Dental Services
Bonding * Veneers * Crowns * Implants * Whitening * Pediatrics * Invisalign
PEDIATRICS
Children are the best! Schinto Dental treats all ages of children. Most children have 20 primary teeth by 3 years of age, so it is important to start brushing the child’s teeth as soon as the first tooth erupts. Primary teeth are just as important as the permanent teeth. They hold the space in the jaws for the permanent teeth.
A child’s first visit should be around age 1 or unless the parents notice an issue with the erupting teeth. I prefer to schedule the child’s first appointment at the same time as a parent cleaning visit, so the child can hear the sounds and see what is taking place in a very non-threatening environment. At this visit, we are just looking for proper eruption of the primary teeth and any abnormalities or decay. We also explain how the child’s teeth should be cleaned, proper diet and eating habits and the methods to ensure sufficient fluoride.
Should the need for a visit with Dr Schinto arise due to decay or trauma from some rough housing, Dr Schinto takes a very caring approach. It is usually best for parents not to try and explain what will be done while the child is to be with us. Certain words that a parent or an older sibling might use, could set some fear in the child. Dr Schinto never uses the “S” or “D” word when explaining how a filling is going to be done. Often after a child experiences how things are done and had a good experience, the child is able to on subsequent appointments, come to our treatment room alone and asks their parent to stay behind. That is when we know we have truly succeeded!
Fluoride
Fluoride helps to prevent tooth decay by making the tooth more resistant to acid attacks from foods and plaque bacteria. It is important for infants and children between the ages of 6 months and 16 years to be exposed to the proper amounts of fluoride, both topically and systemically. This is the timeframe during which the primary and permanent teeth develop and come in. Fluoride ions get incorporated in the enamel as it forms. The resulting enamel has been shown to be less likely to dissolve when confronted by acids, the early stages of decay. Adults benefit from topical fluoride. It does not become part of the enamel as with systemic fluoride, but it does have ability to strengthen the enamel on the surface, which aids in the slowing of damage. Professional fluoride treatments are recommended at the routine dental cleaning and daily home fluoride through toothpastes and rinses.
Sealants
Sealants are an excellent way to reduce decay in grooves and pits on the surface of virgin teeth. The sealant is a clear or white coating material applied to the back molars and premolars. This coating hardens and bonds to the surface which acts as a barrier for the deep grooves and pits, protecting them from food being packed and remaining, leading to decay. Children receive significant benefits from sealants due to the increased ease of debris removal, but adults can also be at risk for decay and benefit from sealant placement.
PROSTHETIC & COSMETIC DENTISTRY
Whitening
Schinto Dental offers the Venus White take home whitening system. This method uses a carbamide peroxide gel that is worn 2-4 hours a day using a comfortable and inconspicuous custom fitted tray. We have had great results. Together you and our team will decide if whitening is good for your specific needs and wants. Should nuptials be in your near future, we offer a two for one special for the couple to be.
Tooth Colored Restorations
BEFORE
AFTER
Bonding, composites or tooth colored restorations offer a great alternative to the old metal amalgam fillings. Composite fillings now offer excellent wear resistance but with the benefit of bonding to the natural tooth structure. The bonding ability of this material can help us to slow the progression of certain cracks. With the many color options, these fillings become almost impossible to see once placed.
Veneers
BEFORE
AFTER
Veneers are thin coverings made of porcelain or other tooth colored material, bonded to the outside of your teeth to make them appear straight, beautiful and healthy. In most cases, they require minor reduction to the natural tooth structure to allow for the thickness of the veneer. Some cases may require no reduction at all! When done for single teeth, they can be made to match your surrounding teeth. When multiple veneers are placed, we can alter your smile’s size, shape or color to best fit your needs.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are a great way to replace missing teeth. Made most often of titanium, Implants provide a very strong foundation for replacement teeth, whether the teeth are fixed in place or removable. They give the patient the most natural look and feel. They can also be used to secure complete dentures when the supporting bone is insufficient to retain a denture by itself. Implants are surgically placed in the jawbone where a tooth has been lost. Bone fuses to the specially treated titanium, giving the patient a very strong and natural feel. The Team at Schinto Dental can answer any other questions you may have and help you decide if Implants are right for you.
Crowns
Often, when a tooth has reached its limit due to large restorations, cracks, wear or endodontic therapy, a crown is often required to help prolong the life of the tooth. Crowns, or caps as they are sometimes called, encapsulate the tooth to give it strength and reestablish shape and function with the surrounding teeth. They can be made from many different materials to suit your needs. Most now are made from tooth colored materials that give excellent strength with out the need for metal.
Bridges
Often used when an implant will not be placed; a bridge is an excellent way to replace one or a few missing teeth. A bridge is simply two or more crowns, with a fake tooth to replace the missing tooth, attached between the crowns, “Bridging” the gap. These are bonded to place and are not removed by the patient.
