Cleanings & Exams
Routine dental cleanings are important to maintaining good oral hygiene. A professional cleaning by a hygienist can remove mineralized plaque (tartar) that may develop even with careful brushing and flossing. Regular exams and cleanings, as well as routine home care, help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. We suggest that you come in for an exam and thorough cleaning every 6 months to best maintain your oral health.
At Willow Tree Dental, we have several certified dental hygienists with many years of experience in caring for our patients' oral health. Our patients rave about how gentle and skilled they are. Toward the end of your appointment our doctors will do a comprehensive oral examination, complete with digital x-rays. In addition, a complete periodontal (gums) examination and oral cancer screening will be performed.
Dental Restorations
Tooth Colored Fillings
Teeth have been restored with silver (amalgam) fillings for many years. Some people don’t like these fillings due to cosmetic or health reasons. Tooth colored fillings (also known as Composite Fillings) are a great advancement in dental restorations. Most people want their teeth to look natural when they smile, talk, and laugh. These fillings can blend seamlessly with natural tooth structure and can be very aesthetic.
- Since composite fillings bond to tooth structure, less healthy tooth structure needs to be removed when filling a cavity
- Composite fillings expand and contract with hot and cold more like your natural tooth, reducing the risk of causing cracks over time
- Composite fillings come in a wide variety of shades. The dentists at Willow Tree Dental will make sure your composite fillings match your tooth exactly
- Composite fillings provide strength by bonding directly to teeth
Crowns
A crown is a restoration that completely covers the portion of the tooth above the gums. A crown, or cap, is frequently used to protect weakened teeth due to large cavities, cracks, fractures, or following root canal treatment. Crowns can be made from various materials including gold, porcelain, and gold alloy fused to porcelain.
Why do I need a crown?
- Support and protect cracked or fractured teeth
- Protect brittle teeth after root canal treatment
- Support teeth damaged by extensive dental decay
- Reinforce weak teeth due to large fillings
- Cover severely discolored or unaesthetic teeth
How is it done?
After being anesthetized, the tooth is shaped and contoured on each side. An impression is made of the tooth and surrounding area. The impression is sent to a lab where your restoration is fabricated. While this is being made, we provide you with a temporary crown that resembles your natural tooth. You can continue your busy life without worrying about an unattractive or unaesthetic tooth.
At your next visit to our office, the crown is cemented in place. Your doctor will make sure your new restoration looks and feels as good as your real tooth.
Bridges
When a tooth is lost due to trauma or cavities, a bridge is one of the few options available to restore a missing tooth. Replacing a missing tooth is important to maintain proper function, tooth alignment, and esthetics. If one tooth is missing, other teeth may slowly shift out of place. Your teeth may become harder to clean leading to tooth decay and gum disease.
Think of a dental bridge like a bridge over a canyon. Two solid surfaces on each side are connected by a structure. A Dental bridge is a filler tooth connected to two adjacent crowns. When completed, it is bonded on to the teeth.
How is it done?
After being anesthetized, the teeth on both sides of the gap are prepared by shaping and contouring the sides and biting surfaces of the teeth. An impression of the missing tooth and adjacent teeth is made and sent to a lab where the permanent restoration is fabricated. While this is being made, we provide you with a temporary bridge that resembles your natural teeth. You can continue your busy life without worrying about a missing or unaesthetic tooth.
At your next visit to our office, the bridge is cemented in place. Your doctor will make sure your new restoration looks and feels as good as your real teeth.
Root Canals (Endodontics)
Root Canal, or endodontics, is the process of removing the nerves from the roots of a tooth. A root canal is often necessary to save an infected tooth. If an infected tooth is left alone for a long period of time, an abscess can form. An abscess will show up on an x-ray as a dark spot below the end of the root. This is actually bone loss in the jaw. It is very important to catch this problem before it progresses too far.
Why do I need a root canal?
There are several reasons why one of your teeth may need a root canal. Examples of these are:
- Deep cavity that extends to the nerve
- Trauma causing the nerve to die
- Cracks or fractures in the tooth that extend to the nerve
How is it done?
After being anesthetized, the tooth is accessed from the top or biting surface. The canal that houses the nerves is cleaned and shaped in preparation for a filling material. The canal is then filled with a rubber-like filling material call Gutta Percha and the canal is sealed. The tooth is now ready for a restoration, which is usually a crown.
Oral Surgery (Wisdom Teeth)
Wisdom teeth extractions, along with other oral surgery procedures, are performed routinely by our experienced dentists. We make the experience as comfortable as possible by offering oral sedation or nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to put your mind at ease. Depending on the difficulty of the case, occasionally patients will need to be referred to a well respected oral surgeon in the local area to ensure the best possible treatment is provided.
Why do I need my teeth out?
Wisdom teeth are usually removed to prevent future problems or correct existing issues including pain, swelling and discomfort. Several problems can occur when wisdom teeth start coming in, such as:
- Poor alignment or inadequate room in your jaw can lead to “impaction;” a condition where the teeth are completely enclosed in bone or soft tissue and can’t break through the gums.
- Severe problems can develop from impacted teeth including damage to the adjacent teeth, gum disease, infection, and development of a cyst.
- Some teeth only partially erupt or break through the gums allowing bacteria to enter around the tooth, leading to pain, redness, swelling and infection.
