
The team at Madison Dental Spa offers a relaxing environment providing for your dental needs. Whether you need a cleaning or a crown we are here to take care of you. Dr. Nathanson offers a wide range of dental services including cosmetic dentistry. If you would like to brighten your smile with whitening or have us help you obtain the smile you have always wanted, we are here to help. Some of the services we offer include:
Preventive Services & Periodontal Therapy
During an oral examination, a visual inspection is performed to detect normal and abnormal structures of the entire mouth, head and neck. Along with radiographs, an examination detects cavities, abnormalities in existing dental restorations, gum and bone recession and any other abnormal findings within the mouth, head and neck
A dental cleaning, also known as an oral prophylaxis, is the removal of dental plaque and tartar (calculus) from the teeth. Specialized instruments are used to gently remove these deposits without harming the teeth. First, an ultrasonic device that emits vibrations and is cooled by water is used to loosen larger pieces of tartar. Next, hand tools are used to manually remove smaller deposits and smooth the tooth surfaces.
Soft-tissue diode lasers have numerous functions to improve periodontal health:
- Reshape gum tissue
- Biopsy or removal of soft tissue lesions and ulcers
- Remove areas of tooth decay
- Eliminate infection in gum tissue pockets
- Fuse tissues
- Perform frenectomies (such as correction of ankyloglossia)
Laser Bacterial Reduction and Laser-Assisted Periodontal Therapy
When used in conjunction with a periodontal program, soft-tissue diode lasers can be extremely effective in reducing or eliminating bacteria located in the periodontal pockets.
Tartar and plaque on the tooth surfaces can harbor bacteria, allowing for the development of gingivitis. Often causing discomfort and swollen or bleeding gum tissues, gingivitis can progress to an infection in the the gum tissues, known as periodontitis. This infection of the gums can create periodontal pockets, separating teeth from the surrounding gum and bone structure. If left untreated, this condition will lead to tooth loss.
To repair the damage to the tissue, the infection needs to be cleaned out, and the pockets must be sealed. What previously required surgery and stitches can now be accomplished through laser treatment. This is a minimally invasive procedure that uses laser technology to remove the diseased tissue and bacteria. The laser is also used to help seal the pocket so that new germs can not get back in. This treatment minimizes trauma to the gum tissue, providing a more comfortable procedure for the patient than traditional methods and significantly reducing healing time.
Restorative & General Dentistry
A crown is a dental restoration that completely covers the outside of a severely decayed tooth. Dental crowns can be completed in two visits. During the first visit, the tooth is prepped (shaved down) and an impression is taken. A temporary crown is placed while the permanent crown is being made. During the second visit, the permanent crown is fitted comfortably and then cemented into place for a permanent restoration. We make crowns out of only ceramic or zirconia, which make for a beautiful, durable, and metal-free restoration.
See also CAD/CAM.
A bridge replaces missing teeth without the use of a denture or dental implant. A false tooth is held in place by being attached to a neighboring tooth. In order to fabricate a bridge, crowns are made for the teeth on either side of the space and a false tooth is placed in between the crowns, as a support. Often, bridges are made of very strong zirconia and require absolutely no metal.
Dental implants replace tooth roots in the mouth. Implants provide a strong foundation for fixed or removable replacement teeth. Dental implants are small anchors made of a biocompatible metal called titanium, which are placed in the jawbone. The anchors begin to fuse with the bone over a few months. After the fusing process, known as osseointegration, abutment posts are inserted into the anchors to allow for the permanent attachment of the replacement teeth. We work with specialists in implant placement to create the optimal treatment for you. A specialist will place the implant, and then we fabricate and place the replacement teeth.
Complete (Full) Dentures are made after all the teeth in the upper and/or lower jaw have been removed and the gum tissue has healed. The denture includes an acrylic base that is custom made in the dental laboratory and are made to look like natural gums, which sits over the gums or can be anchored to dental implants.
Removeable Partial Dentures are made only when a few teeth need to be replaced. The removable partial denture either attaches to crowns on either side of the denture or to a metal framework that is attached to the teeth on both sides of the partial denture. Partial dentures can be removable or they can be anchored in place by attaching them to dental implants. Removable partial dentures can be supported in place by attaching them to dental implants when wearing them during the day.
When used for surgical and dental procedures, the laser acts as a cutting instrument. When used for “curing” a filling, the laser helps to strengthen the bond between the filling and the tooth. When used in teeth-whitening procedures, the laser acts as a heat source and enhances the effect of tooth-bleaching agents. The procedures performed with dental lasers are minimally invasive and preferable to conventional surgery.
Other benefits of laser dentistry over traditional methods can include:
- Reduced heat and vibration
- Little or no need for anesthetic
- Faster treatment time
- Increased rate of retention
- Less post-operative complications
Lasers can be used to:
- Reshape gum tissue
- Biopsy or remove soft tissue lesions and ulcers
- Remove areas of tooth decay
- Eliminate pockets of infected gum tissue
- Perform root canal therapy
- Correct ankyloglossia (tongue-tied)
- Perform oral surgery and extractions
CAD/CAM is an acronym that stands for computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing. CAD/CAM technology is used to help the dental team fabricate precise shapes and sizes for dental restorations including inlays, onlays, crowns and bridges. This technology provides patients with durable, esthetic, well-fitted single and multiple tooth restorations in a more efficient manner. The first step in using CAD/CAM technology is tooth preparation. Next, an impression is taken and the prepared tooth’s exact dimensions are entered into a computer. Afterwards, the computer software creates a virtual restoration replacement part for the missing areas of the tooth. The software then sends the virtual restoration data to the milling machine, where the replacement part is carved out of a solid block of ceramic or zirconia, which make for incredibly strong restorations. The restoration is adjusted in the patient’s mouth and cemented or bonded in place.
Also see crowns.
Cosmetic Services
Zoom! whitening uses a patented Zoom light and proprietary gel to facilitate the whitening process. The procedure takes approximately one to one and a half hours and can whiten a patient’s teeth by six to eight shades in one visit.
Whitening, also known as bleaching, is the procedure used to brighten teeth. There are two different ways to achieve a desired whiter smile, in-office whitening (see Zoom! Whitening) and at-home bleaching.
At-Home bleaching requires an impression of the teeth to be taken to make a customized mouth guard to hold the whitening gel, containing carbide peroxide, against the teeth. Once the mouth guard is made, it is worn for a period of time, as instructed by our office. The amount of time may vary from a couple hours a day, or all night, for up to four weeks or longer, if desired.
We use a soft-tissue diode laser in our office. Dental lasers are a medical technology that emits a beam of concentrated light. When used for surgical and periodontal procedures, the laser acts as a cutting instrument. The procedures performed with dental lasers are minimally invasive and preferable to conventional surgery.
Lasers in dentistry allow for many periodontal procedures to be performed with no noise, minimal pain, less bleeding, faster recovery times and fewer appointments. Some additional benefits lasers have over traditional methods include:
- Reduced heat and vibration
- Little or no need for anesthetic
- Little to no bleeding
- Faster treatment time
- Reduced damage to healthy tissues
- Minimal post-operative swelling and discomfort
- Fewer infections or post-operative complications
- Shortened duration of cold sores and canker sores
- Cleaner impressions