General Dentistry

Deep Cleaning

A deep cleaning is often planned when active gum disease is diagnosed, based on the clinical buildup of calculus and bone loss is observed in the radiograph. Under anesthesia, ultrasonic scaler and hand instruments are used to get deep inside the gum and scrape out all the calculus buildup and inflamed tissue. Only after the surface of the teeth is clean does the healing process of the gum start. Bleeding or soreness after the deep cleaning usually goes away within a few days and three or four months follow-up maintenance cleanings are scheduled. It is tempting for the patient to just get away with a regular cleaning. However, if there is active gum disease, deep cleaning is highly recommended. 

 

Regular Cleaning

For patients who have minimal gum inflammation without alveolar bone loss, a regular cleaning can be done without anesthesia. It is strongly recommended to follow up with regular cleanings every 6 months and not skip more than a year. Patients who skipped their regular cleaning for more than a year often end up needing a deep cleaning due to active gum disease.

 

Laser Dentistry

Various uses of lasers also include teeth cleaning. Laser offers a minimally invasive method to remove plaque, calculus buildup in areas difficult to reach. It ensures reduced discomfort and faster healing. ELITE CARE DENTAL provides safe laser dental service for a variety of procedures.

 

"Arestin" Application

A prescription antibiotic is applied when there is active gum disease and a certain spot has relatively deep, infected gum pockets. It has great clinical results in fighting harmful bacteria that deep cleaning alone might leave behind.

Complete (Full) Dentures

For patients without teeth, a complete denture can be a great option. There are two ways to fabricate full dentures. First, the traditional way of full denture fabrication includes taking an impression, checking the bite, and setting teeth with a wax denture and delivering the processed final denture. An alternative way is to digitally scan and fabricate a denture out of the scan. It requires fewer visits but doesn’t fit as well as traditional dentures.
 

Immediate Dentures

For patients who have no option but to pull out all of their remaining teeth and become edentulous, an immediate denture can become a savior. Immediate dentures are prefabricated out of impressions that are taken upfront. The prepared denture can be delivered the same day after teeth extraction. Although it doesn’t fit perfectly, the patient can at least leave with a denture that has teeth, and chairside relining of the immediate denture can also help improve the fit of the denture.

 

Removable Partial Dentures

A Removable Partial Denture (RPD) can be a great option for patients who have partial edentulism with multiple spaces between their teeth. Multiple spaces can be restored with denture teeth connected to a partial denture. There are two types of partial dentures. A traditional metal-cast RPD provides stability thanks to the metal framework. A Valplast flexible RPD is lightweight and more esthetic. Dr. Park will be able to make recommendations based on the patient’s clinical situation.
 

Overdentures

An overdenture can be considered in case only a few front teeth remain. Remaining teeth can be domed, and the overdenture sits on top of those domed teeth for retention. ‘Snap-On’ dentures are often misperceived as Overdentures. However, it’s a different concept because ‘Snap-On’ dentures are implant-supported Overdentures, which means at least two implants will be placed first as the anchor for the Overdenture.
 

Denture Relining

For old, ill-fitting dentures, a relining can be recommended. Chairside soft relining can be fast and convenient. However, they are designed for temporary use. Hard relining, which means sending the denture to the lab, often ensures a better clinical outcome.
 

Night Guards

Patients who have neuromuscular parafunctional habits, including grinding, clenching, can suffer from bite change caused by generalized attrition of teeth. Night guards can prevent or stop these symptoms and protect the teeth from further attrition. It only takes two appointments to get a night guard.

Sealant

Young patients often have deep pits and fissures on the chewing surfaces of their teeth. Sealant can be an excellent option to prevent any active decay on those pits and fissures by filling and sealing the grooves smoothly.