Procedures
General Dentistry
Procedures
INVISALIGN
If you’ve ever considered braces but are concerned about how it would affect your confidence, then consider a new alternative in Invisalign.
Traditional orthodontics can often affect patients’ self-esteem as well as limit them from eating certain foods and drinks. Invisalign is a series of clear aligners that can be easily removed, simultaneously allowing relief from the inconveniencing issues that come up with other orthodontics. When you want to eat, simply remove the aligner, and then put it back in when you’re done. Either way, it’s amazing how with the Invisalign system’s clear aligners, you won’t even appear to be currently undergoing treatment.
Distinctive Dental Service is an Invisalign Premier Provider. We are highly trained in handling all types of orthodontics and any questions you may have regarding them. Furthermore, Invisalign is one of our most sought-after treatments because of the aesthetic and functional improvements over braces. For an Invisalign consultation, contact our office today!
BONDING
Bonding is a conservative way to repair slightly chipped, discolored, or crooked teeth. During dental bonding, a white filling is placed onto your tooth to improve its appearance. The filling "bonds" with your teeth, and because it comes in a variety of tooth-colored shades it closely
matches the appearance of your natural teeth.
This process can lighten any stains you may have, close up minor gaps and can be used to correct crooked teeth. Basically, bonding will cover any natural flaws applying a thin coating of a plastic material on the front surface of your teeth.
Bonding is less expensive than other cosmetic treatments and usually can be completed in one visit to our office. However, bonding can stain and is easier to break than other cosmetic treatments such as porcelain veneers. If it does break or chip, let us know. The bonding can generally be easily repaired in one visit.
BRIDGES
Sometimes called a fixed partial denture, a bridge replaces missing teeth with artificial teeth, looks great, and literally bridges the gap where one or more teeth may have been. The restoration can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain or a combination of these materials and is bonded onto surrounding teeth for support.
Unlike a removable bridge, which you can take out and clean, a dentist can only remove a fixed bridge.
An implant bridge attaches artificial teeth directly to the jaw or under the gum tissue. So it's very important to keep your remaining teeth healthy and strong.
The success of any bridge depends on its foundation — the other teeth, gums, or bone to which it is attached. Therefore, it's very important to keep your existing teeth, gums, and jaw healthy and strong. Regular check-ups with Distinctive Dental Service should ensure that.
CROWNS
Otherwise known as "caps" because of their ability to act as coverings that fit over teeth. Crowns may be necessary because of broken down old fillings, fractured, chipped or sensitive teeth. Crowns are also used to improve the appearance of natural teeth that are malformed, mal-positioned, discolored or have portions destroyed by tooth decay.
At Distinctive Dental, we only use all ceramic caps, which means no unsightly metal under the porcelain, so you will never see a dark line around the gum line.*
IMPLANTS
If you have missing teeth, it is crucial to replace them. Without all your teeth, chewing and eating can destabilize your bite and cause you discomfort. When teeth are missing, your mouth can shift and even cause your face to look older. Dental implants can restore your smile. They can also be used to anchor loose-fitting dentures.
An implant is a new tooth made of steel and porcelain that looks just like your natural tooth. Your implant is composed of two parts that mimic a tooth's root and crown. The implant's "root" is a titanium steel rod placed into the jawbone to act as a root. Once the rod is in place, a porcelain crown is attached to replace the top part of your tooth.
BITE CORRECTION
Did you know that if your teeth are not aligned properly it could be more than just an esthetic problem? Toothaches, fractured teeth, jaw discomfort and other problems can occur when teeth are out of alignment. Furthermore, crooked teeth inhibit proper oral care, making it harder to reach certain places when you brush or floss.
Understanding how your teeth fit together, and treating the condition prior to starting your dental work will help avoid problems of instability, discomfort and function. Sometimes the symptoms are not initially noticed by patients but can include things such as excessive wear on teeth, sore teeth, fractured fillings and teeth, muscle pain and other facial discomfort.
At Distinctive Dental Service, we routinely evaluate your bite at each exam appointment to prevent future problems and discuss your options for treatment with you.
