Our Services
We believe in providing comprehensive dental services to our patients and getting as much done, in one place, as possible. You will become an integral part of our team, as we will all work together to give you the smile you always hoped for. You are only given one chance to make a first impression, and your smile is often the first thing a person notices. Teeth that are chipped, stained, or crooked and gums that are swollen can ruin that impression. We understand that an unattractive smile and offensive breath can be detrimental to your self-esteem. At Cavka Dental Center, we appreciate the trust you placed in us, and we strive to keep you as relaxed and comfortable as possible while we enhance both the appearance of your smile and your overall health. Browse our services below, and call us with any questions!
Preventive Care
Preventive dental care plays an integral part in a modern day dental practice. Over the last few decades, patients have started appreciating regular care instead of only visiting the dentist when necessary. This shift in thinking allows us to maintain good oral health, prevent problems, and intervene much earlier. This approach helps prevent pain, reduce patient cost, and minimize the time you have to spend at the dental office. The great news is that insurance companies usually cover these services fully, and we at Cavka Dental Center established a program to help patients without insurance as well!
Regular Exams & Cleanings
Routinely scheduled exams allow your dentist and hygienist to evaluate your mouth for cavities, periodontal problems, TMJ dysfunction, and oral cancer or other pathology. Regular visits help you to maintain a healthy mouth and enable us to intervene in a timely manner when any issues arise. Early dental intervention allows for less invasive and less costly solutions to your dental concerns.
Oral Cancer Screenings
This is a routine part of every single exam we perform in our office. Even when you are not aware of it, your dentist is looking at any potential changes in your oral cavity. There are many dental diseases, including oral cancers, which physicians do not routinely look for during their exams. As always, early intervention is extremely important!
Digital Radiography
Digital radiography provides a great number of benefits to the patient. Benefits include a significant reduction in your exposure to radiation, more comfort (no sharp edges), and greater efficiency (images are transferred within seconds to the computer monitors). Maintaining current x-rays is a vital part of continuing your dental care as many conditions go undiagnosed or undetected without them.
Scaling and Root Planing
Periodontal (gum) disease is a destructive disease of the gums, jawbone and periodontal ligaments that support the teeth. It usually presents as swollen, bleeding gums and bad breath, but gum disease can also be unseen. Having periodontal disease affects the entire body; it can even increase one’s risk of coronary artery disease and having a preterm delivery. Scaling and root planing is a type of dental cleaning that is implemented when a patient has periodontal disease. With the use of dental numbing agents, the hygienist removes calculus adhered to the roots below the gums, as opposed to a regular “cleaning” which involves cleaning the teeth above the gums. If left untreated, periodontal disease results in mobility and often loss of one or more teeth.
Fluoride
Fluoride is essential in maintaining strong, healthy teeth. An in-office fluoride varnish can be painted on your teeth, making teeth more resistant to the breakdown from dental decay. It is a very quick application; there are no food or beverage restrictions after it is placed. Even though your dental insurance may consider this as an elective service for adults, patients of any age are welcome to the service. Daily use of fluoridated products has been shown to reduce the occurrence of decay in patients of all ages. Fluoridated water is essential while teeth are developing. If a child is consuming non-fluoridated water, consult with your dentist as to whether or not fluoride supplements are recommended. Your dental team will evaluate your need for additional fluoride treatments; we believe in not only fixing your current dental problems but also avoiding them in the future.
Sealants
Dental sealants act as a barrier to help prevent dental decay. Cavities are very common on the chewing surfaces of molars, as food debris collects in the grooves and decays the tooth structure. As permanent teeth are erupting and the body is growing, many children do not effectively remove plaque and debris from their teeth. To prevent decay, dental sealants are placed over the chewing surfaces of the posterior teeth (molars and premolars) to create smoother surfaces that are easier to cleanse. Sealants do not last forever and may need to be repaired over the years.
Restorative Dentistry
Restorative dentistry plays an essential role in helping you maintain your teeth for as long as possible! This rapidly evolving area of dentistry uses the newest technologies and advancements available to help make restoring and replacing your teeth more comfortable, efficient, and cost-effective. Along with achieving optimum esthetic results, the newer generations of dental products and materials provide greater longevity for the life of your restorations.
Tooth-colored fillings
This is one of the most advanced techniques in dentistry. We can use tooth-colored materials to match your tooth to provide a more esthetically pleasing appearance; they are virtually undetectable during conversation. These types of fillings are also a more conservative choice, as they require less aggressive drilling into the tooth compared to other filling materials. Because they bond to the tooth, they do not need to be wedged into the tooth like the traditional amalgam (metal) filling. As a result, they are less likely to cause cracks in the teeth. As fillings age, their margins can pull away from the tooth and cause an entry point for bacteria. To stop recurrent decay, the replacement of older fillings is recommended when breakdown is observed. The current generations of resin filling material allow for a longer lifespan and more closely mirror the natural translucency and shades of teeth than their earlier predecessors.
