Your smile is the first thing people see. It instantly portrays your personality, self confidence, joy and vitality. Does your smile say it all or are you embarrassed to smile? Nearly half of adults surveyed say they want a beautiful smile. Isn’t it your time right now to have the beautiful smile you deserve? Not years. Not months. In as little as two visits. We use the most advanced techniques in dentistry to give you the smile you deserve without waiting.
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A smile Design is truly a work of art. The term Smile Design applies to the enhancement of a smile using a combination of methods. A patient’s eyes, lip line, coloring, gum tissue contouring and face, are all considered when a new smile is designed for you. Our goal is to redesign your smile so that it fits you, is beautiful, strong, and natural looking. A smile that will make you smile for years to come!
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Veneers correct smiles that have heavy permanent stains, are crooked, disproportionate, small and structurally damaged. Porcelain veneers are shells of ceramic material that can be bonded to tooth structure. Porcelain veneers are the primary treatment used for the popular extreme makeovers because they offer naturalness, beauty, and strength. Dr. Thomas can custom design your smile to suit your face. She will take into account the shape, color, and size of your teeth to create a smile that looks so beautiful no one would doubt they were your natural teeth.
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The most common crown restoration placed by most general dentists today utilizes a metal lining covered with porcelain. These types of restorations are not as natural in appearance because light is not able to pass through porcelain-metal crowns as it does with a natural tooth, resulting in an opaque or flat looking tooth. Often times these types of traditional crowns leave a dark or gray line next to the gum-line. Dr. Thomas is proud to offer a natural looking alternative-all-ceramic, non-metal crown! With these newer restorations you will notice the “life-like” appearance that mimics natural teeth and does not produce the black gum line so common with so many porcelain-metal crowns.
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Invisalign can give you the beautiful, straight teeth you have always wanted! The Invisalign System is a series of clear orthodontic appliances or aligners that are applied by Dr. Kelly Thomas. These aligners allow you to straighten your teeth without having to wear traditional metal braces. Each pair of aligners in the series is worn in two-week increments. This causes the teeth move slowly until they reach the desired final position. The best part about Invisalign is no one will notice you are wearing it! If you are interested in learning more about how we can give you the smile you desire using Invisalign, please contact our office to schedule a consultation.
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Tooth colored fillings (mercury free)
Dr. Thomas prefers to place composite resin fillings, which are shaded to match a patient’s existing dentition (color of your existing tooth). Having trained at LVI, she understands how to create healthy, functional, beautiful smiles – and tooth-colored fillings are one simple way to maintain a smile’s beauty. Traditional amalgam (silver) fillings are dark and contain mercury, a harmful heavy metal. They also expand and shrink in response to temperature changes, resulting in tiny fractures within your teeth. Over time this stress cause by the silver filling can cause the tooth to fracture. Composite resins are a better alternative because they are non-toxic and help create an attractive smile. The final result is virtually invisible! Dr. Thomas can replace your existing amalgam fillings with composite resin if you want an all-white smile.
Amalgams/Mercury Fillings – Why Not?
For years there has been debate in the dental profession regarding the pros and cons of using silver amalgam fillings, which contain about 50% mercury, to restore cavities. While it has not been proven scientifically that mercury can harm you, we have chosen to not use silver amalgam/mercury fillings, as the technology involved with them is well over 100 years old. There are also several drawbacks to them, which can cause trouble for teeth with silver fillings.
Away with Silver
At our office we prefer to provide our patients with the newest and best alternatives available, which are bonded ceramic composite resins. Not only do they look natural, they provide a much better service and protection for your teeth, as they eliminate all the shortcomings of the old fashioned silver fillings. They seal the teeth better, insulate against hot and cold better, and if they wear down, they can be repaired more easily. Many people who are undergoing a cosmetic improvement on their front teeth elect to have dark silver fillings in their back teeth replaced with the bonded ceramic resins to provide a total cosmetic improvement.
Please call our office to make an appointment if you want to look into replacing any of your old, unsightly silver fillings.
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(Porcelain Fillings)
It is our genuine belief that metal-free and mercury-free dentistry is the best way to restore teeth to health and beauty. Porcelain inlays and onlays are the most optimal solution for restoring compromised teeth. Strong, enduring and attractive, these restorations are virtually invisible in the tooth, creating a natural appearance.
These porcelain inlay and onlay procedures preserve more tooth structure than their metal counterparts, and through the bonding process, virtually restore the tooth to its original strength with less initial sensitivity than other white fillings. The porcelain materials that Dr. Thomas uses are designed to be long-lasting, withstanding all of the wear and tear teeth are subjected to every day.
