Preventative Services
Exams and Consultations
Regular Dental Cleanings
Sealants
Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy
Cosmetic Services
Whitening
Veneers
Cosmetic Bonding
Restorative Services
Tooth-Colored Fillings
Crowns/Fixed Bridges
Implants
Partial Dentures
Dentures
Preventive Services
Exams and Consultations
This consists of an exam by the hygienist and Dr. Garrison that includes periodontal probing, oral cancer screening and digital x-rays as necessary to evaluate dental health. At Garrison Dental Care, we offer the newest in technology with our digital x-rays system. This allows us to provide you with a much lower level of radiation than traditional x-rays. They are immediately available for viewing on the computer screen. The image is highly accurate and more detailed than what you get with film. We are also able to email your x-rays to you and to any dental specialists or insurance companies as requested.
Regular Dental Cleanings
It is important to remove tarter buildup, which helps prevent gum disease, improve bad breath, and discuss any concerns you may have about your teeth.
Sealants
This is a useful preventive option to prevent tooth decay. A sealant is applied to the chewing surfaces of the molar teeth to create a smooth surface that does not trap plaque or bacteria, thus, preventing cavities in these teeth. This is a very easy procedure and can be done in minutes with no anesthesia or drilling.
Non-Surgical Periodontal (Gum) Therapy
As part of your regular check-ups at Garrison Dental Care, we carefully monitor the condition of your gums and bone. If the exam determines that you have periodontitis, there are some non-surgical treatments available that can prevent further destruction that eventually results in tooth loss. One of these is called Root Planing which is the removal of plaque and tarter from below the gumline that has accumulated on the roots of the teeth. Sometimes medications may be prescribed including antibiotics and mouth rinses. Once this is completed, you will be monitored on a more frequent basis to ensure that the gums have properly healed and that the disease is not progressing further. (back to top)
Cosmetic Services
Whitening
We have different options available for brightening your smile. We use Opalescence Professional Teeth Whitening products. One system is called Treswhite Supreme and consists of prefabricated mouth trays that contain the whitening gel already in them.They are simple to use, affordable, and require minimal time to get professional results! The other system is one where impressions are taken of your teeth and a custom mouth tray is fabricated. You are given the whitening gel to take home and apply to the tray and use. This system is great for people who have moderate to severe crowding or who want a custom-fitted tray. We would be happy to discuss your needs with you! (back to top)
Veneers
Porcelain veneers can be made to correct crooked, discolored, pitted, or chipped teeth. They can also be used to close spaces between teeth without the need for braces. These custom made tooth coverings are very durable, strong, and easy to clean. An impression is made of your teeth and the veneers are fabricated by a quality dental laboratory to give a custom fit for your mouth. In as little as two visits, we can create a beautiful smile! (back to top)
Cosmetic Bonding
Composite resin is color-matched, placed onto the teeth in layers, made into the desire shape, and cured with a special high intensity dental light which makes the material hard. Bonding can be done to close spaces between front teeth, improve discolored teeth, and repair fractured, chipped, and uneven teeth. Even though bonding is not as strong as porcelain veneers, for minor repairs and changes, it can be done in one visit and is an affordable way to improve one’s smile. (back to top)
Restorative Services
Tooth-Colored, Non-Mercury Fillings
We provide esthetic looking fillings that are the same color as your enamel and blend seamlessly with the shade of your natural teeth. This filling material is a resin composite that seals, strengthens, and restores the tooth to its natural shade. As a result, your newly filled, restored and decay-free tooth looks beautiful and most people can’t even tell that you have a filling! (back to top)
Crowns/Fixed Bridges
A crown is a permanent restoration that completely covers your natural tooth, thus, restoring it to its natural size and shape. A crown strengthens and improves your tooth and may be needed if there isn’t very much natural tooth structure left to provide support for a filling. Crowns are also recommended in order to protect weak teeth from fracturing, to restore broken or fractured teeth, to replace unsightly shaped or discolored teeth, and to place over dental implants. Crowns are permanently cemented to the natural tooth allowing you to use the tooth as you would any other unrestored tooth. Crowns can be gold or made out of a variety of porcelain or ceramic materials. Porcelain or ceramic crowns can be matched to the shade of your surrounding teeth. They look much more esthetic than a full metal crown. At Garrison Dental Care, we will discuss your specific restorative needs with you to determine which material would be best for your tooth.
A fixed bridge replaces the space where one or more teeth have been missing. The teeth on either side of the space act as anchors for the missing tooth or teeth in the middle. The bridge is cemented onto the adjacent natural teeth which provide support for the bridge. (back to top)
Implants
Implants can be used to replace a single tooth, many missing teeth, or as support for dentures. Implants are surgically placed in the bone where they act as the root of a natural tooth would. They are compatible with the body since they are made out of titanium and other biocompatible materials. Implants integrate with the jawbone and allow you to bite, chew, and speak with comfort and ease. Implants can also support bridges and dentures, stabilizing them and preventing unnecessary movement. (back to top)
Partial Dentures
A partial denture is a removable appliance that is made if only a few teeth are missing. It can be made out of metal with plastic components or it can be made entirely out of plastic or acrylic. It usually consists of teeth attached to a pink acrylic or gum-colored base that is connected by a metal framework. Dr. Garrison can discuss which one best meets your needs. Partials can restore the look and shape of the face, improve eating, speaking, and chewing, and improve the esthetics of a person’s smile. (back to top)
Dentures
There are many types of dentures, but the two most common are the traditional denture and the immediate complete denture. The traditional denture is placed in the mouth after all of the teeth have been removed and the gum tissues have healed for several weeks or months. The disadvantage of this is that the person must go without any teeth during the healing period. The advantage is that you get a better initial fit of the denture when made because the gums have had time to heal and swelling is non-existent.
Immediate dentures are placed as soon as the teeth are removed (at the same appointment). The advantage of this type is that you do not have to go without teeth for any period of time. The disadvantage is that the denture will not fit well after a few weeks because of the gum tissue shrinkage and will definitely need to be relined or re-fitted to your gums soon after. (back to top)