teeth. This makes your teeth smooth getting rid of the rough edges, depressions, and grooves that are commonly found on teeth. It is essentially a protective coating against tooth decay and cavities.
The most common place to paint sealants is on back teeth since they are often irregular. They can also be very hard to reach, even if you brush your teeth regularly. We use it more on children though we do perform sealants on adults too!
Night Guards
It can be beneficial to use a guard, or covering, to protect your teeth from grinding while sleeping. Similar to how a mouthguard protects teeth during sports, this layer prevents damage to the teeth that can occur naturally.
There are a wide variety of different types of mouthguards, ranging from pre-formed pieces to ones that are custom fitted to your teeth and jaws. Some of these can even be formed at home through a boil-and-bite process.
TMJ Treatment
Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD), more commonly known as TMJ disorder, is a condition that affects millions of people every year. The temporomandibular joint is what joins the jaw bone to the skull, and dysfunction in the joint leads to jaw pain, difficulty chewing, and locking or clicking of the jaw joint. These side effects are caused by a malalignment and/or deterioration in the jaw joint and can lead to larger problems if not properly treated.
If you suffer from any of the symptoms listed here, may be able to help.