Crowns and Bridges
A crown is needed to protect a tooth that has a large and weak filling, extensive decay, or a fracture. It is also needed on most root canal-treated teeth to provide strength. They serve as protective “caps” that restore chewing strength and esthetic appearance to teeth. Custom matched to the adjacent teeth, crowns are nowadays usually made out of a porcelain material. Material selection should be discussed with your dental team. To achieve the best results, you need a high quality dental team and a great dental lab. In cases where teeth are missing, a bridge is an option to prevent the adjacent and opposing teeth from shifting. Whether supported by natural teeth or implants, a dental bridge can offer natural esthetics and stable chewing surfaces.
Root Canals
A root canal is needed to eliminate pain and infection. It is used to save a tooth when decay or a fracture has entered into the center of the tooth where the nerve and blood supply reside. By removing the damaged internal tissues and placing a biocompatible filling in the root of the tooth, root canals prevent pain, swelling, and tooth loss. After a root canal, a non-vital tooth will become more brittle over time and most often needs the coverage of a crown to protect it from further breakdown. Root canals are painless procedures, during which you can watch TV or even sleep!
Full and Partial Dentures
Full and partial dentures are used to restore function to the mouth when many or all of the teeth are missing. Dentures are cost-effective when restoring multiple teeth that have been lost due to tooth decay or gum disease. These appliances are removable and customized to match the color and texture of your gum tissue and your existing teeth. A properly fitting denture can provide your mouth the support it needs to properly function again when chewing and speaking. Proper denture fabrication requires intensive knowledge and measurements. It is important to have an experienced, detail-oriented team help you in this process. We routinely see patients who have dentures made at those “same day centers” and who are very unhappy and discouraged with their results. Feel free to call us for a second opinion if you are unhappy with your current dentures.
Implants
Implant dentistry is one of the most exciting avenues of dentistry. We can use implants to replace one, or multiple, missing teeth and also provide stabilization for dentures and partials. The implant process usually has several steps and parts, and a highly educated and experienced team is necessary to achieve the best possible results.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic dentistry is a very rewarding and popular piece of the dental puzzle. As seen in various magazine articles and TV programs, enhancing one’s smile can provide an instant boost to self-confidence and help contribute to a younger and more vibrant appearance.
Whitening
Whitening is one of the easiest ways to accomplish a smile makeover. The most popular way to whiten is to have teeth fitted for custom trays. The trays are filled with prescription-strength bleach, which is used on a daily basis at home until the teeth reach the desired shade. Most people require about two weeks to get the ideal result. Whitening is a very safe procedure, though temporary sensitivity is a common side effect. In-office whitening is also an excellent option for people who are not comfortable wearing custom trays for extended periods of time. It is also the method of choice if the bleaching needs to be accomplished in a short period of time. For some patients, this is all the whitening they need, while for others this functions as a “jump start”, and custom trays are given complimentary so that touch-ups can be done as needed with take-home gel.
Veneers / Crowns
Porcelain veneers are the most esthetic restorations done in dentistry. They provide amazing, quick, and painless smile makeovers. They are thin, semi-translucent “facings” that cover the front surfaces of teeth. These beautiful and natural restorations can be used to fix large chips, stubborn discolorations, achieve symmetry, minimize slight crowding – basically it can get you the smile you always dreamed of. Resin bonding (using tooth-colored filling material) can also be used in these same instances, but it is more likely to stain and discolor over time (porcelain restorations will not). Sometimes, when more coverage is necessary, crowns are used instead of veneers. Your dentist can evaluate your specific need, but the result remains the same – a perfect smile.
Gum Sculpting
A largely underrepresented part of esthetic dentistry is the role of the health and shape of your gums. The appearance of your gums is very important in how your smile appears. Most commonly, there are patients with very “gummy” smiles who need a quick and easy reduction in gum tissue to lengthen teeth. Sometimes there are asymmetries, which make certain teeth appear rotated, or even broken. We’ve seen many patients who thought they needed veneers and after a consult, we determined it was just gum sculpting that was necessary. Call us to discuss this easy smile makeover!
Snap on Smile
This is a reversible, cosmetic, quick and affordable way to enhance the appearance of your smile. Dr. Cavka has been very successful providing these temporary smile enhancers for patients due to thorough understanding of the process, meticulous impressions, and proper patient selection. Call us for a free consultation session today!