Hampton Park Dental offers both in-office and at-home whitening treatments. While tooth whitening has become a trend of sorts, Dr. Crossman has some strongly held opinions on the subject. We recommend that you consult with our office prior to beginning any "tooth whitening" program.
This process may whiten your teeth, removing the appearance of coffee, tobacco and other stains and improve the colour of yellowing teeth. Our in-office procedure takes just one visit to achieve results. Our at-home procedure requires an initial visit to fit a splint specifically to your teeth. This splint holds a gel that when used properly will yield results within several weeks. Generally worn at night, the splint offers amazing results in most cases.
CEREC crowns are one of most innovative dental technologies to ever emerge. With CEREC crowns, you don't have to worry about messy impressions, temporary dental crowns, or multiple dental visits. CEREC crowns are made right in our office and are placed in just one visit. CEREC crowns look great, too. Made of pressed ceramic and no metal, CEREC crowns look and feel like your real teeth. The convenience, comfort and beauty of CEREC crowns are unbeatable!
Did you know? Eating one banana exposes you to the same amount of radiation as one dental x-ray!
Dental X-rays have come a long way. Todays dental X-rays are safer, faster, more comfortable and more informative than the X-rays of years past. Digital X-rays, one of the latest and most advanced dental technologies, produce high-quality images of your teeth that can be viewed instantly by you and your dentist on an LCD monitor. Digital X-rays reduce radiation by up to 90% and provide exceptional diagnostic information to ensure that potential problems are caught in their earliest stages. Intraoral photography is another alternative to traditional dental X-rays. With intraoral photography, problems such as cavities, fractures and discolorations in the teeth are captured through clear and sharp photographic images that are taken with a 35mm or digital camera.
In a nutshell, an intraoral camera is a small video camera that takes an X-ray of the outside of the gum or tooth. The intraoral camera resembles an oversized pen and although usage varies depending on the model-type, this image-taking device is typically outfitted with a disposable protective sheath for each new patient. While simultaneously viewing a monitor, Dr. Crossman or the Dental Hygienist will insert the camera into the patient's mouth and gently shift it about so that images can be taken from a variety of angles.
Root canals get a bad rap. But don't believe the rumours; the dreaded root canal isn't dreadful at all! Root canals are needed when either decay or an injury infects the inner tooth (the pulp). In the earliest stages of infection, you may not feel any pain at all. But when it progresses, you could have a toothache and swelling, or a dental abscess might form. Root canals remove the infection and prevent it from spreading. Thanks to new root canal equipment and techniques, this process is faster and more comfortable than in the past. Pulp capping is an alternative to root canals that is used when the infection has yet to penetrate the pulp. Pulp capping can also prevent a large dental filling from getting too close to the nerve.
Veneers are thin porcelain shells, like false fingernails, that are permanently adhered to the outsides of your teeth. They are carefully shaped, both to fit your real teeth perfectly, and to give you a perfect smile.
Veneers can make your teeth longer and more even. They will make your smile whiter. Veneers are relatively expensive, but they are the highest quality material used in cosmetic dentistry.
During your first appointment Dr. Crossman will remove a very thin layer of enamel, the hard outer layer of the tooth. Only one millimeter of tooth structure is removed so the teeth will not look thick when the veneers are bonded to the teeth. Then Dr. Crossman will take an impression of your teeth. This impression is sent to a lab (one specializing in making veneers) which makes your "new teeth" fit your existing teeth perfectly.
After the lab fabricates the veneers, the patient returns for a second appointment. The lab will have made a separate thin porcelain shell for each tooth that is being reshaped. They are then "glued" onto your teeth by bonding a thin layer of plastic between each tooth and the veneer.
Dental implants are an extraordinary blend of science and art. Made of titanium, dental implants are securely anchored into the jaw and serve as roots for dental crowns. In many cases, dental implants – and mini dental implants, the smaller version -- are considered the best option for replacing missing teeth. They are also used to replace dental bridges or partial dentures, or to provide support for dentures. Dental implants offer several advantages over other tooth replacement options. They look, feel and function just like real teeth! With dental implants, surrounding teeth are left untouched. Finally, dental implants are exceptionally reliable. Year after year, dental implants have had high success rates and typically last 15-20 years.
If you need another reason to see your dentist regularly, consider this: Dentists are the first line of defense in the detection of oral cancer. That's important because early detection of the disease can have a significant impact on the outcome. The earlier oral cancer is found, the better the odds of beating it.
Oral cancer screening is routinely performed by dentists during regular dental visits. In addition to a manual evaluation, some dentists also use a screening device called a VELscope®. This painless, non-invasive tool can be used to see potentially harmful abnormalities in the tissue of your mouth that your dentist can't spot. The result? Detecting oral cancers that otherwise might not be found.
OH BABY!
Your frenulum or frenum is a membrane that attaches your tongue and/or lip to the anatomy of your mouth. In some infants and adults, the frenulum is overdeveloped causing the patient to be lip and/or "tongue-tied". Babies who have this condition often have difficulty latching and are not able to nurse. Later in life, this can cause problems with dentition and speech. WE CAN FIX IT. We are able to do an in-office release with a laser procedure that is quick, efficient and heals well. Baby will have some discomfort during the procedure but after spending some cuddle time with Mommy and an effort at breastfeeding, baby is usually settled before he/she leaves the office!