If you’ve always dreamed of having a stunning smile–a smile that is straight and white–why waste another day? With our advanced procedures, such as porcelain inlays and onlays, your new smile is only two comfortable visits away.
What is an Inlay?
Porcelain inlays are designed to repair tooth damage affecting the indented portion of the top of the tooth.
What is an Onlay?
Porcelain onlays are designed to repair teeth that have more widespread damage that extends from the indented area to other surfaces, such as the sides of the tooth.
How Does This Work?
The procedure for porcelain inlays and onlays typically takes place over two office visits. During your first visit, Dr. Thomas will prepare the surface of the tooth. This includes removing any existing damaged filling material or decayed tooth material. Then, she will take a mold of the prepared tooth, and apply a temporary sealant to protect your tooth while the porcelain inlay or onlay is being created in the lab.
Before your second visit, your porcelain inlay or onlay will be constructed in a dental laboratory using the mold that was taken during your first visit. This custom-designed inlay or onlay will be made of a strong, durable porcelain composite material designed to replicate both the appearance and the function of your natural tooth.
During your second visit, Dr. Thomas will remove the protective temporary sealant, and will place the porcelain inlay or onlay onto your tooth using a special bonding material. This material will provide a permanent seal so you can eat and go about your daily activities like normal. Once the inlay or onlay is securely adhered to the tooth, she will make any minor adjustments necessary and polish the tooth to create a smooth, strong, natural surface.
Your finished tooth will look and feel just like a natural, undamaged tooth! If you are interested in changing your current silver or tooth-colored fillings to durable and natural-looking porcelain inlays or onlays, please contact our office today.
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A crown (often called a cap) is a covering that encases the entire tooth surface, restoring it to its original shape and size. In your first appointment, decay is removed and cleaned from the tooth and a highly accurate impression or mold is made of the prepared surface. This mold is used to create a model of the tooth, which is then sent to a special laboratory that will create a porcelain (tooth colored) crown. At your second appointment, the crown is then cemented onto the prepared surface of the tooth. It will fit perfectly into your existing smile!
Although there are several types of crowns, porcelain (tooth colored crown) are the most popular. They are highly durable and will last many years, but like most dental restorations, they will eventually need to be replaced. Porcelain crowns are made to match the shape, size, and color of your teeth giving you a natural, long-lasting beautiful smile.
If you’re self-conscious about your smile due to cracked, broken, decayed or worn teeth, crowns can bring back your healthy, natural-looking smile. A filling can restore a small defect in a tooth, but a crown is the most durable way to restore a tooth with extensive damage for the long term.
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This tooth whitening procedure offers the most advanced state-of-the-art technology to whiten teeth and enhance personal appearance and aesthetics. The complete procedure takes less than an hour. The procedure begins with a preparation phase followed by four 15 minute periods of bleaching. The Zoom! whitening gel’s active ingredient is Hydrogen Peroxide. As the Hydrogen Peroxide is broken down, oxygen enters the enamel and dentin, bleaching colored substances while the structure of the tooth is unchanged.
The Zoom! light aids in activating the hydrogen peroxide and helps it penetrate the surface of the tooth. A study has shown that use of the Zoom! lamp increases the effectiveness of the Zoom! gel by 26% or more, giving an average improvement of up to eight shades. During the procedure, patients may comfortably watch television or listen to music.
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A Stable Solution that Renews Your Smile
If you’ve lost teeth due to accident, injury, or gum disease, we can create a permanent ‘bridge’ appliance to replace the missing teeth. Not only does a bridge fill the missing space, thereby preventing repositioning of remaining teeth, but it also corrects an altered bite, improves chewing ability and speech articulation, and supports facial structures to preserve your appearance.
Getting a bridge usually requires two visits. While the teeth are numb, the two anchoring teeth (on either side of the gap in your smile) are prepared by removing a portion of enamel to allow for a crown. Next, a highly accurate impression (mold) is made which will be sent to a dental laboratory where the bridge will be fabricated. In addition, a temporary bridge will be made and worn for several weeks until your next appointment.
At the second visit, your permanent bridge will be carefully checked, adjusted, and cemented to achieve a proper fit.
You will receive care instructions at the conclusion of the procedure. Proper brushing, flossing and regular dental visits will aid in the life of your new permanent bridge.