Early detection and removal of misaligned teeth will help keep your mouth healthy and minimize future problems.
Teeth Whitening
Tooth discoloration can be caused by many factors including genetics, aging, staining, and medications. Professional dental cleanings and the use of whitening tooth paste can usually remove stains on the outside of teeth caused by coffee, tea, and tobacco. Deeper stains, such as the yellowing of teeth with age, may require professional strength bleaching solutions. At Willow Tree Dental, we offer a variety of in-office and at home options for whitening your teeth and achieving the smile you’ve always wanted. Come see what a brighter and more youthful smile can do for you!
Intraoral Camera
A Picture is truly worth a thousand words. Our doctors use cutting edge technology to show and educate patients about problem areas. A small intraoral camera takes real time color images that are displayed on a computer monitor so you can see what the dentist sees.
Digital X-Rays
Digital X-Rays are a great technological development in the field of dentistry. The amount of radiation needed to produce an image on a digital sensor is reduced by approximately 75% in comparison to traditional film.
Why do I need x-rays?
Digital X-Rays are a safe and effective way to diagnose tooth decay in between your teeth and developing problems that can’t be seen during the oral examination. Our doctors are very skilled at diagnosing various oral conditions and sharing their findings with you on a computer screen.
Sealants
A sealant is a white resin-like material that fills in deep pits and grooves on the biting surface of a tooth. Deep pits and grooves can harbor bacteria and food particles leading to increased risk of tooth decay. Children’s back molars are the most susceptible for tooth decay.
How is it done?
Getting a sealant placed is quick and painless. First the tooth is prepared by cleaning out the deep grooves. After the tooth is washed and dried, the sealant is painted onto the tooth and hardened with a small UV light.
Dental Implants
A dental implant is a titanium screw or post that is surgically placed in the upper or lower jaw. Through osseointegration, the implant becomes fused to the bone and becomes very stable. The implant can then be used to attach a crown for single tooth replacement or anchor a denture for more stability.
Not everyone is a candidate for an implant. We start with an implant consultation to determine if an implant is right for you.
Porcelain Veneers
What are Veneers?
A veneer is a thin sheet of porcelain or composite that is bonded to the front of a tooth in order to improve aesthetics, strengthen damaged teeth, or improve the shape or color.
Not everyone is a candidate for veneers. We offer a free consultation to determine if veneers are right for you.
Sedation / Sleep Dentistry
It's no secret that most people don't like going to the dentist. In fact, many people go years without visiting a dentist and wait until their problems become so severe they are forced to seek emergency care. Some reasons for avoiding the dentist are:
- Past dental experiences
- Fear of needles, drills, or instruments
- Discomfort with sounds, tastes, and smells
- Fear of pain or difficulty getting numb
Our goal is to provide a positive dental experience and help our patients achieve and maintain good oral health. Sedation dentistry is a safe and effective way for nervous or anxious patients to get the care they need. Our highly trained and experienced professionals can take care of you in our office with people you know and trust.
Types of Sedation
Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) - Offers a low level of sedation that "takes the edge off" and makes you feel relaxed. A small mask is placed over the patient's nose and the flow level is adjusted until the patient is comfortable. When the procedure is over, oxygen is administered and within a few minutes the sedation feeling is gone.
Oral Sedation (pills) - Oral medications taken before the procedure offer deeper levels of sedation so you can be calm and relaxed during your visit. Special care is taken to make sure the correct dosage is given for each patient's needs. Patients using this form of sedation should have a driver take them to and from their appointment.
Intravenous Sedation (IV) or "Sleep Dentistry" - Offers a more controllable, predictable, and deeper level of sedation. Patients who received IV sedation are usually completely unaware of their surroundings. Patients still breathe on their own and respond to commands. Patients have little to no recollection of the procedure and feel as though they were asleep through the entire procedure. Patients using this form of sedation should have a driver take them to and from their appointment.
Our wonderful staff at Willow Tree Dental will calm your fears and answer any questions you have about this valuable service.
Night Guards
If you often wake up with headaches, jaw pain, or earaches, or if you find yourself clenching or grinding your teeth, you may have a common condition called “bruxism”. Bruxism can lead to cracked and broken teeth, or even tooth loss. Bruxism often occurs at night, so many people don't even know that they grind their teeth.
Bruxism can easily be treated by a simple appliance called a Night Guard. Nightguards are an easy way to prevent wear and damage to your teeth over time. Your dentist can make you a custom-made Night Guard from a clear hard material that fits your teeth exactly.
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Meridian Office
317 W. Cherry Ln
Meridian, ID 83642
(208) 888-2055
Monday: 8:00am - 8:00pm
Tuesday: 8:00am - 8:00pm
Wednesday: 8:00am - 8:00pm
Thursday: 8:00am - 8:00pm
Friday: 8:00am - 3:00pm
Saturday: 8:00am - 2:00pm
Boise at Columbia Village
5898 S. Quamash Way
Boise, ID 83716
(208) 472-7848
Monday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Tuesday: 10:00am - 6:00pm
Wednesday: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Thursday: 10:00am - 6:00pm
Friday: 8:00am - 3:00pm
Saturday: 8:00am - 2:00pm
Overland Office
1664 Woodsage, Suite 110
Meridian, ID 83642
(208) 395-1000
Monday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Tuesday: 10:00am - 7:00pm
Thursday: 10:00am - 5:00pm
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