Smile because...we have the answers!

You are not alone.  Many people do not like to visit the dentist. We strive to provide you with a comfortable, relaxing environment, and we provide amenities such as DVDs to watch and music to listen to so you are distracted from your treatment. For those who have serious anxiety, we offer conscious sedation. At Santa Fe Dental, your comfort is important to us.

Many people struggle with bad breath, or halitosis, despite daily brushing. There are several things you can do to help eliminate this problem, such as twice daily brushing, flossing, tongue cleaning, regular professional prophys (cleanings), and daily cleaning of any dentures or removable dental appliances. If you try these things and are still unable to correct the problem, we can offer you several solutions. We can provide you with a plastic tool called a tongue scraper that cleans away bacterial build-up. We may also recommend a specially prepared rinse or toothpaste that breaks the odor-causing sulfur bonds that cause bad breath. If these still don’t alleviate the problem, then the issue could be a systemic or internal problem such as infection or gastro-intestinal problems. In that case, we may recommend a visit with your family physician or a specialist to aid in identifying the cause.

If we have recommended a crown to you, then it is either to correct a broken tooth or to repair a tooth that has had a severe amount of decay. This means we have removed enough of the tooth due to decay that a filling will not suffice, but enough healthy tooth structure is left that it doesn’t warrant extraction. A crown can then be placed to restore the look and function of your tooth while maintaining your natural, underlying tooth structure. Most crowns are precision-milled porcelain or full metal, gold alloy. They are individually customized to give you a natural, long lasting smile.

Yes, we do offer digital radiographs.  These allow us to take the radiographs we need to ensure your continued oral health, while exposing you to very little radiation. At Santa Fe Dental we use the latest technology to ensure your overall health, safety, and comfort.

Fluoride is a mineral that is found naturally in many things we eat or drink.  It is nature’s way of helping prevent cavities.

Professional strength (in-office fluorides) and low strength (home fluorides) each play important roles in helping to keep your teeth for life.  In the lifelong fight against cavities, both adults and children benefit from in-office treatment and home fluorides.

Professional in-office fluoride products are highly concentrated and can only be applied by a dental professional.

Professional in-office fluorides make teeth strong and even heal weakened areas.  It helps restore the minerals and hardness that have been depleted from your teeth by acid in foods and beverages and the bacteria that live in the mouth.  This helps make the teeth much more impervious to decay. Over time, the high level of fluoride provided by the in-office fluoride treatment will gradually be released from the teeth.  This is where low strength home fluorides, such as tooth pastes and mouth rinses, play a valuable role.  These home fluorides are an important and valuable complement to the office treatment by replenishing and maintaining a beneficial level of fluoride in the teeth.  Think of office fluoride treatments and home fluorides as your “one-two punch” in the lifelong fight against cavities.

Research shows that both children and adults benefit from the use of fluoride because it reduces cavities and halts tooth decay. It also helps repair the early stages of tooth decay even before the decay becomes visible.

There are two types of fluorides:  topical and ingestible.

• Ingestible fluorides are typically prescribed by the child’s pediatrician or dentist.  They help the teeth stay healthy and strong while they are forming before eruption.  This will result in teeth that are harder and more impervious to decay over a lifetime than those not exposed to fluoride.
• Topical in-office fluorides are brushed on, applied in trays, or given through patient rinses.  This benefits and protects your teeth after they are formed. It helps restore the minerals and hardness that have been depleted from your teeth by acid in foods and beverages and the bacteria that live in the mouth.  This helps make the teeth much more resistant to decay.

Your smile is the first thing most people notice about you. Many people, like you, are concerned about the appearance of their smile. We offer several options to help make your smile beautiful. We may be able to enhance your smile with something as simple as whitening or bonding. If you need correction a little more involved than these procedures, you may be a candidate for porcelain veneers, crowns, bridges, gum contouring, periodontal therapy, or a combination of these techniques. Make an appointment to come in for a smile evaluation, and have a course of treatment tailored just for you.