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A dental implant is simply a small titanium post, inserted surgically into the jawbone below the gum surface at the location of the missing tooth. This post replaces the function of the roots of your missing teeth. As the bone bonds to the post, it forms a secure foundation onto which your restoration, or artificial teeth, are then attached and shaped to match your existing teeth. The number of teeth you are missing will determine the best kind of restoration for your case. One or two missing teeth indicates a simple crown restoration, while two or more missing teeth require permanent fixed bridgework.
Dental implants with artificial teeth are the closest thing to re-growing your natural teeth. They are strong, stable, durable and virtually undetectable. By filling gaps left by missing teeth, implants can provide better chewing ability and head off jaw joint problems. They are far superior to removable dentures.
Are Implants for Me?
If you are missing one or more teeth, have teeth that are shifting around your missing tooth, or you desire a more permanent fix than dentures, you are a great candidate for dental implants. If you feel that you are in need of dental implants, contact Dr. Thomas today for a consultation and evaluation!
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Do you get headaches often? Do your face, neck, shoulders, and jaw ache? Do your jaw joints pop or click, or do you have problems opening or closing your mouth? If so, you may have TMJ dysfunction, or misaligned jaw joints. The misalignment of the teeth causes the jaw muscles to strain and force the jaw into better alignment. This constant straining leads to pain or other symptoms throughout the head and neck area. Dr. Thomas attended the prestigious Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, and as an accomplished LVI dentist, she can help relieve your TMJ symptoms with neuromuscular dentistry.
Neuromuscular dentistry involves proper alignment of the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) to reduce stress on the muscles and nerves surrounding the jaw.
How Does Neuromuscular Dentistry Help?
Advances in neuromuscular dental science have taught us how to find and then maintain a comfortable jaw position. We use a TENS unit to relax muscles, increase blood flow, and help us find ideal jaw position. In some cases, dental restorations can raise or lower areas of your bite, creating a naturally comfortable position for your jaw. A custom-made oral appliance may help realign your bite, allow the muscles to relax, which will, in turn, alleviate pain in that area. In most cases, we can reposition the jaw in just a few weeks, without surgery or braces.
The Results: Look and Feel Better!
Dr. Thomas has found that many patients experience a moderate to significant change in facial appearance after neuromuscular therapy. Patients who had recessed lower jaws may enjoy a new profile, including a stronger jaw line and chin. Areas of the jaw that protruded may be pulled back into alignment. Not only will you feel better after TMJ therapy, but you may also look better!
For relief from antagonistic TMJ symptoms, call neuromuscular dentist Dr. Thomas today to schedule a comprehensive evaluation and consultation.
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Gum Disease
Caring for your oral health includes regular teeth care and gum care. Neglecting your gums can eventually lead to periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, which is a culprit for the deterioration of your overall oral health. Periodontal disease affects 75% of adults over 35 years of age and is responsible for approximately 70% of all adult tooth loss. Since symptoms of periodontal disease oftentimes are unnoticeable, people never realize their mouth is under bacterial attack.
Highly recognized as a greatly progressive disorder, periodontal disease is triggered by preventable factors like plaque build-up, tobacco use, certain medications and stress. Unpreventable measures like systematic disease and fluctuating hormone levels during puberty, pregnancy or menopause may also lead to periodontal disease. Research proves up to 30% of the population may be genetically susceptible to gum disease.
How Does this Happen?
Periodontal disease begins when plaque–a sticky substance that forms in the mouth from food, saliva and bacteria– gets inside the space between the gum line and the tooth. If incorrect or no flossing takes place, plaque will release toxins that break down the natural fibers which hold your gums to your teeth. This permits even more bacteria and toxins to invade. Plaque deposits quickly harden into calculus or tartar, which is a rough, porous substance that is impossible to remove with brushing. Over time, this progression can lead to severe inflammation, bone loss, gum recession and tooth loss.
If you notice your gums bleed consistently after brushing, you have tender or receding gums, or you notice pus between your gum and tooth, you may be at risk for periodontal disease.
How Do I Fix This?
Gum disease is treated by carefully removing the bacteria and substances that form in the pockets around the teeth. The removal of this material occurs on a microscopic level and requires great skill. Dr. Thomas will be sure that all of the bacteria is removed from your gums in order for you to lead a healthier lifestyle. This process of removing the bacteria, plaque and tartar usually requires several visits to our office. Once the bacteria has been removed, the pockets must be cleaned and maintained on a regular basis by Dr. Thomas. Otherwise, the bacteria will return.
Please call today to schedule an appointment if you feel you are at risk for periodontal disease.