From routine cleanings and fillings to bruxism devices, our dentists are equipped to handle all your dental needs. To help you understand your options, we’ve included descriptions of some of our leading services on this page.
If a filling is not too big, our dentists may recommend having the cavity filled with a bonded resin filling. While these fillings are tooth colored and blend in with the natural tooth, resin fillings are important from a conservative “tooth saving” standpoint as well. Since these fillings are bonded (or “glued”) into the tooth, the amount of tooth that has to be removed is reduced. These fillings also do not “leak” as much as silver fillings.
Veneers are a thin piece of porcelain cemented over the front of your teeth to change their shape or color. Veneers are used on teeth with uneven surfaces or are chipped, discolored, oddly shaped, unevenly spaced or crooked. Little or no anesthesia is needed. Veneers have a longer life expectancy and color stability than bonding, and highly resistant to permanent staining from coffee, tea, or even cigarette smoking.
Tooth whitening or bleaching is a safe and simple way to brighten every smile. Our dentists can offer several options for home bleaching, depending on what is best for each individuals need. We would be happy to discuss the options available to you. We would love to help you achieve a whiter smile.
Your oral examination includes a visual examination, medical history review, oral cancer screening, charting, periodontal probing, diagnosis and treatment recommendations. We will take x-rays for proper diagnosis, including bitewing x-rays for detection of proximal decay.
Your hygienist will perform a professional cleaning of your teeth. First she will use special dental tools to remove any plaque and tarter that may be built up on the surface of your teeth. Then she will polish and floss your teeth to make them appear brighter and smoother. She will provide oral hygiene instructions for home care based on your personal needs.
Digital x-rays- instead of using cumbersome film, we use a digital sensor to take x-rays of your mouth. This sensor can reduce radiation up to 90% and produces highly detailed images that are transferred instantly to your computer screen. From there we can magnify, rotate and color code each x-ray to best explain the issue behind your dental health.
Panoramic x-ray shows a large area of the mouth, all in one radiograph. This includes the nasal area, maxillary sinuses, jaw joints, and all the teeth, impacted and erupted. It can reveal cysts, tumors, bone irregularities, polyps in the sinus and more.
Dental sealants are a thin plastic coating which is applied to the chewing surfaces of the permanent back teeth to prevent decay. Most tooth decay in children and adolescents occur on the chewing surface of these back teeth or molars. This is because molars have irregular surfaces with pits and grooves which tend to trap food and bacteria debris. Sealants flow into and coat these pits and grooves so that the bacteria cannot multiply and cause decay. The teeth most likely to benefit from sealant application are the first and second molars just after they have erupted and before they have a chance to decay. Children between the ages of 5 and 14 benefit most from sealants.
How many people hate the sound of the drill? Well drill-less dentistry is available at our office. This technology is best suited for small cavities in biting surface of teeth, and can often be performed without anesthetic. During air abrasion, an instrument that works like a mini sandblaster is used to spray away decay. During air abrasion, a fine stream of particles is aimed at the decayed portion of the tooth. These particles are made of silica, aluminum oxide, or a baking soda mixture and are propelled toward the tooth surface by compressed air that runs through the dental handpiece. Small particles of decay on the tooth surface are removed as the stream of particles strikes them. The particles of decay are then “suctioned” away.
TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders are a family of problems related to your complex jaw joint. If you have had symptoms like pain or a “clicking” sound, you’ll be glad to know that these problems are more easily diagnosed and treated than they were in the past. Since some types of TMJ problems can lead to more serious conditions, early detection and treatment are important.
No one treatment can resolve TMJ disorders completely and treatment takes time to become effective. Our dentists can help you have a healthier and more comfortable jaw.
TMJ disorders develop for many reasons. You might clench or grind your teeth, tightening your jaw muscles and stressing your TM joint. You may have a damaged jaw joint due to injury or disease. Whatever the cause, the results may include a misaligned bite, pain, clicking or grating noise when you open your mouth or trouble opening your mouth wide.
The more times you answered “yes,” the more likely it is that you have a TMJ disorder. Understanding TMJ disorders will also help you understand how they are treated.
