Our office is proud to offer a variety of dental services to both
children and adult patients. Below is some basic information on some of
the procedures that we offer. If you are interested in any of these
procedures, you may contact our office for more information or to
schedule an appointment to discuss your individual situation and needs.
If you have fillings, broken, or decaying teeth, there are several treatments Dr. Shifman may recommend. Dental crowns are simple procedures that place a tooth-shaped "cap" over a misshapen, broken, or decayed tooth to restore its strength and appearance, and crowns can be made of a variety of materials including metals, ceramic, and porcelain. A crown is one of the most common dental procedures performed today and with proper care, the benefits can last a lifetime. An inlay is a smaller version of a crown, only covering a portion of a tooth.
You may have heard of a bridge, a fixed prosthetic device that is used to replace your missing natural teeth. These days, bridges are more durable, stronger, and can be securely fit to your mouth. While bridges help you have a beautiful smile, Dr. Shifman may recommend them to stabilize your bite, prevent gum disease, and keep your remaining teeth from drifting out of position.
A root canal is necessary when decay or trauma affect the pulp or
nerve of a tooth. The blood flow in the tooth rushes to the site of
inflammation to aid the tooth. What actually occurs is a pressure on the
nerve endings, generating pain, which usually occurs at night or when
lying down, and can be triggered by something hot or cold. What occurs
is a slow progression of decay traveling through the canal and settling
at the end of the root. This results in an abscess (or swelling) at this
site.
Other causes of nerve pain can be tooth fractures,
excessively large fillings, or constant trauma to the tooth.
Occasionally, it's difficult to diagnose which tooth may be the culprit.
New technology uses motorized files made of nickel-titanium that shape
and cleanse the canals. What used to take two to four visits can now be
accomplished in one visit to Northbank Dental Center.
Healthy teeth are essential for positive first impressions and a
confident smile consistently ranks as an important feature in initial
attraction. Unfortunately for many, accident, injury, genetics and
illness can jeopardize a beautiful smile and can destroy self-esteem.
Dental veneers are an excellent way to return a smile to its original
luster.
If you're not happy with the appearance or natural shade of
your teeth, you can enhance your smile with veneers. Veneers are thin,
durable layers of porcelain that are applied to the surface of your
front teeth. They are bonded to the tooth enamel to change the size,
shape, and color of your teeth. To find out the best one for you, call
us to schedule an appointment.
If you wear dentures or partials, you may miss the security, ease,
and comfort of your natural teeth. It's hard to laugh, cough, chew,
talk, or even smile without worrying if your partials or dentures will
slip. Denture wearers may experience soreness from loose dentures or
notice a shrunken appearance in their face as the gums and bones in
their jaws recede. Fortunately, you don't have to live with these
problems. Dental technology has changed over the last two decades and
Dr. Shifman can offer dental implants as a way to replace missing teeth.
Dental implants are indistinguishable from your natural
teeth. Titanium screws are used as an artificial substitute for tooth
roots. Once placed in your gums, the implant can anchor a bridge,
denture, or even a single crown in your mouth. Implants are long-lasting
and permanent, so they won't slip or move in your mouth and cause
injury or irritation.
Since everyone is different, Dr. Shifman will perform a
comprehensive evaluation of your mouth, including radiographs and
intra-oral photographs, to determine if implants are right for you.
These days, more and more patients are looking for ways to safely
whiten or bleach their teeth. At Northbank Dental, we offer Power
Bleaching. During this treatment, a chemical solution is placed on the
surface of your teeth to remove stains or other discolorations. If you
have existing crowns or veneers, bleaching will not change their color.
The effects of the bleaching are semi-permanent and patients may need to
maintain their treated smile for the best results.
In addition to in-office treatment, Northbank Dental also offers at-home bleaching. We create a bleaching tray, a clear
mouthpiece customized to your upper and lower teeth, and then provide
you with a special bleach solution. To achieve the best results, we
recommend that you wear the trays for one hour daily for 5-7 days.
The effects of the bleaching depend upon your teeth and the
nature of the discoloration. In order to find the best method of
bleaching your teeth, our skilled Dentists will need to examine your
teeth before they can make a recommendation.
Gum disease (also called periodontal disease) is an inflammation in the gums and other tissues that surround your teeth. Nearly three-fourths of the population has this disease. Since the early stages are painless, many patients avoid treatment until too late. If you have missing teeth, you are at a higher risk of developing gum disease. Thankfully, Northbank Dental has a variety of treatments to stop and prevent gum disease from causing further damage. They will also recommend and coordinate referrals to an experienced Periodontist for patients with more advanced stages of gum disease.
Many people take their healthy teeth for granted until they are lost
to accidents, disease, or the natural effects of the aging process.
Luckily, those who suffer from extensive tooth loss have more options
than ever before due to recent advances in dentures.
Full and partial dentures replace the missing teeth both
aesthetically and functionally, providing support and restoring the
smile. Full (complete) dentures are used when all of the natural teeth
have been lost, while partial dentures fill in the gaps between natural
teeth. The gums, dentures, and any remaining natural teeth will need to
be cleaned regularly to prevent staining, sores and plaque build-up.
While some dental visits involve repairing and restoring your mouth,
it's just as important for us to prevent any future damage to your
teeth. When you come for your first visit, Dr. Shifman will examine your
mouth thoroughly. After looking at your teeth and gums, she studies the
soft tissue in your mouth to look for lesions or other signs of oral
cancer. She also inspects any existing fillings, bridgework, or other
dental appliances in your mouth for wear. She will also check your jaw
for TMD or TMJ (Tempomandibular Joint) disorders. If you have any
problems, our team will design a complete personalized treatment plan to
stop any problems you might have and help you maintain excellent dental
health.
It's also very important to keep up with regular home
treatment, such as brushing and flossing of your teeth. Use of a
mouthrinse is also recommended. Finally, don't forget to schedule
regular check-ups with Northbank Dental. Catching a problem
while it's small is always better then waiting for it to be a real pain!
In addition to regular check ups and teeth cleanings, our team helps
patients who sometimes need complex or multidisciplinary treatment. We
research the latest equipment to find the most efficient, quiet, and
painless technology available and then train on it extensively. Our
office staff use intra-oral cameras, digital and panoramic xrays, and
cosmetic imaging so we can show you what your smile will look like.
Dr. Shifman keeps up to date with the latest advances in
the technological and dental field. She follows recent studies so she
can select services that are long-lasting and the most beneficial to her
patients. Additionally, Dr. Shifman reads up on all of the latest
accepted guidelines and standards so she can create the best environment
to treat all of her patients.
While technology is great, our team knows that sometimes
it's all about simply providing a soft pillow or a warm blanket to help
make our patients feel more comfortable. Every operatory has an entertainment system with a television mounted on the ceiling so
patients can watch videoes or listen to music while they are being treated.
