The Lakewood Dentist

Restorative Dentistry

Restorative dentistry involves repairing missing teeth or teeth with decay and restoring natural teeth functionality so you can easily chew, bite, and speak. To improve your oral health and aesthetics, The Lakewood Dentist offers various restorative dentistry procedures designed to meet your unique dental needs. The procedures are as follows:

1. Dental fillings  — When the shielding outer enamel of the tooth wears away, your tooth is at risk of bacteria. Bacteria can lead to a tooth’s decay if a minor hole forms in the tooth’s surface, causing infection and pain. To alleviate pain, enhance the tooth’s strength, and avoid further decay, our knowledgeable dentists will clean your tooth and remove the decay and infection before filling the gap with an amalgam composite. Finally, we will polish your dental filling material to resemble your natural tooth’s shape, texture, and surface.
2. Root canal —We perform a root canal if tooth decay extends deep into the tooth, reaching the soft pulp and causing infection and pain in your tooth’s soft tissue. The procedure involves cleaning the affected pulp before filling the gap with a composite filling.
3. Bridges — A bridge is a good replacement for tooth loss from gum disease, decay, or trauma. A bridge comprises two crowns fixed to the nearby teeth, with an artificial tooth attached. Consequently, these teeth bridge the space between the surrounding teeth.
4. Implants — An implant is a tooth replacement if you have lost a tooth. A dental implant begins with a metal root resembling a screw fixed on the jawbone below the gums. Over the surface, a dental crown is fixed to appear and function as natural teeth. We can also use the titanium posts to hold crowns, bridges, and dentures. The benefits of dental implants include a stronger and brighter smile, clearer speech, improved self-confidence, easier eating, durability, convenience, and the fact that your adjacent teeth stop shifting.
5. Dentures — It is an ideal tooth replacement option if you have lost multiple teeth. Dentures come in several varieties, including full, partial, and implant-supported.

Cosmetic Dentistry

The more confident you feel about your looks, the better you feel about yourself. When your teeth are white, healthy, and sparkly, you can relax, be happy, be in the moment, and, most importantly, be confident. Whether you have chipped, missed, discolored, or broken teeth, the qualified team at Lakewood Dentist can enhance the appearance of your smile.

Some of the cosmetic dental treatments we offer include the following:

1. Dental veneers — Dental veneers are specially made shells placed over the front teeth surfaces. We use them to conceal chips, cracks, stains, uneven spaces between teeth, and damaged teeth, among other cosmetic imperfections. Dental veneers are regular cosmetic dental treatments. Depending on your cosmetic goals, you can choose either composite veneers, no-prep veneers, removable veneers, or porcelain veneers.
2. Teeth whitening — The procedure involves using FDA-approved bleaching solutions to remove stains from your teeth.
3. Teeth shaping  — This convenient, cost-effective cosmetic dentistry process involves removing tooth enamel and reshaping a problem tooth. It fixes cracked, chipped, crooked, or bumpy teeth. To realize the desired shape, our dentists could apply tooth-colored bonding resin that affixes to and sets on your teeth. Its benefits include easy brushing and flossing, reduced risk of tooth decay, better teeth functionality, and teeth that appear healthy and natural.
4. Tooth bonding — We use tooth bonding to improve your smile by changing the shape and tooth color and repairing tooth chips. Unlike most cosmetic oral treatments, the treatment is reversible. Its benefits include concealing cracks or chips in your teeth, lengthening your teeth, camouflaging tooth discoloration, changing your teeth’ shape, and closing spaces and gaps between them.
5. Dental crowns — Dental crowns are prosthetic restorations that cover and protect a weakened or damaged tooth. We design them to fit our patient’s natural teeth shape, size, and color, providing durability, strength, and aesthetic enhancement. Its advantages include enhanced functionality, aesthetic improvement, versatility, durability, and stain resistance.

TMJ Treatment

TMJ dysfunctions are dental conditions affecting the jaw joints and surrounding ligaments and muscles. The dental disease can cause several issues, including headaches, jaw pain, challenges opening your mouth, and toothaches.

There is no single cause of TMJ. Instead, it can be due to many factors, including bruxism, stress, arthritis, malocclusion, and jaw injury.

Sometimes, TMJ disorder symptoms can disappear on their own. However, if your symptoms persist, our dentists could recommend different treatment options, depending on the pain’s severity and cause. Typically, we use non-invasive options first, like non-surgical treatments and medications. If the symptoms fail to improve, you might require surgery.

Some of the medication options you can use to relieve pain stemming from TMJ disorders include the following:

1. Anti-inflammatories and pain medication.
2. Muscle relaxants.
3. Tricyclic antidepressants.

Our recommended non-medication therapies for TMJ disorders include the following:

1. Physical therapy.
2. Mouth guards or oral splints (occlusal appliances).
3. Counseling.

Dental Cleanings

Dental cleanings are essential to maintaining healthy gums and teeth. Generally, this painless dental process involves our dental hygienist removing the buildup of plaque, bacteria, and tartar from your teeth surfaces.

Here is what to expect:

1. Conducting a physical examination — Our skilled hygienist will use a mirror to examine your gums and teeth for potential dental issues before your dental cleaning. The dental expert will consult a dentist once they detect severe conditions to ensure they can proceed with the cleaning.
2. The hygienist will remove tartar and plaque between your teeth and around the gum line using a scaler.
3. Next, we will brush your teeth using an electric brush and toothpaste that tastes and smells like your toothbrush, but you can choose your favorite flavor.
4. Whether you floss daily at home, nothing beats professional flossing. Our hygienist will get deep between your teeth and locate hard-to-reach areas.
5. Finally, we will rinse your mouth using liquid fluoride to remove debris.