Complete or Partial Dentures
BEFORE
AFTER
Sometimes called a “Plate”, Complete or Partial Dentures offer the “most bang for your buck” when replacing missing teeth. But they do have their drawbacks. They can replace one tooth or all your teeth. However, they should be considered only after implants or bridges are ruled out; or used temporarily while implants heal with the surrounding bone and gum. Unless they will be attached to implants, Dentures are not fixed in the mouth permanently; they must be removed each day for cleaning and allowing the gums to “breathe”. Keeping dentures in at all times can allow yeast and bacteria to grow between the denture and gums. But with properly cleaned and well fitting Dentures, many people can replace multiple missing teeth very nicely, for a very reasonable price.
Full Mouth Rehabilitation
BEFORE
AFTER
Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and sometimes, Smile Make Over, you choose what to call it. A reconstruction of someone’s mouth is sometimes needed when the remaining teeth have lost their ability to function normally. Whether from breakdown, wear, loss or decay, Rehabilitation can bring your whole smile back. Often needing multiple procedures and specialties, Dr Schinto will orchestrate the whole event. Dr Schinto can look at your individual case and speak with you about what would be involved to restore your smile to that of years past.
Invisalign
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
Misaligned teeth can bring up many issues besides poor aesthetics; bone loss, decay and TMJ issues to name some. Invisalign is the “Clear way to straighten teeth”. Invisalign gradually moves your teeth through a series of custom-made, removable, nearly invisible Aligners. This is a great product to straighten teeth that have minor crowding or spacing. Many of my patients using Invisalign have had orthodontics before and have notice their teeth shifting again. The loss of straightness is most often due to the fact that we aren’t wearing our retainers on a regular basis or at all. Retention is for life!
Treatment with Invisalign is done mostly at home. After Dr Schinto and you have decided that this is the appropriate treatment for you, sets of Aligners will be fabricated. Dr Schinto will dispense to you several sets of the Aligners. The Aligners are to be worn at all times except during the times for eating and brushing, about twenty-two hours of wear a day. An average case lasts six to nine months.
Results have been fantastic when they are worn as directed.
TMJ/TMD
TMJ/TMD is a disorder dealing with the TemporoMandibular Joint, causing pain. More than 15% of Americans suffer from some level of this chronic pain. Any issue that may prevent the teeth, muscles, ligaments, discs and bones from working together properly, may result in this very painful condition. The disorder can lead to other issues such as: excessive wear of tooth surfaces, tooth cracks and possibly migraines. Due to the location of the TMJ in relation to the ear, many people seek out their ENT as they think the pain is an ear infection. We can help identify the source of the pain with a thorough exam and appropriate x-rays to recommend the appropriate treatment.
Sports Guards and Night Guards
Sports and Night guards are custom coverings worn over teeth to protect them from sports injury or from teeth grinding/clenching during sleep. Custom fitted mouth protectors are individually designed made from an impression or scan of your teeth and made based on the doctor’s instructions. A Sports Guard is made from a rubber-like material to give cushion. The cushion aids in fracture prevention as well as concussion prevention. Night Guards tend to be hard. The goal of a Night Guard is to create a perfect bite for the sleeping hours as well as to place a thin layer of acrylic for wear protection between upper and lower teeth. Sometimes, when the perfect bite is achieved, the jaw relaxes, and the tendency of nightly grind or clench can be greatly reduced.
PERIODONTAL CARE
Oral Cancer Screening
One American dies every hour from oral cancer in the United States! Oral cancer is the excessive growth of abnormal cells that invade and cause damage to surrounding oral tissue. The most common signs are swellings, velvety white, red or speckled patches, unexplained bleeding, recent difficulty swallowing and possibly numbness. The outlook is still bleak for oral cancer if not detected early. At Schinto Dental, we use several screening methods at each cleaning appointment to try and make sure we find anything out of the ordinary that may need further evaluation.
Gingivitis and Periodontal Disease Treatment
Gingivitis is a gum inflammation. It begins with bacterial growth or a plaque buildup on your teeth at the gum level. This must be removed. If not treated or removed properly, the result is often a progression to periodontal disease which can lead to tooth loss due to the destruction of the tissues that surrounds and supports the teeth. Every patient at Schinto Dental is screened at every exam for gingivitis and periodontal problems. The signs of this, usually painless disease, are bleeding and or swollen gums, persistent bad breath, receding gums, formation of deep pockets between the teeth and gums or loose or shifting teeth. Unlike most diseases that give us early warning signs, gum disease progresses silently, often without pain. It develops slowly but can progress very rapidly. Periodontal disease may increase your risk for a variety of health concerns including weakened immune system, diabetes, stroke, lung disease, preterm or low birth weight babies, respiratory disease, osteoporosis, gastric ulcer and can increase your risk for a heart attack. At Schinto Dental we have implemented a soft tissue management program so that periodontal disease can be detected, and measures done to control the progression. A routine cleaning is not enough by itself to treat periodontal disease. Only with a thorough exam can we recognize and determine the progression of gum disease. If diagnosed, then the decision will be made with the patient to either treat in office or refer to a gum specialist, if that is warranted. Treatment consists of professional in-office care that detoxifies the tooth surfaces below the gun line and in between the teeth. An antimicrobial rinse can be used to flush out the bacteria that caused this infection. Besides your daily home care to remove plaque bacteria, Dr. Schinto would recommend the appropriate interval of maintenance care. Without careful on-going monitoring and treatment, periodontal disease can reoccur and worsen.