When the patient decides to have a bite consultation; impressions are taken so Distinctive Dental Service may study how your bite comes together. Photos and facial measurements are taken. A follow-up consultation will be planned within a week to present the ideal options and for you to ask questions.
We feel it is imperative that we inform our patients when we see a problem with their bite before the dental work begins, giving our patients the best options and foundation for a healthy outcome.
CELEBRITY SMILE MAKEOVERS
The accomplished staff at Distinctive Dental Service will work directly with you to help you find your inner celebrity. With our specialized smile makeovers, we’re able to use the latest dental technology and treatments to make you feel confident and beautiful so that you can flash smiles with celebrity zeal.
Your smile is one of the most important aspects of your appearance. With the advent of various new dental treatments, a stunning, memorable smile is now easily within your reach!
- Do you hesitate when you smile?
- Would you like to increase your self-confidence?
- Do you want to look your best in social or professional situations?
- Are you ready to reverse dental imperfections caused by an accident?
Our office can help you achieve your smile goals. Cosmetic dentistry is art and science working seamlessly together to offer smile enhancement, restoration, and maintenance for your optimal dental health. Using cutting-edge techniques and advanced materials, our office proudly offers you a beautiful, natural smile and all the benefits that come with it.
Contact us today to schedule your Celebrity Smile Makeover! (Paparazzi Not Included.)
TEETH WHITENING
Everybody loves a bright white smile, and there are a variety of products and procedures available to help you improve the look of yours.
Schedule a visit with your Distinctive Dental Service today to learn whether whitening procedures would be effective for you. Whiteners do not correct all types of discoloration. For example, yellowish teeth will probably bleach well, brownish teeth may bleach less well, and grayish teeth may not bleach well at all. Likewise, whitening may not enhance your smile if you have had tooth-colored fillings or crowns. The whitener will not affect the color of these materials and they will stand out in your newly whitened smile. In these cases, you do have other options, such as porcelain veneers.
That being said, professional teeth whitening is your best choice when you need immediate whitening results. The process is quick and easy; our staff will apply either a protective gel to your gums or a rubber shield to protect the oral soft tissues. A bleaching agent is then applied to the teeth and a special light may be used to enhance the action of the agent.
This procedure may require more than one office visit. Patients can expect each visit to take from sixty to ninety minutes.
Our “Distinctive” system of whitening can help you achieve the bright smile you used to have and have always hoped would show again. This safe and professional method can bring out a greater shine than you might find with at-home bleaching kits.
Smile whiter. Smile brighter!
VENEERS
There's no reason to put up with gaps in your teeth or with teeth that are stained, discolored, badly shaped, chipped, or crooked. Today, a veneer placed on top of your teeth can correct nature's mistake or the results of an injury and help you have a beautiful smile. Veneers are a highly popular solution among dental patients because of their lifelike tooth appearance.
Veneers are thin, custom-made shells crafted of tooth-colored materials (such as porcelain) designed to cover the front side of your teeth. To prepare for veneers, our staff will create a unique model of your teeth. This model is sent to the dental technician to create your veneers. Before placing your new veneer, we will remove a small amount of your tooth to make room for the veneer.
When placed, you'll be pleased to see that veneers look like your natural teeth and even resist staining. Though veneers are stain resistant, it’s recommend that you avoid coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco to maintain the beauty of your veneer.
General Dentistry
LIFETIME OF HEALTHY TEETH
Our office is centered on preventive dentistry, which is the most efficient way to maintain your oral health. Your smile should last a lifetime with regular professional dental care. With regular visits at Distinctive Dental Service comes a lifetime of knowledge about how to maintain proper oral hygiene outside of the office, important in-office professional cleanings that are essential to stall the onset of gum disease, and regular updates about your dental health.
Like most ailments, the earlier a doctor detects gum disease or dental problems, the easier and less-expensive treatment will be. With dental professionals like Dr. Efren Cortes, you can be aware of problematic areas before they become emergency treatments or at the very least, costly tooth repairs. The knowledge you will gain from Distinctive Dental Service can be an invaluable tool in providing a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.
