Services
From routine cleanings and fillings to custom dental implants, Willowtree Dental is equipped to handle all your dental needs. To help you understand your options, we've included descriptions of some of our leading services on this page.

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.

Dental Implants
We will work with an implant specialist to create an implant for a missing single tooth, missing multiple teeth, or replace a removable appliance.

Teeth Bleaching
Our state-of-the-art, in-office Power Bleaching system will make your teeth whiter in less than 1.5 hours. Another option is our home bleaching system you take with you for results in 2 weeks. You can also consider a combination program of both systems for optimal, long-term results.

Crowns and Veneers
You can have a new smile with all-porcelain crowns (empressed material) on the anterior teeth. For the posterior, we use porcelain fused to metal.

Fillings: Resin
Tooth-colored fillings that are light cures to match your teeth. Amalgam: Silver-colored fillings, more durable material.

Root Canals
We perform all aspects of root canal surgery

Periodontal Treatment
You should have a standard cleaning at least twice a year. A periodontal treatment includes an Adult Prophy (basic cleaning). If it has been over a year since your last cleaning, possible treatment will include either Periodontal Scaling (deeper) or Root Planning and Scaling (requires anesthetic).

Mouth Guards
Whether you are an athlete or casual sports participant, you should wear a mouth guard to protect your teeth. If you grind your teeth while you sleep, a bite guard will help reduce symptoms of TMJ. We custom make mouth guards in both soft and hard materials.

Removable Dental Prosthesis
For missing teeth, we can make dentures or removable partials for you.

Scaling and Root Planing
Why do I need scaling and root planing?
The goal of scaling and root planing is to eliminate the source of periodontal infection by removing the plaque, tartar, and bacterial toxins from the root surfaces of the teeth below the gumline.

When you have active periodontal disease, routine cleanings are not enough because they generally remove plaque and tartar from above the gumline only.

The Procedure
To keep you comfortable, we usually numb the area before root planing begins.

Using specialized instruments, we carefully and meticulously remove the plaque and tartar around and beneath the gumline, and ten smooth the root surfaces.  “This removes the source of infection and helps your gums heal.  As they heal, your gums will tighten around your teeth. 

We may schedule scaling and root planning over several appointments.  This way we can promote your comfort, check the healing, and help you fine-tune your homecare efforts.

Periodontal Disease
The warning signs
If you have periodontal disease, you may be experiencing persistent bad breath, bleeding of the gums when brushing or flossing, soft, swollen, or tender gums, gums pulling away from the teeth or loose teeth. You may also notice inflammation of the gums between the teeth.  This is where periodontal disease usually starts.

It is also possible to have no noticeable symptoms. In fact, most people who have periodontal disease aren’t even aware of it.

Diagnosis and treatment
To find periodontal disease, we perform a thorough examination with a periodontal probe and x-rays.  Periodontal probing measures the depth of the space between your teeth and gums.  When you have periodontal disease, these spaces are called pockets.  We measure the pocket from the bottom of the pocket, where it’s attached to the tooth, to the top of the gums.  A probe reading of more than three millimeters is a sign of periodontal disease.  In general, the deeper the pockets, the greater the spread of periodontal disease. 

Gums sometimes bleed during probing.  This is also a sign of infection.

X-rays tell us a lot about periodontal disease.  As periodontal disease progresses, x-rays will show that jawbone levels have become uneven, and that bone has receded away from the necks of the teeth.

Once we’ve found periodontal disease, we’ll talk with you about treatment options and proper homecare to minimize bone loss and restore the health of your gums.