Dental Exams

A proper oral health routine is crucial for eliminating mouth bacteria. Bacterial build-up leads to plaque that could harden to tartar, leading to long-term oral ailments if left unattended. Some of the conditions you can prevent from developing with a good oral hygiene routine and regular check-ups include the following:

1. Infections.
2. Gingivitis.
3. Periodontal disease.
4. Inflammation.
5. Tooth loss.

We can use diagnostic imaging to assess your mouth’s condition. It lets us detect issues early for a fast and timely fix before the problem becomes complicated and expensive. We can also recommend a proper dental health routine to prevent cavities and gum disease from developing.

While patients should visit our dental office every six (6) months, we recommend you contact our dentistry team to understand how often you should receive a dental examination. You should have appointments at a higher frequency if:

1. You are a smoker.
2. You have cavities.
3. You have gum disease.
4. You are genetically inclined toward root and tooth decay.

General Dentistry

Dental issues do not go away independently, and it is essential to consult a dentist regularly. At The Lakewood Dentist, we strive to maintain your beautiful smile for a lifetime. Our general dentists are dedicated to preventing, diagnosing, and treating various dental conditions and diseases impacting the teeth, disorders, gums, and maxillofacial (relating to the jaw and face) body parts.

Pediatric Dentistry

Babies should have a dental visit within their first year. Your baby’s erupted teeth (eruption occurs between 6 months and one year) should receive proper dental hygiene routines, and we are your ultimate guide.

A baby’s initial visit to the dentist’s office should be fun. Babies are born with a natural fear of dentists but tend to dread the unknown. Our dentistry office goes the extra mile to provide non-frightening and pleasant treatment by:

• Being attentive — When you carry your child to a dental appointment, you help them understand the process and regain their sense of control. We encourage you to tell us your concerns, and we will address them with compassion and the desire to assist. Encourage your son/daughter to boldly ask questions until they trust or understand the dental procedure. Effective communication plays a significant role in fighting dental anxiety.
• We are a pediatric practice with the latest technology — If you have not visited our practice, you will be pleased to learn that our state-of-the-art technology has made most dental procedures less invasive, safe, shorter, and child-friendly. Please contact our team to inquire about the different procedures and techniques we have implemented to make treatment more comfortable and child-friendly.
• We offer rewards and entertainment options like popular movies, fun music, toys, and video games. Rewards and physical distractions provide comfort and are tools of positive reinforcement. If your child has something to look forward to, the prize does not matter.

Figuring out how to teach your child proper oral hygiene can be challenging, mainly if the minor is resistant. Nevertheless, as your compassionate and friendly pediatric dentist, the good news is that we can keep your child’s teeth healthy and guide you, as a guardian/parent, in teaching your child oral hygiene. Here are some tips for teaching your juvenile oral hygiene:

• Lead by example by brushing along with your child.
• Allow your child to brush their teeth, but supervise them until they are eight and can brush effectively.
• Explain what will happen if they fail to brush their teeth or brush effectively.
• Allow your child to choose their toothpaste and toothbrush.
• Keep with regular dental cleanings and check-ups.
• Be patient with your child.
• Ensure the minor eats healthy foods.
• Find a fun toothbrush song or make a game of dental hygiene.

Emergency Dentistry

Emergencies can happen at any time, and dental emergencies are no exception. From knocked-out teeth to chipped teeth to toothaches, dental emergencies are painful and cause discomfort. That is why having a knowledgeable, reliable dentist on your speed dial is wise. The Lakewood Dentist has got you covered and offers services round-the-clock.

Our user-friendly website is designed to help patients needing 24/7 emergency dental care. We understand your frustrations with requiring immediate medical attention and are determined to make the process seamless.

Our proactive emergency team is trained to respond quickly by connecting you with a dentist who can offer prompt relief. Some of the emergency dental issues we handle include the following:

• Toothache — Severe pain is an indication that something is wrong.
• Knocked-out tooth  —If you can, replace the tooth to its socket. Nevertheless, if that is impossible, hold your tooth by its crown and put it in a glass of salt water or milk. We will work to save your tooth.
• Abscess.
• Broken or cracked tooth — If your tooth has broken, keep the broken part safe and moisturized until you reach our office. It is also wise to avoid biting down to prevent fracturing.
• Lost crowns or fillings.
• Loose braces.
• Foreign substances caught between your teeth.
• Cut tongue, cheek, or lip.

Our goal is to alleviate your pain and preserve your oral health. Consequently, you can expect the following once you come to our dental office:

1. A visual examination— We will inquire about your signs and symptoms and examine your gums and teeth to determine what we should do first.
2. Diagnostic imaging — Next, we will perform diagnostic imaging to see what is happening under your jawbone, gums, and existing dental work. It will assist you in determining the extent and source of your emergency.
3. Diagnosis and treatment — Finally, our dentists will diagnose your condition. We will also discuss available treatment options, prices, pros, and cons. We will relieve your pain and repair your treatment as quickly as possible, and if necessary, schedule a follow-up appointment. 

Since accidents and emergencies are unplanned, the most effective solution is to be preventative. Brush your teeth daily, avoid eating hard foods, and visit your dentist twice yearly.

At Lakewood Dentistry, we recognize that the luxury of time is often unavailable once an emergency occurs, and the need for an immediate response can be nerve-wracking. When you have an emergency, your comfort and health are our priorities. That is why we recommend you add 562-423-1441 to your contacts. Keeping our contact information will help you save time and could be essential in rescuing your injured tooth.