A root canal is performed to save a tooth that has a damaged or infected nerve. A root canal is also sometimes necessary to properly restore a tooth to its original size and shape. Sometimes a post is then placed into the canal to support a build up that a crown may be put onto. Root canals are not and should not be painful. If a patient is properly numbed up, a root canal is the same as getting any other dental procedure. A crown is usually required over a root canal treated tooth so that decay does not “leak” back into the tooth. A crown is also usually necessary because these teeth often become brittle and dried out (because there is no blood and nourishment in the tooth), and a crown will help insure the tooth is protected from breaking or becoming reinfected.
It is recommended that you have your teeth professionally cleaned at least twice a year. Patients with significant tartar build up may require a more significant cleaning (debridement or removal of heavy build up of tartar). Patients with tartar build up beneath the gum line that is contributing to periodontal disease may require anesthetic (numbing of teeth and gums) to comfortably scale the tartar off.
Dental braces (also known as orthodontic braces) are a device used in orthodontics to align teeth and their position with regard to a person’s bite. They are often used to correct malocculusions such as underbites, overbites, crossbites and openbites, or crooked teeth and various other flaws of teeth and jaws, whether cosmetic or structural. Orthodontic braces are often used in conjunction with other orthodontic appliances to widen the palate or jaws or otherwise shape the teeth and jaws. While they are mainly used on children and teenagers, adults can also use them.
Looking for an alternative to metal braces? ClearCorrect is the clear and simple choice. No wires. No brackets. Just clear, convenient comfort—every reason to smile. With ClearCorrect, Berkers Family Dentistry can straighten your teeth using a series of clear, custom, removable aligners. Each aligner moves your teeth just a little bit at a time until you eventually get a straighter, healthier smile.
We will evaluate your teeth and talk about any problems or goals you have for your smile. Once we establish ClearCorrect is the right treatment option for you, the Berkers Family Dentistry team will take impressions, photos, and x-rays of your teeth that ClearCorrect uses in manufacturing your custom aligners. Then we write a prescription for your custom aligners and sends it to ClearCorrect.
ClearCorrect can treat a wide variety of issues that keep people from achieving their ideal smiles. Straighter teeth don’t just look better; they work better too. Poorly-aligned teeth can interfere with bite function, wear out quicker, and are more prone to cavities.
Typically, a tooth will need a crown when most of the natural tooth is gone, decayed, or cracked. There are a variety of crowns to choose from including all porcelain crowns (very esthetic), porcelain on top of metal crowns (not as esthetic but containing a metal base for strength), or all metal crowns (the least esthetic but easier to keep clean). Crowns are also needed to cover most root canal treated teeth, to restore an implant, and they are also sometimes necessary for partial dentures to work better.
Bridges are a natural-looking dental appliance that can replace a section of missing teeth. Because they are custom-made, bridges are barely noticeable and can restore the natural contour of teeth as well as the proper bite relationship between upper and lower teeth.
Implants are synthetic structures that are placed in the area of the tooth normally occupied by the root. Our dentists work with implant specialists to insure that you get the best possible care. They will plan your treatment with you and after your implants have been placed, they will place crowns or attachments onto the implant to replace a missing single tooth, missing multiple teeth, or support and retain a removable denture.
Missing teeth may also be replaced by making a removable denture (something that you take out at night). If you have existing teeth, our dentists may suggest that you replace your missing teeth with a partial denture. Your existing teeth may require some preparation or crowns to insure that the partial denture fits and stays in your mouth properly. A full denture may be recommended for you if you have no teeth or your existing teeth are not restorable. In general, partial dentures work better than full dentures, and if you don’t have enough bone for a full denture to “grab” onto to stay in and work well, then we may recommend an implant to help hold the denture in your mouth.
Our office provides comprehensive dental treatment for you and your entire family! We treat all ages! We also provide most other dental treatments not listed here. Contact our office to schedule a free consultation or second opinion with one of our dentists. Call us at (920) 766-9521 or Contact Us via the website.
Whether you need to schedule your appointment, have a question, or would like to speak to a member of our staff, we are here to help. Submit your contact information and we will be in touch with you shortly!