GUM DISEASE
Periodontal diseases are classified according to the severity of the disease. The two major stages are gingivitis and periodontitis.
In the early stage of gum disease, called gingivitis, the gums become red, swollen and bleed easily. At this stage, the disease is still reversible and can usually be eliminated by daily brushing and flossing.
In the more advanced stages of gum disease, called periodontitis, the gums and bone that support the teeth become seriously damaged. Whereas healthy gums and bone anchor teeth firmly in place, infected gums can cause teeth to become loose, fall out, or have to be removed by a dentist.
Some factors increase the risk of developing periodontal disease:
- Tobacco smoking or chewing
- System-wide diseases such as diabetes
- Some types of medication such as steroids, some types of anti-epilepsy drugs, cancer therapy drugs, some calcium channel blockers, and oral contraceptives
- Bridges that no longer fit properly
- Crooked teeth
- Fillings that have become defective
- Pregnancy
If you notice any of the following signs of gum disease, call Distinctive Dental Service immediately:
- Gums that bleed easily
- Red, swollen, tender gums
- Gums that have pulled away from the teeth
- Persistent bad breath or bad taste
- Pus between your teeth and gums
- Permanent teeth that are loose or separating
- Any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
- Any change in the fit of partial dentures
It is possible to have periodontal disease and have no warning signs.
That is why regular dental checkups and periodontal examinations are of the utmost importance. Distinctive Dental Service can help you determine what the best course of treatment is for you.
FILLINGS
Thanks to advances in modern dental materials and techniques, dentists have more ways to create pleasing, natural-looking smiles. Dental researchers are continuing their often decades-long work developing materials, such as ceramics and polymer compounds that look more like natural teeth. As a result, dentists and patients today have several choices when it comes to selecting materials to repair missing, worn, damaged or decayed teeth.
Traditional dental restoratives (fillings) include gold, porcelain, and composite/amalgam. The strength and durability of traditional dental materials continue to make them useful for situations where restored teeth must withstand extreme forces that result from chewing, such as in the back of the mouth.
Newer dental fillings include ceramic and plastic compounds that mimic the appearance of natural teeth. These compounds, often called composite resins, are used on both the front and the back teeth.
These new materials have not eliminated the usefulness of more traditional dental materials, such as gold, base metal alloys and dental amalgam. That’s because the strength and durability of traditional dental materials continue to make them useful for situations, such as fillings in the back teeth where chewing forces are greatest.
Every patient is different. Dr. Cortes will be able to recommend which treatment is best for you.
SEALANTS
Sometimes brushing is not enough. Everyone has hard-to-reach spots in their mouth and brushing doesn't always fully clean those difficult places. When that happens, you are at risk of tooth decay. Using sealants on your teeth gives you an extra line of defense against tooth decay.
Dental sealant is a plastic resin that bonds to the deep grooves in your tooth's chewing surface. When sealing a tooth, the grooves of your teeth are filled and the tooth surface becomes smoother — and less likely to harbor plaque. With sealants, tooth brushing becomes easier and more effective against tooth decay.
Sealants are usually applied to children's teeth as a preventative measure during the years of most likely tooth decay. However, adults' teeth can also be sealed. It is more common to seal "permanent" teeth rather than "baby" teeth, but every person has unique needs. Let Distinctive Dental Service address your unique needs today!
CHILD DENTISTRY
As both a parent and doctor himself, Dr. Cortes understands the importance of keeping your child’s teeth and gums healthy. Distinctive Dental Service welcomes patients of all ages. In the case of younger patients, Dr. Cortes’ philosophy is simple; “treat the child, not just the teeth.”
Dr. Cortes has a caring touch and is attentive to the needs of children of all walks of life. He will be able to relate information in a manner that your child can understand and will also be able to address parents of any concerns they may have about their children’s oral health.
Parents unsure of the right time to take their child in should not that an ideal time for your child’s first visit is between one and two years of age. Distinctive Dental Service will check for developmental concerns as well as decay.
It is very important that your child have a positive first experience. Make sure it’s with us.
