Our Services

Teeth Whitening

For whitening we have chosen what we feel is the most effective teeth whitening system on the market today, KöR Whitening System.

KöR has developed a full line of KöR Whitening systems using their proprietary Dual-Activated™, Tri-Barrel Hydremide® Peroxide formulation and delivery system. KöR Whitening is the first and only whitening company to insist on continuous refrigeration of our whitening gels from the moment of manufacture until they arrive cold-packed at your dental office to maintain maximum product strength.

KöR is widely recognized as the world’s most effective whitening system – with no need for lights or lasers. KöR offers solutions from phenomenal home whitening for typical patients, to astonishing treatment of tetracycline cases — and everything in-between.

To learn more and for some dramatic whitening results using the KöR system, click HERE to be transferred to their web site.

Crowns and Bridges

If a large amount of tooth structure is lost due to decay, fracture, or accident, often there is not enough tooth remaining to hold a filling. At that point, something is necessary which gives support to the tooth. A crown is used to strengthen the remaining tooth.

The consequences of missing one or more teeth can be considerable. Obviously, the more teeth you are missing, the greater your chewing function will be diminished. Also this will clearly affect the beauty of your smile and your willingness to share it with others. What is not so well known is that missing teeth can start a “domino type” effect, causing the teeth to start to shift which can lead to an unstable bite and adverse forces on the TM joint causing pain and discomfort. Also, when the teeth shift, it can cause unnatural relationships of one tooth to another, which can lead to difficulty in cleaning, which in turn can cause decay or periodontal problems. By placing a fixed bridge in the area of the missing teeth, the probability of experiencing these problems is greatly reduced. The bridge will be fabricated from porcelain or porcelain fused to a precious metal. It will be permanently attached to the prepared teeth adjacent to the space. The esthetic and functional transformation is typically astounding.

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain laminate veneers are probably the most esthetic means of rapidly creating a more pleasing and beautiful smile. They are extremely thin layers of porcelain that are bonded to the front of the teeth. Porcelain veneers allow us to alter tooth position, shape, size, and color. They can whiten and brighten teeth, hide stains or discolorations, “straighten” teeth that are crooked or have spaces. By changing the shape of the teeth, we can make one’s smile more masculine or feminine. They are highly resistant to permanent staining from things such as coffee, tea, or smoking. This is what is commonly used in “make-overs” ever present on TV today.

We provide LUMINEERS – Porcelain Veneers That Do Not Require Removing Painful Tooth Structure. LUMINEERS are porcelain veneers that can be made as thin as a contact lens and is placed over existing teeth without requiring painful removal of sensitive tooth structure (unlike traditional veneers.)

Tooth-colored Fillings

Dark, mercury-containing amalgam fillings are truly a thing of the past. That type of filling is simply packed into a hole in the tooth. It is the shape of that hole that prevents the filling from falling out. It is not really bonded to the tooth. On the other hand, tooth-colored composite fillings are chemically bonded to the surrounding tooth structure after the decay has been removed. The resulting restoration restores not just function and beauty, but returns much more of the original strength to the tooth.

Dentures and Partials

When a patient presents with all or many of their teeth missing, we are still able to restore their teeth and smile. The support of the denture or partial denture will prevent the sagging of facial tissues and muscles typically seen in the edentulous patient. They also enable a more normal masticatory function benefiting the patient’s digestion and health. The patient’s speech becomes more normal.

Typically, the denture is made after the teeth are removed and the tissue is healed. Often, this is not a socially acceptable option. We can then make necessary records around the patient’s existing teeth and have the immediate denture made prior to the surgery. When the teeth are removed, the denture will be inserted. The patient will never be without their teeth.

Dentures and partials, like other aspects of dentistry, have come a long way. Newer, lighter, stronger materials are used. The unaesthetic metal clasps of partials can be totally eliminated.

Dentures and partials can play an important role in restoring one’s dental function and esthetics.

Endodontics

There is a bundle of nerve and blood fibers inside a tooth that is critical in the formation of a tooth. Once the tooth is formed, many things such as decay, fractures, deep fillings, or a blow to the tooth can traumatize this bundle and cause it to die. Prior to the field of Endodontics, a tooth such as this would get infected and need to be removed. Now we are able to remove the diseased nerve, clean and seal the canal where the nerve was, and we see the infection in the tooth and bone go away…..along with the pain. The tooth does just fine without the nerve and blood fibers and is usually restored with a crown to prevent any fracture of the tooth.
Although the words “root canal ” can bring feelings of fear and apprehension, it is typically quite pain free and often downright boring for the patient.

Invisalign®

Invisalign® is the invisible way to straighten your teeth without braces.

Invisalign® uses a series of clear removable aligners to straighten your teeth without metal wires or brackets.

You wear each set of aligners for about 2 weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss.

As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move – little by little, week by week – until they have straightened to the final position that has been prescribed.

You’ll visit us about once every 6 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned.

Total treatment time averages 9-15 months and the average number of aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30, but both will vary from case to case.

Implant supported crowns, bridges, partials and dentures

Dental implants typically are used to replace missing teeth when we do not want to prepare and attach to existing teeth. For instance, a person missing a front tooth, in the presence of healthy adjacent teeth, not in need of restoration, would greatly benefit from a single restored implant replacing that tooth. Sometimes, we will suggest an implant for the exact opposite reason. A patient will loose a tooth and the adjacent teeth are not healthy enough to support a typical fixed bridge. They can also be used to replace missing back teeth that don’t have an existing natural tooth behind the space. Prior to implants, there was no way to replace that tooth permanently (ie. not removable). So whatever the reason, sometimes restoring one’s dentition with implants, results in a more conservative, stable result, or even an outcome that was previously unavailable.

Dentures and partials are notorious for their poor stability and retention. If the patient has sufficient bone, several implants which will contain one half of a precision attachment (usually four or less) can be strategically placed in the bone. The other half of the attachment will be processed into the tissue side of the denture or partial. Now once the denture is “snapped” in, it is rock solid stable. Patients are able to eat foods that were impossible to eat before. Fears of the denture coming out during activities or social situations is a thing of the past. The denture will support the collapsed tissues under the nose and around the mouth giving the patient a complete functional and esthetic makeover.

Disclaimer

The information presented on the pages of this web site is in summary form only and is intended to be a public resource for general understanding and knowledge of dental topics. The information is provided for information and educational purposes only. The information should not be considered complete and should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation, or advice of your dentist, physician, or other health care provider. Information obtained by using this site does not cover all dental diseases, dental problems, dental conditions, or dental treatment. Questions regarding your health should be directed to your personal medical or dental professional. No doctor-patient relationship is established by your use of this site, nor is any diagnosis or treatment being provided. The information given is not warranted or guaranteed (either expressed or implied) to be complete, correct, up-to-date, reliable, timely, or accurate. Neither Apex Dental Associates nor Joseph S. Orlando, DDS shall be responsible for information provided herein under any theory of liability or indemnity. In no event shall Apex Dental Associates or Joseph S. Orlando, DDS be liable for any damages.