Our Services
North End Dental Services - Cosmetic Dentistry, Teeth Whitening, Dental Implants, Veneers, Prevention
Lewis Wharf Dental Associates offers a full array of dental services to help you maintain healthy teeth. You can read more on this page about specific services.
Prevention is one of the mainstays of our practice and Donna Roberts, RDH is on top of the latest developments to help you maintain your dental health. The folllowing protocol was developed by Donna and Dr.Chapman and is a breakthrough in the treatmernt of periodontal disease.
State of the art treatment for periodontal disease.
We have instituted a new treatment to almost completely eliminate tooth loss from chronic aggressive periodontal disease. This well-researched treatment essentially does away with the need for gum surgery. It combines minimally invasive deep tooth and gum cleaning with specific short-term antibiotic therapy to treat the disease. The approach has been tested in a number of long-term clinical outcome research studies and has been shown to almost totally reduce the risk of tooth loss from chronic periodontal disease.
Treatment protocols
Continued Prevention
Success of this approach however requires the continual use of the protocols we recommend for you to clean your teeth thoroughly on a daily basis, combined with periodic dental hygiene visits at time intervals specifically tailored to your re-evaluation needs.
Brushing two or three, but at least once a day with a conventional toothbrush or an electronic toothbrush, must also coincide with flossing, the use of a water irrigation device (WaterPic), or at the very least the use of gum stimulation devices (rubber tips or Stimudents). Your role is crucial in reducing the loss of teeth to periodontal disease and for achieving the positive long-term outcomes of a healthy oral environment we wish you to enjoy.
Minimally invasive intervention
The key to any successful treatment for periodontal disease is to first make a complete diagnosis. This is done by initially thoroughly deep cleaning your teeth below the gums as well as above the gums. Most often this is accomplished in one visit of forty-five minutes to one hour. At that visit, by using x-rays and probing the gum tissue around each tooth, we record how deep the bone loss around the tooth roots may be, and also clinically record the amount and location of excessive bleeding around the teeth.
After a two to three month period for the gums to heal, we will be monitoring the results of this initial deep cleaning for signs of continuing gum infection that is manifested by bleeding. Continued bleeding of the gums is a sign that there are bacteria that have become integrated into the below-gum environment and must be thoroughly eliminated using a further combination of deep cleaning and antibiotic therapy.
Bacterial testing
To assure we have the information needed to provide the best antibiotic treatment for the specific bacterial environment causing the infection, we will take a few samples of the fluids found in the space between the gum and tooth. These samples are sent to a special laboratory at Temple University School of Dentistry to identify what specific kinds of bacteria are likely causing the problem. We will consult with you as to what types of antibiotics are most effective in eliminating the types of bacteria we find.
Treatment
During the seven to ten day course of the antibiotic treatment it is also necessary to once again deep clean below the gums to remove any inflammatory tissues that still might harbor the bacteria.
Retesting
We will take additional fluid samples from between the gums and tooth between 6 to 12 months after the therapy to find out if the types of bacteria that are most involved in aggressive periodontal disease have still been eliminated.
Success!
We have been extremely successful with this type of therapy as our results mirror the excellent long-term research outcomes. Our patients who have had this treatment have shown no ill effects from the antibiotics, and our use of follow-up clinical diagnostic parameters have all been positive for continuing periodontal health.
We have found this an efficient, minimally time consuming, much more comfortable, and less costly treatment and with better outcomes than conventional periodontal surgery for our patients.
We are extremely pleased to be able to offer this treatment to our patients.
Our services include
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Initial Oral Examination
Your initial oral examination includes a visual examination, charting, periodontal probing, diagnosis and treatment recommendations. We will also take x-rays, which includes the panoramic x-ray for proper diagnosis of the anterior (front) and posterior (back) teeth as well as the bite-wing x-ray series for proper diagnosis of proximal decay of posterior teeth.
Implants
Implants are synthetic structures that are placed in the area of the tooth normally occupied by the root. Implants are anchored to the jawbone or metal framework on the bone and act as a foundation for an artificial tooth or permanent bridge. In some cases, implants can be used to attach dentures. Read More...
Veneers
Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain or plastic cemented over the front of your teeth to change their color or shape. Veneers are used on teeth with uneven surfaces or are chipped, discolored, oddly shaped, unevenly spaced or crooked. Read More...
Crowns and Bridges
Crowns are synthetic caps, usually made of a material like porcelain, placed on the top of a tooth. Crowns are typically used to restore a tooth's function and appearance following a restorative procedure such as a root canal. When decay in a tooth has become so advanced that large portions of the tooth must be removed, crowns are often used to restore the tooth. Read More...
Teeth Whitening
Whitening procedures have effectively restored the smile of people with stained, dull, or discolored teeth.The darker tissue of your teeth, the dentin, can become exposed as the outer layer of enamel is worn away by the effects of aging or things like caffeine and tobacco. Read More...
Invisalign®
Invisalign's® invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners will give you the beautiful straight teeth you've always wanted. And best of all, no one can tell you're wearing them. Invisalign is great for adults and teenagers. Read More...
Toothaches
Simple toothaches can often be relieved by rinsing the mouth to clear it of debris and other matter. Sometimes, a toothache can be caused or aggravated by a piece of debris lodged between the tooth and another tooth. Avoid placing an aspirin between your tooth and gum to relieve pain, because the dissolving aspirin can actually harm your gum tissue. Read More...
Dental Emergencies
Our goal is to help you to minimize the risk of emergency treatment. This is why we commit a generous amont of time designing a Lifetime Treatment Plan that will help you to offset the possibility of unforseen pain or tooth breakage. Read More...