There are a number of options that could be right for you. Porcelain veneers can correct slightly crooked or unevenly worn teeth. This may be all you need to have a bright beautiful smile. We also offer InvisalignTM as an option. These clear aligners help us correct your smile in increments, and they are virtually undetectable.  Come in today to find out which option is right for you.

When you lose a back tooth, it can make your overall smile look smaller and narrower.  If there is a tooth on either side of it, it can greatly exaggerate the issue. The loss of a tooth can reduce the functionality of the rest of your teeth while chewing. Pressure may be placed on different parts of your mouth causing your other teeth to shift, creating gaps and spaces.  This may even cause fractures that result in additional tooth loss or in the need for restorations.

Should you lose a tooth due to injury, decay, or daily wear and tear, we can correct it with either a bridge or implant. These will alleviate any problems associated with a missing tooth and will restore your smile to its beautiful, full appearance. A bridge uses neighboring teeth as the supportive structure for a porcelain restoration.  A dental implant uses a titanium post, which is placed directly into the jawbone to support the natural looking, porcelain restoration. This helps preserve the adjacent teeth and the bone where the missing tooth used to be. At Santa Fe Dental we can help you determine which treatment is right for you.

During your first appointment, we conduct a comprehensive oral evaluation to assess your overall dental and oral health. Upon completion of your medical/dental health forms, your goals regarding your smile, teeth, and gums are reviewed. Digital photos and radiographs are taken of your teeth to identify areas of decay, cracked teeth, and malfunctioning restorations. DIAGNOdent™, a specialized laser, may also be used on your teeth to notify us of early areas of decay not visible on the radiographs or digital photographs. When you visit Santa Fe Dental, you are given the tools needed to have and maintain a beautiful and healthy smile.

During this first appointment you will have a thorough periodontal (gum) evaluation to determine what type of cleaning will best suit your needs. Because periodontal disease (gum disease) is so prevalent and must be treated differently depending on its extent and severity, this periodontal evaluation will ensure that you receive the type of cleaning that will give you the best and most healthy outcome.

Many people notice chips and cracks in their teeth and don’t remember when these injuries occurred. What they don’t understand is that this damage to their teeth probably happens while they are asleep. Grinding and clenching your teeth during the night can cause problems such as chipped, cracked, and broken teeth. A dental appliance called a nightguard may be recommended to prevent you from further injuring your teeth. A nightguard can also help alleviate the headaches that can be associated with nighttime grinding and clenching of your teeth.

You have your choice of several payment options: cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express. If you desire to set-up an easy payment plan for more extensive work, we offer interest-free monthly payments through CareCredit. If you choose to use this option, we can link to it directly from our office, or we can assist you in applying online.

Toxic bacteria in plaque and calculus can cause periodontal disease, also known as gum disease. It is a chronic bacterial infection that affects supportive structures of the mouth including the gums, ligaments and bone surrounding your teeth. It is a silent disease like hypertension (high blood pressure) or diabetes, which means that it often causes no discomfort. Periodontal disease has far-reaching systemic affects and plays a role in and makes you more susceptible to diabetes, heart disease, and other systemic ailments. Gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums is a precursor to this disease. It includes the skillful removal of these bacterial agents from the teeth, root surfaces and gum pockets. This is followed, in most cases, by the placement of a special antibiotic, known as Arestin, into the gum pocket. This adjunct has drastically improved the outcome of periodontal therapy. Santa Fe dental can help you make decisions about the most appropriate treatments to restore the health of your gums and supportive tissues.

A fracture, or crack, in the tooth is the likely cause of most dental pain brought on by chewing. Placing an inlay/onlay or a porcelain crown can usually correct the problem. Sometimes more advanced treatment may be required. You want to come in as soon as possible for treatment to prevent further damage to the tooth. If neglected for long enough it can result in the loss of the tooth.  Contact us today to schedule a visit.

Tooth whitening is a simple cosmetic procedure and can have dramatic results in the appearance of your smile. At Santa Fe Dental we offer two options for tooth whitening. The in-office Zoom!TM tooth whitening system allows us to make your teeth up to eight shades whiter in just one hour.  Drs. Allen & Hansen also offer a take-home whitening kit for you to use over a prescribed period of time.  Call us today to find out which treatment is right for you.